Mackie Redd

Another good day for "G" Man..........was the first time in 5 saddles that he stood still... This is one of the things that his owners would like him to do..me too...........and he did.........does not take long for a horse to figure this out if you are consistent and fair.... I do not want to tie my horses up to saddle him.. if things happen and he feels the need to get away I want him to be able to do that rather then him get me in a pickle...I have had trainers tell me that if you can't saddle your horse without tying him up you are not much of a horseman............I wouldn't go that far.. I think there are times when you may have no choice........you don't want to get stranded in the wilderness cause your horse walked off and left you while you went to get your saddle pad...............but even if I do tie my horse I don't really tie him... I will just loop the lead rope around ..........whatever it is that I'm tying to so he thinks he is tied.....most important is do whatever it take to be safe....when a horse learn to stand to be saddled he will stand for a lot of other things as well.......trimming...........shoeing.........fly spray....etc..........I think it is an important skill and encourage you to give it a try..... rode him again today and he continues to make great progress........will have his owner ride him next time she is out...

Was a busy day at the barn... had lots of folks stop by.......Marge.......one of my students and a great client.......came by to ride one of my horses for me.......did a great job... she just got back from Chile where she rode horses on the beach........love it..........

Mark a neighbor stopped by with one of his horses and we worked on a few things with him........Mark is a great example of a guy who learned old school ways of working with horses but once he had a chance to see what we do and give it at try.........he wonders where all this stuff was when he was working with horses for a living... Mark and his horses are making great progress with the things he is learning from us...and he is a good neighbor..........

Today I have to go to the dentist.........which I HATE........but need to get it done..........and I for sure know how my horses feel when they have to get their teeth floated............just shoot me...........

Yesterday was another big day for the "G" Man and his owner. I rode him yesterday and Norma was there to see him. She was happy with how he did and the issues she was the most worried about was mounting and getting off.. she had a very bad exprence with this horse doing those things.. and that happens a lot to folks........the horse is ok to ride but has issues with other things.... and that's why we spend so much time with them on the ground... what MOST horses need is to know their place in the herd....and when they know that they will do just about anything you ask.... but you have to hold to your side of the bargan and that's to be a good leader... if you don't do a good job it won't be long until he will take that job back from you and you will be in the same fix......where you started.....G doen't really know a lot about being ridden.......for a horse that has had "traning" or has been "broke".......so not really sure how much riding he has had but.....again that's not really his problem... Yesterday was the first time that G has been asked to get in a trailer by himself... Norma can lead him into a trailer.. that's how she loaded him when I went to pick him up.......but that's not very safe... she.....Norma has almost been hurt loading horses by getting in with them... I teach all horses that come here how to get in and out of the trailer by themselves... it's all about me being safe... I would like to do this for a very long time and I can't do that if I'm in the hospital......... there is a lot to be said about teaching a horse to load in a trailer and if you are interested we can talk about that more at another time... Today more of the same...will add a little more each day for G till he heads home in two weeks...

Had a call from a guy who has a horse for sale.. I think with a little work he would make someone a great trail horse.. if anyone is interested let me know and I will pass on his info...

Have 2 horses coming in for training next week... amazing what a 25 cent flier will do ...............
COFFEE

Yesterday was pretty windy around here.. that's what happens in New Mexico in the spring.....but sure makes it tough to get stuff done... so.... spent most of the day getting things caught up around the barn.....helped my girl with some of her art projects...... if you have not seen what Kathy is doing it's worth a look for sure www.tenderfootart.com ............Later in the afternoon I went over to check on G and saddled him a few times... that is something he has been having a real problem with.. not wanting to stand to be saddled... he is getting better but you have to have a firm hand to get it done and I'm not sure that his owners are up to that.... so we need to get it half way fixed before he goes home... will try a different tact today and see how that goes.. will let you know..........Norma......G's owner is coming over again today to work with me... she is doing great and is loving what she learns... hope she will have good things to say when we are finished and will post her comments .........good or bad........so you can all see....

Got a call from a gentelman from south of Deming......turns out he use to manage the ranch that we live on back in the day......he has a 3 year old colt that has .............90 rides or so and wanted to know if I would take him for a few weeks... most of the time when I get those calls it's someone who just wants their horse ridden.. they may be worried that the horse will buck.......if it hasn't been ridden in awhile and would rather have someone else bucked off instead of them.........and I will usually suggest that they hire a day working cowboy if all they want is their horse rode... I told him that what we have here is a program........and that most of the time I will not ride a horse for 7-10 days after they get here...want them in the program for some time so that I can get to know them and they get to know me...........I was shocked when he told me that he was looking for just a program...he agreed that it would be best to spend a little time with him before I rode.........shocked to say the least... most folks are worried about what its' going to cost.........not what it's going to do for their horses......He says that his horse is not very friendly...and that's ok with me.....he will be when he leaves..if he stays long enough......so he will be here the first week in May........ will let you now more about that as time goes by............

Well need to get to feeding... and finish my coffee... is a pretty day here today... no wind so far...........

Yesterday was a pretty big day for Me and Mr. G............ was his first ride sense he has been here with us... Norma........the owner......wanted me to work with G on standing to be mounted and dismounted and standing to be saddled........ he is still have a little trouble with standing to be saddled......but yesterday when I went to ride him he stood like a perfect gentleman .......... we rode around a bit .....for about 15 min. and then he stood still when I got off... That may sound pretty simple to most of you but if you have ever had a horse that knows he can get your goat by moving at these times you know how tough it can be to convince him otherwise... but we had been preparing for this event..........how do you do that you ask?..........it starts by teaching him the best thing for him to do is stand still.. no matter what is going on around him that if I'm there he has nothing to worry about.. that takes trust on his part........and it's trust that we have been working on... trust that I won't hurt him..........and I have to trust that he won't hurt me........So I teach a series of exercises that teach the horse that I won't hurt him and how he responds to those exercises determines how much or how little I will trust him... needless to say he has responded well enough that I felt safe enough to get up on his back... Today is way windy so won't ride him today but will work on saddling..... will just saddle and un-saddle him several times this morning and call it a day... One of my students, Ruth, has been making great progress........I have been having her work with G in the round pen so she gets the experience working with horses she does not know and so G thinks that anyone with 2 legs can move him around just like me...and teaches him that we want the same response regardless who is working with him......Ruth is making great progress.......she has been around horses a little in her young life but now she really wants to understand how to work with horses... her goal is to perhaps have her own horse one day soon... Her husband is also interested in learning about horses and hope to join her in her education as soon as he can get caught up at home..... will keep you up to date on their progress as well... was hoping to have pictures of G first ride with me but forgot my camera at home.... go figure.....

Ziggy is doing great... his boot is off and he is bearing weight on his bad leg..........

Now.......it's time to get back to my coffee............

Sundays here are a day off.........for me and for the horses......... is a time for me and I hope the horses to think about what has happened during the week and start thinking about what the next week will bring...I try and put together a plan for horses that are here in training and of course it's up to them how things will go...This coming week will be big for "G".......will probably ride him tomorrow and teach him how all the things he has learned on the ground apply to the saddle... I have high hopes for him... am hoping that his owners will be up for the challenge.....cause he is going to be one.....

Ziggy gets his boot off tomorrow.......he is doing great...

Howdy......... This afternoon G's mom came by to see him...I keep forgetting to introduce her to you all.. her name is Norma and his pop's name is Jerry.... Norma if very excited about what G is learning and what she is learning... G continues to make good progress.. still nervous but my guess is that's just who he is... can't change that.. just have to work with him and help him get along the best he can... Will ride him for sure this week.. it's funny how a horse will tell you when it's time to ride.. he get the ground work down and wants to progress... his ground work become more of a review then something new and he is ready to move on.............that's G.......... so will start that for sure next week.. will try to get a picture so you can see what he looks like under saddle... Norma said today that G even looks different... I asked her what she meant and she commented that the look in his eyes or is eye looked different... softer......I had not thought much about it.. guess that's because I see him every day but she was right... he is softer.....quieter........

Ziggy is getting better and better by the day....... he is getting around pretty good and will take the boot off of him on Monday........glad...

Got to get to my banana cream pie.....

"G" continues to make great progress... he still has a long way to go but he is starting to figure things out.. Yesterday I laid him down. This is a process that I don't teach at clinics........only at advanced clinics..... and I only do it with horses that are having a hard time conforming to the program...horses only lay down for 2 reasons..........one it to rest........the other is to die......... so when I lay a horse down they think they are going to die.....cause it wasn't their idea........so when that happens ......most of the time will lay quietly waiting to see what is going to happen... it's then that you can touch a horse just about any place you can reach and they will tolerate it... so it's when I can spend time with the horse and let him know that I'm not going to hurt him.. that he can just rest......he is safe as long as I'm around I will protect him.......... and you will see them relax....... I let them lay there as long as they like...........the longer they lay the more of a bond that takes place.... and when they get up......they look at you different......something happens when they know......you could have...........but you didn't......hurt them..........He wore the saddle that he will get ridden in yesterday as well and handled that as well....

Update on Ziggy......you may remember in an earlier post that Ziggy ran a nail in his hoof..........I'm am happy to report that he is putting weight on it and is improving everyday......... I have had a boot on him to protect his hoof though this process and hope to take it off for good next week.. will let you know.....
Be Safe Out There.....................

Meet "G" Man... he is a Peruvian Pasa Fino........ a handsome young man... he came to us with some issues.. does not want to stand to be saddled or stand to mounted or stand to be dismounted... he is making great progress.. .I have a no account saddle that I use when saddling horses for the first few time.. just in case they decide that they want to roll over on it... and he has worn this saddle for 3 days in a row.. i stepped up on him yesterday and he stood like a champ... understand, I have spent the past several day preparing him for this.. and our preparation paid off... at first he did not want to stand to be saddled but I helped him though that... when I did step up on him he did not move..........which is what we were shooting for.... today will be more of the same.. reviewing what he already knows and adding a little more everyday.. I will probably not ride him until next week.........unless he tells me other wise... I'm sure that I could do it now... but that's not what he really needs...he needs to know and understand his place in the world of humans... he is still shy and nervous about things........more so then the average horse.....so we will continue to work on his confidence... and we will get to riding later..... sure do like this coffee....

The horse we have in for training, we call him "G", is going to get a visit today from his Mom and Dad... they are driving up to see how he is getting along and see his progress... which I think is great. It's nice when owners come and spend a little time while their horse is in training. It's one of the things that we try really hard to get people to do.. It's important, I think, if the horse is going to keep progressing when he gets home to have the owner understand what the horse has learned and how to keep him going down that good path.... These folks seem very excited to learn so hope to have a good post at the end of the day to add to this... We will show them how he has progressed in the round pen and let them play with him so they understand the concept and ideas. I think that most folks don't really understand how the horse thinks or feels and although they are well meaning when they work with their horses they make things harder for themselves and horse.... We humans are TAKERS and horses are givers. We show our horses by the way we act that we just WANT...but when we start to understand how the horse feels and we stop taking every time we are around them then you start to see real progress in the relationship between horse and owner... and that makes everything down the road so much easier to get accomplished.......... and that's something that you have to experience... you can read about it all day long.. you can watch DVD's till you go blind..........but until you experience it with a horse.. most folks just won't get it... and the really crazy thing?.............it's easy...........

UPDATE: Well G's parents came by today and thought he was making great progress.... he has only been here for less then a week and they could not believe the progress he had made so far. When we were talking they mentioned that they had been though 5 or so trainers... and said that every one of them had their own ideas on the way that things should be done... I get that...but somewhere there has to be room for what the horse needs... we talked a ton about that too.. I know that we say "It's all about the horse" but I see people doing and feeding their horses things that are not at all good for them... . I think that the horse industry has convinced most of us that we need certain things in order to take care of our horses....... and as I look at the things on the market I have come to realize... much like the pet industry........ that they are not marketing things that are best for the horse but are selling things to us....... that make US feel good... and really has nothing to do with what is best for the horse... my guess is that sweet feed has gotten more people bucked of then anything else...........and yet...... we still by it........because we have been told by experts that it's good for them... I think that it can be hard to find someone that will tell you the truth about your horse and you.....after 5 trainers I can see how these folks would not know who to trust......... don't get me wrong......I think that all 5 trainers had some good ideas and made some progress with the horse.......but my guess is they did not have a program of training........and without a program a routine of training the horse will find it very hard to learn and or remember anything we are trying to teach them....so that's what I tried to show them yesterday was our program........the process that we use to help their horse find his way in a world of two leggeds...

I will probably start to ride "G" next week about this time...his parents are coming back on Saturday afternoon to check on his progress again.. So look for another update........

Ziggy is still pretty sore.. He is getting around OK but you can tell. Just gave him a dose of Tetanus Antitoxin just to make sure. He's kind of like most of us......can't remember when we got our last tetanus shot.

Just got an email from the lovely lady that is going to help Kathy and I put on a demonstration for the Back Country Trail Riders organization in May. We are going to do a round pen demo and a trailer loading demo.

I think most folks that have a round pen don't really know how to use it. Seems like the horses that we get here that folks say they have worked them in a round pen don't have a clue what they are doing.. the horse that is.. and so that goes back to the owner I guess.... I see horses that just run........and run........and run........... and I have to conclude that that's what they were taught to do.. so the horse never looks at the round pen as a pleasant place to be... and I don't blame him... and then I see folks that use the round pen to wear their horse out so that when they go to ride they  hope he is tried enough that they won't get bucked off... and I suppose on some level that works but.. it won't last......The round pen has become the thing to have...makes you look like you know what your doing...........from the road...........I think the round pen is a great tool... but like any tool.......if a person doesn't know how to use it... say a saw for example... if he's not careful he could cut his arm off.... so I hope that our demo will help folks see how to use the round pen to benefit themselves and their horses.... I'm sure this subject will come up again in the future. I use the round pen every time a new horse comes to the place or there is a issue I want to work on........so you can expect more of this rant.... join in if you like...

Sure like this coffee that Kathy got me.........