Lupin Farm ~ Updated photos of the goat pen in progress

[Farmfresh]

I'm not sure where y'all are getting "longeing", I was NOT talking about longeing at all in any way shape or form. Totally totally unrelated. Horse is not 'restrained' or 'tethered' in what I'm talking about.

I think I misunderstood when you said "longish fat-cotton leadrope". Are you talking about working on yielding and body positioning while on a regular lead rope? Somewhat like is used for training a showmanship horse?

 

[patandchickens]

I'm honestly not sure whether what you're talking (thinking) about is or isn't the same as what I'm talking about

What I'm talking about is basically the same exact thing as you (well, me anyhow) would do in a roundpen with a mostly-stationary horse (i.e., minus the "make the horse trot or canter round and round" parts of roundpenning), where the leadrope is slack and does not actually DO anything at all, it is just to keep the horse from getting bored and wandering off <g>.

You get the horse to lower its head, step one step this way or that way or the other way, follow you around, turn, yield, start, stop, etc etc. Most of it is done at the halt, or moving just a couple steps at a time.

There is a really really good book by Bill Dorrance that's the best description of this sort of thing I know of, but plenty of other more-trendy-popular-spendy NH advocates do at least *some* of this type stuff too.

Mind, I say this as more of a classical dressage and h/j person, NOT any type of NH aficionado

The thing is, it is awfully awfully useful to you and the horse, and can be done anytime anywhere with any horse whatsoever, even when it's on layup for some reason, and pays all *sorts* of dividends when done properly and with emphasis on finesse and 'natural correctness' of the horse's movement.

(btw, sorry, NOT trying to hijack Lupinfarm's journal , and of course there *are* plenty of things a roundpen is somewhat useful for so it is always nice to have if you happen to have the spare change )

JME,

Pat

 

[Farmfresh]

Yes that is what we do for Showmanship type horses.

You can control the horse's body position by your position, small physical cues etc. Kind of a body awareness type training. I have also read Bill Dorrance.

I still think there is more to be accomplished with round penning than any other method I have tried so far. I use classic dressage moves when training my horses as well. No airs above the ground stuff, but all of the collection, extension and moving off the leg exercises.

My old Quarter mare that I used to have competed (and did quite well) in open jumping, hunter pleasure and equitation classes as well as western riding, reining and speed events like barrel racing. I think dressage is the basis of any versatility training. Even western horses move better if they are taught to collect their movement instead of just stumbling along like a lot of them do.

 

[big brown horse]

Hi Lupin, did it arrive yet? Tell us all about it! I love to use a round pen for many of the same reasons FarmFresh mentioned. Have you seen the show Cavalia? AWESOME!!


Hope you are out there right now enjoying the day with your horse! (I was!)

 

[big brown horse]

http://www.cavalia.net/pages/theShow/Inleiding.aspx?lang=EN-CA

I have a horse that is extra playful and he loves "free" time with me in a round pen and even in the arena...no hatler or anything.

 

[lupinfarm]

We're picking up the roundpen next week (Friday) I'm actually putting Mylie up for sale though. The roundpen will still be put to great use with Luna and my future horse. Daina came out, we worked with her a little and while I've been contemplating selling her for a few months I really needed Daina's take on it. She went up for sale last night for $700 to an experienced/professional home ONLY. Detailed that she has NO groundwork training, not very social with humans but WILL come around. She is super inquisitive and really does want to please but she just doesn't know HOW. She needs someone with the right facilities (ie. barn, indoor, stall...) to work with her DAILY and keep at her to bring her along and make her into the fantastic Dressage or Jumper or Eventing mare she could be!

I have a guy coming out tomorrow, sounds like he's bringing his trailer with him. Also had an email from a professional dressage barn out near Guelph so I'm hoping she sells quick. I'll put that money + whatever I make off my saddle + whatever I make off my blanket towards a new, broke but not deadbroke horse that I feel comfortable with. Daina will be scouting for me here and in Calgary.

If anyones interested, I have a 17" Wintec Western, mint condition never used (still has the tags on it from the store!), FQH bars, asking $450 for it

and

78" Weatherbeeta Landa Freestyle with wither relief pads, NEVER used still in the original bag, coral plaid in colour, medium weight (600 denier, 220g fill) great winter blanket (i have one for the pony too and I love it), looking for $140.

 

[ksalvagno]

Sorry it didn't work out with Mylie. I'm sure you will find her a good home though.

 

[Farmfresh]

Hard choices to make. At least you have a good horseman to help you through the choices and to help you find the horse that is right for you.

You might be pleasantly surprised to find a broke horse for only a few dollars more. I am curious as to why you are selling the saddle however. I would probably hold off until I found another horse. It might fit them as well.

 

[patandchickens]

Good for you, I know it is a really hard decision to sell a horse but this sounds like it will really be a good thing for both of you.

I agree though, keep the saddle for now!! You never know, it *might* fit the next horse better than any other saddle you can find for it, and you don't want to be going "d'oh!!" Probably also the blanket, unless you just loathe it and KNOW you definitely want to buy a different one for the next horse.

Good luck with the poeple coming to look at her,

Pat

 

[lupinfarm]

I'd like to keep the saddle but I'm afraid I'm not going to find anything for sale that suits what I need for less than $1000 so I need all the money I can get. So far it looks like my budget needs to start at $1500 and go up, there is absolutely nothing on the market right now! Only weanlings and yearlings and that is not what I want. I want something around 6-8 years old, but obviously if the right older horse came along I wouldn't turn it down at all. Greenbroke to well broke, W/T/C... Western OR English, doesn't matter, prefer stocky built, around 15.2hh-16.3hh, more forward going, trail safe (or thereabouts)...

Horses are really expensive here lol, I've been looking! I did see one 5 year old QH mare I liked but I'd need to sell Mylie and my saddle and the blanket to be able to afford her + find more money lol.

I *hate* the colour of the blanket, and I have no real use for it. I may find a horse that is a 76, no point in having a 78 lol.