Month: January 2020

I love riding Kamar in the desert in the winter! The sky is brilliant blue, the grass is emerald green and the views are heaven.

For over a year, I have easily put either a bridle with a snaffle bit or a hackamore on Zum’s head. Suddenly, Zum wants no part of a headstall anywhere near his head. So I am back to putting ropes around his ears to help him accept things on his head. I do not understand his sudden rejection of things he knows. Is he testing me? Is he just acting like a young and inexperienced colt? Or is this part of the learning process? Two steps forward and three steps backwards….

One time last winter when I led Zum while riding Huszar, it took me 45 minutes to get Zum to jump a walk over in the desert. Zum just refused to get close to the metal bar. After many repetitions and attempts, I am so happy that Zum can now march over the metal bar with no anxiety!

I have noticed that most the trail heads in the desert now have metal walk overs connected to fences. This is designed to discourage motorized vehicles from entering the Sonoran desert. So in preparation for the time that I will be riding Zum in the desert, I need to teach him to step up over a metal bar.

Zum relaxes when he knows that someone he trusts and likes is in charge. Respect deepens as I slowly, carefully and patiently introduce him to a world that holds little fear or concern and that offers him pleasure and affection on a daily basis. Zum follows me around the round pen when we are a team!

Today I attended a workshop on Positive Service. The workshop is geared for people like me who work in the service industry. As a yoga teacher, I serve my students. I told the instructor of the workshop that I am also training a colt with positive reinforcement and praise. She was amazed. She expressed her fear of horses. Yes, I share that fear when Zum rears up or throws his head. After many failed attempts, it is such a joy when Zum allows a scary paper bag to be his saddle!

I am teaching Zum to put each hoof into a cradle so I can trim and file it. He lets me do all but his front left hoof. So I have to show him with many repetitions that his hoof is safe when I lift it. The goal is for the ferrier to put horseshoes on him. What I am doing is the first step. I believe that the art of life is growth in increments.

I have had to back track and start over with Zum’s education. By influencing his body and energy, I influence his mind. I am trying to correct his tension and any trauma he still feels from trainers that punished him in the past. Trust replaces tension. I let him see and smell anything that frightens him, like a scary paper bag.

Zum refuses to let me touch his ears. So my job now is to teach him that ear touches are not painful. I think he remembers when his head was shanked by the neighbor. I have many lessons with Zum ahead of me to undo the trauma that caused him to be head shy.

As I rode Kamar in the Sonoran desert recently, it was amazing to see snow on the mountains! It is a beautiful sight to see white mountains sparkling under the blue sky. Kamar felt spirited and lively. He even galloped. For an older horse, Kamar is remarkable!