Tango "Bongo Mountain" is going to finishing school

[NoniMe]

So, while I don't want to start a training log (I just don't have time to update it regularly...), I did want to let you all know that Tango has gone back into training, or 'finishing school', as it were.

The decision came because I was getting nowhere in teaching him new things, and took a few lessons with a great trainer. She mentioned that he's in need of 'finishing', or learning the subtle things that make a horse very responsive without obvious action on the rider's part...a refining, as it were, of what he already knows. And once he's finished up, she said, we need to start going in a particular direction, give him something to learn and work on regularly. She is cutting me a huge deal on training, and is riding him twice a week and giving me a lesson a week. I know her other horses, and they're all well behaved and well trained (I've ridden one), and I just like her manner of teaching...I get what she's trying to communicate, and so does Tango.

So, she's ridden him 4 times. What I've noticed is that he's quieter in his gait changes, is willing to hold the gait longer without reminding him to do so, and is doing canter departs from both walk and stand on the correct lead nearly every time. He is responding much faster to requests, and more smoothly and without much discussion.

I took him into the big arena (he is not fond of working in there...we've had some serious surprises) today. I let him wander around, as there is a cow pen in the back. Now, normally, he's a bit spooky around the cows; after all, they move and have horns and he just can't fathom their reason for existance...but today, he just wanted to look at them. He went up to, and then nearly into, the cow pen, and just stared at them, sniffed them, and then looked at me as if to say "well, they're behind a fence. Nothing to worry about, Mom." LOL.

Several times a big ferocious schitzu barked at him and ran across his field of vision. He didn't care. Looked at it, and walked off. A crow divebombed us, and again, his attitude was 'hey, it's all good...as long as it doesn't poop on us.'

We worked canter and canter departs on the straightaways, only at the end did I ask for his turn across in the canter. He did amazingly well...stayed in the pace we established, didn't lean into the turn, didn't break gait. We worked trot circles for a long while, and he managed to not break gait but change pace in the trot when asked.

Now, bear in mind these two things are things we've struggled mightily with...he likes to fly; I'm not partial to that. He likes to run into the canter; I'm not partial to that, either. So to have him be so wonderfully responsive and so willing to stay where I ask until I ask for something else is just simply cool.

So, he's being ridden twice a week by the new trainer, and three times a week with me. I'm riding twice a week in the arena, and once a week on the trail (since he really seems to enjoy it...). And that plan works well with my new, crushing class schedule. He seems to be learning a lot; very small rein pressure changes (just an uptake of my wrist, for example) is now enough to get him into the gait I'm asking for. And all this in only 4 rides with the trainer.

I'll update this thread as I can; and bear with me if things are spotty and inconsistent; school is doing it's level best to level me...but I am excited about this new adventure and partnership with the trainer...I am hoping it works really well for a long time.

Best-
Noni

[Crookedblaze]

Oh man, isn't it great finding a trainer? Sounds like he's progressing great! Congrats! I understand your class situation, I'm in a similar one except I'm taking all of my classes at night (yay community college!) so I can have a full time job during the day to pay for my horse obsession. O.o

I can't wait to hear what he's like when the trainer spends some more time with him! I bet that he'll be ready for the next Olympics

[NoniMe]

Oh, I doubt the Olympics...maybe just some local shows. LOL. Or at least behaving properly during gymkhanas and playdays. I'd be happy with that.

I just really like the fact that both Tango and I like the trainer. She's a sweetheart, generous and kind and very, very good. I can't wait to see what he's like after say, two months of twice weekly rides by her...I'm very pleased with his progress after 4 rides only. LOL.

Best-
Noni

[TanyaV28]

Sounds great. I am looking forward to hearing his progress! I always love to read about Tango and you. How is school going?? Are you hanging in there? Nursing teachers can be brutal

[Lady_MCSE]

I sort of had the same experience with Jacques . . . I had my own issues of confidence and riding and whatnot. He has an unbelievably smooth trot. And once we got a saddle that fit him properly, I found that he doesn't necessarily "argue" while under saddle. He pretty much does what I ask.

But then I got to ride a horse belonging to a trainer. WOW! I mean all I could keep saying was WOW. The difference was amazing in how a well-trained horse responds. And I realized then just how "green" my own boy is. I didn't even realize it until I had a comparison. That's not to knock him, if he hasn't had the experience then he doesn't have it. But it sure did give me an appreciation for "finishing."

Sounds like you've got a good situation, congrats.

[Gotta Love Duns]

Oh that is wonderful Noni, I'm looking forward to hearing about your learnings with Tango!

[Buck_a_Roo_Bay]

Looking forward to reading more about you and Tango. You both are doing great.

[AngelPA]

Noni, that's fantastic! But in getting to know you and Tango, not surprising. You two seem to reach for that stars and when you put your heads together you always get them. You are truely a team working as one. Keep your stories updated, they inspire me.

[NoniMe]

You guys are pretty darned cool...thanks for all the encouragement.

Tanya, I don't dislike any of my instructors, and so far, the material isn't too difficult. It's just the amount of stuff to know, to put together...that's what's daunting and keeping the pressure on. But that's all right too....it's how it works. Right? LOL.

What is really great about Tango learning under the trainer is that, as I discovered yesterday, when Tango holds his gait longer, I have more time to pay attention to my form; as that improves, Tango is quieter and less 'messy'...and so I improve more, and so does he. It's a cycle, but a good cycle, if that makes sense.

The trainer doesn't usually teach adults; but she and I are friends before teacher/student, and she adores Tango...she sees in him the same stuff I do; that he's not dangerous per se, but rather simply green and smart and big and strong. She sees his sweetness, and his basically gentle nature...and that's refreshing. A lot of people at the barn are not fond of Tango, inasmuch as they're quarter horse people, and a TB is not their usual breed...and they are very different than quarter horses (apparently; I can't see much difference other than size. I mean, broke is broke, and riding is riding, you know?). Tango gets a bad rap sometimes, and it's not true.

Point in case; the trail ride on Monday? I figured it was sorta just between me and those I was riding with. However, we've gotten compliments from many folks about how well Tango did on trail, from people we didn't go out on. Which makes me wonder just how much of a fishbowl me and Tango are under. But whatever....I'll just keep riding Handsome, and getting training and lessons, and someday, it won't be a surprise that he did well; it will be expected. LOL.

I am hoping that this trainer and I have a long, long working relationship. She thinks Tango should learn to jump; we've talked about it, and she's seen him on the little things I've done with him, and says he'd probably love it; she knows he pulls towards the jumps when I've set them up, so thinks he'd really get a charge out of it. LOL. She thinks that after we've schooled jumps for a while, she'll find a good dressage trainer, and we'll learn some of that, too. I suspect she thinks we're going toward eventing, but cross country scares me silly, so we'll see what happens. In any event, it won't be for a long while before we come to that bridge...maybe by then I'll have gotten my courage up. LOL. We'll see.

But for now, it's just finishing Tango up, refining him, and teaching me. And it's a grand adventure...I was so happy with his responses yesterday that I could just burst. So quick a learner Tango "Bongo Mountain" really is...so fast.

Best-
Noni

[cascy]

Congrads! I'm sure you two are going to do great things one day

[A J]

Sounds like a great situation for you and Tango to advance and work together with both of you learning the correct way with the trainer. Keep us posted on your progress!

[NoniMe]

THanks, Cascy and AJ...

The trainer is as sick as me at the moment, so I turned out her filly and her mare for her, and didn't take a lesson...but set up two ground poles and a small (maybe 18 inch) jump against the fence.

Tango refused once, and then remembered he actually likes jumping, and so wse spent the rest of the 30 minutes trotting the jump and ground poles in endless circles (he was making the circles, not me...) both ways. I was very proud of him...

At the end, they were moving cows from one end of the big arena to their pen, and they stopped them in the corral next to the small arena to set up the crossing. All the cows (some 20 or so) gathered at the far end, and everyone else lined up and made like a human hallway to their pen. The BO sent his dog over, and asked me to help make the cows move. I took Tango over to the corner between the corral and the small arena, and made lots of noise from on top of Tango; between me kicking the rails and hollering and the dog herding, the cows started moving.

What was interesting is what Tango did...he lowered his head, and sort of snorted at them, and then followed them down the fenceline, his body sort of angled so he was watching. When one held back, Tango turned back fast and went back to that area, and I whooped and kicked and hollered again, and Tango 'ushered' it through the gate at the far end of the fence rail.

Then he calmly turned and went back to trotting at the jump.

This from the horse who used to spin and try to bail when he saw a cow moving...now he's herding them. Granted, there was a fence between them and us, and Tango knew it, and granted I was in the english saddle, but I was very proud of him for not losing it and in fact letting me make all that noise and not be upset, and then to follow them down the fence line like that was just waaaaaaaay cool. And then to behave as if nothing unusual happened was sooo funny.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share. He's calming down, is my mighty flighty steed...Tango Bongo Mountain rocks.

Best-
Noni

[Horselessnomore]

When those QH people talk down your horse mention to them that there's a lot of TB blood in some of those QH lines . . . .
Glad to hear that you and Tango are progressing well and have found a trainer that you both like. Keep us updated.
Good luck with nursing school.

[NoniMe]

So, yesterday, I managed to gather the energy and took Tango for a ride. We rode for a long time - more than an hour. We worked on canter departs from walk and trot, and transitions t/c/t without stopping once he got to the trot after the canter.

I am learning how to bring him into me instead of going into him...it helps with collection! I was a tad worried because his canter seemed more 'up' than 'out', like I've been used to, so I asked about that during my lesson today. She said that it's because he's using his behind now, instead of stretching out his fores. It's a definitely a different feeling, and if I can remember to keep my heels down, I'm fine. Otherwise, I lose my stirrups. LOL.

However, during yesterday's ride, in a transition from trot to canter, Beanhead decided he was having none of it...and bucked. As I have been keeping my hands at the saddle/his neck (I've been working on quieter, softer hands...), I managed to brace against his neck and not go over his head. I immediately - IMMEDIATELY!!! - took him into small circles, haunch turns actually, and stayed there for a few revolutions; we then went back into the canter because darn it, he won't win. And he didn't...no more issues at all.

I was rather surprised that he bucked...he crowhops, but this was a definite buck.

Today, we worked on ground poles and jumping during the lesson. She agrees; he likes to jump. He's not at all sure about the poles before and after the jump, and I'm learning how to actually push him through at the pace he needs, but despite all that, he enjoyed himself today, and definitely was proud of himself. He refused it, and then I got him over it...and then lavished praise and pats (and a carrot bite) on him...and he didn't even hesitate the next time, just good paced trot and up and over and then over the ground pole afterwards. Bless him...

Tomorrow, I'll either do barrels or take him out on trail...we'll see what he's in the mood for. He needs to 'stretch' out and run a bit, and get out of the small arena, so it'll probably be barrels...and then trail on Monday.

We have a poker ride coming up at the end of the month, and I'd love to take him out on it and be more confident that he'll be fine. I'm going for sure, but I want it to be a relaxing experience rather than a concerning one. LOL. So we'll spend some time on the trail this week...and take it from there.

Best-
Noni

[enigma]

just watching how far you two have come has truly been inspiring.

[NoniMe]

Wow, Tango's improving so quickly. Today was the first day I've been able to get to the barn, and I got him into the big arena. He ran around; he was kicking and farting and hollering and just being happy and playing. It was so great to just watch him...but I wanted to ride.

I set up some barrels, tacked him up in the Aussie, and we rode. We haven't done barrels in probably 10 weeks, but he recalled what he was supposed to do...and we even cantered between the barrels for the first time. We are having a big event for the next few weeks at the barn; they're setting up bleachers, and all the equipment was moving around and making so much noise and coming in and out of the arena, that we stopped. But he never so much as lost it with any of these things - the grader, the kabota, the electric carts, the clanging of portable fencing and the erection of the bleachers...none of it bothered him. It bothered me, though, so I decided to take Tango out onto the trail for a while, to see if he remembered how to cross the water.

So out we went...he was alert but not spooky, and just happy and moving out. We passed a dog behind a fence who was barking, and while Tango veered to the far side of the trail, he didn't get upset at all. We went down hill at a steady walk, and then through the trees...to the creek.

He didn't remember he could do this, but it took very little time for him to recall it. He went into the middle of the creek, and lowered his head. I let him, figuring it would be a wise thing to let him familiarize himself with the fact that it's just water...when a bright red crawdad went swimming by his nose.

I don't believe I've ever felt him jump straight up before. It's fairly eerie, that maneuver...but somehow, he leapt straight up, and then scrambled for the far side of the creek. And then he bailed...saw an opening in the tree, snorted, squealed and just took off. It took probably 1/2 a mile to get him back under control, but I just kept calm and kept telling him 'shh, easy, shh' and finally he went into a trot and then to a walk, and then to a standstill...still headhigh, but standing still.

We were in the wash, in a place I've never been in before. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to which route he took; I was a bit busy bringing him back under control. So I spotted a treeline approximately where we came from, and figuring the creek was there, I turned Tango in a large circle. I found the trail again, and we continued on to the next creek crossing. He took that relatively well, so we only went a little further and then turned around. He and I traveled well back to the first crossing, and while he hesitated a bit, he did go through.

We went back up the hill at a good, steady walk (although I had to keep a tight rein), and we headed home. Past the dog again, barking...and this time, Tango didn't even bother to move to the far side of the trail; just passed by like it was nothing. I spotted a log, pushed Tango towards it, and we went over it without even thinking about it.

We got back, managed the gate (with the security lock/code), and came back inside the barn. I untacked him, let him roll, took him to the shower, and then, after he was clean and happy, I spotted a trailer. I asked the owner (who boards with us) if I could take Tango in and out, and she said 'of course', so we practiced getting in and out. He did really well; I had to move him out a few times for refusing, and that worked well...bear in mind the last time I tried to practice trailering, he panicked and ran me over...so this was a huge improvement.

At that point, I couldn't ask for any more...and put him up with a good lunch with biotin and grain and alfa-oat cubes and carrots, and just brushed and groomed him for a while.

We had a great day. It was challenging for he and I, with the crawdad spook and the trailering work, but he really has come a long, long way in a short time. He's really trusting me, and it feels amazing to know he's really beginning to see me as someone who won't let him get hurt.

He's my boy, and I am so proud of him and his improvements. He rocks.

Best-
Noni

[cascy]

AWESOME!!!

Just remember, rome wasn't built in a day... But I know how good it feels to know you've got the first few steps down

It's always a good feeling when they start making break throughs and you know the training is paying off!

Congrads Noni, and Tango man! Ya'll are awsome and I love reading your stories! (reminds me of my jake )

[bitgirl_95]

Awesome!

[NoniMe]

We had such a good day...

My barn is having a fundraiser for the next 15 days; Ride for a cure. Today it opened with Mounted Shooting; 30 people racing around the arena shooting balloons...I thought Tango'd be psychotic.

Nope.

I got there, and he wanted some lovin' and food. Got some of both, and then I wandered around. Decided to take him out, and see how he'd do closer to the activity...so we went to the fence, and a few minutes later, I looked over at him; hoof cocked, eyes half-closed...he didn't care about the gunshots at all. And they were loud...echoing off the hills around us; loud enough for some Neighbor McNasties to call the police department (who knew; gave us the permits, for pete's sake...) who came and watched for a while. So there Tango stood, ready to take a nap...I couldn't believe it.

After the lunch break, me and another border decided to go out on trail...and Tango, with one small exception (he refused to go left, but got over himself pretty quickly...) was a perfect horse. I was a bit worried that he'd have issues with the creek because of the crawdad incident, but no...he just went right on through.

We rode farther than I've ever gone...probably close to three miles (maybe a bit mroe), all told. It was wonderful; she's a dear young lady, her horse is a sweetie, the weather was absolutely perfect, we were in the treeline by the creek...it smelt and felt wonderful. Tango behaved really, really well...and I'm so very proud of him.

We have come a long way....from a frightened woman and very dominant horse, to a team that is willing to trust each other and respect each other...it's been a journey, and it's been well worth it. I am very impressed with my horse...my Tangoman Fancypants Sweetcheeks...

Best-
Noni

[dtxn]

<My barn is having a fundraiser for the next 15 days; Ride for a cure. Today it opened with Mounted Shooting;>
Are you at Gibson Ranch? We may be stopping by this afternoon. We're going to a horse show at Foxfield earlier, but will try to swing by later.