Mouses's Journal - 2003
January 1, 2003
Here's a summery of the last few weeks... Mouse is doing great; I've taught her to move away from pressure (so that I can shift her butt or shoulder over when cleaning her stall), she's doing great being tied, and she's finally figured out the whole standing on three feet thing. I've also started ponying her off Jo Lee... yesterday we went for a lovely ride around the farm. Mouse only "escaped" twice... and was no problem to catch (I didn't even have to dismount Jo). She's also become a pro about trailering... steps right on without a problem.
Mouse currently stands just a shade over 14hh, at about 8 months of age. She's almost as big as Jo Lee!
January 4, 2003
I took the girls out for a ride around the farm again, and they were both really good. We did a little trotting; I think Mouse is starting to get a hang of it. I also spent some time working with Mouse's feet, and introduced her to the clippers. She was a very good girl! :)
January 6, 2003
Yesterday, I was really stupid and I totally screwed up. It was a beautiful day, and I wanted to ride. I also wanted to work with Mouse. So I took my mare and Mouse out for a trail ride. Mouse was really good... we ran into traffic (no problem), four-wheelers and dirt bikes/motorbikes on the trail (noisy, but ok)... the problem was that I overestimated Mouse's energy, and I wore her out. I was very lucky that I was able to call Dorothy who has a truck and trailer to come pick us up, because Mouse was very tired and didn't want to go any further. And when draft babies don't want to move, they don't move! I feel really bad, it was a stupid thing for me to do, and I'm lucky that this morning Mouse seems none the worst for wear. BUT, I certainly won't be doing that again!
January 12, 2003
We went for a nice short ride around the farm today, except Mouse had a few moments where she planted, and other moments where all she wanted to do was run! Babies, I tell you, they're nuts!! *G* I really have to work with Mouse on the ground more; making her move more forward, but I'm not exactly sure on how to go about it. She can be very stubborn when she wants to be! Jo has been very tolerable of her stopping, and been awesome for rounding Mouse up the three times she got away on me. Jo Lee would have made a very good cow pony in her youth!! And Mouse is so hairy right now... after her few little romps today, she was a bit sweated. I don't want to clip her, though, because I don't have a blanket for her and she'll be too cold. :)
January 13, 2003
I worked with Mouse in the round pen today, in an attempt to teach her to trot when I ask her to (instead of her usual "plod" and "plant"). I sort of used a bit of Parelli, because I believe it to be a system that might really work with my potentially giant horse. So, I got Mouse out of the field, borrowed a dressage whip, then began.
I started by playing the first two Parelli games with Mouse (the friendly game and the porcupine game, which are the only ones we've really started), then started with the Driving game. Sometimes she would move away from my hand really well, but other times she would move INTO me, like swinging her butt at me. Not good! When she did that, I pushed her away (porcupine game), the if she kept pushing into me, I used the whip.
Then, I put her along the fence line, held the lead in my left hand and the whip in my right, and asked her to move forward ("Mouse, walk on"). If she didn't move from the slight cue from the lead, I noisily sliced the air behind her with the dressage whip (really whipped it, but not touching her) 8 times, then gently tapped her hind end 8 times (counting out loud, then saying "Mouse, walk on"), then slightly harder for 8, then finally a good smack until she moved forward. As soon as she moved, I gave her lots of praise. We went around the round pen a couple times, with the only real trouble was her moving away from the fence and into me. But we sort of got that fixed.
Then, after I could get her to move forward nicely at a walk when I only whipped the air behind her with the whip, I moved onto "trot". I did the same progression, but cued her with "Mouse, trot on" and clucking. It took getting to stage 4 with the whip the first time, but then she seemed to get it down. She didn't really trot for very far (a dozen or so strides) but it was definitely a big improvement. She was really good, and will now trot beside me with me slicing through the air with the dressage whip, or a gentle flick with the end of the lead rope. Of course, we need a lot of practice, but essentially I feel much better about working with Mouse as now I'm not as worried that I'm going to have that problem when she's 17+hh!
January 14, 2003
I didn't have much of a chance to work with Mouse today, as work beckoned (got hate that!), but I did manage to practice what we learned yesterday. While leading her out to the field, I asked her to trot ("Mouse, trot on" and clucked) and when she failed to respond, I lightly flicked the end of the lead rope behind me, so it hit her hind end. Boy, did she remember that part! She trotted really nice after that. So after a bit of trotting, I stopped her, praised her and gave her a good rubbing. Then we repeated. Hopefully, as time progresses, she will become even more responsive to my vocal requests.
January 17, 2003
Mouse continues to do really well in the morning when I lead her out to her paddock with Jo Lee... she moves much faster now when asked, but we do have a lot of refining to do... a little less "bump and stumble" if we can! Jo Lee is doing really well to; eating all her hay at night (for the most part, I am giving her a lot). Jo Lee is still coughing, and Mouse has the odd dry cough in the morning too. Both are eating very well though. I suspect it's just the damp weather and the hay, but who knows. Today was another gorgeous day, and tomorrow should be too... too bad I'm working until Sunday (when it's supposed to rain!).
April 10, 2003
And so we continue... Sort of started Mouse ground driving today, and quickly realised that we need to get the lunging a little more perfected and some sort of driving reins (not sure about the headgear yet; do I need a bit?). Mouse does try, but she's a baby and has the attention span of such. Plus, I think I confused her.
April 20, 2003
The weather was almost half decent today, so I groomed up the girls and shot some pictures. I finally got all the mats off Mouse, but I think she still has a fair bit of shedding to do (or so I hope!). Jo is still tender on her one leg when trotted in hand on pavement, but that sure didn't stop her from tearing around the field at full speed! Mouse needs a lot of ground work; it's just a matter of finding the time. I'm going to see if I can take her to a show this weekend; it all depends on finding a trailer-ride.
April 26, 2003
We had a little bit of an accident today. Nothing serious, thankfully, but still scary just the same. A few days ago, I had Mouse jumping in hand in the ring; just over very low cross-rails as something new for her. Today, I took her into the ring to work on lunging (just 5 minutes or so) and leading, and I didn't bother to shut the gate. Big mistake. Within moments, Mouse had bolted, ran out of the ring, and back down to the pasture where Jo Lee was. She attempted to jump the barb wire fence into the pasture, and caught her hind legs going over. She didn't get tangled or fall, but she did get several scratches and scrapes. I cleaned them up, and applied Furacin; I'll have to keep a very close watch to ensure they don't get infected. Thankfully, none were deep or bled much. Geez... I guess showing her that jumping was fun wasn't a very good idea after all!
May 11, 2003
Well, Mouse's legs are healing up just fine, thank goodness! She's all shed out and shiny; looks gorgeous! Jo lee looks really good too; fat and sassy, and forever the boss. On the downside of things; the good weather has caused her to become very wheezy, so tomorrow she'll be moved to an area with less grass.
May 19, 2003
Mouse certainly has an interesting tail! It's greying out! Who'd have thunk it! :)
May 26, 2003
I worked with Mouse in the ring today, and then gave her a bath... she was AMAZING! Didn't move an inch while I hosed her, even for her face. She's such an amazing girl... I can't wait til she finishes growing! Speaking of which, she's just had a growth spurt... 15hh at the shoulder, and 15.3hh at the butt!
July 6, 2003
Mouse is doing good; she's 15.1hh at the shoulders, and 16.1hh at the butt. She's fat, too! Today, she developed a golf-ball sized lump under her jaw, but her temperature is normal, so I suspect it's from erupting teeth, and not anything like strangles. I'm calling the vet in the morning, though, just to be on the safe side.
July 7, 2003
Vet says there's nothing to worry about... Mouse is probably just teething, or has chewed on a splinter or something. Phew!
August 5, 2003
I took Mouse for a loooong walk yesterday, by the end of it, I wouldn't be surprised if we traveled about 8km. We walked past al sorts of vehicles, walked along a very busy highway, through bushes, down a railroad track, through a gravel pit, and under a low-flying jet, and Mouse was just awesome. She had two or three little spooks (when going along the highway; big fast trucks are scary!), but no major incidences.The whole point of the walk was to visit Teri, and her 2002 filly Cassie (QHxBelgian X SC Fury). Finally, we got there, by which time Mouse was a little sweaty and a lot more dirty then when we started. What can I say, she's kind of fat and needs the exercise! *G* So, Teri brings Cassie out for a visit, since they hadn't seen each other in almost a year (they hauled together to Vancouver Island, and then home). Then, with behavior I have NEVER seen from my sweet, loveable, cuddly Mouse, she pins her ears, spins around and nails tiny (comparatively) little Cassie in the chest with her hind hoof! THWACK!! Apparently, Mouse (who has chewed with every other horse she's met and been very submissive) picked up on some of Jo Lee's dominant behavior, and has decided to fill her shoes now that Jo is gone. Well, it wasn't that bad... after Mouse established she was the boss, she and Cassie just settled down to graze. :)September 3, 2003
Mouse, as usual, is doing great. She's my "wonder pony"! And, I'm still wondering what colour she'll finish. :) Did I mention how big she is now? 15.1hh in front, and 16.1hh at the hip. A few things are up in the air at the moment, so I hope a few new pictures will suffice until I can get everything organised again. This time of year, we are fighting the battle of the burrs! :)
September 14, 2003
Well, worked with Mouse today, what a doll! Saddle and bridle, no problem. Only made a few faces while trying to spit out the bit. Lunged a bit too, even with the stirrups down and flopping about; still no problem. Mouse, you're amazing!
September 26, 2003
Well, as always, life is always changing. As one door closes, another opens, and so on.
Mouse and I have departed the South island, moving back north to resume our previous roots. Fortunately, I was able to get my old job back, so that's one less stress in my life. Mouse and Taylor now reside at Mystic Woods, and seem to be getting on pretty good. It has been established that Taylor is the boss.
Taylor is a nice horse. I think he's spent his whole life on the show circuit, so this is a nice break for him. He definitely deserves it. He spends his days grazing in a nice field, and gets to go trail riding. He's not as good on the trails as Jo Lee was, but with practice, he'll get better.
Anyway, back to Mouse. I took her for a short "pony" ride with Taylor the other day, both handled it beautifully. Mouse is getting so fuzzy again; I think she'll be a yak again this winter! And you should see how much grey she's getting in her coat. :) What she sheds out to in the spring will certainly be a surprise!
October 1, 2003
We went for a trail ride today! I rode Taylor, and led Mouse, and Corinne (of Mystic Woods) and her roommate joined us. It was great, Mouse mostly kept up and behaved, with a little bit of trotting. Taylor loved it; ears pricked forward as he pranced merrily along. Mouse had a few moments where she looked less than happy (I'm not sure why) even though she was behaving, except for the two times she tried to kick Jake. Bad girl! We really need to work on that...
By the way, did I mention that Taylor took Reserve Open Hack Champion at the English show last weekend? I am very proud of him; we took home one 2nd, two 3rds and two 4ths. Way to go Taylor!
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