Subtle as a hoof to the face

Tumblr Old woman. She/her. Horse rider, science-based training, always learning.

[toruq]

[knikna]

That feeling when your “little” sister is taller than you

[clickerpunk]

Had to use my gps to find this one today. She was on the edge of a rocky slope hunting Rowan leaves 😂 So pleased with herself.

[equinecrazy]

Just a groom this morning

[horsefigureoftheday]

Asked a regular at the barn if she's ever trained a horse for the wash stall, and she was like "yeah, it's pretty easy, you just [describes a method that is definitely flooding]"

Can't ask for help with Nova's training because no one even realizes that their training methods may be harsh and/or stressful. Sorry, but I'm just not convinced that continuously hosing a stressed horse down and only removing the water when it stops reacting, no positive reinforcement included, is "teaching the horse to control its emotions." Even if you're only hosing its feet, that still sounds to me like you're teaching a horse that flight doesn't work, instead of teaching it that there's no good reason to get flighty.

But what do I know, I've only trained dogs, cats, and guinea pigs. Anyways, I'll continue trying the lengthy and exhausting r+ method until I see some evidence that your 'desensitization' isn't just a less harsh version of flooding.

[horsefigureoftheday]

Good article

https://www.thewillingequine.com/post/2017/02/08/desensitizing-the-methods

During her last two baths, I had no one to help calm her down, and earlier this week she reached the highest emotional arousal I've seen yet, so I'm beginning to worry that I might be sensitizing her to the washstall instead of desensitizing. It's incredibly frustrating to be alone with this

[horsefigureoftheday]

I'm so proud of Nova, I almost started crying during today's session. I tried operant counter-conditioning, and she took to it like a champ. After just 15 minutes, she voluntarily stepped into the water, letting it touch her hooves (and then she immediately stepped back after getting her treat lol - baby steps).

Her legs are good enough now that I'll pause the mite treatment and focus solely on wash stall training. The mites will return, but it's a risk I'm willing to take if it means she'll become comfortable enough that I can wash her without crossing her threshold of fear.

We also trained target-following in the pasture afterwards, and she did amazing! I was able to stand at her outside shoulder and walk her in a volte!!! It wasn't a perfect volte by any means, but just the fact that I can turn her away from me while still keeping her attention on me is huge. She's such a smart cookie :')

I've also concluded that the sores at the front of her hocks are sallenders, and I will manage them accordingly. Wish me luck TvT

Edit: Oh, also, Nova almost spooked twice today because a shovel got tangled in her tail and a tractor drove too close. Both times I used that 'woah' cue we've been practicing, then gave her 10-15 seconds to process the situation, and it worked perfectly. I'm so so proud of her.

[teacupchimera]

last but not least in my pride unicorn series, intersex pride! went with a palomino appaloosa ft african daisies c:

please reblog if you enjoy! <3

[teacupchimera]

the second to last unicorn in this series, aro pride! this one kinda kicked my ass but I'm really pleased with how it came out :D

black dun/grulla ft echeveria, chrysanthemum, hoya, 'amazing grey' poppies, and hellebore!

please reblog if you enjoy <3

[teacupchimera]

next we have the gay man/mlm flag, which is a newer one but super pretty imo! this handsome boy's mane and tail are adorned with echeveria, himalayan blue poppies, butterfly agave, hoya, forget-me-nots, bachelor's buttons aka cornflowers, and morning glory <3

[teacupchimera]

technically it's not junicorn anymore, but I still want to complete my pride flag series! so, next we've got the bi pride flag unicorn! I decided to go for a seal bay with phlox, heliotrope, and morning glories :D

please reblog if you enjoy! <3

[teacupchimera]

for the nonbinary unicorn I decided to go with a buttermilk buckskin with sunflowers, daisies, cranesbill, and hellebore!

please reblog if you enjoy <3

[teacupchimera]

lesbian pride flower unicorn! I decided to make her a flaxen chestnut since I thought it'd match with the flag colors nicely! featuring marigolds, nasturtium, asiatic lilies, hoya, echinacea, 'lavender' zinnias, and impatiens c:

please reblog if you enjoy!

[teacupchimera]

went with a black appaloosa for ace! ft hellebore, 'amazing grey' poppies, hoya, and clematis :D

please reblog if you enjoy! <3

[teacupchimera]

next up is the (cremello) trans pride unicorn! featuring himalayan blue poppies, dog roses, and hoya~

please reblog if you enjoy! <3

[teacupchimera]

for this year's junicorn project, I've decided to draw unicorns whose flowers' colors and placement correspond to various pride flags! this pan pride unicorn is a bay, and has 'raspberry charm' peonies, buttercups, and himalayan blue poppies :D

please reblog if you enjoy! <3

[cruzadocreacher]

In which we are collectively choosing to ignore my ugly mug and will be focusing on the sweetest little idiot pony instead

[camelidae]

Fleabitten grey~

[torchestogether]

yayyy

[sometimesanequine]