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Showing posts from December, 2010

Snow Day

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Soul of a Horse

A few weeks ago, I read Joe Camp's book "The Soul of a Horse." Its a well written and interesting book about newcomeers to the horse world (Joe and his wife Kathleen) and their introduction to the world of natural horsemanship through Monty Roberts. I really enjoyed the book overall, but there were some other take home messages as well. I've struggled with John on trail rides in the past. His favorite thing to do in an "unsure" situation is to sit, spin and run the other way. This really bothers me. Secret loves to challenge authority. She really believes that she should be in charge. Remi is young and impressionable and sometimes impatient. I really want to train her well and not repeat mistakes I have made with the other two. I have been using some of the principles of natural horsemanship that Joe Camp's book reminded me of to work with all three on ground work. Clinton Anderson says that if you are having trouble under saddle, go back to groun

Secret's Feet

On September 24, 2010, I was grooming Secret to tack her up for a ride. As I went to pick up her hoof and clean it, I felt a weird lump on her leg. I looked down and found a splint, just under her knee. All summer long, I had been watching Secret's feet and worrying about them. But I never did anything about it. She could not last in between trims without touching her feet up with a rasp. A few weeks after the farrier had visited, her feet would start chipping and cracking. In the end, they could not stand up to the pressure of hard work on hard, dry ground. My farrier said her laminae is not strong enough to suppport her body weight. The splint never made her lame and it was never hot. But it is certainly there. I gave her two and a half months off. When I found the splint I thought, "Well, she will just have to wear shoes next year." But as time wore on, I was not so sure that had to be the answer to the question. O ordered Glanzen 3 - a hoof, coat and attit

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your holiday season is peaceful and happy. I took Secret out for a short trail ride today, she's been out of work for a couple months (a blog for another day) and it was her first time back on the trail (and only the second time I've ridden her in two and a half months). She puffed herself up and snorted and blew down the woods trail. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon!