Bathtime with Silke?

I forgot to tell you about Silke's Bath, my friend (Barb) was in the Barn and heard a big splash and turned around to find Silke on the ground and her big water bucket tipped over and running out onto the ground. Silke looked bewildered, but calmly got back up and snorted at the overturned bucket, now empty. I came in a few minutes later. I told my friend that there was a small creek running through the property that Silke was on and I am sure she thought she needed to stand in the stream to drink out of it, I find her bucket dumped out every couple of days. but I have also seen her drinking from it just fine, so maybe it's just her bath time?! I went into her corral to check on her and she was wet from her chin to her teets! This was last night.

Today, was a new day....My Husband and I were discussing Silke and my progression of learning. My husband said I should try to pony her to get her used to being around other horses that are cooperating with humans. Well, ponying was not an option today so I decided to get my mare Vaka (Feather) out and play with her (on line) in the corral with Silke loose to watch. This was such a good decision, I sent her to the left and to the right and asked her to stop and face me and just basically move around with lots of release and rubbing on her, Silke was very curious and came closer and closer. Every time Feather stopped, Silke would come a little closer. so I took the lead rope off and worked with her at liberty and she was wonderful and did all that I asked with lots of stopping and rubbing and praise. Silke joined in and after a while I was moving Both horses together and they were stopping together and turn and face me to get rubbed and praised. After a while I was able to send Silke and have Feather (Vaka) stand still and then I put Silke on a line and had her stand still while Feather (Vaka) ran a very small circle around us with no line. it was so exciting, they were teaching each other and all the while allowing me to be lead mare. This was done with little or no equipment, mostly just my hands and arms and body language, being careful to read what they were doing too.
I have always believed that anything you do under saddle you can simulate on the ground and it should transfer. This was a good example of riding my horses from the ground and ponying them too.
Silke was much more willing today than ever before. I fed them together (separate piles), and they are doing great. There was some initial kicking at each other but I was able to diffuse it as their lead mare and they both seemed to accept my leadership. I went to the barn about 5 times today and Silke came up to the rail to see me no matter where I stand and she comes to me to be rubbed on inside the corral just like Feather(Vaka). I am very happy with the results of this, and I can't wait till tomorrow.
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl

Silke's Progress

Hi,
I have learned so much in the last few days I don't know where to start. The idea of approach and retreat is so wonderfully effective. When you are approaching a "wild " horse their instinct is to be on their guard and to be ready for anything, fight or flight, or perhaps something pleasant. My job is to create a relationship that my "wild" friend can depend on and can trust, and be consistent and provocative. I have to be able to keep her curiosity, as well as strengthening her trust in me. Today I realized that I need her to trust other Humans too. More about that next blog.
 The approach and retreat is a very valuable tool. when approaching, I need to be carefully reading what I think the horse will do next, so that I can retreat before the horse retreats. Silke wants so badly to trust me, after she is "caught" she will allow me to do just about anything, pick up feet, grooming, tying to post, including get on her back, put a saddle or bareback pad on. and climb all over her and her response is to drop her head and she seems to really be comfortable with me above her on the mounting bench. 
The interesting thing is that sometimes she is worried about being "Caught" not all the time, just every once in a while. I think she goes back to the herd in her mind. the interesting thing is she always comes back to me if I repeat the simplest of tasks, like, disengaging the hind quarters, she always turns to face me, and I retreat, then she will follow me and I can halter her. then she is fine. It is the release that teaches. (both of us)
She is really helping me with my timing and feel as well as teaching me how to read her, everyday is a little better than the last.

Now for the really interesting part, after spending so much time with Silke, I started playing with & riding Bear and Feather (Vaka) and I am amazed at some of the things I can do with them that I couldn't do before, I am reading them better and my timing and feel seem to be magnified. There are also some things that Silke is better at than they are because I have spent so much time on the ground with her, I am working differently with them now too.
This (getting Silke) was the best decision I could have made to further my horsemanship.
thank you for all your support,
cheryl

My horsemanship

I guess it is time to tell about my horsemanship experiences.
I started getting into horses 20 yrs ago when my Husband and I bought a 24acre Dairy farm. we decided to convert it to a horse boarding stable. we knew nothing about horses! So as we cleaned up from the pigs and cows, we gradually started getting horses to board (self care). That was indeed and experience. to make a long story short (hopefully) I decided to go to a (Parelli) horse clinic and I decided to get educated. I read everything I could and watched every video I could find, I even leased my first horse. soon I passed level one of Parelli's program. then I realized I didn't really know how to ride so I took some lessons and started to watch RFDTV. my friend introduced me to Clinton Anderson's methods and it really helped with my riding, people started asking me to give them lessons on what I knew ( I was very shocked at this) and it just evolved. I was able to help about 15 people pass their first level in Parelli. My Barn started to fill up and I talked my husband into building me an arena and more stalls, we went to full care and I had to hire someone for help. I have worked with almost every breed of horse in one way or another. We have Dressage riders and Western pleasure riders here and backyard horse owner's here. We have had lots of clinics of every discipline. I am the only one that owns Iceys. Everyone loves them.
I have learned that this is my passion, and I am 55yrs old and loving every minute of my time with my horses and with the people in my Barn, we have close to 40 horses here when we are at capacity. This is a barn full of (mostly Adult Women) people who love each other and enjoy each other's company. I am very lucky to be a part of it. Tomorrow, More about Silke....
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl

Horsemanship

Hi,
today I went with friends to get a horse that would not load into the trailer, the previous owners put a rope around the girth and then between the legs to get him in the trailer, it didn't really work for this horse, but it was great to see that the approach and retreat method we used was very successful and the horse was the one to make the decision to go in and to stay in, it was an amazing thing to see. the horse totally made a change and decided to just go in. we were told that he likes to turn around and bolt out but when we arrived he was such a good boy and just waited till we asked and backed out nicely, there was no fear force or intimidation. I think he just realized that we were going to be fair and kind to him.
Silke is doing so good she is going out each day into a nice round pen with green grass, and she comes to the gate to go in and out. She has totally made a change, and is trusting more each day. she is getting shiny and she is shedding out a little, her mane and tail are growing and she has lost a little weight, She looks very good, I can pick up all 4 feet every time and I can clean her teets, she really likes being touched, after the initial first touch of the day. I am still learning a lot from all the horses and from all the followers of Silke's Blog, thank you for listening,
Cheryl & Silke

Silke's Progress January 2011

To day was very cold here, but at least it was not raining. Silke is starting to come to me more and more. she has learned to count on me to come and take her for walks and to play. but the most exciting thing that happened was tonight when I went out to see someone in the barn and Silke came to the gate and she just followed me around the pen.
 I was standing there talking when I noticed that she had laid down across the pen from me. I waited until she was very settled and comfortable. I slowly walked up to her and squatted down in front of her and gave her some treats. she stayed for the treats, and then I got up and took a step toward her shoulder, I petted her mane. This was a moment I will never forget,
Thanks
Cheryl & Silke

learning a lot from Silke and friends

Well,
Today was interesting, Silke got out of her stall while I was in with her, I guess I should have latched it. She just pushed and out she went. She is a clever girl. she ran to my other horses and I was able to halter Bear and lead him to Silke's stall and she followed and went right in. It was a learning experience. If it had been someone else's horse, I would have caught her a lot sooner. As her owner I am sometimes too close to the situation.

I am very humbled by this experience, she wanted to be with the herd, not me. It is not a bad thing it was just a reality check. I have more work/play to do.
A friend came by and showed me some TTouch today. Thank you, Janella. Silke loved it, very relaxing. I am really learning from my horse. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Thanks for listening,
Cheryl

Good weather, finally

We had a great day today, I got a lot done, I cleaned all my saddles and I drilled new holes in my western saddle to shorten the stirrups so I could be a lot more comfortable and safer. I also got to ride Bear today, I actually had the big arena all to myself, it was wonderful, he still remembered everything we had last worked on, this horse is such a good boy. Riding Bear always helps build my confidence.
When I got Silke out she was waiting at the gate, there was no hesitation in putting the lead and halter on she has realized that there is a good pattern and she likes it. what a great feeling It was our biggest obstacle. she was so good today I rode her bareback. she did everything I asked and I knew it would be a good day for riding. I went back out after dinner. still she was at the gate to be caught. I actually got on her with no bridle or halter, just me and silke she took a few steps and I slid down gently, I have always wanted to do that and she was so good she just stopped and looked at me like, why did you get down? believe me, that was a very good place to end the day. now I need to get more consistent wth my riding.