Three weeks and two days after Danny was funneled and pushed into my trailer in Mississippi, I asked him to load in the trailer again. But this time, he was leading with a halter and lead and there were no panels to guide him. We used our practiced 'go forward' cue and he stepped inside without a fuss. He traveled like a pro for the four and a half hour drive west to Cook Forest Area Scenic Trail Rides, in Clarion, PA. This awesome facility is run by Ray and Terrie Smith and offers camp sites, rental horses and guided trail rides. This week was going to be super special because during the five days, John Lyons was there to teach a Trail Riding Clinic! What a great opportunity for Danny to get some new experiences! Little did I know just how wonderful the week would be or how much we would learn.
I arrived Sunday afternoon and spotted the campsite I would share with two wonderful friends, Susan and Barb. They had run to town for some food supplies, so for a while I was on my own. Leaving the truck and trailer in the shade, I got my bearings by locating the tie stalls and restrooms. I also found a covered arena with soft footing. Unquestionably, the first thing I wanted to do was ride Danny. Seeing no reason why not, I unloaded Danny, groomed him and saddled up.
During the preceding week, I had worked with Danny from the ground several hours a day, but I had only ridden him maybe a total of an hour, in his pen and in the arena. He was learning that my legs told him to go and my reins gave him direction.
I led him to the Cook Forest arena and we worked on some ground exercises for just a few minutes before I got in the saddle. We practiced for maybe an hour before John Lyons himself came back from a ride and got to meet Danny. We talked about the competition and some teaching strategies I might apply over the next few weeks. He reminded me that I should not be training Danny for the competition, but instead my biggest goal should be to make him a well trained horse. I couldn't agree more. Danny's participation in the Extreme Mustang Makeover will be for a very short time compared to the years he will have with his next owner. My job is to equip him for that future with the very best training I can possibly give him.
Danny and I went back to the trailer and I set up his tie stall. He was not unprepared to be tied. We had gone through a series of lessons to teach him to step forward when he feels pressure from the halter, and stand quietly while being confined. Narrow tie stalls can be challenging for even older horses. The horse is not able to turn around and the handler needs to walk quite close to put hay and water where the horse can reach them. Through the next eight days and nights Danny spent most of his time in a tie stall or tethered to a picket line (a rope strung between two trees about seven feet high). He learned to stand quietly and eat his hay from his hay bag while I cleaned his stall.
On the first day of the clinic, Danny and I followed the lessons along with the other nine riders in the clinic. By the afternoon, he was trotting energetically, practicing precise steering drills, and learning to ignore distractions like picnic tables and other riders heading out to the trails.
We were even called upon to demonstrate turning to face a scary object. John held a big tarp, shaking and waving it as he walked around Danny. Danny was worried, but kept his nose pointed straight at John, while I simply sat in the saddle, with the reins completely loose. John also asked us to go through the lesson plan to have the horse walk calmly across a tarp for the first time. Danny did great! He went through all the steps and before long plodded across the tarp with his head down and his body relaxed.
The next day, John reviewed some important principles for the first part of the day and in the afternoon, we went out on a three hour trail ride. The first obstacle was a steep, short hill down to the ditch we had to cross to get to the road. Danny and I approached it as we did the tarp and he crossed it with slow and careful steps. Wonderful! Once on the trail, we practiced shoulder and hip control, stopping before a log and calmly walking over it, backing up while the other horses trotted ahead, doubling back for a few lengths, even walking through the river! He never made me worried about being on his back. Even when horses around him were sometimes rambunctious, he followed my directions to sidepass his shoulders or slow down while we descended a steep hill. John later asked me how I thought my horse did. I said I thought he did real well. John said he thought Danny did phenomenal.
After his first trail ride, Danny got his first rinse. He was very sweaty and I didn't want all that salt dulling his wonderful shiny coat. I led him to the wash area and we waited our turn. At first I pointed the hose away from him so he could see and hear the spray. Then I put a gentle stream on his leg. He didn't move but tilted his head, a little concerned about this new sensation. I took the water off his leg and gave him a pet for standing still. We repeated the same thing, but I kept the water on for a little longer. Within five repetitions of taking the water away, he was standing quietly while I gradually moved the stream up his shoulders, over his back and down his hind legs.
Unfortunately, because of the 3 hour ride, Danny got some pretty severe blisters on his girth, partly because his skin is just not used to be rubbed by the cinch. He was also tired!! His muscles were not used to all that work. During my usual midnight check on him, I found him lying down in his stall. I talked quietly to him and approached his rump. He watched me but did not move to get up. For a few minutes I rubbed and talked to him, then went back to my tent, hoping both of us would get some more sleep.
I took him for walks around the camp site, exposing him to new things but always asking him to look to me if he found something worrisome. He was not permitted to walk over and investigate an object, instead I would ask him to change directions, back up or trot forward. He will learn that his ever-changing surroundings are less important than following my direction. His comfort and peace comes when he puts his steps under my control.
On the last day in camp, his girth was healed enough for a ride. Since almost everyone else was either resting in their tents or out on a trail ride, we had lots of space around the vacant camp sites and gravel road running through the facility. We played with turns and controlled back ups. Then we advanced his cue to speed up. Before long, he trotted so fast that he broke into a lope for the first time. After only a couple strides I asked him slow down. We repeated the process a few times.
By this time, we had several people watching us. When I dismounted and gave Danny a hug, four or five people came over to say they enjoyed watching us. One lady said he moved remarkably well. She wasn't expecting him to be so free and graceful before seeing him work under saddle.
The next morning Danny and I loaded up in the truck and trailer and headed home. We both had learned so much!! I had a truly fantastic time, met some amazing new friends and reconnected with old and treasured ones. I am excited to continue giving Danny the best education I possibly can. Just this morning, we had a terrific lesson in our own arena. We again practiced speed control and accomplished our first loping circles. But more important than simply loping the circles, Danny performed them in control; without pulling on the bit, freely moving forward with his head held level.
Please remember to pass on this link to horsey friends who you think would be interested in Danny's training. When auction day comes around in Murfreesboro, TN, I want his new owner to be as well informed as possible. Many thanks and happy trails!
