August 28, 2012

I have been back working horses in the round pen for a couple of weeks now. Because of the drought I have been bringing certain ones in to give them a little grain and using that time to gentle them down a bit. I am happy to say that we are making headway and they are getting better with each day. Some have been started and others are getting used to being handled and learning to lead.Yesterday, I had a total of six that I worked/played with. Each has her own little quirks but each is fun to work with in their own special way. I'll list each one that went through the round pen yesterday and explain where we are with them.

I worked with Dotty on leading and just gentling her some more, as if she really needed it. Dotty is Sweetie's 2 year old sister and has that same quiet, calm attitude. Dotty leads forward well and will back but still has room for improvement. I can handle her feet and rub and pat her all over. She is a lot of fun to work with. 

Connie is Julie's 2 year old sister and her again I can see the family resemblance. She doesn't like to be haltered but once a rope is around her neck or a halter is finally on she settles right down. She leads forward, seeks relief by following the rope around her body, allows me to handle her feet and will back but we still need to work on that little area. Connie has come a long ways in a short amount of time. 

Last Saturday I met some friend at Stephens Forrest to trail ride. I took Star along and once again she didn't disappoint me. She went where I pointed her and was always eager to step out. However, after lunch she was a little gimpy in front, favoring her near front. She seemed to loosen up after she warmed back up but I am keeping an eye on her to see what develops. Yesterday I checked her feet again and couldn't find much except her heels seemed to be a touch long causing her to walk more up on her toes. I trimmed her heels a little but she still wants to walk pigeon toed a little. May end up taking her to a farrier to get a profession corrective trim if she doesn't improve. 

Last fall I had the gray filly, HB, in the round pen. She was a nervous wreck. She just couldn't handle any pressure at all. She would get bug eyed and try to climb over the round pen panels. I kicked her out to let her mind mature and to see how she would develop. I brought her in yesterday and started working with her. She started out by running around the round pen but I noticed she didn't have that wild look to her eyes so I just followed her around touching her whenever I could get close enough. I finally got her to where I could rub and pet her from her tail to her head, even her poll. She works better on her right side than on her left but she is really improving quickly considering where she started. 

Julie is just Julie. She is a little thin right now but she is just a very mellow horse. Still green as a gourd but wants to please all the time. I just brushed her and picked her feet. Did a light trim on her fronts too. It won't be long and I'll be climbing up on her. 

That brings us to Sweetie. Sweetie spent 45 days with Casey this spring and I rode her once before I was injured coming off of a horse. Then it got hot out and I haven't been back on her since. She has grown some over the summer, she is up to 14-3 H now.  I decided to tack her up and work with her a bit. After saddling, I lunged her, I picked and trimmed her feet, I ground drove her then I tightened the cinch and got her over to the panel so I could ease on to her. I rode her around the round pen changing directions and just taking it easy, letting us both get to know the other. I had my old saddle on her and it is one where you sit on it, not in it so I just couldn't get comfortable and relax. That was my fault not Sweetie's. She did very well after the long lay off and is a lot of fun to ride. She can be very quick and that is exciting to me.  

  

For Sunday, February 5, 2012

Took Sweetie to a young trainer, Casey Warren, on Sunday. I explained to Casey what all I had done with Sweetie in the round pen and what the Amishman had done.Casey was happy with everything I had done up to this point. He couldn't understand how anyone could have problems with a horse as laid back as Sweetie. To prove his point, Casey worked with her just a little bit while talking to us and then he was on her back, bare back with just a halter and lead rope. He said he could see why I had given her the name, Sweetie. He really liked her. He also said he would be riding her either Monday or for sure no later than Tuesday. He figures she will be going good by the end of 30 days.

I have had Casey start horses for me before and he always does a good job. He can get more out of a horse and get them to doing more than most trainers. If a horse is well bred and has a decent mind, Casey can do wonders with them. It should be interesting to see what he can accomplish with Sweetie in thirty days. Then he will be getting Julie. LOL

Thursday- February 2, 2012

It has been a while sign I have posted on this blog. I have all kinds of excuses but that is all they are, excuses! We'll see if I can't do better for at least a little while.

Yesterday it was a nice day and I had some of the "pressing" business caught up. I had returned from a funeral of a good friend and I was a little down and lacking in motivation. Then I remembered I hadn't don't anything with the hooligan weanlings. I put the 7 little monsters in a 16 foot square stall and let the good times roll! They ran around in circles not wanting to be touched and I just changed their direction every little bit to keep them going. When they took a break I would stroke who ever was closest with the butt end of a lunge whip. Most of them settled down but a couple almost had a nervous breakdown.

This afternoon I went back out to give the lazy rascals a little exercise. I have learned over the years that a tired pony learns quicker and retains it longer so I sorted off four of the hooligans, making sure to at least get one of my problem children in the group,  and put them in the round pen. They seemed to think they needed to run so I motivated them to do so. Besides packing the lunge whip I also got out the flag and that sure didn't do anything to calm those youngsters stressed out nerves. When everybody was sufficiently warmed up and willing to listen to me. I separated each one off from the group and worked with it using the flag. I managed to keep them in place by using the flag to block their escape. Now these are cutting bred youngsters and have all the moves of that breeding. I can testify that they are quick and catty. I got just about as much exercise as they did but I had fun. After a little while all four of them would allow me to run the flag all over them, even over their head. By the time we were done all four were wringing wet with sweat so to give them time to cool down I went back to the 16 foot stall and worked with the three I had left there. I worked them with the flag and then started rubbing and patting them with my hand. Ima and Little Lena caught on to this idea fairly quickly and actually seemed to enjoy this. Wendy was okay with it as long as she could hide her head from me. If she could see me she would suddenly explode out of there. She is big and powerful but I think with time and repetitions she will settle down. The one who surprised me today was Big Boy. He gave to the pressure of the flag very quickly and calmed down very well. There may be hope for him yet. A few  more of these sessions and we will be ready to start the haltering process. Woo Hoo  

Mouse

I suspected something was missing from Mouse's routine by the way he was acting when first mounted but I wasn't sure what the problem was. I contacted Mouse's previous owner and she told me they always work a young horse before they rode it. This finally made sense of what I was seeing and feeling when working with him. Thanks again Maggi, if you are reading this.

This evening I brought Mouse into the round pen and saddle him up. Got the Dakota saddle out with the full quarter horse bars. It is also one of those saddles you ride in not on if you understand what I am saying here. After changing and adjusting the cinch I started to lunge Mouse. Worked him both ways and then brought him back in to me. Re adjusted the cinch and worked him some more. We then went through a few of the seeking release exercises and I will say he is one quick young man. He is a little nervous about the rope on his hindquarters but that just gives us something else to work on. 

Finally the moment of truth had come. I took him out to the outside lot and mounted. While he had his ears back there was no sign of all the attitude he had displayed yesterday evening. He stepped right off when I asked too and without a hump in his back. He even responded to leg cues and necked reined a little bit. He made me proud of him. Going to really like working with this guy this winter.    

November 16, 2011

I just noticed it has been over a month since I wrote anything on this blog. It has been a busy month though. I have been spend a little time here and there with the fillies. They are both quiet and easy going. Just waiting for Casey Warren to get an opening to start them for me.

On November 5 I went to a catalog sale in Macon, Missouri. This is the same sale where I found Boonie six years ago. I had made my picks and had studied pedigrees. My first pick was a red roan (surprise, surprise) yearling grandson of Peptoboonsmal however I kept looking at this sorrel two year old colt who was also a grandson of Peptoboonsmal. Being JUST a sorrel I figured he might be the sleeper of the sale. They just had an incomplete pedigree on him in the catalog and I had been unable to find out anything about his dam line. My first pick went for more than I wanted to spend, in fact I didn't even get to bid on him. Since there were a hundred horses between the roan colt and the sorrel colt I went back to look the sorrel over again. I got to talking to his seller and found he had been started then she showed me his full pedigree. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/spear+fishing This colts great grand sires were four well known horses, Peppy San Badger, Grays Starlight, Smart Little Lena, and Doc's Hickory. All told the horses on his papers have won over $1.18 million in the cutting pen. I managed to buy this colt for way less than the roan yearling and, after studying his pedigree, I think this guy is better bred. He is as quiet as a church mouse so his barn name is Mouse.

I pulled Boonie from the mares and he is now a bachelor. Not sure he likes the idea but that is just the way things go around here. I also weaned six of the seven babies. They have been voicing their displeasure of the whole deal but are starting to settle down. They have discovered oats and are learning to eat them. It will take a bit but I am sure they will figure it out. 

Part of the reason for my returning to this blog is Mouse. Mouse seems to have a few issues that I am in the process of figuring out. The first time I rode him I used a snaffle bitted bridle, my old saddle, and a ratty old saddle blanket. He acted uncomfortable and didn't want to step out when I firsted asked but after a very short time he settled in and went to work. He has nice control, is soft in his face, and really has a nice stride. The first time I rode him in my little round pen. Yesterday evening, I decided we would work in one of the lots which would give us more room. Again I tacked up with a snaffle bit, the old saddle, and a saddle pad. When I climbed on I felt him hump up and he refused to move out when I asked. He even layed his ears back like he was mad when I clucked to him to get him to move. He then did a little crow hop or two and we discussed that situation. Some unkind words about his family tree may have slipped out of my mouth but we came to the conclusion the crow hopping was not a good thing. Once again he settled down and worked well, except for one time he wanted to run off but he discussed that subject and decided that was not the thing to do. Mouse acts like something is bothering him when we first start out but then settles down and works fine. I have also noticed he sucks air in when saddling then the saddle is loose after we ride a bit. I don't know if he is cinchy and a tight cinch bothers him, if he is used to a certain routine and I am not following it, if the saddle is not fitting him correctly, or what his issues are. Mouse starts out like a colt with very few rides but then once he is going he is soft in his face and responds well to the reins almost neck reining. He tucks his head and backs up when asked so I know he has been ridden more than he acts like when we first start out. I don't want to creat a cold back horse but that is how he is acting right now. Always something to work on around here. LOL      

October 9, 2011

On Saturday, October 8, 2011, I rode the NAGBRAI 2011 trail ride. It was a fun time riding from the Eldon fairgrounds to Pioneer Ridge Nature Center and through part of the Nature Center. I don't normally care for large groups of riders as I often find discourteous riders who have little or no idea of safety on horseback. I would like to say this ride changed my opinion  but it didn't. I am amazed at riders who think nothing of not warning someone else that they are over taking when riding at a trot or a lope. There were also the rocket scientist who thought they needed to be riding in the on coming traffic lane especially in some areas where we had blind curves. The most discourteous ones were those who left a watering point before others were mounted and ready to go. I don't want to sound completely negative because I did have fun, spent the day in fresh air and sunshine, met so nice folks, and got to spend so quality time with Star.

Star did very well except she was stuck on "GO" the whole trip. She wanted to be on the lead the entire route but she held up well and made me proud. We also had a lot of compliments on her and her attitude. Some thought she had great ground manners but I had to tell them it was all an act because she can be a terror. LOL I think even Star enjoyed herself.

Wednesday October 5, 2011

This morning I decided to deal with some of Star's issues. She has gotten to the point that she doesn't like to stand still while I mount her. She wants to dance away from the mounting block, side of the trailer, or whatever I am using to get on her. Since it was a nice morning I figured now was the time to deal with it. There was also the fact that I am planning on riding Star Saturday on NAGBRAI.

I got my tack all ready in front of my South barn then coiled the lead rope over my shoulder stuck a rope halter in my back pocket headed through the gate to catch up Star. As I turned from fastening the gate I see Star trying to sneak through the other horses towards the other gate. It is pretty hard to miss a 15 hand yellow horse in a bunch of 14 - 14.2 hand sorrels and roans. I never said this was the smartest horse in the world. We went out that gate and around the barn then back through the original lot and into the stallion pen. I kept her moving until she was sweating well and my blood pressure was slightly elevated but I was finally able to walk up to her and halter her. Then she wanted to dance around while I saddled her. We had a short sermon on this little issue and I was finally able to get her to stand still for saddling.

Since we were dressed for the dance I figured we might as well get down to business. I lead sweet old dependable Star over to the trailer and just as I suspected as soon as I put a foot on the trailer she backed away. Since she wanted to back away, I encouraged her to back up some more. I backed her a good twenty feet then pulled her back up to the trailer. Once again she backed away and got the opportunity to back another twenty, twenty five feet. Now would be a good time to say that Star doesn't like to back up especially when someone is shouting BACK, BACK at her. She got plenty of practice backing today before the light came on and she figured out I wanted her to stand still for me to get on. She finally stood and I put a leg over her then I sat down. She started circling like a buzzard circling day old road kill but we finally got lined out and I figured we needed to burn off some excess energy. Star definitely was not in the mood to stand still when I stopped her but after a little over a mile, some of that at a lope up a steep hill, she could see the advantage of standing still when I asked her to stop. We only put in about 5 mile or so but she was sweating really well and I was right. When we practiced mounting and dismounting she stood a lot better after our little session.

In Star's defense she is fresh, hasn't been ridden in a little over a month. She is running with my young stock and a very timid mare so she has the mistaken idea that she is a dominate horse and doesn't have to respect anything or anybody. I think she has started to reevaluate that position at least when she is tired. She will do fine this Saturday.