Silke's progress June 2011

Hi All,
Sorry I have been very busy and I will have to get you all caught up on the latest info. Silke and I are working on other people handling her, we are having a lot of ups and downs, litterally. she has had some very good days and she has had some days where she decided she was not going to let anyone else touch her. I play with her every day just a little so it is starting to be very consistent. Today she let my worker put her out into the pasture, but she would not let him bring her back in from the pasture, but when I go out and call her name she looks up and comes to me with her head down as if to say oh it's you, no problem and I halter her and take her in or I hand her to my husband or worker to be put in, that seems to help, but they are not always available for the process.
I am starting to put the saddle on again and get her used to it now that the weather is starting to cooperate a little, but I am taking it really slow so she accepts it well and consistently. That seems to be very important for her progress. Let me tell you she is 7 yrs old and she is experiencing humans handling and riding her for the very first time in her life, there was no foal imprint training she has had to learn all the firsts in her life since November, when I got her. She is very good at remembering everything I teach her and everything she experiences, good or not so good. This part of her training is not as progressive or interesting to the readers as it was in the beginning. But, I have to say I am enjoying every minute of the time I get to spend with her, it is so amazing to know that I am helping her to be a willing part of my life and I am grateful for this opportunity to be a part of her life. Thank you for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

Silke's The Velveteen Horse

Hi all,

I want you to know that I have been spending time with Silke about 3 to 4 times a day. I go out every morning and catch her in the stall and put her in her own pasture next to other horses. she eats and then I go back out and catch her several times during the day and sometimes I just let her go again and other times I just pick grass for her to eat out of my hand. I also take her into the round pen and we play at liberty (no lead or halter) she follows me around the pen and goes wherever I go she seems to really like playing that game. then I walk away and ask her to stay and I walk up to her to halter her several times, she is getting so good she lowers her head and leans into me to make it easy to put the halter on. I know this sounds very basic. I am the only one who can catch her right now so I am creating a pattern so that others can catch her too. sometimes my husband can get her, but my worker tries to sneak up on her and she has his number and she won't let him do it. she will let a few other get away with it from time to time, but I am the only one who can get it every time. I hope this helps those of you who are having trouble catching your horses. I have had to leave the halter on so I could get hold of it, ( something I would never do with any other horse) I also give treats, something I normally would not do. I am really enjoying my extra time spent with Silke It has really given me a lot of ways to read a horse and has taught me how to understand her way of thinking.
Today she was so good at everything that I thought I would introduce her to the hose of cold water. I was surprised at how well she accepted the water touching her mouth and then she was curious enogh to let it touch her feet and when ever she would relax I would turn it off or move it away. she stepped back a couple of times but she really was enjoying the game of touch and go with the water tomorrow will be even better. she likes to be with me and play the games of exploring new things.
As you all know by now we have a match for her DNA and she will be able to be registered soon. It reminds me of the book the" Velveteen Rabbit " she is now real to me.
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

Silke's progress

Hi all,
Silke has been making such great progress lately. She watched as Sally trimmed her Andalusian Horse with Clippers and she was less than 5 feet away she was not bothered at all and she ignored them after a while and just turned her back and started eating. she also had her feet washed at the wash rack, she didn't like it but she stood still long enough for me to end on a good note so we can build on it tomorrow. the best thing that is happening is that she is finally allowing other people to catch her to lead her outside and then back into her stall. my husband even did it with out any assistance!!!! she comes when I call her name and motion with my hand to come. I am so pleased.
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

Silke's progress May days

Hi,
Silke is becoming much better at accepting other people, Today was the first day that I let someone else (my worker) bring her into her stall, she was very nervous about having someone besides me, but she did really well with no problems.
Let me back up, I have been going out every morning and turning her out then I come out after she is done eating and work on touching and being touched and desensitizing as well as sensitizing. then at the end of the day I go out and catch her and groom her and then I turn her into her stall to eat.  I go back later and do more with her. We have been doing this schedule for over 2 weeks now and she seems to be getting used to the consistency of the program.
She has learned to accept me touching and massaging both ears and she has learned to lower her head if I place my hand between her ears.
She has learned to put her head down if I put my finger into her mouth (where the bit or wormer would go)
She has learned to pick up her feet if I lean on her leg with my shoulder and say foot while I gently pick up her foot and stroke it.
She stops when I stop and
She backs when I back,
She moves her hind or front when asked and
She sidepasses pretty good.
She stands still for mounting from both sides.
She is coming along nicely, but she is now needing to get used to other people handling her so that I don't have to worry about her getting away from them if I am not here to "Catch" her.
She is "in ground training" until she makes the transition to other people. Then I will start saddle training her from the ground as well as ground driving, then she will begin her under saddle training. I feel like we have come a long way in a very short time, until she has a bad day (or someone has tried to "help" me) then it seems like it took for ever. I am having so much fun with her she is getting shiny and silky, she has shed out beautifully.
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

Silke's Progress Springtime!

Hi All,
Silke and I are really getting to know each other, she is very confident but her level of trust still needs help, I am sure that will be a very long process. Yesterday my worker decided he would "help" me by trying to Catch her and turn her out, when I wasn't there yet, well needless to say she didn't let him and I am sure he ended on less than a positive note, with the release being when he gave up, but he thought he would surprise me by helping. I am sure he got the message from Silke, not to touch her. He said she didn't like him.
 It is amazing how many people want to "help' me either by telling me what I did wrong, or telling me I should use different methods, most of them haven't even seen my horse, let alone work with her. I believe that every horse is different, and what works for one isn't always the best for all. For example, each of my 3 Iceys have a different way of learning and of responding. I believe all methods work. I just have to use what works for me and for my horse, after all I am the one who is her owner. I hope this helps some of you who are struggling with lots of well meaning advice from friends, just do what works for you, or go get help from your favorite trainer. I am sure I won't be Silke's only trainer, she will need more than I can give her. I will always be learning, I am a sponge for knowledge. I believe that if a trainer stops learning they should also stop training. Until I become a horse, I will still need to learn more.
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

DNA's and play days

Hi All,

The DNA has come back as a negative, Lani and Sunna are not Silke's Parents. So I just sent a list of possible parents to be tested for a match to Silke's DNA. If there are no match's she will not be able to be registered. That will be sad, but I didn't get her for her papers, I am so happy to own such a wonderful horse.

I had the opportunity to go to an Icelandic playday in The Dalles Oregon, I had so much fun, I am a bit timid when it comes to driving my truck and trailer on the freeway so I asked Karen (Brotzman) to do the driving and I would supply the horses and the truck and trailer. Karen rode Bear and I rode Feather (AKA Vaka) It was such a treat to see someone ride my horse, I got to see who he is with someone else. Thank you, Karen. The place we were at had an obstacle course and a water crossing, as well as an arena that was huge. Feather was so excited to see all the other Iceys, there were 16 horses and several of them were in Feathers previous herd. Feather's Mom was there and she just had to say "Hi" she calmed down after our lunch break. I can't wait for the next play day we really came together as a club and we all seemed to be having a great time. I have been working with Silke on a daily basis again so I hope to have some new updates on her progress soon.
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl and Silke

Silke's blog

Hi All,
Silke has been steadily improving. Yesterday I took Bear and Feather on a trail ride to Battle Ground  Lake, we had a great time the temperature was 70 degrees. Silke stayed home with Shorty and she didn't even call out as we went past her down the driveway. She is now very consistently coming up to me in the pasture instead of hiding behind the other horses. She is very curious and she allows me to groom her in the pasture with out "catching" her, in other words I am grooming her "at liberty." She has become a nice asset to my herd environment. While we were gone, she took care of Shorty and he took care of her. They really get along wonderfully.
Now I must talk to you about what has been happening in the pasture. Normally Bear and Shorty "play" every afternoon while Silke and Feather eat and watch and then tell them to stop. Now, all 4 horses are at play every afternoon. it is a wonderful sight to see, I am so lucky to be able to watch the herd dynamics from my windows of my house, without disturbing their play. when I go out to video or take pictures, they stop and come to me to see what I am doing. they are like children on a play date. Or...maybe they are posing for a picture? I challenge you all to watch your horses and just hang out with them and groom them in the pasture.
Silke and I are playing on a regular basis in the barn too, it is very rewarding and we are making great progress, I have slowed down the riding. (I still put a saddle on and I also sit on her and climb on her bareback) I am focusing on the small details of what makes her respond to me and what makes her not respond to me. she really does not spook at things and she is very focused on me
when we are together, even if other horses are present.
She is very confident, she is learning to stand still for friendly pressure She is allowing and accepting the rope over her neck withers and back and even around her legs.  She is learning to move away when asked gently, she is learning very fast and she retains it all. She is not as "heavy" as my other iceys were at the beginning. She is very light, but not out of fear, she is just responsive. I am very pleased with the results.
Thank you for listening,
Cheryl and Silke's herd etc.