Mocha - Flexing & Partial Mount up

After the

'Getting Acquainted'

or Round Penning

Mocha's first session was round penning where I spent a fair bit of time accessing her temperament and willingness to learn (or trainability). I wanted to see if she has been round penned before. She was very responsive and willing.

I'm accessing her to see what kind of horse she is and what type of person would suit her. And what events she might excel in.

Next Session Comes Flexing

As you can see from the 1st photo, I was flexing Mocha from the ground. She has not had that done before but she was a quick study. (For info on the different types of flexing see article here.)

And then Comes Partial Mount Up

Once Mocha is familiar with flexing from the ground from both sides, and will flex & stand still on the ground, I then proceeded to do the Partial Mount Up exercise. (See 2nd photo for a more detailed look at it. Note: I straightened her head for the photo but normally it will be bent towards me.)

I was amazed on how quickly and willing Mocha was to stand still while I partially mounted. She really is sweet. Since she had been ridden before, there was no reaction when I put my foot into the stirrup and lifted myself up and balanced myself on the stirrup. (For partial mount up info, see here.)

Right Side Mount Up

I was also pleased that she stood quite well when I partially mounted from the right side. A lot of horses are not taught to mount/dismount on the right side. I don't know Mocha's background on this but she was quite happy to do so.

Completing the Mount Up

Since everything was going so well.... I completed the mount up. She just stood there so I gave her lots of praise. It was a great session!

I did a bit of flexing on both sides.... dismounted.... and called it a day!

I really enjoyed that! What a sweet horse.

Stay tuned next article when I talk about more flexing from the saddle and upward and downward transitions.

Questions and comments are always welcome.

Enjoy the summer! I know I will be! :)

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

Like Mocha With Your Coffee?

Introducing Mocha. My new subject.

I'd like to introduce to this website the 2 yr. old filly that I have for sale. I bought Mocha at a sale 2 weeks ago and I plan to train her and resell her. Her info is here.

If readers have been following my website, they know that I was putting some tune up training on a horse named Trigger last winter. I'd like to continue along that similar idea and write about Mocha as she progresses through her basic or foundation training or until she is sold.

Basic Training by Another Name is Foundation Training

All basic, foundation, & tune up training starts with the same body control exercises to put the solid beginning training on a horse. So the horse is light, responsive, and respectful. You as the rider are able to move or cue any of the horse's body parts around as you need to. Move around trees and obstacles, move beside your mailbox to get mail :0, open a gate from horseback, check cows, perform exquisite maneuvers for the sheer joy of it..... any wonderful things to do on horseback!

Trigger was getting a tune up or refresher of the basic training where as Mocha will get the basic or foundation training right from the start. This is the best time to put the foundation training on a horse. It gives the horse a great start in their riding career. If problems arise later, you can always go back to the basics.

You can always later on go back and put the foundation training on the horse, it just takes more time. The horse has to unlearn the wrong skills and learn the new skills.

Mocha's Background
Mocha was just started under saddle when I got her. I was told that she had about 20 rides. I know of the lady who I bought Mocha from and believe that they are gentle people when they start horses. (But as everyone knows, you have to be careful when you buy horses at auctions).

Please follow along with me as I take you through Mocha's journey of the foundation training after the initial start.

Hope you enjoy it!

If you have questions on training, please contact me.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

MisTreatment

I was introducing Mocha to the cross ties the other day as I wasn't sure if she had been on cross ties before. (I had just bought Mocha at a sale the weekend before.) I wanted to make it is a really pleasant experience as I've heard horror stories about horses freaking out on cross ties.

Training is all about making a pleasant, positive experience.

So.... further to that..... Everytime I asked her for something and she responded really well.... I gave her a handful of alfalfa pellets (or a treat... in other words). I normally don't just hand out a treat for ANY time they respond well. That's what I would call mistreatment.

It's for a special effort on the horses's part (especially when's it's new). Or the horse will come to expect it for any effort on their part.

I want to build 'try' in the horse.

Happy Summer!

If you want help with any training issues, please contact me.

Questions and comments are always welcome.

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

SOLD! Cross Bar Lil Judy

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2007, 3 Yr Old Cross Bar Filly -
- 'CROSS BAR LIL JUDY' a.k.a. 'Mocha'

(Update photos June 19/09)

- Gorgeous Bay, 14.1H, Great size for youth or small adults (like me! :)

- star, no other markings

- big, big kind eyes, very sensible

- very athletic, will make great cow or reining horse

- Registered AQHA

- Peppy San Badger X Sugar Bars breeding from a working ranch in Saskatchewan!

- See http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/cross+bar+lil+judy for pedigree.

- well started under saddle

- Update: exposed to cattle and team penning practice

- will continue to put my Body Control Foundation Reining training until sold

Thanks.

Putting my spin on selling horses.

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

SOLD! Grulla Horse For Sale

Congratulations to Rose Huxted of Havencrest Farm on the purchase of this nice filly!

2008, 2 Yr. Old Lazy Lou Filly , 'Pepsi' - - 'LL MISS PEP SAN'
- Gorgeous Grullo!!! 15H!
- Registered AQHA, ranch bloodlines from Manitoba!

©Copyright KISS Reiners

Thanks.

Putting my spin on providing nicely trained horses for people to enjoy.
Reinersue

Trailer Loading Again and Again

Practising for Trailer Loading
I had someone on my email list for this blog, ask me about getting a horse to load after the horse refused for an hour to get on. This neighbour eventually had to give up as they were headed to a show and couldn't wait any longer. (The horse had been loading onto a trailer fine last year but, for some reason, didn't want to load on the trailer that day.)

I suggested that she practise some trust exercises because the horse did not trust the person loading the horse onto the trailer. The horse was rearing and bucking in the end.
There is some reason for the refusal. It wasn't a small enclosed trailer. The horse knows how to load. Something was peculiar to the horse that day. The horse did not feel that it's handler was trustworthy enough to get on the trailer despite being leery.

What Kind of Trust Exercises?....

Groundwork. It's all about groundwork. (Anyone reading my column would know that I'm a big advocate of groundwork).

We emailed back and forth, where I suggested that she work on desensitizing to scary objects and then ask the horse to work. Lateral flexion is a great exercise! :) (Can't do enough of it.... well... almost.....:)

The difference with working on 'scary' objects and practising for trailer loading is that we need to make them work next to or in the 'scary' object. That's the key. Us women tend to be 'nicey nicey' and say "come on Penny.... it's ok.... it's not so scary.... you can do it' and baby them around scary objects. (Not all women....:) (We are the nurturing kind.... after all.... :)

Or we just lead them up to the trailer and when the horse isn't scared of trailers any more.... we lead them away.

But for trailer loading (eventually) we lead them up to a scary object, but when they aren't scared anymore we need to put them to work by loading the horse into the trailer.

Desensitize to Scary Objects and Then Work The Horse
So you need to add the 'work' part after introducing the horse to a scary object.

The horse HAS to learn to WORK in all situations. Including trailer loading.

The horse HAS to understand that they will be made to work even in less than 'comfy' surroundings and it's ok. The horse can trust you.

The Results
Soon... after some groundwork trust exercises where the horse is introduced to scary objects and then worked or flexed on/in/near the object.... the horse will trust the handler and be willing to load onto a trailer in all circumstances.

A side benefit is that the horse has built up their confidence from all the exercises and 'doing good'.

Good luck in all your trailer loading!

If you need help with trailer loading... please contact me.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Trailer Loading Made Easy

Doesn't the title of this article sound like a contradictory in terms... well... at least... sometimes?

I've had quite a few customers lately needing help with getting their horse's to load onto a trailer.

I can relate. When I moved here to my new place, my 2 yearlings had not had much experience loading on a trailer at all. One hadn't been off the farm before.

I just wasn't able to spend any time with them on trailer loading. And of course, I needed them to load right away as we were moving.

Does this sound familiar? Not a good situation to put ourselves in. :(

And that's not like me at all!!! I normally have my weanlings loading on a trailer (and other things) quite well before they're a year old. (Much better situation to put ourselves in.)

Who wants to be wrestling with horses to get them loaded? NOT ME!!!

SO.... what did I do?

It's SO important to make sure those first trailer rides are pleasant so the horse associates a good time with trailer loading.

Buddy System

What I did was load them onto the trailer at the same time with one of my older, experienced mares; TO SHOW THEM HOW IT'S DONE!

The yearlings are used to following the older mares. And the older mares are quite happy to load onto a trailer. So I trailered an older mare and a yearling in the big trailer you see in the photo above. I made 2 trips and got my 4 horses moved.

For Next time, I would surely have my young horses loading nicely on their own. I knew that I would be able to get the yearlings loaded and moved by using the older mares. That's why I wasn't too concerned about it. I certainly won't make a habit of doing it this way. It was an unusual situation for me. I tried it this way and it worked. Lucky for me.

Normally, I would have my inexperienced horses loading WELL BEFORE it's time to actually trailer them anywhere. I don't recommend doing it the way I did but I trusted my older mares and they were willing to help!

The worse thing to do is put yourself in a situation where you HAVE to move horses and they don't want to load. Much better to have the horse loading WELL IN ADVANCE of when you need it.

Does anyone have an unusual SUCCESS story to share?

If you need help trailering or want to learn HOW TO GET YOUR HORSE TO LOAD EASILY, contact me EARLY (if you can :).

Questions and comments are always welcome.

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

A Measure of Success

Time goes by.

Life is busy, busy, busy.

I can hardly keep up with all the work to do at my new place. Just built the customer stalls 2 days ago.
Just about to put up my big outdoor riding arena.

I got this photo on the right yesterday from a very happy customer. (Photo courtesy Lisa Hopkins). Haley is doing quite well with her POA pony Bunny.

I started Bunny a few years ago and worked holding cattle at team pennings with her.

It's nice to see horses that I've started go on to be loved and enjoyed!

Doesnt' it make you think of your own successes...... humm..... :)

If you need help with your horse, please contact me.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners