Aaaaaand Trot! (Eleventh Ride)

When I first started working with Gambler I started with what I knew. I was familiar with the Parelli games and so I focused on laying basic ground rules and communication. Along the way I adapted it (and many other methods) to the unique situations Gambler and I came across. I kept coming back to those games, knowing that they would translate once I started Gambler under saddle. 

When Gambler became bored and testy a few days ago, I realized that I wasn't sure where to take his training. When I wondered how that had happened, I realized that I had neglected the foundation that I had built everything on. The games. The simple ground exercises that would lead to effortless communication once I was riding. So on Sunday, I went back to the basics. 

Gambler walking the fenceline as Mom takes Kezi for her daily stroll.

His alert stance. He looks butt-high in this photo, but he is standing on a hill.

I started out with the friendly game, tossing the string over his back, whacking it against the ground, wrapping it around his legs, etc. He is still a little tense - proof of my negligence. A year into his training we should be well beyond this step.

Then I went on to the porcupine game, communication through direct pressure. Gambler is not good at this game. He will lower his head nicely to pressure on the lead, but puts up a fuss if I push his nose or chest to ask him to back up. Forequarter yields are better, but he will only go a few steps before he tries to walk away. Hindquarter yields confuse him. 

Asking him to yield his forequarters.

Other side.

Rest and a head rub.

Attempting hindquarter yields, he kept trying to swing his forequarters toward me instead.

Still trying.

Back to forequarters.

The third game is the driving game, where you move the horse's body without touching him. This, of course, requires that the horse understand the porcupine game, so I'm skipping it until we get game # 2 down. Game four is the Yo-yo game. I wiggle a finger to ask Gambler to back up, if he doesn't back I shake my wrist, and keep upping the intensity until he backs away. Once he is at the end of the rope I tilt my head to the side and run my hands along the rope without pulling to ask him to come to me. This is Gambler's favorite game and he's exceedingly good at it. Right now I'm working on making him stand for some time before coming back to me.

And then we have six, my version of the circling game. I mix in a few longeing bits and pieces. For one, Gambler has never understood that I wanted him to complete the circle when my back is turned to him. To him that means I want him to stop and either come to me or (preferably) wait for me to give him instruction. Gambler's circling game is exceptional as well. Right now I'm working on canter transitions and getting him farther out in a bigger circle. 

Obviously the games need work before I translate them to riding. I am going to start working on them everyday, beginning as if Gambler had never been introduced to them before. I think that what he needs is a fresh start and an in-depth review. Green horses can use a lot of solid review. 

I rode Gambler anyway. Again, he found himself bored and offered a buck once or twice. By offered I mean he stopped and attempted to lower his head while slightly rounding his back. His feet never left the ground and I never let him get his head away from me. Years of riding horses that were not my own have given me lightening-quick anti-buck reflexes (not that they have kept me from falling off said horses on many an occasion). 

Since he was getting bored (and I was too lazy to drag the poles out of storage and put them back again afterwards) we decided to trot. It was a gamble (hehe), because he was already misbehaving and I had no idea how he would react to trotting. He was great! At first he didn't understand the cue, but once he figured it out he trotted without a problem. The only thing was that once he started he didn't want to stop. He didn't run away with me or anything, but he kept asking "Can I trot again? Please? What about now?"

After the ride.

He wouldn't pose for me!