Anna Blake's Blog, page 39

The Thing About Geldings

I’m the sort of horse-person who hears about a castration and pops a cork for a toast all around. I celebrate the gelding, both the verb and the noun. I’ve known some great stallions, but it can be a hard lifestyle in this country. My home barn is filled with a majority of geldings, mine and those belonging to clients. Who better to write a counter-argument for my recent essay explaining and praising mares? It was so well-received that I felt I was cheating on geldings. I must respond as a matter of honor …theirs.

My personal horses have been both mares and geldings. It was always about the individual horse, almost as if they blocked the road and wouldn’t let me pass, but never chosen on basis of sex. If you are new to my writing, you may not have heard me drone on about my Grandfather Horse. In hindsight, I’m most haunted by sweet geldings who have walked on.

When my Grandfather Horse, Spirit, was young we boarded at a ranch that did a limited amount of breeding. We rode early every morning and come spring, it was impossible to not overhear the stallion and mare being handled next door, as we schooled our canter transitions. I remember feeling relieved to not be in that business, relieved to know that this life, it was going to be him and me. We’d be single together with no babies desired from either of us. He carried me through some rough times back then. I was a mess and I doubt a mare would have tolerated me as kindly.

The first thing to know about geldings is that they have had their testicles removed by surgery, leaving them sterile or neutered. Good news for a domestic horse in this over-populated world. Geldings are also said to make steadier riding horses because they don’t have mood swings (heat cycles like mares) and can be more predictable. They might generally be a bit more tolerant of our shortcomings and some of us need that.

Does that mean a gelding is somehow less? The last two few Olympic gold medals came home on the back of a gelding. Geldings have as much success in the show world as they do hanging out with horse-crazy girls in the paddock. They are the good guys.

Geldings can seem like the strong silent type, perfect to co-star with the Lone Ranger. (Silver was a gelding.) Stoic to a fault, the perfect match for Gary Cooper and all the old cowboys who might have been a bit put-off by strong-willed mares or women.

Geldings are the epitome of a workhorse, focused and committed to the task at hand, even hiding pain in favor of partnering with humans. I’ve known geldings with huge hearts who offer more than they are asked, with a lifelong willingness to push on and improve, jumping from one riding discipline to another as their rider asks. Geldings are the sort as happy to work long hours as they are happy to sit on the sofa and watch movies on a rainy day. You could introduce them to your mother, and they’d give her the royal pony-ride treatment. They show us patience and take care of us; a gelding will fill in for us when we get it wrong. Donkeys see that as a serious character flaw.

The long-ears are right, that is the downside of geldings. They are easier to intimidate, easier to dominate and shut down. We call it desensitizing, but we flood them with noise and trap them in a cage of learned helplessness because they choose a flight or freeze response, but almost never to fight. Being stoic comes with a price and many are damaged beyond their limits by being taken advantage of by unscrupulous trainers and owners. We call them push-button or think they’re stupid. Shame on us, we exploit their good and willing natures because it’s easier than living up to their example.

Some geldings appear docile as teddy bears, but it’s an underestimation. They deserve more respect. They won’t get it from mares, famous for toying with the gelding’s schoolboy infatuations, but we need to understand that a stoic horse is not less sensitive, less intelligent, or less vital in any way. We must adjust up the volume of their language, their calming signals. Geldings say more with a neck stretch than a mare says galloping circles with her tail flagged. It’s our job to be better listeners. When geldings whisper, we need to acknowledge them and respond to the small signals as the large and true statements that are intended. It’s all about trusting that they will be heard.

There is a difference between a simple mind and a single mind, one with less distraction that can focus with calm clarity. We would do better to take a cue and still our own busy chatter. Expect less, and be happy with what we have, rewarding all the tiny successes until we are swept away in a tsunami of perfection.

If mares teach us to respect them, then perhaps geldings help us respect ourselves.

For me, geldings are personal, a matter of the heart. Quirky, smart, and wildly challenging, they have danced with me on my good days and stood by me on the bad. I am the product of geldings. On my own, I can be mare-ish, opinionated and headstrong. I can jump to conclusions and hold a grudge. Geldings gifted me with confidence from accomplishing hard challenges, character by witnessing their strength, and a sense of acceptance that I didn’t find elsewhere. Kindness and empathy can be learned in the shadow of geldings, who give us a sense of humanity in our inhuman world. With a grateful nod, I owe a debt to all geldings, and especially my Grandfather Horse, who taught me the greatest strength is vulnerability. From my memoir, Stable Relation:

“Sometimes I see a father playing with his child, tossing her in the air and catching her, holding her tight to his chest. Then my heartbeat feels tight in my own chest and I think of Spirit. He did that toss and catch with me.”

…

Anna Blake at Infinity Farm

Want more? Join us at The Barn, our online training group with video sharing, audio blogs, live chats with Anna, and so much more. Or go to annablake.com to subscribe for email delivery of this blog, see the Clinic Schedule, or ask a question.

Working with riders of any discipline and horses of any breed, Anna believes dressage training principals build a relaxed & forward foundation that crosses over all riding disciplines in the same way that the understanding Calming Signals benefits all equine communication.

The post The Thing About Geldings appeared first on Anna Blake.

Photo & Poem: Missing Her

 

Haunted by her hooves, jagged edges

tilting her balance, she stood in filth,

wooden pallets cobbled into a pen.

Remembering her coarse hair, the

shadows cast by each rib. No act

of blunt cruelty did this, it was willful

indifference one average day after

another. Looking at her, an ache grows

behind my eye that has seen too much,

trying to apologize for her dark neglect.

Can she eat? Will she drink? Ordinary

acts take on primal importance.

Kindness like cool water, seeks its own

level, seeping up from hooves to ankles,

withers to hands, the current carries her

forgiveness and challenges my own.

…

Anna Blake at Infinity Farm

Want more? Join us at The Barn, our online training group with video sharing, audio blogs, live chats with Anna, and so much more. Or go to annablake.com to subscribe for email delivery of this blog, see the Clinic Schedule, or ask a question.

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The Thing About Mares

A Przewalski mare and foal in Scotland

When Larry McMurtry wrote Lonesome Dove, he gave Woodrow Call’s gray mare a blunt name that was rudely respectful, in a close-as-kin way. Being a sort of gray mare myself, the name stuck in my memory. Some folks hate mares so much they refuse to have them on the place. Others praise them to the heavens and would never ride anything else. Some folks believe if you meet a man who only rides mares, you should marry him.

Whatever you think, your horse wouldn’t be here without mares, so they deserve some understanding.

The first thing to remember about mares is that they are intact. We tend to think of mare and geldings grouped together and then stallions as another thing. In truth, mares and stallions are more similar than either are to geldings. Mares have hormones -and when has that not complicated everything? Lots of mares slide into heat cycles unnoticed while others are almost un-rideable. All horses are unique individuals but mares, twice as much.

Mares sometimes have a reputation for being a bit particular.

Could that mare be in pain? We tend to leap to thinking their behaviors are training issues or bad temperament, but horses get cranky when things hurt, and body language is the only way they have to let us know. If your horse’s behavior changes, pain must be the first guess. Horses don’t just turn wicked.

Did you know that horses have a higher incidence of ovarian tumors than any other domestic animal? Ovaries are positioned in the upper flank area, down from the sacroiliac (SI) joint, and are impacted by riding. Tumors are generally under-diagnosed but when talking to my vet about that, I asked whether mares had an equine equivalent of PMS and he said absolutely not. I notice when I pass this information along to women, the response runs from head shaking to chins dropped with mouths gaping wide. I think vets would say we have an anecdotal opinion.

More anecdotal information: People seem to agree that heat cycles are lasting longer, some even year round. Many mares struggle with long, harsh heat cycles, especially as they age. One of my mares had six-week-long cycles and was so uncomfortable that she spent the day banging her hips against the barn or fence posts. I kept her on Regumate, although she was an elder with a tendency to colic. I seem to have anthropomorphic and anecdotal thoughts about living on birth control, I notice. The option of spaying mares is a relatively easy surgery these days, something to consider in some cases.

Is there some “Degree in Anecdotal Science” that is bestowed on life-long students of the horse? No? Okay, feel free to disregard this last part. It’s just my opinion.

Some mares behave differently because of issues with training. Or more precisely, go nuts with trainers who use domination techniques. Mares seem to have a decent amount of confidence in themselves, along with a well-defined sense of what good human behavior should look like. If mares were going to quote a human, they might remind you that Eleanor Roosevelt, who walked in a practical stride and was called horse-faced, said: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

That’s how the training fight begins. Blind obedience isn’t even on a mare’s list of possibles. You can pick a fight with a mare if you like, and perhaps she won’t win, but she will never quit fighting. Sixty-five percent of rescue horses are mares.

At the same time, mares are not always fans of public displays of affection. She’ll do what you ask, for hours without quitting, but she doesn’t need to brag about it. No undue familiarity, please. She takes herself seriously, a concept frequently lost on geldings.

Let’s say the mare isn’t struggling with reproductive problems. Or having some kind of PTSD from poor training. Or chronic gastric issues from managing unruly herd dynamics, both human and equine. Or recurring lameness because she’s too tough to limp around about it. She will still have mood swings because hormones exist. The stoic ones will keep it to themselves and the more communicative mares will let the whole world know.

I don’t think mares are smarter than geldings, but they might be a bit sharper. It’s a generalization, not a hard-fast rule but in my experience, mares seem to be more involved in the big picture. Maybe it’s the mom gene, but they are frequently less playful than geldings. They seem more interested in herd relationships. Some of it is sweet companionship and some is Boss Mare work. Many provide quiet safety to the herd; they are the invisible leader.

It’s usually a sway-backed elder mare who wonders why humans think that the horse with the most anxiety is the alpha horse. That’s crazy, and she’s right, of course. Mares are always right. Besides, herd dynamics have more nuance than humans think, the mare would add.

Some mares can be a little Type A; controlling and opinionated. It’s a big job ruling the herd. Lives depend on it. Literally, as prey animals, mares know that a mistake means death. You can call her pessimistic or remind her that horses are domesticated, but instinct runs deep. Hugs don’t make it go away and carrots don’t soften her resolve. She must be forever on guard.

How to get on the good side of a mare? Manage to not get in her way. Respect her independence and give her room. Acknowledge her intelligence by listening. Prove you’re not one of the crazy humans by calming your emotions; by being quiet and persistent, qualities she appreciates. Be consistent and give her all the time she needs to trust you.

Controlling the universe is an exhausting job. Every mare works hard but the task is never done. On the bright side, your mare could use an hour off. If you’re worthy, if she can feel safe with you, she could rest and allow you to lead. She’ll be generous and compliant, willing to give you her very best in exchange. As long as you respect her autonomy, she won’t need to defend it.

…

Anna Blake at Infinity Farm

Want more? Join us at The Barn, our online training group with video sharing, audio blogs, live chats with Anna, and so much more. Or go to annablake.com to subscribe for email delivery of this blog, see the Clinic Schedule, or ask a question.

Working with riders of any discipline and horses of any breed, Anna believes dressage training principals build a relaxed & forward foundation that crosses over all riding disciplines in the same way that the understanding Calming Signals benefits all equine communication.

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41. An Argument Against the Whip

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40. Circles: A Soft Bend

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39. Edgar Rice Burro’s Thoughts on Peace

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38. Get Serious about Laughing.

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Photo & Poem: Spring Storm

The storm came so late that shedding

season was done, the horse’s coats

already thin and slick. So late there

were bright leaves on the trees sheltering

hatchlings in nests. So late the tank heaters

were unplugged and packed away, just

days before. Superstition says that’s when

storms hit even if it’s too warm to freeze.

Perhaps winter is jealous of color, and

in a death throe, borrowed some wind

from spring to hurl lukewarm snow

so heavy that branches were torn from

trees, so wet that muck dissolved into

mud, so humid that stored hay got soft

with a threat of mold. Blizzards blow

the prairie clean but this storm littered

the farm with wilted growth, fetid puddles

standing in pens, softening wooden posts.

Clean up is endless, exhaustion dulling

each task, the next glance landing on still

more to be done. Checking the fences,

socks wet in heavy boots, yet falling wildly

in love with this fringe land again, it’s willful

independence of me and my frail tidy habits.

…

Anna Blake at Infinity Farm

Want more? Join us at The Barn, our online training group with video sharing, audio blogs, live chats with Anna, and so much more. Or go to annablake.com to subscribe for email delivery of this blog, see the Clinic Schedule, or ask a question.

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Be-Here-Now: Focus on the Task

Does your horse get restless or bored when standing with you? Does he pull the rope, trying to graze when you are busy? Am I going to blame you for that, too?

I was asked to share a pet peeve, which seems like inviting a donkey to a dinner party, but I’ll try to keep my hooves close to the ground. I notice humans don’t focus well. Our senses aren’t as sharp as equines in any way, but we don’t even use the comparatively frail ones we do have to their full potential. The theory is that we are the superior creatures because we have self-awareness but that usually works against us at least as often as not. We are always missing the opportunity to be in the moment with our horses.

Your horse has just done a really good job. It might be groundwork or standing for the farrier who never stops talking. It could be under saddle; a light canter depart or the beginning of a shoulder-in. It was just what you asked for, but it was especially sweet and a little better than you probably deserved. You know it’s that good, so you give your good horse a release. In other words, let him know he’s done.

Move a few feet away, out of your horse’s space, and then stand around and breathe for a while. It isn’t a release until the horse takes it. Look for some calming signals, maybe full-blown yawns or a nose-rub on his foreleg, or a more stoic answer like a few blinks and a small lick and chew. Let your horse’s last memory of the arena or the work he’s done, be a good one. Let him ruminate in that affirmation.

A release is the message of gratitude that horses understand and appreciate the most. It’s a bit depressing, I’d rather clutch his head to my bosom, but I want to put him first, knowing those signals were a release of stress, I won’t add more. I want him to settle into his parasympathetic nervous system, the restive and relaxed part. With any luck, some brain chemicals will kick in, like dopamine or serotonin. Things that matter because they are the foundation for a true better relationship. Something that might even mean more than a cookie.

At a clinic, this might be a time I’d ask if I can take him back to his pen. I want the horse to have a clean, uncomplicated release, to make the most of this good work. It isn’t that I couldn’t ask the participant to do the same, it’s that just outside the arena, she might run into a friend who wants to know how it went. It’s exciting to share our horse experiences, so the participant stops and talks. After a few moments, the horse might get restless. The other word for that is bored. We aren’t working with them and they aren’t released, because we got distracted.

Humans get distracted effortlessly. At the home barn, we might finish riding and tie them, untack and check our messages or return a call. Maybe make up a few feed buckets or just wander off to gaze at a bright shiny thing. On a bad day, empty-headed complacency gets you or your horse in a dicey situation and one of you may be injured. Safety still matters.

Bottom line: The horse, who was given a release, isn’t eating or rolling or doing anything pleasant. He’s tapping his hoof, waiting for you to keep your promise, and probably getting into trouble out of boredom. Then we mindlessly correct them, then their anxiety rises, then they slide back toward their sympathetic nervous system, the flight/fight/freeze (or just let me go eat!) phase. We’ve trashed their good work by letting ourselves get distracted. Old school training says a horse should have to tolerate anything we do with quiet obedience. Is it fair to ask them to focus better than we do?

Confusion is that limbo-like place where horses get punished for things that are our fault.

We do it with dogs who we’ve invited out for a walk and then stop and talk to neighbors for twenty minutes instead. I notice how often children are made to wait while adults yammer on, only to be corrected for interrupting. Are they impatient or are we distracted? I’m not sure if it’s a lack of focus or just rudeness but if we are the leaders, this isn’t anything I hope to inspire.

Horses manage to be completely involved in passionate spring grazing or finding the exact right place for a dirt bath after a ride. Dogs who play ball aren’t interested in talking about the weather. Even a cat can focus on ignoring us with a razor-sharp focus. But we can’t walk to a pen without losing our way.

It’s possible that horses have something to teach us about multi-tasking. Is there some reason we couldn’t prioritize our horses for a moment and ask our friends to wait? Perhaps the leading from behind exercise that so many are confused by is a simple payback for this bad habit of ours.

Horses may be domesticated but so many of the things we ask of them require them to go against their profound instinct. Instinct runs deeper than inclination, it’s a primal force for survival. If we ask for that kind of connection from them, we have to offer something of equal value. We might want to trade our focus for theirs, but it must start with taking our own words and actions more seriously.

…

Anna Blake at Infinity Farm

Want more? Join us at The Barn, our online training group with video sharing, audio blogs, live chats with Anna, and so much more. Or go to annablake.com to subscribe for email delivery of this blog, see the Clinic Schedule, or ask a question.

Working with riders of any discipline and horses of any breed, Anna believes dressage training principals build a relaxed & forward foundation that crosses over all riding disciplines in the same way that the understanding Calming Signals benefits all equine communication.

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Photo & Poem: Asking for Her Eye

 

She knows my presence before

I see her. Under the tree in the

far corner of the pasture, no real

shade but she rests there, hip

cocked at rest, a prairie breeze

weaving her tail. Approaching her

slowly, regretting what I am but

trying to downplay the plain truth,

walking an arc, pausing. Has her

eye turned dark, has the breath in

her flank gone shallow? Where

is the invisible line where she will

tell me I’ve come too far, too fast.

Pause again, she might take a step

toward me or pull herself deep

inside, play dead to my soft hand,

shut down to my wish, so I shift

back to my heel in a question.

Mother, may I? Waiting for her

permission, greedy for the touch

of her dappled coat, warm under

her mane but moments of eternity

pass, holding for her acquiescence,

for this good mare to notice I listen.

…

Anna Blake at Infinity Farm

Want more? Join us at The Barn, our online training group with video sharing, audio blogs, live chats with Anna, and so much more. Or go to annablake.com to subscribe for email delivery of this blog, see the Clinic Schedule, or ask a question.

Working with riders of any discipline and horses of any breed, Anna believes dressage training principals build a relaxed & forward foundation that crosses over all riding disciplines in the same way that the understanding Calming Signals

The post Photo & Poem: Asking for Her Eye appeared first on Anna Blake.