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What are you most proud of?

2K views 23 replies 19 participants last post by  HorseyyGal 
#1 ·
What's something that you or your trainer have taught your horse to do that you are most proud of?

Of course I'm proud of my paso's lovely gait but I didn't train him for that so prob his bow, he gets lots of attentsion for it :lol:
 
#2 ·
Great thread idea!

I'd have to say that mine would be taking Woodstock from being a rank, aggressive, unhandled jerk to being a solid citizen that can work a halterless showmanship pattern & doing well under saddle.
 
#4 ·
Love this thread, great idea!! This place needs more happy threads like this, just makes the day so much better :D

The one thing I probably brag about the most about Indie, is how well she does with kids. I didn't really train her for it so much, as just imprinted her with children early in her life and she's just always taken to them so well. At 4 years old she was a lead line pony for my siblings, and now at 5 she is a part-time lesson horse (nothing fancy, she helps teach the basics of riding and so calm about it.).

Besides that? I've taught her how to bow too! LOL I love that trick, best one has to be the (self taught) "get into the house when the door is open" game though. Gotta love explaining THAT one to your mom. Her gait as well, we've been spending the past year trying to really refine Indie's gait and she's been working so hard on keeping it consistent, it won't be long we'll be racking the whole trail.

Overall? I think my horse just makes me proud no matter what. She's just a simple joy, everything is so quirky but gentle, hard not to be proud of her♥
 
#9 ·
It takes time. Woodstock was born here, sold as a weanling to a cutting barn that planned to put him in the show pen and stand him at stud. They came on hard times and he was basically left in a box stall with no outside interaction for 3 years. When I found that out I bought him back no questions asked. It's been a long haul (kicked, picked up by my shoulder by his teeth, struck at, charged at, any bad behavior you can think of, he did it) but it's been extremely rewarding. Don't give up and remember that even though there are bad days, the good ones will come. When I first got him home, it wasn't safe to go in his stall to get his feed pan, had to use a rake. He is now pastured with the herd, comes when I whistle, he even fetches his feed pan and brings it to me. Out of adversity can come the tightest relationships.
 
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#7 ·
I'm proud of everything I've done with Aires. lol However, I'm probably the most proud of how well he handles new situations and things that would set off most horses, especially young green ones. Part of this is due to his temperament, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that I exposed him to a lot when I first started working with him. The other day we were on a trail ride with the dude string and a big diesel dump truck passed us revving his engine (on purpose!). We were riding drag and the three horses in front of us were really nervous and one of them actually bolted and kept trying to run through the fence to the side of the road. The truck passed within ten feet of us (there was really nowhere to get off the road) and Aires was perfectly calm, even letting me ride one-handed as I gestured for the jerk in the truck to stop revving his engine (he was laughing and revving it harder as the horse in front of us bolted! People make me so mad!).
 
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#8 ·
Right now, I'm most proud of the fact that Vanna actually seems to remember me after spending 12 years apart, and that she seems to like spending time with me. I'm also proud of how willingly she accepted a saddle and bridle, and how uneventful our rides are. In 16 years, she has only been ridden 3 times (two of which were by me).
 
#10 · (Edited)
I'm proud of what I have learned from Abby. The only horses I had really ridden before her were deadhead trail horses that wanted nothing more to than to plod along in a line. They knew nothing about leg and seat pressure, so I didn't either. Stupidly, I bought a horse that was way out of my league and eventually, I came up to her level without ruining her.

In the process, I taught her to neck rein. I'm so glad she's a smart horse and picked up on it within a few days. We've been working on using seat pressure to stop and back up, in addition to vocal cues.

Overall, I'm proud of the mutual respect we have for each other. We certainly aren't best friends and I don't think we ever will be. Frenemies is a better term. I'm sure she calls me the same colorful terms I call her when she's being a snot, but at the same time she is well aware that she will be disciplined if she actually tries anything. Though the size difference between us is hilarious (she's 15.2hh, around 1200lbs. I'm 5'7" and 110lbs) and I'm sure me walking up to her wagging my finger because she did something obnoxious and her quickly adopting her pathetic "I'm sorry" face is quite the scene. :lol:
 
#11 ·
I've done a lot with my horse that I'm proud of, but one of my favorite things is his whoa! He has the best brakes. On a lunge line, he can be galloping at full speed, and when I say whoa- he stops so fast, he'll slide in the dirt, or sometimes his butt whips around his shoulders! Kinda hard to explain but it's really cool. He stops just as well under saddle. I'm also proud of how great I've taught him to lunge, all verbal commands and he'll change directions just by me pointing my finger! I think it's pretty awesome.
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#12 ·
I have to say, I'm most proud of all the trust my Arab put into me. He has been my favorite companion. He went from being unbroken, to me being able to gallop bareback, and bitless :) And also, he lays down on command now... its amazing.
 
#14 ·
What I am most proud of as a trainer of horses is that any horse I have worked with has accepted & trusted me as herd leader. Rest was just repitition, pressure & release and butt time in the saddle.
 
#15 ·
I don't know. To me, every ride is rewarding. There is very little in this world that is quite so satisfying as feeling the instant when a horse realizes "OH!! That's what you wanted" and they start doing what you ask, smoother and smoother every try.

Just like this little pony I've been using for daywork in the feedlot. On about day 4 up there, I could feel him trying to glue onto those cattle like he was wanting to go to cutting a bit. That feeling turned into a bit of a conversation between me and him:
Him- "Gah, I know I need to be doing something and pushing that cow somewhere...but I don't know how to get him to the gate....I know that's where he needs to go, I just don't know how to point him there...do I go to his hip or his head?"
Me- "It's okay, let me show you where to go and how to move...just follow the reins and legs and we'll get it done smoothly."
Him- "Okay..............wow, that was pretty easy! Can I try it again...on this cow?"
Me- "No, not that one, this other one over here."
Him- "Okey-dokey....okay boss, help me a little, I'm not sure what to do"
Me- "Just go easy, just like this"
Him- "Yay!! I did it again"
Me- "Good job, little guy"
Him- *goofy grin and a happy little spring in his step* "Can we do it again???"

I know, it sounds a little cheesy, but that's how it felt.
 
#17 ·
Probably the first time I ever started and trained a horse all by myself - no help. He turned into a reliable children's pony and I couldn't feel happier. The most gratifying feeling in the world was swinging my leg over that extra bit and sitting on him for the first time. It was so surreal. the months I spent training him were like a dream come true. :)
 
#18 ·
Gee guys, I realize I don't really have very many things to be proud of. Grateful for, definitely! Proud of, I'm not sure!

I guess I am proud that I can take my horses out by myself on the trails and be comfortable with them, just them and me. And that I taught both of my current horses to side-pass. And that I don't seem to get as rattled by nervous horses the way some people do. I just sort of go-with-the-flow and ride out their nervousness. But I really don't have any major accomplishments to be proud of. Both of my riding horses were already more-or-less trained.

Even the yearling that I raised myself is a brat. :-( So I guess I don't have much to be proud of.

I wish I had a story that I trained a horse and it turned out fantastic.
 
#21 ·
Gee guys, I realize I don't really have very many things to be proud of. Grateful for, definitely! Proud of, I'm not sure!

I guess I am proud that I can take my horses out by myself on the trails and be comfortable with them, just them and me. And that I taught both of my current horses to side-pass. And that I don't seem to get as rattled by nervous horses the way some people do. I just sort of go-with-the-flow and ride out their nervousness. But I really don't have any major accomplishments to be proud of. Both of my riding horses were already more-or-less trained.

Even the yearling that I raised myself is a brat. :-( So I guess I don't have much to be proud of.

I wish I had a story that I trained a horse and it turned out fantastic.
I wouldn't be so hard on yourself. There are lots of things to be proud of. It doesn't have to be a huge thing, I am proud every day when I go out and accomplish something I was trying to. Even if it was jsut to get through the ride without ending up on my head. Or teaching a horse to stand still when being saddled. Take pride in the small things and one day they will all add up to something big!
 
#19 ·
im most proud of my horse gypsy. i got her as a 3yo who didnt know anything. she is now 5 and perfect haha. she is super obedient with out losing her personality. she is great lunging, undersaddle, and over fences. she also ground ties, gives kisses. and gives hugs. i always get compliments on her. not only is she well behaved, but we are always on the same page and we are best friends =]
 
#20 ·
I am super proud of my mare, she came to me at 5 years old a spoiled rotten brat that had gotten away with everything and now she is respectful and although she has her attitude moments will do almost anything I ask. I am also proud of the fact that she jumped 4'3 this summer for the first time. Which might not seem like much to some people but for somebody riding a 14.2HH horse and only been riding english for a couple years I was pretty proud.
 
#24 ·
I'm proud of every single thing about my boy :) He came to me off the track, skinny, agressive & the only thing he knew was to go forward as fast as he could & bulldose everything in his track!

Now we are competing in 90cm/3ft classes, elementary dressage, I'm able to ride & jump him tackless, he canters to the gate when he sees me, he's safe as houses when hacking, he's been ridden by my 3 year old half brother & 60 year old grandfather, oh the list just goes on! I'm just so proud of him in every way :)
 
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