Something afoot

A small miracle occurred today. Since the day he came into my life, Sammie has always had trouble with farriers. He dislikes them intensely and nobody could manage to shoe his hinds without a great deal of doping or a knock out injection.

His problem wasn’t helped by his hind foot problem which resulted in an operation in 2006. I can’t describe the hell he went through and how he nearly gave up. I’ll never know how he came through it all but he did and he was still prepared to try and trust.

After the operation the only way to shoe him was with the Vet giving him an injection so he was hardly able to stand up. This happened every five weeks for some time. It wasn’t the cost that made me feel ill every time, it was the whole awful process.

After about 10 months of doing it this way, the Vet agreed that we could try him with Sedalin. The farrier disagreed. I don’t blame any farrier for not wanting to take on a difficult horse, so I had to find an alternative.

I eventually found a farrier that would work with me and my clicker training ways; a very patient man who seemed to have all the time in the world. He instantly recognised that Sammie’s problem was pure fear rather than him being “aggressive and difficult.”

I had to hold the hind feet for him while he did his job (not at all easy for either of us) and Sammie got rewarded with a click and treat for good behaviour. Sammie just wouldn’t let the farrier pick up his hinds, no matter which way we tried to do it.

Over the months I gradually reduced the amount of Sedalin. We had a few set backs and Sammie was still showing signs of fear, but we were getting somewhere. My friend (Max’s owner) was also coming across to do the click and treat at the front end which was an enormous help and comfort.

On this special day, I asked the farrier if he would mind just trying to pick up a hind foot and put it down again. He had the option to say “No” if he didn’t feel safe. He picked the left hind up with my friend and me at the front end treating Sammie with pony nuts like crazy. Then he continued to remove the shoe, trim the foot and put a shoe back on. No problem. Sammie didn’t flinch or kick out once (he has managed to kick out under a knock out injection before) - truly amazing!!

I asked the farrier how he felt and he said that he didn’t really feel in any danger at all. Then we made the mistake of tackling the right hind and that proved to be a step too far for Sammie. Why do us humans always try and push things? So we went back to me holding the foot. But we still achieved something truly fantastic. Sammie was only on a few mils of Sedalin – he was most certainly awake enough to give the farrier hell if he had chosen to.

I was gobsmacked (and I still am to a certain extent.) I’m just hoping that we can now build on this progress. It’s taken time, effort and patience, but it seems to be paying off. As I said before, Sammie really makes you earn his trust and this is a perfect example.

Something or a series of horrible things has obviously happened to Sammie with farriers before we partnered up, but if we can keep taking these small steps then one day he might just learn that he can’t tar all farriers with the same brush.

Rev me up!

Over the last few months I’ve discovered there is a tipping point with Sammie when we’re long lining or riding. My instructor calls it “Getting him to bubble.” It’s not done through antagonising him or being harsh with him in any shape or form, it’s getting him revved up so he is almost doing the next thing before you ask for it.

It’s very hard to explain and I guess it’s different with each horse, but I just know when he’s ready and it’s been a real eye opener for me. It seems to come from using my voice and my body in a certain way. I grow tall and lift myself (whether I’m on the ground or on board) and I encourage him with the tone of my voice. Using the sound of his name seems to have an effect as well.

I feel his body puff up, he grows a bit and I have every bit of his attention. It’s like he’s excited without the distracting side effects that often come with an excited horse.

I first felt it in my early lessons with my new instructor. She kept saying “He’s bubbling, he’s bubbling. Ask him now.” However, instead of going into action, I just sat there wondering what on earth was going on underneath me as I’d never felt anything like it before! It’s a good job my instructor had endless patience in those early days.

And now I think I’ve started to create the same effect while we’re long lining too. It’s only been a couple of sessions but we’ve managed walk to canter in a very controlled fashion. Again, I have to rev him up and his body tells me he’s ready. I’ve known this horse long enough now to know that if he really doesn’t want to do something he won’t, so I guess I must be getting something right.

I don’t think a lot of horses need to go through this stage, but with Sammie it’s like he is agreeing with me, “Yep, I’m ready. I’m warmed up. I know what you want. Let’s do it!” I guess it’s feel, pure and simple. It can’t be timed or processed; it’s just us working together, with Sammie providing the feedback. There’s no force, no punishment – just communication and agreement.

I just wish I’d had somebody to show me all this stuff years ago. Sammie used to be a horse that didn’t really move at all in the school and if he did, it was with the least amount of effort possible. And who can blame him after the life he’d had? Now, a touch of the leg and we’re off. The problem I often have now is slowing him down!