tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post6304775955528605417..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: Turning the Hare Into a TortoiseMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-44829449921106954122011-08-31T11:41:38.099-06:002011-08-31T11:41:38.099-06:00Paintarab - thanks for that. Nice to hear a succes...Paintarab - thanks for that. Nice to hear a success story. The panicking sounds very similar. Any noise or movement and she flinches and spooks or rushes. I'm going to get on with circles for her. She's been out of work a long time, just longed, so her bending/curving through her spine isn't great, but time and calmness sound like a good start.<br /><br />thanks Mugs also!Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386998873768199907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-52041052172930218482011-08-31T08:38:17.586-06:002011-08-31T08:38:17.586-06:00Paintarab- I love hearing stories like that one.Paintarab- I love hearing stories like that one.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-5028694108569622762011-08-31T08:36:38.446-06:002011-08-31T08:36:38.446-06:00Chiron,
Don't worry I will. I am at home here ...Chiron,<br />Don't worry I will. I am at home here and love our give and take. <br />There? I have to admit, it's fun to poke a stick in the rattlesnake pit...but I'll stick to my guns.<br />It's going to be interesting to see how it goes over there.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-63999867901243581452011-08-31T08:07:59.300-06:002011-08-31T08:07:59.300-06:00I'm not a frequent commenter, but am a damn fr...I'm not a frequent commenter, but am a damn frequent reader. I'm pretty sure I've read thru all the archives.<br /><br />Obviously, I'm a very big fan.<br /><br />I choose not to post this at Fugly because I'm simply more comfortable saying this here.<br /><br />Please don't change a thing about your writing to please the militants at FUGLY. You may lose some of them, but I'm confident you're gains will far outnumber your losses. I read FUGLY once, or maybe twice over the years and was always turned off by the one sided, closed minded writing.<br /><br />I don't dispute there are evil people out there and some of them choose to abuse horses. Hang 'em as far as I'm concerned. I just don't think everything written needs to be flavored with condemnation and nasty sarcasm.<br /><br />Please, please keep being you!Chironnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-84623546906106727422011-08-31T07:48:53.251-06:002011-08-31T07:48:53.251-06:00Jill, I own a horse who had strong trust/fear issu...Jill, I own a horse who had strong trust/fear issues with people. I lucked out and was the horse's second rider after rescue. The first rider/owner had worked out the major issues over the course of several years, but she still wasn't so sure about a NEW rider. She flinched and reacted to EVERY move I made. If the split reins brushed her sholder she would jump. If my leg touched her she would jump. Anything made her react. If she didn't understand what I was asking, sometimes I didn't know I was asking anything, she would start to panic. In the end it really just took lots of patience, quiet riding (I learned to not move a muscle if I could help it), riding with other people, being very consistant with my cues, and most importantly, time. We had a good breakthrough as far as my nerves go when I started reading the mugwump blog. Through mugs I learned to teachmy horse that circling ment to slow down. Now I know that if she ever panics or does a hard spook I can just circle until her head is back on and she will slow down. I started riding her 4 or 5 years ago (i loose track of time) and now I can do just about anything on her. She has even learned leg cues. In the end the biggest factor was just giving her time to learn to trust me.paintarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14676883569515282764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-74583601609617056182011-08-30T21:17:10.110-06:002011-08-30T21:17:10.110-06:00Breathe- I don't bend a horse's head to my...Breathe- I don't bend a horse's head to my boot unless he's trying to buck me off. <br /><br />When I talk about a bend I mean the horse is creating as close to a perfect "C" as possible from nose to croup while moving forward.<br /><br />I want my horse's inside shoulder to follow my hands, I guide with my inside leg at the cinch, keeping the ribs out of the way and my outside leg behind the cinch keeping the haunches pushing into the chosen direction.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-21836717451686349522011-08-30T20:54:51.978-06:002011-08-30T20:54:51.978-06:00When you say bend, could you clarify? When my trai...When you say bend, could you clarify? When my trainer says bend, she means horse head to my boot. I am not crazy about that technique, but was curious if that's what you meant.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13104422629934443842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-45269169341898074182011-08-30T20:45:37.239-06:002011-08-30T20:45:37.239-06:00Just so you guys know, this blog is my passion, an...Just so you guys know, this blog is my passion, and will always be my first priority.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-6951387620507973582011-08-30T18:06:14.655-06:002011-08-30T18:06:14.655-06:00Okay, I lost something somewhere. Did Mugs take ov...Okay, I lost something somewhere. Did Mugs take over FHOTD blog????deedeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-85941667269443788742011-08-30T17:58:11.919-06:002011-08-30T17:58:11.919-06:00Mugs, you have a following here that know you, and...Mugs, you have a following here that know you, and are enamored of your storytelling ability as well as interested in your training experience and opinions - maybe not agreeing, but open to your way of telling. the fugly blog has a following cultivated by someone else, and it will take much time and experience to settle that herd down. I admire your guts, and it takes PASSION to be a blog writer. Keep your passion, don't let it be beaten down or dismissed. best wishes, BarefooterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-44602500752660564662011-08-30T16:44:14.886-06:002011-08-30T16:44:14.886-06:00Becky- Grab the horn BEFORE the horse takes off.
D...Becky- Grab the horn BEFORE the horse takes off.<br />Dee Dee- There's a post on speeding up slow horse in the srchives somewhere....and thanks for reading me on kindle!<br />Jill- I<br />I'll think on it, there's more to a horse like this than I can help with in the comments.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-86626658341865449782011-08-30T16:22:28.214-06:002011-08-30T16:22:28.214-06:00You have a fine way with putting methods in words....You have a fine way with putting methods in words. I find things so hard to explain, unless I'm on the horse in that instant. I'm working on a young gaited horse's canter right now and we're doing a lot of the stuff you talk about. Ring snaffle, transitions, very little leg contact, seat and breathing for slowing down, not pulling back.<br /><br />Any advice on starting riding a horse with a fear of people? I don't think they're in the same league as Tally - I sure hope not!! - but I rode this horse for the first time today and she was terrified if my split reins tapped the saddle, and she fought my (soft) hands asking for a woah, and she wobbled around the ring with her neck at odd angles and threw her head and rushed and fussed. Unless I do this right (I'm not riding her without someone else present) I'm going to end up scared of her and/or ruining her slow progress.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386998873768199907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-83407485026285570162011-08-30T16:03:59.085-06:002011-08-30T16:03:59.085-06:00mugs, I loved reading this. Only I want to turn a ...mugs, I loved reading this. Only I want to turn a tortoise into a hare - or a slow hare.<br />Any help on that one????<br />And I love reading you on my kindle!deedee sonnyduo@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-69001325658469888742011-08-30T15:11:30.814-06:002011-08-30T15:11:30.814-06:00Thanks for the tips, Mugs; I was on the right trac...Thanks for the tips, Mugs; I was on the right track with the bending but wasn't sure where to go from there. I'm sure glad to see this is typical for a rope horse, your post sounded like you'd actually been on my gelding :)RHFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02513212465360292806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-70327158831141345122011-08-30T13:31:14.692-06:002011-08-30T13:31:14.692-06:00Your dumb blog ate my comment.
And it was, like, ...Your dumb blog ate my comment.<br /><br />And it was, like, the most incredible comment ever. Witty, poignant, thoughtful... it probably would have made you cry. It was just that good.<br /><br />>:(<br /><br />I am curious: How the heck do you stay on when a rope horse does that crazy LUNGE forward? I used to borrow a friend's roper for gymkhana, and no matter how much I prepared myself, I always caught myself scrabbling at the saddle horn when they took off--- either that or (*BLUSH*) balancing myself on the reins.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664511837713972115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-82343909915205329622011-08-30T11:07:52.466-06:002011-08-30T11:07:52.466-06:00Wonderful post! We own a finished, but blown-up-i...Wonderful post! We own a finished, but blown-up-in-the-box ex-heel-horse that we bought as a trail horse for our daughter. He doesn't necessarily have all the 'go right now', but otherwise he rides exactly the way you describe. I could feel every move you talked about, because I've spent quite a bit of time getting some of the rope horse out of him. I think I need to print out this post for reference the next time I need to tune on him. And I like rope horses for the same reasons you do! :)nineisenuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16197249441117718765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87488065116133855232011-08-30T10:19:51.231-06:002011-08-30T10:19:51.231-06:00:) People have seen me "convert" two ho...:) People have seen me "convert" two horses now, and one said I should train trail horses for people who are afraid. I told them I'd have to train the people at the same time...I've read enough of your blogs to know it's not just the horse that needs training!HorsesAndTurboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607758320356759231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-56059642132231297362011-08-30T09:41:53.665-06:002011-08-30T09:41:53.665-06:00Horses and Turbos - Yup. It's really all the s...Horses and Turbos - Yup. It's really all the same, no matter what kind of horse or what type of saddle....just don't tell anybody over on the other side of the street.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-83229482188283266572011-08-30T09:40:34.674-06:002011-08-30T09:40:34.674-06:00FD- It is very similar. I found out the hard way a...FD- It is very similar. I found out the hard way an OTTB will lean into bit pressure. I did quite a few very speedy laps on a young mare who thought she was doing what I wanted....well, live and learn.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-22764926802250026272011-08-30T09:34:48.524-06:002011-08-30T09:34:48.524-06:00Hey Mugs, this is great....
I had emailed you abo...Hey Mugs, this is great....<br /><br />I had emailed you about my gelding, same "issues"...slowing down a galloping machine (from fast trail riders). It was during your hiatus...and I didn't hear back. <br /><br />So, I thought "What Would Mugs Do?" and got him bending, slowing, halting, cantering....all by doing what you just posted!<br /><br />See...you are getting at least one Michigan person to think about riding/training and how to do it the "Mugwump" way :)<br /><br />JackieHorsesAndTurboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607758320356759231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-46757660257364584102011-08-30T08:38:54.007-06:002011-08-30T08:38:54.007-06:00Nah, although I might comment occasionally over at...Nah, although I might comment occasionally over at fugly, I much prefer the commentariat here. :D<br /><br />I've never sat on a rope horse, but reading through, it sounds a lot like retraining a OTTB actually, although not for the same reasons.FDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485030894416936129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87925627227485168532011-08-30T08:17:27.609-06:002011-08-30T08:17:27.609-06:00Oh, and no need to feel insecure, I much prefer th...Oh, and no need to feel insecure, I much prefer the comments here to the ones there. You have created an open friendly and collaborative environment here, I really enjoy that.Whywudyabreedithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12069453160852561143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-2430551413857023102011-08-30T08:15:05.009-06:002011-08-30T08:15:05.009-06:00Wow Mugs, you have turned into a blog posting mach...Wow Mugs, you have turned into a blog posting machine. I Love it! Especially since you are now responsible for writing 2 of three of my favorite blogs. It is great to have you back with such regularity =)Whywudyabreedithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12069453160852561143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87322440768191619282011-08-30T08:00:06.610-06:002011-08-30T08:00:06.610-06:00Ha ha ha, I thought so too. I thought they were a...Ha ha ha, I thought so too. I thought they were all over at FHOTD bashing on you. This is a tough post to comment on anyway. It's very detailed, which I appreciate, and I might not need it because I'm not riding an ex rope horse. But it should work with any horse you want to slow down. I'll read it 3 or 4 times and try to keep it in the back of my mind in case I need it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-88937859332468700412011-08-30T07:40:38.261-06:002011-08-30T07:40:38.261-06:00I thought you had all left me so we could wrassle ...I thought you had all left me so we could wrassle on FHOTD....<br />call me insecure.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.com