Join Us For A Sweet Soft Ride

 Howdy Friends!

Air so light it lifted leaves, spider webs, spirits and bird song. Kessy and I set out yesterday for day 9 of her (and my) restart. Her response to the past 3 weeks of ground work, release and relax exercises is amazing. Briefly I'd like to mention I'd been less than diligent about them for months before my cardiac adventure, and then of course the 4 months of my own rehab, while she looked just fine, she had regressed to a condition not of the best for her, or any horse. But these past 3 weeks have brought a wonderful transformation in her attitude, self awareness, and softness. I only share this because while it is true horses keep themselves in condition if allowed room to roam, have good nutrition and care, it is also true, we can, and I believe are obligated to, help them be even better.

Viewing the world from the best of all seats! Kessy is picking her way along the trail.

We had progressed to a 40 minute ride and enjoyed all her sweet gaits, and I noticed a new softness in her stride and response to cues. Softer even than before our hiatus. I've been mixing in a few exercises I had not been able to do with Kessy for some time because of my own health hiccups, and have become very excited at her responses. Each day she seems more nimble than the day before, and more thoughtful.

The sweet morning air had us gliding along listening to warbles and wrens; on Kessy's light-footedness we floated like bird song. There is a short trail we haven't visited since April that travels along a ravine loaded with wildflowers, birds and beauty. Having missed all the Spring flowers, butterflies and birds, I longed to see it this glorious morning. It was a bit farther, not by much, than I planned to take Kessy today, but the morning so sweet, Kessy so soft, I decided we would go.

We were not disappointed! The fall wildflowers were splendid, even a few butterflies sported their grace. Two busy turkeys ran the trail ahead of us. We paused to soak in the serenity of it all. Back up on the logging road Kessy slipped into her running walk. I could not resist cueing her left and right in a gentle sweeping slalom type course, just to enjoy her eagerness and response to the softest cue, and because it's another great exercise. She's always been great, but Saturday and yesterday I felt, even for her, a lighter, softer touch. I attribute it to the dedication to the exercises.

By my own restart schedule yesterday should have been a 45 minute ride, but our little excursion made it exactly an hour. We'll take today off ... except for the exercises.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Pt 4 Restarting, Conditioning, and Great Exercises For Your Horse"

Howdy Folks,

 

I started this series when, with glee, I announced 2 weeks ago on facebook I'd be riding again on September 1 (today and truthfully, I rode yesterday, so we could get these pictures). I'd been sidelined 4 months with my cardiac adventure, and I briefly described my routine for getting my mare, Kessy, back in shape after our time off. A few friends asked what I do to restart a horse, so I figured it might make an interesting series.

This is the final installment of that 4 part series about restarting an idle horse. The first 3 parts discussed and demonstrated ground work exercises to release, relax and help create proper body carriage, posture and self awareness. The focus of this series is restarting a horse after time off, but these exercises are excellent any time, and I recommend them for every horse care givers routine. Many of them I do every time before I ride. Always. I do not believe in lunging as warm up, rather I do these exercises.

First ride after 4 months off, Kessy and Saturday are lovin' it! Me too! She really is walking, she's just walkin' big!

Some folks say horses in big pastures or in track system Paddock Paradise type living don't need to be restarted. In my opinion that's wrong. They may not be as out of shape as a stalled or small lot kept horse, but they are not fit to ride any sort of time or distance. If we want to be fair, safe and healthy. Sure we may get away with just tossing on the saddle and heading out for an hour or two ride after a horse has been idle a few months, not only is it not fair, but the damage we do will eventually catch up with us. And our horse.

It's important for the health of your horse to get them back in shape for rides; a horse loses its cardio fitness in about 30 days, muscles about the same, and tendon, bone in about 90 days. I started Kessy's restart 2 weeks ago with the carrot stretches, and shared them on our Coffee Clutch blog. Then for the past 10 days I've done each of the exercises we've discussed in parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series once a day, exactly in the order I showed them. 

The entire routine takes Kessy and me 30 minutes now. The first days it took 40 minutes, for even though she has a Paddock Paradise, she was somewhat out of shape. I even found stiffness in her neck and hind legs, not really noticeable by just watching her, but by golly the exercises sure brought it to light. She improved quickly and by days 5 and 6 was close to back to her limber self, but even this morning she told me her hind legs were not yet perfect.

Imagine had I simply tossed on the saddle and went merrily along for an hour's ride, without the days of restart exercises, the stress it would have put on tight muscles and tendons. Sure she'd have done what I asked because she trusts me and is trained to, but she'd not have enjoyed it, and the discomfort would have chipped away at her trust and enthusiasm. I wonder how many horses are disciplined and sent for training, or sold, because their owners misunderstood their expressions of discomfort for bad behavior.

So now we're back in the in the saddle and I'm taking in the world from the best seat God ever gave us. But we're still getting back in shape. Yea me too, but I'm not the important one here. We start with 15 minute rides every day for about a week. Some folks say that's silly for a horse that was as fit as Kessy before the idle time. But it's not.

There is much that needs to happen in those first rides back. Think about all the areas the tack touches, the big muscles along the spine, the girth area, even the headstall, all are out of shape and need to come back. And every part of her needs to readjust to carrying weight, her back, legs, muscles, bones, heart, lungs, tendons and feet. And her vascular system. So 15 minutes a day for about a week, preferably on a trail so it's not in a ring always turning, is the first step.

Oh and I reckon I should mention here, I'm not a fan of lunging, for exercise, or any reason, so that's why it's not part of our routine. Don't like round pens either, but that's a subject for another day. And yes, I believe even show horses are better served on the trail than the ring. In fact I believe for every hour in the ring there should be 2 on the trail.

 As I said, our first rides this week will be 15 – 20 minutes over the same course I walked for my cardio rehab. The following week we'll add time, about 10 minutes every other day, and mix in a little terrain change, and begin to ask for a little gaiting, about 3 – 5 minutes a time. 

The week after that we'll add more distance, a little more gaiting and more terrain change. By mid-week 4 we should be comfortably up to an hour with 15 – 20 minutes of gaiting. It takes about 30 days to get a horse minimally fit … when I trained for CTC and Endurance I learned it takes 60 days for cardio, 90 – 120 for muscle and a year for bone and tendon to condition.

All along I'll continue the exercises, and by the end of the month I can fine tune the exercises to the top-line exercises, pretty neck, the one step and rock back, which I do every time before I ride. I do the leg and circle pulls and the rest every now and then. Cool down, I'll do the top-line again.

So there you have it, the way I like to restart, or simply maintain a horse. Of course there's a lot more, but I gotta go ride, and you've probably had all of me you can take. Kessy and I hope you enjoyed this little series, and will incorporate these great exercises into your daily routine.

End of our first ride on the restart, we wish you happy trails!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

You can read Pt 1 HERE

You can read Pt 2 HERE

You can read Pt 3 HERE

"Pt-2 Restarting, Conditioning, and Great Exercises For Your Horse"

Howdy Friends,

Yesterday we talked about the importance of restarting a horse after time off and learned about the Top-Line release and relax exercises, which I like to suggest become a part of every horse care givers routine. Today we'll have a look at exercises for the body and legs. It's important to note, always do these ground tied or in a stall so the horse is free to move. Have no hay or grass in your exercise area, you want them focused on you and their release. Do not discipline during exercises as that will short circuit any release. Be sure to watch for and allow sighs, licks and chews. Your horse may ask for a little walk to absorb these new feelings, walk them if they ask for a minute, then begin again.

After I do the Top-Line I move to the front legs with the Armpit Release. This exercise will begin to release the tension in the chest muscles, and helps with girthy horses, and begins the reconnection to their feet. Remember, do both sides.

Stand straddling her leg, in neutral your knees slightly bent, place your palms inside her leg and gently slide your hands up into her armpit keeping your palms against her leg. Keep gently pushing up allowing her to release the tension in her muscles and continue to move into the space opened by her release until you can go no farther, then release slowly. Note – Some horses are so tight they may try to bite, you made need to first get her used to your hands touching the inside of her leg, then in time move your hands into her armpit.

Next the Shoulder Delineation. This exercise will release the tension along the base of the neck, the withers, and forehand, and begin to correct the inversion muscles, and help maintain proper soft posture. Remember do both sides.

Immediately following Armpit Release, leaving one hand in armpit, with your other hand search for the crease in the center of the chest muscles on this leg, not the center of the chest, starting at the base. When you find the crease (in the beginning this could be hard to find, you may need to make it) gently dig your fingers in, and walk up the crease toward the neck. (You can see Kessy's crease, and you can also see the line from my fingers down to her arm pit where I started, go deep, but be gentle) Then bring your other hand up to help, and walk them both up, using fingers to dig the crease, between neck and shoulder. Continue up over and around the shoulder blade back down to her arm pit. In many spots you may not find a crease, many horses are so tight from poor posture, stress and even tack and riding, that it may take time to develop the looseness, but it will come. Remember to do both sides. Many times the horse will turn their head toward you in an attempt to release the crease, that's a good thing.

Next Pretty Neck, or Inversion Muscle Release. This exercise will release the tension in the neck muscles and bones and poll. It also begins to correct the inverted neck and tight chest muscles, and allows for free flowing movement and aids in getting horses off their forehand. (As you might guess, I'm very anti tie-down, and these exercises mentioned so far today will help eliminate the need for them.) Remember to do both sides.

Look at her chest just below the neck for the muscle we call the inversion muscle. It will appear as a vertical muscle just about where the neck meets the chest, some are easy to see, others not. Gently grasp the muscle as I do here, and squeeze from the BOTTOM up, like milking only backwards. Watch for her to arch her neck like Kessy is here. Some horses will back up, because they think you're asking that, or sometimes they are so tight and sore they can't arch their neck. I like to rest my other hand on their withers to give them support. Just walk with her and keep trying and in a few seconds, if your hand is at the correct place, and you're squeezing from the bottom, you'll see an attempt. Release quickly. But when she begins to master it hold a few seconds so she can get the big release. In time she will soften, and soften and give you beautiful neck stretch and release.

Next Withers Rock. This exercise releases the shoulders, neck and spine and aids in free flowing movement and balance.

Stand beside your horse both hands resting on the withers and gently wiggle, not moving the horse, just wiggling her withers. Then start over and ever so gently rock her back and forth about 5 times. We are not looking for big movement, just enough to see her shift her body but not her feet. Think a swaying motion, but less.

Next  Shoulder Circles. This exercise releases tension in the shoulders, chest, neck and withers, and creates soft fluid strides and increases body awareness, balance and posture.

Hold her leg about at the knee and fetlock (my left hand should be nearer her or on her knee) and do about 5 small gentle circles left and right. Allow no movement in the knee as this could cause damage; we are looking for movement in the shoulder. Be sure to stay under her shoulder, don't pull it toward you. Notice Kessy's lowered head enjoying the release.When finished set her foot down, don't drop it. Remember to do both sides.

These relax, release and body, foot and posture awareness exercises I learned while working with my mentor Diane Sept for nearly a decade. From Diane, a "Senior Certified Connected Riding Instructor ®," I learned the techniques of Peggy Cummings, Connected Riding and Ground Work® and Linda Tellington Jones, Tellington TTouch Training ™. I highly recommend their training and books. In their books you'll find these and many more excellent exercises.

Tomorrow, in Pt 3 we'll look at a few exercises for the hind legs and body posture and correct soft carriage.

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry 

You can read Pt 1 HERE 

You can read Pt 3 HERE    

You can read Pt 4 HERE 

Seeing With Her Feet-A One Step Exercise to help your horse Find Her Feet

Howdy Folks,
 

A very important and easy thing you can do to help your horse maintain proper posture, soft body carriage, and self awareness, as well as self confidence is a little exercise I call the, "One-Step." This is so easy to learn, and do, and will make such a huge difference in not only the things I've already mentioned, but your horse will start your ride relaxed and confident too.

You see horses, because of the things we ask them to do, often lose connection with their feet. They have that momentum thing down alright. They're going from here to there, but that's just it, it's all about momentum. They see the rail, the jump, the turn in the trail, the cavaleties, the barrels, they see it all, and they're going where you send them … But their energy, their momentum, is flying ahead of them often not aware of their feet. Sometimes they stumble, trip, or feel pushy as you lead ... It's not their fault; it's not a training or discipline issue. It's a physical issue ... They honestly don't know where their feet are. They are unable to "see with their feet" -- because they don't know where they are. This exercise will fix that.

Stand in front of your horse holding the lead softly, and simply ask for "One Step Forward," then stop, and rock back off the forehand. Let her stand and process that feeling of lightly taking only one, easy, soft step. Please note – One Step, is a complete step – One front, and the alternate hind.

When you begin this exercise she will most likely take more than one step, because she'll have the momentum started, just as she's been taught. That's okay, go with it – wherever she stops, tell her good girl, and let her feel the softness. – Then ask for "one step back," the same two feet you had asked her to step forward. Allow her to feel the softness, process the moment, then ask for "one step forward again – allow her to feel it, process it, congratulate her, then one step back again. Repeat forward and back 3 or 4 times, then switch to the other side and do it all over again. You should see her softening overall, and lowering her head ... Remember one step is a complete step, one front and alternate hind each time. 

Don't forget to allow time, every time, for her to process and feel the moment. And don't forget to rock her back off her forehand. (You can add the rock-back later, on another day, if she's having a challenge mastering the "One Step.")

This is one of the exercises I do every time before I step into the saddle, or do any ground work. Once you and your horse master this it'll be a fun and healthy game. You'll feel the difference in everything you do together too. So let's look at a few pictures.

We're all saddled, ready to go, Kessy is standing nicely, and I'm about to ask for one step forward (notice how she is not on her forehand) You can see I'm looking at her left front, sending the signal, before I ask for the step.

Kessy stepped forward with her left front, right hand - and is clearly on her forehand, so I'll ask her to "rock back" and feel the moment, before I ask her to "step back."

Asking Kessy to "Rock Back" feel & process the moment - Then I'll ask her to "Step back." Again, notice it is the left front & right hind that have stepped forward.

And here we are stepping back with the left front & right hind. Notice how she stays off her forehand. If you look closely you'll see I have her ear. We do this so often she does it on voice command.

The more you do the "One Step" the smoother, softer and more confident each step will become, in this exercise, and everywhere else as well. After all, you've helped her find her feet again. … I'll do a post on another day about how we can take this exercise, one step farther ... It's all about, "Seeing with her feet."

I hope you'll have fun with this.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Let Your Horse Slow You Down"

Howdy Folks,

In your busy life let your horse slow you down. They'll do it, if you listen. They have many subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, ways of cutting through the fog of hurry-up-go-mode to help us focus on the moment. To see the world as it can be seen. The glory and beauty of it. The peacefulness and rewards it can offer us, if we slow down and process the moment.

The Coffee Clutch bunch

Our Coffee Clutch family knows I start each day in the barn enjoying the finest brew Folgers decaff has to offer, (I'm a connoisseur of fine coffee blends) and the quiet company of my mare Kessy, as well as Saturday, Tigger and Miss Kitty. It's a time of gentle reflection and absorption of goodness, peace. I watch the birds at the feeders and chicken scratch, listen to Saturday snore, Kitty purr and Kessy munch her hay. I thank God each morning for a beautiful day, sun, rain, wind or snow, they're all beautiful. The anchor of our morning meditation is Kessy. Her spirit welcomes us to live in the moment with no worries or anxieties. 

Sure not everyone has an hour or so to spend just sitting with their horse in the morning. But what if you had ten minutes, sometime each day when you could sit with your horse and slow down your thoughts? Try it, you'll feel the slowing. Your horse will feel it too.

When your horse stops to snare a nibble of grass as you ride along and you ask her to walk on, pause and wait. Many times a horse will happily walk on, after they grab two or three more mouthfuls. But if we yank on the reins, kick and demand, they'll probably still grab those extra mouthfuls, but your teaching her resistance, rather than allowing her to teach you, to slow down, enjoy the moment. So in this case simply ask her to walk on with a kiss or cluck, and perhaps a gentle heel touch, and wait. When she takes that extra bite, she'll raise her head and walk on softly. If she knows she can rely on your patience, you can rely on her harmony.

In fact whenever you ask something of your horse, allow the pause. It's for you, more than the horse. We humans are too often wired to go quickly. Instant results. How many times have you seen and heard friends say, "Whoa, whoa, whoa?" when one "whoa" is all that's really required. Asking once, allowing the pause, then seeing the result will slow you down, and in the long run, shorten the time needed for response. And you'll both be softer, more in the moment. And because you're in the moment, in tune with your horse, you'll see, feel and hear your horse on an all new level. True harmony.

Another great way to allow your horse to teach you to slow down is by doing the little exercises I spoke about here - PRE-RIDE EXERCISES FOR YOUR HORSE

And here- RECONNECTING YOUR HORSE TO HER FEET

While doing any of these exercises for your horse it is very important to pause, allow her to process the information, at the same time you will be too ... and you'll be slowing down.

So if you haven't already, go ahead, let your horse slow you down.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry