Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hi Karen, and welcome.  I love your description: spook & bolt with NASA 
lift off!  How true that can be.  I agree that some young horses to seem 
to get the spring craziness.  Even my 11 yo had to get used to seeing 
bush branches moving in the breeze and remember that they are not 
cougars getting ready to leap out at him.  I got dumped twice in 2 weeks 
thanks to greening up bushes recently!  He may also be reaching what I 
call the adolescent stage of his training and development.  I've seen so 
many horses go through it when they get a bit fit and strong and realize 
they have a few skills under their belt.  They go through a period of 
testing.  And just like human teen agers, need to be shown that poor 
choices have consequences when they decide to try something  (and that 
good choices have good consequences!).  I think Arabians have a real 
playful streak and a sense of humor and a lot of what they do is just 
because they like to have fun.  The problem comes in finding a way to 
help such a horse distinguish between ok pasture behavior and ok 
behavior under saddle.
You have one of the world's great trainers (IMHO at least) in your 
backyard, Ellen Eckstein in Templeton.  She does mostly dressage but 
worked with Tom Dorrance for years so her teaching reflects his philosophy.
Of course, since we're on an endurance list, someone is sure to tell you 
to get that horse out on the trail and that there's nothing like a good 
long ride, i.e., a 50 miler, or, even better a multi-day ride, to get a 
horse's head set on straight.  I'll just say, stay safe, have fun and 
remember that you're the leader of your horse's herd.
Laney
Karen Green wrote:
> Hello all... duck, here comes another newbie/wannabe with tons of 
> questions... :-)
>  
> In March I celebrated 2 years with my young Arab, who just turned 7.  I 
> spent a year looking for an athlete - not just a pretty head - to 
> partner with.  Kid had about 30 days under saddle when I wrote the 
> check.  We first worked with a great trainer for 3 months to lay a good 
> foundation, then in Sept 2005 we started dressage with another super 
> trainer, not a DQ ;-) but an eventer who also competes - very 
> successfully - in dressage.
>  
> I surely did get my athlete - at least so far.  We began trot and then 
> canter pole courses late last year, and started jumping courses of 
> cross-rails about 6 weeks ago.  If my little guy like to jump (jury's 
> still out), we'll shoot for some eventing.
>  
> His basic stats:  His registered name is CJ Khountry Dance (by Sundance 
> Kid V out of a Khemosabi daughter), 14.3, ultra easy-keeper, killer feet 
> (no shoes since I bought him).  I truly must give him an A+ on ground 
> manners, including clipping, tying, farrier, and so forth. And he'll do 
> anything for a peppermint.  Right now he's being ridden in a Kieffer 
> Lech Proffi (med-wide tree), a Myler pony-size (4.5") D-ring comfort 
> snaffle.  Allowing for reasonable weather, we ride 5-6 days a week.
>  
> His one flaw is he can be a spook-and-bolt baby.  Truly a 
> NASA-we-have-lift-off type, he is FAST... I usually catch him but not 
> always, and thus have hit the arena sand more than a few times.  His 
> spooking (with bolt or no) had been mellowing a lot out until we hit 
> spring... and my vet (his vet since he was 4 months old) believes lots 
> of his spookies are due to him getting started so late. 
>  
> He's currently having either the generic "spring spookies (those tulips 
> do look dangerous!)," or is bored with arenas (can't blame him - no 
> opportunity to get out during the winter rains), or is OD-ing on the 
> sugar in the lush spring grass, or some combination.  His pasture time 
> has now been cut to 2 hours (don't want founder either, of course!), and 
> we're spending 90% of our time out of arenas.  I'm looking for a 
> boarding facility in the area (Central Coast of CA) that will give us 
> better/easier access to good trails, and if we can find a spot with 
> other NATRC or endurance folk I'd be thrilled.
>  
> I want to move him along towards endurance.  Perhaps NATRC first?  I've 
> had some folks tell me that can be a negative if you're training an 
> endurance horse.  I'd surely want to go safely... so I don't end up in a 
> new area code unless I choose to ;-)  He's a hoot and a holler to ride 
> fast when I ask for it, but when he makes the choice, that's another deal.
>  
> I do think I need to go volunteer at some rides, and next weekend's 
> Lakeside Classic may be a great spot for me to start.
>  
> Look forward to contributing and not just asking questions... this is 
> truly a super, information-rich mailing list you've got going here.
>  
> Thanks to all in advance for all your comments and feedback!
>  
> Karen and "Kid"
> Paso Robles, CA


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