The Barb Wire

Why Are You Here?

2011-12-19T12:37:00.009-07:00

You're probably here because you followed a link from my comment on another Blogger blog. (I haven't had any luck with Open ID, so using my Google account is often the only way Blogger will let me comment.)

The Barb Wire is still going strong at the Wordpress site. Come on over and remember to update your subscription!

Anybody Here?

2011-05-20T14:56:00.001-06:00

Just curious!

The 2011 training and endurance season is ramping up over at The Barb Wire on Wordpress. Trot on over. :)

Closing up Shop

2010-10-24T07:06:00.002-06:00

Hi, all. Due to continued spamming, I've just closed comments to all posts on this old site. However, all the posts (along with commenting ability) have been imported to the new The Barb Wire on Wordpress, so you're welcome to leave your thoughts there. Thanks!

Canyonlands Story is Up

2010-10-07T07:22:00.003-06:00

...on Wordpress. Story and slideshow.

Also, click here for links to In the Night Farm on Facebook and Twitter.

(I feel like a librarian sending nasty reminders to return overdue books. Don't worry -- I'll quit soon!)

Aaruba is on Wordpress

2010-10-03T20:51:00.002-06:00

I've posted an Aaruba update on the new Wordpress site for The Barb Wire! Have you updated your subscription yet? ;)

In Case You Missed It...

2010-09-25T21:24:00.003-06:00

I posted a new Acey training update today at the new TBW site. Come on over, and remember to update your subscription services, links, and feeds. :)

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Moving Day

2010-09-17T08:42:00.002-06:00

The Barb Wire has moved! Trot on over to the new site (http://inthenightfarm.wordpress.com), where I've just posted an introduction to the promised series on Equine Exertional Rhabdomyolysis, aka Tying-up Syndrome, and don't forget to update your bookmarks. See you there!
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The Big Easy

2010-09-12T07:03:00.007-06:00

I study a great deal on the subject of horse training, and I've a good memory for words. The result is a mental collection of phrases that guide me every time I work with a horse.

"Where you release is what you teach." (Jeff Spencer)

"If there's a problem with the horse, look to the trainer." (Robert Painter)

"Emotional control is crafting cues around the horse's own flight mechanism." (Charles Wilhelm)

Lately, the mantra that has surfaced most often is one of my own: "If it isn't easy, it isn't time."

This concept is applicable to almost all horse training situations, but is was tiny, fiery Acey who really drove the message home.

Alternating Current came to me straight from Quien Sabe, completely untouched but nearly mature. She's seven now. Plenty old enough to be not only under saddle, but out on the endurance trail. She would be, too, except that I made a mistake.

I should have known better. From the earliest stages of gentling, Acey has proven the kind of horse that reacts to new situations with intense emotion. Only through patient, persistent, steady progression was I able to touch her face, halter her, lead her, pick up her feet.

When I first mounted Acey in Summer 2009, she responded with the strongest "freeze" reaction I'd ever experienced. Days passed before she attempted to take a step, and then it was sideways, backwards, any direction but forward.

Eventually, I got Acey to move out. Fine. We spent a couple days walking around the round corral, reversing, circling, and learning to pivot...and then things went wrong.

With most horses, I ask for a trot very early on. They tend to accept this with a moment's confusion, a lightbulb moment, a hesitant attempt, then success.

Not Acey. In her characteristic fashion, she reacted to my new request with emotion. Her head went up and her back stiffened. And I (fool!) kept asking. In fact, in a classic "training FAIL," I asked more vigorously. I tapped her sides with my heels (new to her) and even flicked her rump with the rein (also new).

She panicked. Bolted. Bucked. After a couple rounds of the corral with no sign of stopping, I initiated a less-than-graceful dismount before she could manage to do it for me.

And then I spent the evening licking mental wounds that hurt much more than the bruises I incurred.

And then I spent months making it up to her.

You see, I'd asked for something that was too hard. I should have recognized Acey's obvious signals that she wasn't prepared to attempt a trot. Had I waited another few days, another week, maybe more...until it was easy...then it would have been time.

The second time around, I remembered. I led Acey back through all her groundwork, and didn't so much as put a foot in the stirrup until I was sure she was prepared to stand quietly when I did so, despite her bad memory of that last, fateful ride. Then I spent days getting on and off, never asking her to move.

Eventually, when she felt relaxed and balanced beneath me, I requested a pivot. She obliged. We backed a little, sidepassed some. A few days later, she moved forward -- just a few steps, and we wrapped up the session there.

The weeks since have seen extraordinary progress. We've walked over and among obsticles in the round corral, practiced bending, and reinforced one of my favorite commands: whoa. We've even left the round corral for a couple rides along the road, which she has handled with admirable quiet and enthusiasm.

Have I asked for a trot? A few times. Have I gotten it? A few steps. Have I requsted more? No. Because it isn't easy yet.

Any decent trainer knows to break concepts into bite-sized chunks. But this goes a step further: You don't introduce the next chunk simply because it's the next puzzle piece that's supposed to fit. You wait until it comes naturally.

The day will come when Acey offers to trot. It will feel almost as though we've done it a hundred times before. It will be simple, not scary. Fun instead of forced. We'll wonder why we ever worried.

It will be easy, because it will be time.
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Downhill Climbing: Old Selam 2010

2010-09-11T07:57:00.006-06:00

At this time last week, I was high on a forested mountain trail, grinning and still holding Consolation in as she sped toward the first water stop on the first loop of the 50 mile race at Old Selam. She had her wits about her, but she was moving out, and I was in love.

We'd driven to ridecamp the day before -- just the two of us, alas, because Ironman had to work -- and selected an easy parking spot at the far end of camp. I spent the early afternoon setting up my "living quarters" in the stock trailer, which works quite well when I camp alone, so long as it doesn't rain. There's plenty of room in there for a kitchen and cot, saddle rack and feed, and the hay platforms at the front of the trailer serve nicely in place of bureau drawers.

Homemaking complete, I helped myself to a beer and haltered Consolation for a reconnaissance walk around camp. We found Amanda settling in with Kophy, her gray Arab all set for his first 50-mile attempt, at the opposite end of the main drag. Wayne and his mare Obsidian were nearby, too, though Elly was on call and couldn't be there. All told, the crowd was relatively small, but the faces familiar.

It was a pleasure to finally not only recognize people, but to actually be recognized in return. The endurance crowd has always been friendly, but as with most tight-knit groups, it takes a while for a newcomer to integrate into the fabric -- especially if said newcomer is too shy for her own good. At this ride, at last, I felt like I could sit down about anywhere and have someone to talk to. I intend to remember this every time I see a newbie at a ride!

Anyway, Consolation and I enjoyed a restful night despite the chill, and I woke promptly at 5:00 a.m. despite an alarm clock failure. Consolation demonstrated her usual distaste for having her hind boots put on -- as much as I love her Gloves, I'm going to try glue-ons one of these days just to avoid the hassle -- but otherwise demonstrated a pleasant attitude as I tacked up, took a last gulp of coffee, and mounted just as the sky lightened to gray.

We spent a full 20 minutes warming up, taking no chances since this was Consolation's first endurance ride since her tie-up in June. Even after the trail opened, we alternated between walking and trotting for the first few, uphill miles, just to be sure. Finally, sensing not a whiff of trouble, I let her move out.

We found ourselves somewhere in mid-pack, traveling in a bubble between groups, and Consolation cruised along eagerly for a couple miles before we were overtaken by Annarose on her bay mare, Ginger. Three more riders joined us as we tipped over the brink of the mountain and started down a winding logging road.

Those three were the first to comment on Consolation's downhill trotting prowess -- but not the last. We heard the same compliment at least four more times that day. And it was true. Always smooth, Consolation is particularly skilled at skiing downhill at a brisk clip, well-balanced and under control. Downhill trotting is hard on a horse's knees, of course, and we usually avoid it during conditioning rides. However, it may prove one of her greatest strengths during competition. I'm a good downhill rider, and my Stonewall saddle is secure for me and well-fitted for Consolation, so between us we can comfortably cover ground while other riders slow up.

Throughout the race, Consolation and Ginger matched each other well for speed. Annarose was lovely company. Ginger towed Consolation up the hills, and Consolation slithered effortlessly down. Up and down, up and down, through an 18-mile loop, a 20, and then the final 12. No dramatic spooks, no unseated riders, and just one minor detour off trail (oops).

Sometime in late afternoon, we cruised down into camp for a mid-pack finish. Consolation vetted through "a little tired, but not bad," certainly fit to continue, and wasn't even stocked up the following morning. She ate and drank as reliably as ever, and I'm thoroughly convinced that she's ready to try a pair of 50s at Owyhee Canyonlands in a few weeks.

I hung around to volunteer (pulsing, mostly) until the middle of Sunday afternoon, then loaded up for the drive back to In the Night Farm. Three hours later, Consolation stepped out of the trailer looking fit and frisky as could be, and spent the evening cavorting about her paddock with Acey and Ripple.

She's on holiday for a couple weeks now, but in the interest of tie-up prevention, we're enjoying some short, evening rides. Yesterday, we trotted a few miles along the country roads in the setting sun, bareback and smooth as could be, uphill and down.
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Surf and Turf

2010-08-29T08:10:00.003-06:00

I haven't died. Really.

I'm still alive and, I might add, quite touched by all your kind comments on my last post (The Golden Pony). You're the reason I write, my friends -- it's good to know you're reading. Also, I registered your requests for a post on equine exertional rhabdomyolysis (aka myositis or "tying up"); my efforts in that direction have developed into a series of draft posts, so stay tuned.

Anyway, I've been absent from the web due to work-related busyness followed by a much-needed vacation. I spent 9 days rafting the River of No Return, a 90-mile stretch of the Main Salmon that runs through Idaho's Frank Church Wilderness. I'll post photos on my companion blog, NightLife, as soon as they're processed.

(By the way, I just moved NightLife from Blogger to WordPress and am working on a similar transition for The Barb Wire. Thoughts? Opinions?)

ANYWAY (geez, I'm distractable today), Consolation and I are now preparing for next weekend's endurance ride -- Old Selam. If you're in the area, be sure to check out the ride flyer and Facebook page. Also, this ride has an interesting history. I wrote up the story a couple years ago.

Consolation and I are planning to do the Saturday 50. It will be her first race since she tied up in May. Because my schedule has been so hectic, I was reluctant to ask her for a 50 until a more experienced friend pointed out that she's fitter than a lot of horses that people enter, she has a good base from last year and this spring, and horses maintain their condition during rest much, much better than human athletes do. We'll take it slowly (as if Consolation would permit me to overwork her even if I tried!) and enjoy the scenery.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have packing to do!
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The Barb Wire

Why Are You Here?

Anybody Here?

Closing up Shop

Canyonlands Story is Up

Aaruba is on Wordpress

In Case You Missed It...

Moving Day

The Big Easy

Downhill Climbing: Old Selam 2010

Surf and Turf

The Golden Pony

Sweat Stains

Eddy Turn: Owyhee Fandango 2010

It's That Time Again!

Cantering Conversations

Sticky Sixty: Owhyee Spring 2010

Rough Road Ahead

Fit for Fifty!

Shot in the Dark: Restoration

Lessons in Losing

Squalls and Intervals

Quick and Dirty

Another Round

On Consolation

Ramping Up

Wind in Our Sails

On Riding On

Tempest

Liberty Work

Shot in the Dark: Wisdom

Golden Days

The Making of a Monster: Owyhee Canyonlands 2009, Day 5

Riding Aside

Down the Rabbit Hole: Owyhee Canyonlands 2009, Day 3

Desert Storm: Owyhee Canyonlands 2009, Day 1

Sunset

Fit to Continue

Shot in the Dark: Renewal

Ready, Partner?

Doin' It Again

Emotion in Motion: Turning Spooks into Speed

High-Gloss Finish: Old Selam 2009

Ride!

Ready...Set...

On Endurance

Beginner's Luck

Shot in the Dark: Trust

Oy, Presents!

Shot in the Dark: Wildness

Introducing Inara

Primal Riding, Anyone?

Not Quite Tough Enough

Insider Edition

Fit to Ride, Part Six: Milk Got You?

Fit to Ride, Part Five: Eating Green

Independence Day?

Shot in the Dark: Partnership

Setback...but Back

Fit to Ride, Part Four: Sweet Surrender

Fit to Ride, Part Three: Eating Clean

Fit to Ride, Part Two: Vice and Advice

Fit to Ride, Part One: Going for the Goal

Straight Sailing: Thoughts on Fitness for Endurance Riders

Shot in the Dark: Commitment

Wallflower Abloom: Volunteering at Owyhee Fandango International 2009

Bouncing Back

Shot in the Dark: Victory

Shorts Stories

Mentor in Motion

Shot in the Dark: Determination

Doggone It

Dear Choir:

Shot in the Dark: Goals

Message in a Bottle Rocket