True Blue Animal Rescue hosted a horse training day with trainer Juan Vendrell TcRanch Horsemanship. This educational event is a wonderful opportunity for both horses and people to learn. Juan is an accomplished horse trainer, instructor and author who has helped train many of our rescue horses. Go to www.tcranchhorsemanship.com for more information.
For information on upcoming events at True Blue Animal Rescue or to schedule and educational event go to www.t-bar.org and email [email protected]
Tag Archives: Training
Update #2: Moonshine
Update on Moonshine! This is the horse who was untouchable when he came to us. Now after training at Tbar and a month with Juan Vendrell of TC Ranch Ventures he’s in a new home and will be adopted soon! His new Mom got him a saddle and he’s doing great with that! Hooray for Moonshine!
Riding Lessons with Juan
When Dale and Melanie aren’t busy taking care of rescue animals they enjoy taking lessons with Juan Vendrell of TC Ranch Ventures and riding them. Before the lesson Juan spent some time with rescue horses, Comanche and Rock, in the roundpen getting them ready to ride. Riding lessons with Juan are $55 an hour. Juan is a horse trainer too so he’ll work with you and your horse so you can both learn together. For more information go tohttp://www.tcranchhorsemanship.com/
We also have a clinic planned for Feb 14 with Juan at Tbar ranch so mark your calendar and watch for more info on that coming soon!
TBAR Foster Feature: Kassy Part 2
On day three I was outside with the dogs because I wanted to make sure Kassy used the potty so she could be loose for an hour before crating her again. I admit I was sleepy; it was 7:30 and too hot for coffee. I heard Jack make a funny noise. I looked to see Jack and Kassy playing with each other. It was amazing! What was even more shocking was she was instigating the play. She happily bounced over to Jack, raised a front leg, smacked him in the face and then began to run around him. Her tail wagging, she then bowed with her front legs stretched out and her hind quarters still up. This is the classic body language that my dogs use with each other meaning, “Let’s play!” Jack, who for some time I always have thought of as a puppy, looked at her like she was crazy. He barked once at her and I sat up and took notice. But Jack’s bark did not stop Kassy from her quest to play.
In fact she wanted Jack to bark. His bark triggered in her the desire to run in circles around him and then come back and smack him again. Jack had a new best friend and he wasn’t sure what to do about it. He acted like a gentleman and played as long as he could stand, but once done he headed for the back door and then sat down. Still, watching Kassy play was huge. Seeing a dog that was so full of fear when I first got her that she messed herself twice, now have a big doggy smile on her face was staggering. I began to understand that Kassy had no clue how to be a dog and now more than ever I was going to be relying on my pack to help this dog in need. I just wasn’t sure they were up to helping sort out such a backward little girl.
Day seven I was in for a surprise yet again. Kassy at this point still wanted to only be in her kennel. It was her safety spot. The cat’s basket that was in the same room as her crate also became a “safe zone.” Kassy enjoyed cramming herself into the beautiful Garden Ridge Pottery basket my mother had gotten the cats. For days our foster dog would transfer herself from the kennel to the basket, non-stop. Almost like she had no control over her actions. Then day seven happened.
I should point out that at this time we also took in another Corgi mix named Bacon, from a rescue group in Nixon, Texas. Call me crazy, but when I saw her picture and plea for an adoption for a special needs dog I just had a hard time saying no! My dogs before this have always been solid colors. I am not sure if that was by choice or fate. But Bacon was a black and white Corgi mix and she looks a lot like Kassy, only a bit shorter. But back to day seven. On the seventh day, I was on the couch and I saw a dog sleeping in the middle of the room I was in. At first glance I thought it was Bacon, who came to us a very socialized dog that slid into our home with ease, now asleep. I then looked at my feet and saw Bacon napping there. (She is like my shadow and I love it!) Kassy was sleeping in the middle of the room. Not under something, or in something, but in the middle of the room with nothing to shield her from me! Not only was she napping but she seemed to be at peace. I was so excited I started to cry a little. I didn’t think the dog would grow this fast but things were looking up. Her accidents when we touched her had started to disappear. Everything seemed to be going so well. But then week two knocked us for a loop and we had major steps backwards.
To Be Continued…
We hope our “Foster Features” help to inspire others to open their homes to animals in need. If you are interested in becoming a foster home for a Texas animal rescue, please visit our info page, email [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349. It is because of foster homes like Casie that TBAR is able to save more lives!
TBAR Foster Feature: Cricket
Today’s Foster Feature comes from one of our wonderful True Blue Animal Rescue Foster Homes: Casie Cooper!
We picked Cricket up from TBAR on Valentines day a few years ago. She was part
of a group siezure at a breeding facility.
I knew she was going to be a challenge from the moment we met her. She was in
the working pens ready to be loaded when we walked up. I reached through the
fence to pet her. She froze and started shaking like a tiny chihuahua! I figured
it was best not to mess with her much in the chute. We loaded her up.
Once we unloaded her into the round pen at home, things got a little better. It
was obvious that she had not had much interaction with people. But through all
of her fear and insecurity, she was never aggressive or mean. Never offered to
kick, bite or even paw. She was legitimately scared, but seemed to know we
weren’t going to hurt her.
After about 2 weeks of good progress in the round pen, she was able to be
touched, haltered, led and moved her hips when asked. At that point, we thought
it a good idea to try some transitioning to working in a larger area. Boy were
we wrong! Hah!
We opened the gate to the round pen and stepped to the edge. She stretched and
sniffed. I waited. Then walked through. Well, she bolted! Ran like crazy!! Got
loose from me and jumped the fence into the back pasture. Then the front
pasture. Then the front yard. Then the back pasture. Then the front again and
finally the back again and ran like crazy. All I could think, after “Please
don’t break your neck”, was “What the heck was that”!? “I must have done
something wrong? Too fast?” I decided I was out of my league! We called a
friend who trains horses.
Our trainer friend came over once we got her back in the pen. A week later, he
felt confident he could transition her. Same scenario. Less dramatic, but the
same outcome nonetheless.
We felt hopeless. Figured we would have to keep her forever and just have a
really pretty yard ornament and no space to foster a more adoptable horse. Then
we realized that if she ever needed medical attention, minor or emergent, we
would have no way to care for her. Unacceptable in an animal lover’s eyes.
In comes Juan Vendrell. We took Cricket over and unloaded her into his working
pens. Within a week, he could lead her through an opening from one pen to
another! She still rushed, but absolutely traveled through an opening into
another area with lead still in hand!! At the end of the month, Juan had her in
the pasture doing lunge line work with ease. Anyone who has hit a roadblock with
a horse understands the happiness this brings!
We now have a horse who was almost unhandleable who now has true adoption
potential. She has gained confidence in new situations and continues to learn
with every interaction we have. No matter how sparse they be lately. Seems like
whatever lessons he gave her, are solid enough that I don’t feel like I have to
rush home from work every day to reinforce. His help has made my job as a foster
much less stressful and even rewarding again! Thanks Juan! 🙂
Thank you Casie for sharing your story, for being a TBAR foster home, and for not giving up on Cricket! For anyone interested in becoming a Foster Home for True Blue Animal Rescue in Texas, please visit our info page, email [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349. It is because of foster homes like Casie that TBAR is able to save more lives!
Pet of the Week: Dancer
Are you interested in having a four-legged, beautiful companion and best friend in your pasture or barn? This boy is quite attractive so look no further. This is Dancer a gorgeous 12 year old bay Arabian gelding. He is up to date with shots, has a negative coggins and is ready to go to someone’s home. He’s not rideable at this time but, he accepts a saddle and a rider and he is ready to finish his training. He has had lot of natural horsemanship groundwork and desensitizing training with Juan Vendrell of TC Ventures which will help his new forever family further his training.
If you are looking for or would like more information on Dancer, or another animal you see, please call 936-878-2349 or email, [email protected] to make an appointment. Fill it out and send the adoption form back (email or regular mail) and once you are on file as an approved adopter or foster home, you can meet any of TBAR’s adoptable animals.T-BAR is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit, no-kill rescue. Save a life and adopt instead of buying a pet. Please, have your pet spayed or neutered. It is the right thing to do.
Throwback Thursday – Deuce
This weeks TBT picture is Deuce. When he came to Tbar he was so skinny and sick we weren’t sure he’d survive. We were able to help him gain weight but he kept to himself and seemed closed off from horses and people. Then he met AJ!
Thank you AJ Greer for helping Deuce learn to trust again and thank you Olivia Moore for capturing that fairy tail ending in this picture! These are the happy endings that remind us of what rescue is all about!
Horse Clinic Recap
Juan Vendrell of TC Ranch Ventures joined forces with True Blue Animal Rescue to hold a horse clinic for people that wanted to further their knowledge in horse training. The focus on Juan’s training is to take the horse’s instincts and make them work for you.
The Saturday was overcast with a cool breeze which made the day easier for those that attended Juan’s class. The range of skilled horse men and women went from low experience to those that have had horses all their lives. The horses themselves included those that had not been formally trained at all, to those that just needed to learn more (much like their owners). The first horse handled by Juan on this day was a TBAR horse named Indy who hadn’t had much training yet. Indy is not a fan of even being touched, but after only a few purposeful minutes in the ring Juan was able to touch him. This amazed pretty much everyone in attendance. Just watching Juan work with Indy was a learning experience for those of us in the crowd.
Juan gave a small lecture on his training style but he also stressed that not all horses are the same. There is not one foolproof way to get a horse to do something. He stressed that the handlers have to clearly communicate to their steed what they are asking the horse to do. According to Mr. Vendrell, the horse wants to do what they are asked and if they fail to execute tasks or exercises, it is always the human’s fault.
After the lecture came the fun part. When registering, people had the option of auditing the class or bringing a horse to work with. If you brought a horse to work with the day would be a bit longer for you! It was explained that when we ask a horse to do something we do so by using a part of their body. A horse owner should be able to tell a horse to move using any part of their body. The day of the clinic we mostly focused on using the shoulders and head of the horse.
For me personally I can say it was super exciting working with our True Blue sponsor horse, Athena. I have never had my own horse and the only horse I had contact with as a child was a wonderful Welsh pony, that was neck-reigned, that I took care of after school for one blissful year before her owners noticed that I played with the pony more than her kids did and it was sold off. Still one year with a pony hardly goes a long way, and it was so long ago. Poor Juan had to show me basic things, like how to swing a lead line, put on a halter and not to allow Athena to get too close to me. But he was kind about my lack of knowledge!
The exercises we did that day with our horses were basic and hard at the same time. Not to mention they really can make you dizzy. I asked Juan for a tip on keeping the dizziness at bay and he said to focus on only one part of your horse when you are asking them to run around you in a circle. So I picked Athena’s shoulder since that was the body part I was asking her to move with. It did help but being so new I was also trying to watch my feet, my hands and then watch Athena. So I got pretty dizzy, but with more practice this issue for me should go away. Especially when I get my hands working better.
If people had trouble with an exercise given to them Juan had time to go to that person and give them more tips and pointers. I myself asked a ton of questions to make sure I had a handle on what he had told us. Naturally, since a few of the horses were visitors and were meeting new horses, it was hard to get the attention of a few of them. Juan would have to work with the horses himself to get them to settle down, but he also shared the tip that we had to make sure that the horse was paying attention to us and was standing in the right position; not too close, with their heads up and looking at you.
True Blue Animal Rescue provided a lunch of BBQ sandwiches, chips, and drinks. Guests even had their pick of dessert. As everyone sat down and ate, people were excited about what they had learned so far. In between exercises people shared tips and encouraged everyone on their work. Being with other animal lovers made the class feel comfortable. The exercises in the afternoon built off of those that had been taught in the morning. They asked more of the handler’s lead lines, while the horses were still being asked to turn. Attending the class was beneficial to anyone that was there, whether you had a horse with you or were just auditing.
If you missed this clinic, don’t worry, because another one is in the works for the fall. Thank you again to True Blue Animal Rescue and Juan Vendrell!
TBAR Receives Training Grant from ASPCA
TBAR Receives Training Grant from ASPCA
$4000 toward training horses to increase adoptions
Washington, Texas — True Blue Animal Rescue (TBAR) announced today the award of a $4000 grant from the ASPCA to assist with training costs.
“This grant will train five horses that are currently in TBAR waiting for forever homes.” said Melanie DeAeth, TBAR President. “This grant is the start of a new training fund, and the adoption fees from the trained horses will go toward training the next ones.”
For ten years TBAR has been saving animals from abuse and neglect, and often the animals return to full health. There are many cases when the horses are candidates for socialization and training (particularly those born after their mothers come into the rescue), and this training fund will benefit them. In the past the only training the horses have received is from volunteers that come out when they have the time, but this program will ensure consistency and better turnover.
About True Blue Animal Rescue: TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is a no-kill rescue operating in the Brenham, Texas area. If you would like to help their cause please consider donating, fostering or adopting. Every little bit helps us to help another animal in need of safety and rehabilitation. Save a life: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!
April Horse Clinic
Juan Vendrell of TC Ranch Horsemanship is offering a Horse Clinic at one of our TBAR Foster homes on April 26, 2014. This is a great opportunity for some of the TBAR horses and volunteers to receive training and gain experience. Juan’s horse clinics focus on both groundwork and riding and are customized to allow horses and trainers of all levels to participate and benefit. Attendees can expect to gain skills in natural horsemanship including problem solving and confidence building through roundpenning, desensitizing, haltering and saddling horses.
This clinic is allowing for trainer/horse participation as well as auditing. Please bring lawn chairs for sitting. Clean coggins required for all horses attending
Participants (with Horse): $100
TBAR Members (with Horse): $80
Auditors: $25
Purchase tickets at: www.TBARClinic.eventbrite.com
Juan Vendrell is an experienced horse trainer who holds clinics in Europe and the United States and is a featured trainer at The Horseman’s Reunion.
