Training Scale Refresher Courses

The Classic Training Scale is like an escalator.  It goes both ways, up and down.  Sometimes you have to take a step or two, or three, back as you move up the scale from Relaxation to Rhythm, to Contact and Impulsion, and finally to Straightness and Collection.  Harley reached the beginning stages of contact, and yet we have gone back to reinforce his relaxation in areas where he hadn't quite gotten there.  Although he is relaxed in most situations now, including riding on trails, it has always been difficult for Harley to relax in any riding ring, in a round pen, or on a lunge line.

As I mentioned in a recent post, Harley has improved dramatically at liberty in the round pen, where he no longer runs around frantically, bucking and squealing, but can now wander quietly and enjoy our time together there.  A few days ago, we had a HUGE breakthrough in one of the rings where I had turned him loose to stretch his legs and, hopefully, get some exercise.  In the past, he either stood by the gate, or walked to the other end and back and wanted to leave.  When I had tried to move him around, he became upset and raced around, bucking, kicking, skidding into corners, and getting more and more worked up as he ran, until when he finally stopped, he was shaking and sweating, and was difficult to lead back to his stall.  A few times he actually pulled muscles and was lame for several days after an outburst.  Because of that, I ceased any attempt to make him move faster than a walk.  But he needed to be able to gallop around and use the muscles we aren't using yet during rides.  Once again, advice and examples from my trainer, Jane Armour, worked magic.

I turned Harley loose in a large ring, and he quickly walked down to the other end.  I hung up his halter and lead on the fence, and walked that direction.  He came to me and began following me, hoping to go back to his stall and eat, but I just talked to him and walked away.  He followed me a ways, and then wandered off on his own to explore.  At one point, he was walking parallel to me, so I decided to use some gentle lungeing cues to see what he would do.  He looked over at me, and I pointed to my right, clucked to him, and said, "Harley, Trrrrrotttt!"  He looked like he was unsure what I was asking, so I repeated the cues, and off he went at the trot in a large circle around me.  I said "Good boy!" over and over, and then he began to canter.  My first thought was, "Oh, no, here we go with the mad tearing around again," but he didn't take off.  he cantered quietly, so I kept telling him what a good boy he was, and then asked him to trot, and he did!  Then he slowed to a walk, went to the rail, and looked over at some horses who were going by.  I walked towards him and asked him if he was "all done" which is how we end our round pen sessions.  He turned and walked calmly over to me, I patted his neck, and we walked together to the gate.  I haltered him, led him out to have some grass, and then took him back to his stall.

This might not seem like a big deal to most people, but those who have dealt with an abused horse, especially one that has been beaten in a round pen or with a lunge whip as Harley has, will understand what a tremendous amount of trust it took for Harley to not react negatively to my cue.  In the past, my attempts to get him to trot or canter at liberty in a ring was, to him, me driving him away from me which he took as punishment, and it frightened and angered him.  Rather than wave my arms or the lead rope at him, or clap my hands, or chase him, I simply asked him to move, and it worked.  One more puzzle piece has slipped into place.

Best Chiropractic Report Ever!

Harley received an excellent report from his Equine Chiropractor, Dr. Jenny Johnson, on June 8.  The issues in his poll and neck are almost completely resolved, his walk and trot were nearly perfect, and the few adjustment that were needed were minor.  Schooling him properly, having a saddle that fits, and doing our neck and foreleg stretches have worked very well.  He also received a good report from his farrier.  His feet are strong and healthy.

We continue to work on transitions, and he gave me an almost textbook perfect walk to trot transition yesterday, quiet, seamless and accepting contact.  Of course, he still becomes distracted fairly easily, and will probably always be that way, but that's Harley.  As long as he comes back to me and does not fight, I'm happy. 

We have also had some very good session at liberty in the ring and round pen.  Harley no longer panics, running blindly and risking hurting himself.  He walks around quietly, rolls, explores, eats whatever greens he can reach, and then comes to me when he is ready to leave.  This is very important in helping him forget his fears from the past, and making him more comfortable in the ring.  I am also learning to discern between actual fear and putting on an act so he can go back to the barn.  To which Harley says, "Curses, foiled again!"  :)

The Return of Contact

Harley is doing great!  I was concerned that he would go back to fighting contact, tossing his head, and other habits from the past, but he has surprised me.  He is keeping rein contact at the walk and trot, through transitions, and even from halt to walk.  He will occasionally toss his head for a few seconds in walk to trot transitions, but then drops his head and accepts contact without a fuss.  He seems to especially enjoy the leg yield exercises we do, when he isn't tripping over his own feet because he is rushing.  The key to these exercises is to go very, very slow so that each step is deliberate and he can organize his feet properly and perform the exercise correctly.  Harley has a tendency to anticipate and will often try to do what he thinks I'm going to ask next, and he gets it right about half of the time.  Slow and steady is the key to keeping him relaxed and focused.

It still works like magic to bend, turn, change direction when he begins to get anxious or distracted.  We will continue to work on bending right, which was difficult for him in the past, but has improved a lot with bending exercises, and with the help of his chiropractor, Dr. Jenny Johnson.  He received the best report ever after his last treatment, with the issues in his poll and neck dramatically improved.  He is now almost straight tracking right, but we will continue to do the exercises to support his development and keep those left side muscles long and supple.  We are also walking over ground poles, and a few days ago, Harley walked calmly over 3 poles without touching any of them.  Good boy, Harley!!

Back to Basics

Now that I once more have a saddle that fits Harley, we have had to return to the beginning of the Training Scale (Relaxation, Rhythm, Contact, Impulsion, Straightness, Collection).  It was necessary to work on Relaxation again, as he had become tense in anticipation of pain from the saddle, which also probably brought back frightening memories from his abusive past.  To help him relax, I did very little ring work, and just rode around on the trails and paths on a fairly loose rein, with little or no trotting.  You cannot make bad memories just disappear, you have to replace them with good memories, and a calm, simple trail ride can do just that.  And I talk to him constantly, telling him how good and brave he is, and he really responds to my voice, and to a gentle stroke of his neck.

Then, when I did ride him in a ring, it was in a very calm, relaxed manner, staying soft on his mouth, talking to him, and doing small exercises such as loops down the long side, a few serpentines, even some figure 8's.  My trainer, Jane Armour, explained to me that the best thing to do when a horse gets distracted or is looking for a reason to get excited or spook, is to keep him moving forward and give him something to do, such as turn or change direction.  This works beautifully with Harley.  By keeping him "busy" he forgets to look around, concentrates on what I've asked him to do, and then relaxes in spite of himself.

Because of Harley's past, he wil lalways have "flashbacks" to the abuse and mistreatment, but over time, these moments will become fewer and farther between as he learns to deal with situations calmly and choose to move forward and past the fear.

A very relaxed, slightly chubby, but happy Harley standing ground-tied....

A Saddle That Fits

The GFS saddle arrived, and Harley is showing no signs of any discomfort from it.  The new saddle, a fleece shaped pad, and a nice, soft Stubben girth seem to be a winning combination.  Of course, now the weather has gone bad and we have had more rain, but I'm still riding when the sun comes out.  We haven't been able to school in a ring very much, but the weather will improve and we'll be able to.

I know now to check my saddle fit every few months, and to watch Harley for signs that there are pressure points.  Checking the sweat pattern on his back after every ride will also become a regular habit, as that can show if the saddle is sitting evenly on him.  The Elite fit Harley with the gullet plate that came with it, but to be on the safe side, I also ordered extra plates that are wider and narrower in case his body changes.  Fingers crossed that, if that happens, one of the plates will make the necessary adjustment.

What does Harley think of his new saddle?  Is this a happy horse? 

Saddle Fitting - Trial and Error

After riding Harley in the Schleese for about a month now, I'm not convinced that he is completely happy with it.  Although it fits him very well, no bridging, wide enough gullet, and not too long in the tree, the design of the saddle may not work for him.  Harley is very sensitive about pressure in the withers/shoulder area, and the design of the front panels might be an issue. 

However, while searching online for information about this problem, I discovered that the company that makes my previous saddle, also makes a line of saddles for horses with wide withers and shoulders.  After shopping around, I found a merchant who was selling a model very similar to my first saddle, and they offer 7 different gullet plates to "custom" fit the saddle to the horse.  I've ordered the saddle with 4 extra gullet plates, and am optimistic that one of them will fit him comfortably.

If one of these plates does not work on Harley, I may just get a western saddle and turn him into a warmblood trail horse.  No, not really, but as you can tell, owning a horse can be a very frustrating, patience-testing experience.  Be prepared to endure trials and tribulations, and never give up on your horse.  Other people gave up on Harley, and I will not.  He's so very special, and deserves to have someone believe in him and stick with him no matter what.

Saddle Fitting - The Sequel

As it turns out, my "adjustable gullet" saddle can not be adjusted enough to properly fit Harley.  He has developed so much muscle in his shoulders, that the gullet plates do not go wide enough to accommodate him.  The Schleese saddle fitter gave me a dressage saddle to ride on trial, and it fits Harley perfectly.  Unfortunately, it does not work for me, as I plan to jump Harley and need a General Purpose/Jumping saddle.

My trainer and I visited a local tack store, and they had a Schleese GP/Jumping saddle on consignment.  It is the tree width and seat size that I need.  It also has a "Flair" system, which means the panels have air bags in them which can be inflated/deflated to fit the horse.  I have heard that these can leak, and the saddle fitter said she can remove the air bags and replace them with wool flocking, which is what I plan to do.  In the meantime, I am using the saddle with a thick pad to protect Harley's back, and he seems okay with it.  But I'm not quite convinced, and I'm not sure Harley is either.  

If you have never had your saddle fitted by your trainer or an expert, I highly recommend that you do so.  It is not true that adding saddle pads or shims will make a saddle fit correctly in all cases.  Don't find out the hard way, like I did, by being bucked off, that your saddle is hurting your horse's back.  A correctly fitting saddle can also correct behavior and performance problems.  But always have your horse looked at by your vet first, if you suspect it is reacting to pain of any kind.

We'll let you know what happens with the Schleese.....