Hi all!
I've recently started working with my friend's 6 year old Appaloosa mare. She has had Margie (margarita) since she was 2 and a half years old. Margie was backed when she was 4 and since then has done very little. She lacks any real confidence and my friend doesn't ride her as she finds her too sharp and gets nervous. Margie is very cuddly. I did a join up session with her after seeing Monty at the grange on 29th October which was partly successful in that she joined up but only partly followed up and I re watched Monty's lesson on here and figured out several points I got slightly wrong. Today I groomed her and picked out her feet and discovered she was frightened of the measuring stick and the broom... As horses don't lie I figured she had previously been badly handled. I took the time to show her the measuring stick won't hurt her and then she stood perfectly happily and she's 15.3hh!! Same thing with the broom.. I turned it up the other way so it looked like a huge brush and she was happy with it so I brushed her with it!! She liked that and carried on eating her hay! Then when she was confident with that I showed the broom the right way up again and smoothed the handle all over her sides and neck which she was happy to accept. I took her for a walk in a dually which I find really effective and she likes.. she stopped to look at things several times and she snorts a lot but she didn't pull or spook so I was very pleased with her and felt she did really well. She lives out with a herd of 6 all year with free access to a barn and hay all winter. I am 44 and have been riding and working with horses since I was 5 years old. I took the BHS exams when I was in my early twenties and taught for but then starting reading montys books and then had the pleasure of meeting him recently which inspired me again.. I am hoping to both give and get confidence with Margie. She has done absolutely nothing for 2 years so is starting everything again. She is an Appaloosa and is a carrier of pssm although fine herself. I have an indoor school (arena) and an outdoor school and I got her loading very easily in our first session with the dually and Monty methods. Anyone any input?!
I've recently started working with my friend's 6 year old Appaloosa mare. She has had Margie (margarita) since she was 2 and a half years old. Margie was backed when she was 4 and since then has done very little. She lacks any real confidence and my friend doesn't ride her as she finds her too sharp and gets nervous. Margie is very cuddly. I did a join up session with her after seeing Monty at the grange on 29th October which was partly successful in that she joined up but only partly followed up and I re watched Monty's lesson on here and figured out several points I got slightly wrong. Today I groomed her and picked out her feet and discovered she was frightened of the measuring stick and the broom... As horses don't lie I figured she had previously been badly handled. I took the time to show her the measuring stick won't hurt her and then she stood perfectly happily and she's 15.3hh!! Same thing with the broom.. I turned it up the other way so it looked like a huge brush and she was happy with it so I brushed her with it!! She liked that and carried on eating her hay! Then when she was confident with that I showed the broom the right way up again and smoothed the handle all over her sides and neck which she was happy to accept. I took her for a walk in a dually which I find really effective and she likes.. she stopped to look at things several times and she snorts a lot but she didn't pull or spook so I was very pleased with her and felt she did really well. She lives out with a herd of 6 all year with free access to a barn and hay all winter. I am 44 and have been riding and working with horses since I was 5 years old. I took the BHS exams when I was in my early twenties and taught for but then starting reading montys books and then had the pleasure of meeting him recently which inspired me again.. I am hoping to both give and get confidence with Margie. She has done absolutely nothing for 2 years so is starting everything again. She is an Appaloosa and is a carrier of pssm although fine herself. I have an indoor school (arena) and an outdoor school and I got her loading very easily in our first session with the dually and Monty methods. Anyone any input?!
Welcome to the forum, there are a handful of us around the world that help out and support the forum, we all have different backgrounds, but all fully support Monty and his training methods.
It sounds like you have gotten off to a good start and you've got a lovely calm attitude to helping Margie, my main suggestion would be work your way through the videos they are nicely structured. As you're trying to bring her back into work, start from scratch and follow the process Monty shows you in the lessons. At the end of each lesson click on the Monty's Challenge tab and go through the questions, this will start to earn you rosettes so we can see how you're getting on.
If Margie is trusting you, then join up is not always needed so don't try it if she's calm and working along with you.
Keep us updated how you get on.
Mel
x
A hearty welcome to the forum from my side,too!
The suggestions above will help you a lot, I'm sure.
What I'd lile to add, is try to get the owner into your work as well. She'll probably be the one to ride or handle Margie later, so share what you learn from working with the horse with her owner. You could even watch the Uni-lessons together and decide how to continue. Always seek for the next incremental step, keeping your final goal in the back of your mind. Whenever you want help, we're here to support you!
You're on a good path and remember: it's important that you have fun working with the horse, but it's even more important the horse has fun!
Keep us posted.
Miriam
.
My suggestion to you would be to re-read all of the comments above to assist you on your journey to help Margie and your friend. They offer you a great place to start.
.
.Please keep us informed of your progress.
All the best
Bud