Our first couple trail rides at the ranch were about as perfect as they could possibly be. Fritzy was very well behaved. She doesn't mind where she is in the line up. She can be in the middle, back or front. She does it all. She doesn't complain. The only thing she does do is get impatient about stopping. She just loves to go, but impatient is her nature. She did stuff on the trail rides that I never thought I'd ask her to do, nor that I thought I would feel comfortable doing with her.
I knew that I wouldn't have to worry about Fritzy having a spazz out moment, jigging, or spooking at butterflies and dandelions. She was about as solid as a trail mount could be, except for a few minor things.
I was very proud of my girl and of myself. For anyone who has had confidence issues with a horse, knows what I am talking about. It might have taken me 4 years to get to where I was at in my confidence with Fritzy, but as long as I got there, that is all that matters. I was just so happy to achieve that one very important goal in my life, riding Fritzy with no fear.
Friday evening was martini night. I don't drink hard alcohol, so I stuck to my light beer. All of us girls had so much fun. I think it was the most fun night I have ever had at a Stampede. ( I know, I should have disguised my beer in a martini glass! Silly me!)
The food was absolutely fantastic as usual! When Italian night came around, I ate two plates of food. Yes, TWO plates! Yummo!
Saturday evening was the night that we were going to be practicing for the rodeo. We set up the barrels and had the pole bending equipment ready to go. We all went into the arena to warm up our horses before practice would start.
I was still undecided which category I would be entering. For our rodeo we have a walk, trot and lope category. I have always done the loping (full speed of course!) category with Brandy, but with Fritzy, well, I wasn't sure that was going to happen. I was pretty sure that I would not be in the running for the Rodeo Queen crown this year.
During the warm up, I decided to lope Fritzy. I have not loped Fritzy in 3 years. The reasons for this are:
1. Fritzy has not been my priority. Brandy and Chance are priorities. Brandy is the horse that I do most of my trail riding on, arena work on and I have never had confidence issue's with her.
2. When I did ride Fritzy, before I started trail riding her again this year, I would only walk and jog her. I did not feel comfortable loping her with such low confidence, which could cause a lot of problems. It took me 3 years to be able to take her on a trail ride again.
3. Fritzy was purchased for my OH to be able to go trail riding with me. She is my horse (he would tell you that she is his), but he wants to ride her when we go trail riding, and he won't ride her in the arena.
4. Now that I have my Mustang, I am limited on time, so now Chance is a priority. So that means Fritzy gets moved to 3rd on my priority list.
I lope her to the right first, which is her good way. She did fine, a bit fast, actually really fast. But we did it. I was happy. Then we switched directions and I loped her to the left which is her bad way. BUT I am not going to make excuses for my horse. I don't care if it is her bad way, she is NOT a bucker. Yep, I said it. A bucker. She might have dumped me 4 years ago, but that had nothing to do with loping, nor did she dump me because she was being mean and wanted to intentionally throw me. As we were loping around during warm up, I felt her head go down and she bucked. Yep. Flashback. She bucked a few times, I got control of her head and got after her. I expected to feel that sick feeling in my stomach, but I did not. I made her lope again and she tried bucking again. I got after her and kept her going. I made her lope until she was calm, relaxed and slowed down, which felt like an eternity. Then once she was relaxed, I let her stop.
But I was in shock. I have never seen this horse buck, besides when she dumped me 4 years ago, with a human on her back, EVER! She never tried to buck before I was dumped, and she never tried again after I was dumped. EVER!
My confidence wasn't too shaken. I felt that it could possibly be that she hadn't had a person on her back loping in a long time. But then I went to thinking that when she was barely broke and my trainer was pushing her really hard, she never bucked. So why is she bucking now? I just thought I would let it go. I got after her and made her do it again until she was good.
I was not going to let a few bucks get in the way of an already great week. Nope, not gonna happen!
The next day was rodeo day. In warm up while we were waiting for full use of the arena, I loped her again. I wanted to see what she would do. I started loping her good way, to the right. She had not tried bucking going this direction the night before. I cued her into the lope and a few seconds later, she shied away from the keyhole rope and started bucking. That was it. I was pissed. Very pissed. Okay, I am not one for swearing much until I get really mad. I got after her, and made her lope again. She again shied away from the keyhole rope (which she saw the day before) and tried bucking again. This is when I felt she needed some ground work done. So I did some lunging for respect (Clinton Anderson) and made her go back and forth hard. She was dead tired after that and responding to me very well. So I got back on and the rodeo was about to start. I had decided at this point that I would not be entering the loping category and would be trotting.
We made it through barrels, poles and keyhole, trotting. She was fine. It was getting so hot that we decided to skip the relay race so we headed out of the arena. I wasn't more then 25 feet from the arena gate when Fritzy hunched her back, put her head down and started to do the full on bronco buck. Seriously? I had a Gatorade in my hand and threw it down, shortened my reins and yanked her head up and she was still hunched up and trying to buck. I put her into a one rein stop and made her circle around numerous times. All the while my mom was yelling for everyone to whoa, I was yelling and I was NOT happy. I had a little anxiety because all those bad memories came flooding back. I could not believe that I was just walking my horse out of the arena and she decided she wanted to dump me. What the hell? So I ended up doing a lot more lunging for respect with her, literally, until she could barely move and she did not want to even look at me.
Fritzy will be going back to boot camp, I will be starting serious ground work and I will get back up on her for some serious riding. I am done. I lost it a little after the whole ordeal, but I have realized that I can't let this horse shake my confidence, AGAIN, not when I have just gotten it back. I don't know what was causing her to buck, most likely that she was telling me that she was done, just like I was telling my sister earlier that day that I felt that she was pretty much just "done" and I could tell. But I don't care if she thinks she is done, she is not done, until I say she is done. I am okay, I did not get thrown, my confidence is okay, just a little shaken up. But I am not getting that scared feeling in my stomach like before. So I know I can do this.
Since I didn't enter the lope category, I couldn't compete for the Queen title. BUT, I did win the Princess title! Whoo Hoo! I am now the Pony Cousin Stampede Rodeo Princess! Even though my horse tried to throw me a few times!
26 comments:
Great post and pics and congrats on the princess title!
We had a horse that used to HATE to lope or canter and would do the bucking thing. I wish we had the ability to work and train it out of him but we didn't. We ended up selling him to a woman who only wanted to do walk/trot but was also married to a guy who COULD train him right. YOU have that ability too - this will all work out. She just needs time and work.
Good luck!
ps - seeing those pics of your sis makes me miss her blog!
Congrats, Rodeo Princess! Good for you for hanging on!
Kick A$$ Cowgirl! Congrats on sticking the bucks and for being as strong as we know you are!
"Royalty" suits you ;)
Yikes. Is it possible there's a pain issue on one side? It seems so weird when it happens.
Glad you're okay, but I have to say, as a former "bronc" rider, I'm all for sending confidence busters on their way. Maybe I'm shallow. But you rode it out, that's something to be proud of.
Congrats on the rodeo princess!
Holy crap Fritzy! Pissy mare syndrome much? What a bugger.
When I have a young horse trying to go "western" on me when I first lope/canter I keep loping or cantering them until they are real tired, then I push them just a little further then I let them stop and walk or trot depending on the horse and it's attitude. Then I go back up to a lope/canter again. Indigo is not a bucker but shes thrown in some little bucks and crow hops here or there when she hasn't been worked for a wile and we go back to cantering. This works like a charm every time. When I get on a horse I want them from the way I work them to go "Holy crap I might be loping for a long time I better slow down or I might get real tired real quick" works with trotting now too. I never thought I would get a nice jog out of Indigo right from the cue, before I had to do a little bit of rein jiggling to get her to calm down and jog, now it's automatic cause she things "Gee we might be doing this for a wile, I better slow down"
Ride em cowgirl. Glad you weren't hurt and that you stuck with it and handled it well. "She isn't done till I SAY she is done" exactly!Way to go Princess!
I see sadness and frustration in your face in that last picture.....I'm so sorry.
Congrats on the Princess title. There should be a category for the Bravest Cowgirl...because you would have won it for sure.
After that second buck, I would have most likey fallen off and threw in the towel. I'm still not brave enough to fight with a horse, even if they deserve it.
In the photo of her bucking the first think I noticed is that you have a very secure seat. Are you sure you didn't stick velcro to your butt?! (just kidding!)
Seriously, though. With such a secure seat, it's no wonder you don't feel afraid and your self confidence is still intact.
Girlfriend, you can ride! No horse is going to buck you off now, no matter how done they are.
Sounds like Fritzy prefers the trail over the arena games. Apche is like that, too. But she doesn't act like a spoiled brat when I ask her to to do some light arena work if she knows we get to go out and have some fun, too.
Baby Doll was an arena horse and preferred to stay inside the safety of the arena. Everytime I took her on the trails, she crow hopped, bucked, spooked, spun and bolted. Everytime. She hated it.
Do you remember when Bella bucked Jackson? Noone could believe that she would do such a thing because noone had ever seen her try to buck anyone off. But Bella was mostly ridden out on the trails, with a job to do. Once in the arena of our small paddock, just riding around in circles, she got annoyed and pissed and then bucked off my son.
Sounds like the reason you've never seen Fritzy buck when being ridden out on the trails is because she enjoys trail so much. You said she likes to go go go, but doesn't mind where she is in the line-up, as long as she's traveling along.
So it's a good thing that your OH doesn't like arena work. They are the perfect match. :)
I'm glad you weren't hurt riding out those bucks, though. And I'm glad you still had a great time. Two plates of Italian food doesn't sound like much after all.....those plates looked rather small (wink). lol!
Ride 'em Cowgirl!
~Lisa
If you haven't loped a lot with her, it may be that she's upset/surprised by how the saddle fits/moves at the lope - this feels a whole lot different that how it moves at the trot, and I notice you don't use a back cinch (if you were to start using one the saddle might not move around as much, but you'd want to get her used to it without a rider on board).
It could be a physical issue where there is something about the lope that hurts - the muscles move differently in the lope than the trot and you may not have discovered this pain issue before.
Or it could be saddle fit - these issues sometimes never come up until you lope, due to the greater saddle movement at the lope.
Is there anything you might have been doing - such as pinching with your thighs or lower legs - that might have aggravated things?
In my experience, 99% of the time horses don't buck because they just feel like it, or because they want to get away with something or because it's a training problem, they buck because of pain issues or inexperience with the lope and how it feels. It's good that you worked her through it, but you might want to be sure there isn't something else going on, because you may have submission for now but if there's a problem it's going to reappear sooner or later.
Good luck!
Good job girl! It takes a lot to get there but once you do it is so worth it. I'm glad you were able to keep your confidence during a scary time. Horses are amazing creatures and can be quite fickle at times!
Good job for sticking it out. I hate when they do something that blows our confidence. But sounds like you got it together. Agree with what Kate says. Seems to be something there and it could just be the lope itself. If she hasn't been loped for 3 years & now worked for a few days, she could be a little stiff somewhere & loping irritated it. I'd do lots of loping on the lunge with the saddle on & see what happens.
Anyway, big pat on the back for persevering! I know it isn't easy. Been there done that.
Great job getting through and sticking with your mission with FRITZY!!! And though you did not think you would be "royality" again so soon...tieras look so great on you it was meant to be!!!
what a great time we had as always when we are together!
Good answers by other commenters on here. I think part of Fritz's problem is that she is out of synch/shape with loping under saddle with a rider, since it's been a couple of years. She could be a bit sore and just uncomfortable. Also, she could be a bit testy. Yes, trails do seem to be her thing, but you also want to be sure she's a safe buckless mount in the arena, because that means she will continue to be a safe buckless mount on those trails! I was proud of how you handled her, must be all that zooming around the arena on an old Arab with a costume on....boosting your confidence! :) I am hoping you can get some boot camp work done with her before winter....you don't want her to sit all winter on this behavior and then pull her out next spring in an even worse frame of mind. I do think the ground work for respect will do wonders, too!
Great pics w/this post!!
Congrats on the rodeo princess!!
-Pony Girl <3
Wow! What a story! This was really interesting to read...it makes me think of how I am on John's horse, Zora, with the confidence issues. HOWEVER, you rode thru it, which is important. A lot of times we CAN handle the bucking...it is human vs. horse and who is "boss." It sounds like you did well, as evicdenced by the title of "Princess" -- and I must admit, Fritzy sounds like a GREAT horse! Lots of spirit, which is wonderful.
HOLD ON....Let me pick my jaw up off the ground!!! Girl you rock!! Not only am I impressed with your riding skill by getting through those bucks (yes your seat looks very secure in that first buck picture), I am also impressed that you forced her through her crap! I do believe that when a horse hasn't been ridden in the lope in a while it can cause some of that issue. Just like DD's mare bucked one good clean buck the other night coming out of barrel 3 during practice, while I think it was due to her wanting to go and D not letting her I also think being off 3 weeks caused some of that. Of course I know you will definitely rule out any *discomfort* possibilities! I think you will have her corrected in no time!
Now you do deserve Royalty! Princess royalty is awesome!! I do think maybe we should throw in some toughest cowgirl too!!
ps~ LOVE LOVE LOVE the tank top!! I SO have to find me one LOL!!!
You mention that on the second day of loping she shied and then tried bucking. Her attention wasn't on you. I suspect the same thing also happened the first time. She felt your anxiety, no matter how slight, which means your attention was else where. If you watch for the exact second her attention goes, even the cock of an ear, you have to get her attention back. You can do this by turning her back towards whatever her attention went to. As you go by again, if her attention goes back to the scary thing, quickly turn and go past again. She'll soon learn that if her attention strays, things get harder for her. This really works for horses that play on insecurities and also helps to keep you focused because you have to really play attention and react.
Congratulations on your rodeo princess title! I was so proud of your cowgirl courage as you worked through your issues with Fritzy. Fun pictures with your post...just remember, "untamed and unashamed" is the Pony Cousin motto, not Fritzy's!
Way to stick with it!!!
That last picture of you trotting her is a gorgeous picture!
I feel your frustration but it also looks like the old fear did not come back so that's a HUGE accomplishment. Pat on the back for knowing you are in a place now that you can handle this. Smart to do the groundwork. Don't take unnecessary chances. Follow your instincts. And wear a helmet. You asked more of Fritzy than has been asked for awhile so it sounds like you are being tested. I hate to give advice because you do a lot more with horses than I do, but I'll say this much -- don't take Fritzy's behavior personally. You are doing fine and will work this out.
Oh, yeah, I meant to mention that the photo of you all riding in the stream is beautiful. Looks like a great place to ride.
Fritzy is beautiful. You could send her to my house any day. I have always wanted a black and white. ;)
Congrats on the Princess title.
Overall is sounds like you and Fritzy made huge progress and covered a lot of miles. Bucking at the lope, particularly when horses have not been loped for a very long time is so common. I'm glad to hear you came out the other side with your confidence intact and actually got mad about it. You'll get Fritzy lined out in no time.
As I was reading your post, which I did with great interest, two hunches kept coming back to me. the first one is that I think Kate might be onto something when she says that saddles and everything feel so much different at the lope. Maybe she felt there was too much banging...NOT that you bang around up there, I am very sure you are a quiet rider. I am only trying to see ot from Fritzys point of view. naughty little, pretty mare!! But the second bigger thing that I couldn't help but think is that I know several horses who simply do not like to be in the ring. I know you were not in a little tiny ring, you were at a rodeo! Still, I wonder if Fritzy is great on the trail because it's just that, the trail. I know my horse and at least two others where I keep my horse , get very fussy in the ring, and ESPECIALLY at the canter. It is such a pain really, but there is something about being in that space, being asked to do things that really bug them. I wonder if Fritzy is one of those fussy ring horses. Not that it is any excuse, but I think I am mentioning it to let you know you are not alone!!!
Also, Paint Girrrrl, I think you are so awsum and I was very happy to read this post, even if Fritzy had some stinky moments.
I was thinking about you the other day. My blogger friend Kacy (All Horse Stuff) up in Washington has mentioned several times that her dreams of doing dressage with her horse is never going to happen. Her TB mare loves, loves the trail andwill go anywhere she asks. She'll ride in the ocean, through rivers, and up and down mountains...but in the arena she fusses, spooks, bucks, side jumps and just acts pissy and unruly. She just can't gether under control enough to make her mind and pain attention when she rides her mare Washashe in the arena.
Maybe this is the situation with Fritzy, too?
Another blogger friend, A, M & D Ranch recently retired their barrel racer gelding because he wouldn't stop rearing while in the arena. He'd just decided he was done with barrel racing and rodeos and wanted to ride trails only. He is a much happier boy now that he's only ridden on the trails, too.
I think, like people, horses have their own interests, likes, dislikes and passions. Yes, we can force a horse to do what we want.
But will they be happy, willing and cooperative? And at what risk will this be to the rider and even the horse?
Just something to think about....
~Lisa
Paint Girl...I am so proud of how you handled Fritzy. I watched the anxiety in you that day, and believe me you are an inspiration to all of us! That's how it's done! And i WISH I could sit a seat like you do! Maybe someday....
Paint Girl...I am so proud of how you handled Fritzy. I watched the anxiety in you that day, and believe me you are an inspiration to all of us! That's how it's done! And i WISH I could sit a seat like you do! Maybe someday....
YeeHaw!!!! Congrats on your new title. Sorry to hear about Fritzy's bucking issues. As everyone else has already said, it could be for a myriad of reasons.
At least you have some time to work with her a bit and see how she does. : )
Yeehaw! Congrats on winning princess! And YOU GO GIRL! Way to cowgirl up! Goodness, that was a bit of a nail biter! I'm glad I'm a slacker and didn't have to wait for the second post! lol
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