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.