Lesson Day!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

I'm a little late posting but here ya go!

Takoda and I had another lesson with Cherie on Saturday. We both felt more comfortable and confidant. We've mastered the walk/halt, and often I won't use a shank anymore, but just a lead on his halter! I know I need to keep doing the walk/halt so that he has a means of being successful even on his ornery days!

I groomed him under Cherie's watchful eye and careful guidance. I knew his skin is ultra sensitive, but she pointed out a few areas of his body I need to be particularly gentle with - most especially his flank area. Thoroughbreds have very thin, very sensitive skin, and even a rubber curry comb is too rough! I will be purchasing a new set of gentle brushes for him, and a narrower hoof pick (they also have smaller hooves!). Cherie was careful to correct him every time he thought about kicking out while being groomed. This was new for Takoda. In my reading of OTTB retraining, I've discovered that racehorse grooms never discipline a race horse for bad behavior, including biting and kicking - but that it's the groom's responsibility to stay out of harm's way. So Takoda was raised believing it is perfectly acceptable for him to kick or nip if he doesn't like what I'm doing - something he definitely needs to UNlearn! I used a very soft brush on him all over, and it mostly just brought more dirt to the surface because he is so filthy lol. But, Cherie reminded me that even if he looks dirtier, it's good for their skin and hair to be groomed, because it stimulates their skin and oils to come to the surface. We used Show-Sheen on his tail and he actually looked really nice (albeit terribly bony).

The funniest thing happened while grooming him, however. We were standing in the aisle way, facing my neighbor's open field where deer like to romp and play. Takoda has seen deer before in that field, as they are there daily. He's also seen them during our ground exercises, and while he's always a little concerned about them, he's never freaked out totally. Well, Saturday the deer were grazing quietly on the far side of the field, but Takoda spotted them. He grew wided eyed, staring, and suddenly he began to tremble like a scared poodle! If you've never seen a 1000 lb. animal shake from fear, it is truly a sight to behold. Cherie felt sorry for him but I found it very funny, especially since he's seen them before and they have never attacked him! He stood there shaking for a solid 10 minutes or so, and was still very nervous about them during our lesson. When I asked Cherie why he is suddenly scared of them, she said, "Because it's today!" I had to laugh. Thoroughbreds are a bit fickle that way!

The lesson went quite well, and Takoda lunged to the left (counterclockwise) very nicely, so Cherie raised the bar a bit and we worked on trying to get him to "whoa" on the longe. Each time he did stop, he turned in toward us. It's going to be interesting trying to longe him myself this week. I may have gained confidence in working with him, but I currently have zero confidence in my ability to longe him - BUT I like a challenge! :)

Longeing to the right (clockwise) was a whole other matter! Poor Takoda has likely NEVER had anyone work him, lead him, or do anything to him on his off (right) side. Cherie said to think about it from his perspective - we're asking him to longe (which he has never done before) to the right (which he has never done before) on the side no one has ever worked with him on before. So for him, he thinks we humans are broken, and he tried over and over to correct us. I'm glad she is not having me try to longe him to the right this week lol. He definitely looked at us like we had lost our minds!

Remembering feeding time still my stomach churn a bit. Everyone was eating peacefully, and I have been careful to stay out of Takoda's stall while he is eating as Kim was adamant that if they don't want you near them when they're eating, don't go near them! Jeff was feeling a bit impatient, though, and wanted to at least start cleaning his stall. JK had cleaned Takoda's stall with him in it (but not at meal time!), and Takoda let him in with no problem. Takoda pinned his ears once at Jeff, but went back to eating. All was fine until Jeff asked Takoda to move over. When he did, he thankfully was at Takoda's shoulder, because Takoda spun his head around, ears pinned, and kicked out HARD right at knee-cap level... so hard I heard the wind from his kick! Luckily he missed, but ironically Jeff was oblivious to the fact that Takoda had tried to kick him! I wish he had seen it and had punished him for it. I have not ventured in while he's eating out of respect to him, nor will I. I doubt Jeff will again either!

If you look closely at the video below you will see Takoda trying to figure out his place in the herd but not really speaking the other horses' language. He doesn't react with ear pinning, tail swishing or rump turning like they all do. He remains, for the most part, curious with ears pricked forward.