A chilled Filly

Tuesday 20 May 2014

The tripod tested

Filly had managed to stand on her own hoof and pulled one of the nails out of the front left hoof. So we asked our farrier, Nick, to come and sort out the damage she had caused.
He came today, took one look at the hoof and decided to remove the shoe, trim the hoof and put it back on. The test of my training with the farriers tripod was coming much much earlier than I anticipated !
To be fair the training had been going well. We had started with rewarding for just having the hoof on the tripod and got to the stage where we were rewarding for her actually balancing the tripod. In other words, if it started to rock over I would help her bring it upright again, click and treat. She soon got the hang of this and so I was working on extending the time the hoof was on the tripod.

Then the farrier came.

I explained to Nick that the cue for the tripod was "Filly, tripod" and point at the desired leg. She then at the least takes the weight of that leg and allows it to be place on the tripod. He tried this and was very impressed when it worked. He then commented that she was actively trying to balance the tripod as he worked on the hoof. This was a big turn around from our previous experiences where she had repeatedly knocked it over causing Nick real problems.

The best was yet to come. Nick decided to remove the other front shoe and trim the hoof as it had grown so well. This is the hoof we are trying to rebalance so that was really good news. So we came to the tripod with this hoof. He picked up the tripod and put it in front of her. Without even being asked she picked the hoof up and gave it to him. I think Nick was very impressed. As for, Filly she gave him a great big wet kiss around the back of his neck and into his left ear :) .

I now have visions of getting her to balance her hoof on a sawn off broom stick... just for fun.

Monday 5 May 2014

Farriers tripod

I created a monster when I taught Filly to stretch her leg forwards. She seems to really enjoy have her leg pulled forward and then really stretching into my hand. Great for horse yoga, not so great for the farrier.
When the farrier is performing the finishing touches to the shoeing he place the hoof on a tripod to hold the hoof at a convenient height for using the rasp. This was very close to the position that she puts her foot in for that nice stretch so she puts all her weight on it and it falls over. Not helpful at all.
After a few shoeings like this I got my farrier to get me a tripod I could use at the yard for training. This may seem extravagant but I strongly believe that as the owner it is my responsibility to prepare my horse so that my farrier can perform his craft with as little interference from the horse as possible.
So how to train a horse to place the feet on a tripod and hold it there. It seemed like an obvious candidate for clicker training. So I use the cue "tripod" pick up her hoof and place it on the tripod, click, treat. Then repeat extending the time that she needs to keep the hoof on the tripod for in a relaxed fashion.
After two sessions I just have to say "Filly..Tripod" and point at her leg for her to pick it up. I then place her hoof on the tripod and help her to keep it there relaxed. Today for the first time she actually adjusted the pressure to keep the tripod up. Click and mega treat, then end of session.
I hope to build on this over the next few weeks so that the next shoeing is a little easier.
As for her leading. Today she was very good. Walking back across her field I noticed whenever she tried to get even a step beyond me. Just the energy and intention. Then turned 90 degrees so that she was behind me again maintaining my position in the lead with no fight. Possible in a large space, not so easy on a track of course.

Sunday 4 May 2014

Leading Filly

Since the last post I've been continuing to take Filly to the field most days. Not to take her to the field as such, just to have a destination for the leading training. I've continued to use the waving of the stick idea where I swing the stick horizontally in front of me stopping it at the point I don't want her to walk in front of. If she comes to far forwards she gets tapped on the chest, the strength of the tap corresponding to how far she has pushed in front.
We had a few tantrums over this to start as she was used to being in front of whoever lead her, the position of the dominant mare. This was challenging her position in the herd and she didn't like it. Now, however, she has really settled down.
The walk to the field was very calm yesterday, far less spooking as she accepts my position as herd leader, and far less pushing in front. Once in the field I have never seen her so relaxed and calm. She grazed as horses should graze, slowly. In the past she was continually taking a bite then walking on with her head up. She could never settle to eat.
This may seem like a little thing, being able to lead your horse. But it has improved so much else, even her expression as I approach her in the stable has improved. She used to lay her ears back a little, not tight but not forwards either. Now she greets me at the door with bright eyes, pricked ears and a little whinny. She has always responded well to firmer handling. She has taught me so much about principle #5. It maybe 5 in Pats list, but in handling Filly I find it is much further up the list than that.
That is just Fillys' horsenality however. Try the same with Bonitao and you'll loose all connection with him instantly. His most important game is definitely Friendly game and the most important principle is "Principles, purpose and TIME are the tools of teaching".