The photo: I like the extra warmth of a full rug like this in seriously nasty weather. HOWEVER, because I have a bunch of horses with very high play drives, I have learned to tuck a bit of that neck piece under so that when they play like in this photo they don’t tear each other’s rugs. I am also PASSIONATE about rugs that fit, especially over the withers and through the shoulders. A general rule of thumb is that if the rug rubs, then it doesn’t have enough room through the shoulders and may be causing muscular damage.
The Lesson
I thought this was going to be the first lesson that really was entirely for the beginners amongst us, but as it turned out, no it’s not. Funny that!
As I was editing this Lesson, I thought to myself – “why was I having so much trouble with Bobby wanting to eat grass that day?”.
And the answer is that I filmed that session myself – set the camera up and recorded it myself, so I was not connected to my horse in what is now the normal way of being with him – so I expect he didn’t feel the need to connect to me either. Ooooo…
Doing the leg straps up on your horse is frequently one of those tiny sources of Not Quite Right – so feel free to attend to that issue with a rope in some way similar to how Sue has done it in this video. HOWEVER, your skill level and your horse’s experience will determine how much pressure you are able to put on your horse and still be there for them, gently.
So just listen to your own Not Quite Rights to figure that out and of course, wait for The Chew in order to release any old stuff that your horse has about leg straps.
If the video is slow to load, click on “Youtube” in the bottom right hand corner and watch it in youtube.
Sue commented that she likes to face the front of her horse when reaching for her belly straps, feeling safer by keeping her head away from the back legs. So use your Not Quite Rights to decide your safety preferences!
2019 edit: Watching Mimi with Sue is a classic case of one person being OK with something that another person would be completely unhappy with AND our personal growth over time – this footage was recorded 8 years ago. These days I’d be looking for a much stronger connection before doing that rug work. BEing present would have “what to do” about the disconnection flowing in the moment, but I’d probably take the halter off, ground myself into BEing Present and work at liberty until the connection was flowing and then go back to the rug – or maybe not even do the rug that day. That’s the thing with Being present, the answer will change with the circumstances. 🙂
Click here for a YouTube of Kathy rugging Elmo – you will notice that I do it differently, but as you will read, Kathy has worked through all Elmo’s issues around a rug.
Here is what she said about the video when she sent it to me:
I wish I had taken a series of videos of how it went. But, I will tell you. We started working on blanketing this past summer. At first when I brought out his blanket he took off as soon as he saw me with it. (Maybe he thought I was crazy to think I could get him to put on a blanket in 80 degree weather. I told him it was just for the video!)
Over a few weeks we did the advance and retreat, sharing territory with the blanket just laying there, that kind of stuff. (Me: Like most people, Kathy combines her own skills, talents and knowledge with the work in her Program here. Sharing Territory is a Carolyn Resnick expression.)
He got curious about it and started coming over to smell it. Ended up on him, but at the smallest NQR I took it away.
After he accepted being blanketed “gently” I started “extreme blanketing”. I’d toss it on him and I’d rip it off of him. And, that is where we are now.
ME: Lovely job Kathy!
Up Next
Your next lesson is about preparing for being out on the trail so that you and your horse feel safe, and you can both enjoy the experience!