Sky
GOAL: Develop Sky’s trust and partnership; later work toward 3rd Level movements
Sky arrived May 26, 2021 from the Lipizzan Rescue in Texas. In just 3.5 week he has made so much progress: trusting in his new home, trusting me, bonding with Monarch and Kurt, tacking without biting, dressing and undressing- fly masks, sheets, boots, etc. standing quietly for fly spray and mounting, loading and trailering to new places while staying calm that he will be coming back with me, farrier, training at home and at my trainer’s facility with barn and indoor, going out to pasture alone or with Monarch, and the big one- not cribbing and not wearing a crib collar. After much experimentation, I’ve found the best solution is to electrify those surfaces he wants to use for cribbing. Instead of cribbing, he now stays in the pasture and grazes instead of coming into the paddock to suck wind.
Sept 2021: Thoroughness
Methods: We put Sky in a D snaffle, (KK) which is really stable in the mouth, but it means you can not use an opening rein to supple. Rein contact must be absolutely consistent and 50%-50% equal both reins- no matter what direction you are going. If he resists- raises head, flips his head, counterflexes, whatever— I have to counter-match his resistance, so where he is light and not accepting contact, I have to take some contact. This can mean that when he is counter flexed and the outside rein is light, I take more contact on the outside rein to make the contact even- even if his head is looking toward the wall. When the contact is back to even, the counter flexion goes away. When he raises his head away from the contact, I take a bit more as I push him forward. Again, the contact evens out, and I can give back to him. The rein ALWAYS, absolutely remains even in the contact- never a pulling rein, never an opening rein, just a light consistent contact. And when he steps through into the contact and takes more contact, (if I feel more pressure in my hand from him), I have to accept what he gives me and ride it. When he takes more contact, I mustn’t release or drop him. I hold that contact and support him. The more even I am, the sooner he will step through the bit. Then you feel that amazing surge from behind with his back up. Some of this seems counterintuitive, and in the beginning, you will deal with a multitude of resistances. Then the start to fade away. It takes trust and confidence.
Results/Reflections: The more even I am, the sooner he will step through the bit. Then you feel that amazing surge from behind with his back up. Some of this seems counterintuitive, and in the beginning, you will deal with a multitude of resistances. Then the start to fade away. It takes trust and confidence.
Next Steps: On Sept 18, the training was beginning to show brilliance. Sky was very through and honestly connected. On Sept. 20, he came up lame. We hauled to Roaring Fork Equine in Glenwood Springs, CO on Sept 22. He was diagnosed with proximal suspensory desmitis through ultrasound and nerve-blocking procedures. He is now on 6 weeks stall rest with gradual build up in hand walking. To keep him quiet, I need to dose him with 150 mg Trazadone X12 tablets each day. It amazes me how active he is, even injured. He got away about 2 weeks into his rehab, and he looked amazingly sound. His recheck is Nov. 1, so we will see.