I cannot believe it is 2010 and I have been negligent about posting updates for months and months! Livvy is now 20 months old and is 15.2 hands. A giant by my estimation! She is taller than Bo and Rio, but is quite obviously still the baby!
Big body and little brain! ha ha! She is really good during her training sessions with Tiffany ... still working on lunging (now with a bridle, bit and side reins) and she does very well. Then Tiff works her with a long line from her bridle to one side of the circingle. I could watch her jog all day long! Pretty horse.
I am still working on the manners part of things, because horse-training (or should I say being the alpha) is difficult for me, and Olivia knows this. She tests, I discipline, she tests, I discipline, and then eventually we find our way. As I become more natural at this, things will be easier. Tiffany does not have any problems with Olivia along this line ... Livvy knows she is the boss!!!!
Winter is a hard time .... cold, damp, muddy, yucky ... and I haven't seen the lovely white parts of Olivia in months. No, currently, she is a black and brown horse! I will be sooooo happy to scrub that baby from head to hoof as soon as the warmer weather returns!
I remain as devoted to her as day one. Still love her madly! I am very glad that we chose to go this route with her (buying her as a young filly). And, the feeling is apparently mutual ... she is always so affectionate with me. It's quite lovely!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Second Farrier Visit
Oh, and I forgot to mention the second farrier visit.
I met the farrier at the farm, and he felt that he should do Livvy's feet in her stall. I grabbed a few peppermint treats, and we brought over her hay bucket, where I grabbed a handful and would let her nibble on the hay, then an occasional piece of a peppermint, and so on.
She was fantastic!
She seemed to be more comfortable with less people (it was just the farrier and me). I just kept talking to her, reassuring her, and she was amazing. The farrier used the word
"EXCEPTIONAL" !!!!
Go Livvy!
I met the farrier at the farm, and he felt that he should do Livvy's feet in her stall. I grabbed a few peppermint treats, and we brought over her hay bucket, where I grabbed a handful and would let her nibble on the hay, then an occasional piece of a peppermint, and so on.
She was fantastic!
She seemed to be more comfortable with less people (it was just the farrier and me). I just kept talking to her, reassuring her, and she was amazing. The farrier used the word
"EXCEPTIONAL" !!!!
Go Livvy!
Olivia ... the true yearling!
Summer is here, so the horses are on a summer schedule, being turned out late in the afternoons and coming back in early in the mornings. They spend the hottest part of the day in their stalls, and what a bunch of sleepy heads they are during the days! I often find Little Liv curled up on the floor of her stall, sleeping away! It is so sweet to see her like this. Although she is no longer little (now a little over 14 hands), she appears that way when you see her curled up on the floor.
Livvy had the best shower experience to date last Sunday. 45 minutes in the shower. Happy as a clam! I scrubbed all four of her legs with whitening shampoo, and yes, for a brief 12 hours, Livvy had these beautiful white legs! I should have taken a photo, because by Monday morning, they were muddy again! Olivia is so interested in the water when I spray it .... drinking it, putting her face in it ... it's such silliness!
Training during the days, when she is sleepy, has been a challenge. She has been in S-L-O-W mode! But we work through it, and she continues to do well.
Some of the horses were moved around two weeks ago, so Olivia has three new horses in her pasture. There is a brunette, a redhead, a blonde, a gray, and Livvy, a black and white. It's every stallion's dream. No two are alike!
Some exciting news .... Livvy and Bo have a "sibling" arriving in three weeks, all the way from Arizona! She is a five-year old Tennessee Walker (mare) who is all black and just happens to be Bo's offspring! (Bo stood at stud for years at a farm in Georgia, so he has lots of offspring all over the country!)
Strong work, Bo Jack!
Livvy had the best shower experience to date last Sunday. 45 minutes in the shower. Happy as a clam! I scrubbed all four of her legs with whitening shampoo, and yes, for a brief 12 hours, Livvy had these beautiful white legs! I should have taken a photo, because by Monday morning, they were muddy again! Olivia is so interested in the water when I spray it .... drinking it, putting her face in it ... it's such silliness!
Training during the days, when she is sleepy, has been a challenge. She has been in S-L-O-W mode! But we work through it, and she continues to do well.
Some of the horses were moved around two weeks ago, so Olivia has three new horses in her pasture. There is a brunette, a redhead, a blonde, a gray, and Livvy, a black and white. It's every stallion's dream. No two are alike!
Some exciting news .... Livvy and Bo have a "sibling" arriving in three weeks, all the way from Arizona! She is a five-year old Tennessee Walker (mare) who is all black and just happens to be Bo's offspring! (Bo stood at stud for years at a farm in Georgia, so he has lots of offspring all over the country!)
Strong work, Bo Jack!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
May 2009
It's May, and our lovely Olivia has turned one. Happy Birthday, Olivia! We lost a few months training due to an illness in the family, but by early May, we were back on track. Olivia's training has been going well. We can now work in the outdoor ring, where lunging her is easier. She is learning the "this is my space, so stay out of it!" rule ... very handy with an already 14 hand girl (and still growing)! We've been working on side stepping (I LOVE when she does this), walking around cones, stepping over PVC piping, stepping over very low jumps, jogging around cones (I am on one side, she on the other) and basic, overall manners.
I am proud to report that I can now get Livvy into the indoor shower, where she has had two complete wash downs already! Go Olivia! Although she loves water (even sprayed right into her face!) she was completely reluctant to get into the indoor shower. I thought we had tried everything, until Manuel came behind her one day when I was struggling with her and gave her a gentle, but firm, little swat on the fanny with a straw broom. In she came! Just like that. Next time, Don did the same, and after that, she just walked into the shower with me. I think, actually, she has realized how completely lovely it is to be in a warm shower! Still a little fussy about me washing her legs with a soapy sponge, but other than that, it's all good.
Met with the farrier for her first visit in early April. This went better than I expected, but she wasn't a perfect little lady. The farrier put her at 50%. Not the worst. Not the best.
I am now able to pick out all four of Livvy's feet without much resistance (it is just the left front leg that she sometimes pulls back). Other than that, her daily grooming is a breeze. She loves to be brushed, and often is almost asleep by the time I am finished.
Livvy has almost completely shed out, so she has become this shiny, beautiful nearly black horse again. She has gotten taller, and therefore looks more slender, and is absolutely stunning. What a looker!
I am proud to announce that Livvy has a "brother" now .... Don purchased "Bo Jack" in early May. Bo is a paint horse ... a Tennessee Walking Horse. He is a 13 year old gelding, and he looks a lot like Olivia. He is gentle, and sweet, and is very good with verbal commands. He inhabits the stall right next to Olivia's ... but they graze in different pastures during the day. They are sweet when together! Don has ridden him a few times, and they are learning about each other. He is a good boy, and a welcome addition to our family!
Olivia's birthday is May 15, Bo's is May 16 ... so that's kind of fun!
I am proud to report that I can now get Livvy into the indoor shower, where she has had two complete wash downs already! Go Olivia! Although she loves water (even sprayed right into her face!) she was completely reluctant to get into the indoor shower. I thought we had tried everything, until Manuel came behind her one day when I was struggling with her and gave her a gentle, but firm, little swat on the fanny with a straw broom. In she came! Just like that. Next time, Don did the same, and after that, she just walked into the shower with me. I think, actually, she has realized how completely lovely it is to be in a warm shower! Still a little fussy about me washing her legs with a soapy sponge, but other than that, it's all good.
Met with the farrier for her first visit in early April. This went better than I expected, but she wasn't a perfect little lady. The farrier put her at 50%. Not the worst. Not the best.
I am now able to pick out all four of Livvy's feet without much resistance (it is just the left front leg that she sometimes pulls back). Other than that, her daily grooming is a breeze. She loves to be brushed, and often is almost asleep by the time I am finished.
Livvy has almost completely shed out, so she has become this shiny, beautiful nearly black horse again. She has gotten taller, and therefore looks more slender, and is absolutely stunning. What a looker!
I am proud to announce that Livvy has a "brother" now .... Don purchased "Bo Jack" in early May. Bo is a paint horse ... a Tennessee Walking Horse. He is a 13 year old gelding, and he looks a lot like Olivia. He is gentle, and sweet, and is very good with verbal commands. He inhabits the stall right next to Olivia's ... but they graze in different pastures during the day. They are sweet when together! Don has ridden him a few times, and they are learning about each other. He is a good boy, and a welcome addition to our family!
Olivia's birthday is May 15, Bo's is May 16 ... so that's kind of fun!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
February 3, 2009
Decided to try a morning training session with Olivia. We waited for the "parade of horses" to pass by, and once all of the other horses were taken out to pasture, I brought Olivia into the indoor ring.
We started our session with Olivia giving me one lap around the ring and then cutting in and walking up to me in the center of the ring and stopping. This happened about three times. Lazy girl! I picked up the buggy whip that Don bought me and waved that along side of Olivia and that did it. She began to jog like the beautiful filly she is! We practiced longeing and then reversing, and we both did very well with this. Hooray for us!!!!
We practiced right turn. Left turn. Whoa. Back up. Lateral flexion. All good. Olivia can be so impressive. I didn't want to over work her, so we walked around the ring together a bunch of times and then Don and I brought her back into the stable to brush her and make sure she was cool enough before putting her rain sheet on.
Then, out into the snowy field she went! Happy girl!
The stable owner brought us a reindeer hat (for horses) and suggested that since it is snowing outside and everything looks like a winter wonderland that we take Livvy outside in the morning with the reindeer hat on and take her Christmas 2009 photo! Ha ha ha! I promised we would give it a try.
In the meantime, we put the hat on one of the older horses, Jefferson, who not only wore it proudly, but stretched his neck out long and gave us a fabulous smile, all of his teeth showing while wearing it! Jefferson is the stable comedian. A complete ham. I adore him!
Oh, one last thing. For Nancy.
Olivia is 13.2 hands high.
We started our session with Olivia giving me one lap around the ring and then cutting in and walking up to me in the center of the ring and stopping. This happened about three times. Lazy girl! I picked up the buggy whip that Don bought me and waved that along side of Olivia and that did it. She began to jog like the beautiful filly she is! We practiced longeing and then reversing, and we both did very well with this. Hooray for us!!!!
We practiced right turn. Left turn. Whoa. Back up. Lateral flexion. All good. Olivia can be so impressive. I didn't want to over work her, so we walked around the ring together a bunch of times and then Don and I brought her back into the stable to brush her and make sure she was cool enough before putting her rain sheet on.
Then, out into the snowy field she went! Happy girl!
The stable owner brought us a reindeer hat (for horses) and suggested that since it is snowing outside and everything looks like a winter wonderland that we take Livvy outside in the morning with the reindeer hat on and take her Christmas 2009 photo! Ha ha ha! I promised we would give it a try.
In the meantime, we put the hat on one of the older horses, Jefferson, who not only wore it proudly, but stretched his neck out long and gave us a fabulous smile, all of his teeth showing while wearing it! Jefferson is the stable comedian. A complete ham. I adore him!
Oh, one last thing. For Nancy.
Olivia is 13.2 hands high.
February 2, 2009
50 degrees outside today. I show up at the farm around 2:00 p.m. to bring Livvy in from the pasture for about a 20 minute training session. She is as far out in the pasture as she can be with "the girls." After walking out to get her, and then walking back, she decides to demonstrate some "foal-fun" by jumping and running. I am ready for her, and lead her back to me with a whoa. Works well. Then she tries it again. Another whoa. And then one more time. Oh, Olivia! This is the first typical foal behavior I have seen from Livvy, which tells me that she is feeling more settled and comfortable.
We get to the indoor ring, and it is obvious, to the trainer and me, that Olivia has some energy to burn off. About eight or ten laps around the ring should do it, right? We hoped, but Livvy had some more headstrong filly behavior left in her! It was so fun to see this, since I was beginning to feel that I basically had a snail on my hands. Not so!
We worked on longeing, and on how to "reverse" her so that she turned and began to walk on or jog in the other direction. When the trainer demonstrated this, it was graceful and fluid and looked like ballet. Of course, that elegance diminished when I began!! Livvy and I were good in one direction, but terrible in the other. My fault, not hers. After about a half dozen tries, the reverses were going pretty smoothly, but that one direction still needs work.
I learned some more desensitizing techniques, and will continue to work with Olivia everyday on them. Waving the flag over her head was interesting, to say the least! But after I did it several times, gently, Olivia realized it wasn't a threat.
Next, we practiced lateral flexion, where I gently apply pressure to one side of Olivia's halter with the expectation that she merely move her head in that direction. No body movement involved here, we are just looking for the head turn. This will be beneficial with her driving. Then, we switch sides, and try the other side. I'm pretty good at this (after all, who wouldn't be?) because it is a relatively easy task, and Olivia seems to understand what we are looking for. Head movement only.
We then practiced having Olivia stand still, while I take a few steps back away from her while holding her lead out between us. I apply gentle pressure to encourage her to walk towards me, and then she stops in front of me. First few times .... she basically walked through the trainer, and ditto for me, but then she understood.
No more sessions with the trainer this week. I am going to work with Olivia myself on all of these exercises and we will meet again next Monday.
Strong work, Olivia!
We get to the indoor ring, and it is obvious, to the trainer and me, that Olivia has some energy to burn off. About eight or ten laps around the ring should do it, right? We hoped, but Livvy had some more headstrong filly behavior left in her! It was so fun to see this, since I was beginning to feel that I basically had a snail on my hands. Not so!
We worked on longeing, and on how to "reverse" her so that she turned and began to walk on or jog in the other direction. When the trainer demonstrated this, it was graceful and fluid and looked like ballet. Of course, that elegance diminished when I began!! Livvy and I were good in one direction, but terrible in the other. My fault, not hers. After about a half dozen tries, the reverses were going pretty smoothly, but that one direction still needs work.
I learned some more desensitizing techniques, and will continue to work with Olivia everyday on them. Waving the flag over her head was interesting, to say the least! But after I did it several times, gently, Olivia realized it wasn't a threat.
Next, we practiced lateral flexion, where I gently apply pressure to one side of Olivia's halter with the expectation that she merely move her head in that direction. No body movement involved here, we are just looking for the head turn. This will be beneficial with her driving. Then, we switch sides, and try the other side. I'm pretty good at this (after all, who wouldn't be?) because it is a relatively easy task, and Olivia seems to understand what we are looking for. Head movement only.
We then practiced having Olivia stand still, while I take a few steps back away from her while holding her lead out between us. I apply gentle pressure to encourage her to walk towards me, and then she stops in front of me. First few times .... she basically walked through the trainer, and ditto for me, but then she understood.
No more sessions with the trainer this week. I am going to work with Olivia myself on all of these exercises and we will meet again next Monday.
Strong work, Olivia!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
February 1, 2009
Life with Livvy has been delightful! I have been working with her for about a half hour every day on the training techniques Tiffany taught me. I was having difficulty with the round and round and round of longeing from a dizziness standpoint, so Don bought me a buggy whip that I wave along side of her instead of waving the end of her lead. The buggy whip allows me to be a good six to seven feet away from her, so I am not spinning around in such a tight circle anymore, which definitely helps with the dizziness. It's a process. Olivia is doing well with "and left" for a left turn and "and right" for a right turn (thanks, Nancy!). "Whoa" is good as is "back up." Tiffany has me working on making hand movements around Olivia's face, touching all over her face, ears, around her eyes, anything that will help to desensitize her. I swing her lead around her also, gently wrapping the lead around her legs individually, under her belly, over her back, etc.
Livvy was in the mood to trot today. I kept having to encourage her to slow down, since she is too young to be trotting much. She is right on with a "whoa" command accompanied by my making a stop sign jesture with my hand. She turns and walks right up to my hand. It's pretty impressive.
It reached 50 degrees today, so all of the horses had a nice day outside in the mild weather. We met some of the other horse owners today, and they said they watched Olivia galloping in the field for a little bit! Such fun!
Every day, we appreciate Olivia more and more. Her gentle nature and sweetness has everyone falling in love with her.
Livvy was in the mood to trot today. I kept having to encourage her to slow down, since she is too young to be trotting much. She is right on with a "whoa" command accompanied by my making a stop sign jesture with my hand. She turns and walks right up to my hand. It's pretty impressive.
It reached 50 degrees today, so all of the horses had a nice day outside in the mild weather. We met some of the other horse owners today, and they said they watched Olivia galloping in the field for a little bit! Such fun!
Every day, we appreciate Olivia more and more. Her gentle nature and sweetness has everyone falling in love with her.
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