First training

Sorry I have not made any updates for a while.  But, several things have happened.  Friday a week ago was a beautiful day and silly me, I thought the weather was going to stay nice a while.  I decided Tadg needed a real good brushing.  I wanted to see how he reacted to being tied and to work all over his body.  I was really surprised at one thing.  When I brushed the left side of his face, he winked his eye every time I brushed around his eye which was to be expected.  What surprised me was that when I brushed his face on the right side, the eye socket flinched as well.  Obviously he couldn't see, but he was still flinching like the opening and closing of his eye.
On Saturday I took him out to play the 7 Parelli games with him.  I was totally amazed at how well he handled all the games with me.  I had to make a few changes such as taping his shoulder on the right when I wanted him to side pass to the left.  Tadg did not seem to mind at all and caught on very quickly to these minor changes.  He even did the circle game in both directions at a walk.  I did not try the trot.  But I was real happy with his responses.  I know he knows the games real well and felt comfortable with the games.
This leads up to Wednesday.  Hannah Buflod came over to work the ponies, so I decided I would have her work with Tadg.  At first all went well.  Hannah played the friendly game and Tadg showed no aversion to the rope being flung around him on both sides.  He also did the circle game at a walk without too much reisitance.  However, when Tadg was asked to trot to the left, all was well, but he could not go to the right.  He wanted to look at Hannah, like he is supposed to do, but he couldn't.  Tadg did a lot of rearing and pawing, but eventually could go half way around.  We took that as a great step since it took an hour to get that.  Tadg will get it I know.  It will just take time.  Hope the weather changes and we can get back to the basics again.  Happy Trails, Marcia

To anyone following my blog, sorry I have not up dated for a while.  I broke my big toe on my right foot and finding it difficult to get everything finished before I was too tired.  Tadg is really doing great.  He is very cautious and does not make Fog and McDuff wait for him to go in the barn first.  He is also very affectionate now.  He nuzzles me when I go in the morning and waits to be petted before going into his stall.  I am anxious to work with him, but I am waiting for the weather to change and there are to be several days in a row of decent weather.

In the meantime Hannah and Houston Buflod are giving me a hand with the others.  They are excellent with horses and young enough they do not mind working in cold weather.  Hannah has been riding Ciaran and Fog.  They both need time with a saddle.  She is such a calm rider.  I love to see her work.  Houston is working with McDuff and Ciaran.  I cannot believe Houston got a saddle on McDuff and rode him in less than an hour.  Like his sister, Houston has a way with the horses.  He looked so relaxed working with McDuff.  Houston has the challenge of getting Ciaran to trailer.  For those that don't know Ciaran's history, he had 2 major trailering accidents and is not real crazy about getting in one again.  If anyone can get Ciaran to trailer, it is Houston.

Tadg is coming along better than I dreamed.  He never gets upset and turns away from me anymore.  I feel many days that I have back my buddy again.  He does not shy much anymore.  If something scares him on the right side, he will stop and turn his head and look with his good eye.  I am sure that is a good indication of his adjusting.  Dr. McFadden of the Lebanon Equine Clinic did an great job and I will be grateful forever for saving Tadg.

I hope to get back more often and hope the weather changes.  Till then happy trails till we meet again.  Marcia

Haven't had much of a chance to update Tadg's re-education lately, but a few things have happened.  I first moved Tadg into a lot with a young mare, 6 month old filly, 14 year old mini and a llama.  He actually spent his time out there standing by the fence that separated him from the lot I normally put him.  So, I decided to put him in that lot the next time.  I switched out a 2 year old gelding, McDuff and put Tadg in with his buddy Ciaran.  He is happier in there and actually played king of the mountain with Ciaran.  There is a huge pile of dirt in that lot and the ponies like to take turns standing on the top.  I didn't see Tadg on top, but he was standing half way.

When I let him back to his stall, for the first week Tadg would go past his stall, turn and wait for me to point into his stall.  Then he would go into his stall.  It was like I had to show him the way.  Yesterday, for the first time, Tadg just walked into his stall.  He still likes to play hard to catch, even in his stall, but I  am persistent and when I do get him to stop, I pet him a while then leave.  With the temperature getting a little warmer next week, I hope to put a lead rope on him and play the first couple of games with him.  I had hoped to get started sooner, but I must admit I do not function well with such cold weather.

I almost forgot that Tadg is much slower moving in and out of the barn.  Normally, he is in a big hurry to get out and equally eager to get back to his stall to eat.  He is careful about moving and does not spook at as many objects as he used to.  That might change once his confidence is built back.  As Parelli says, confidence comes before curiosity and curiosity comes before learning.

Our puppies are growing.  They are now a month old and eating puppy chow.  They are fun to watch and can be seen at connemaraponies.dyndns.org. and pony is the username and password.

Happy trails till we meet again.  Marcia

A new day!

Yesterday, Jan. 7, 2011, Tadg had his stitches removed!  Doc came over and liked what he saw.  All swelling was gone and it does look a very sunken.  The ridge above the eye seems to really protrude now that the eye has sunken.  Tadg was apparently a little upset over seeing Doc this time and almost ran Doc over trying to get out of the stall.  Once they had a lead rope on him, Tadg was good.  Doc sedated him a little and removed the stitches.
Later that day, I asked Doc about what Tadg can do now.  I have been very careful so far about letting him with the other horses for fear he would shake or bump his head and cause bleeding in the socket.  Doc said it would do Tadg good to get back to normal including riding him.  Yea, like I am going to try that right off the bat!  This morning I opened the door to let him out of his home for the past month and let him out into a  pasture (as if there is grass!) with Cariagh, the llama, Moss, the 6 month old, Paddy, the mini, and Nainsi, Tadg's sister.  I thought of a little toddler who runs in  place before momentum pushes him forward. Tadg sort of jumped in place several times before going through the door.  Once out, he would grab some hay and then jumped around.  He was so happy to be on the other side of the fence.
Now if the weather will cooperate, I will begin a few Parelli games with him just to see if he is listening.  A nice thing about Parelli games is that they are played on the left side and the right side.  Stayed tuned for more changes.
Happy trails till we meet again.  Marcia