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Horse Behavior and Training

Shilos first ride

By:
dionne4210 - Denmark.
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Hello one and all.

I have just uploaded a video of Shilo's first ride whilst I training at Henriks mustang farm.
It went very very well indeed, no bolting !!!!!!!!!!
You can see the video on YouTube , search my name Dionne Møller .
Now we need to concentrate on his steering.
And Yes, before i get some comments- Shilo has Got a bit in his mouth.
Henrik and the team were in agreement two weeks ago that he was to use a bit.
However, the rider you see on the video ( a prof. Jockey ) says that she really was only supporting Shilo in the bit, she was steering him for the most With his neck strap, because she know that i want Shilo to be bit less., Well, thats the goal.
I have had to make a comprimise for safety, but Henrik assures me that after Shilo is used to being ridden daily ( when he comes home ) that he can easily make transition to no bit.
It was a thrill to see a rider who wasn't me on his back.
The rider only met Shilo 5 minutes before this video was taken so he has matured a great deal since he has been at the farm.
IM SO HAPPY.

Best wishes

Dionne

Lucie (france)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed

Hi Dionne,
do you have the link to the video ? I can't find it on your page

dionne4210 - Denmark.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Try again Lucie, I think that it wasn't fully loaded when you tried, I just looked and it's all there now.

Australizee
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

I find that he looks a little unsure the first few seconds of being ridden (with his head really high), but we can see he really tries his best and relaxes with time, great!

Mel - Ramsgate UK
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Bless him, well done Dionne. He's stunning!

bahila73
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

HOORAY DIONNE Shilo looks very good for first ride in a new place. The very first hing he did was to check out the rider after she mounted in his right eye, then out of the left eye. This is the point when many horses spook and bolt. HE DID NOT.
.
He is still trying to get used to the bit and the feel in his mouth. That will come to him the more that he moves. His walk, for the most part, looked confident. I did not see any tail tucking which would mean to me that his rear-end is free to follow the front end. That is important for him to get onto the habit of being free in the rear-end because he will find his flow and rhythm to accompany his movement. GOOD JOB!

All my best

bud

dionne4210 - Denmark.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Shilo has today trotted first time with rider. Video on YouTube.
The video is a bit shaky because we were laughing because Shilo didn't really want to trot.
However, it went well enough.
The berider Sabrina said that she didn't need to ride him again because he isn't bolting or bucking, so that's really good news.
So, after the jockey Sabrina was finished with Shilo, I jumped up on him, first time in two months or more.... Just in a walk it was soooooo fantastic because everything was calm and controlled.
So now I am going up to Henrik every other day to ride.
I've paid for an extra month ( August) and will ride him every other day at the Mustang farm. Trine, one of the team will ride him the days I don't .
It's a lot of miles -4 hours driving every other day but it's all worth it, soon I'm getting my boy home again.
I'm all full up in my heart and my head, finally after all of the worry and problems I'm back in the saddle.
I don't mind saying that I was a little nervous, but Shilo was so sweet and nice and relaxed that I soon forgot my nerves and enjoyed my boy with some tears in my eyes.

Dionne.

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Absolutely wonderful to read, Dionne! I am so happy for you both. I almost have tears in my eyes too. That sense of relief when everything is in place and working as it should work, is indescribable.
I think it is just great that you take the time to go the extra mile - or month in this case! I think that will be money and effort well spent!

dionne4210 - Denmark.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Thanks Kikki, yes, today was quite emotional for me, it was a rough time I went through after the experience with the bad trainer.
I also would just like to add the importance of being honest with yourself, I felt quite uncomfortable admitting to Henrik and his team that I was anxious and nervous about mounting Shilo again and actually didn't expect to ride him today.
One of the team Marianne asked me if I would like to try and mount after the jockey was finished and of course I immediately said yes, and then whilst the jockey was riding I was watching and actually was shaking physically because I was winding myself up and getting quite nervous.
Marianne knew that I was anxious and she was just brilliant, letting me first just stand with Shilo and talk to him, and then when I was ready helping me mount. I then just sat and didn't ask anything of Shilo, Marianne had him in a longe line and told me that she was there, she had control and only if I wanted to at my own pace ask Shilo to move on. She was very quiet and let me gather my thoughts and breath.
She in fact didn't say anything else to me during my ride, I could feel the knot in my stomach unravel as Shilo walked calmly around the round pen.
I did say that I was not ready to trot, so just enjoyed the walk.
Afterwards , Marianne gave me a hug and told me well done, and I felt a big weight lift from me and the stone in my stomach was gone.
So now to keep the momento going I'm riding every other day as I wrote before.
I never thought that I would be so nervous and anxious about riding Shilo again, what a dreadful feeling it was, but what elation I felt and still feel now. I think that the whole experience of the past 2 months has matured me as a rider, and in fact changed me in the way I look at myself.
Admitting a fear of riding to myself and others was a big thing, realizing personal limits , identifying comfort zones and overcoming them a big lesson to me.
Realizing that I am in fact not fearless, it took 46 years to find that out , is a big deal, however , the determination I feel not to lose Shilo's respect again is the factor that pushes me through the barriers.
I've learnt a lot today.

dionne4210 - Denmark.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

When I wrote that the stone in my stomach is gone, I think it would be more honest to say that it now is a small pebble, hopefully soon diminishing to a grain of sand over time.

star
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

I just watched your video. He did great. Wow first time, no reaction. Good for you for hiring a professional for his first ride.

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Ah, but you need lots of courage and a good bit of fearlessness to admit to these things! ;) ;) ;)
Well done, indeed, Dionne!

bahila73
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Hello Dionne, I just read through the posts above and find myself so-oo very happy for you. You faced a major-league fear and came out the other side. THAT`S HUGE my dear- - and then you found the courage to share with us; I feel humbled. Thank you for your trust.
.
All the best
.
Bud

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi Dionne,
What a wonderful journey you're living with Shilo!
Please see your own anxiety as a natural reaction to what happened before, you've become more of a "flight animal" through the experience with your horse. Your survival was at stake and it's only right that you felt as you did. If we listen to our inner selves these reactions make us better horsemen and -women! Now it's easier to understand your horse and his flight reaction, bolting is the ultimate flight.
So good of you to share the whole journey with this forum, we've all grow from it...
Thank you so much! Keep posting,
Miriam

dionne4210 - Denmark.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Thank you all very much for your supportive comments.
Today has been my second ride on Shilo, it was again thrilling for me, I was so much more relaxed and Shilo was super sweet , and patient with me.
I'm sucking a lot of info to me during my rides, as I'm not used to ride with a bit it's a whole new world.
I'm learning to gives cues only from my legs and seat, and only supporting Shilo with the bit.
Marianne my teacher is just fantastic to explain things to me and I'm now steering Shilo around the round pen quite ok.
Shilo is coming longer down with his head and relaxing .
I've got nearly a whole months training so no rush with trotting etc.
I could not be more happy.
I will post a video of myself riding Shilo when I remember to ask someone to film !! I'm so concentrated that I forget about that.
I'll write in again when I'm a little longer down the path .
Best of wishes to you all.
Dionne.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

So pleased for you Dionne, what a fantastic journey you are both having :-)

Lucie (france)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed

So happy for you Dionne, it's so great that you're able to train with the team for a while before Shilo comes home. From the videosit really looks like a great calm environment for both of you to get confident together !
.
Your commitment is impressive ! Well done !

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

That's wonderful, Dionne! I can feel your smile all the way through your writing. :)

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