Dear Horse Lovers,
I am in awe! Since I had gotten Eagie I have had this dream about my riding and where I saw myself going with my riding, even though I learnt a lot about natural horsemanship with him I never really got close to what I had in mind and I didn't really have any direction with my ideas. Now, when I got Island, I had very clear direction in my mind with what I wanted to do with him. I had this idea, this dream but I had no clue where to start or how to put this dream into action!
My dad had asked me what I wanted to do with Island and I had this idea in my head but I didn't really have the words to describe it. I said to him that I wanted to be able to do everything and anything with my horse and that I wanted to build an indescribable bond with him. And of course I also wanted to compete in dressage (and kick imported Warmblood ass on my OTTB, no offense to imported Warmblood owners, people just always put OTTB's down and they are actually pretty awesome :) ).
This wasn't exactly the picture I had in my mind but these were the best words I had to describe it. My dad, and not for lack of trying, didn't understand. He said that, that wasn't really horse riding and that he didn't understand, he felt that I was contradicting myself and couldn't make sense of my plan. Well, even though I had a clear idea in my head, I couldn't make realistic sense of my idea either.
Being a law student and having a complete lawyer brain/personality, I jumped onto the internet and started researching all the components of my idea, trying to find a way to piece them all together. And it was in this research that I discovered the realization of my dream. It was through this that I found everything that I had needed for this idea, this dream to become a reality, and all this right on my back doorstep. And that the reality of it was in actual fact much greater than what I had ever dreamed of.
It was through this research that I discovered Xenophon Equus Centre. Where I read articles found on their websites and watched videos of the work that is done there and I saw my dream in action. Well my dream and more! This idea of mine had manifested itself and I am super excited to announce that I will be moving my horse to this stunning yard at the end of the month.
To top off the way that they train and all the things I am going to learn, it is the most beautiful yard I have ever seen. Beautiful surroundings of mountains and Sir Lowry's Pass; big airy stables with an almost grecian theme; enormous paddocks filled with lush grazing and the most stunning indoor arena I have seen to date!
Just to give you some idea of how this has happened and how opportunities are all around us, if we dare look for them, and of course once you find them, if you dare take the leap of faith to actually take them!
I was researching straightness training (mostly the liberty part of it, I didn't really understand the full extent of it at that stage) and I came across an add for a straightness clinic and I have no idea why but I decided to take a look at the Facebook page of the yard where the clinic was being held (at this point in time I didn't even know the yard was in South Africa).
So I was looking through their page and I was so impressed by the photos and articles and I thought to myself I'd better like this page so I can read all these articles because some of them are in line with my ideas. Then my eye caught a comment that said "even though you are far away in SOUTH AFRICA..." and my mind went OH my gosh, I didn't know places like this existed in South Africa, it's probably some fancy Johannesburg yard.
But I was curious so I looked at their "about" section and it said Sir Lowry's Pass. Now my mind was going crazy, like how could this even be, I must be dreaming!! I then went onto their website and the more I read the more I understood that my idea is only a part of what they do and that I had to change my way of looking at riding (and my way of riding too).
So I contacted the owner and she informed me that they have a space for livery. So at 10am this morning my dad and I set off to view the yard and chat to the owner. I fell in love with the place. The owner is also very nice and I can see myself building a relationship with her and working with her for many years to come.
I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that if you believe and open yourself up your ideas will manifest themselves in the world around you in ways you cannot always fathom.
Island and I are going to a place where he and I can learn and grow together. Where the "indescribable bond" I had dreamt of will be formed and cultivated. I read on their website that someone had said: "she didn't fix my horse, she fixed me" and that sentence just confirmed what I believed.
For a very long time I have believed that horses were constantly trying to communicate with us but that we could only understand the surface of what they were telling us. I believe it was that iceberg theory, we chose to only see the top little tip and I wished that I could become a horsewoman that could read into the rest and also communicate accordingly, and this is the place where I will find those skills. Where I can explore my inner being while getting to know the inner being of Island, so that we may co-exist in a beautiful relationship.
I am ready to open myself to going beyond what I had dreamed of and to learn everything that this amazing place and the people who work there have to show me. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and I cannot wait to see what the future may hold!
Watch this space world, Island and I will become a force to be reckoned with!
Love and blissful excitement,
Jana and Island
horse lovers welcome
Monday 2 June 2014
Tuesday 27 May 2014
Part 2 of my story with horses
So my previous blog told my story up until the point where I was to become a first time horse owner. It started with me refusing to ride the Shettie, called Pie, at a lady called Lyn's stables, Reblyn. And now I continue part two with me contacting Lyn to start taking lessons with her.
I went for a few lessons with Lyn, riding various horses and ponies she had for her riding school. After a few lessons I got stuck on one horse, Double Corona, an 8 year old OTTB imported from Austrailia. A horse that she had bought for herself but that she couldn't ride due to her own health problems. So i rode him a few times and we really connected.
Although it didn't always look that way, me having a hot seat and him having flashbacks of his racing days our canter transitions were quite, um, forward to say the least. But I started loving him and I trusted him from the word go. I could do anything on his back. Lyn then decided to sell him and I told my dad that this was to be my first horse.
That was it. I looked no further. We bought him from Lyn but kept him stabled with her and I continued my lessons with her. This is where I started doing dressage. And where I absolutely fell in love with owning a horse and everything that goes with it.
He was the most kind horse. He was so easy to work with and I could do anything with him. He taught me absolute trust in horses and that with trust you can go further than you imagined. I had my first dressage show on him and learnt the art of washing and braiding and boxing and stressing with him.
He was far from perfect considering he was a wind sucker and he had sarcoids but none of that mattered because we had an unbreakable bond and we were a fantastic team.
I rode him in the weeks to follow while I looked for a new horse for me to buy. He was such a great horse and showed me the compassionate side that horses poses and that they are so in tune with our feelings.
I tried about a million horses, well it felt like that, but none came close to the feeling I had gotten when I was on D.C. After many disappointed outings we found a horse that I actually wanted to see for a second time, Beau Lapaz, a beautiful 16.3hh Andalusian thoroughbred cross with stunning movement.
I felt like a pea on his back but I felt somehow at home and I went to see him a second time and decided to take him. So on the day we had to fetch him, Lyn could not join us but her husband came along. We parked the box and the previous owner said that he will box him and this probably should have been my first warning sign, because as soon as he was in the box he tried to barge through the front (no one knows what his plan was as there was nothing at the front of the box except a window and a door for people, which had been closed) and he broke the box and shot out the back and we had a great struggle to get him loaded.
Once we had him back at the stables he wasn't exactly the same horse he had been when I had tried him out. But Beau taught me to have a good seat when it comes to spooking and bolting and spinning. He also taught me what it was like to ride a horse, and work with a horse from the ground, that you don't get a long with.
He had been a fantastic show horse though, apart from spooking and being nearly impossible to box, we never came home from a show without a rosette. I also started my schools horse riding team with him and along with another friend of mine.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad and we had great times but for most part he slowly started chipping away at my confidence and everything with him became a mission. And the day he backed me into the corner was the day my parents finally said that it was enough and that we had to sell him. My confidence had also completely been shattered and even just riding him for people who came to view him was terrifying. I was always honest to potential buyers about his fears and vices and we eventually sold him to a lady that he just clicked with, he was still scared and spooky and crazy but she was looking for that.
I will do another blog on rider confidence and how horrible it is losing your confidence, and how I am getting mine back.
But I decided that I wanted to carry on riding and that I wanted to get a horse with no vices so I came to the conclusion that I wanted a foal that I could raise and back and train myself (with the help of professional trainers of course) and I set out to find one that I liked.
I saw a photo of the most stunning baba Appaloosa colt and organized to see him.
I ended up buying Spotted Eagle, one and a half years old and the sweetest little thing. He probably taught me the most about riding and training and horses and myself. With him I learned how to back a horse, I learned all about Natural Horsemanship and joining up, I learned about how horses needs differs from baby to full grown and how their minds develop. I don't think that I could have gotten a better or easer horse to do this with. He had an amazing temperament and was so easy to work with.
I spent 5 years with my beloved Eagie before personal circumstances forced me to sell him. I sold him to a friend of mine and he is at the best home a horse could ask for. Being loved as much as I loved him. He is such a fantastic lad! And he grew into a handsome 16hh man with a sound mind and a streak of playfulness.
Eventhough I did a lot with him, he didn't bring my confidence back, I was confident with him but I think it is because I had him from when he was a baby and I watched him grow. After I sold him and started taking up lessons at a yard in Cape Town (where I had moved to) I realized how broken my confidence still was.
Every horse I have owned has been very special. Each of them still have a place in my heart and each of them taught me so much about myself, about riding and about life in general. I am thankful for each one of them and wouldn't change anything that had happened because each experience has shaped me into the rider I am today and has prepared me for meeting Island.
Love,
Lawquii
I went for a few lessons with Lyn, riding various horses and ponies she had for her riding school. After a few lessons I got stuck on one horse, Double Corona, an 8 year old OTTB imported from Austrailia. A horse that she had bought for herself but that she couldn't ride due to her own health problems. So i rode him a few times and we really connected.
Although it didn't always look that way, me having a hot seat and him having flashbacks of his racing days our canter transitions were quite, um, forward to say the least. But I started loving him and I trusted him from the word go. I could do anything on his back. Lyn then decided to sell him and I told my dad that this was to be my first horse.
That was it. I looked no further. We bought him from Lyn but kept him stabled with her and I continued my lessons with her. This is where I started doing dressage. And where I absolutely fell in love with owning a horse and everything that goes with it.
He was the most kind horse. He was so easy to work with and I could do anything with him. He taught me absolute trust in horses and that with trust you can go further than you imagined. I had my first dressage show on him and learnt the art of washing and braiding and boxing and stressing with him.
He was far from perfect considering he was a wind sucker and he had sarcoids but none of that mattered because we had an unbreakable bond and we were a fantastic team.
To this day my heart breaks when I look at pictures of this beautiful boy. I shared many firsts with D.C and all but one are some of the best memories of my horsey life. I also shared with him the first loss of a horse. The first heartbreaking, gut wrenching death that shatters your world for a while. He had a blockage in his intestines and had to be put down. I cried for weeks on end but I remained adamant that I will not quit. He had taught me too much to give up on riding I had said when my father told me the bad news.
One of the most difficult shows I've had to do was the one a week after D.C's death. He and I were entered into a show at Riverleigh and I decided that if I could find a horse to ride, I would do the show in his honor.
Now, bare in mind I had only ridden him for the past two years and I only had 5 days to prepare for this show, and this was only my second dressage show ever. I found a lovely lady that lent me her Arab gelding, Kadal, for the show.
Kadal also had a great impact on my riding life as, I swear, he felt the loss that I did (they had been stabled next to each other and they were great friends) and this brought us together to make a fantastic team. He was quite a fresh, high strung horse usually but since the four days before the show that I got on his back he was a super star! We received a first and a second place for our two classes respectively and apart from not wanting to walk through a gate he didn't set a food wrong.
I tried about a million horses, well it felt like that, but none came close to the feeling I had gotten when I was on D.C. After many disappointed outings we found a horse that I actually wanted to see for a second time, Beau Lapaz, a beautiful 16.3hh Andalusian thoroughbred cross with stunning movement.
I felt like a pea on his back but I felt somehow at home and I went to see him a second time and decided to take him. So on the day we had to fetch him, Lyn could not join us but her husband came along. We parked the box and the previous owner said that he will box him and this probably should have been my first warning sign, because as soon as he was in the box he tried to barge through the front (no one knows what his plan was as there was nothing at the front of the box except a window and a door for people, which had been closed) and he broke the box and shot out the back and we had a great struggle to get him loaded.
Once we had him back at the stables he wasn't exactly the same horse he had been when I had tried him out. But Beau taught me to have a good seat when it comes to spooking and bolting and spinning. He also taught me what it was like to ride a horse, and work with a horse from the ground, that you don't get a long with.
He had been a fantastic show horse though, apart from spooking and being nearly impossible to box, we never came home from a show without a rosette. I also started my schools horse riding team with him and along with another friend of mine.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad and we had great times but for most part he slowly started chipping away at my confidence and everything with him became a mission. And the day he backed me into the corner was the day my parents finally said that it was enough and that we had to sell him. My confidence had also completely been shattered and even just riding him for people who came to view him was terrifying. I was always honest to potential buyers about his fears and vices and we eventually sold him to a lady that he just clicked with, he was still scared and spooky and crazy but she was looking for that.
I will do another blog on rider confidence and how horrible it is losing your confidence, and how I am getting mine back.
But I decided that I wanted to carry on riding and that I wanted to get a horse with no vices so I came to the conclusion that I wanted a foal that I could raise and back and train myself (with the help of professional trainers of course) and I set out to find one that I liked.
I saw a photo of the most stunning baba Appaloosa colt and organized to see him.
I ended up buying Spotted Eagle, one and a half years old and the sweetest little thing. He probably taught me the most about riding and training and horses and myself. With him I learned how to back a horse, I learned all about Natural Horsemanship and joining up, I learned about how horses needs differs from baby to full grown and how their minds develop. I don't think that I could have gotten a better or easer horse to do this with. He had an amazing temperament and was so easy to work with.
I spent 5 years with my beloved Eagie before personal circumstances forced me to sell him. I sold him to a friend of mine and he is at the best home a horse could ask for. Being loved as much as I loved him. He is such a fantastic lad! And he grew into a handsome 16hh man with a sound mind and a streak of playfulness.
Eventhough I did a lot with him, he didn't bring my confidence back, I was confident with him but I think it is because I had him from when he was a baby and I watched him grow. After I sold him and started taking up lessons at a yard in Cape Town (where I had moved to) I realized how broken my confidence still was.
Every horse I have owned has been very special. Each of them still have a place in my heart and each of them taught me so much about myself, about riding and about life in general. I am thankful for each one of them and wouldn't change anything that had happened because each experience has shaped me into the rider I am today and has prepared me for meeting Island.
Love,
Lawquii
Monday 26 May 2014
Lawquii's life with horses Part 1
Hello Horse Lovers,
I was re-reading my posts and I realized that I don't really give much background information on who I am and where I came from before I found Island! So, here is the first part of my story:
My riding life started in very unusual circumstances. I started riding when I was 9 (I am now 23). Well I tried to start earlier, I think when I was about age 6 or 7, I told my parents that I loved horses more than the world and that I wanted to ride! (bare in mind I'd only ever seen pictures of them at this stage) And so my mom organized with a lady called Lyn (she played an extremely big role in my riding life later on) and I went for a lesson. Well lets say I showed up for a lesson.
I got there, super excited, and she brought out this adorable skewbald Shettie called Pie. I saw the pony and blatantly refused to get on. Scared to death. Who would have thought haha so Lyn tried to make me feel guilty about Pie having to go back to the paddock by himself while all his friends got to work in the arena, but I had no sympathy and cried my eyes out for fear of having to get on.
So about a year later we went on a holiday to a Malaysian Island where the hotel offered horseback rides on the beach. Being a little older, and still loving horses more than the world, I decided that maybe I was ready to face my fears. My mom and I went to book a ride, but I was too young to do the horse outride and they had a donkey outride for the smaller kids. So I agreed and off we went. I was on a lovely donkey called Percy. And dear old Percy sparked an equine love in me that will never die. I even tried convincing my dad to buy poor Percy and have him exported to South Africa hahaha
So I returned home, determined and not afraid anymore! I moved to a new school and made friends with another girl that rides. She invited me to a riding camp and so I went on my first camp and started my official HORSE riding life ;)
The camp was a week long and you got a horse to look after for the whole week. You had to catch it from the field, tack up, untack, feed, groom and take back to the paddock. But oh my gosh it was fun. We did two lessons a day, one morning and one afternoon, and some theory on horses in-between. We also did outrides and we had a horse washing competition and we played around the horses all day long. It was like heaven! Here is me on Duet, a highly pregnant, dead broke, fantastic school mistress that endured my horrible first riding style:
But she taught me how to stay on and how to enjoy horses and she helped me to start to get a feel for horses and that you could trust them.
Here I also learnt the joys of gymkhana and how much fun looking after horses is. I had my first night outride and horseback treasure hunt and I was taught how to look after a foal (as one mare I had for a camp had a foal) and how to groom and feed horses. It was also here where I experienced my first death of a horse and the immense sadness that goes with it (a horse had died in the field from eating a poisonous plant). And where I experienced my first show and the absolute joy there is to be found in receiving a rosette and taking a victory canter past all the spectators!
I went on a few more camps at this farm, and learnt so much about these amazing creatures! It was also here that I had my first big fall. I had gotten more experienced (each camp you move up a level if you show adequate improvement) and so I was riding a younger horse, Skim, and a friend and I were waiting for our level's group to do our jumping round so we decided to play a round of touchers on the horses. My horse slipped and we both fell and he slid right on top of me. I broke my wrist and my ego. But I did get back on the next day and finished the rest of the camp (the 5 days that were left) broken wrist and all!
Shortly after my first camp, I also started taking weekly lessons at a very big jumping yard in Johannesburg and attended several pony camps with them as well. I rode once a week and I really enjoyed it. At these stables I learned the finer art of riding, correct seat and hands and all that. What it is to work with stabled horses as opposed to horses living out by the hundreds. I also learnt how to ride bareback and it was here that I experienced my first foal being born, Brandenburg Ursula she had been dubbed and she was beautiful.
I remember the older kids and teenagers that rode and stabled their own horses here and how I always wished to one day be like them. I had such admiration of them, and of course jealousy at their beautiful big horses!
This is me on a mare, Caramello, that taught me the very basics of riding:
So in 2005 I had to live in Iran with my parents and there I continued to ride , which was an incredible experience as their ways of teaching and just the lessons as a whole was completely different than what I was use to. Here I got taught a lot about myself as a rider, as they focus on seat and balance. This is a photo of me riding in Iran, just to give you an idea of what it was like (this is also the first horse that broke my toe by standing on it):
The great thing about living in Iran during my first year of high school was that my dad promised me my very own horse once we returned to South Africa! And this is the first part of my story, on how I from being dead scared to being an horse owner :) the rest of my story (of me actually being a horse owner and all the joys and sorrows that come with that) will be in my next blog!!
There have been many other horses and ponies in between these that I have failed to mention, not because they had no impact on my riding or that I didn't like them but just because these really stand out and if I had to mention them all I would probably be writing a book and not a blog.
Love,
Lawquii
I was re-reading my posts and I realized that I don't really give much background information on who I am and where I came from before I found Island! So, here is the first part of my story:
My riding life started in very unusual circumstances. I started riding when I was 9 (I am now 23). Well I tried to start earlier, I think when I was about age 6 or 7, I told my parents that I loved horses more than the world and that I wanted to ride! (bare in mind I'd only ever seen pictures of them at this stage) And so my mom organized with a lady called Lyn (she played an extremely big role in my riding life later on) and I went for a lesson. Well lets say I showed up for a lesson.
I got there, super excited, and she brought out this adorable skewbald Shettie called Pie. I saw the pony and blatantly refused to get on. Scared to death. Who would have thought haha so Lyn tried to make me feel guilty about Pie having to go back to the paddock by himself while all his friends got to work in the arena, but I had no sympathy and cried my eyes out for fear of having to get on.
So about a year later we went on a holiday to a Malaysian Island where the hotel offered horseback rides on the beach. Being a little older, and still loving horses more than the world, I decided that maybe I was ready to face my fears. My mom and I went to book a ride, but I was too young to do the horse outride and they had a donkey outride for the smaller kids. So I agreed and off we went. I was on a lovely donkey called Percy. And dear old Percy sparked an equine love in me that will never die. I even tried convincing my dad to buy poor Percy and have him exported to South Africa hahaha
So I returned home, determined and not afraid anymore! I moved to a new school and made friends with another girl that rides. She invited me to a riding camp and so I went on my first camp and started my official HORSE riding life ;)
The camp was a week long and you got a horse to look after for the whole week. You had to catch it from the field, tack up, untack, feed, groom and take back to the paddock. But oh my gosh it was fun. We did two lessons a day, one morning and one afternoon, and some theory on horses in-between. We also did outrides and we had a horse washing competition and we played around the horses all day long. It was like heaven! Here is me on Duet, a highly pregnant, dead broke, fantastic school mistress that endured my horrible first riding style:
But she taught me how to stay on and how to enjoy horses and she helped me to start to get a feel for horses and that you could trust them.
Here I also learnt the joys of gymkhana and how much fun looking after horses is. I had my first night outride and horseback treasure hunt and I was taught how to look after a foal (as one mare I had for a camp had a foal) and how to groom and feed horses. It was also here where I experienced my first death of a horse and the immense sadness that goes with it (a horse had died in the field from eating a poisonous plant). And where I experienced my first show and the absolute joy there is to be found in receiving a rosette and taking a victory canter past all the spectators!
I went on a few more camps at this farm, and learnt so much about these amazing creatures! It was also here that I had my first big fall. I had gotten more experienced (each camp you move up a level if you show adequate improvement) and so I was riding a younger horse, Skim, and a friend and I were waiting for our level's group to do our jumping round so we decided to play a round of touchers on the horses. My horse slipped and we both fell and he slid right on top of me. I broke my wrist and my ego. But I did get back on the next day and finished the rest of the camp (the 5 days that were left) broken wrist and all!
Shortly after my first camp, I also started taking weekly lessons at a very big jumping yard in Johannesburg and attended several pony camps with them as well. I rode once a week and I really enjoyed it. At these stables I learned the finer art of riding, correct seat and hands and all that. What it is to work with stabled horses as opposed to horses living out by the hundreds. I also learnt how to ride bareback and it was here that I experienced my first foal being born, Brandenburg Ursula she had been dubbed and she was beautiful.
I remember the older kids and teenagers that rode and stabled their own horses here and how I always wished to one day be like them. I had such admiration of them, and of course jealousy at their beautiful big horses!
This is me on a mare, Caramello, that taught me the very basics of riding:
So in 2005 I had to live in Iran with my parents and there I continued to ride , which was an incredible experience as their ways of teaching and just the lessons as a whole was completely different than what I was use to. Here I got taught a lot about myself as a rider, as they focus on seat and balance. This is a photo of me riding in Iran, just to give you an idea of what it was like (this is also the first horse that broke my toe by standing on it):
The great thing about living in Iran during my first year of high school was that my dad promised me my very own horse once we returned to South Africa! And this is the first part of my story, on how I from being dead scared to being an horse owner :) the rest of my story (of me actually being a horse owner and all the joys and sorrows that come with that) will be in my next blog!!
There have been many other horses and ponies in between these that I have failed to mention, not because they had no impact on my riding or that I didn't like them but just because these really stand out and if I had to mention them all I would probably be writing a book and not a blog.
Love,
Lawquii
Saddle Fitting
Hello Horse Lovers,
So today my dad and I missioned to the stables so my dad could see my bubba in his new home and so that I could see my instructor to devise a plan for training and to fit his saddle and bridle so that we can get him onto work!
We got there as the groom set out his lunch, 2 slices YUMMY oat hay, so obviously he paid us no attention. I must say though that I realized today how absolutely amazing it is, and how very thankful should be, having a horse that is not possessive over or nasty with food!
We put his bridle on while he was chomping down, lifting his head when asked to and we made all the necessary changes without him even batting an eyelid! Can I just add that my absolute favorite part of fitting a bridle is counting the little mouth creases!! After fitting the bridle, we moved on to the saddle, and again, he stood rock still. the only movement out of him was to chase flies and he looked around once when we tightened his girth! Unfortunately, and as expected his saddle does not fit, but lucky me cause I have a saddle with an interchangeable gullet so we will be changing that ASAP.
SO with a fitting bridle and a not so fitting saddle we set off to the barn to put my tack away and then returned with a camera to take some pictures of my model boy! Still not paying any attention to us... But at least I now have an album full of photos of my little pig stuffing himself on oat hay!!
Even my instructor commented on how easy it is to work with him and what an amazing temperament he has. That line that people throw: "All OTTB's are crazy, I'd never buy an OTTB because they have the worst temperaments etc" is now thoroughly debunked and I call TOTAL BS!
My boy has been off the track for little over 4 months, has had a three month letting down period and has been in work for little over a month now and he is the most chilled, sound minded horse I've seen in a long time! He boxes like a dream, he stands for the farrier, he isn't nasty with food, he is ridden in a HALTER (because contrary to popular belief OTTBs actually do have brakes, especially if you school them properly from the ground up) and he is such a pleasure to work with!!
Like with any horse, we are going to have off days and fresh days and silly days and naughty days but that you get with ANY horse and not just OTTBs. So to people putting down these amazing creatures, I say go screw yourselves, own one and then we will talk again. 99% of people I have spoken to who have owned or still own an OTTB, ONLY have great things to say about them. The nasty comments usually come from people who aren't familiar with OTTBs. Obviously you do get silly ones and I would not recommend them as a novice/first mount, but with patience and time you will have a great competition horse with a quick mind, unbelievable work ethic and a huge heart to give!!
Tomorrow we start his retraining officially, focussing this week on everything he already knows, to get him use to the new surroundings!! Our adventure is finally starting and I am now more excited than ever!! Watch this space!!
Love,
Lawquii and Island Ridge
So today my dad and I missioned to the stables so my dad could see my bubba in his new home and so that I could see my instructor to devise a plan for training and to fit his saddle and bridle so that we can get him onto work!
We got there as the groom set out his lunch, 2 slices YUMMY oat hay, so obviously he paid us no attention. I must say though that I realized today how absolutely amazing it is, and how very thankful should be, having a horse that is not possessive over or nasty with food!
SO with a fitting bridle and a not so fitting saddle we set off to the barn to put my tack away and then returned with a camera to take some pictures of my model boy! Still not paying any attention to us... But at least I now have an album full of photos of my little pig stuffing himself on oat hay!!
Even my instructor commented on how easy it is to work with him and what an amazing temperament he has. That line that people throw: "All OTTB's are crazy, I'd never buy an OTTB because they have the worst temperaments etc" is now thoroughly debunked and I call TOTAL BS!
My boy has been off the track for little over 4 months, has had a three month letting down period and has been in work for little over a month now and he is the most chilled, sound minded horse I've seen in a long time! He boxes like a dream, he stands for the farrier, he isn't nasty with food, he is ridden in a HALTER (because contrary to popular belief OTTBs actually do have brakes, especially if you school them properly from the ground up) and he is such a pleasure to work with!!
Like with any horse, we are going to have off days and fresh days and silly days and naughty days but that you get with ANY horse and not just OTTBs. So to people putting down these amazing creatures, I say go screw yourselves, own one and then we will talk again. 99% of people I have spoken to who have owned or still own an OTTB, ONLY have great things to say about them. The nasty comments usually come from people who aren't familiar with OTTBs. Obviously you do get silly ones and I would not recommend them as a novice/first mount, but with patience and time you will have a great competition horse with a quick mind, unbelievable work ethic and a huge heart to give!!
Tomorrow we start his retraining officially, focussing this week on everything he already knows, to get him use to the new surroundings!! Our adventure is finally starting and I am now more excited than ever!! Watch this space!!
Love,
Lawquii and Island Ridge
Thursday 22 May 2014
Dear Horse lovers,
Today Island moved to his new home, Alpha Equestrian! My morning started out very early; I woke up, got dressed and went to fetch 4 bales of oat hay to keep Island fed till the next load gets delivered. Luckily my dad is not home at the moment else he might have had a heart attack at the state of his 4x4 after picking up the hay! teehee Ill need to get that washed tomorrow!!
Then, with the lovely scent of hay in the car I set off to the stables to meet the transport people who where boxing him over to Alpha. I must admit that I was beyond curious to see how he boxes and to see how he reacts to the change in environment.
I got there and met the man from the transport company. He then introduced me to the groom and we set off to the paddock to fetch Island. The groom had a bridle for loading purposes and again, I was very curious to see Islands reaction to a bridle as I have never ridden him in one, I have only ridden him in a halter. Nonetheless, we get to his field and get the bridle on hassle free.
It is nice to still be in that curious stage with a new horse. That time where you are still feeling each other out, getting know each others quirks. You are still going to hear me say "I am curious" multiple times over the next few blogs as Island and I find our feet together as a team.
At 10:07 we get to the box and by 10:10 he is loaded, box is closed and we are on the move to his new home!! I am immensely impressed with my boy! He boxed like an absolute gentleman! All the way to Alpha he continued behaving himself. We got there and opened the back, he slowly and ever so carefully backed out and observed the new world around him. Without a flinch or a moment of hesitation he then walked after the groom to his new paddock.
Chilled as a cucumber and not a hair of worry on his back! I am too proud! It is nice to still be in that curious stage with a new horse. That time where you are still feeling each other out, getting to know each others quirks. You are still going to hear me say "i am curious" multiple times over the next few blogs as Island and I find our feet together as a team.
After the transport company left I set off with 2 yummy slices of oat hay for him. I set it down in the shelter in his field and watched him as he started making friends with a SPCA horse, Micheal, across the fence. He didn't even look at the oat hay, he started munching on the green grass under his feet.
Just a bit of background, at racing stables the horses are kept in the stables all day unless they are out training, so he never knew the joys of grazing there, and the amazing rescue place where I got him from unfortunately is situated in a very sandy area so he also had no grazing there, even though he was turned out. He was also stabled his entire life and will now be living out. I can just imagine his excitement to be able to move around freely (instead of having to trudge through sand) and to be able to graze as any horse should!!
Being so elated must have made my brain fuzzled as I walked all the way down to his paddock without his flymask and then had to walk all the way up to fetch it. As I walked back down he immediately raised his head and walked toward the gate to greet me. I felt so loved :). I then decided to test this and see if he would follow me to the shelter (he seemed a bit skeptical of it) but after walking a few meters he just stood there and watched me, unsure of what it is I want. I clucked at him and he set off after me. To test if he really was walking after me and not just on a whim of his own I walked a few moe meters and the stopped. Although his reaction was slow, only coming to a stop with his bum next to me, he stopped. And again proceeded to walk once I did. It's moment like these that makes me feel special.
I left him eating and happy. I think I was more worried than he was about spending the night out. It is still difficult to get it over my heart that he will be living out but seeing how happy all the horses at my yard is I think he will love it too. I just need to get over it!
Some time this evening I messaged the yard owner to check in and she said that he was relaxed. She also said that when one of the riding school children was jumping in the yard he got all "ye-ha ish" wanting to join in! I feel that this is a good sign as he is not distressed and just getting excited about friends and the workings of the yard.
We will give him the weekend to get use to the yard and his surroundings and the comings and goings of all the people and on monday we start the serious work!
I am honestly so excited for this journey and I look forward to all the new thing I am going to learn. Most of all I look forward to the bond I will be forming with Island Ridge. I also hope to gain many followers on this blog who learn to love Island and who will share their insights and experiences with me!
Love,
Lawquii and Island
P.s I will post pictures soon!
Today Island moved to his new home, Alpha Equestrian! My morning started out very early; I woke up, got dressed and went to fetch 4 bales of oat hay to keep Island fed till the next load gets delivered. Luckily my dad is not home at the moment else he might have had a heart attack at the state of his 4x4 after picking up the hay! teehee Ill need to get that washed tomorrow!!
Then, with the lovely scent of hay in the car I set off to the stables to meet the transport people who where boxing him over to Alpha. I must admit that I was beyond curious to see how he boxes and to see how he reacts to the change in environment.
I got there and met the man from the transport company. He then introduced me to the groom and we set off to the paddock to fetch Island. The groom had a bridle for loading purposes and again, I was very curious to see Islands reaction to a bridle as I have never ridden him in one, I have only ridden him in a halter. Nonetheless, we get to his field and get the bridle on hassle free.
It is nice to still be in that curious stage with a new horse. That time where you are still feeling each other out, getting know each others quirks. You are still going to hear me say "I am curious" multiple times over the next few blogs as Island and I find our feet together as a team.
At 10:07 we get to the box and by 10:10 he is loaded, box is closed and we are on the move to his new home!! I am immensely impressed with my boy! He boxed like an absolute gentleman! All the way to Alpha he continued behaving himself. We got there and opened the back, he slowly and ever so carefully backed out and observed the new world around him. Without a flinch or a moment of hesitation he then walked after the groom to his new paddock.
Chilled as a cucumber and not a hair of worry on his back! I am too proud! It is nice to still be in that curious stage with a new horse. That time where you are still feeling each other out, getting to know each others quirks. You are still going to hear me say "i am curious" multiple times over the next few blogs as Island and I find our feet together as a team.
After the transport company left I set off with 2 yummy slices of oat hay for him. I set it down in the shelter in his field and watched him as he started making friends with a SPCA horse, Micheal, across the fence. He didn't even look at the oat hay, he started munching on the green grass under his feet.
Just a bit of background, at racing stables the horses are kept in the stables all day unless they are out training, so he never knew the joys of grazing there, and the amazing rescue place where I got him from unfortunately is situated in a very sandy area so he also had no grazing there, even though he was turned out. He was also stabled his entire life and will now be living out. I can just imagine his excitement to be able to move around freely (instead of having to trudge through sand) and to be able to graze as any horse should!!
Being so elated must have made my brain fuzzled as I walked all the way down to his paddock without his flymask and then had to walk all the way up to fetch it. As I walked back down he immediately raised his head and walked toward the gate to greet me. I felt so loved :). I then decided to test this and see if he would follow me to the shelter (he seemed a bit skeptical of it) but after walking a few meters he just stood there and watched me, unsure of what it is I want. I clucked at him and he set off after me. To test if he really was walking after me and not just on a whim of his own I walked a few moe meters and the stopped. Although his reaction was slow, only coming to a stop with his bum next to me, he stopped. And again proceeded to walk once I did. It's moment like these that makes me feel special.
I left him eating and happy. I think I was more worried than he was about spending the night out. It is still difficult to get it over my heart that he will be living out but seeing how happy all the horses at my yard is I think he will love it too. I just need to get over it!
Some time this evening I messaged the yard owner to check in and she said that he was relaxed. She also said that when one of the riding school children was jumping in the yard he got all "ye-ha ish" wanting to join in! I feel that this is a good sign as he is not distressed and just getting excited about friends and the workings of the yard.
We will give him the weekend to get use to the yard and his surroundings and the comings and goings of all the people and on monday we start the serious work!
I am honestly so excited for this journey and I look forward to all the new thing I am going to learn. Most of all I look forward to the bond I will be forming with Island Ridge. I also hope to gain many followers on this blog who learn to love Island and who will share their insights and experiences with me!
Love,
Lawquii and Island
P.s I will post pictures soon!
Wednesday 7 May 2014
Warms my heart! :) So glad I met you
Hello Horse Lovers,
Just a quick bit of happiness from my side, I received this email from a lady working for the Western Cape Equine Trust just after Island's rehoming was finalized! It honestly makes my heart sing :)
Hello,
We love to share good news with all of you when one of our horses is re-homed!
ISLAND RIDGE has found his new ‘Mom’ and is already progressing in his schooling with her. He will be moving to his new home shortly, where he will meet equine friends and no doubt, be very happy in his lovely surroundings.
We extend our sincere appreciation and say many thanks to the person who will give Island Ridge the love and care he deserves. May you have many happy times with him!
Kind regards
on behalf of the
WCET Rehoming Program
Windy days and scary monsters
Dear Horse lovers,
Just to give a bit of background, I found Island through an organization called the Western Cape Equine Trust and there is a man working for them that starts re-training the horses before they are rehomed, and I have decided to keep Island at the stables from where he works for three weeks, so that we can all work together to boost Island’s training. So I am now working with the man every time that I work with Island so that he can show me what he has done thus far with my boy and so that I can learn the aids and cues that he uses with Island.
Today we had a VERY windy day. I always find it interesting to see how different horses react to changes in weather. In my experience, windy or rainy conditions make horses more “edgy”. So I was very curious to see what the wind would do to Island’s chilled demeanor.
I went to fetch him from his field and as we walk down the path to the arena some big scary monster (a leaf of some kind) blew into his but and he shot forward, but bless his heart as soon as I said “WHOA” and tugged a little on the halter he slowed right down to a walk and continued walking happily to the arena.
As he is still in his first week of AHS vaccines we decided to only do a little lunging. The man I am working with started him on the lunge, with us both being in the ring, and did walk and trot transitions on both reigns and the gave over to me to continue. Island was perfect in every way, responding to every cue and walking and trotting beautifully. The wind made no difference to his working state. He was focused, albeit a bit lazy, but he did what we asked of him. I am starting to realize this is so typically him, always wanting to please.
I feel very happy with how he went on the lunge and I only hope for every session to at least be able to end on this note. Island was a bit grumpy today, I think because of the vaccines and probably the wind, but apart from having his ears back there was no change in his attitude. He worked hard and welcomed a cuddle so I am very happy.
After lunging we ended our day with a lovely grooming session while he was hand grazing on a patch of grass outside the arenas. He is a little fart when it comes to eating as he literally tries to stuff all the grass available into his mouth before trying to chew or even swallow. So I had a good laugh at him and often had to lift his head just to give his mouth some time to chew his food properly!
After having groomed him it was off to the paddock again and we had a relaxed walk back. As we got to his paddock I walked him in and turned him around with me to close the gate and as I turned to close the gate he got a fright from something and pulled backwards, I immediately tugged the halter and said whoa. He stopped, and stood still. I then made him walk a reluctant step or two towards me and then rubbed his face and neck. I took off his halter and he took another two cautious steps backwards before walking towards his hay.
I walked off to close the gate properly and to get his fly mask. I walked back and gave him a rub, put his fly mask on and bid him adiue.
I was very happy to see that the wind didn’t change his attitude, although he was a bit grumpy he still wants cuddles and still works hard and apart from the completely understandable frights he went really well today
I must say that I still need to find my cool when he gets a fright, as it is more intimidating for me on the ground than it is when I am on a horse. I always have a fear of a horse bolting straight over me. Although I feel with Island that his frights are justified and not silly, and that it is still early days with us so we will learn to trust each other and then thing should be much more comfortable and easy.
Like any relationship, trust is earned and so far I think we are both doing very well. Even though we both get frights we are still considerate of each other (he listens when I say whoa etc) and we both calm down relatively quickly after a fright so I think that the trust is already building, we are seeing that we can trust each other even when danger lurks.
Someone said to me today that I have a sparkle in my eye when I talk about him and it made me think that even though we have only been in each others lives for about a week and a half, it was “love” at first sight and I instantly knew that he was the horse for me when I got on him and the man who was working with him also said that he responds well to me and seems happy in my presence.
I believe that your relationship with your horse is the same as any other relationship you have in your life. It is based on certain pillars: love; respect; trust and communication. It starts with the communication, we need to learn to speak the language of horses in general and then more specifically the language that your own horse speaks.
Secondly comes respect, your horse needs to learn to respect you as the dominant alpha and needs to respect your leadership and should then submit and become your follower; but you also need to respect that in the end you are working with a 800kg animal that has a mind of its own and ingrained in that mind is a very strong sense of self preservation and a very keen sense of flight rather than fight.
From this respect flows trust, because as soon as your horse accepts you as his leader he trusts you to keep him from danger just as you should trust him to do the same for you.
All this then becomes love and attachment, you and your horse become a little herd of two. Many people believe that horses don’t grow to love their owners but I beg to differ. But what ever you may believe, if there is proper communication, trust and respect there is a form of love. And as the other three pillars get stronger so does the forth. They are all intertwined and you need to work on them all on a daily basis and this is where lunging becomes an integral part of training.
So another day has passed where we learnt something from each other and each day is an opportunity to build on that.
Love,
Lawquii and Island
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