Cruiser is Who He was Meant to Be
Way back when I bought Cruiser, I was given his papers. He is not registered as a Morab, but as a Half Arabian. I don’t even have proof that his mother was a Morgan. I just took the word of his previous owners. Quite honestly, they could have told me he was half St. Bernard, and I wouldn’t of cared. I fell in love with him, so none of it mattered.
I knew the name of his father, but nothing else. The papers only listed his parents. Over the years, I would check the All Breed Pedigree website and see if his father was listed. Well, last month, someone finally put his pedigree into the website.
If you have never looked up your horse, be sure to take a visit. It is here that I found out that Cole is related to the famous Standardbred, Dan Patch, and the Morgan I wrote about that was exported to China, Magellan. It shows lots of pictures of the ancestors, too.
Finally, I knew Cruiser’s Arabian ancestors. I started to look up all his grandsires. What I found was they were all foundation Arabians—mostly CMK Arabians. What does that mean? Cruiser’s father was bred to excel in endurance riding. Anyone who wants to successfully compete in endurance looks to horses with his father’s breeding.
All his life, I marveled on Cruise’s energy. I could take him on a 3-hour, fast ride and bring him home looking like he was just coming back from a short stroll—as long as you looked past the dried sweat, you would have never known. He just never gets tired and would trot all day. I always said he was my 100-mile horse. I used to pretend I was riding the Tevis Cup on Tevis day. I was disappointed the year it was canceled due to forest fires—and rode out on our own mini Tevis ride that day without them.
I never had the resources to take Cruiser out and compete him but was satisfied to ride him like crazy here at home—pretending I could compete if I wanted to. Now, I think I really could have.
Even now at 24, he has more energy on the trail than most other horses. Well, now I know he wasn’t a fluke. He is exactly who he was bred to be.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Cole Train is One Step Closer to Becoming a Circus Pony
Cole Train is One Step Closer to Becoming a Circus Pony
Cole and I started out very poorly on our ride, last night. We entered the indoor arena, and the horse that was being ridden at the time became very spooky. Cole picked up on it, and he decided to buck and play as I was leading him. Well, this made our companion’s horse even worse. The rider became insecure and left to get a lounge line. In the meantime, I started trotting Cole. He was very volatile, and had several outbursts.
The other horse came back to be lounged. That meant we lost half of the arena. It took a while for the other horse to settle down, so Cole and I just stood there and watched. When her horse seemed settled, we started to work on our half. Cole settled down, and I realized how un-round out circles have become.
At the end of the ride, I led Cole around a little. We practiced walking in time with my footsteps, and he was doing great. I clicked him a few times for it.
On the way back to the barn, he timed his steps with mine and suddenly, he lifted his front legs really high! I clicked, but realized I didn’t have any treats left. I rubbed his neck as I searched my pockets. I found crumbs and gave them to him.
I went back to the barn, unsaddled him, grabbed more treats and brought him back into the arena to work on our dancing. I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity. If he wanted to dance, we were going to dance.
The dancing all began when I started to click him for putting his head down. Now, I just point to the ground, and he drops his head. Somewhere along the line, I realized he was timing his footsteps to mine when he lowered his head. I started to click him for that, and he got very good. I could slow my steps or speed my steps, and he matched me.
We have been doing that for weeks. It’s just something fun to do when I lead. Well, after his little demonstration that showed he wanted to do more, I decided to find out what he would give me.
I led him, but this time I lifted my feet higher. Cole threw in a step that was higher—so I clicked and treated. We did this for a few minutes, and he started to offer a higher step consistently. I then started asking for more. I didn’t click him for one step—I clicked him for several. After a while, I waited until he got a little higher.
Soon, he was doing a very, very low Spanish walk. Sometimes, my silly, little pony threw in a tap-tap with his left hoof. It was cute, but I didn’t click him for it. I wanted to keep him going forward. He has done that tapping in the past, so I can see adding it in at a later time to a different cue.
All in all, I think we worked 10 minutes—and had loads of fun. He can be such a flamboyant, expressive horse, at times, and he showed it in this little exercise. I don’t know where this will develop, but it will be fun to find out.
Cole and I started out very poorly on our ride, last night. We entered the indoor arena, and the horse that was being ridden at the time became very spooky. Cole picked up on it, and he decided to buck and play as I was leading him. Well, this made our companion’s horse even worse. The rider became insecure and left to get a lounge line. In the meantime, I started trotting Cole. He was very volatile, and had several outbursts.
The other horse came back to be lounged. That meant we lost half of the arena. It took a while for the other horse to settle down, so Cole and I just stood there and watched. When her horse seemed settled, we started to work on our half. Cole settled down, and I realized how un-round out circles have become.
At the end of the ride, I led Cole around a little. We practiced walking in time with my footsteps, and he was doing great. I clicked him a few times for it.
On the way back to the barn, he timed his steps with mine and suddenly, he lifted his front legs really high! I clicked, but realized I didn’t have any treats left. I rubbed his neck as I searched my pockets. I found crumbs and gave them to him.
I went back to the barn, unsaddled him, grabbed more treats and brought him back into the arena to work on our dancing. I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity. If he wanted to dance, we were going to dance.
The dancing all began when I started to click him for putting his head down. Now, I just point to the ground, and he drops his head. Somewhere along the line, I realized he was timing his footsteps to mine when he lowered his head. I started to click him for that, and he got very good. I could slow my steps or speed my steps, and he matched me.
We have been doing that for weeks. It’s just something fun to do when I lead. Well, after his little demonstration that showed he wanted to do more, I decided to find out what he would give me.
I led him, but this time I lifted my feet higher. Cole threw in a step that was higher—so I clicked and treated. We did this for a few minutes, and he started to offer a higher step consistently. I then started asking for more. I didn’t click him for one step—I clicked him for several. After a while, I waited until he got a little higher.
Soon, he was doing a very, very low Spanish walk. Sometimes, my silly, little pony threw in a tap-tap with his left hoof. It was cute, but I didn’t click him for it. I wanted to keep him going forward. He has done that tapping in the past, so I can see adding it in at a later time to a different cue.
All in all, I think we worked 10 minutes—and had loads of fun. He can be such a flamboyant, expressive horse, at times, and he showed it in this little exercise. I don’t know where this will develop, but it will be fun to find out.
i'm back
I think I am back!!! I haven’t been able to post in months and months, but look at this. I tried it and it worked!
So, what is there to update. All the horses have been doing well. It was an easier winter than most, as far as the weather, so we were able to get on the trail a few times. now that it is spring, we are battling the high river. At least we can work on the hill leading down to the river. That’s mostly what we have been doing.
Cole learned a lot in the arena, but we haven’t solved the cantering problem. I still can’t consistently get the tradition, and I go from being determined to not feeling like trying. Everything else is going well. Cruiser did better in the arena this year than last. Ranger was the same.
I have been posting blogs, elsewhere, so I am going to try to put some here.
Now, I will attempt this and see if it works…
So, what is there to update. All the horses have been doing well. It was an easier winter than most, as far as the weather, so we were able to get on the trail a few times. now that it is spring, we are battling the high river. At least we can work on the hill leading down to the river. That’s mostly what we have been doing.
Cole learned a lot in the arena, but we haven’t solved the cantering problem. I still can’t consistently get the tradition, and I go from being determined to not feeling like trying. Everything else is going well. Cruiser did better in the arena this year than last. Ranger was the same.
I have been posting blogs, elsewhere, so I am going to try to put some here.
Now, I will attempt this and see if it works…
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Benefits of Clicker Training
I was riding Cole in the arena the other night, and a really nice boarder at our barn brought her horse in to lounge. She has a sweet Paint mare, that I have never seen truly misbehave, but her owner is afraid to ride her. She needs to lounge her a lot before she will ride her, and with her busy work schedule, she usually doesn’t have the time to both lounge and ride. As we all know, fear isn’t logical, and it certainly isn’t in this case.
I thought that demonstration of the usefulness of clicker training might help her. I told her that she would be less worried if she knew that, whatever she was doing, all she had to do was say “whoa,” and her mare would stop. I trotted down the wall, said “whoa,” and Cole instantly stopped. I clicked and treated him. I also explained that I don’t need to treat him every single time at this point. I just click him now and then to keep him sharp.
I then told her how he will stand until I tell him to move off—explaining how convenient this is if you are on trail and a dozen motorcycles come flying down the road. Instead of worrying if Cole will be frightened by them, I ask him to stop and stand until they pass. Since he is hoping for a click, he is more focused on me then the traffic. He has never spooked at something when I do this.
I then told her how he stands perfectly for mounting, listens to me about when to change gaits instead of following the horse ahead of him, and if he starts to get excited, I can just wiggle a rein, his head goes down and he is listening to me, again.
Then, I dismounted and showed her how he will do the same thing when I lead him if I point the whip handle towards the ground. He will keep his head down the whole time the whip is down, as if there is a rope going from the whip to his bit. (I should have shown her how he does it when we trot in hand, too.)
I didn’t think she was convinced, yet, so I got back on and started trotting him. I threw the reins down on his neck, lifted my arms in the air for a few strides and said, “whoa.” Of course he stopped. She gasped, but it turns out that she was amazed that he kept his frame in perfect self carriage with, if anything, more impulsion than when I was holding the reins. I thought about it, and got pretty amazed myself. I had to do it again to see if he would repeat his performance. This time, I trotted longer without the riens before asking him to stop. He did even better.
Still, my friend didn’t seem convinced that clicker training can do awesome things. I then tried one more thing. I told her, “Let’s say you are out on the trail and you drop something.” I then threw my whip to the ground.
Cole immediately stopped, reached down and picked the whip up. I took it out of his mouth, clicked and treated him.
She started laughing uproariously—she was so amazed. I think his trick won her over. Funny thing is, it is just a trick. All those other things are wonderful things that make him a safer horse—consequently making a more confident rider—just what my friend needs. Chances are, if I dropped something on the trail, he would reach down and probably start to graze!
I thought that demonstration of the usefulness of clicker training might help her. I told her that she would be less worried if she knew that, whatever she was doing, all she had to do was say “whoa,” and her mare would stop. I trotted down the wall, said “whoa,” and Cole instantly stopped. I clicked and treated him. I also explained that I don’t need to treat him every single time at this point. I just click him now and then to keep him sharp.
I then told her how he will stand until I tell him to move off—explaining how convenient this is if you are on trail and a dozen motorcycles come flying down the road. Instead of worrying if Cole will be frightened by them, I ask him to stop and stand until they pass. Since he is hoping for a click, he is more focused on me then the traffic. He has never spooked at something when I do this.
I then told her how he stands perfectly for mounting, listens to me about when to change gaits instead of following the horse ahead of him, and if he starts to get excited, I can just wiggle a rein, his head goes down and he is listening to me, again.
Then, I dismounted and showed her how he will do the same thing when I lead him if I point the whip handle towards the ground. He will keep his head down the whole time the whip is down, as if there is a rope going from the whip to his bit. (I should have shown her how he does it when we trot in hand, too.)
I didn’t think she was convinced, yet, so I got back on and started trotting him. I threw the reins down on his neck, lifted my arms in the air for a few strides and said, “whoa.” Of course he stopped. She gasped, but it turns out that she was amazed that he kept his frame in perfect self carriage with, if anything, more impulsion than when I was holding the reins. I thought about it, and got pretty amazed myself. I had to do it again to see if he would repeat his performance. This time, I trotted longer without the riens before asking him to stop. He did even better.
Still, my friend didn’t seem convinced that clicker training can do awesome things. I then tried one more thing. I told her, “Let’s say you are out on the trail and you drop something.” I then threw my whip to the ground.
Cole immediately stopped, reached down and picked the whip up. I took it out of his mouth, clicked and treated him.
She started laughing uproariously—she was so amazed. I think his trick won her over. Funny thing is, it is just a trick. All those other things are wonderful things that make him a safer horse—consequently making a more confident rider—just what my friend needs. Chances are, if I dropped something on the trail, he would reach down and probably start to graze!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Beautiful Fall Weather for Trail Riding
What a perfectly pretty November weekend in northeast Ohio. Of course, you could find me out on the trail with my Morabs. I love this weather.
Friday, I took my very last evening trail ride of the year. The time changed this weekend, and I no longer have the daylight to ride on the trail. Anyway, Cruiser made it a good one. He was energetic and silly. What else would I expect from him on a cool evening…? I rode Cole in the arena, and he wasn’t too keen on working. Before the ride, I turned him loose to play. He ran and ran and ran. I think he used most of his energy up, and didn’t have any for the ride. We did get some things accomplished, though. I will try them again, tonight, to see if he remembers them.
Saturday, I rode Cruiser with my sister and her horse Ranger. We went for about an hour and a half. It was quite chilly, and at one point, we got off to lead to warm up our toes. It was warmer when I took Cole out. He was just so perfect, I couldn’t really believe it. We mostly trotted—too and from home. The first few times I asked him to canter, he didn’t get it. Later, I asked him again—and we went right into it so beautifully…
Sunday, I took Cole with Ranger up to the show ring trails—as we do most Sundays. He gave me an A+ ride. (We like to grade our rides, and A+ doesn’t come up that often.) We trotted most of the time, and at one point, my sister asked Ranger to canter. When I asked Cole, he agreed, and once again, we had a beautiful transition. We didn’t get too far, because Ranger came back to a trot before we wanted him to. Cole had to do the same—as I didn’t want him to run past Ranger. Still, it was the first successful canter together. I then took Cruiser out for his 5-mile sprint. We met my boyfriend with Starry at the turnaround point, and we walked back with them.
My sister has a day off, tomorrow, so I took the day off, too. I am running out of vacation, but that’s the point this time of year. We are running out of good weather, too. Tomorrow promises to be another beauty.
Friday, I took my very last evening trail ride of the year. The time changed this weekend, and I no longer have the daylight to ride on the trail. Anyway, Cruiser made it a good one. He was energetic and silly. What else would I expect from him on a cool evening…? I rode Cole in the arena, and he wasn’t too keen on working. Before the ride, I turned him loose to play. He ran and ran and ran. I think he used most of his energy up, and didn’t have any for the ride. We did get some things accomplished, though. I will try them again, tonight, to see if he remembers them.
Saturday, I rode Cruiser with my sister and her horse Ranger. We went for about an hour and a half. It was quite chilly, and at one point, we got off to lead to warm up our toes. It was warmer when I took Cole out. He was just so perfect, I couldn’t really believe it. We mostly trotted—too and from home. The first few times I asked him to canter, he didn’t get it. Later, I asked him again—and we went right into it so beautifully…
Sunday, I took Cole with Ranger up to the show ring trails—as we do most Sundays. He gave me an A+ ride. (We like to grade our rides, and A+ doesn’t come up that often.) We trotted most of the time, and at one point, my sister asked Ranger to canter. When I asked Cole, he agreed, and once again, we had a beautiful transition. We didn’t get too far, because Ranger came back to a trot before we wanted him to. Cole had to do the same—as I didn’t want him to run past Ranger. Still, it was the first successful canter together. I then took Cruiser out for his 5-mile sprint. We met my boyfriend with Starry at the turnaround point, and we walked back with them.
My sister has a day off, tomorrow, so I took the day off, too. I am running out of vacation, but that’s the point this time of year. We are running out of good weather, too. Tomorrow promises to be another beauty.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A day off to ride
I took yesterday off from work because they were forecasting perfect weather—and they were right.
Cole and I went on a 2:37 hour ride. He wasn’t quite as good as last time—he went through a balky stage, tossed in some squeals and spins during the ride, and it took a little more work to settle down his trot towards home. We did canter 4 times for short distances, and that was really nice. He didn’t do the mad gallop that I have gotten in the past, but an actual canter. After that, he was no longer balky at the trot. He was good going past the utility workers, but he didn’t like the truck that was painting lines on the road at all. Though he could have been better, he wasn’t bad for only the 4th long ride by himself. I don’t know if I will get any more this year because the weather gets so questionable.
I took Cruiser out on a quick 5-mile. He was great, of course. He got pretty excited on the way home, because he thought he might find Starry like he did last time, so he did some pretty fast gaiting instead of walking. Finally, he passed up some horses and calmed down the rest of the way home.
I took a break for dinner with my boyfriend and then came back to feed the horses. I was exhausted after all that. I need to get into better shape!
Cole and I went on a 2:37 hour ride. He wasn’t quite as good as last time—he went through a balky stage, tossed in some squeals and spins during the ride, and it took a little more work to settle down his trot towards home. We did canter 4 times for short distances, and that was really nice. He didn’t do the mad gallop that I have gotten in the past, but an actual canter. After that, he was no longer balky at the trot. He was good going past the utility workers, but he didn’t like the truck that was painting lines on the road at all. Though he could have been better, he wasn’t bad for only the 4th long ride by himself. I don’t know if I will get any more this year because the weather gets so questionable.
I took Cruiser out on a quick 5-mile. He was great, of course. He got pretty excited on the way home, because he thought he might find Starry like he did last time, so he did some pretty fast gaiting instead of walking. Finally, he passed up some horses and calmed down the rest of the way home.
I took a break for dinner with my boyfriend and then came back to feed the horses. I was exhausted after all that. I need to get into better shape!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Halloween Rides
I took Cruiser on a quick trail ride before sunset, and we didn’t see a soul—not even the headless horseman. It was a cool and pretty evening. There are still some leaves on the trees, and they were very vibrant in the dimming light of the evening. Next weekend, the time changes, and there will be no more trail rides after work. I sure will miss them.
I then rode Cole in the arena. I had the place all to myself. We worked on a little of this and a little of that. I still can’t get him to canter, but I was able to get him to trot faster—not just bigger. I am hoping that if he figures out the speed up command, I can just keep speeding him up until he will canter. I wish I had been brave enough with this last year to introduce it then. I think he would have been more open minded. I’m getting somewhat frustrated. We are cantering a little bit on the trail, but the transitions are still explosive.
The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow, and if I can get control of my workload, I will take the day off to take them both on a trail ride. The weekend is looking good, too, for a change.
I then rode Cole in the arena. I had the place all to myself. We worked on a little of this and a little of that. I still can’t get him to canter, but I was able to get him to trot faster—not just bigger. I am hoping that if he figures out the speed up command, I can just keep speeding him up until he will canter. I wish I had been brave enough with this last year to introduce it then. I think he would have been more open minded. I’m getting somewhat frustrated. We are cantering a little bit on the trail, but the transitions are still explosive.
The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow, and if I can get control of my workload, I will take the day off to take them both on a trail ride. The weekend is looking good, too, for a change.
Monday, October 31, 2011
House Cat Tip of the Month
I thought of this one when I brought my plants in for the winter. Thunder is fascinated and loves poking around in them. He doesn’t try to eat the plants, too much, but to discourage him from that idea, I put long stalks of grass from outside in them.
Now, he noses around in them, finds his grass and nibbles on that. It keeps him entertained, protects the plants, and best of all, gives him something safer to eat than houseplants.
Of course, I use grass that doesn’t have anything sprayed on it that might hurt him.
(pictures are Stormy, my sister's cat.)
Fun with Horses
We had a nice, horse weekend. The river wasn’t crossable, but our younger niece came out, and she made it fun for us. I started out riding Cole in the arena. He had a lackluster day. I then let my niece take him down the hill to the river. He was pretty good for her, and she is getting used to his bouncy walk down hills. When we got to the bottom, we let her trot on the flat part a bunch of times. Cole has a normal trail trot, and she was posting is beautifully. (She can’t manage his arena trot, but most people can’t.) I think she had fun with him. He was fine going back up the hill.
Then, we saddled up Cruiser and Ranger. My sister came with us on foot. We did the hill 3 times. At the bottom, we did do some trotting, and Cruiser showed his true colors as he burst past Ranger at a canter. Once he got in the lead, he was happy to trot. Ranger handled it well—but then he is used to it from Cruiser. May Cruiser never grow old…
Sunday, the river was low enough, so my sister and I took Ranger and Cole up to the show ring trails and had a really nice ride. It was a frosty morning—glad we had our thermal underwear on! I then took Cruiser on a quick 5-mile ride. He was in a great mood. We rode across the ford, and the only 2 motorcycles to brave the chilliness had to pass us when we were in the middle of it. He got scared and tried to run off towards home, but I was able to contain him. That certainly got our adrenaline going. It took a while to settle him down.
On the way home, we met my boyfriend on Starry and my sister on foot. We all ambled home, chatting.
Then, we saddled up Cruiser and Ranger. My sister came with us on foot. We did the hill 3 times. At the bottom, we did do some trotting, and Cruiser showed his true colors as he burst past Ranger at a canter. Once he got in the lead, he was happy to trot. Ranger handled it well—but then he is used to it from Cruiser. May Cruiser never grow old…
Sunday, the river was low enough, so my sister and I took Ranger and Cole up to the show ring trails and had a really nice ride. It was a frosty morning—glad we had our thermal underwear on! I then took Cruiser on a quick 5-mile ride. He was in a great mood. We rode across the ford, and the only 2 motorcycles to brave the chilliness had to pass us when we were in the middle of it. He got scared and tried to run off towards home, but I was able to contain him. That certainly got our adrenaline going. It took a while to settle him down.
On the way home, we met my boyfriend on Starry and my sister on foot. We all ambled home, chatting.
Anyone looking to rent a house?
These are pictures of the house my brother and I bought. We are going to make some revisions to it and then rent it out. Isn't it cute? It isn't as big as it looks in the pictures, though.
I think this is all a great idea, but it is still a scary thing to do. I hope we can find a nice tenant who wants to stay in it for a long time...
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