This is an email that Uncle Steve sent yesterday evening to several of us about his experience with our new guy, Joshua's Sullivan, on Sunday morning. I'd like to pass it on as there is some amusing content. Please note: discretion is advised and spelling has not been edited! :)
I am not sure what we are calling him but I was determined to ride "Clicker" (because he sounds like a clicker walking and for the sake of this story) today. We had a good lunge session and he was very obedient. I decided to saddle him to see how that would go. As on Saturday, he was solid to work around. No spooking. Fly spray, no problem. He lifted his feet without hesitation.
After he was all tacked up I thought, how much could this hurt? In my mind Kathy's comment kept coming back, "he likes to buck." I can deal with most bad horse behavior but I must confess bucking is one of my least favorite bad habits to work through.
Nevertheless I counted the cost, led him into the soft dirt under the big oak in the pasture, and mounted up. He stood like a statue. Never moved. Aimee snapped a couple of quick pictures and had my phone ready to dial 911 or Megan! We started a slow left turn and he moved out then stopped, and assumed the position. Yes. You know the position. He was thinking. "You are about to come off my back and I hope you enjoy the view from way up there in the air." Then He bucked. I applied my limited anti bucking skills and he settled down and moved out. Lesson number 1, keep moving. I thought. That was not so bad, is that all you have to give me? We moved slowly down the pasture while I attempted to learn what moves this beast best. Again he stopped. Yep, you guessed it. He assumed the position. I quickly circled him, attempting to keep him from fully engaging the position and it worked. We moved gingerly along. Then he heard or saw something and gave me a new understanding of the phrase "stop on a dime." He stopped in a nano-second and forward I went. Thankfully, I was secure in my saddle and righted myself before I was on the ground looking up at Clicker. Lesson number 2. Be on guard. Don't get comfortable on a horse you've only been on for 5 minutes. We moved out and he did quiet well for the next few minutes. Then it happened. He stopped. I tried all of my limited horsemanship skills to get him moving. No luck. He went down in the front, spun to the left, then the back end came up, and in a split second I saw Jesus standing in heaven with an outstretched hand. I balanced ny checkbook in my head, made sure my insurance premiums were paid in full, checked my email, and sent two text messages telling my entire family I loved them. I knew that if he got his act together he was a much better horse than I was a horseman and he would win this battle, if all his stars lined up I was a dead man, or at least a out of the saddle man. In a flash I came back to the horse, talked to him, and he settled out and we rode for another hour without so much as a scare. Did he do perfect, no. Did I do perfect, absolutely not. But, as we rode to Nannies three times and rode down Betty Walden road Clicker showed me what he knew and what he was afraid of. Dragon flies, terrify him. Barking dogs, at first scarey, then not so much. Sticks, twigs, leaves, not a problem. Bills rear end, well it was sorta stinky and Clicker preferred the front for that reason. If you ride behind Bill your horse will have a close up view of Bills rear, that just how slow Bill moves.
Clicker is very easy to control. He can back with a slight lean to the back, ever so slight pressure on the reins, and a good verbal, back, back. He is very good at it. He whoa's as good as any horse I have ever been on. A verbal whoa and an ever so slight rein movement and be ready to stop. He's gonna stop. Sit in the saddle and simply click, and he's off. No kicking on this horse, slight pressure with your legs and he speeds up with each pressure application. Sorta like a 10 speed bike. Turns like a dream, with ever so slight bridle control. He is very sensitive in the mouth and I wonder if he could not be ridden, at some point, without a bit at all.
So all in all - a very good experience with Clicker. He is a loving horse and while he needs a bit of work on our personal space ( he will rub your behind until he almost lifts you off the ground!) He is sweet as can be. And, I must confess, he loves carrots as much as apples and I love rewarding him for good behavior. Lastly, concerning his gait; he is considerably smoother than Bill but not as smooth as Chili! We did trot a bit, but did not canter.
So, I must say I am thrilled with this first ride and all indications are with some spook training and getting the buck out of him and he will be a great horse!
Sorry this was so long!
Steve
After he was all tacked up I thought, how much could this hurt? In my mind Kathy's comment kept coming back, "he likes to buck." I can deal with most bad horse behavior but I must confess bucking is one of my least favorite bad habits to work through.
Nevertheless I counted the cost, led him into the soft dirt under the big oak in the pasture, and mounted up. He stood like a statue. Never moved. Aimee snapped a couple of quick pictures and had my phone ready to dial 911 or Megan! We started a slow left turn and he moved out then stopped, and assumed the position. Yes. You know the position. He was thinking. "You are about to come off my back and I hope you enjoy the view from way up there in the air." Then He bucked. I applied my limited anti bucking skills and he settled down and moved out. Lesson number 1, keep moving. I thought. That was not so bad, is that all you have to give me? We moved slowly down the pasture while I attempted to learn what moves this beast best. Again he stopped. Yep, you guessed it. He assumed the position. I quickly circled him, attempting to keep him from fully engaging the position and it worked. We moved gingerly along. Then he heard or saw something and gave me a new understanding of the phrase "stop on a dime." He stopped in a nano-second and forward I went. Thankfully, I was secure in my saddle and righted myself before I was on the ground looking up at Clicker. Lesson number 2. Be on guard. Don't get comfortable on a horse you've only been on for 5 minutes. We moved out and he did quiet well for the next few minutes. Then it happened. He stopped. I tried all of my limited horsemanship skills to get him moving. No luck. He went down in the front, spun to the left, then the back end came up, and in a split second I saw Jesus standing in heaven with an outstretched hand. I balanced ny checkbook in my head, made sure my insurance premiums were paid in full, checked my email, and sent two text messages telling my entire family I loved them. I knew that if he got his act together he was a much better horse than I was a horseman and he would win this battle, if all his stars lined up I was a dead man, or at least a out of the saddle man. In a flash I came back to the horse, talked to him, and he settled out and we rode for another hour without so much as a scare. Did he do perfect, no. Did I do perfect, absolutely not. But, as we rode to Nannies three times and rode down Betty Walden road Clicker showed me what he knew and what he was afraid of. Dragon flies, terrify him. Barking dogs, at first scarey, then not so much. Sticks, twigs, leaves, not a problem. Bills rear end, well it was sorta stinky and Clicker preferred the front for that reason. If you ride behind Bill your horse will have a close up view of Bills rear, that just how slow Bill moves.
Clicker is very easy to control. He can back with a slight lean to the back, ever so slight pressure on the reins, and a good verbal, back, back. He is very good at it. He whoa's as good as any horse I have ever been on. A verbal whoa and an ever so slight rein movement and be ready to stop. He's gonna stop. Sit in the saddle and simply click, and he's off. No kicking on this horse, slight pressure with your legs and he speeds up with each pressure application. Sorta like a 10 speed bike. Turns like a dream, with ever so slight bridle control. He is very sensitive in the mouth and I wonder if he could not be ridden, at some point, without a bit at all.
So all in all - a very good experience with Clicker. He is a loving horse and while he needs a bit of work on our personal space ( he will rub your behind until he almost lifts you off the ground!) He is sweet as can be. And, I must confess, he loves carrots as much as apples and I love rewarding him for good behavior. Lastly, concerning his gait; he is considerably smoother than Bill but not as smooth as Chili! We did trot a bit, but did not canter.
So, I must say I am thrilled with this first ride and all indications are with some spook training and getting the buck out of him and he will be a great horse!
Sorry this was so long!
Steve