Kinship With Horses

9324 North Otto Road
Cattaraugus, NY 14719
ph: 7169825180
gail@kinshipwithhorses.net

The Chronicle of Iko and Lizzie

These two mares - Lizzie and Iko - are embarking on a journey with me. It is a journey that will discover answers through feel. It is a journey from which all of us will learn and grow.

I invite you to follow our progress by way of this chronicle. It will tell the story.

The tale of two mares begins.....
Late June 2010
When I look into the eyes of a horse, I see such depth. I can't help but wonder what they must think of us. I know that if I can find the right questions to ask, the answers for which we search will come flooding out. But those "right" questions - that is the key - how can we find them? How can we focus on their good offerings and make that work for us? How can we build on the feel and develop a meaningful conversation?
So begins the tale of Lizzie, a 6 year old pinto and Iko, a 10 year old quarterhorse. These girls arrived at the Blue Mule Ranch just before Memorial Day. We have spent our early days in the round pen and doing ground work. Riding in the pen has also been a positive part of our early times.

These two mares suffer from some serious separation anxiety. They have both managed to jump out of their box stalls while tied! Once out, they stand quietly on the other side. Ray Hunt would say, "be careful about trying to fix one thing- you may bring out the worst devil". So for now, box stalls are out of the question.

In these early days, we will take some baby steps in opening the lines of communication. Leading in and out of the stall works - leaving is the part they like the best.

Both mares seem to have some holes in their basic foundations. Giving them a solid feel gives them meaning and this will be my touchstone for now.

I have had the vet out to make sure they are both healthy and sound. Neither has any physical problems. The next step will be their teeth. They are barefoot and have great feet. All of these are positives that I can build on.

These mares will be offered for sale to approved homes when I feel they have mastered some foundational skills. I want them to go to homes where the feel based approach of natural horsemanship will be carried on. For now, sit back and enjoy the chronicle of their progress. I will periodically add pictures and stories about our times together.

JULY 5, 2010

Acceptance is a wonderful thing! At last, they are at peace being inside, all day in the heat. The world is working with us. I have decided to keep the girls separated. It was a long week, extra time involved, but time is showing me its a worthwhile investment. Ironically, it was on Independence Day that they made the choice to become independent of each other. Now time will be spent on building in a solid feel, preparing for trailer loading, (unloading is most important) , getting used to ropes, preparation for hobbling. Through out, I will keep Bill's words in mind, "The horse needs to have the person feeling real sure about how to present what is expected of him in a way that he can understand". Each horse presents a different feel, these girls have taught me allot!

August 2, 2010

Where to begin, Three weeks have flown by, the girls have shown progress in the limited time I can share with them. At most, 10 hours over the past few weeks.

Lizzie had a little set back, she decided to become the terrorist in the herd to our 27 year old quarter horse gelding, Back to the drawing board, keeping her seperate from the herd until we could come together with respect for one another. This led to my feelings for her not being on the positive side. The Finding the Balance workshop that I took place July 17 and 18 definitely helped put things back into perspective. When I let go of "time frames" in terms of finding homes for the mares and began to take a deeper look at what I offered them, and what I got back, we started moving forward again.

Forward seemed to be our theme for the month. The good news is, they both enjoy being "in" the stalls when they are fed, and during the heat of the day. Due to Lizzie's agression to the older gelding, I decided to place her with the Percheron Patrick and the Thoroughbred Perch cross Thunder. They had to come to an understanding of sharing the run in space, Lizzie soon found out her better social skills as she spent more time with the big boys of the herd. After two weeks, the entire herd is spending time together nicely.

Iko's idea of trailer loading was to catapult in and out, we worked on one foot at a time.My intent more on unloading, as she wanted to rush in. As she does that she tends to crowd her shoulder on you, so, back to more ground work on having her lift her shoulder as she moves away, releasing her to her right. She is still finding the balance. It never ceases to amaze me what they offer. The ground work has led to better tying as she is following the feel forward. Saddling is becoming more comfortable for her, we have spent alot of time just placing saddle blankets on her, acceptance is such a gift!

Lizzie's trailer loading was, she became rooted at first. I couldn't believe a horse that showed such lightness when she chose to, became like an oak tree on going in the trailer. Again, back to ground work, having her follow a feel, and release the hind feet forward. It really isn't about the trailer at all, but about leading, and following that good feel. I decided to spend some time in the round pen, releasing the hips over, shoulders, and leading up. I thought I would see how all of this would carry over to riding, so I hopped on from the fence. The nicest thing that happened was she carefully set her feet for balance as I settled on.I think someone riding bareback was a new experience for her. When I
asked her to step off, she was ready and willing. She willingly released for lateral flexion, released her hips over, she really offered all four quarters when asked. Back to the trailer. I offered her a float, she stepped right on. She came off in rather a hurry, but went in again until we came off at half the speed of her first exit.

I am so pleased with their progress, I must admit that at times, the thought has crossed my mind to send them down the road.Get the herd size back to what it was. Staying in one's comfort zone is comfortable.Where they have taken me in the past three weeks, ups and downs, I am not willing to give up. These mares have got me curious as to what tomorrow will bring.I am hoping it is recipricol. Bill says there is always room for improvement. If there isn't room for improvement, it isn't very interesting whatever it is.

Keeping it real and enjoying the journey, Gail

Friday - August 13

August 13 a Friday no less, Iko showed me just how talented she has become, perhaps she was just waiting for me to unlock her try. I loaded her up in the trailer and headed for Little Valley to ride at a friends house. I met Caroline North from Laurelin Farms. We have been trying to ride each Friday and bounce back horse news, training techniques and just enjoy our horses. The plan was to ride three hours...it turned into a five hour ride...I got a litte misplaced geographically, but totally found my way to finding a more than willing partner with Iko. Up hill, down dale, on the trail, some cross country, some parts of the trail we walked. What led to such a great ride? Ground work, being sure, offering a feel that had meaning to her in every capacity. We had spent the past three weeks on the ground, my main focus being trailer "unloading". This
involved moving all four quarters separately, one step at a time, isn't that what we ask when we ride? I have such a heightened awareness of what she has to offer if presented in a way she understands. What is it that needs more work? More confidence in being in the confines in the trailer. It will take the time
it takes, we will load and unload each day until it is comfortable. Having said that, this should be no surprise. At times her release to go forward was slow, non existent, we found ourselves moving backward on the trail. That is what the focus on the weeks ahead will be until it becomes a cue as effortless as a thought.

Keep it real,
Gail

September 4,5,6 Labor Day Week End Update:

The girls have been making steady progress with Trailer unloading and loading. We haven't reached the tying stage. We are working on the rope being pulled through the tie ring, slant dividers being move toward them, butt bar being raised and lowered and rear door swinging slowly, Basically allot of noise, but they are free to react with out being closed in. In the process I am paying particular attention to each reaction as I present another building block to our relationship. We are more than half way to our goal. This may seem like a small thing to note how your horse is progressing, but I will share this. Working with the trailer and the girls at first caused them to manure at the least 5 times during our session. As time progressed, they are in their "comfort zone" with me and the trailer, they are no longer manuring under the "stress". More comfortable with my questions, acceptance and trust the first building block.

I have spent more time with Iko than Lizze, her trail riding has been solid, we still need to tackle a ride with out the support of an escort horse, that is the goal for the month for Iko.

Lizzie has been under the radar for no other reason than I wish there where six more hours in a day. Working in the round pen with halter and 24' lead has been productive. The main concern with Lizzie is she dashes off at the slightest request, I am looking for slow transitions' that she is thinking about. I decided to see her reaction to being turned loose in the pen and just seeing how she would go, circle right, change directions, circle left. Her new name is "our lady of perpetual motion". She dashed around the pen, making inside turns allot, I would ask for an outside turn, she would turn back to the inside. She is a dominant mare, I made the decision, outside turns only until we had a dialogue, then we could work on inside turns. The entire time, her lips where tight, her head was up and she was trotting as though her legs where pistons. I was in the center, relaxed shoulders, lowered chin, soft eyes. After20 minutes, outside turns, she came down to a walk and we did outside turns, slowly, and I began to see a change in her entire shape. She came into the center, I loosened her saddle and we went back to the barn.

Day two, back to the pen, she started the same as day one, the time spent was much shorter, we worked in both directions, she was a little more at ease, softer diaphragm, not so quick to go as fast as she could. I decided to see how she would transition while being ridden. From the halt to walk very nice, walk to trot, quick and wanting to build up speed, not really ready for the lope. Lets fix the trot. I don't ever remember posting to the trot as long as I did with Lizzie to encourage her to slow down by slowing down my posting. I don't want to use the reins to slow her down. That certainly would make it happen, I am working on putting a feel on her so we can work together. Twenty minutes later, she began to follow the feel of my "cadence" of posting slower than her that she came down to half speed than I sat the trot and she began to walk. I hopped off loosened her girth and back to the barn.

Day three, we followed the same sequence in the ground work of the pen, I did start to ask for inside turns as she was being very gracious with my space, her turns at the trot are becoming more round, not jamming into them, nice self carriage. On to the ride, nice long walk, at the trot, she raises her head and heads off, going nowhere but a circle, I post to slow her down, we work on allot of walk trot transitions' until she offers one slowly going upwards, she has showed some really nice improvement, I sit until she walks, then I stop riding for the halt and I step off, loosened the girth and head back to the barn. In the three consecutive days I spent time with Lizzie she continually tried to figure out what I wanted. For me at times it seemed an eternity, but I had the time and it was definitely worth the wait. She had a week to soak it in. The following week, we only had one day to work, refresh things a bit. She has an "idea" of what I want, I must keep my intent pure, show her what I want with clarity, and the timing has to be there. When I don't have these things in place, my horse is bound to be unsure.

Keep it real,

Gail

October 10 2010

Lizzie's world is slowly changing. She is becoming softer each day. Columbus day week end was a big step for both of us. We are still in the round pen for the riding portion of her schooling. She has been able to understand the meaning of walk trot transitions with out having to take the float out of the rein. Slowing my body down is beginning to be enough for her to begin to match my energy. I have learned through trial and error, she much prefers the french link snaffle while being ridden, instead of the rope halter. I am carefully watching and feeling for her to shape up soft in the bridle, while keeping the root of the neck low, I can feel her top line lift, and her hind legs begin to engage in a more swinging soft stride. When the feeling is not "right" to me, I check myself to see if I am holding my breath, causing her to stiffen up in the neck.

The following week end, I saddled her up and ponied her with my most reliable mare Crys. We went down in the meadow, through a portion of woods, then up through the cornfield and home, about an hour trip. What a difference in her presence. Her head was high, lips tight, she was clearly out of her comfort zone. Toward the end of the experience, she began to lower her head a bit, I believe she swallowed twice...clearly we have to make this uncomfortable zone, more comfortable! She sat a week, let her soak in her road trip.

Third weekend of October, to the trail again with Crys with Lizzie on a float. What a difference a week makes. She left the barn with a nice long walk. I watched as she experimented with the float in the rope, lagging enough behind just to begin to feel the slack come out, then hurry her step to keep it there. She looked like a completely different mare. She was checking out the scenery, I couldn't help but think what a great little ride she will be. We came across a flock of turkeys, three deer, she watched intently as they made their way into the woods. Perhaps in her mind, she was doing the herding in that department.

In between Lizzies excursions, I have to mention the day she left me and headed to the barn with saddle, and lariat tailing her. We were down in the "flat spot" that I take the horses to see what "I" am missing. Its about 100' x 200' area. At one end I have four trees, about a foot and a half high and 12 foot long set up in a compass shape N - S - E - W. For Lizzie, we were doing ground work, circles, over logs. The only thing I had in mind was for her to some circles in a soft frame, (her first time out of the herd's sight) Each time she would do half a circle that I would find "soft" she did the other half in more of a rush than I thought she needed to do...I kept offering a more relaxed frame in me, waiting for her to match my energy. Well, things seemed to be getting better until she got the rope between her front legs, no problem I thought, she was used to this, then, I was behind her in a driving position, nothing new to her, until, she picked up speed, I had literally come to the end of my rope. I didn't want to make the problem "I" created worse by hauling on her, so off she went loping beautifully up the hill toward the barn. I headed back to the barn, hoping she would be with her pals when I got there. To my surprise, she was oh so close, but she had stepped on the rope, with in sight, but head down looking at me like the cat that ate the canary. My lesson for the day, I am so thankful she didn't get hurt. It would most likely be a good idea to take an escort horse with us while we pursue our ground work. Her emotional well being would be best served if I took that into consideration!~

Meanwhile Iko has been spending some time with a barn buddy (Dougi) at our hitching post everytime Lizzie and I head out on an adventure. The plan is to keep these mares doing little jobs, gaining information to help them become well rounded horses.

Here is their new accommodations, adjacent to the main barn, gotta love these horses, keep it real,

Gail

December 2010

As the year is coming to an end, here is a well deserved update on Iko and Lizzie. I have spent some time on sharing with you what " I" have been doing with these two horses. Now the time seems right to share what I have been doing to
further "my" understanding of feel to make a better presentation to these horses entrusted in my care.

On November 12 - 15, I traveled to Ohio with three dedicated students; Kelly, Pam and Shari to attend a four day clinic with Leslie. The clinic was held at Black Hawk Stables in Pataskala Ohio. Karen Musson, fellow trainer was the clinic sponsor. I invite you to visit Leslie's website www.Lesliedesmond.com for a complete update on the eye opening events that transpired over the four days I spent there.

One of the highlights of attending the clinic was reuniting with Rayna Granger and Karen Musson. We all attended Leslie's first Trainers Clinic in Aguanga, California in 2007. Once you have opened the door to "feel", we all agreed,
there is no looking back.

Four days of clinic time, 9:00 - 6:00, then evenings we spent having dinner together, and yes, still talking horses until the wee hours of the morning. The three women who enrolled in the clinic were Karen's students. As the days
unfolded, we were witnessing a life changing event, for the horses and the dedicated women who where looking for a deeper partnership with them.

When I returned home I am quite sure "The Herd" knew their had been an awakening
in me. I made the decison to move Iko and Lizzie into the main barn. Their "hen house" is now Red and Thunder's "bachelor pad". The adjustment was, to say the least, an adjustment. Now I am taking more time handling everyone during the morning and evening feeds. These horses, are showing me how little it takes, to manage the space around them, giving me available shoulders, offering an opening inside rein (leadrope). Turns to the left and right are weightless, so many good things we are getting down during everyday tasks. The pieces that came together for me in November where part of what needed to be awakened in my riding work. Riding the feet, hind with your hips, but also setting your feet lightly in each stirrup as the leg comes down- this allows you to set the forehand down on a float so the shouders are up and available. These were all sound bytes I sincerely thought that "I had", but seeing Leslie ride Raven, really cemented the concept. I think the girls wondered where I had been. When I returned, there was a clear difference in my riding presentation.

In December, Saving Wild Horses in West Falls New York hosted Leslie for a demonstration using Mustangs. Mike Derrick, owner of the Farm hosted the demonstration. Shari Downing and Kelly Militello organized the event, and their Mustangs Cheyanne and Lakota Bay where used in the demonstration. Shari and
Kelly traveled to Ohio and attended the clinic at Black Hawk Stables. Meeting Leslie and sharing their story of adopting their mustangs, it seemed a perfect opportunity to have Leslie come and help further the understanding of feel.

Sixty auditors braved the cold temperatures, and took time during hectic holiday schedules to attend the event. It was quite humbling to see things unfold: horses having their forehands freed up, backing with clean diagonals, having the whole horse available. Many folks came to the Saving Wild Horses Clinic not sure what to expect, more than not walked away with a vision of potentiality of what a horse could provide for them when a thought with clear intention is set into energy in the absence of pressure.

Wishing all of you a New Year of Health, Happiness and Horses,
Keep it real, and may our horses keep reminding us of that,

Gail

February 21, 2011

2011 Road Map for Iko and Lizzie:

With Spring around the corner, horses shedding out, the weather being fairly unpredictable, it’s a perfect time to set a course to follow with the girls.

We must have a plan, an idea with clear intent, before we pick up our lead rope, our horses are counting on it. If there is a misunderstanding, look with in ourselves to make sure the action we are looking for is presented and understood Most importantly, you need to give your horse the “TIME” to follow through. I will strive to remind myself “I have the time” to be understood by my horses. With that in mind follows the notion that we can change up our presentation if the horse seems confused. Horses are just waiting to do the right thing for us, let us preserve their want to please us with offering the best.

Can we keep it simple to allow the “learning” to occur? Our exuberance to be with our horses, accomplishing many tasks may be too much for our horses to take in. Their cup may be full as we are on a “mission” to reach “our” goal. Consider the horse, how his system works. When we are done, I would like to leave my horse wanting more and look forward to seeing me the following day. My plan for Lizzie and Iko, first and foremost is for me to be mentally and physically prepared. When I have it clear in my mind, then and only then, can I move them forward in their training.

This is what we are working on in 2011:

Leading with a soft feel
Tying with confidence
Hobbling
Upward and Downward Transitions on a float

With these goals in mind, it is entirely up to me make the presentation clear and meaningful to the horse. Many particles of feel will be laid in the during the process. Please join us on the road to a “Meaningful Partnership Through Feel.”

Keep it Real, Gail

June 3, 2011
We have come through a lot of snow, rain and mud. Today is sunny and dry. A couple of my friends invited me to trail ride in Little Valley...as tempting as it was, I decided to stay home and ride Lizzie, Iko and Thunder. Their first ride of 2011. What is that saying about a cobbler's children not having shoes...
I'll bridge February through May. Iko had some unpredictable kicking and biting going on. Tracking the incidents, they seemed to occur at the end of the month. One kick or bite a month is too many. I wanted to rule out any physical pain so Dr Lankenou paid a visit in April, then again in May. Iko did exhibit some blockage in her gall bladder meridian and exhibited some discomfort along the loin. Prescribed an herbal remedy that is still being given. The good news is March 25 was the last date she kicked. April 19 her last attempt at biting. Her attitude in general seems to be a horse that wants to get along with us, keeping a watchful eye in the coming months.
Lizzie was also examined and she had exhibited some back pain as well and was prescribed a remedy to relieve back pain.

While mucking through the spring mud the girls had developed scratches. Their education centered around what needed to be done...Tying, rinsing off their legs, and soaping them up the tea tree oil shampoo. This became a daily ritual, needless to say these girls stand tied to be bathed, handling their feet is an every day event, I am thinking necessity is the mother of invention!

With Lizzie and Iko having some tenderness in their back, riding was out of the question until they were comfortable again. The end of May brought about much improvement, the weather was cooperating and June 3 was the first ride.
Lizzie and I headed to the round pen to see where we were after six months. Soft with lateral flexion, engaged the hips nice, ground work was pretty solid. I went to get on, she backed up and brought her hindquarter to me. So, release the hips over, back up and release the shoulders over. Now she is standing balanced and ready for mounting. Once on she stood for quite awhile before I asked her to walk off. Then she got in a hurry, head up, fast walk, up to a trot. I just blended with her, happy to be in the round pen, changing directions more times than I could count. Waiting for her to find her rhythm, to lower her head and relax. I couldn't help but think about what Ray Hunt would say, while working with your horse you should at least ask for 500 transitions in one hour. I think we exceeded that on Friday. At last she started to change in her shape, her back lifted up and her head settled nice and low, I stepped off at a walk with out picking up the reins and she came to a halt. That was the best part, it took about two and a half hours of; changing directions, offering a feel, and waiting for things to come together. She would have a day off to soak all of this in.

Iko came into the barn so willing, saddled her up and headed to the round pen. We did a little ground work, then I got on. We just walked off and she was really light, soft and balanced at the walk. I asked her for a trot and she just lifted up into in. A little different from the ride before! She needed more encouragement to maintain the trot, we worked through that and in an hour I felt she had given me more than enough.

June 5: I just worked with Lizzie, what a difference a day makes. My expectations were just to just offer slow, while always looking for a nice round shape. Lizzie came through in such a shorter time frame. In less than fifteen minutes she was following a soft feel through turns, backing up, and when asked to trot, she stepped into it with a nice cadence. No rushing, head was low, and her back was up with the hindquarters coming through. After an hour we came to a stop, she lowered her head, took a big sigh. I am not sure who was happier, her or I.

We have our first ride of the year under our belts, a baseline so to speak. Looking forward to seeing how they do on the trail. I will continue to offer them slow and steady work to build their confidence and keep them wanting to offer more each time.

Keep it real,

Gail

July 2011

July is coming to a close, Lizzie and Iko have had their first "solo" trip around the outer perimeter of the round pen and yard. The herd is still with in site, just taking them out by themselves, checking their thresholds and bringing them back to their comfort zone has been "our work' for July. The fair thing for them is heading back before they feel sooo uncomfortable. What is working is them following a feel and changing to the direction of my intention. At times it feels we are taking the long way so to speak, but daily they have improved.

Observation has been a huge part in understanding the way Lizzie moves, as mentioned before stepping into the trot had been fast, head held high, with little cadence. It seemed like she was literally pulling herself along by the forehand with the hinquarters strung out behind. With the work that has been done through June, July 4th was a break through for the both of us. She is stepping nicely under through the hindquarters, lifting the shoulders, allowing her to come through a turn in balance. She has taught me much. We have begun turning on the hindquarters, and some half pass work

Our Vet was out on July 22 to check the progress on Lizzie and Iko's backs. There has been improvement, our goal of hobbling will be put on hold until we get the all clear. Continuing on the prep work will continue.

Iko has been moving forward on all fronts. She is most pleasant to work around. Two of my students rode her over the July 4th holiday, she showed them everything she knows. Pam and Kelly were able to experience feel at all different levels, from my most finished horse to "the girls"

As we continue to learn from our horses, Iko and Lizzie have given me many "a ha" moments. At times it seems we are moving forward at a snails pace. Having Pam and Kelly spend a day here riding, asking questions and seeing what they can offer has put things in better perspective for me. Looking back at our year together, Iko and Lizzie have been coming along at a rate that is acceptable for them. Slow accurate work will lead to correct movements on all levels. The best thing I have learned is to expect the unexpected and you may be pleasantly surprised. Horses just would like our human requests to have meaning in their horse world.

Keep it Real,

Gail

Lizzie and Iko Update. November 20, 2011

Looking back at the goals we set for the girls, they have come through with flying colors. The only task we did not get to due to some back issues are hobbling. I am certain with the work we have laid in thus far, Spring will come soon enough for that part of their lives. Some may think this is an update of these two little mares, more so an update on my growth as a student of horsemanship and what it will mean for Lizzie and Iko.

We held a very small clinic for my students the week before I departed for Sweden August 7, 2011. All of our horses offered them various levels of feel. I must admit, I do not have a one horse wonder, but, many wonderful horses. Seven horses in age from seven to twenty eight who are my teachers, I like to call them my research and development department. My two personal horses Red who is 20 and I have had for 15 years, and Crystal who was born on the farm, she is now 18. It has become clear that these dear friends may be approaching an age of semi retirement. I beleive that they can help my students get a better understanding of feel.

Lizzie and Iko, will be stepping into a new place in the herd. The original plan was to rehome them in a horsemanship through feel home or a student of.

Spending two weeks with Leslie Desmond working on the finer particles of feel and then auditing a clinic in New Jersey with Buck Brannaman shortly thereafter seems to have me headed in a clear direction. Buck's clinic showed, step by step, using his snaffle horse, and his finished bridle horse how to bring a horse along in the Vaquero Style of Riding. A rich part of our history for over two hundred years. Attending this clinic, everything seemed to come together with such meaning. The education of the horse from snaffle to bosal to the two rein and then the spade could take from eight to twelve years in the making. Lizzie and Iko, we now have a roadmap ahead of us. The work ahead will certainly be worthwhile. I will strive to offer them the best deal always, being clear to not move to the next step, the bosal, until they clearly understand the work in the snaffle with lightness, softness, willingness and understanding. No doubt these horses came into my life for a reason, for that I am most grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

Keep it real, our horses do,

Gail

I'll sit on the deck and watch the girls with the herd. My hope is that they will be as eager to spend time with me as with their herd mates.

Iko and Lizzie have unbelievable qualities For example, they offer shoulders that are readily available (rearing, pawing, jumping). Now the idea is to put those good qualities in a positive light so it will have meaning to them. Slow and steady is the pace. I know they will teach me so much. Lightness and softeness is what I will be looking for in them. Having them here is exhiliarating. I spend time thinking about them, aspiring to a deep conversation with them, and planning for what is to come.

Web Hosting by Yahoo!

9324 North Otto Road
Cattaraugus, NY 14719
ph: 7169825180
gail@kinshipwithhorses.net

Kinship With Horses

The Chronicle of Iko and Lizzie

The tale of two mares begins.....