Elizabeth Wood
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TRAINING NOTES from Elizabeth
INCOMING!
Our Horse For Sale - Bounced is unconcerned with incoming helicopters. His "Friend" Andi is a physician's assistant and the helicopters made her feel like a doctor on on the TV show M*A*S*H.
Here is Andi's story about the helicopter:
We certainly had an interesting
training opportunity yesterday morning at the farm! A huge Army helicopter
flying repeatedly overhead, close enough for us to
wave to the occupants and have them wave back at us
provided a great chance to do some "de spooking" with Bounced and Stevie
Loverboy.
Bounced was not really very
disturbed by them, and got over it quickly as he got
used to the racket. It seemed that I couldn't
really get him to focus
on what we were trying to work on, as well as usual,
but I guess that is understandable since the racket
they were making overhead could not be ignored! If
that ever happens again, our boys will be prepared!
Andie
Click here to see more photos of our Horse For Sale - Bounced.
Here is Missy Miller's high flying story:
Little
did I know when I headed to the barn today for my usual Wednesday morning
ride that I would be presented with such a wonderful training opportunity.
I guess there was really no way of knowing that a military helicopter
was going to take up residence at the school across the street and
do "Top
Gun" like fly-bys of the barn. Loverboy and
I stepped out of the barn just as the helicopter was flying directly overhead.
We turned so we could face it and watched it fly over, Loverboy seemed
fairly nonplussed. As we make our way up the driveway to the arena, I notice
it has now landed across the street. There is the steady whir of the blades
and we can see them rotating as we walk up the drive. Well, Loverboy didn't
take kindly at all to the "alien" taking up residence across
the street. He stopped dead in his tracks and wouldn't move another foot...AWAY
from the barn, that is. He decided it was time to take cover. I decided
calm and easy was the approach, and started talking in a low voice. I slowly
eased him up the hill and as we turned away from the helicopter towards
the arena, I noticed him start to calm down. I started fussing over him
and telling him brave he is...and I can swear to you I saw him start to
walk with a little more swagger! He was very pleased with himself to say
the least.
We continued our work in the arena as the chopper continued to fly just
above our heads. Loverboy jigged around at first, not really knowing what
to make of the constant commotion. By the time the "alien" flew
over us the 3rd time, he was settled and stood quietly by the fence to
watch it go by.
Yet another small accomplishment for my guy and I am oh-so-proud!
Missy
Click here to read Stevie Loverboy's Success Stories.
training notes from elizabeth |
Our horses > training notes from elizabeth > March 12, 2008Our training notes often show schooling at the farm but may also include cross country schoolings and trail rides away from the farm. Go back through our notes to see how we train our off-the-track Thoroughbreds and prepare them for new careers as sport horses. Training Notes - De-Spooking with Helicopters
We had a great schooling opportunity, on March 12, 2008. The high school across the street had a Georgia National Guard Black Hawk helicopter fly in to give helicopter rides to the students. The helicopter kept landing and taking off across the street just a few hundred yards from our front pastures where six off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) horses grazed without raising their heads. With each flight, the helicopter hovered over the pastures before taking a circular tour which concluded by flying just a few hundred feet above our arena where Bounced and Stevie Loverboy were being ridden. Neither horse was the least bit concerned with the helicopter flying so low we could see the faces of the students receiving their ride. Much of this I attribute to the fact that they are ex-race horses. Thoroughbreds at the track are exposed to all kinds of noises, vehicles, loose horses and all kinds of things happening around them. OTTBs are less spooky than home bred horses. Horses that never raced seem to "look" at things more closely and are ready to bolt if it moves. Ground work is important!Ground work teaches the horses to trust their handler or rider. We start all our horses using natural horsemanship techniques. The horse needs to learn to trust and respect you on the ground first. This works to your advantage when riding him later. Our unraced horse, Flame Boyant, is a good example of the results of natural horsemanship. "Flame" would tend to "look" at things, so we did some de-spook training with him recently. His handler taught him not to react to the big lunge whip no matter where it was placed on his body or even if if it was snapped beside him. Next, was teaching him to face his fears using a big blue plastic tarp.
The day was windy and the tarp kept rolling around the arena. Because "Flame" had been worked using natural horsemanship techniques, he trusted his handler and only spooked the first time over the tarp. After that he calmly trotted over the tarp without a second thought. After doing the ground training in the arena, we took "Flame" to the little creek that he had been afraid to cross for several months. He had been stubborn about even walking near the creek. He would remain calm but he would plant his feet and not move anywhere near the creek in the past. Now he was cautious but he quietly followed his handler and walked over the creek. He can now be ridden across the creek without hesitation. It just took a little time to do the ground work and teach him that he needs to obey and that his "person" is not going to put him in a dangerous situation. The horse just needs to learn that you are his leader and he can trust you.
There are many well known natural horsemen who do clinics and have books and videos available that can teach you in detail what I have briefly described here. Take the time to learn how to become the leader and your horse will calmly follow your lead without question - even when helicopters fly overhead and tarp roll underfoot!
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