<![CDATA[Mackie Redd - Mackie's Blog]]>Fri, 25 May 2012 06:36:31 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Getting back in the Grove!]]>Fri, 25 May 2012 07:14:35 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/getting-back-in-the-grove.htmlPicture
Owner loads her own horse!
Kathy and I have our grandkids here for a couple of weeks, Matt and Bay. I can’t tell you how good it is to have them around the house. They are both getting so grown up. I went to the barn to work with horses yesterday, while the kids slept in. They had a couple long days in the truck to get here. Then Matt went with me to the hardware store to get a few things so we good get the AC going in the bunk house so they wouldn’t fry. Then on the way back we stopped in to check on the horses and then home. Got the AC going. Matt is pretty quiet but it was nice just to have him sitting there next to me in the truck.

Today, if the wind lets us, we are going to go and work with Casino and Pepe this morning and then get the kids horse back and let them ride in the arena for a bit. I’m hoping that we will get to take a long ride over here to the house so Grandma can get to see them. They have never really had a chance to ride. We don’t get to see them here at the ranch very often so we want to take advantage, now that they are here. Will take pictures.

Time to get a cup of coffee and get after it.

]]><![CDATA[Trailer Loading Comments]]>Thu, 24 May 2012 06:48:05 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/trailer-loading-comments.htmlPicture
Owner looks on!
Well we are home. Kathy had a show in Alb. NM showing her art and the Cowboy Man Bar. They were both hits and Kathy is excited about her up coming show…  Go Sweetie!

I have gotten a few very nice post on loading horses in the trailer. And I want to thank all of you that posted. If you would like to read their post just check at the bottom of each blog and you can see if anyone posted to the blog and read them there, and send your own comments if you like. It’s fun.

What I am seeing, as I read them, is there are lots of ways to get a horse in a trailer, and like I say, I have a WAY, not the only WAY, but a way that has worked pretty darn good for me over the years and I know will work for you as well. The other thing I am seeing is people use food, a lot, to get horses in trailers, and I don’t have a problem with that, as long as you have food with you all the time. I don’t, so I can’t, and don’t rely on it to get the horse in the trailer. I want my horse to load because I asked him to, not because there is a food reward for getting in. Having said that, I will use food, later in the program, to help him get comfortable with the trailer, but I’m not giving it to him because he got in the trailer. Does that make sense?

I know that trailer loading can and is a problem for lots of people. It was for me for a long time too, but with the method I use now, I have not had a lick of trouble. I hope that the info you find here will help you too..

The boys have had a couple of days off but that’s over.. time to get to it.

Coffee time!

]]><![CDATA[Tue, May 22, 2012]]>Tue, 22 May 2012 06:53:06 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/tue-may-22-2012.htmlI was wondering if any of the folks have had any problems loading their horses in trailers in the past? If so pass them on to me. I'm always interest in how others are getting things done. I promise not to mention names of you or your horse. Would be a nice way for all of us to learn.]]><![CDATA[Fri, May 18, 2012]]>Fri, 18 May 2012 07:54:07 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/fri-may-18-2012.htmlOn the road for a few days. Will write when we get back ]]><![CDATA[Trailer Loading the End!]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 06:44:04 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/trailer-loading-the-end.html
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In ya go!
Well, we have our horse looking at the trailer. Now we want to ask him to get in by pointing and clucking to him. Each time he makes a move to the trailer we want to take the pressure off. When he stops his progress to the trailer we will ask again, and keep up the pressure till he makes another move to the trailer or he gets in.

When he gets in, and he will, most people want to shut the doors to the trailer. DON’T DO THAT! He has to know that he can get out if he wants. If he only stays for a little bit in the trailer and comes out, go back to work lunging in circles behind the trailer and then ask him if he would rather do that, or get in the trailer. Each time he gets in you need to let him rest there. Let him know that the trailer is a really, really good place to be. Each time he gets in the trailer he will stay longer and longer. When you have to ask him to get out of the trailer will you know that he is ok with being in there and now sees the value of the box stall on wheels.

Once I have my horse going in the trailer, and coming out with ease I will start to feed him in the trailer in the morning and in the evening. Just a little so he sees there is real value in that trailer. I don’t use food to get him in the trailer but will reward him AFTER he is loading well. I will do this for 5 days in a row.

If you give this trailer loading program a try you will be amazed at how well it works and how well your horse will load in your trailer and in another trailer if you go riding with friends. If you ever have problems, just ask your horse if he would rather work outside the trailer or rest inside. It won’t take him long after a week in the trailer loading program to figure out the answer.

There ya go. My trailer loading program. Of course it’s much easier for me to show you then tell ya, so if you ever get the chance to come to a demo, do.

Coffee time.

]]><![CDATA[Trailer loading for Wed!]]>Wed, 16 May 2012 07:19:34 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/trailer-loading-for-wed.htmlPicture
Ria loads her horse!
Yep, trailer loading again. So hears what you do. Start behind your trailer and let your horse lunge in a circle, of course. When he first goes by the trailer he will probably shy away from the trailer, especially if it’s not his trailer, but he will probably do it anyway especially if he does not like getting in it. Each time he goes by the trailer take all the pressure off your lead rope, out of your body. Make going by or being close to the trailer a good thing, or at least as good as you can make it for now. Don’t push him to much to get in the trailer right now, that will come in time.

After he has done this for a bit and you don’t see any change or desire for him to get in the trailer, try lunging him off to the side of the trailer, both sides of the trailer doing the same thing. Each time he gets close to the trailer take all the pressure off of him. If he should try to stop to look at or smell the trailer, please, please, please let him. This is what you are after. You want him to look at, smell the trailer so he can over come whatever fear he may have or to fuel his interest in the trailer. You will want to move to the back of the trailer after you have done this for awhile, and as your horse is making his circle toward the open back of the trailer, step to the side of the trailer but still at the back, and ask your horse if he would like to get it the trailer. Now when I say ask, I don’t mean you actually ask him, I mean you point to the trailer, indicating that you would like him to get in.  If you have done my ground work program, your horse will know this cue means to go in the direction you point. If you have not done the program, it will be harder but not impossible.

Most of the time this is when the horse will stop and look in the trailer or smell the trailer. This is when you want to let him rest for a bit. See we don’t really care if he gets IN the trailer right now, we just want him to consider it.

More tomorrow but now coffee.

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Asking this horse to go past the trailer!
]]><![CDATA[Trailer loading again?]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 07:22:54 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/trailer-loading-again.htmlPicture
Trailer to small for this horse!
Yep, trailer loading again. I talked yesterday about a program for trailer loading so I thought I would tell you what I do that has worked for me.

It helps if your horse has some skills, like knowing how to lunge and yield his hind quarters when you ask him to. You can still teach him to get in the trailer without these skills but they will sure help you both out down the road if your horse understands them.

I have never seen this program not work. I’ve seen it take longer on some horses then others but I have never seen it not work. Horses don’t like trailers very much because they are a little afraid of small spaces. So, when I start to teach this skill to a horse that has problems or a horse that has never been in a trailer, I always start with a stock trailer. I like a stock trailer cause it’s easy for a horse to turn around and, mine at least is, open so he can see outside of the trailer. I have had to teach horses, at times, to get it to the very small 2 horse straight pull trailer from the 60’s and it can be very difficult for the horse to understand that the trailer is a good place, if it’s not.

We did a trailer loading demo awhile back and a fella wanted me to use his trailer. He had a very small 2 horse straight pull and he could get his horses in it but it took a lot of time and you had to physically push one of the horses to get him in. We brought his trailer in and put it next to mine. I showed him that I could get my horse in his trailer but my horse did not like it or want to, but he did. When I started working with his horses, they too did not want to get in that little trailer. If they got to close to my trailer they would jump in it with out any problem. The moral of the story? Get a bigger trailer. People make their lives way to hard when the try to use a piece of equipment that was really designed for smaller horses. I suggested that he get a bigger trailer. That his horses would appreciate it. Not sure if he did nor not, but he should have.

I will get to the trailer loading program, I promise, but first coffee.

]]><![CDATA[Trailer Loading!]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 08:06:49 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/trailer-loading.htmlPicture
He did not want to go!
I talk a lot about trailer loading, because it’s such a problem for a lot of people. We always try to do a little trailer loading when we do a demo or clinic. Most of the time there is always someone who had a little trouble after a clinic getting his or her horse in a trailer. I think it because they just don’t want to leave me, and want their owners to let them come home with Kathy and I. Kathy says that’s not the reason. So, anyway, we have lots of opportunities to help and show folks how to get their horses in a trailer.

Trailer loading, like everything else I do, has a program. Just because your horse will get in the trailer does not mean that your horse is broke to load in a trailer. Back in the day, when I day worked a lot, you never knew what trailer or who’s trailer you would be asked to put your horse into to get to work. So, my horses had to be willing to get into whatever I asked them to. Most folks have A trailer, they don’t have several, and after awhile a horse will get use to getting into YOUR trailer. But ask your self, does my horse get in the trailer because I asked him to, or does he get in the trailer because it’s his idea. Now this get a little confusing, or at least I make it a little confusing, cause I want my horse to get in the trailer cause it’s his idea, but I want him to get in the trailer cause I asked him to, no matter what kind, color or size it is, and no matter what other horse or horses are in there. See I can’t leave it up to him to decide what he will or won’t do. When you have 3-4 cowboys waiting for you to load your horse so they can go home, and your horse won’t get in, well it’s not a pretty sight.

So having a program, at home before you head out to the trail or to work, is so important. I think I’ll talk about this this week..

But now coffee.

]]><![CDATA[Good time!]]>Fri, 11 May 2012 06:32:52 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/good-time.htmlPicture
Ziggy!
Found this picture from a couple of years ago with Ziggy and me sorting in the alley. Sometimes, with everything going on that goes on around here, I forget about some of the cool stuff I and my horses have gotten to do in the past, and how far my horses have come over the years. I got Ziggy because he was bucking his owner off. The folks are from South Carolina and were out here on a ride when I met them and Ziggy. They did not want to take him back home for fear that some young kid would end up with Ziggy and they were just afraid of what would happen. So, Kathy and I bought him and put him in the program. Then I got the chance to use him pretty regular around cattle and he did great. I have not ridden him much in the past 6 months or so. Just been so busy with everyone else, but we have had some really fun times together.

Casino got to work on some round pen skills yesterday. His owner, Jene, told me that he was a funny little horse, and she is right. With all the things that he has seen and has happened to him here in his training, he still jumps out of his skin when you come into the barn unannounced. The other horses don’t bother to move but not Casino. I think it’s just who he is, may not be able to change any of that.

Pepe worked in the round pen as well and wore his first saddle here. He has been saddled and ridden many times but it was the first time I have ever saddled him. His owner, Lori, has really done a nice job with him in some areas. He is just a very dominant horse and pretty much does whatever he wants or thinks he wants. He is doing better each day. Just hope we can get it all done in 30 days.

Coffee time.

]]><![CDATA[A little weather!]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 07:20:31 -0700http://www.mackieredd.com/1/post/2012/05/a-little-weather.htmlPicture
We had a little weather here yesterday late afternoon. There was hard white stuff falling from the sky and all the boys headed for cover. We sure need the wet, hope there is more coming.

Had a good day with Casino and Pepe. I put Casino in the Al Ragusin’s double rein method. http://www.trainingyourownhorse.com/ I have been riding him using this method I learned from Al for some time now. He does very well in it and I can gain more control and refinement. If you are interested in learning this method of using the double reins, please give me a call or email me and I will be happy to explain it and show it to you. Check out Al’s website and if you have any questions I know he would be happy to talk to you. Tell him I sent you.

Pepe is doing pretty good with his groundwork. His owner, Lori, has done a good job teaching him some of the skills that he needs to get along in the human world, and that is a good thing. 

I’m often asked how it is that I can get things done with a horse, a skill for example like side passing down the rail, when the owner can’t. What happenes with owners, most of the time, is they start to treat their horses like they are pets. What I mean by that is they start to baby or spoil them. Then what happens in the horses mind is they, the horse, becomes a little higher in the herd of two. They may do what the owner ask, but you can tell the horse does not want to do it, or they go thru the motions but there is little, or no effort put into the skill. The owner begins to accept whatever the horse is giving them because they don’t want to get after their horse, or they are afraid of the reaction they may get if the horse gets really upset.

When horses come here to me for training, I can’t let how I feel about them affect how I train them, if I do, I will be cheating the horse and the person who brought the horse to me. So, I treat the horse the way a dominant horse in the herd would treat them. If the dominant horse told the sub horse to move away from the feed, and he does not move, the dominant horse is going to make him move. What most horses need is a leader. Well they all need a leader if they are going to get along in a human world. That leader better be us or our horses will assume that position. That’s the reason horses react differently to me then they usually do to their owners.

I can’t express how important it is to be the leader in your herd. It means your safety. So if you want a better horse, be a better horseman.

Coffee Time

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Ted riding in the double reins.
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