"Befriend Not Broken"-EBHRC

Hello, my name is Kaitlyn; I'm 19 years old. I started as a volunteer at EBHRC in June 2013, I came knowing nothing about horses so I was only scooping poop, grooming, and assisting Chris (owner of EBHRC) with video and slide show making, and even retrieving items from the tack room. But, on September 18, 2013 I accepted an Internship, which means I will be learning everything Chris knows about horses and horsemenship. Before I conclude, I want to tell you about EBHRC. EBHRC is short for Equine Behavioral Health Resource Center, it was established by Chris Forte. Chris wanted a center where she can help both horse lovers and their horses on how to talk, listen, and interact with to each other together as friends side-by-side, or while riding. In this center, the use of bits, spurs, and whips is a HUGE no no. To understand what EBHRC is about I encourage you to follow me! I'll be doing weekly updates!

[equine-gal]

Rode A New Horse At EBHRC! Amazing Day!

Today I rode at EBHRC, which I haven’t done in a few months. Today was also the day I rode Tiny for the first time! First, I worked with him on the ground in the play area by walking him over the bridge, through the labyrinth, and over the cavaletti’s. We also practiced targeting in the warm-up arena, and counting strides on the trail.

As we were in the warm-up arena Chris was explaining how we need to have intention with everything we do with horses. That said I needed to remember that when I work with the horses I need to make sure that everything we do is something I had planned and we can’t do something I didn’t plan. Chris also reminded me of how we need to keep our hands still and on our thighs while holding the reins with relaxed hands. I only closed my fingers after I half-halted and said, “Whoa.” We also went over how we use our hips and legs to turn, when we walk. She explained that we as humans use our hips and legs to turn even when we don’t realize it; well on a horse it’s the same way. So I practiced turning using just my hips and legs; not only was this comfortable, but it felt natural as well.

After we finished ground practice, I mounted Tiny and practiced targeting. I reminded myself to look through Tiny’s ears and focus on our target. What was the most amazing part about this riding experience was when I focused on our target through Tiny’s ears I didn’t put any kind of pressure on the reins whatsoever! I have found that my focusing and the occasional correcting our path with my hips and legs, was not only beneficial, but it worked! It also felt like a natural way to ride.

When it came to human to horse compatibility I say Tiny and I are very compatible energetically wise. Tiny is a warm-blooded and ‘loose’ horse who’s quick in movements and reactions, he literally prances at a walk. I’m also very high energy (warm-blooded), who’s quick in my movements and reactions as well, I even hold my head high like Tiny. If I were a horse, Tiny and I would be close to twins.

[equine-gal]

5/21/2014 at EBHRC

I have returned to EBHRC after a month in a half break. My break really helped me in a sense of processing all that I had learned in about 6-8 months. I returned with a better understanding of what exactly I learned and how I could apply it to not only horse riding, but real life as well.

That said my “come back” ride was a break through! Not only did I ride an English saddle (precisely a dressage saddle), but I finally kept my hands still, and at my thighs. I was also very precise at what I wanted me and Chief to accomplish. I made it clear to Chief that I wanted to go to point ‘C’, ‘R’, and ‘S’ in the arena. I accomplished this by pointing, and verbally communicating with Chief that we are going to “target C”, and then focus on the target between his ears. It’s amazing how just focusing in between the ears can cause your horse to keep their head in between their shoulders and walk forward. This causes me to conclude that horses really can, in fact feel every slight move you do while on their back. Hence why you need to be completely still, focused, and clear in what you want you and your horse to accomplish.

Another break through I accomplished was I didn’t have to yank on the reigns to make Chief turn. All I had to do was weigh one side of my hip while turning both my hips and shoulders in the direction we want to go. I also found a technique that works for bother of us, and a technique I feel Chief understands and is comfortable for both of us. Example of this technique, is when I want to target something that is on our left, I communicate with Chief our goal, and then I point with my left foot towards the left and I nudge Chief forward with my right foot and I start turning both my hips a shoulders the second he starts to move. This also works for the right as well.

And finally, my experience with the English saddle was a great one! The English saddle is so much more comfortable than the Western in my opinion. With the English saddle, I also felt Chief’s hips and shoulders through the saddle, and reins! I actually felt when Chief had his front left hoof forward, and vise versa, and I also felt when his back left leg moved forward and vise versa. I was also less anxious/ nervous because I could really feel more, and be sure what Chief’s shoulders and hips were doing. This in turn made me more focused. Whereas with the Western saddle I was only guessing which made me anxious/ nervous, and less focused.

[equine-gal]

Day 19 at EBHRC

It has been a month since I stepped foot onto Iron Horse Park at EBHRC since we all came down with the flu. So Wednesday, February 5th, I rode Chief while Chris rode Tiny. There were three things Chris taught me that day.

She talked about the responsibility for keeping your horse on course is ALL on you, not on your horse. When you focus on the course ahead and keep your horse interested by counting strides and halting every so many strides you and your horse will move together in the direction you are focused on. If you look in a different direction, the horse will turn in that same direction. So taking responsibility for where your horse goes all falls back on you.

Speaking of focusing, Chris explained how holding the reins in a triangle helps keep the horses head and neck centered between his shoulders. She demonstrated how this works by standing behind me and lightly grabbing a hank of hair from each side of my head and holding them gently like a triangle, with my head acting like the point of the triangle. When I turned my head it became uncomfortable (it didn't hurt though), which caused me to keep my head in the center where it was comfortable. It works the same with horses...if you keep the reins wide, with straight even tension the horse will keep his head in the center where it's comfortable.

When I was riding Chief, I focused on the course straight ahead, keeping my eyes above and between his ears.  I held the reins wide and near or resting on my thighs and he kept going where i was focusing. I even found that if I dropped the reins completely he would go straight because Chief and I were focused and matching hips together. I turned him by turning my hips and bringing my shoulders (and his) around while keeping our heads centered on our shoulders.  In this way we turned from our hind end.  I never turned him by pulling his head and shoulders around.

All in all, Chief and I had a great riding day even though we rode for only 15 minutes; it was a fulfilling 15 minutes. :)

[equine-gal]

Day 18 at EBHRC

Wednesday January 1st was a new lesson in riding! Not only that, but it was another breakthrough in my riding as well! This time I didn’t pull on reins at all! Instead I only held even tension and didn’t use my hands to turn! Not only did practice make me better, but I believe my new hobby: hula hooping (along with the exercises Chris gave me), strengthened my core to a point that I didn’t feel a need to use a death grip on the reins, because my strong core and balance kept me on, and I was strong enough for Chief and I to move as one!

Bryce, one of Chris’s former assistants was visiting from Los Angeles and was here for the lesson too. At the beginning of the lesson Chris talked more about being absolutely still, upright, but relaxed on the horse so the horse could feel your butt move and could move along with you.  If you squirm around on the horse it will be difficult for him to understand when you want him to do something.  If you are quiet all you have to do is shift your seat and the horse can feel the shift very clearly and moves along with you. 

Chris said when we use one leg to support the body while the other leg moves, we turn the leg on the inside of the turn does more supporting and takes smaller steps while the outside leg is free turn.  She made a play horse for us by wrapping a yoga mat (the saddle) around a swimming pool noodle (the horse) and had bailing twine reins coming out of one end (the horse’s head).  She had us walk around with the noodle between our legs.  She showed us that when you pull the reins one way or the other it really doesn’t feel comfortable for the rider or the horse and you can’t move together that way. But, if you use the reins to simply keep the end of the noodle directly in front of you when you walked, ran and skipped with the mat-wrapped noodle between your legs, it was just the same feeling as when you ask a horse to move with you by moving your butt. It was easy that way to feel one leg supporting my body while the other leg moved. 

Chris always tells me to keep an even but gentle hold on the reins to remind Chief to not turn his head but keep looking straight ahead so that we can use our hips to turn. She said when you pull a horse around by the reins the horse moves from his shoulders instead of from his hips. It would be the same feeling as if we had to turn our head and shoulders every time we wanted to turn. This time I really understood what she meant and when I got on Chief it was really easy to ride him just by moving my hips a little like I normally do when I’m walking on the ground.

Not only did I not pull on the reins but I learned how to trot for the first time!!!! Chris had Bryce teach me, which was a fun experience. J I bounced so much I was concerned for Chief’s back, though the bouncing didn’t hurt me, it was uncomfortable. Both Bryce and Chris explained that I’m bouncing because my lower back, and butt muscles tightened up and that I need to relax. As much as I was trying to relax I was finding the bouncing only went down a little, so Bryce said I should try posting just to get the feel of how the trot feels and when the horse’s hips go up. At one point we broke into a canter by accident but oh boy it was fun!! I loved the canter better than the trot because it felt more, smooth and like you were flying rather than jarred and bouncy.

All in all, I have to work on relaxing my back and butt muscles and move with the horses so I don’t bounce. But New Years day was a great day! :D

[equine-gal]

Day 17 at EBHRC

Sunday December 15th was a breakthrough in my riding!!! Before I mounted Chief, Chris had me do a few exercises on the stationary bike and practice walking around with a pillow in between my legs.  The exercises helped me feel what weighing one side of my seat bone feels like (bike), and what the horse feels like while I’m riding, as well as using my leg to turn and keep the reins still (pillow). On the bike when I pedaled downward, it was the same feeling I need to feel when riding! So once I get that in my muscle memory I’ll already know what the feeling should be. With the pillow it’s the same feeling I need to feel when riding as well, because the pillow moved in a fashion that was similar to when a horse moves, it also showed me that jerking reins was painful because when I jerked on the byline twine on the pillow, they ripped off! So it was a good example of what jerking and pulling reins does to you horse!!

Chris has also moved the obstacle course in the big arena so there was plenty of room to move and choose which obstacle I wanted to try. There were cones, barrels, cavaletti’s, hose circles, the labyrinth, plastic poles for leg-yielding, and another log to practice leg-yielding as well. There was no shortage of opportunities and choices on what to do!

Sunday was a breakthrough because I was focused and Chief and I were moving as one! It was great because we were riding together with no resistance or “hiccups” (as I call it)! At one point I lost the connection so things got difficult, but nonetheless I was happy and Chief was happy! I learned that once you are connected and focused don’t try talking to people or look around too much because you’ll lose the feeling and you and your horse are disconnected. Even when Chief and I lost the connection Chris had me keep going and not stop! Because in riding there is no time to stop, only fill in the hiccups with fillers. Chris used the analogy of “when performers and athletes mess up they don’t stop the entire show/game, they make up fillers or a new game plan in seconds. It’s the same with horses, you can’t stop!

It felt like we rode for 2-3 hours, because afterwards both Chief and I (mostly Chief) were tired! But that was the most fulfilling ride to date, and I really had a break through!

I can’t wait to see what will happen on Sunday! 

[equine-gal]

Day 16 at EBHRC

Kaitlyn & Taylor: December 11, 2013 was a riding day. Chris has told us many times that a real equestrian becomes one with her horse so that their bodies move together. Their hips match, their shoulders match, their heads match, and their energy match. Taylor had spent eight years learning to turn a horse by turning his head with the reins and making sure his body follows his head. This was interesting for her to learn all over again. During the past month or two, Chris had us do a lot of exercises so that we learn how we, as humans, move our bodies and displace our weight when we walk, trot, and canter, and turn. She showed us how we weight our inside hip to slow down our inside leg when we turn. She taught us that if we press down on the seat with our inside seat bone, as if we’re flattening a pancake, our horse will do the same to his inside hind leg so that leg goes slower and the outside leg is free to move further causing the horse to turn. To go straight, of course, we keep our weight even. Chris explained to us about that the reins are only used to remind the horse to keep his head between his shoulders so that his shoulders match our shoulders. She showed us that turning the horse’s head to turn is a riding method that doesn’t work very well and relies on bits. Anyone, horses and people included, can walk any direction with their head turned! When we turn we usually look straight ahead. Our hips displace our weight slightly to the inside so that our inside leg slows down, our outside leg moves further forward and toward the inside, our feet turn, then our shoulders follow, and our neck and head go along with the shoulders. To demonstrate what she was talking about, Chris grabbed a helmet and two pieces of bailing twine. She tied a piece of bailing to each helmet strap. She asked Taylor and me to take turns playing “horse” and “rider”. The “horse” wore the helmet. The “rider” used the twine like reins. She told the “horse” to close her eyes and just think about walking straight. The “rider” walked behind and matched feet with the “horse.” She turned the “horse” by stepping her inside leg in front of the out-side leg. She asked us to feel how our weight dropped down on the inside leg when the outside leg moved forward and made the turn. If we kept the “horse’s” head on straight between her shoulders it was easy for both of us to turn together. If we allowed the “horse” to move her head any direction, it was very difficult to move together. So when we mounted Chief we used the same technique by dropping our inside hip down so Chief slowed down his inside leg and our shoulders followed our outside hip so Chief and I glided in the direction we want to go. We tried this technique in the play area by going through the labyrinth and cavalettis. Taylor was elated because for the first time she could feel her body and Chief’s body moving together! Chris said, that is the feel of a true equestrian and once you have it, you will always search for that same feeling with every horse you ride.

[equine-gal]

The Little Woods at Equine Behavioral Health Resource Center

[equine-gal]

Day 15 at EBHRC

Taylor and Kaitlyn: On Wednesday December 4th we trimmed blackberry vines and tree branches that had overgrown the path through the little woods at the corner of the property. The horses could get their feet tangled up in the blackberry vines. That could be dangerous. We need to make sure that the branches are trimmed up 12 feet high so that they don’t hit us in the face when we ride. After we were through we went into the tack room and discussed communication with horses. Chris explained that you must be very quiet and balanced when you ride. If you wiggle in the saddle or move your hands around and are not specific with your movements, you will confuse the horse with different signals, and eventually he will ignore what you do and not understand when you are really asking for something. Because horses are unique individuals and some respond more quickly than others, your timing for indicating changes of direction must be just right. Next Chris explained how we pivot, turn, and leg-yield by dropping one hip down. We keep our hands quiet. The only thing our hands do is make sure that the horse keeps his head looking straight ahead between his shoulders. We don’t pull our horse’s head around with the reins. We go straight by keeping our hips level. We drop our hips to turn the horse. To understand we used a hoola-hoop to practice moving our hips and not our whole body. We also practiced this by planting one foot on the ground and swinging the other leg while holding onto a rope. Example: we pretended that we had a weight on our left leg and let our right leg swing around towards our left foot; then we moved our left leg a few inches forward and swung our right leg around. We then went back into the tack room and practiced putting weight on one seat bone and then the other, while riding a 55 gallon barrel with a saddle pad and watching a DVD of a famous dressage rider. Chris pointed out how the dressage rider used her hips to turn and never used the reins to turn his face at all. After the tack room we saddled Chief and we practiced leg-yielding and pivoting with, our seat bones while going through the labyrinth and cavaletti course in the play area. Chief is very patient and does everything we ask. We held the reins still and just moved our hips. But, if we didn’t ask Chief to turn at just the right time when we walked through the labyrinth he would go straight and step over the ground poles. All in all, today was an important lesson, and there’s loads to process and a new technique in riding!

[equine-gal]

Day 15 at EBHRC

Sunday December 1st was a fun day…no really it was a fun day! The barefoot trimmers paid a visit to trim hooves, which is an interesting process to watch, I even had the honor of keeping Chief calm! At one point he looked like he was sleeping! The trimmers only did Tiny and Chief, but it still took all together 3 hours to complete both of them! But in the end their hooves looked beautiful. After they left we walked the horses down to the little woods at the far corner of the pasture, and even down in the dry pond area, and let them graze a little. Then we went in the jump area and while matching feet Chief and I walked over log jumps and around a barrel jump. We then gave trotting a try, which went great! My most favorite part of the jumping area was trotting over the log jumps! At one point Chief jumped over the logs like our lives depended on it, LOL. Even leaping with Chief on the ground was exhilarating! We then moved to the big arena and walked and trotted around the rail, and in circles while counting strides. I have to work on giving the right amount of energy so we can trot and not go into an accidental canter. I also have to work on “going with it”…meaning I don’t freak when we go into a canter. When Chief goes into a canter I should start skipping in a circle and match feet with him until we transition back into a trot. After we got back to the tack room, Chris talked to me more about controlling a horse’s movements by planting or picking up my hips. She even had me hoola-hoop so that I could really get the feel of moving my hips up and down while keeping my upper body quiet and straight! All in all, today we didn’t ride but it was still a fun day and I really enjoyed it!

[equine-gal]

Day 14 at EBHRC

Wednesday 27th, was another day on the obstacle course. It was a fun day, and I was better this time.. To add to the obstacle course, Chris rode Tiny in the play area as well, so Chief and I; and Chris and Tiny were on the course together. The play area measures only about 60 by 40 feet, still, there was plenty of room for two riders and their horses to move around. Riding Chief through the labyrinths and over the cavalettis went much smoother, and my leg-yielding improved as well. Chris suggested that I use my seat to cause us to pivot. EX: when I want to pivot Chief to the left, I put weight on his left hip and leg by dropping my left hip. The course was fun although I need to work on keeping my hands quiet and not fiddling with the reins because that confuses the horse. After the obstacle course, we rode into the big arena, but before we could do anything Tiny was spooked by one neighbor’s Billy goats and another neighbor’s dog. Tiny’s anxiety caused Chief to worry, so both horses had lost their focus. So we went into the warm-up arena and dismounted. The four of us walked quietly over to the barking dog saying “Good” to our horses to encourage them to meet the dog with us. This is important because we want our horses to be confident, relaxed and focused on us when we ride. Ideally, there should be no distractions like other animals, loud vehicles, when you ride, but if there is, you should always make sure your horse is not scared of them. If they are, you need to calmly, and nicely encourage them to relax. Once our horses were calm around the neighbor’s dog we walked the horses over to visit the goats on the other side of the fence. When things like this happen, don’t be annoyed! These situations help you and your horse to become better friends if you are willing to help your horse build his confidence. Scolding him would make him even more fearful!

[equine-gal]

Day 13 at EBHRC

Sunday November 24th was an exciting day! The lesson was leg-yielding on a course and watching trainers on TV. After I watched a few trainers showing how they trained, which often was alongside abuse and using equipment that’s designed to hurt, which was HORRIBLE! Chris explained that if we have friendship and trust with our horse, our horse will always strive to please us. I tried in both the warm-up arena and the play area. In the warm-up arena I practiced leg-yielding around cones, which went much better than last time because Chief and I trusted each other and we were working as one.

The play area was filled with six-foot long wooden poles. Some were lying on the ground and some had a plastic block holding them up at each end. They are called cavalettis. Chris set the cavalettis up for me to walk Chief across.  When Chief and I walked side-by side over the cavalettis he would knock his feet and legs against the poles. I had to raise my knees very high to show Chief that when he raised his knees it was much easier and he wouldn’t hurt himself.   Later on we did this again while I was riding him. We got really good at it and he didn’t knock against them at all. 

There were other poles arranged to form a zigzag path about three feet wide. My challenge was to ride Chief through the path without stepping on the poles. To do this I had to walk him a step at a time. The entire course took a couple tries but I got it! It’s amazing how once you understand exactly what you need to do, and work as one with your horse, the ride will go smoothly and it’ll be fun! And it was fun once I understood the whole technique (Chief had it figured out a long time ago, while I was still learning). This lesson was important because it taught me to focus and move Chief where I wanted him to go, because your horse in reality is an extension of you, and where your shoulders 

and hips go, so will your horse. Which can be difficult if you’re not conscious about your shoulders and hips, you may think they’re straight, but really their not, which will cause the horse to go in the direction where the “slack” is.

I finally figured out why Chris said to keep Chief’s head in the middle of his shoulders and look between his ears.  If I let his head wander to the left and I want to go straight, guess what?  He will go left!  So I would adjust the reins a little to put his head back where it belongs whenever I felt it beginning to turn. After all, I want Chief to move his shoulders with my shoulders.  But, if I forget and let my mind wander off, Chief’s mind will wander off too.

All of what I’m learning requires me to have strong core muscles, because if they’re weak you’ll start slouching, have poor balance, twisting your shoulders and hips etc. If you have a strong core you’ll be able to maintain good balance, be able to sit up straight, and you’ll be able to keep your shoulders and hips where you want them; plus your back won’t ache as much!

[equine-gal]

Day 11 at EBHRC

Sunday, November 10th was another riding day! Before we began riding, Chris had me walk beside Chief and count to 10 by going 1 & 2 & 3 and so on and then, proceed forward counting 5 strides, then stop and count to 10 again. After I did this a few times I mounted Chief and we did the same thing…count to 10; walk 5 strides, then stop and count again. This was a good exercise for both me and Chief because it helped me relax and keep Chief focused on me, and in turn I was more at ease. When we did targeting, I still counted to 10 and so on and so forth. At the end I was relaxed and there were no nervous emotions lingering, which was a huge success for me!  Also, Chris showed me, in the photos that she took, that Chief and I were making very square stops.

            Chris has taught us two different ways to turn corners.  The first way is to make a quarter-circle by moving the inside leg a little away from the horse and forward while pointing the inside foot along the semi-circle or arc  I want to go.  The second way to corner is quarter-pivots (for tight corners) by slightly weighing the inside hind leg and moving the horse’s shoulders with my own around the inside hind leg. My new lesson was on drifting.  Meaning, I change lanes like how a car does. I have to step down on the stirrup adjacent to the new lane, and bring my opposite hand closer to my other hand. Bringing your hands together in drifting resembles driving a car, because when you drift to the right in a car you move your left hand on the steering wheel slightly to the right.             

            My first time, I found myself actually crossing my hands instead of bringing one hand to the opposite hand. During my next ride Chris is going to explain how to ask for the hind foot away from the new lane to reach under the horse’s belly while I bring my hands together.  Ultimately, she will teach me how to move each foot individually as if they were actually connected to my body!

[equine-gal]

Day 10 at EBHRC

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 was a good day. Taylor was there so we both took turns ground-driving Chief, then targeting and riding in the warm-up arena. We saddled Chief, and I cleaned hooves for the first time! Well…the front ones, but still! So after we saddled and it passed Chris’ inspection we went out to the main arena. My first try at ground driving was challenging because unlike having a human partner, you have a horse who is pulling you (emphasis on the pulling) forward as you steer. We also have to match feet with their back feet this time instead of their front. So the first go ‘round didn’t go as smoothly as I wanted, because my feet kept getting mixed up, and Chief wandered, nearly dragging me behind him, into the warm-up arena instead of staying in the big arena. After we got out of the warm-up arena, we went around again and this time I was able to direct him around the arena and I matched feet better. I gave the long-lines to Taylor and she did really well.

            After ground-driving we went into the warm-up arena and practiced targeting as we walked beside Chief. I then mounted Chief and tried targeting. My heart was pounding and my adrenaline was pumping hard.  I have a feeling Chief knew I was nervous so he decided he should control because he knew what was best for a nervous rider. But I decided to go from corner to corner, hugging the rails, until I relaxed, then I gave targeting a shot again.  I was much better once I relaxed.

All in all, my riding is becoming slowly better. I just have to work on not being so nervous and relax…and BREATHE. Because if I’m nervous, tense, and holding my breath, how can I be one with Chief and be his brain? By me being nervous, and my mind all over the place,  I’m telling Chief, “Hey I can’t be the brains right now, let’s go where you want to go”… which really complicates things! So I have to work on confidence so that the moment I get on, I’m not a nervous wreck for half the time so I can be the brains and be one with Chief.

By the way, Taylor has eight years of previous riding lessons under her belt.  So, although much of what we are learning is new to her, she didn’t appear to be nervous at all.

In this photo, Taylor is ground driving Chief.

[equine-gal]

Day 9 at EBHRC

Sunday November 3rd, was an exciting day! Pretty much every time I go to Iron Horse Park, it’s going to be an exciting day because I always learn something new! Sunday was a big step in riding for me. The last two times I mounted Chief, Chris lead him around and my focus was on feeling his feet and really becoming one with him and moving with him. Sunday however was different. First, I groomed him, and Chris cleaned his feet. Second, I saddled him, which was difficult because Western saddles are not light! Thirdly, we practiced targeting on the ground. Targeting is a game where you pick your target and walk straight toward it.  The targets used at EBHRC are yellow plastic jugs hung on the fence-posts around the warm-up arena (a fenced in square about 55 ft. on each side.

 I walked beside Chief, matching feet with him while we targeted the empty jugs. Next, I mounted him and Chris walked along side us as we targeted. After about 10 minutes, Chris said “ok it’s your turn.  I won’t be next to you.” I was excited, yet nervous. I was excited because I was in control, not Chris and it was a chance to really put what I learned to the test. I was also nervous because well…I was in control and everything that Chief did is on me.

            Chris coached me the whole way, which also made me less nervous because although I was in the arena by myself I wasn’t entirely alone. Chris pointed out that when targeting I had to be quick and keep movements straight, so after Chief and I reached our target, I had to pick another one while saying “nice”. It was definitely challenging because I had to “steer” Chief with my hips and encourage Chief where I want us to go. I also had to keep a straight tension on the reins, meaning I had to have enough tension on the reins to make them straight. Chris pointed out that, if one rein was slack, I would lose connection with him so he wouldn’t know what I wanted him to do, so I had to work on maintaining that straight, even tension.

Along with holding the reins, Chris told me I could cause him to weave to the right and left by stepping down on one stirrup or the other. To turn him, I turn my hips, point with my foot and “opened the door” in the direction I wanted him to go and the opposing hip naturally falls toward the back.  This causes the horse to turn his hips the same way as I do and he follows the arc in the direction I want him to go.

Another thing I was also working on was being one with Chief, moving with him, not against him. Meaning, we turn together; not me getting all twisted then trying to make him follow, because not only would twisting myself feel uncomfortable for both me and him, but it puts me off balance as well.  Chris explained that I must look between his ears as if they are windows to where I want to go so that we keep our heads, necks, and shoulders in line.  I must concentrate on moving his back legs and with my hips and his shoulders and front feet via the tension of the reins through my hands, arms, and shoulders.

So my main lesson is to:

1) Keep even and straight tension on the reins at all times.

2) Work on turning weaving to the right and left side by stepping down on the stirrups.

3) Turn by turning my hips, pointing my toe, opening the door, and allowing my opposite hip and leg to drop down behind.

4) If I move the horse’s feet one step at a time, the horse will not move in a direction I don’t want and, if I do lose focus, I must correct as soon as I feel any change I didn’t ask for.

5) Work with the horse in everything, not against.

6) Posture and balance. I can communicate with the horse by small deviations of my balance.  So, when I am going straight, my balance must be perfect from side to side and front to back.   

7) Be the brains; clearly communicate what I want the horse to do so he won’t lose his focus on me or decide to go his own way.

8) Always be ready to problem solve.

9) Focus.

              All in all, if I stay on top on what I need to learn and correct, both mine and the horses riding experience will be enjoyable.

[equine-gal]

Day 8 at EBHRC

Kaitlyn and Taylor: Today was strictly a riding day; Chris taught us that preparing all that is needed, before bringing in the horse, is essential when tacking. That includes water buckets; one for our horse to drink, the other for cleaning the grooming tools; saddle with pad or blanket, helmets, grooming tools, and bitless bridle. Today we chose to ride Chief, so we had to catch him and bring him to the tacking area, which wasn’t hard because he already knew what was in store and was patiently waiting for us. We simultaneously groomed Chief one of us on each side, and Chris cleaned his hooves and sprayed his hooves with an antifungal/antiseptic solution. Then Chris tacked Chief with blanket and saddle. We went into the arena and matched feet with Chief around the arena and then we lounged with him. At first we had a hard time getting him to trot because our energy wasn’t at trotting level, but once he got going, I flicked the lounge stick up and down behind me like a tail (big flicks), and our energy got up to canter level and we experienced loungeing at a canter gait, which was fun for all of us. We couldn’t keep up with Chief when he left the circle and cantered straight so we let him go because there would be no way we could keep up. Chief stopped at the end of the arena, turned around and walked back towards us, which was awesome! And we said “nice” because he came back and we gave him a little reward. We got to the mounting block and Taylor was the first to mount, I was excited for her because she had a very traumatic incident a few years ago when she fell off twice during her riding lesson once when the horse was jumping and a few minutes later when the horse was cantering. She ended up with covered in bruises and a very sore back. She mounted Chief smoothly which made me overjoyed! After adjusting the stirrups Chris reminded us how important it was to keep our bodies balanced over the horse’s center of gravity; to keep our upper body upright and off our hips; and to keep our lower back, buttocks, and legs relaxed so that they can move with the horse. Horses have difficulty moving when the rider’s legs are tense and gripping. She lead Chief all over the arena while Taylor had her arms up so that she could focus on feeling his back legs with her seat bones, after that Chris gave her the reins, so that she could feel his front feet through the reins, which is hard because the movements are soft and not as noticeable and so you have to keep a little tension on the reins without pulling. After about 25-30 minutes she dismounted. Chief was not tired at all so it was my turn. I mounted Chief with some hesitation but finally I got on, and repeated what Taylor did. Chris talked to us about how important it is to use our legs and hands to imagine and create “lanes”, like traffic lanes, for our horses to travel in. We both practiced going straight and changing lanes by asking Chief to move to the left and right of a straight line by putting more weight on the appropriate seat bone. We did this by pushing a little and “opening the door” of the stirrup on the side of to the lane we wanted to move into. The best thing was that Chief quite naturally moved in the direction we wanted to go without our needing to do anything with the reins. All in all, we both did very well today, and we’re looking forward to Sunday.

In this picture me and Taylor are loungeing Chief at a canter gait. This is our first time.

  This is Taylor feeling Chief's back legs through her seat bones.

The last photo is me feeling Chief's front feet through the reins.

[equine-gal]

The Passing of Jack

October 21, 2013, was an emotional day. The plan was for me to let out the horses, scoop poop and go home…that didn’t happen. I pulled up to a scene that confused me, I stared at Chris and a hump of I don’t know what with a tarp over it. I didn’t even pull into a spot, before Chris said I could leave my car where it was. I got out and Chris broke the news to me that Jack had to be humanely euthanized. I was heartbroken, and confused. My journey into the equine world just began and a horse, who was silently teaching me, left. The cause for Jack’s euthanization was congestive heart failure, meaning hardly any oxygen was being produced for his muscles to work. Jack was 31-years old.  In human years, that’s about 90. Chris made a good decision.  If we were able to prop Jack up with a crane and hold him upright with hale-bales he, still, would never walk again simply because his heart had given out and wasn’t working properly. Chris had Jack for 22 years and I could understand Chris’s emotions, because horses leave huge impacts on people.  They are four-legged people to horse-lovers.  They are dear friends, companions, and sometimes children to horse people and when it comes time to euthanize them for any reason, it’s very hard.

That day, I did what Chris asked silently and quickly. I didn’t know where half the stuff she gave me went, so I just put them on the couch and the chest inside the tack room and went outside awaiting more instructions, and giving comfort. In the beginning, I shed a few tears, but I knew I had to stay strong for the horses that remained, so they don’t become even more upset then they already were…but deep down I wanted to sob. I tried grooming Chief and Tiny vigorously, hoping to make them feel better, but Chief still cried out for Jack even when I was talking to him while brushing. Tiny looked sad and confused and hung close to Chief, but I can sense Chief took it very hard. Sensing the horses’ sadness was bringing tears to my eyes, but I understood why they mourned. It was very difficult for me to accept Jack’s passing that day because, Sunday he was just fine, he was actually trotting with Chief and Tiny; and Monday…down.

Jack’s passing really affected me because he taught me (along with Chief and Tiny) that horses are gentle giants and can listen to people once they’re friends. Jack trusted me, and I did too…I could walk behind him (saying his name first of course) and not worry about being kicked (same with Chief and Tiny). Jack also taught me that with positive, gentle-hand training you can be friends with a horse and they will listen to you and strive to please you the best way they can, and it will be a lifetime bond. I only knew Jack for 4 months, but he already had a place in my heart; the moment we were introduced, I fell in love with him. So for him to pass this soon into my internship, really hit me.

Monday night, was a long night for me. Just thinking about Jack’s passing and remembering the stories of how amazing he was very emotional. I sat on my bed watching videos of Jack struttin’ his abilities was cute and sad at the same time. It was cute because here’s this old horse who, has the spirit of a young male and made all of his movements adorable, but sad because he’s gone. I just became so emotional that going to sleep was hard, but once I fell asleep, I had a hard time waking up. All I could think was how everyone was affected so deeply, both humans and horses alike. The whole ordeal was so surreal that I thought, when I wake up it was only a dream. My whole life I connected with animals so quickly and deeply that when they pass it feels like I was punched in the stomach; that they weren’t supposed to leave.

All I can do now is cherish the times I did have with Jack, even if it was just a stroke on his back. I’ll always remember the stories of Jack and how amazing he was. Jack, whose racing name was Jumping Jack Flash, was a thoroughbred and raced in 40 races and came in first, second, or third, 27 times! After Jack retired from racing he taught many people how to ride and build positive relationships with horses. Jack was more than just a horse…he was a teacher, and he silently taught many people. Jack will always be in our hearts; even though he’s gone, a part of his essence is in all of us, and as a believer in reincarnation I believe he’ll be back…he won’t be gone forever.

[equine-gal]

Mini Lesson On How to Mount...the EBHRC way!!

I advise you practice on a barrel so you don't have the stress of something moving and hurting you. and it's a lot easier!! -Kaitlyn

·         Put the reins over your  "horse’s" neck.

·         Take the reins in your left hand.

·         Place the mounting block so that the left stirrup is dangling above and on the right half of it.

·         While still keeping the reins in your hand, grab a hunk of mane just above the withers; rest your left hand there.

·         Face the horse’s tail.

·         With your right hand, turn the left stirrup clock-wise so that it faces you.

·         Place the ball of your left foot on the stirrup an place just enough weight on the stirrup to keep your foot from sliding off, but no more.

·         Hop around on your right foot so that you are facing the saddle.

·         Reach your right hand across the saddle and grab the stirrup leather if it is an English saddle or the skirt if it is a western saddle and press down to equalize the weight on the left and right side of the saddle.

·         Stand on the left stirrup while still keeping weight on the right side by pushing down with your right hand.

·         Take a big hop to spring your right leg up over the cantle to the right side of your horse.

·         Quietly lower your body on the seat of the saddle and slide your right foot into the right stirrup.

·         Do not look across the arena or area or your horse will think you want to walk forward.

Steps given by Chris Forte - owner of EBHRC