https://youtu.be/EAbGCqhOc0Y?is=-pSR-JSSvrDF4CDA
Here is the link to go vote for us on the ReBrand Initiative FB page. Remember, only likes and reactions on the ReBrand page count for the competition, though of course we love to see interactions everywhere!
Son of a Lynx went for a second ride today. While mounting he was trying to step away from me and the mounting block if I made any sudden movements. To fix this I got off the block and started jumping around erratically, putting weight in the stirrups with my hands, patting him and the tack. Initially he looked at me like I'd lost my mind! He's starting to realize that while I'm a very strange human, at least I seem to be mostly harmless. Once he came to this conclusion he stood quietly for my antics, and I was able to slide into the saddle.
Once I was on board and after a little explaining, he figured out that my leg pressure means "go forward". He was a little "bunchy", feeking like he was tense and considering unplanned quick movements. He did settle when I instead worked on figure eights and circles at the walk. He of course already has brakes and steering using the bridle because he was a driving horse, but I'm trying to add in weight shifts, breathing cues, and leg aids. So far so good!
https://youtu.be/sNonPX1hZ0U?is=OTZ735NJDEMGtMrI
Ralph the cat in his supervisory role. As we all know, behind every good horse trainer there's a hardworking barn cat coaching her.
Son of a Lynx was great today, he had his first sit, was mounted from the left and the right (I always do everything from both sides) and figured out that leg pressure means "go forward". We even went for a little wobbly walk as he determined how to carry a rider's weight. I do love a boring first ride, so we quit with that.
Compared to other methods it may seem a little slow to start like this in the beginning. However, I've found over the years that fast is slow and slow is fast when a horse is learning something new. I'd much rather have this all seem too easy and too simple for the horse than overface him or even just stress him out. This way he's interested in what we're doing, but not scared or worried by it. That mindset creates a horse who's eager to go to work, to learn the next thing, to spend time with the human who presents new puzzles to figure out.
Son of a Lynx had a couple days off to think about our first training session while I took care of some non-horse related things. We were back at it this morning though, and he did great.
I was able to find a girth and sheepskin cover that he likes much better, so no head tossing or kicking at the girth this time. He also decided that me being on the top step of the block wasn't so alarming anymore. I did manage to surprise him a little when I began patting the saddle on the far side, but he realized it wasn't a big deal pretty quickly. He even let me put a leg over the saddle on each side too.
I take a lot of time teaching horses to stand quietly at the mounting block for a few reasons. Mounting and dismounting are somewhat precarious moments in riding when a slight move in the wrong direction can create havoc really quickly. I also want to make an environment where the horse is so comfortable with me hanging all over him that it seems like the next obvious step to just climb on, and he isn't worried or concerned at all.
After we were done in the ring I hosed him off and hand grazed him a little. I'm hoping to get him to where he can be turned out in the pasture with whichever of my horses he becomes friends with. My gelding Note is the trickiest personality in my herd, but so far he and Son of a Lynx have enjoyed polite indifference over the fence. That feels like a big win considering how it took many years for Note to be turned out safely with anyone else.
Lastly we enjoyed taking a few selfies. I swear Son of a Lynx understood the game, giving me a smooch on my cheek, smiling a little, and looking right into the cell phone camera.
https://youtu.be/l7B2puEg5xE?is=H8CcKPvLkItNRpZ7
I've had quite a few requests for the links where your likes, comments, and shares will count towards the point totals for me and Son of a Lynx in the ReBrand Initiative Trainers' Challenge. Though we love seeing everyone's reactions in other online spaces, only the likes on the ReBrand page count for the competition points. Here are the links so far:
This takes you to the introductions on the ReBrand page, scroll down to my graphic and like that image.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17WVDpKhke/
This takes you to our first training video shared on the ReBrand page, like the video to add to the points!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E5MBsRCkY/
