I arrived to the barn to find myself with a burr covered pony. . .again. What does she do? Where does she get them from? And why does she keep going back to the burr place?
 |
| They really are tiny and all on the side of her face, too. Her forelock was a tangle! |
I de-burred Shyloh. I am so glad I had been working with her and her ears. She lets me touch them now and was fine with me picking burrs from them. Then, I tacked her up in her harness. I am bound and determined to conquer this fear of something dragging behind her. I got out the sled, which coincidentally makes it very convenient to carry my grooming bag, the tack, her supplements, and whatever else I need in one trip. She went straight for the sled and touched it. she knows if it is not moving, it won't turn into a horse eating mountain lion.
We went for our walk around the property. I am sure the other boards were thinking. . .there goes that crazy lady and her horse, dragging that damn sled all over the place. Oh well. . .We walked for about forty five minutes. Shy was great! I even drug the sled over the grates, so it made a different noise. The first couple times, Shy tensed up, but after that, she could have cared less.
 |
| Dragging the sled on dirt ground. . . |
 |
| Dragging the sled on gravel. . . |
 |
| Dragging the sled over grates. . . |
I made a discovery today, one that does not really work in my favor. Shy is completely comfortable with me at her head. The problems seem to occur when I am not at her head. She tends to get a bit nervous. This is not going to work if I am going to be driving her from behind.
I did some testing and slowed my walk (which was practically turtle pace, Shy is so pokey!) so Shy could not see me. She slowed and turned her head to make sure I was still there. Then I thought back to when I was line driving. Every time we stopped, Shy would look back. Was it to make sure it was still me back there? Do I provide her with some sort of comfort? Or is that just wishful thinking? How do I fix this?
 |
| Wishful thinking :) |
Just wondering if there is a need for the blinders? Luckily we don't suffer from burrs, mud however is another story :). Oh, and I've noticed with a little weight in Camryn's sled the sounds change to something less sinister. Or at least Camryn seems to think so.
ReplyDeleteGotta get her used to the blinders and not being able to see behind her. I need her totally comfortable and not jumpy if I want to be attached to her on a cart.
ReplyDeleteSo. . .have you started line driving with Camryn?
Nope no line driving. But, we have pulled a blue sled alongside in the paddock from time to time. Problem is I wanna pick it up all the time.
DeleteCamryn, the big golden retriever!
DeleteI can't remember, have you ground driven her just like with a surcingle and by yourself? It seems like you have. Maybe more of that would help.
ReplyDeleteThe ground driving we have pretty much down. It is when we introduce something dragging behind while I am ground driving that is the problem. But even when I am ground driving, she is constantly looking back and checking to see who is behind her.
DeleteDo you talk to her while you are driving? I know often times while riding, I can give verbal comfort. I think horses find comfort and guidance in their owner's voice.
ReplyDeleteI do talk to her. I am always telling her she is doing good, or easy, or whatever.
DeleteI think she's looking for you because she's "hooked on" - she's looking to you for guidance and to see how she's supposed to act. I don't know that you really want to change that. Maybe if you start just talking to her all the time (I bet you already do), she'll be able to track you with her ears instead of her eyes.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I could just be talking out my butt, because I don't know a darn thing about driving.
You are right, I do talk to her! While I am glad that she if finally looking to me for guidance, she does need to know I can still guide her if she can't see me.
DeleteHi, I was reading this with interest, as I do. May I offer mt twopence worth? See when she is dragging something and your behind her, before you drop back to her rear, keep talking to her, then come nearer to her head again, each time you do, make it less nearer, eventually she`ll get the idea, the blinkers wont help her, especially with this issue, try removing them for a while and see how she goes without them and you behind, remember a horse view of the world is somewhat at odds to ours. Good luck
ReplyDeleteGood idea! While she does fine without the blinders, maybe we just need more practice without them for her to feel comfortable. I will be doing this today!
DeleteAre blinders actually necessary or is it just tradition to use them? I would think that using them would actually increase a horse's anxiety because you're limiting their vision, which they depend on as prey animals.
ReplyDeleteI've just always wondered about that.
I think a lot of it is tradition, but it does stop the horse from wondering what is behind them. Kind of keeps them focused straight ahead and not off to the sides.
DeleteI think Dickie is talking to Shyloh and getting ideas. I came out today to a unicorn w a horn made of burrs. His tail was full too. He hardly had a forelock and nothing was left after I got the burrs out. I managed to salvage his already short tail. None of the other horses got into the burrs. They are smart enough to stick to the grass.
ReplyDelete