Weather

[reneigh]

The weather lately in CNY has been causing complications and I haven't been able to get up to the barn as often as I'd really like. I have a 6 year old Connemara x Standardbred (Fiona) and I feel really bad because she loves work and gets really nervous and under-the-weather so to speak when I'm not up there a lot. What's the best way to keep her in shape and still be happy when I can't get up there as often? I hate sticking side reins on her and making her work when I'm not there a whole lot during the week because I feel it's unfair to her. Basically I've just been letting her loose in the arena and lunging her without any equipment on for now and occasionally setting up a crossrail for her to go over.

The good thing is we're moving her to a new barn (for her, anyway, I've been riding there for the past 2 years) this weekend so I'll have my trainer to help me and I can get up there more regularly as the roads are WAY better getting up there and I won't have any problems if I need to stay the night. I love going to my old barn and seeing everyone. It feels like home and the barn I board her at right now is so.. commercial and un-happy feeling. So I think part of my problem with avoiding the barn is because of that.

But anyway, any tips on what I can do with her the rest of this week would be greatly appreciated!

[HappyHorse13]

The weather here has been horrible, too.

Instead of lunging, try something new. Make up a game of sorts, I guess. Put different objects out in the arena and try to get Fiona (calmly) to approach them. Instead of working her body, work her mind. :)

[reneigh]

Instead of wokring her body, work her mind. :)

That's a good way to put it :) I've been working on getting her to pick up her feet for me in the arena, stand still while I walk around her entire body, come to me when I say her name, etc. She likes games, but I really do feel bad because she's that kind of horse that LOVES work and loves to learn, ya know? But oh well, it's winter. We can get to the hard stuff (for her anyway, like being under saddle and not be nervous about it) in the spring. As for now we'll just bond and be happy we have each other and I can ride other horses like Nolan, Trader, and PJ! =)

[HappyHorse13]

Yay! lol

:( I wish I had a horsie to ride....

[moodymare]

Don't worry happyhorse you will one day soon. :)

[aub TVF]

Ah... the challenge of getting out to the barn... This is a problem that the weather has posed to many of us horse crazy people once or twice in the past... How do you keep your mare occupied and in shape on those days that you can not make it out? I think the best awnser is to get her turned out as much as possible... As for letting her free lounge in the ring... I am personally not the biggest of fans... Especially when work is a bit inconsistant I am always fearfull that they will be too silly and hurt themselves... I guess it is not all entirely bad if A. you don't chase them, and B. Be so carefull to not allow crazy maniac running/behavior... Having said that... I personally am not at all opposed to your idea of work on the side reins in fact I think that this is a good idea... Not only is this a good training tool, it also will allow for your mare to ware herself down a bit which quite possibly in the long run keep her less restless and more tired if you are unable to make it out the barn...

[Skip_n_Hide]

HappyHorse, I like your idea of working the mind instead... useful! :p

[HappyHorse13]

lol thx, Skip.

[reneigh]

Ah... the challenge of getting out to the barn... This is a problem that the weather has posed to many of us horse crazy people once or twice in the past... How do you keep your mare occupied and in shape on those days that you can not make it out? I think the best awnser is to get her turned out as much as possible... As for letting her free lounge in the ring... I am personally not the biggest of fans... Especially when work is a bit inconsistant I am always fearfull that they will be too silly and hurt themselves... I guess it is not all entirely bad if A. you don't chase them, and B. Be so carefull to not allow crazy maniac running/behavior... Having said that... I personally am not at all opposed to your idea of work on the side reins in fact I think that this is a good idea... Not only is this a good training tool, it also will allow for your mare to ware herself down a bit which quite possibly in the long run keep her less restless and warn down if you are unable to make it out the barn...

Well unless the weather is incredibly horrible, they are out from probably 730am-730 or 800pm, so she's not TOO restless and content out with her buddies. Oh trust me, I'm not a huge fan of free lunging either, but she's pretty good about it and I get to see her lovely extended trot ;) And I always do it under two conditions - she has to trot for 10 minutes on the lunge before I let her go loose and if she gets too crazy she MUST come to me and we'll continue the lunging and no more free-going until she proves she'll listen and understand that free does not always equal "okay go crazy yay!" But I haven't had the problem of her winding up, she usually just trots and canters around a few times, I change her direction & then just kind of stand there while she wears out and then she decides to come to me.

The only problem with side reins is because I don't work her often, I feel it's unfair to her to make her work her neck and back if her legs aren't able to get underneath and balance her, you know? But hopefully we won't have this problem when I move her to my old barn because then I'll have my trainer there to help me and teach me how to long-rein and eventually I want to hook her up to a cart and have her be a nice little carriage pony as well as a riding pony.

Thanks =]

[EquineDriver]

Well, I suggest just letting her go and have her be a wild pony. That will solve your problems.

Juusttt kiddingg...Haha. I should come out and teach you and Fiona a lesson in ground driving. It would be good for her riding, too. Hmm...

[Mackoroni]

I am afraid I have to agree with HappyHorse. Working the mind would be more productive than lunging. I am not a big fan of lunging (don't get me wrong, I know it has its purposes). However, mind games make them focus on trusting you...they look at you as their friend as well as the herd leader. I know that you will do what you feel is right, but I must go along with the mind games.

Great suggestion HappyHorse.

[reneigh]

Well, I suggest just letting her go and have her be a wild pony. That will solve your problems.

Juusttt kiddingg...Haha. I should come out and teach you and Fiona a lesson in ground driving. It would be good for her riding, too. Hmm...

Yeaah i've been thinking A LOT about starting her in driving first and then going to riding. Seeing how Nolan turned out it makes me wonder =]

I'm not moving her to Nancy's until the 16, 17, or 18. Maybe this or next week (or this weekend) you could come out? I'll lunge her every other day or every day in side reins to get prepped =] but I understand if you can't with the sleigh ralley coming up ^_^ I'm 'cited and i'll get some pics with my digital cam and my new cam!

[reneigh]

I am afraid I have to agree with HappyHorse. Working the mind would be more productive than lunging. I am not a big fan of lunging (don't get me wrong, I know it has its purposes). However, mind games make them focus on trusting you...they look at you as their friend as well as the herd leader. I know that you will do what you feel is right, but I must go along with the mind games.

Great suggestion HappyHorse.

Yeah I've noticed a very big change in how she reacts to me since I've been doing "new" things with her. In a good way of course =]

I wouldn't focus on the lunging so much if it didn't have any purposes but with her she loooooves it and needs work :)