Rudey
Well-Known Member
Do you work your youngsters whatever the weather? Or do you avoid less than favourable conditions?
Today, I had plans to long rein my little 3.5 year old cow pony around the open fields in his tack, only having long reined him in the sand ring in his tack for the first time a few days ago. (Although I will say last month he was long reined in tack at the Monty Roberts demo.... but that's a different story)!
Anyway, I arrived at the yard and it was blowing a right gale. I smiled thinking what a perfect opportunity to have a 'de-sensitizing session' with my little chump. Tacked him up, and off we went.
We walked up the track and the wind wasn't too bad initially, and as we turned to go through the wooded area it acted like a wind tunnel. I was quite surprised how strong and full on the wind was. Doubt shadowed my mind whether I was doing the right thing or not as through the woods we would be on open fields where the wind would be full force....
I pushed on reminding myself that this was a good experience for the cow pony, and would be perfect education for him. I was so glad I did, he was an absolute angel. He powered on very confident and alert, and was a pleasure to long rein. The long lines were flapping everywhere, his saddle flaps blew up, the electric fence was flapping, and the pin in one of the gates had been left dangling and was making a clat - was he bothered? Not at all!
I walked him around the fields for 10 minutes, and on the way back to the yard, I popped him in the jumping paddock, and did a lap on each rein around the edge, including walking in and out of the blocks with him.
I'm so pleased how the cow pony went, and glad that I still exercised him in less than favourabe conditions. It gives me such a confidence boast knowing that he has been exposed to such conditions, and that when he is eventually broken, he potentially is becoming a 'bomb proof' type of ride *fingers crossed*!
I do a lot of de-sensitizing with him working towards this. For example, I long rein at night time with only a small floodlight lighting the sand ring. I put bells on a neck strap, which dangle against his chest and jingle, etc.... Enough of my jibber jabber, here's some photo's and a video, hope you like them!
Long reining at night time....
Showing off his bells...
Video:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150472143037930
Long reining for the first time tacked up at home...
De-sensitizing... Rudolf styley....
...and just because he is a doofus...
So, what about you and your youngsters?..... I'd really appreciate any suggestions you have for me to try new things with him? xx
Today, I had plans to long rein my little 3.5 year old cow pony around the open fields in his tack, only having long reined him in the sand ring in his tack for the first time a few days ago. (Although I will say last month he was long reined in tack at the Monty Roberts demo.... but that's a different story)!
Anyway, I arrived at the yard and it was blowing a right gale. I smiled thinking what a perfect opportunity to have a 'de-sensitizing session' with my little chump. Tacked him up, and off we went.
We walked up the track and the wind wasn't too bad initially, and as we turned to go through the wooded area it acted like a wind tunnel. I was quite surprised how strong and full on the wind was. Doubt shadowed my mind whether I was doing the right thing or not as through the woods we would be on open fields where the wind would be full force....
I pushed on reminding myself that this was a good experience for the cow pony, and would be perfect education for him. I was so glad I did, he was an absolute angel. He powered on very confident and alert, and was a pleasure to long rein. The long lines were flapping everywhere, his saddle flaps blew up, the electric fence was flapping, and the pin in one of the gates had been left dangling and was making a clat - was he bothered? Not at all!
I walked him around the fields for 10 minutes, and on the way back to the yard, I popped him in the jumping paddock, and did a lap on each rein around the edge, including walking in and out of the blocks with him.
I'm so pleased how the cow pony went, and glad that I still exercised him in less than favourabe conditions. It gives me such a confidence boast knowing that he has been exposed to such conditions, and that when he is eventually broken, he potentially is becoming a 'bomb proof' type of ride *fingers crossed*!
I do a lot of de-sensitizing with him working towards this. For example, I long rein at night time with only a small floodlight lighting the sand ring. I put bells on a neck strap, which dangle against his chest and jingle, etc.... Enough of my jibber jabber, here's some photo's and a video, hope you like them!
Long reining at night time....
Showing off his bells...
Video:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150472143037930
Long reining for the first time tacked up at home...
De-sensitizing... Rudolf styley....
...and just because he is a doofus...
So, what about you and your youngsters?..... I'd really appreciate any suggestions you have for me to try new things with him? xx
I did plastic sheeting, bags, water and all that but the bleedin' AstroTurf gets us every time 
xx
