Woohooo!! Pics of course?
[QUOTE=twotrudoc;7479995]
Woohooo!! Pics of course?[/QUOTE]
Sure, of my horse’s head 
My little PB isn’t quite ready for me to show ammy western yet, but I might just take her into the sporthorse to boost those numbers a bit, lol. We’re fighting like CRAZY to keep that division here.
So ummm…
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Suggestions for a fussy Arab who has decided that moving forward away from the mounting block is a stupid thing to do? Loose reins and even a pony kick didn’t work. Backing up makes me lose my brakes and he backs up until his butt hits the wall which of course makes him spook. I have had to spin and spin and spin until I can get him facing the mounting block then I back him in the direction I want him to go. New behavior, not pain related.
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If I wanted to do one of those fancy photo shoots for my Arab (just for fun and just for me to have), how would I have to prep him? He’s a flea-bitten grey, if that matters. How do the Arabs in the magazines get that glossy wet look going on? Are they trained to spazz out on cue? My horse just generally stands there and doesn’t do much snort n blow anymore (he saves it for when he’s under saddle).
Dancing Arabian,
Welcome! 
I think that the glossy wet look is from shaving very close to the skin and then applying something similar to baby oil?
FWIW, I’ve had very good results with clicker training (operant conditioning) with my opinionated beast. Enlightened self-interest is a beautiful thing. 
YMMV.
There are days where I will never want an arabXappaloosa again… and then there are days where I want nothing else :lol: I’ve only had him for 9 months, and he’s my first horse, so I’m still trying to figure him out. Most just what is boredom vs defiant stubborness vs actually terrified.
My boy is 11, going on 5. Brilliant, stubborn, needy but independent… and extremely athletic to boot. One minute he’s defiant and the next he’s hiding behind me because “Mom I swear there is a MONSTER over there! Save me!”
Plus, if he even THINKS he got away with something he tries it again, and again… and oh let’s just give it a try this week because you never know, mom might have forgotten and be just a little tired. :rolleyes: He has taught me to be always aware and ALWAYS on my toes. It’s exhausting but so much fun.
[QUOTE=Finding Serenity;7480350]
There are days where I will never want an arabXappaloosa again… and then there are days where I want nothing else :lol: I’ve only had him for 9 months, and he’s my first horse, so I’m still trying to figure him out. Most just what is boredom vs defiant stubborness vs actually terrified.
My boy is 11, going on 5. Brilliant, stubborn, needy but independent… and extremely athletic to boot. One minute he’s defiant and the next he’s hiding behind me because “Mom I swear there is a MONSTER over there! Save me!”
Plus, if he even THINKS he got away with something he tries it again, and again… and oh let’s just give it a try this week because you never know, mom might have forgotten and be just a little tired. :rolleyes: He has taught me to be always aware and ALWAYS on my toes. It’s exhausting but so much fun.[/QUOTE]
:lol: You’ve just succinctly described my horse. The only thing that gives me hope is that my trainer’s first national champion was exactly like this. In the end, these types of horses will walk through fire for those whom they trust.
My horse reminds me of that old nursery rhyme:
“There was a little girl, with a little curl right, in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very, very good. But when she was bad she was horrid.”
[QUOTE=californianinkansas;7480416]
:lol: You’ve just succinctly described my horse. The only thing that gives me hope is that my trainer’s first national champion was exactly like this. In the end, these types of horses will walk through fire for those whom they trust.
My horse reminds me of that old nursery rhyme:
“There was a little girl, with a little curl right, in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very, very good. But when she was bad she was horrid.”[/QUOTE]
I’m not brave enough to have an Arab x Appaloosa cross.
Re: needy but independent
It’s like a little kid who is all over learning how to do X then despite only having seen X done once is convinced he is now a master and “can do it myself, Mom, geez!”
Lol that nursery rhyme does fit him quite well! :lol: and DancingArabian it really is! He gets an idea of “This is how we do it” and I go “No, THIS is how we do it” and then we get a temper tantrum because he wants to do it HIS way and “oh alright we’ll do it your way mom since you INSISTED CURSE YOU. Oh I get a peppermint? I love you now.” :lol:
I had a recent chat with his previous owner. He’s a heck of a lot greener than I was told he was (my ex-trainers fault (she found him, set it all up… only thing I did was ride him w/t/c and a small jump to see if I liked him), and MY fault for not asking the owner myself!). Apparently he had no idea what a leg yield was…
but after months of us arguing and me not knowing why he wouldn’t do it (it never occured to me he didn’t know how)… we’ve got it figured out 
If I had known it would have saved the both of us a lot of headaches.
So now we’re going back to the basics… turning forehand/hind (he has no idea how to do this under saddle), leg yielding (refuses to do so in hand) and learning to back up STRAIGHT rather than turning around. :lol: I’m a little in over my head but my new trainer is amazing and I did say I wanted to learn how to train a horse :lol: :winkgrin: But he jumps like a dream, is gumby, and has a natural dressage headset (he loves to set his head without me asking).
Finding Serenity,
I love your blog. Your boy is beautiful. He has lovely loose fluid movement on the YouTube clip that you have embedded in your blog. He’s quite attuned to you.
Aw thanks What you didn’t see were the attempts before that one where he INSISTED on going right instead of left. :winkgrin: He always makes it harder for himself at first but he makes it look good because he is so darn athletic. It’s partially why I never realized he was so green at his age and his previous owner think he was “beginner friendly”. We’re FINALLY bending to the inside 60% of the time now instead of him shoving his nose to the outside.
I really should keep it updated more often… it’s supposed to be both a writing exercise (I love writing and hope to make a career out of it somewhere) and a personal training exercise to keep track of our progress but I forget… plus I had 3 weeks of not riding due to weather/sickness so I should probably get back on it. Should be interesting with me learning how to teach him WHILE I am teaching him :lol: Some days I think he’s training me instead!
Anyone remember this story http://www.saving-bunny.com/ ?
The update on the last page is six years old but it’s a good one.
wow 5… that story is amazing!
I have a feeling my boy is going to live to a ripe old age of “I’m doing this JUST to spite you” :lol: And I hope he does 
Weird, the link seems to be down
Arab/appy crosses omg I adore them. I must. I breed and compete them.
However yes I agree that they can be the most stubborn/obtuse/smart/tough/frustrating horses I’ve ever met. Yet… nothing compares. I’ve been in love with that particular cross the majority of my life now. Superb athletes and once they become ‘your horse’ there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for you ime.
Raine, do you show in Region 5?
[QUOTE=twotrudoc;7487286]
Raine, do you show in Region 5?[/QUOTE]
mmm it depends. - so horse shows, are mainly region 17 for me - as for those it’s not just me, but 2 of my sons compete so I bring their horses as well. but I go into region 5 quite a bit for endurance and the occasional show if it’s close for me and I feel the urge to go. rofl.
Oh! Well, Heritage is at Monroe next weekend! I want to see the Arabs with the Appy party sprinkles (spots) LOL!!
So I’m not done reading through everyone else’s stories yet but I am so happy that I can join in somewhere! In november I “accidentally” brought home my first Arab. (I’ve ridden quite a number of them but have never owned them)
I love her so much I actually started a blog about her today where I will proceed to rattle on about all of the wondrous things that she does.
I loved Candysgirl’s post and I’m hoping Gretchen and I will be able to produce similar pictures of out adventures in the future. She’s only had a handful of rides at this point but eventually I’m sure she’ll live up to my Grand Prix Dressage, five star eventing, 4’ hunter, endurance, reining, gymkhana, and pony ride safe goals.
Here is her Blog which I will try to update regularly
http://ponyventures.blogspot.com
Her “Family Tree”
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/genesee+rl
And her album on Facebook
Genesee in Tennessee
PS. Do I have to have approval to join the clique?
Gretch is a 10+ in her snort and blow technique
