Day I with OTT Standardbred

As I mentioned yesterday, we are very excited to have a new Standardbred project here at the farm. For the next few months, you'll be hearing all about Without Fail (barn name, "Sweetie"), who we hope will live up to both her monikers. As she learns new lessons as a saddle horse, it is our hope that she will mature mentally--and also learn some valuable training lessons that will allow her to live up to her full potential as a racing trotter.


So let me tell you about Day One with Sweetie. I have to admit to some pre-conveived notions about the type of horse she would be. Owner Stephen Chambers explained a few of Sweetie's issues: "She's fast. Very fast. And smart. When you introduce something new to her, she takes it on like a champ the first day. Then, on the second day, she can have a take-no-prisoners attitude."

Stephen added, "It's sort of like she's thinking, 'Oh, no you don't. And if you do, I'm going down and you--and everyone else within 30 feet--is going with me.' "

Um. Okay.

My shoer said, "Now why in the hell do you want to be involved with that?"

Part of me kind of had to agree with her.  I have a fair amount of back, knee, and hip problems that testify to the many years I've devoted to re-schooling and competing off-the-track thoroughbreds. I thought maybe I'd gained some of the wisdom that perportedly comes with age. The kind that says, "Do you really need to do this kind of thing? Can't you just be happy on a nice, well-trained, possibly older horse?"

Alas, I fear not. I like a challenge. Challenges keep life interesting. Or so I keep telling myself.

So Best Husband in the World and I agreed to work with Sweetie.

Funny thing is that I'd worked myself into a mental image of Sweetie that involved a lot of dust, bucking, hooves flying...you get the picture. So when she got off the trailer, I was pleasingly surprised by her demeanor. This pretty little bay had her fine head in the air and was whinnying and blowing. But she was basically calm.

We gave her the guided tour. She got to meet her new roommates, Skye and Scarlett...

Skye (left) meets Sweetie

She got to explore her new housing situation...

And then it was time for work...

Many people (myself included) like to let an off-the-track horse relax for few days before starting any kind of training. Best Husband in the World thinks it's fun to skip the down time and get right to work.

We put Sweetie in the round pen. She immediately displayed a ground-covering stride with a lot of action both in front and behind. She couldn't figure out how to trot on the right rein. She couldn't figure out how to stop whinnying. She worked hard to perfect the art of trotting while eating the stubs of grass on the other side of the fence. She preferred to change directions butt-out rather than the safer (for the trainer) head-in method. In other words, she knew nothing.

After a few minutes of work at liberty, Sweetie had her first lesson at flexing.

Flexing is probably my favorite exercise, in both the rope halter and the bridle, on the ground as well as in the saddle. The art of turing your horse's head to its belly with the lead line or rein--and quickly releaing all pressure when the horse "gives"--is a masterful way to teach your horse to release to you. For a defiant horse especially, it is a brilliant training tool.  (I have written several times of the art of flexing, so check my archives for detailed information.)

Many horses spend of lot of time spinning when first introduced to flexing. Sweetie was no exception. It was a great little workout for me. And at last, she stopped moving her feet, touched her belly with her nose, and received the reward of release. We did this many more times until she understood that if she quickly touched her belly, the lead line went slack, and she got rubbed all over.

Then we got to start all over on the other side.

After a lot of flexing, it was time for the next big step: putting on the saddle. You know all those old Western movies, where the horse stands quietly when saddled--and then launches into the air in an all-out assault on saddlery?

That did not happen here. In fact, with any of our Standardbred, saddling has always been an calm, no-fuss kind of event. Sweetie was no exception. She was somewhat nervous, but basically respectful.  She kept her four dainty feet on the ground where we like them.  BHITW sent her out to the rail and, with the exception of one big buck, she acted like she'd done it all before.

This, of course, meant is was time for the next big step--mounting up.

BHITW has a little bit of this cowboy thing going on. So he's always been the one to put his foot in the stirrup first with any horse new to riding. The macho part of me was thinking, "No, wait. I want to do it myself." The achy parts of me said, "Ya know, we're good for now. Let him do it if."

No need to worry. After a little more groundwork, a lot of saddle slapping and jumping up and down against Sweetie, BHITW swung his leg up and over. Sweetie...was great!

We finished her first day of work with a short trail ride around the property. Sweetie once again left me thinking, "These Standardbreds are amazing!"



Training the Off the Track Horse (to go back on the track)

I am super excited to announce to all the loyal ALL ABOUT STANDARDBREDS followers--all two of you--that we have a new project. And therefore, a whole new set of events and issues to blog about. Hurrah!


The new project is trotter Without Fail, known around the barn as "Sweetie." Sweetie is an extremely pretty four-year-old mare that apprarently can trot around the harness racing track like crazy.

Unfortunately, the operative word in that sentence is not "trot," but rather "crazy." There is a bit of thoroughbred running through the veins of all Standardbreds. In Sweetie's case, that thoroughbred component might be rearing up over the gentler, more common sensical aspects that make Standardbreds such amazing horses.

Four-year-old Standbred Trotter Without Fail (barn name Sweetie)



In an effort to help Sweetie's, ahem, sweeter nature to come out, owner Stephen Chambers came up with an intriguing idea: why not give Sweetie a different job to do for a while, so that she can mature, but continue in her training?

Why not teach her to be a riding horse? And then, after a few month of that, bring her back to track to see how she does?

Which is how Sweetie came to us.

Over the next several months, I'll be chronicling Sweetie's training and progress as a dressage, Western, and trail horse. I'm really excited to see how life under saddle might translate to more success at the track.

So stay tuned for more on Without Fail, our little sweetheart of a trotter.

"STABLE SCOOP" RADIO SHOW NAMES SHAKE n FORK BEST GIFT OF 2011

For the horse person who has everything, I have the ultimate gift recommendation. The Shake N Fork, a light-weight, durable, motorized pitch fork that saves you money on bedding AND gets you out of the stall faster. And if you're through with cleaning faster, that means you're in the saddle sooner!

I absolutely love this crazy invention and now, it turns out I'm not alone. Glenn the Geek from the popular radio show "The Stable Scoop" recently named the Shake N Fork his top gift for horse husbands for 2011!

When Best Husband in the World and I first bought our Shake N Fork at the annual Horse Expo in Sacramento, everywhere we walked that day, people laughed. I'm talking little giggles hidden behind a hand, chuckles, guffaws, and outright belly laughs. It actually started to be kind of fun.

Well, it turns out b we got the last laugh. Meticulous barn keeper Best Husband has seen his share of of broken rake handles and snapped pitch fork tines in his day. And he says, without a doubt, the Shake N Fork is the best pitchfork he's ever owned. It has cut cleaning time in half, and helped take wear and tear off his back.

Even better, this pitch fork easily earned us back its purchase price of $200 because it so thoroughly and quickly sifts clean bedding from soiled. That means the good bedding stays in the stall where it belongs. Which means I'm not constantly putting in new bedding. Which saves us money.

In addition, the tines of the fork are long-lasting and--get ready--they are GUARANTEED NOT TO BREAK (Okay, if you've had the fork for three years and you clean thirty stalls a day, that fork is going to be worn down. So we're not talking a guarantee that last you into your Golden Years.).

Considering how many cheap pitch forks we go used to through each year, the Shake N Fork has been a revelation.

Check out of YouTube video of the amazing Shake N Fork!

Who will love this fork:
--people who have arthritis, back injuries, shoulder injuries, or other physical constraints that make manual manure sifting painful
--people who use small sawdust bits and/or pine pellets for bedding
--people who appreciate a lot of value for their hard-earned buck (this thing will last forever!)
--people with a lot of stalls to clean (nationally recognized trainers with large barns swear by the Shake N Fork!)
--people who would rather spend their time riding instead of cleaning!

People who won't like it include:
--users of straw bedding
--those who view stall cleaning as a zen experience and a chance to bond with their horse
--people who view stall cleaning as part of their workout routine
--people who think $200 is just too much for a pitchfork, regardless of its durability, time-saving qualities, or the fact that you will use less bedding
--people who are grumpy to begin with and who talk with great longing about "the good old days."

Okay, I'll admit it: when I tell people about the cost, they do, admittedly, choke a bit.

Then they use it. And fall in love. And I tell them how cost effective it is, how long it will last, how much cleaner their stalls will be, how much more time they will have for riding. And like me, they fall in love.

For more info on the Shake N Fork, its incredibly durable, non-motorized little sister, and other innovative products from Equi-Tee, click here.

Radio for the Horse Lover

If you are trolling around the Internet, looking for entertaining ways to expand your equestrian horizons, make sure you check out the new--and free!!!!--radio show HORSES IN THE MORNING.

HORSES IN THE MORNING comes to you Monday - Friday, from 9 to 10:30 AM EST. Hosted by "America's Horse Husband," Glenn Hebert, along with his two lively co-hots, Helena and Jamie, the podcast comes to you courtesy of the great folks behind HORSE RADIO NETWORK.

At HORSES IN THE MORNING, there's a little bit of something for every horse lover, regardless of your discipline. Recent episodes have showcased Fairland Ferguson, one of the stars of "Cavalia," along with recommendations on the best Christmas gifts for the equestrian.

(PHOTO ABOVE: FAIRLAND FERGUSON OF THE INTERNATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED EQUESTRIAN EXTRAVAGANZA, "CAVALIA" IS FEATURED ON "HORSES IN THE MORNING.")

Other recent episodes have provided lively discussions on equine art (both painting and photography), training techniques, safety, and the eternal quest on how to properly train your horse husband.

The show's 2011 schedule is sure to be pumped full of more great equine info, delivered with lively debate and good humor.

You can even become a part of the HORSES IN THE MORNING crew by calling in with your questions or comments. The call- in number, also featured prominently on the HORSES IN THE MORNING player window, is 347-637-3238.




You can even listen to HORSES IN THE MORNING on your way to work, to the barn, or even while you're putting some elbow grease into your horse's winter coat by downloading them to your iPod or MP3 player. The link to do so is also conveniently located on their site.

Don't miss out on HORSES IN THE MORNING, your five-day-a-week link to what's new and exciting in your favorite world, that of the horse!

Alternative therapies for the horse's aching back

People use non-traditional alternatives to Western medicine all the time: there's massage, chiropractic work, acupressure, acupuncture, and, for the really adventurous, even magnets. As a devotee of acupuncture, who has used this ancient Eastern art to ease back pain as well as severe tendonitis in my knees, I know the benefits of thinking out side the box.

So when our new horse, Scarlett, started showing signs that her "cinchiness" was turning into full-blown attitude, along the lines of I'm-going-to-eat-you-if-you-put-that-saddle-on-my-back, I knew I was dealing with something more than a horse that didn't like the girth tightened.

But when I started thinking about alternative equine measures to help her, I had no idea in which direction I should head. Should I go for chiropractic? Or would massage be better? What was the general opinion about the effectiveness of equine acupuncture? And how do you know which practitioners truly produce results?

Add to all those questions the fact that, with kids in college, I didn't want to fork over an endless stream of cash to make my horse better.

So I did the smart thing: 1) I went to Bay Area Equestrian Network, the fabulous horse resource for Northern California, where I live. There I researched names under alternative therapies. 2) I called my vet to see if they had ever heard of someone I found right in my own backyard.

"Yes," said my vet. "April Battles is the real deal."

So, by God's good graces, I had found April Battles, an equine body worker who combines the best of all worlds--a little chiropractic theory, a little acupressure theory, a little qi (pronounced "chi") theory, a little massage theory, and a lot of intuivtive spirit.

Best of all, during my initial phone conversation with April, she didn't tell me it was going to cost an armload of money to make Scarlett feel better.

"I charge $80 for an hour," explained April, who has helped horses across the nation and in Canada. "And when I leave, you're going to know how to do what I do so you can continue the work and continue helping your horse heal."

Say what? She wasn't going to tell me that she was the only one who could work on Scarlett? It wasn't going to cost me my first-born's college tuition?

In the time between our phone call and our actual appointment, April asked me to go to her YouTube channel, Holistic Horse Works. There, she has a video showing her evaluating a horse. This allowed me to see how she works.

Even better, she has posted there--FOR FREE--a short video demonstrating moves you can do with your horse to improve mobility, flexibility, balance, and overall comfort.

This "Yoga for Horses" video is just a few minutes long. And it has truly changed Scarlett's outlook on life.

It has now been exactly one week since April Battles first brought her equine body work methods to my little mare. In one week, the changes in Scarlett have been numerous and, wuite frankly, amazing.

--Before April's visit, Scarlett could never stand with all four feet square (an indication, April says, that the horse is out of alignment and probably is in pain, or at least discomfort).

Now Scarlett stands square almost all the time, on her on and when I'm on her.

--Before, saddling meant a glaring contest in which Scarlett stared at me with ears laid flat, waiting for an opportunity to bite me. Her tail would switch back and forth, and the back leg would threaten to kick out. It was truly scary and made me seriously consider selling her for any price. Fifty cents anyone?

Now, I put the saddle on and it is 180 degrees from what I was dealing with before. No tail switching, no threat of biting, no threat of getting kicked. As far as cinching her up, she doesn't even notice. I will admit that she is still a little touchy about taking the saddle off, but this just tells me I have more work to do. but the progress is amazing.

--Before April (and this is the most telling sign that something physical was up with the little mare), Scarlett could not take the left lead. For anything.

Now, left lead is taken easily and cheerfully so! An added bonus is that her overall canter feels much smoother and more balanced.

--Before April, Scarlett's coat was dull and very thick, a fact I attributed to winter. Yesterday, I was astounded to notice that Scarlett's coat has a gleam to it, so much so that she looked like she was basking in the warmth of June, rather than the chilly winds of November. Obviously, what is happening with her in terms of the muculoskeletal aspects is affecting not just her insides, but also her outsides. It's just so evident.

I am now using daily yoga on all four of our horses. I am a firm convert. What I love most is that April (unlike the chiropractor who recently worked on me) did not tell me I had to have her back right away. She didn't tell me I had to have Scarlett seen four times in four days. Quite the opposite, she left me feeling like I could do all this for my horse on my own.

If you want to give a great Christmas gift to the horse person in your life (or the horse) I am recommending everyone buy April's one-hour DVD, "Your Horses are Talking--Are You Listening?"

This DVD shows you how to work on your horse yourself, using simple exercises and Myofascial releases. Click here to order the DVD now.

I am here to tell you, it works!

It's what will be in the stockings of all our Standardbreds this Christmas. And Quarter Horses. And Arabs. And Half-Arabs. And Thoroughbreds. And...

Yoga for your horse

14-year-old Little Scarlett, who is a perfect candidate for alternative spinal therapies such as equine yoga, massage, acupuncture, acupressure, or chiropractic care.






We recently acquired a darling little 14-year-old mare with four, flashy white socks--and a bad attitude. Every time I even walk toward this horse with a saddle, her ears go back. Putting the saddle on, getting OFF her back, and then taking the saddle off are all exercises in risk.



After eliminating the possibility of poor saddle fit, I began probing deeper. In the interest of doing the best by my four-legged friends, I have finally decided to take the same approach I take with my own body. And that means alternative therpy options.



The good news for me is that I found a nationally known holistic horse therapist right in my own back yard. I will let you all know how that appointment goes (it's tomorrow!). But until that time, here is a great YouTube video, created by equine therapist April Battles.



This comes to you FREE courtesy of the YouTube Channel of Holistic Horse Works, located in Greenwood, CA.



If you have been considering equine chiropractic, equine acupuncture or acupressure, equine massage, or some other form of equine alternative therapy--or if you simply want your horse to be as comfortable as possible--please take the time to click here and catch this great little video, giving you a sage addition to your pre-riding program.



Also, check out more about holistic horse practitioner, April Battles, at her website, Holistic Horse Works. There you will find a lot more information about alternative equine therapies, as well as the latest info on how to keep your horse's spine healthy--and your horse happy.

My Standardbred leans on my hands: using the one-rein stop to soften

I love my readers! They ask really great questions, usually ones that every other Standardbred owner can relate to.

This week's letter comes from Shari in Spokane:

"I've seen your posts about flexing, and that has really helped my 8-year-old Standardbred gelding soften up a lot. However, when he starts trotting, he can really pull on my hands. It feels like he's leaning on my hands when I ask him to slow down or go from the trot to the walk. I don't want to put a stronger bit on him. I want him to listen to me in the snaffle. Can you give me any suggestions?"

Thanks, Shari, for the question. And the smartest thing you said is that you don't want to put a stronger bit on him. You are right. It will solve your problem to some extent. But at the bottom of it all is the fact that your horse is not soft to the bit. A stronger bit will not lighten him up. It will only strong-arm him into slowing down. We want to use a different strategy.

You also said, "it feels like he's leaning on my hands." He is--and you will never win. At least not if you are trying to stop him using both reins. Now, for the more advanced horse, there is something called the half-halt, which I've used in both dressage and in the hunter ring to lighten a horse, as well as help him collect and balance himself. This is a two-handed move, but it is exectued with the speed of a lightening strike. Not with the power, however. More on that in another post...

Shari rides Western and also has a green horse. She needs to focus on basics.

Why two reins create problems When a rider asks a horse to slow or transition down by pulling on both reins at the same time, the horse can often feel trapped, and old instincts will kick in. Your horse's neck and head were originally designed to be able to resist the weight of moutain lion or other predator. When you pull back with both reins, his natural reaction is to say, "Oh no, you don't." And he will stick his nose out, lean on you, and do whatever else he can to resist you.

It's a battle you will never win, simply by virture of the fact that his conformation makes him so very much stronger than you.

A quick fix is the one-rein stop. But first you should work on getting your horse to be light on the ground. To learn about flexing on the ground, please click here.

Once you have learned to flex your horse from the ground, you are ready to move on to flexing in the saddle. Using a plain snaffle that fits correctly, here is the basic idea: while your horse is standing still and you are mounted up, shorten the right rein and bring it to your right pocket (make sure the left rein is loose so your horse can easily turn his head to the right).

When your horse softens to the point where his nose is on your boot, release the rein and reward him by stroking his neck and offering verbal praise. Of course, his greatest reward is that you have let go of the rein. The pressure comes off (and the reward comes out) when he does what you asked.

Now do the same thing on the left. Shorten the left rein, draw you hand to your pcket. When your horse's nose is on your boot, release the rein.

When you are first teaching this, stay with one rein at a time, putting in three or four nose-to-boot efforts on the right before switching to the other rein. As you progress, you can ask your horse to flex from side to side, one nose-to-boot effort at a time.

I do this exercise over and over and over and over. And I do it every time I get on, no matter how schooled the horse is. It warms up the neck muscles, helps your horse maintain suppleness, AND it keeps him light to your hand.

HELPFUL HINT: If, when you start this exercise, you horse tries to get out of the work by turning in a small circle, just hold onto the rein until he stops moving his feet. He will, eventually, stop moving his feet. I promise.) As soon as he puts his nose to your boot while standing quietly, release the rein.

The One-Rein Stop
The one-rein stop is actually very easy to do and is similar to what you did in the flexing exercise. Let's imagine you ask your horse to trot or canter. Although you are looking for a nice, controled rhythm, your horse has decided what you really mean is, "Go as fast as you can."

The instant that you feel him starting to speed up and lean on your hands, immeidately shut him down by pulling back on the outside rein. If you are on the trail, use either rein, but NEVER both together. By pulling only on one rein, he has nothng to fight against. He will not want to continue moving forward and will quickly learn to stop and submit to your hand.

If you have a horse with a long-standing habit of running away with you or pulling against your reins, this may take a week or more of very consistent work, at least 30 minutes a day. But what will happen is that your horse will quickly learn: "Every time I start to go really fast, she stops me. Every time I stick my nose out and try to lean on the reins, she uses that one rein and stops me. And since she's doing it with one rein, I might end up with my nose looking at my tail. Boy, it's hard to run off when I'm in that position. So maybe I'll just stop. It seems easier to just go slow."

When you first start practicing this, you might find that your horse turns in the direction of the one rein you hve used to stop him. Don't get too upset about this, even if it means you end up facing the opposite direction. Keep your leg on the girth, on the same side as the rein you are using, to encourage your horse to move forward. But straightness can come later. If he turns, just quietly turn him back in the direction you want to go. After you've gotten your horse to lighten up, you can work on straightness. Stop first, straightness later.

My husband had a wonderful Quarter Horse mare he used for search and rescue. When she came to us, Lady's mouth was so locked up, riding her was like dealing with a ton of rocks. She could pull against her rider like nobody's business. You could never, ever take your hands off the reins or she was off like a rocket ship. The one-rein stop changed this mare's life (and ours, because our arms didn't ache anymore!). I hope it will help you, too.

Be patient, make lightness you only mission for the next couple weeks, and see if this helps.