Blog 24: Last Presentation Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

• The fact that I was able to train a wild mustang when I doubted myself before and during the project. This actually help build confidence in myself when facing new challenges as well as working with horses.

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation?  Use the component contract to defend that assessment.

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

• I would give myself a P because I felt like I only did what was asked and nothing extra.

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project? Use the component contract to defend that assessment.

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

• I would give myself either a P or AE because I enjoyed my project so much that I did extra interviews and went to clinics, as well as went to Monty Roberts training facility, and met two trainers known in other parts of the world as well as the United States.(Pat Parelli and Clinton Anderson) 

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

• The support of my family and friends without them I know I would not have had the best outcome for the project. They were always helping in one way or another.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project?

• Find a way to incorporate more mentorship hours as I can't over work my horse so maybe spending a little more time watching my mentor working with their horses/client horses.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

• This project helped me find that I want to do more work with mustangs as well as try to take a stand against the round ups. This project also helped pull me out of my shell and get to talk to people I normally wouldn't and get to make more connections in the equine industry. 

Flag Is Up Farms

I got to go to the Monty Roberts training facility a few weeks ago. While we were there I got to meet Shy Boy and his cousin Skinny as well as people in the process of getting their certification under Monty's training program. We also got to see race horses being worked. I would like to go again and hopefully get to meet him some point in my life.

Entrance to farm

Skinny

Shy Boy

Trainer working on getting certification

Horse graveyard

Yearlings playing in pasture

Driveway of ranch

Horse enjoying the grass

The only way my mom could get a picture of me is with a horse

Extra Interview with Hailey Christansen

One of the girls at our barn went to a clinic taught by Buck Brannaman who I hope to meet some day or attend one of his clinics. So I did an interview about what she learned at the clinic.

1. What type of things did you learn?
1. We worked on feel so when you open your hands low and wide and the horse tips their head so there is slack in the reins you release you give to them. We worked on connecting all 4 feet with ours. So learning when it picked up we could move it. We worked on serpentines tight and wide and learning to turn when the inside leg was up so it could move. We worked on reaching so if you are going in a circle you wait for the foot to step out so it is movable and can do better circles. We worked on backing up soft. We worked on groundwork, on yeilding front quarters and back quarters. So having them cross their legs over the other.
2. What were the purposes of the exercises you did?
1. The purpose was to become one with the horse and connect with them. You are a team, you are not manhandling them you are speaking there language. The first exercise is asking for something and as soon as you give it to me I will give it back to you. Knowing instead of having 2 feet you have 4 and that when each one picks up you can move it smoothly. So you are not trying to counteract and whipping, kicking, and spurring them you are using your energy. So when you want to stop he taught us to sit on our seat bone and to relax and the horse will stop.And when you want to go you sit up.
3. Did you notice a difference in your horses behavior?
1. My horse was the one whinnying and running and going crazy, and looking at everything. And freaking out and at the end of the clinic she was more calm and collected. Then I took her to a different clinic and one of the other gentleman that was running that clinic was like is this the same horse? And I said yes it is, simple things change their minds. She has anxiety, and her anxiety gave me anxiety. So doing the simple exercises and getting a hold of her mind and connecting, when she knows that I know where her feet are and when they are going to pick up, so I can move them she has respect for me and I respect her. We build that trust.
4. Have you notice any behavior changes out on trail or is it only in the arena?
1. Arena is really good. I can get her head and mind really quick. We are still working on precise. To make sure we are doing it right, and not being sloppy, you should start with doing the basics and then slowly work up. A lot of the time we get ahead of ourselves. On the trails, she is doing so much better. She will start to get anxious and I will go straight into the serpentines. I will stay calm and do the soft feel and sit and keep collect, I know where her feet are. If I am there and pulling on her mouth and squeezing the reins she will feel that energy and she is going to go oh no oh no oh no I got to go I got to go. But if I relax and do the serpentines and keep only focusing on her. It is like Buck said, don't focus on anything only focus on your horse. The horse next to you can be bucking and kicking who cares it is your horse. So it has helped me realize that our heart mind and spirit are connected as one. That no matter where you are you will be able to understand each other. So if they get scared you will be like no its ok and vise versa. 
5. Have you been able to pick up what your horse is going to do before they do it easier?
1. Yes, because before it happens you are connected so kind of feel what they are thinking and they know what you are thinking. But you do not want to expect it and act like nothing is happening and then freaking out and scolding them when the behavior you use the energy and put it to use. So you use it as a tool and do something with it instead.

Link to audio:

https://soundcloud.com/kiley-moore/extra-interview

Blog 23: Exit Interview Prep

(1) What is your essential question, and what are your answers?  What is your best answer and why?

• My essential question is, "What are the best techniques to train a wild horse?" My answers are trust, patience, and respect, pressure and release/advance and retreat, and desensitization. All of these techniques help with a calm, loyal, and dependable horse in the end, but without trust, patience, and respect the other methods will not work.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

• Mentorship, interviews, and independent components.

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

• Researching because every horse is different and responds differently as well as every trainer does things differently for every horse. So most of my solid research was done through clinics or interviews.

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

• My mentor helped a ton because she has worked with 15 mustangs and some of which were third strikers so she has seen a bit of everything. My other source was my second independent component since the trainer has worked with horses since he was my age and was always willing to teach me something new when I worked with him and which was why I am continue working with him until the end of the year.

Blog 22: Independent Component 2

LITERAL
(a) Include this statement: “I, Kiley Moore, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.

• John Lambert(horse trainer at W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center)

(c) Update your Independent Component 2 Log (which should be under your Senior Project Hours link)
(d) Explain what you completed.    

• I shadowed one of the trainers, John Lambert, at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center. During training he would explain what he was doing and the purpose behind it.

(e) Defend your work and explain the component's significance and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.   

• Over the 30 hours that I worked with the trainer I was able to learn more about my answer 2 of pressure and release. Even though John has never worked with a wild horse he had become my second mentor in a way as the second independent component is also one of my most valuable resources in researching my project. 

(f)How did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped. 

• This component helped build on my answer two of pressure and release. This also helped me train my Mustang in areas that I was having issues with. The trainer was always willing to help in anyway they could and answered any questions I had. I also got to see the difference in training horses for the show ring versus training for basic trail riding.  I got to see the training preparing for riding and the training after their first ride. I never got to work with the babies but couldn't resist taking pictures of them.

Blog 21: Interview 4 Reflection

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  

• That everything training is and revolves around the horse accepting what you are training them to do.

2.  How will what I learned affect my final lesson?

• That no matter what technique of training you use works because the horse has learned to accept what you are doing to them and they are not fighting you on it.

https://soundcloud.com/kiley-moore/interview-4

Colt Starting Challenge USA

Colt Starting Challenge USA is a competition where trainers will have two 45 minute sessions to work with a horse the first day and one 45 minute session to train a horse to wear a saddle and to carry a rider. After their training the trainers will ride their horses through a obstacle course. On February 26-27, 2016 the challenge was going to be at the George Ingalls Equestrian Center in Norco. I went on February 26 but could not make it the last day of the challenge. Three of the four trainers where able to ride their horses by the end of the first day and two of the four trainers were able to ride their horses by the end of the first session. The trainers that were competing were  Brian Sherburn, Jose Rodriguez, Mary Rose Anderson, and Russel Beatty.

Some of the things I learned:

• when the horse moves away move with them do not try to get them to stop
• get their feet to move you get into their mind
• don't move forward until they get past what spooks them
• harder to buck off their rider when going in small circles
• release of pressure when they relax shows/teaches them what you want
• straight line is a privilege
• curiosity helps in training(they get to see for themselves something is not a big deal)
• when having issues go back to ground work
• want them to come to you but not run you over
• rushing the horse will cause problems
• don't get confident(don't assume anything they will prove you wrong)
• need to stay relaxed and act as if everything is normal
• stick with it they will eventually stop 
• know when it's enough and to stop

Jose Rodriguez took 2nd in the competition.

Brian Sherburn took 3rd in the competition.

Mary Rose Anderson took 1st in the competition.

Russel Beatty took 4th in the competition.

Horse Expo Clinics

On February 5, 2016 I went to horse expo and saw two clinics and saw one clinic at horse expo on February 7,2016. Two of the clinics I went to were instructed by Clinton Anderson who is a trainer I have wanted to meet for close to six years and finally got to meet him! The other clinic I attended was instructed by Pat Parelli who unfortunately I didn't get to meet afterward. I have been using both articles and videos from these trainers for research checks and learned more when seeing them in person than through the articles and videos.

Pat Parelli- "How smart is your horse? Read your horse and encourage his inner genius." 2/5/16
(I only got see the last 20 minutes of this clinic)

• push a horse weight is corrected
• focus is willpower(what you want not what the horse wants)
• push around the horse not pull them around it is easier to get your way
• lower energy=slowing/stopping/stop ridding
• sticks help lengthen our body
• become the lead horse
• use your seat more when riding
• give the horse a chance to do the right thing
• goal is to think like a horse to know how they will react/do in a situation

Clinton Anderson-"Trailer loading T&T" 2/5/16

• getting a horse in a trailer requires experience & feel
• horse wants big open space to see everything(prey animal instinct)
• views trailer as death trap on wheels and makes them feel threatened
• make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult
• approach & retreat
• make them think it is their idea
• start easy and soft then get more firm as horse resists
• ask then tell
• problem is usually a result of fear or disrespect
• can be both but very unlikely
• start with working on the fence then move to trailer
• horse will practice what they know(if disrespectful they will not show respect easily)
• leave trailer when they are calm and respectful/minding personal space/thinking
• find starting point then build off of it
• starts off ugly then becomes pretty stuff
• get them on the ramp then back them off and keep repeating but get them to get farther on every time(builds confidence to get on the ramp)
• when backing off get 10-15 feet away to get a release of pressure
• rest in trailer and make them move and run around outside of trailer
• makes them tired and want to rest so they become willing to get into the trailer
• when lunging(running on a line) switch directions to get them on the thinking side of the brain not reactive side
• greatest reward a horse can get is to be left alone
• approach & retreat = getting in trailer
• moving feet = staying in trailer
• do multiple days before closing the ramp/door and riding in trailer
• break it into steps
• most trouble on basic manners not trailer

 Clinton Anderson-"Spooky Horse" 2/7/16

• need to do both desensitize and sensitize
• desensitize = stay
• sensitize = move
• for calm horse needs many things
• take pressure away when spooking teaches they to spook when that pressure is applied
• take away pressure when the horse shows sign of relaxing or stands for 15 seconds
• danger for horse = anything they don't know
• new side = new horse so treat that side different than other side
• do one part til finished then move to next part
• horses learn from release of pressure
• horse holds breath when scared = tight lips
• something new for first time go a little longer

Pat Parelli instructing his clinic.

I finally got to meet Clinton Anderson!

Blog 20: Interview 4 Preparation

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  What is this person's area of expertise?

• I plan to interview Bridget Powell who is a TIP trainer for Mustang Heritage Foundation.

2.  Post 20 open-ended questions you want to ask an expert in the field concerning your senior project. Your focus should be finding answers to your EQ.

• How do you train a mustang out of dangerous habits such as rearing, pawing, bolting, etc?
• How do you get a mustang to respect you?
• Respect the farrier/vet?
• How do you get a mustang to trust you?
• What type of training techniques do you use?
• How do you get a mustang to not react to everything around them?
• What type of equipment do you like to use?
• What things do you do on the ground to help prepare a mustang to be ridden?
• How do you get a mustang to accept being touched everywhere?
• How do you keep a mustang's attention on you after spooking?
• How do you calm them down?
• How long do you make training sessions and how often?
• How do you end a session on a good note when the mustang is not progressing forward in training?
• Are there any things in particular you like to train a mustang to do besides the basics like leading, riding, tying, etc?
• How do you teach a mustang to accept things in their mouths such as a bit or dewormer tube?
• Does the ranking of a mustang within a herd have any connections to training?
• Is there an order to what you train a mustang to do?
• Is there a difference between training mustangs and the domesticated horse?
• Do mustangs tend to react to training methods the same way?
• Have you had any mustangs that you have not been able to train?

Blog 19:Third Answer

1. EQ 

• What are the best techniques to train a wild horse?

2. Answer #3 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*

• One technique to train a wild horse is desensitization.

3. 3 details to support the answer

• Helps horses get used to new objects that they will see in their career.
• Boosts confidence.
• Teaches horses what to do when introduced to something new. 

4. The research source(s) to support your details and answer

• Source numbers 15,16,17,36,42, and 46
• Clinics
• Interview numbers 1 and 3
• Mentorship

6. Concluding Sentence

• Desensitization helps horses get to know that what ever you bring in to work with them on is nothing to be scared of, raises their fear bar(makes them confident), and teaches them how to react when meeting a new spooky object.

Blog 18: Answer 2

1.  What is your EQ?

• What are the best techniques to train a wild horse?

2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

• One of the best techniques to train a wild horse is with patience, trust, and respect.

3.  What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

• One of the best techniques to train a wild horse is with pressure and release/ approach and retreat.

4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.

• Is a natural way horses see if an object is safe or not.
• You can tell if horse is picking up on training or not.
• Can use with any type of training tools.

5.  What printed source best supports your answer?

• "Pressure Motivates Release Teaches" by Linda Parelli
• "Overcome Chronic Spooking" by Jennifer Paulson

6.  What other source supports your answer?

• My first interview with Marissa Shotwell-Tabke
• A horse training clinic on trailering by Clinton Anderson
• Horse training clinic on spooky horses by Clinton Anderson

7.  Tie this together with a  concluding thought.

• This technique is natural way of horses getting used to things in their environment and you can tell when a horse is beginning to understand what you are training them to do.

Blog 17: Interview 3 Reflection

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  

• The person I interviewed was very helpful in offering advise with the things that I have been having issues on training my mustang to do like tie and to have her feet trimmed by a farrier.

2.  How has your approach to interviewing changed over the course of your senior project?

• I feel more comfortable meeting people I haven't met before and am starting to be able to think of follow up questions on things that they mention.

https://soundcloud.com/kiley-moore/interview-3

Blog 16: Independent Component 2 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

• I plan to shadow one of the trainers at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center during the training sessions with the horses they work with.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

• I will be taking pictures during the sessions if possible I will take some video and I will also be taking notes on what types of training is done with each horse this way I can track how far the horses have progressed within the 30 hours of working with them.

3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.

• This will help with getting to see different training techniques used in training as well as the different reactions of the horses.

4.  Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.

Independent Component 1

(a) I, Kiley More, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 31 hours of work.”
(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.

• I volunteered at Red Bucket Equine Rescue. My supervisors were Jenon and Shona.

(c) Update your hours in your Senior Project Hours link. Make sure it is clearly labeled with hours for individual sessions as well as total hours.

(d) Explain what you completed.    

• While volunteering at the rescue I was not able to work with the trainer during training sessions, but I was able to groom horses, pick out their feet, and take some of them for walks from time to time. The volunteers that have been able to help the trainer or with newly rescued horses did share information on what steps were taken and what they have found works best with the horses. They all told me that trust was the first step and by showing that you are dependable and consistent the trust and bond will start to be built with time. The horse just needs time, it also depends on what type of situation the horse came out of on how willing the horse will be to building trust with you.

Because I could not get pictures of me working with the horses I took pictures of me doing the work I did at the rescue with my horses. The horses I did get to work with pictures I took off the rescues website since the ones I tried to take from outside their stalls turned out badly. (I could not find pictures of Ladybug, Cooper, Frankie, Tilly, Nikki, Ohso, Ironman, or Justin.)

Picking out Freedom's feet.

Grooming Polka Dot after his roll in a mud puddle.

Dot enjoying his walk.

Acteur

Amadeus

Brinker

Casey

Confeddy

Deaglan

Faith

Kolcheck

Lilly

Lulu

Maximus

Mozart

Presley

Roxy

Spice

Tess

Freedom falling asleep while being groomed.