Posts Tagged ‘trick pony
Will a fat pony resist lush grass?
So after a mini-vacation for Minnow and myself after our trip to Chincoteague I finally got a chance to do some trick training yesterday. We basically took the whole month of August off (aside from our mounted games competition in NJ) and it was high time I got back to some training.
On Saturday Minnow and I will be attending the Ludwigs Corner Horse Show as part of the entertainment on Family Day. We’ll have a small fenced in coral near the booths and tents to perform in – with a 1pm and 3:30pm show. The key is that this coral will be placed on a bed of lush grass. Very tempting for a fat pony that spends most of his day with a muzzle on due to his arthritis and inability to be exercised.
So in order to not embarrass myself I decided it was probably best if I practiced performing with Minnow on grass. And what better place than the pasture that Minnow is turned out in! So I lugged all of Minnow’s equipment out to the pasture and set up my camera (of course I thought of all of you who read my blog – how kind of me to make a video for you!)
First I will let you watch the video, then I’ll explain further:
As you can see Minnow stayed with me the entire time. Even though his trick pony partner, Boomerang, is in the background grazing. I think Minnow displayed great self control, and demonstrated just how clicker training can help create a language and a bond between horse and trainer. I can guarantee you that if I was training Minnow with force or pressure (as many trainers do) he would definitely not stay with me. Clicker Training has created a positive experience for Minnow, and even though I know he’d much rather eat grass and not have to work at all, he has chosen that being with me and working for a reward is something that he would like to do. Did I mention I love this pony?
Tomorrow I will share with a video of a new trick that I taught Minnow yesterday. Its quite different in that this time I have decided to work with two animals at once. You’ll just have to check the blog tomorrow in order to see the debut of this amazing new trick!
-KD
http://www.ponypaintings.com
The Bronco takes to the Open Land
The Dachshund and I are exhausted after a long day
So my weekend was filled with heavy lifting due to moving all of my personal belongings into my new house. Lets hope I never have to do that again. I can’t name a muscle that isn’t sore right now. And while we are officially moved into our first home – we’re still sleeping on a mattress on the floor and living out of boxes in the basement. Hopefully this is only temporary as we plan to finish our hardwood floors in the next 2 weeks. The dachshund is utterly thrilled that we are sleeping on his level. He has been using our mattress as a wrestling ring with my parent’s dog, Trooper.
And while things are finally starting to settle down in regards to home life – I was actually able to get my first ride in over a week on Boomerang. On Monday my plan was to go on a nice quiet trail ride with Boomer while my mom rode Blitz. Now Blitz has turned into an exception trail horse (we all fight over who gets to ride him). He goes the pace you want, doesn’t try to grab grass, and is relatively non-spooky. Thanks to clicker training him to “touch the goblins”. Boomer on the other hand isn’t the dream trail horse. At 6 years old I think he still has a lot of growing up and maturing to do, I’ve been told that Chincoteague Ponies actually mature later than most horses. I’m hoping this is the case for Boomer anyway.
I’ve never been big on trail riding – mostly because I love to “fine tune” my skills in the ring. My mom loves to – so I mostly go for her sake and for my horses mind. They can’t be expected to do ring work all of the time. So that being said – lately Boomer has been making me despise it even more. When trail riding him, I admit he tends to push my buttons – my normal calm level headed personality gets pushed to the breaking point a bit. Let me explain.
Boomer the bronco
Usually our trail rides start off with a bit of stop and go. Boomer puts on the breaks and refuses to move his feet. He doesn’t call back to the barn or act frantic about leaving home – he’s very calm about the whole thing. He just doesn’t want to do it. So we have a little battle – me asking him to go forward, him refusing (until we get the clicker dialogue going). Finally I get him moving and now he takes off in little spurts. He’ll be walking – then pow- we’re at a gallop and I can’t stop. He does a lot of tossing his head into my lap to evade the bitless bridle as I try to muscle him to a stop (mostly because my whoas and seat position have no effect on him when he’s like this). I finally get him settled and working on a pace I want. When he’s going along at a clam and relaxed walk I click and reward him. Now he starts trying to grab grass. He makes me feel like a little kid sometimes. My stubborn pony darts for grass while I try as hard as I can to pull his head up and keep him moving. And I’m telling you if he gets his head down – no amount of my muscle can get his head back up. I’m tempted to start using grass reins until I can nix this behavior. So now I’m riding with the reins braced in my hands – ready for the moment he tries to make a go for the grass again.
Don't let the innocent face fool you!
Once Boomer realizes his grass attempts are futile – then the bucking starts. Its usually only brought on when we start to move. And I don’t think they are angry bucks, I think they are yippee this is fun bucks. But either way a buck is a buck – and its unwelcome. Now Boomer doesn’t have an ordinary buck. Blitz has an ordinary buck, a little protest with the hop of his back feet – or a tiny jump for joy. No I wish Boomer had a buck like this. Instead I ride a bronco. Looking at him you would never guess that he could jump that high – even from a standstill. And the way he contorts his body – ow, it hurts me just thinking about it. I probably look like a rag doll bouncing around on his back. My mom’s jaw drops everytime she sees him do it.
Yesterday’s buck was exceptionally bad. Somehow Boomer managed to buck while we were crossing a big ditch. It was so powerful that he snapped my neck back (which cracked so loudly I think the neighbors could hear it). Needless to say I can barely turn my head today. I’m lucky he has NEVER (knock on wood) dumped me. I’m not really sure how or why he hasn’t – maybe its my long legs that can easily wrap around his sides. I think if he ever figured out he could dump me I’d be in really big trouble. Lets just hope that day never comes.
So by the end of this horrible trail ride I’m usually fuming (quietly to myself as I’m not one to show too much emotion). The trail rides are supposed to be relaxing and something enjoyable for both of us. Instead they end up being a battle of whits and skill. And I’m really not sure who is wining in the end – but I have a feeling its Boomer. Back at the barn I hose off and take care of my pony – making sure I mention to him that he is not getting rewarded for his bad behavior. After no treat he gets turned out to ponder why no jackpot at the end of the trail ride arrived. Or so I choose to believe….who knows if he understands why he’s not getting his special treat when we are done.
It seems to me as if the clicker and rewards are becoming no match for Boomer’s want for grass. I think all of the issues are revolving around him wanting to eat grass and being frustrated when I don’t allow him to. I’m thinking about trying to reward him with grass (from my pouch and not the ground). I’m not sure where to start with him and this trail riding business – but I do know that something needs to be done about it before I really lose my temper (something that rarely happens to me, especially when dealing with my animals). But we’re all human (or alive for that matter) and sometimes our emotions get the best of his. Boomer gets emotional about wanting grass – I get emotional when he wants that grass. Hopefully we can find a happy medium where neither one of us loses our temper.
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
Fan Mail
Chincoteague Minnow recieved his first fan mail letter today. I have to say it put a big smile on my face to know that people are really enjoying Minnow’s artwork.
I bought a picture your pony, Minnow, painted at the pony show on Tuesday, July 28th at the 8pm show! The painting is great! I ended up giving it to my nieces because I couldn’t buy them their own pony, so I got them the next best thing! (haha) They really love it!
It was then requested that I kindly sign a newspaper cliping of an article that Minnow and I had published in the Chincoteague, VA paper 2 weeks ago, and mail it back. Of course I was happy to ablige!
This simple little letter really has brightened my day, because I know that Minnow’s paintings are out there, scattered all over the country, putting smiles on people’s faces. I was asked in a newspaper interview last month, if Minnow were to leave behind a legacy, what would it be? I’d like to change my original answer now. I’d hope that Minnow’s legacy would be that he was able to touch each and every person that either owns one of his paintings or has seen Minnow paint/perform. I hope that he’s able to put the sparkle of a life-long love of horses and Chincoteague Ponies in a child’s eyes.
Big kisses to my Chincoteague Minnow today!
Trick Pony Friends
I’ve discussed most of the happenings at Pony Penning 2009, and as the week of re-caps is now coming to an end, I figured I’d go over the last few things about our trip to Chincoteague Island. Minnow attended the Pony Center shows as a guest Trick Pony, but did you know that the Chincoteague Pony Center is already home to another talented trick pony? Thats right, Teaguer, official mascot of the Chincoteague Pony Center, had to take a week long vacation from his tricks while Minnow was visiting. But, I was lucky enough to be able to watch his adorable skit, even if he didn’t perform it during the shows that week. Watch our special viewing below.
Talented Bowing foals at the Pony Center
Not only is the Chincoteague Pony Center a place to go to watch performances of what the amazing Chincoteague Pony breed can do, but its also a place to buy foals. Now these foals aren’t wild born like the Assateague Ponies, they are instead bred in captivity, many of which have parents that started off life on the island as a wild pony. There can be great benefits to buying a foal that has already been handled since birth – it can be a lot easier to train. Anyway, I was able to get some photos of some of the foals at the Center, many of which have already sold and will go to new homes as soon as they are able to be weaned from their moms.
Once of the foals, Calypso Blue, is actually a half brother to my own Boomerang and Blitz. All 3 ponies share the same father, Chesapeake Powhattan’s Promise. In getting to watch this foal, I can tell he’s related to my boys – he’s got the same quirky personality and facial expressions. This foal has already been sold, and I’m sure whoever bought him will be taking home a very special baby.
Calypso Blue, half brother to Boomer and Blitz
And finally, who can forget the imfamous Misty of Chincoteague. Thats right, I even got to visit with Misty (and her last foal, Stormy). The stuffed versions of them that is. Now I know a lot of people are thrilled that they can still visit with the horse that made the book “Misty of Chincoteague” so famous, but is it just me, or are they just totally creepy? I don’t know about you, but as much as I LOVE Minnow, I definitely don’t think I would ever want to have him stuffed and displayed in my living room. Talk about nightmares! But either way, Misty and Stormy are on display at the Beebe Ranch for all to see.
Stuffed Misty of Chincoteague
Stuffed Stormy
So thus completes my trip to Chincoteague with Minnow. We had a wonderful time, and we’re very hopeful to return next year for Pony Penning 2010.
For more photos from the week please visit www.greenhorsestudios.com
The Auction – Pony Penning 2009
So yesterday I talked about the Chincoteague Pony Swim which was part of Pony Penning 2009, but there is another element to this annual event. The Auction! For days before the swim people line the auction arena with chairs, many tied together with reserved seating signs in the hopes of gaining front row access to the event. Some come for the pure enjoyment to watch the ponies being paraded into the spotlight, while others have the agenda of buying a foal. I wish I was the latter of the two, but sadly it will be several years before I can afford to add another Chincoteague to my brood.
Nightmist Legend and Tommie Turvey
The auction begins early on Thursday morning with opening announcement and performances by local equine groups. This year the Beebe Ranch and NightMist Legend made an appearance. Nightmist Legend is the son to the late Nightmist who died earlier this year due to complications of colic. It is clamied that Nightmist was one of the last living direct decendents of Misty of Chincoteague. Nightmist Legend is owned by Mike Pryor of Pennsylvania and is now being trained by the famous Tommie Turvey as well as several other trainers. Tommie Turvey is known as the equine etremeist as he trains horses to perform tricks as well as roman riding, he even trains horses for movies (a local gypsy vanner farm in my area is having Tommie train their horses for an upcoming movie to be filmed next summer). I have been following Tommie’s training methods some this year, as I now own several of his dvds. I still prefer to clicker train my horses, but some of his techniques are useful to combine with my method of clicker training. I had the privledge of talking with Tommie at the Beebe Ranch during my trip and I even invited him to come to my performance at the Chincoteague Pony Centre, but sadly he didn’t seem able to make it. But anyway, below is a clip of Tommie working with Nightmist Legend at the Auction. I believe the horse has only been in training for a few months, so I’m sure with further training by Tommie he will be a master of tricks!
Next up to perform were my friends at the Chincoteague Pony Center, and the world famous Chincoteague Pony Drill Team. I have never seen them perform in person, and I thought it was great! Some of the patterns they did in their drill were really complex – gave me chills! Anyway you can watch for yourself below!
Now on to the main event! The Pony auction! It really is quite a show, a group of two men bring out a feisty wild foal and parade it around the ring for all to see while the auctioneer does his thing. Some they have to muscle as the foals rear up and buck, but most of the time the foal quickly subsides to being led around. Its very humane I think, much better than being roped or let to race around an arena at the risk of spectators and the foals. The excitement lasts for several hours until all foals are either purchased or bought as buy-back foals to be sent back to the island. The foals are then penned up for the night to rest until they either make long journeys to their new homes on friday or are sent back to the island with their herds. Many that are too young to leave their mothers are sent back to the island as fall pickups and will be ready for their new homes come October.
All of the auction fun makes me dream of the day that I can take home a foal. Yes, I do have 3 very wonderful Chincoteague Ponies at home, but I dream of the day that I can train a foal from the beginning. I just know we will create a very special bond together. Several lucky children this year had their dream of owning a foal come true with the help of the feather fund, an organization that chooses children each year that they will help to buy a foal. You can read all about them on their website.
more photos of the auction can be see at www.greenhorsestudios.com
