Re: sponge on a string revisited

["superpat" <superpat@gateway.net>]

That reminds me of how green I was a few years ago. (Now I am only slightly
green around the ears). My Engelita and I had stopped with a few other
riders at a small lake and the horses were drinking and standing in the
water. I took my newly purchased sponge on a string and dropped it into the
water. My mare, reactive to everything, immediately decided to leave that
attacking sponge behind. Problem was, it remained clipped to my saddle and
followed the panicking mare everywhere she jumped. Everyone was yelling
"drop the sponge, drop the sponge" IM TRYING TO, IM TRYING TO!!!!! I managed
to remain in the saddle and unclip the sponge and shake it loose and my
wonderful little mare became as docile and calm as I knew she could be. Her
pulse had jumped to 180 but only took a few moments to return to normal.
Whew!
Amazing what a few years and the proper exposure to potentially frightening
objects can do. I have learned that the more scary stuff I can expose my
horses to, the easier it is for them to face new and spooky objects and
obstacles.
Pat

----- Original Message -----
From: John Hafkemeyer <hafke7@netins.net>
To: Jean Miller <jcmiller@jackpine.com>; ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 2:17 AM
Subject: RC: Re:


> Jean,
>
> I did that, too!  A friend asked me to take his young horse on it's first
> 25.  Before the halfway check, we stopped at a big puddle. Let the mare
get
> a drink and then, without thinking, whupped out my sponge on a string, and
> yo-yo style, threw it down to the water.  She still had her nose down in
> the water and when that sponge SLAPPED the water next to her face, she
went
> straight up in the air.  Of course, I had about 10 ft each of reins and
> sponge string to reel in.  Couldn't do it.  She took off bucking thru the
> trees.  I went off the right rear end.  She kicked me in the thigh before
I
> even hit the ground, and when I landed, stepped on my foot.  I spent the
> vet check with my foot (shoe still on) in a bucket of ice water.  Afraid I
> wouldn't get the shoe back on once it started swelling.  We finished, I
was
> lame.  Still have the lump on my foot to remind me to TRAIN horses for
that
> trick.
>
> Sally in IA
> ----------
> > From: Jean Miller <jcmiller@jackpine.com>
> > To: ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> > Subject: RC:
> > Date: April 03, 2000 11:38 AM
> >
> > Try dropping a sponge on a string in a creek from your horse for the
> first
> > time!  Mine took one look at that strange thing that suddenly appeared
by
> > his face and took off thru the trees!  I had a junior with me on a
> training
> > ride, her face had a look of astonishment, and when I got Bay stopped, I
> > said, 'don't tell your mother about this or she will never let you ride
> with
> > me again!'  Jeanie in MI
> >
> >
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