Honey the ASB update and progress thread!

Today was the exact same mounting block process I defined above. Except it was super humid and the flies were so bad, so after she did it great one time, we walked and were done for the day.

I genuinely appreciate you all indulging me in Honey insights, and in sharing both your horse expertise and breed specific expertise. This is so valuable to me.

Here she is from today. And also as a puddle of mush after being groomed. Everyone at the barn says every day is a spa day for her. I mean, princesses deserve spa days, right? :heart:

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Thats exactly what she needs…no need to dread getting mounted because of unpleasant experiences when riders are aboard, learn to relax with the rider.

Its common sense but… :roll_eyes:

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:smiling_face_with_three_hearts: I had to enlarge the picture, but, just as I suspected, that lower lip says Aaaaaghhhhh… So gooooood!

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Hehe she loves it.

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Tonight was so so great. I did our usual routine, but today she actually let me put the ointment on her scars on her face without fussing.

I spend about 45 min or so on grooming. Someone got their horse out after me, groomed, tacked, and rode before I even started the mounting block work. Lol what can I say, I just enjoy her company 🩵

We did our usual routine, got to the block and she stood like a statue. The time just felt right. So I swung my leg over. No movement. Statue. I made a huge deal out of it, praising her and scratching her neck. She just stood until I told her we could walk. She walked the ring so calmly, even with a stallion out on the other side of the ring. I even did a couple trot circles. Then we called it a day. It was such a big, huge success. I’m so proud of her 🩵

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:partying_face:
Kudos to you & the beauteous Honey :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:
No Rush, no Muss, no Fuss sounds like a great Plan.
Looking fwd to your updates :eyes:

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Congratulations! She looks quite proud of herself in this new photo. :grin:

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Thank you!! I agree she does look proud!

She’s looking much brighter and happier! You are right in taking it slow. If you know how to long line you might try that as a way to help her build up her topline. I do that rather than lunging because you have contact on both reins and can keep your horse straighter and connected. Your girl and the horse I just bought are still pretty bony and you can increase her strength and muscle without riding her.

I’d also take a look at your saddle. Maybe it’s too far forward in some of the photos, but it’s sitting a bit pommel high which will pinch over her withers and put your weight over her loins. If it’s a tad narrow now, it’s going to only get more so as she starts to fill out. I haven’t ridden my boy yet, still trying to get him a bit more filled out. Certainly the saddle that fit my draft x mare isn’t going to work for him and of course I sold the saddles that worked for my TB.

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I think it’s Honey’s forward girth grove tipping the saddle up. I like this girth for those types https://profchoice.com/i-23901601-ventech-contoured-jump-girth.html

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Thank you!

Yeah I’m not liking the saddle fit. I could try setting it wider today to see if that works, it’s a bates so it is adjustable. My thought process was to move it up a bit so the girth didn’t slide to her rib cage, but it’s definitely not a long term solution.

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Thanks! I’ll check this out!

Not gonna lie—tonight sucked. And I’d love your support, words of wisdom, similar stories, etc. I have no ego. I want to learn and be the best I can for her, and I don’t know what I don’t know.

I’m not sure if it was that my energy was off from a really crappy work day, that the barn was super busy, or what, but I started with working with some other riders on honeys saddle fit. We think we got it at least pretty good, after a shimmable pad was added to prop up the cantle. Then I went through my normal routine.

When it came time to mount, it was hard to keep her attention. When I did get it I tried to mount and she hopped, spun away. It wasn’t as bad as before, but still, steps back. I tried again and same thing. Also I’m trying to go forward under saddle, she would stop and hop. I’m not sure if she’s trying to rear.

I got off, lunged a bit to get her to focus, and ended after she lined up to the block and I pushed on the stirrup. I think we both were at our wits end and I just wanted something positive to end on.

She’s getting a training ride tomorrow so I’m interested to see how it goes. But these setbacks happen, right? Does it sound like I did anything wrong? We aren’t sensing a problem with her back after 3 vet checks lol, her teeth are done… is she maybe just fussy bc she’s out of shape/has no topline?
I’m disappointed today. Just want to do better for us. 🩵

I’m all ears, but please be kind. I’m a sensitive one.

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I’ll add “training ride” is a loose term. I’m perfectly fine if it’s all ground work, mounting block, whatever.

Also I bought an Equiband. So I’m excited to see how that may help her.

She’s fussy cause she had rabbits (anxiety at change). Work with the horse in front of you and if it takes a month of working at the block…it takes a month…if it takes longer that’s fine as well. Mounting is one of the most dangerous parts of horses, get it 100% solid.

Personally I would practice the mounting block at least a couple weeks before adding a crowd or busy barn to the mix. I use a peppermint as payment as that’s always worked for me.

Horses don’t have a schedule and some days need more reassurance than others.

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She is new to you; having a lot of people and more “busy” than she’s used to probably ampted her up. Her entire life changed recently and she’s trying to catch routines and expectations. I think there was just a lot of static on the line and she lost her happy vibe with just you. That’s fine; make the next couple visits back to the normal vibe. There will be other days when the static comes back but she will recover more quickly. I honestly don’t think we know a horse until we’ve had him/her for a year. You have a lot of time to go, there will be bounces.

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OP and everyone else…… I want an asb now!! Love this thread and the pictures.

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Thank you. Trying not to overthink it. I guess I was just so excited how she stood yesterday that today was a wild pivot, ha

Get one! I’m new to them but honey has been so fun!

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Thank you. I’ll go back and refocus. It’s just hard bc I’ll be out of town for a week. But a friend who is a groundwork rockstar might pull her out a few times to work, too. So that’s nice of her. She’s seen my routine and I think she’ll be great for just keeping it fresh.

I agree. Mounting block is an area I don’t want to get wrong, it sets the whole tone.

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