Lunged Magic in front of the barn and rode him around the Oak pasture. We did not ride the arena as it is so muddy and wet. It was very windy again today. Magic is very level headed compared to Newt. We rode a little different route through a herd of cows. York and Topsie were with us. Lots of wind. Magic did pay attention to a group of calves laying down off by themselves. No spook, he just kept an eye on them. He will make a very good trail horse. He just needs more experience and we are doing that.
Wednesday, May 25 2011
I led Newt to the arena and lunged and rode him in the arena. Very windy and his mood was the same. He was able to canter with some control but the footing is bad. Most of the canter hoofprints looked like skid marks, each of them sliding away from the center. He did listen and calm down and walk when requested but he was constantly on the edge of an outburst of energy. So I got on. I did manage to keep him from comming unglued but between the wind, his mood and the footing we got very little else done. Lots of head shaking. One time he shook and got his head lower and did a few crow hops but I was able to turn his head and make him circle where he could not buck. We did not ride the trail. When I got off, I told him how good we did. We were successfull in that we handled everything and had no big problems.
Tuesday, May 24 2011
Worked Magic on the lunge at the barn and then rode to the arena. Lots of rain last night so there was lots of water, splashing and mud. We rode the 20 meter circle just a little and an abbreviated round or two on the arena. Magic seems to be in good order and everything seems to be working right. (no limp) Just too much water. We rode around the Oak pasture. York and Topsie went with us. In the far corner of the pasture York found a hen turkey that must have had chicks. Magic and I had passed the area but I could hear the commotion behind us. If a horse was looking for a spook, that would have been enough. The hen made lots of clucks and hen noise and flapping to lead York away from the chicks, then when he got close she would flap and fly just enough to keep York interested. Magic keeps his mind on his business and paid no attention to the commotion. We had a good ride.
Monday, May 23 2011
Today I walked Newt out to the arena and lunged and rode him. It has been a while since we were both fit to ride so it was all new again. Well almost, except that I do have confidence in Newt and he has confidence in me. There was a lot of head shaking and inclination to speed up but I was not worried that he was thinking of dumping me and head back to the barn. He was able to canter on the lunge a little longer and not progress into a bucking runaway. We have made progress. It may be small progress but we are going in the right direction. Now we just need to keep up the work and make progress.
Sunday, May 22 2011
Worked and rode Magic in the round pen. It has been a while. We did not do too much. Just a little walk and trot and then we rode around the Ash pasture. I was happy with Magic and the ride. I look forward to more.
Saturday, May 21 2011
Worked Newt on the lunge in front of the barn. He did good. He cantered a little. I am cautious about cantering on the lunge because of the footing. It is grass or dirt which can be wet and was today. Newt did slip. Rather than push the situation I will put it off until I get good footing. I will read Julian Westall and see what he says. He is very cautious and often mentions even the slight possibility of a future problem.
Friday, May 20 2011
The horses are fit for riding and so is the weather. I am sick with the whooping cough since about the first of May. It was not too limiting until this week. I am getting better just a little bit each day. I’ll be glad when it is gone.
Saturday, May 14 2011
Windy and cold today. Gusts to 30 mph. I groomed Newt and took him to the arena. It was really windy and he got fired up. When we got to arena I thought I would let him calm down by giving him an opportunity to graze. He started grazing in a minute or two and I thought this will be good for him to experience calming down in such exciting weather. Then the reins fell down his neck and on the ground just as he took a step forward, the foot landed on the reins about a foot from the bit, he felt it and pulled up. I was looking at the bit with my lunge line attached laying on the ground. Newt and I realized he was loose just about the same time and he had not forgotten that it was windy. He took off. The reins were still around his neck but they broke so easily that I did not notice it. It was just like the bridle evaporated. It is a big pasture with cows. Newt ran up among them. I started walking to the gate where we came in and whistling for him to come. He did not seem to be paying much attention and ran out of sight. Then he came around the trees and started bucking trying to get the saddle off. It stayed on and he thought he’d just run flat out. They never would have sold him if they saw how he ran this morning. He was coming my way. One of two things was going to happen and the one I did not want was for him to run straight through the fence. This is not a horse safe pasture. It has barbed wire. Luckily I got him to stop. Maybe it was the tone in my voice. I got my hands on him and he let me put the lunge line around his neck. He was excited and it was difficult getting the loop around his nose. He was jumping around with every gust of wind and I somehow got mixed up with his hind feet. I think he realized it and avoided a problem rather than take advantage of it and hurting me so he could get loose. We went back to the barn but you would not call it a walk. At the barn I put on a halter and we lunged in the round pen. He was completely controllable in this environment. I put Newt in a situation he could not handle and it was a mistake. Thank goodness there was no injury.
I groomed and worked Magic in the round pen. He did good and was not bothered by his feet. I am still applying Venice Turpentine to Magic and Newt feet soles daily.
It was a brisk day in May. I need to remember not to extend my training on days like this. It is best to pull back a little and do something we are sure we can accomplish. Avoid potential problems on days like this.
Friday, May 13 2011
I saw Magic and Newt walking in the pasture this morning. Magic was in the lead. He is feeling better. Groomed, worked and rode in the round pen and then we rode around the Ash Pasture. Magic is comfortable and does not scare easily. His mane was much better after yesterdays shampoo. He seems to be enjoying the grooming.
Thursday, May 12 2011
Groomed and worked Magic on the lunge. He did good and looked good. No noticeable limp. Picked up the trot when asked. Did not show reluctance to move forward as seems to be his demeanor at present when loose. I will speculate that he has recently been subjected to his most serious pecking order adaptation. It is a big change from being mostly stalled with race horse meals to light meals while on pasture with other peers. Adding injury to insult, he has had an abscess and very sore feet while all this adaptation was going on. Magic is the new kid on the block. Newt’s bigger and is an old timer. And although Little More seems so humble to me, his reputation as a “true War Horse with 54 races and winning over $119,000” may just be overwhelming to the new little boy on the block. It could be, you know, like, maybe Magic’s depressed! I will take this opportunity to be Magic’s friend and maybe boost his self esteem. He did seem, for the first time, to enjoy grooming this morning. I washed his mane to get some of that wax gunk out. We’ll see how it goes in the morning.