Training Methods for Grayson

I want to train Grayson in a traditional way, I really do but I don't think it's in the stars. I don't have any problems with traditional training, I just have trouble communicating with Grayson...it's like we're speaking different languages.

I guess I've known this for a while but I'm coming to terms with it. I love clicker training and Parelli and so does my horse. We have tons of fun! It may not be for everyone (both people and horses) and that's okay.

I love groundwork...more than riding. Is that even normal? Will you guys throw rotten tomatoes? I think it's this way because I clicker train on the ground but not in saddle. I think I said this before but if I can capture a behavior with a click, I can almost always reproduce it and then put it on cue.

I think we both feel lost under saddle...this is weird for me because when I got Grayson, I had never even lunged a horse (!). I learned to ride in an arena setting with school horses; I only rode...I knew nothing about ground work.

Yesterday I finally sprung for Alexandra Kurland's "The Click That Teaches: Riding with the Clicker." I say sprung because this puppy is $50...that's crazy expensive for a horse book. Alex's first book is what got me into clicker training and taught me the basics...I hope this book sends me in a similar direction but under saddle. I'll be sure to review. Side note: I emailed her directly to see how long she takes to ship and she emailed me back within hours...how awesome is that customer service!?

This is my next goal with clicker training on the ground:

Teaching Grayson to Pick Items Up With His Teeth

One of the first tricks I tried to teach Grayson (literally years ago) was to pick items up...I kept a Santa hat in my tack box forever but he never grasped the concept.

On the day I lunged Grayson at liberty, I saw him mouthing the stick I use. I immediate ran to go get carrots and my clicker again.

Here's what happened next...he cracks me up!

I've learned that if I can capture a behavior with my clicker, I can almost always recreate it and put it on cue.

We've moved away from the stick and on to bell boots, gloves, etc... Just tonight I lined up a bunch of items and he would pick up the item I pointed to.

Right now he picks the item up but doesn't hand it to me...that's the next step. :)

Walk/Trot Lunging at Liberty

On a whim one day, I tried try to lunge Grayson (just W/T) at liberty.

Below is the video...he's a little lazy but I was impressed for his first time.

Updates!

Oh boy, I can't believe how long it's been since I posted...the end of January!

Grayson is doing really well. He's still at the same barn that I moved him to when we came to Charleston, SC. He's kept with a 24-old-gelding...gets two meals a day and grass to graze throughout the day. He seems so content...I don't know if it's the barn or his age (turned 7 at the beginning of May) or maybe even a combination of both but I like it.

It's a good thing he's happy because I don't get to see him as much (I used to see him everyday)...between work and the fact that he's 30 minutes to an hour away. But it's also the first time since I've owned him that I haven't worried like crazy about him.

Other news:

Since January, I got another kitten to go with my first kitten...Ajax and Addie :)

I have my first raised bed garden...some of those plants I actually started from seeds a few months ago. This was taken on Monday! I'm SOOOO excited!

Grayson got a new halter...I've "downgraded" to a nice Weaver nylon halter...I'm loving the red and it's definitely his new color! The nylon is much nicer than his stretched out leather halter.

Speaking of Grayson, we've been doing a ton of clicker training and we both love it. In fact I'm combining clicker training and Parelli...holy cow I can't believe the progress. I've been trying to get a nice sideways game out of Grayson for at least two years but his body is always all wonky. Tonight I tried using a Parelli technique with the clicker and he picked up on it within minutes. Not perfect of course but he's keeping his butt almost in line with his front end.

I know there are a lot of anti clicker folks out there and I don't know if the clicker is useful for all horses but it makes for an excellent way for me to communicate with Grayson...I've even used it for lunging and a tiny bit under saddle.

Anyhow, I hope I can find more time to blog because I miss it terribly!

I May Go The Treeless Saddle Route

I think I've decided to take a new route with saddles. As I mentioned the other day, Grayson has yet again outgrown his saddle and I haven't been happy with a saddle fit since he was 4-years-old. I've even had a Wintec with the interchangeable gullets.

Right now I don't do a ton of riding and the riding we do is very light (maybe that will change after lessons) so I'm deciding between a Cashel soft saddle and a Barefoot treeless saddle, more specifically the Cheyenne.

Source: Equine Now

I know the soft saddle is essentially a glorified bareback pad but Grayson's former foster mom uses one and recommends them as long as you use a breastcollar. The reviews are mostly negative though...especially when it comes to the stirrups. Have any of your guys used or owned one of these before?

Source: Your Horse Forum

The Barefoot saddle seems to be a pretty popular brand for treeless. I'm a complete treeless newb but I think it may be a good option for Grayson with those big stinkin' (or just awkward?) shoulders he has. Any recommendations here?

I'm leaning toward the Cheyenne treeless saddle but in the end it will be about twice the price of the Cashel. Although I must say the synthetic Cheyenne is priced very well but the treeless saddles do need a more expensive pad so there's a little extra money there.

Any other saddles out there that you guys recommend for horses with big sloping shoulders?  I don't think he's necessarily a wide horse; it's just his shoulders come back so far so if I have an English treed saddle with a very forward flap, it'll interfere with his shoulder movement. Unfortunately I think Grayson is very tolerant when it comes to pain and ill fitting saddles. I wish he would be more of a baby. This is also a horse that had two broken, infected teeth for probably six months. :( Sheesh!

Body Shots

I promised you guys some body shots of Grayson. He's definitely filling out since he has outgrown yet another saddle. Have I told you guys how much I dislike saddle shopping? :D

Anyhow, here's a picture of Gray in early October.

And here's Grayson in December.

I know he's not in the same exact position but trust me, he's gained weight and looks great. :)

I'm sick of it being dark by the time I get to the barn but I'm lucky in that I do have a lighted barn where I can do some clicker work. Like I mentioned above, I'm also looking for a new saddle...especially because I've decided to start taking lessons on Grayson in March! Woo hoo! I'm not really sure why I've dragged my feet so long but I'm ready to start making some progress with this boy...he'll be 7 in May!

In other exciting news, we got a new kitten!

Her name is Addie. :)

And We're Back!

Oh my goodness, can you believe it's been almost 2 months since I've posted?

Well a lot has happened...all good. :)

At the end of October I moved from Wilmington, NC to Charleston, SC. Justin's parents and sister live nearby and I got an AWESOME job offer from a great marketing agency in town so we decided to move. It all happened really quick and the reason I couldn't talk about it, is because Justin wanted to work through the end of November. I didn't want to "give it away."

I also got engaged at the end of November!! woo hoo! We went on a cruise to the Bahamas and Justin proposed on the cruise. We have not officially set a date but we're thinking April of 2013.

Here's my ring.

I moved down Friday, October 28 and Grayson came down the following morning. I feel bad for the poor guy, he's been moved so much in the past year but handles it fairly well. I'm hoping we're at our new place for the long haul.

The barn is about 30 minutes away (the only bummer) but the care is the best he's ever had and the place is very well kept. 

Because of moving, the sun setting before I get off work and no indoor arena, I haven't been doing very much with my pal and I miss that. I definitely think writing on my blog and reading everyone else's blog gives me some accountability. Grayson and I are both happier when he's doing a little something.

The owner of the barn was determined to put some weight on Grayson before winter. I like my slim, trim boy but I LOVE my guy with some weight. He has very little muscle but he's developed a nice horse sized butt.

I need to get some good body shots for you guys but for now, you'll just have to look at him in his new rain sheet. I love the red and black!

Everything was going great until I got back from my cruise. Grayson is usually calm and ready for anything but something happened and he was explosive! Almost scary to me...he would buck at the walk...even bareback so it's not the saddle. And he would just blow up in hand. My first thoughts were he wanted more hay and he was just bored  (he was kept by himself) but the barn owner suggested the feed. He is getting more feed than he's ever gotten but she's decided to switch him to something else. In addition to switching feed, he's now in with two other horses and they have plenty of hay and some grass. Since the changes, he's been much better but he definitely needs to get back to his job (which is? ha ha! whatever fun thing I decide we're in to that week) Anyhow, I was getting panicked that my lovely horse was becoming high maintenance. :)

I'm glad to be back and I hope you haven't forgotten about me.