My RA (Deformities, Accommodating and Tolerating)

It wasn't a simple or fast decision to go forward in my life with a horse... let alone an untouched wild one. 

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis just after turning 36. Life then took a 180º turn. Since that time it has been pain, inconvenience, sometimes misery, a ton of introspection and evaluation, and a lot of acceptance and tolerance. Oh, and a lot of drugs.

In the big picture I very much appreciate its showing up in my life. But that is another blog.

As said in the last post, I have started trying a little Masterson Method (Jim Masterson). I love it and need to review much more... what I am doing is no doubt a poor example but it has seemed fairly effective so far. Karen Rohlf also uses some wonderful concepts such as moving massage that I plan to incorporate.

I was trying some of this on Kai and as SO OFTEN happens, I could not use my hand as you are "supposed" to. See pic. My wrist is a straight line; my brain is telling it to flex back but it simply mechanically can not. So I can't place a flat palm on anything. The palm is often the best part of your body to use to exert a feeling or energy. It is terribly frustrating for me that I have to use the back sides of my hands and fingers... but that is the deal! Do not mean to complain, it is simply an observation and a slight amusement. Like my decision to "go for it" with the horse itself, you have to go for it - in spite of all of life's bumps in the roads. ...I am trying!!

As far as I can bend back!!

At least I have a hand... and can accommodate..

I can't be too upset since doing this a few times on each side seemed to put her to sleep.

Using the Rope/stick to Acclimate to Feet Being Touched; Beginning Lifting

 You can see Kai is pretty chill overall (I am considering the possibility that she is really not that tuned in. Will look into it). I want her relaxed (but tuned in) and am starting to throw in some Jim Masterson-type technique (he has excellent DVDs and books on massage and body stuff). I have not looked at it in years but at around 1:30 in the video you see my hand stop at a place low on her neck until she drops her head. Unfortunately in this instance she also decided to walk off (so it was not 100% effective!), but she has been quite receptive to some of the touch methods.

This video is from a few days ago. We are continuing work with feet and legs. I got her to lift with pressure... but then yesterday we went back a few steps as I went too far past threshold; she had the rope at her fetlock, but then walked off. Then licked and chewed.... I just taught her to walk off when the rope is at her legs. 😞

That isn't what happened here but here we hadn't gotten as far in this vis as to have her lift her leg with slight pressure from the rope. We are simply working on keeping the rope in place on the leg (at fetlock).

Bag and Carrots

 The rustling of a plastoic bag can be a source of TERROR for horses. 

This was an opportunity to introduce her to the sound of a plastic bag and the sound it makes.

She wasn't fazed.

Next we worked with the rope/stick. As usual, trying to allow her time to process what it is and even though it's weird, it can be a good thing.  At :55 she alerts; it's a neighbor walking by. Always good to try and show the horse that you see what they see if not more, and that you are on guard.

Much of the second half is me asking her to move back. It's essential that she understand there are boundaries. She does not know she is 7-8X my weight and athletic prowess! I am still working on getting clearer.

More rubbing with the stick. And the release touch - I will bring up in next post.

A NEW THING!! How Exciting (not)

 Kai the Mustang and a NEW thing!!

So blasé!! Bored may be a better term.

Starting Rope Work (using line of lunge whip)

I started with just the rope portion of the whip. I thought a great idea since the rather-long whip itself is easy to confuse with a driving aid... More on this in another post (it is so fascinating to observe how INTENT makes so much difference in what the horse "hears" from you. Intent is important! Horses can be extremely intuitive and they seem to read intent much more clearly that we do!).

She does well with it and I'll continue work with this as well as my hands up and down the legs.
Then, just when she figures out we want her to keep her legs in place while they are being touched, she has to learn to NOT keep them in place and lift when asked! Understandably confusing!
The next challenge will be whether to use a line or rope to bring a foot up - or my hands.

Advances in Touching Hind Legs

Some people use ropes or a long lead line to get mustangs or untrained horses accustomed to their legs and feet being touched (and eventually picked up). Thus far I am having more success with my own hands. She is generally more skittish with the lead line or rope on her legs. Having said that, I also see that I need to work on that at the same time - I would like her to be comfortable with all of it. This requires attention to the horse's attitude since your body/head are down there closer to thew potential source of a kick.

You can see at 1:10 I hit her threshold (her left front leg) but then after that she allowed me to linger at the knee a bit longer. She's quite good at 1:44, but then gives me a warning when I go deeper, with her head checking with me, I ignored it so up the leg goes. I then give us a pause... Wait for her to take a step toward me (which I use as indication that she is ready again), and I go in.... this time (2:14-2:22) she allows me to not only stay there but even scratch a little. Notice when I go just below the knee she again gets concerned (her head coming around to check with me, but she doesn't lift; I immediately take my hand away as reward.

I am also starting to work with the lunge whip in getting her used to the feel of things all over her. Next post!

Maybe Not a "Pleasure Horse" ...but She IS a Pleasure!

I'm way behind with posting again; doesn't take much. 

Here are a few vids from last couple days. Just reinforcing what we've been doing (getting comfortable being touched all over and the concept that I am a good place to be). 

Here and there working my way down her legs as well.

Love This Pic

 She appears to me to be so gentle & engaged. 

I don't usually see her face from this angle.... ❤️

WICKED SMAHT PONY

 I hadn't taken any video of attaching a lead line to her halter and letting her go (or driving her out).... was not 100% sure I wanted to do this as an exercise - but it IS generally effective in helping them learn to give to pressure, so I thought it'd give it a quick try.

Results? She stepped on the line literally once (w/left foot) and never, ever did it again, with either foot. I took video today (the second time trying it, and just had her going at (slow) walk as she followed me... so, maybe not dramatic, but you can see a number of times she purposefully places her legs to avoid stepping on it.

Working toward the Hind End Legs

 She's just so mellow, but I am going very slow with touching the hind legs.

Trying to make everything comfortable and associated with good stuff. Prior to this I did (earlier in the day) a couple more "tests" to confirm where the threshold is. At 1:16 in this vid I had my hands on her inner back leg (uncomfortable), held it (for under threshold), and then rewarded her.

Working on increasing that time. without reaction and we'll see as her threshold increases!

Also BTW was going to edit out the beginning but she was funny investigating the phone.
Trying to reward more with scratches than treats, but treats are immediately effective. Also, I am starting to "cluck" with a treat. Not going full-throttle into clicker training, but a cluck is immediate and there are benefits to that.

FINALLY, in my last post I used the term "softening at the poll"... Dressage people and technical people, please forgive me...! I'm asking for relaxation (in the neck primarily) but it isn't truly "at the poll". No one called me out on this (thanks) but I realized later I am an idiot. As I often do.

Pressure and Release at the Poll, and Advancing the Touching

 Just itty bitty beginnings of applying small pressure to her poll amidst some comforting support.. She is however also using it as an avoidance! That's OK -- for now.

Same thing, but now I am moving my overall touching toward her rear, where it gets more sensitive. Yesterday I did brush out her tail, no problem. But touching the legs (inside, particularly) elicits signs of uncertainty/apprehension, and a couple times she lifted her leg into a "prepare-for-a-kick" position. Must go slow and stop at the earliest sign of her uncertainty.

If nothing else it is fun to watch Tori catch flies.

Looking for Her Reactive Self - and her name: "KAIAH"!

 I finally decided on a name: Kaiah, which means "pure" in Native American, or "small but wise".

My friend tells me "Kai" in Hawaiian means the sea, which is also perfect since having this horse has so much to do with my brother Dave who loved surfing, the ocean, and Hawaii.... and I am planning to mostly call her KAI. Maybe it will be Kai and Kai alone....

The other day I took a lot of ugly video showing my attempts at amping her up enough to see some energy and reactivity. Included within this is 1) keeping her engaged and interested, 2) keeping her reassured, 3) when directing her, being consistent with my own body language (you will see I am not! - Thus an area to work on/be more mindful of).

As a note I would generally not recommend you go this far, i.e. get this pushy and fast, with a new mustang. She is just so mellow and basically unafraid that I felt it was OK to really push her to see what is "inside" - she IS a wild horse - and though it's tempting to think of her as domestic, I don't want to be working with the feet and all of a sudden have her feel her oats, and not be prepared. I also want to give her an idea about me; that I can ask, direct, and drive. But most importantly, that I can stop and immediately lower my energy (Sharon Wilsie* says "go to zero" - a term I like.)

Starting with scratches and some reassurance and relaxation.

General communication - or trying to get some.

You can see her confusion in some of these that I need to be more clear 

and position myself better, 

At same time I want to be a safe and comfortable place. 

I plan to go back now to lesser things: 1) being able to touch her all over including hind legs (the most sensitive), and eventually 2) get down to the feet... to hold my hands there, pick them up, hold, and let down. Might be a tricky one! Have watched some video and need to re-watch and see what might work. Most use ropes. 3) Giving/softening to pressure, starting at the head/poll. 

*Sharon Wilsie, "Horse Speak, Conversations with Horses in Their Own Language"

Accomplishment: Mane!

Got the whole thing done yesterday. Like other things so far, easier than I thought. My only failure was not getting better pics of the "before"... it was pretty hideous!

Happy to eat hay while I worked. Only had to cut a few small bits.

Left before:

Left after:

Right before:

Right after:

Overall:

 

These Guys Come Itchy!!

 Great asset: the itchiness. 

Once she learned I could affect it, she kind of didn't leave me alone. Halter went on: first offering. Neck and butt scratches: she is following me. 

Herein however will be my first challenge. I prefer to stay "small" and use small cues. Once she started following and seeking scratches she was getting into "my space". I leaned toward her: nothing; I raised hands: nothing; I raised hands and waved them: nothing! Uh-Oh.... Decided I need a tool. Using some of the property-marker flags that I put along the back of the pen. When she leaned in too close I raised it and fluttered it until she took one (reluctant) step back; I immediately lowered my hand and gave her a release/reward. She licked and chewed. I did this a few times and will clearly need to keep doing it.

Leaning In:

Haltering:

Flagging:

Great Progress

She let me scratch her and even seemed to invite me to come up to the left lower eye lid where there is some skin loss.

(SEE THE Video in addition to the pic!)

Saturday (caturday)

 A few things from yesterday

This vid is as close as Taco has gotten. 

He prefers the opposite side of the house as below!

Glimpse of a First Touch

 Friday, the first day after arrival, she curiously nosed me. By the time I got the phone out she was about done, but you get a glimpse.

The Livestock Pavilion, BLM, and Loading a Horse (if you are curious)

 Here is a video mid morning. My mare is the main grey you see. 

Horses are divide into separate pens and when their new owner arrives with trailer, they are separated and eventually guided down a chute into the trailer

Video

Days 1-4 with 6782, in brief!

Difficult getting caught up when the last two weeks on Cape Cod involved a big party, hosting out-of-towners, cleaning/clearing condo of three lives' worth of furniture, clothing, belongings... stuff!...  packing and moving south (with dog and cat), the drive (with bad RA), the unpacking (not finished), buying a truck, adopting and picking up an untouched horse, attending to commitments (doctors, volunteering at a Baroque dressage event), and revising this blog! 

#6782 in the pens at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala (FL) after the trip from Idaho

And, difficult to be inside here typing when - as you might understand - I'd rather be out in the pen with the horse!

So far I have learned about her:

• Middle of the herd; not dominant: from observing her in the pens at pickup place.

Here is a video, after she was separated.

• Reasonable: got off trailer very uneventfully; no panic, just a relieved look like "wow, that's over..." and a slow walk around the pen to explore...

• Not needy: no obvious concerns about being alone (there are no horses at all in my immediate vicinity).

• Cool as a cuke in general: she cocked a leg within 10 minutes of getting off the trailer. Even laid down the first night (though did not remain in that prone position for long). Has not called, whinnied or cried out once.

• Prefers her back to the woods, against the fence (her comfort place), contrary to my predictions (thought she'd be fearful of the thick FL oak/pine/plametto/VINEY shrubbery/woods).

• Knows nothing of grain, treats, soaked alfalfa cubes. Still yet to take a lick of a horse cookie. This is no surprise as they have apparently only had alfalfa in holding.

• Prefers crappy FL "coastal" hay over timothy or alfalfa cubes - or the green grass!!

• Curious but not anywhere near as curious about me as she is of Tori.

• Tori is a Superstar. She has provided inroads to the horse, easing introductions with playful interest but also respect. Some of it is funny.

• She can be playful. The second day (Friday) she put her foot into the tub and started sloshing around! Then she bit the edge of the bucket for a bit. 

First roll in the pen:

This is Friday morning, after arrival Thursday around 3:30 pm. She allows us to be pretty close. 

I think it is time for me to go get some interaction!! More later.

MUSTANG 6782

 (Thursday, October 19, 2023; from my post on Facebook): I am picking this girl up at the Southeast Livestock Pavilion in Ocala FL in two hours. She is an untouched (un-gentled, unbroke, wild) mustang from the Devil's Garden Horse management Area (BLM). She is approx 3 years old, and 14.1h.

I won her August 7 (David Harmon's birthday - Pretty sure I am Living Like Dave). Currently she is "6782".... name TBD.

Hopefully my excitement will continue to override the current pains from RA and asking too much of a decrepit body...

I must try and practice what Zante taught first and foremost: Slow. Easy. Soft.

It's going to be awesome!

Background: There are a number of ways to adopt a mustang. All info is on the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) site here. My method was through the Online Corral, which is on that main page, on the right; scroll down. Or go directly here. There is a volume of info/links on mustangs within the main page. Statistics on populations etc would be in the Program Data page.

The Online Corral offers available horses through an online bidding process, which is held a number of times a year. There are many more horses (not listed in the Online Corral) in holding in various holding areas (see the main site for info... there are holding areas, and there are Herd Management Areas or HMAs. Those in holding have been gathered and are either waiting to go into auction or are being held for other reasons. The HMAs are designated areas within BLM lands that maintain wild herds. Each herd tends to have certain characteristics because they don't tend to intermingle with other herds and over time the populations exhibit characteristics of their original members, such as Spanish, draft, quarter horse etc.... Herds will exhibit the original characteristics but also become influenced by escaped or loose horses brought by pioneering ranchers. 

My girl is from Devil's Garden HMA (California). For some reason it is not listed on the site (??)! I learned of them through a Facebook group. Attached is a map where you can see the DG HMA, - but no link! You can see a nearby HMA: Red Rock Lakes description here.

P.s., I decided to simply use/add to this "old" blog.

Feel free to peruse the paintings etc. that follow... I am not planning to be back to painting for awhile (my tiny garage/prior art studio is now horse supply/hay storage, which does not lend itself to debris-free painting. If I decide to go mixed-media, and want texture e.g., hay bits, chaff, dust, debris, then I may change my mind..).

I have a mural project that will take me through February and then hope to have a few months "off" to do nothing but play with Ms. 6782!

Shadow Slope. 6" x 6", oil on gessobord

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One of my favorite places I used to walk my dog to, in Chatham on Cape Cod. The shadows would sweep across the sloping grass and across the marsh below, always creating a cool view. 

Cody Canyon, 5" x 7", oil on gessobord

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This was done from a rather old photo, one of many I kept after living in Cody, WY for a few years. I painted it rather quickly, thinking of how it would be if I were standing there right now and had only a short time before the sun moved and changed the lighting in this small canyon. I really liked the way the sage glows... probably only recognizable as sagebrush to me! No matter; this was about the light and glow and purple-orange-ness of the rocks.

Sunday Sunsheep, 6" x 6", oil on gessobord

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I was entranced by the soft colors on this little goat's fur... while it's easy to get caught up in facial details etc I still tried for a loose look and feel.

Sharing Secrets, 6" x 6", oil on gessobord

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These two horses are best friends and do everything together. They are totally unrelated in their genetics but they act like twin sons of different mothers, and they do look alike - other than one being chestnut and the other bay. They are quite funny to watch eating, lounging, rolling, walking or just standing - together.

"Rumblers", 12" x 24", canvas digital print

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I am always inspired by horses running or playing or otherwise interacting. These two were about to run off with energy building... I tried to capture some of that energy through the brushwork.
This is available as a fine art print.

Surf Runners, Digital Canvas Print, 8" x 12"

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Sanderlings are the super-active, tiny shorebirds that you see chasing the waves back and forth along the shore.
I've spent many hours watching them scurry, taking lots of photos of poor quality! Luckily I can amend things by painting them!

Sunlit Siesta, 10" x 10", oil on cradled gessobord

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I absolutely love the view I get at times from my little barn apartment in Florida. I have many photos of the horses, pastures and giant live oaks with the dangling spanish moss, but this view intrigued me the most. Although the vegetation was in its typical desaturated, fall state, the sunlight brought to it a stunning mixture of soft lavenders and oranges. On top of the gorgeous colors, I wanted to experiment with just HOW to go about capturing the drifting light and super-highlighting across the two Paso Fino horses next door. I settled on this approach and am very happy with it. 

Sunlit Siesta, 10" x 10", oil on cradled gessobord

View of the 2" cradling, allowing the painting to be hung without a frame.

Early Risers, Oil on deep cradled gessobord, 10" x 10"

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Yet another image from the view of my studio in Eastham. These birds are "merely" gulls but they could have been exotic parrots for the orange glow they got from the rising sun this morning.  Fall clouds behind them just amplified the colors of the morning.

Early Risers, Oil on deep cradled gessobord, 10" x 10" (view of cradling)

This view shows the 2" cradling. It can be hung without  frame for a clean presentation.

Waitin' on a Song (Song Sparrow), 6" x 6", oil on panel

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Song sparrows may seem dull to the everyday man, but they are full of spirit and have a captivating song. I love hearing them as they announce the day.

Idle Threat (Cardinal) 10" x 10", oil on cradled gessobord

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Who doesn't love a brilliantly-colored male cardinal!? They really stand out now as the fall foliage changes hues. I redid this background many times, finally settling on the colors I had seen in my most recent ride with my horse through the coastal shrub/woodland.

Songster (Song Sparrow), 6" x 6", oil on gessobord panel

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My summer studio just happens to be by the seaside in MA, and song sparrows, although somewhat dull in appearance, have a beautiful and (in my opinion) joyful trilling song that I got very accustomed to when I lived with my aging father, also fairly close to the shore. I've wanted to paint the guys for awhile so finally took some awful photos and embellished for this painting.

Blue Monday, 10" x 10", oil on deep cradled gessoboard

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A beautiful morning and this shell fisherman brought his little boat out right in front of me. I didn't have to exaggerate the colors. Perhaps he may consider his work a grind but it created a few nice work days for me! This piece is the first larger one at 10" X 10", and took longer to do than the 6 x 6's, but the colors were so compelling that I felt it deserved a bigger showcase. Also I painted this on a cradled board so there isn't necessarily a need to frame.

The cradle is painted a neutral grey although it does look black here.

Donkey Duo, 6" x 6", oil on panel

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A friend has a number of mini donkeys on her horse farm. I took a few photos while there a few years ago and have wanted to paint them ever since. There is no way that is is my last donkey painting!

Perched Pause (Chickadee), 6" x 6", oil on panel

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I love the way light works on white animals (or anything really)... sometimes it is so bright that you can't even see a hint of a shadow. That was the case here but I pushed it a bit and was happy with the result.

"Kodiak Splash", watercolor, 22" X 30"

Available as a fine art print. Email at the address on THIS page

I did this piece years ago but it is my piece for today. because I have never posted it anywhere (I don't think!). I painted it for a friend who had visited Kodiak Island in Alaska, just to watch bears. He gave me a couple of nice photographs and they served as reference. At the time I painted this, my skills in wet-on-wet watercolor were better than they are now! I was very pleased with the management of looseness - almost abstract - in the water, and not over-saturating the blues, as the water is very dark there.

"Overseeing" (Titmouse), 6" x 6", oil on panel

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The day was pale ochre and gray… at least from a bird’s perspective in the trees. This soft palette was appealing to me while I was watching chickadees chirp, flit, and rest, among the oaks. Spots of yellow from the flowering oak catkins lended just a hint of interest to the image. This is a Black-capped chickadee from my old backyard. I am still working from photos - I hope to move to plein aire, at some point!

Fat Chickadee, 6" x 6", oil on panel

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​The day was pale ochre and gray... at least from a bird's perspective in the trees. This soft palette was appealing to me while I was watching chickadees chirp, flit, and rest, among the oaks. Spots of yellow from the flowering oak catkins lended just a hint of interest. This is a Black-capped chickadee from my old backyard. This was done from a rough photo - I hope to move to plein aire, at some point!

Cove Boat #1, 6" x 6", oil on panel

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I am lucky enough to have a summer/fall studio in a friend's house that overlooks Town Cove between Orleans and Eastham, MA. I see the fishing boats going out each day and the water is ever-changing. The sun as it moves from east to west makes for some compelling sights. I guess it is inevitable that I would want to paint a few boats while here. The biggest challenge is not to nit-pick too much, which is definitely my tendency!

Back Door Hydrangea, 6" X 6", oil on panel

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My second painting for Daily Paintworks. Trying to keep it loose. A hydrangea bush behind my friend's frame shop had such crazy color a month or so back, I photographed it and knew it would become a painting of some sort. Most of the hydrangeas here on Cape Cod are the classic blue which I DO love, but this one in the sunlight that day captured me for that moment.

Hummer Girl, 6" X 6" oil on panel

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My first Daily Painting!
Nothing beats a hummingbird if you love color and birds and flowers. This little guy (I mean girl) visited the feeder and garden frequently. With their microsecond wingbeats, I wasn't sure initially how to approach the painting to create the feeling of that motion, but I was happy with this solution. I plan to do more like this, featuring her, or perhaps some of the Rufous hummers I had at my feeders when I lived in Wyoming!

Joining the Daily Painters!!

BIG NEW UPDATE!! I have not been keeping up with this blog as I have been somewhat distant to fine art for the last number of years, working instead on my science illustration and murals. Today I am embarking on a new adventure and joining the Daily Paintworks site, painting one small painting a day. I will be posting in the evenings for publication on the site the for the following day. I will also post to my Facebook art page. I'm excited to produce some new fresh work!

New England Marine Mammals, digital print, 13" X 19"

Illustrative piece available as a digital print.

unframed $90

Penguins of the World, digital print, 36" X 11"

These penguins appear in exhibits at the Toronto Zoo, Maryland Zoo, New England Aquarium, and a ski resort in Dubai. The Toronto and Maryland Zoos feature all species at actual size, meaning: the Emperor is 4 feet tall!

It has also been used in other formats including a veterinary medicine textbook and penguin paleontology and anatomy texts.

NOW AVAILABLE AS A POSTER at my art shop art site here!

Marsh Solitude, 22" X 12", giclee from original watercolor (SOLD)

A Great Blue Heron.
This image is available as a print

at my art shop here

Indian Summer Wolf, watercolor, 13" X 19", SOLD

From my time spent in Wyoming. Available as a print here

Race Point Trekking, 18.5" X 30", watercolor, SOLD

This image was my first to get into the prestigious "Arts for the Parks" national competition. It depicts the great dune areas off Provincetown at Cape Cod National Seashore.

There is a nearly-invisible coyote trekking across the morning landscape. This is available as a print

here.

Red Tail in Flight, 35" X 24", acrylic SOLD

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Looser style than my typical work, I wanted to depict the motion of the hawk and its beautiful striking red tail which can usually only be seen from below if the light hits just right.

Original Acrylic on board
SOLD but a print in any size is available here

Morning Sunsplash; Green Heron, 30" X 20", acrylic

One beautiful morning on Red River in Harwich Port, MA I found this heron fishing. Morning light and shadow provided a great backdrop for the algae, grass, and seaweed-covered mud banks where he prowled.

Original Acrylic framed. $1550