Archive for August, 2004

AUGUST 25 CLINIC: EVALUATING A NEW HORSE

Ruben Morales evaluated a Quarter Horse Mare, Sunshower. Challenges the owner experiences with the mare are bucking under saddle and in the paddock. The owner wants to discover why she is bucking and how to stop it. Ruben performed several initial tests to which the mare did not show signs of a typical bucker. Sunshower conserved her energy, and was not concerned about the pressure applied to her in the various exercises until Ruben placed the cinch on Sunflower. It was clear that she never accepted the cinch in the first days she was started under saddle. The solution is to go back to square one and apply pressure and release until she totally accepts the cinch. The next step would be Bucking Control, the topic of a future clinic.
Images © Ona Kiser Equine Photography.
gold mare
gold bucking mare

AUGUST 18 CLINIC: PROBLEM SOLVING II: BOOSTING HORSES’ CONFIDENCE

Ruben Morales worked with the Morgan mare, Dutchess, to improve her confidence and response level and show how quickly resistance, fear and over-excitability can disappear. Dutchess was unmatchable for two years, living in a field in all seasons. Ruben saddle broke her in the August 11th clinic, and in last week’s clinic he boosted her confidence by asking her to walk over strange surfaces such as a tarp, bridge and pole on the ground.

whip
tarp resistance
tarp acceptance

AUGUST 11 CLINIC: PROBLEM SOLVING I: INTRODUCTION TO THE SADDLE

Dutchess is a young Morgan mare who lived outside in a field for two years. Her owners finally decided it was time for her to come in and start her under saddle. In this clinic, Ruben introduces the mare to the saddle and helps her work through her resistance to it and gain confidence.

whip
tarp resistance
tarp acceptance