Spanish Walk Miss-step
So I really contemplated posting this video for the world to see – because I know I’m going to get a whole bunch of flack for it. I guess its to be expected. But I finally decided I should just post it anyway – because if anything maybe it will stop people from doing what I did.
Yesterday I decided to start working on the steps to teach Chincoteague Minnow to rear. After mucking 9 stalls and blanketing/turning out horses – I got a little lazy and rather than bring Minnow into the arena I decided to work with him in his pasture. His pasture that he shares with the two younger Chincoteagues, Blitz and Boomer. I sort of knew it was a bad idea, but I rationalized it with – I just gave the others three HUGE Piles of hay, Minnow is the boss – they will respect his space, and I have worked with one before while the rest were in the arena. What I didn’t anticipate was #1 its winter, there is no grass and grain is a heck of a lot more enticing than hay, #2 Boomer especially really hasn’t learned boundaries when it comes to the other ponies yet, #3 horses vie for their position in the herd everyday – its constantly changing, and #4 I hadn’t “done” anything with any of them in such a long time that they all wanted attention from me. So after saying all that I will first let you watch the video.
2005
Ok, so rather than dwell on the “bad” parts of this video I’m going to talk a little about what did happen that was positive. Minnow picked up that I wanted him to target his legs to the stick almost immediately (I worked with him a little bit before I shot this video – hence why it seems like I started asking for the second leg so quickly – he already had down that I wanted him to target a leg to the wand). Before Boomer goes after Minnow – you might notice that he started mimicking Minnow in an effort to get a treat by lifting his front leg. An interesting concept that I might have to apply to his training later on.
After I shot this video the camera battery died or you would have seen that I immediately removed Minnow from the situation. I re-entered the pasture (without food this time) and took Boomer on a little “space respecting lesson” by leading him around the pasture, asking him to back away from me, and basically respect my area.
Chincoteague Minnow
I then took Minnow into the ring and began working on his leg lifting again. The intent was to develop this into the rear, but as Minnow began walking AND leg lifting I realized he was really beginning to offer me the Spanish Walk. So instead I switched tactics and began asking Minnow to walk forward while alternating legs. We successfully got several nice steps of the Spanish walk and today I’m hoping to fine tune it a little more.
Anyway that was my little adventure in Spanish Walk training – I’m sure I’m not the only one to have a few miss-steps in the world of horse training. Everyday my horses teach me something new.
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Ponies will be ponies, yes? 🙂
Honestly, though, I think I learn a lot more when things don’t go as planned then when everything goes perfectly smoothly.
But, the parts of Spanish walk you did get on film are looking really good so far. Looks like he understands what to do, and with a bit more practice and refinement, I bet he’ll have a pretty neat little Spanish walk.
Regarding Boomer– have you done any previous work with him on spanish walk, lifting legs, or leg targeting?
Or was that all from him just watching Minnow?
In either case, it looked like he was getting the hang of it too!
cheers,
Mary
you made me feel a little better! haha
I was actually shocked at how quickly Minnow got the hang of Spanish Walk – I wish my camera hadn’t died or I would have been able to show him doing it at the walk. He started to trail his back end behind a little but we can definitely work on that.
as for Boomer – I’ve never worked on any type of leg targeting with him. He does know how to shake hands though – but thats about it. I’ve caught him mimicking stuff the other horses do before – and I’m thinking I might actually have to experiment with him – see what exactly he will mimic.
Live and learn! I don’t know why anyone would give you flack for that. Everyone is human and makes mistakes! It’s those that don’t learn from their mistakes that are stupid!
I think that’s a fantastic way to train the Spanish Walk. I can’t wait to see a video of him doing it later on. Nicely done.