Defeating the Demon

10/13/2012

This is a new series, but it will take a bit to explain the title. I promise I'll get there - eventually.

You remember my elephant; Fear is his name. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can catch up here.) Fear is a big, burley guy who likes to try and push me around. He's all about making me feel small and powerless. When I am feeling cheeky, I quip about his big, saggy ass. Take that you giant lump of lard! In reality, if I let him hang around, I don't have much fun, and I find riding kind of scary. He's definitely not a Facebook friend, and frankly, I wish I knew how to ditch him permanently.

Fear called last night while I was riding. When I heard my ringtone, I checked my caller ID, saw who it was, and immediately hit ignore. Fortunately he didn't bother to leave a message. I know why he was calling, but I refused to answer. I don't need him in my life.

Sydney had a MELTDOWN last night. Seriously. What the hell? Just the other day I posted about how we cantered and how it was finally soft and relaxed. Five days later we're back to bolting and rearing? You can see why Fear decided to give me a call. He's always looking for an excuse to to dial my number.

So I am starting a new series: Defeating the Demon. This isn't a question. This will happen. I will do it. Here's what I am up against.

This behavior started last October, too.
The cold weather is not our friend.
The dark is not our friend.
Long work days are not our friend.
Contact is not [yet, anyway] Sydney's friend.

What do I have going for me?

My tool box is fuller than it was last year.
We still have some warm days coming.
There are only two months until Christmas vacation when I can ride in the middle of the day again.
Weekends are our friend.
Contact is GOOD!

Alright already! What happened? Thanks for asking. We started out like always - loose rein, relaxed trot, kick, kick, kick to get him moving. After our big loopy, relaxed trot, I let him stand and relax while I gave him lots of good boy pats.

I shortened my reins (not too much, just a bit) and asked for some smaller circles to work on establishing the inside bend while asking for a little sideways movement. Things were going well, and then I felt it coming. He squealed and slammed on the brakes.

Not wanting a fight, I grabbed a lunge line and put him to work without worrying about getting bucked off. The first few rounds on the line included some serious bucking and deep galloping. I gradually shortened the lunge line and slowed him to a canter so that he was really working. By the time he was done, he was soaked in sweat and blowing pretty hard.

I got back on and still had a demon. He just didn't want to bend. He tried everything to quit working: blow through the shoulder, rear, hump up, whirl, rear, bolt (he only made it a step), and on and on.

What went well? He NEVER got away. I never felt afraid. I never got mad. As he reared up, I pulled his head around and smacked his neck and cheek HARD which really sobered him up. I kept his head and neck moving so that he never had any way to grab on and run. I moved him sideways. Frankly, I just rode him.

Ultimately, he agreed to walk. He was tense and wanted to be at the gate, but I said no. So we walked in a 20 meter circle and spiraled in and out. In and out. In and out. Finally, he took a deep breath and stretched down. I let the reins slide through my fingers and halted. I hopped down and acted as though he'd won a gold medal.

I feel as though I won this battle. I didn't get the trot work done that I had originally wanted, but he didn't get to be done when the "real" work started. With the time change coming, I don't know what strategy I'll need to take as my battle with the demon continues. We'll ride this weekend and see what happens. We have a lesson on Monday so I'll get a chance to talk to JL about it.

Let the games begin.

Judy

10/13/2012 01:47:52 am

Sorry your boy is showing his stubborn side. Sounds like you handled it just right! You did yourself and just as importantly Sydney a huge favor by "winning" this battle. He's learning a lot about trust. He's finding out he can trust you not to lead him into danger and as important that he can trust you not to let him get away with crap when he's in a bad mood! Seems like you're on your way to deleting Mr. Demon from your contacts completely! I'm proud of you!! XO

Karen

10/15/2012 11:31:23 pm

HAHAHA! I love that - getting him out of my contacts! That's exactly what I need to do. :0)

Calm, Forward, Straight link

10/13/2012 09:21:19 am

Great job!
Sounds like you "rode the horse you have today" :D

10/15/2012 11:31:47 pm

We're trying, CFS, we're trying!

Val

10/14/2012 01:00:47 am

It is good to hear that you are keeping your cool and incorporating ground work.

Rearing is such a dramatic response and it is rational to be afraid. You could both be injured or worse. I know that you take very good care of your horses, but I cannot shake the idea that something else is contributing to his behavior. He only exhibits this type of response when asked for more bend and smaller circles? Pain in a tooth, TMJ, or the neck/back come to mind. Discomfort in the front feet can also make a horse resistant to turn sharply as can a saddle pinching the shoulders. You are a very, very competent horse owner. That is evident from your blog. But we can all miss things from time to time, yours truly included. I am looking at this from a diagnostic perspective. He has been so good with the relaxed, slow, large circle work you have been doing. What if this is not an emotional response?

10/14/2012 01:25:25 am

I share your concerns, Val. I have checked every possible thing that might make him uncomfortable: he has had his teeth done twice in the 16 months I've had him. The first visit was to just give him a check up (all was well), and by the second visit he needed some work. He was seen by the chiropractor in August. He was "out" in a few places, but nothing so out that it would cause this kind of resistance. I had my saddle refit in June and if anything the saddle was a bit wide for him. I am using a riser pad to help fill in the "empty" space per teh saddle fitter's recommendation.

My trainer has ridden him and examined all of my tack, including the bit I am using. My vet has examined him thoroughly and can find nothing that seems amiss. My farrier is an American Farriers Association "Certified Farrier" who is also hoping to take the Journeyman's test soon. He is very good at what he does. He likes Sydney's feet and sees no problems. My boys get re-shod every 5 - 6 weeks, no longer in between visits.

Sydney is of excellent weight and has hay in front of him 24/7. He is supplemented with a daily calmer pellet and a beet pulp/rice bran mash. He is ridden or turned out seven days a week. He has a large, open air stall and run (which you've seen). Speedy is just across the aisle for company. He is vaccinated regularly, has fecal counts done twice a year, and is de-wormed accordingly. Basically, this horse wants for absolutely nothing.

BUT ... he is an OTTB who feels anxious when he thinks he is "trapped" or in a situation that he doesn't trust. My trainer and I have discussed this issue many times. Last year, he wouldn't happily trot 20-meter circles on a loose rein. Last year I couldn't get him to work at the opposite end of the arena without bolting. Last year he didn't nuzzle and kiss me when I approached.

THIS YEAR? He works anywhere I ask in the arena and he happily makes those circles and serpentines. When I lead him out to the arena, he rests his muzzle on my hip.

I am 100% positive this is an emotional issue. Yes, he reared and tried to bolt, but he didn't do it for long and he listened to me the whole time. Last year he couldn't hear a word I said. I think that I am just asking for the next level, a little shortening of the frame, and this is scary for him.

I do not mean to sound defensive, sorry if it comes across that way, but I've thought about each and every thing you suggested. I, too, suspected a physical issue. That's what you're supposed to do - rule out discomfort first. He has seen every professional that I can find. There just doesn't seem to be a physical reason for his resistance.

I am going to continue what I am doing: loose rein warm ups followed by short work with the shorter rein. I know that he will learn to trust that I am not going to jam him up to the bit. It might take another year, but I am pretty sure we can get it done.

Thank you for taking the time to offer some suggestions. I wish I still had a few other things to try. Changing tack or getting teeth done is a lot easier than working through emotional issues. :0)

Karen

10/14/2012 10:59:53 am

I agree. Good luck and keep up the great work!

10/14/2012 11:11:43 am

:0)

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage