Post by Erin on Apr 7, 2007 13:09:05 GMT -5
So...as you know, I'm pretty pissed about the whole natural horsemanship stuff with Dustin, because it's NOT helping him at all... My trainer's friend is working with him, and she's also paying a lady who works with Ed Dabney to work with him (which to my friends & me is REALLY weird... she's investing a lot in a horse that isn't hers). The lady she's hired works with him once a week most weeks, and preaches gentle horsemanship over-the-top. One week Dixie (trainer's friend) brought up how Dustin doesn't stand at the mounting block for people to get on, so apparently this lady said "Well, that's because he doesn't want you to get on." Oh em gee. Does that mean we hail Dustin and not get on him?? That's just one example that I've heard. I've never actually met the lady... but it's a bit weird ot me. They've been doing groundwork exercises in addition to riding exercises, including "sending" and sidepasses. Well, apparently when Dixie was working with Dustin on sidepassing (on the ground) he kicked at her a couple times. Dustin NEVER kicks, so that is just out of character for him; he's playful and can be too touchy-feely, but he's never done anything to hurt a person. I'm just so frustrated with what they're doing. The sending exercise, which I don't completely understand it's use, is basically teaching him to trot... He trots naturally in the pasture or when he's lunged, but it's different when he's doing it in an exercise. When they praise him for doing something right, they're praising him for trotting as well. Not to mention the lady Dixie's hired has no respect for our wishes that Dustin CANNOT under ANY circumstances, trot under saddle.
That's a little background information on my Dustin update... I wish he was my horse so I could have control over what they do with him. I'm all for natural horsemanship if it's tailored to suit the horse, and if it's helping, but in our case it doesn't seem to be helping at ALL.
Anyway, when April came riding with me yesterday I put her on Genius and I rode Dustin. Dustin was racky & trotty a lot of the time, but towards the end I was able to get him into his flat walk. His spooking was a little better; he started to shy a couple times, but he never actually did anything. It was pretty windy as well, so I was glad Dustin did a great job. I went back to the barn today, and rode him again, and his flat walk was a LOT more consistent. He still had a tendency to slip into a different gait, but he stayed in it a lot better than he did yesterday. He didn't really spook today either.
So, Dustin is getting better in some ways and worse in others. I just feel like everytime I work with him or ride him, I have to "re-train" him, which to me is a sign that this natural horsemanship stuff isn't working.... Oh, and I'm NOT against natural horsemanship -- I use some methods, etc. I just hate it when people use methods within N.H. that don't work for the horse, etc.
Anyway, just thought i'd update you guys on his status! I haven't updated you in awhile, but i also haven't ridden him in awhile, because everytime I go to the barn either Dixie is riding him, or I'm riding Genius to prepare him for shows.
That's a little background information on my Dustin update... I wish he was my horse so I could have control over what they do with him. I'm all for natural horsemanship if it's tailored to suit the horse, and if it's helping, but in our case it doesn't seem to be helping at ALL.
Anyway, when April came riding with me yesterday I put her on Genius and I rode Dustin. Dustin was racky & trotty a lot of the time, but towards the end I was able to get him into his flat walk. His spooking was a little better; he started to shy a couple times, but he never actually did anything. It was pretty windy as well, so I was glad Dustin did a great job. I went back to the barn today, and rode him again, and his flat walk was a LOT more consistent. He still had a tendency to slip into a different gait, but he stayed in it a lot better than he did yesterday. He didn't really spook today either.
So, Dustin is getting better in some ways and worse in others. I just feel like everytime I work with him or ride him, I have to "re-train" him, which to me is a sign that this natural horsemanship stuff isn't working.... Oh, and I'm NOT against natural horsemanship -- I use some methods, etc. I just hate it when people use methods within N.H. that don't work for the horse, etc.
Anyway, just thought i'd update you guys on his status! I haven't updated you in awhile, but i also haven't ridden him in awhile, because everytime I go to the barn either Dixie is riding him, or I'm riding Genius to prepare him for shows.
