Few videos of today
Puika wants a kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG_LUi3X1a8
Peter and Shella on short run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4TT2FRttgI
And here the longer circle (sorry for the naughty end)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab76MQfta_8
Oh, you have problems closing the cavesson too? Ugh, fun. Before I punched holes in my bridle, I had to adjust it really low too. My throatlatch had to get holes all the way to the bottom of the leather.
Anyways, yeah, flashes aren’t necessary for any reason except as a fix for a horse that crosses his jaws and such. (I admit, I use it for him gaping his jaw.) At the upper levels, flash nosebands aren’t even allowed. So no worries there of course.
As for the throatlatch, I was just guestimating. It just looked tight on her jaw in the picture, but you say there’s daylight between it and her, I believe you! You’re the one really looking at her =]
Is that so? (About Puika’s throatlatch.) I’ve never heard any real throatlatch stories! haha.
On bridle quality, it looks like my new dressage bridle. Mine was also the second cheapest, but it really is nice. I really like the padding it has on the noseband and browband.
and yeahhhh for helmets! I just had an unfortunate flying lesson the other day =[ so helmets sound even better than usual right now.
Dressage is the only thing that I would like to learn AFTER I will learn the basic riding. It just seems that dressage is a LOT of job with less danger. At my age safety is important thing so if teaching dressage elements would tire horses out without serious running around… It would be the best thing. Is it right?
At present Peter is giving some run to Shella just for excercise and then working on Puika, teaching him basic obedience. Puika is getting into it, he is getting better every day and even every ride, and then we probably will start some dressage elements.
So if you do know a good internet source something like dressage for beginners or first steps of dressage or something like that, I would be really happy. It would be good thing to do in winter.
This is a nice, simple website stating in pretty clear terms explaining the basics of dressage. It suggests you start with the Classical Seat lessons. The scales of training is an important concept to eventually understand as well.
A much more in depth website about theory and higher levels is Sustainable Dressage. This is an especially useful website for when you are thinking about beginning collection of the horse.
Classical Dressage Notebook, although I haven’t scanned it extensively, seems nice and easy to read as well. It has pages like rider exercises, arena figures, and muscle usage.
My favorite is Sustainable Dressage =]
I also have a great book called Right From the Start by Michael Schaffer that covers GREAT preliminary ground work and teaching a young or green horse essential principles to progress under saddle.
Thank you! It’s a great help! it will be interesting to try to learn dressage elements via internet. Maybe it will be interesting project! 
Shella damaged her hoof again today and is lame on right front leg. Nothing big, just another chip on nail. Talked to the farrier immediately after the accident and he will come probably on Thursday, but most likely on Saturday to do routine trimming on Puika and will shoe Shella’s front legs 
She needs protection until her hoofs will establish.
Other than that… Shella is very interesting. There are two different personalities in her. One is her with a rider who let her go - she is fantastic, she likes to fly, turns perfect, and coming out of the corner is already ready to canter… Today Peter let her jump (it was not planned, it was a feeder in the field, max 2 ft high), but she wanted to jump and peter let her do… Well balanced, fast and happy!
The other part of her is that ridingschool horse - very careful, very patient and soo gentle doing the most boring walking around. I put both kids working here, today on her again. I was slowly leading her around and kids were allowed to hold the reins, but not giving any commands, just sit and hold till I walked her around the field. She was soo concentrated on the job, and actually helping me like saying "do not worry, I do know what I’m doing… " all the time. Children were soo happy, it is their holiday treat.
She carried on by herself on circle, loose lead, and sometimes gently touched my hand with her lips, like gentle kiss, saying: “” mom, do not worry, all ok… " Her head was not up, she kept it all the time near my hand, the same level, and perfectly at my pace. if i walked a bit faster, she did the same, if i slowed down, she did the same. We did it just few circles with each child, and then she slowed down like she do not want this lesson to end. So i asked peter to stand on the bench that we use for mounting so she knows then that it is peter’s turn now - oh, she was so happy! She went there, patiently waited until boy jumped off, and then positioned herself stright to the table making it easier for Peter… And then this silly hoof injury again! She has so weak and sensitive nails so shoeing seems to be the only solution now. Poor girl! She has sooo much spirit in her, and now when she feels better, she wants some life! And silly hoofs are letting her down all the time.
Puika is all ok, more responsible and more cooperative every day, he will be really good boy very soon! His only bad habit now is chewing leading rope (he knows perfectly that our clothes and reins are complete no no, so leading rope is is his last sin. I’m smoker, that’s my sin, so I presume that he has rights for one too
At the beginning Shella was a great help to teach him basic riding, and now we just must teach him how to ride away from Shella, that is not an easy part, so each time returning we let them have tet-a-tet time, and cutting it shorter each time, like “do not worry, it is just your girl, nothing exciting, she will always be here for you waiting”, but seems that their honeymoon is not over yet.
I’m completely hooked, it is just great thing to communicate with them both, and now Puika gets as much kisses as Shella gets… If somebody would tell me 4 mo ago that I will be able to go to him in pastures and give him a sweet kiss… I would laugh loud then. Now i just do it, and we both love it! So maybe one day I will be riding happy too, bit so far I’m not getting there, at least I feel like I’m not ready to do anything more exciting than just walking.
I am thrilled with this update, Anna! Pictures???
No pictures, last few days was a bit too hestic. This morning our upper pond was cleaned and then the boy expanded it, just came in, decided to have coffee, farrier called that he is able to arrive, I was happy as Shella’s hoofs were splitted and she neded farrier ASAP, yesterday Barry went to the vet for a cut and I was with him (my vet allows me to participate at surgeries), tomorrow morning architects will arrive with paperwork as we must to start building the annex, and all this is going on top of usuall jobs - 2 people working on new shed, tow - in garden, all need attention, food, advices, solutions… Bedlam!
Both babies are happy. Farrier decided that Shella needs shoes on all 4 legs, not only front, and he worked about 3 hours on her to correct the current situation - I was right that the seller trimmed her hoofs too short.
Our farrier is very good, and I like him a lot, so I’m sure that his decission was right. Shella was very good, farrier comented that her beheivior is farrier’s dream, as she knows it all, routine job and she was standing, giving legs, holding and putting them back actually without a command. She acts as shoing professional (she must be as a former sports horse, and I’m happy that seller was not telling lies on this one too - she is perfectly trained for farrier.)
Farrier was very happy about Puika as his hoofs have improved a lot and soon, maybe few more trimmings and his hoofs will be just right. Puika does not need shoes as his hoofs are in very good condition, strong and elastic enough just for everything. He was pleased that we have done so far and how we take care - there is a lot of improvement.
But just trimming his legs was a fight again, farrier was sweating like mad, and peter and me too, but even this part was much better than previous time - Puika is starting to hold his back legs! He is still not very good holding his back right leg (the worse one) but it needed just some holding in ropes at the beginning - he is improving all around.
So Puika is trimmed, Shella - shoed, pond is deep again and cleaned out, and I’m dead tired just now. Peter let Shella ride a bit tonight in her new shoes, and then took Puika for a ride too, but that was it - he fell asleep directly in the middle of our dinner… And it was just a salad. I’m off now too! 11:30 pm now here and it was a bit too long day…
You know, today we got such a nice treat.
Our neighbours, the former owners of Puika come to us to say their say.
“We just went past your pastures and saw Puika there. I took a shoortcut through there, you know, and Puika come to me! By himself, just to say hello! He was not showing off, bucking or rearing, he just came and I was able to patt him! He even had not tried to nip or something! I called my son ower and he came too, and Puika did not bite him at all! He let us pat him on his head and he was so nice! He is such a sweetie now! HOW YOU DID THAT?”
It is such a compliment from Puika’s old owners who come to us today to tell their story.
I’m sooo happy now! I really am! Today is 4 months anniversary since we have him, and from his former owners such a compliment! I was pleased yesterday when farrier told how much Puika’s hoofs and legs are improved, but today… I’m just happy and so proud! We did it!!! Sometimes he still is a handfull, of course, but his character is changing and he is getting better every day. We did it! We, novice, did it with all your help here!
Thank you all, without your help and support here we should failed, I’m sure of that. THANK YOU!
Oh, those are such great updates, Anna! So happy that all is working out for you guys!
Puikas new attitude is because of your wonderful care and work with him, you should feel very proud. It is so nice the the neighbors got to see what a sweet horse he is once he had a chance to be cared for properly. I think there are many “bad” horses out there that people give up on too soon.
Anna, I just wanted you to know that I love the joy and contentment you find in your horses. Sometimes we’re so busy riding, trying to achieve our goals, that we forget to look at the small accomplishments these wonderful animals have achieved. Your description of Puika holding up his leg without a fight - finally! - and greeting the old owner so gently and politely! Miss Shella standing so quietly for the 3 hour farrier appointment - she’s a jewel!
It’s a lesson to us all to step back from ourselves just a bit and let the horses tell US something for a change.
Thank you, as always, for sharing your world with us in such an eloquent way! I will take your quiet observations forward into my day today and see what I can see in MY world!
allpurpose, the difference is only because you all here seem to know why you want or why you need horses - to ride, to show, to breed, to earn… all different, but still PURPOSES.
We are opposite - horse just landed on our lap and we had not and still have not any purposes for having them.
Except to keep them happy. So we treat them as two pets. We are taking care about them in the best possible way, we ride them because we believe that they do need some excercises for their muscles and brain, and we enjoy their company and try to learn. But none of this is really purpose. OK, they maybe save some time on lawn moving. 
Maybe I will learn to ride? I’m trying but not much success, and I actually do not need it, I know it, but we need give some job for both them at the same time so I try. At least I believe it will do me good But I like cleaning stables much better, honestly.
Other than that… We were planning to dig out our upper pond for last 4 years. I already had made nice gardening plans for it… Shape… Terraces for different plants…And some trees had been planted already… But now we both instantly changed the plans and we have narrow and looong pond so “it will be easy for horses to swim there” (In our climate there are max 20 days a year when horses really enjoy a splash-splash time, and they already have the lower pond near the stables for their fun)
As for today’s update - Shella had a wonderful time in lower pond, she was like a child, refusing to leave swimming pool. She was pawing water, rolled in mud, then went deeper in water and rolled again until only her head was out, then pawed again, was eating all the pond grass and weeds (good girl!) and splashed again…
Later, when she dried out and day cooled a bit peter gave her a nice ride. Puika had not had a pond time, only a good ride, and he is happy now too, gazing near Shella. So in general they are just two pets that we try to keep happy and healthy. We treat them as pets and look at them like pets. Others seem to keep horses happy and healthy to reach the planned targets - jump higher or produce better foals, or… whatever. So they talk more about different jumps or different pedigrees, but in general, I believe, it is the same - happy and healthy horse.
Photographc Farm Tour
Anna, I am enjoying so much your posts, along with everyone else, and would like to make a request if you find some time to do it. I would LOVE a photo tour of your house and gardens and barns. I enjoy hearing about your projects, the horses, and I swear it is like reading “The Secret Garden” as a child.
I bet a lot of us have dreamt all our lives about our dream farm, and are trying to make it happen. I love the photos you do post and am as interested in the (green) backgrounds, the lanes and fields as well.
I live an a very arid area where many horses have never seen natural running water. Most rivers here have little to no water most years. My horses are fascinated with it and I wouldn’t be surprized if ponds weren’t in their dreams.
Anyway, keep the narratives coming, and Thanks you so much for this thread!!!
OK, here are day around the farm, enjoy
Herding
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/01-06-08/PICT3730.jpg
Arizona dreams
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/01-06-08/PICT3800.jpg
Just few more:
Shella has a new halter
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/04-06-08/PICT3941.jpg
Shella looks great in her new halter, red is her color!!!
Annacrew-yes red is her color but be careful if it does not have a break away at the crown. I could not see it…How is her breathing? Have you been riding her?
Love the pics!
[QUOTE=Calena;2987136]
I agree that is one drafty looking warmblood! Cute as a very big button :).
I’m glad to hear you’ve signed up for some help. That would be my first piece of advice. Regarding the biting, there are two methods that work for me.
First, remember that your bony elbow can hurt when teeth run into it. Keep elbow prepared at all times and let him run into it if he swings toward you. This might not be the best way of dealing with a biter, but it has the advantage that your elbow is always there for you.
Second (I hope I can describe this correctly), when working from the ground, use a lead with a chain shank. Place the rope on the opposite side of the horse from where you are standing and drape it over the horse’s back so that you can hold it from the side you are on. If the horse swings towards you, grab the rope and yank! You’ll effectively pull his head away from you and discipline him with the shank at the same time. It doesn’t take long for the horse to think twice about swinging in your direction.
And as in anything horse - consistency, consistency, consistency.
Congratulations on your acquisition. I hope all goes well for you.[/QUOTE]
Wouldn’t suggest this. If his head is jerked away from you, the butt can swing towards you - possibly for a kick. Maybe carry is water pistol with you and squirt him when he THINKS of biting. Scares them wonderfully and you don’t have to be that close or quick to get them before they dart out of your way. Gorgeous horse - GOOD LUCK and warm wishes.
Thank you, loriandlobo, but niping is gone now for a long time. Now he is into licking - When I go to him to pat him, or do something with halter/braidle, he just puts his head down just right and licks me like mad. Gentle and sweet, now I can let even strangers to go and meet him - he is so happy for any attention, and now when he has learned that nipping is no no and humans do not talk that way, he is ok, and we let him lick us the same way as Shella lets him lick her.
The only bad habit he has now is chewing his lead - and HIS lead only. Yesterday, when we took these pictures, Puika was holding Shellas lead in his mouth and then I looked - it was his lead attached on her. But just one bad habit which is not dangerous and not very expensive (lead prices are not the worst)… He must have some naugtiness left, othervise he will loose his personality.
ivy62, For me that halter looks very strong and safe. It is Ronmar industries’ halter for WB. And we shall use it only for posh days Like going to stallion and things like that - for pastures we have much lighter halter, simple grey one, without “Oh, red hearts!”
Shellas breathing is so much better and she can take serious excercises in comparison with the first week when we were struggling over 100 metres walk. Now Peter gives her more and more excercises, and she is not wheezing anymore even after a good canter. But I’m not too optimistic - yes, there is a huge improvement, but we also have dry and sunny weather nearly since her arrival - she will probably will be worse when rains will start. But, anyway, she is different horse now healthwise - so much better. In last 3 days she had caughed just once - at the beginning she was not able to drink bucket of water without 5-6 stops for caughing. She still breathe different and more heavy and will be that forever, but she is much much better.
The bad news - I still can not ride except bareback, so we go on trails at night only for a slowly walks, but that’s ok for me now. I’m not into rush and as soon as it will not hurt to put feet in stirrups, I will be trying again. But I like just to be around them so much now, so riding is not my main target at all.
Shella sounds a smart and very special horse, Anna. My “old lady” mare is just the same. She totes the wee kiddies in the family around with oh-such-care, measuring every footfall, and obeying their beginner attempts to stop, go and steer. Two minutes later, taking an experienced adult into the big field, she is very enthusiastic about a nice gallop. Your description of Shella sounded so much like my girl that it almost brought tears to my eyes!
How lucky that Shella came to you and Peter, where her health problems can be addressed and her many gifts truly, truly appreciated!
[quote=AnnaCrew;3239445]We are opposite - horse just landed on our lap and we had not and still have not any purposes for having them.
[/quote]
Ah, but Anna, deep down, every one of us has horses for no other reason than to satisfy that little girl or boy inside who just LOVES HORSES. Goals and purposes are laudable, but it’s very easy to get lost in that and forget the joy we once felt – and can still feel – just in being around them, touching them, caring for them, watching them. Though I post but rarely, I regularly visit this thread because your joy and love shines through and helps me to stay in touch with that little girl who LOVES HORSES and not get frustrated when my progress toward my goals isn’t as fast as I would like.
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