horseweblog.com – Page 17 – A web log of Horses and Horse Activities

2011-04-02

Saturday, April 2 2011

Groomed and rode Newt out on the arena. I led him out there. I graze some cows for my neighbor and they came yesterday afternoon. I was concerned how they might react to each other but the cows were so happy and content to be on good pasture that they never got up. And they were a ways off so I don’t know that Newt was aware that they were in the pasture. I rode Tut over to JD Adam’s pasture one day. JD has lots of Scissortail Flycatchers. Tut was hot blooded and full of himself when 50 black cows came over the hill. Tut had never been in the pasture with that many cows and they had never had a horse in the pasture. All 51 of them stuck their tails straight up in the air and snorted at each other. The cows thought the best thing to do was to run flat out and circle me and Tut. Tut thought the best thing to do was fly out of there. But he listened to me and we came out of that pasture at a reasonable speed. Tut showed better behavior than I did judgement that day. I do not trust Newt that much yet but we are building trust. Newt did good in the arena. He was so relaxed that he even seemed a little bored. I like a horse to pay attention and be eager to go. I will probably start him on riding the trails to see if that will stir up his interest. After I opened and shut the gate, I rode Newt back to the barn. First time. He did good. Even a little too relaxed.

Glory was like that at one time in her training. Bored. She got over it and is a pretty lively ride. I would be riding her also except she is too wide for my comfort.

Magic showed some hesitation at the trailer. I encouraged him a little and he loaded. We’re getting there.

2011-04-01

Friday, April 1 2011

Groomed and rode Magic. He does not enjoy the brush. I did not even think of using the shedding blade on him. The little rubber gripper mitt worked good though. He does not like it either, but to a lesser degree. I thought about trimming his bridal path and he thought about having a fit. He is OK with the mane and tail brushing. I’ll live with those shortcomings since he is so nice to ride. We rode in the arena just a little more and with some variation in the way we did Wednesday. The unusual thing about today was that I let the ponies out thinking they would just graze around the barn. They were no bother when I was grooming and tacking. Matter of fact, they were not even there. When Magic and I were riding to the arena I noticed the ponies were past the house and Scottie was in the Oak pasture. Magic took everything in stride and just walked past Laddie. When we got to the arena, both ponies showed up curious about what we were doing. The would almost follow us around the 20 meter circle but then they would get busy grazing. The best thing was that Magic paid them no mind. If they got in the way he just went around them. Magic did real good at the training ride today. Then we started to ride around the Oak pasture. That looked good to the ponies and they came along. I told Magic that we would make pony pack saddles and they could carry the hay and oats and stuff. After following a while, Scottie thought it would be more fun to lead. Then Laddie joined him and they were both ahead. We came to a fork in the trail and they took the high road. The high road went up on Shirey Mountain. I like to go up there but thought it best if Magic had a few more miles before we went up there. But the redbuds are in bloom and we just decided to follow the ponies. The ponies led all the way to the top, increasing speed of course where it got steep. Magic thought we should also speed up but listened when I requested a more modest pace. Now horses give each other confidence on an adventure like this but it crossed my mind that I did not know what the ponies might do in a stressful situation. If they spooked, Magic would have to make a decision, spook or no? They never spooked and they have a lot of confidence. When we got to the top, I decided Magic and I needed to take the lead and went on a different path than the ponies. They saw we were going the other way and came with us. We rode down the redbud lane I have been cultivating and up to the top of the mountain. I circled back to the path we came up. The ponies kept up with us and we went back down the mountain, through the Oak pasture and back to the barn. Magic never took a bad step on the whole ride. A very nice ride.

Magic got in the trailer even before I could get my clicker ready. He was relaxed as we turned around and stopped and stood patiently before we stepped off.

2011-03-31

Thursday, March 31 2011

Sunshine today. I groomed and worked and rode Newt in the arena. It has been several day since I worked Newt. And it was about 36 degrees. But Newt remembers what we want to do and did it. He did not fuss or complain, much. He has not decided to devote his interest in the riding relationship but he does have nice balance, transitions, and gaits. When I start posting, I am often on the wrong diagonal. But on Newt I am surprised how often I start on the correct diagonal. We rode the 20 meter circle walk trot both directions middle inside and outside. Then we rode the arena rectangle and then did a few walk trot walk transitions. I enjoyed the ride. Newt just started shedding. He had a little cut on his off hind cannon bone, more like a bad scratch with some dried blood. I washed it, cleaned it and applied neosporin.

Magic stepped all the way up in the trailer today. We walked forward and turned around in the trailer. He was relaxed.

2011-03-29

Tuesday, March 29 2011

Rain and cold today. I did not ride. I took Magic to the trailer when I was turning them out. He put two feet in. He is relaxed at the trailer now.

2011-03-28

Monday, March 28 2011

Groomed and rode Magic in the arena. We did the 20 meter circle at the walk and trot and then trotted the complete arena in both directions. This is the stage that I want to make improvements in my riding. I have not been able to keep a horse at this level for some time. Glory, once I got her broke to ride, got so big that it is uncomfortable for me to ride. Tut was so small that my weight was constricting to anything but a walk. Little More was the best but then he got lame. Justin’s horse Bruiser showed a lot of promise but had some ingrained habits that I did not have the skills to get him past. Roxie got lame. Newt is just now getting to where I can ride him in the arena. If Magic stays sound and willing, he has the ability to do the things I want to do. We will learn together.

We rode around the Oak pasture. I like to take different routes and always have variety in what we do. I think it keeps them interested and creates confidence. So we were in a new place and a bird flushed that caused Magic to spook for the first time. His spook was to shutter just a little. He never even broke his stride. He has excellent composure and lots of confidence. When Newt spooked, he was two strides into a bolt when I hit the ground back at the spook site. I never got to see what spooked him. Magic is happy to walk fast when we are on the trail. That is what I want.

We have not worked on loading for a couple of days and Magic did not step into the trailer today. I did pick up the lunge whip and tap him. Previously, in Little Rock, he had balked at the whip but today he stepped forward and did not pay a lot of attention to the whip. I consider that progress so we quit. I made no improvement in Little Rock and was concerned that he did not respond to the whip by stepping forward but by balking. My normal loading process is to ask for a step or movement toward the trailer on command or cluck then tap, tap with the whip until I get the movement I want. They don’t have to get into the trailer right then, they just have to step forward. If I can get them to do that, they will end up in the trailer sooner or later. But in Little Rock, if you picked up the whip, Magic stood his ground or moved away. I would not be surprised if he created that behavior in response to the bad situation Magic found himself in. So I was happy to see his indifferent, possibly positive, reaction to the whip today.

2011-03-25

Friday, March 25 2011

Groomed and rode Magic out to the arena. We rode the 20 meter circle 3 rounds at the walk and 3 at the trot in both directions. Then we walked the arena in both directions. Magic did very good. Very willing to move forward. Then we rode all the way around the Oak pasture. Magic never made a bad move or had a bad thought. He is a nice horse. He is very calm. Most horses that calm also have a lack of energy, but Magic, like I said, is very willing to move forward. Riding him is fun.

The trail ride around the Oak pasture is a goal that is important to me. It was very easy to get Magic that far. Newt is doing good but I don’t know if I will be comfortable riding him in a situation like that. I have had close encounters with deer, quail, armadillos and rattle snakes on that ride. I probably could have ridden Magic with no trouble on that ride much sooner but, if you make a mistake with a horse, sometimes it has lasting effects. I made a mistake with Magic at the Saline County Fairgrounds. We will get past that problem but I want to avoid making mistakes caused by moving too fast and putting him in a situation that he can’t handle. We’ve got plenty of time and patience.

He put two feet in the trailer again today and lifted a back foot to step in. Making progress.

2011-03-24

Thursday, March 24 2011

Groomed, worked and rode Newt at the arena. Walk and trot on the 20 meter circle and a round each way on the rectangle. Newt was all work today. He did not seem impatient at all. He sometimes looks off rather that at his work but we are working on paying attention. When we were walking to the arena, he spooked at something on his off side. He reacted by jumping forward. I’m looking at this as an improvement because he did not run over me. In the past he would have shied directly away from the spook. That would be right over me. I’ve had horses before that sometimes shied but it would be posturing and snorting. Dodger did that, anything for a chance to show off. Newt reacts immediately with his whole body which is not endearing. He is making improvement. He did very good today.

I took Magic to the trailer. He put two feet in the trailer, twice. We are going in the right direction.

2011-03-23

Wednesday, March 23 2011

Groomed, worked and rode Magic in the round pen. Then we rode out to the arena and rode the 20 meter circle. Walk and trot. No sign of lameness. Magic is a nice ride.

Two feet in the trailer again today. We are making progress.

2011-03-22

Tuesday, March 22 2011

Groomed, worked and rode Newt in the arena. That is a first. We rode a 20 meter circle both ways at a walk and a trot, four times around total. Then I got off. Success!

Groomed and worked Magic in the round pen. This is the first time I have worked him since he got lame. I noticed the limp 22 days ago on March 1. He trotted sound. We did not do much. I just wanted to see him trot a few rounds.

Then we went by the trailer. I have begun to think this clicker thing might not be working for Magic. Then, bingo, he stepped up in the trailer. Only two feet but it is progress. His interest limit is about four treats. He did it on the fourth. And I did not make it to where he had to get in the trailer to touch the target. He just had to stretch. If I had made it where he had to step up to touch, then if he did not step up, it would have been a failure. I want to avoid failure. I want to make training successes.

2011-03-20

Sunday, March 20 2011

Newt and I did the same thing we did yesterday. He was a lot calmer at the arena and did very good. Again no enthusiasm for riding in the round pen. Newt does like to be groomed.

Magic had a good day. No limp. I cleaned out his hoof and groomed him a little. Magic tolerates grooming. I think he likes me and everything but grooming is not something he enjoys. I am keeping Newt, Magic and Little More together. They seem to get along together just fine. Newt has just been with them a few days. He was with the mares until then. And he misses them now. If they go to the far end of their pasture, Newt quits grazing and if they don’t come back soon, then he starts running. It is nerve racking to watch for me. And I was installing the electric fence and watched a lot. I got to see Magic get kicked by Newt and it made one of those sounds that I don’t like to hear. But there seems to be no damage.

I got the electric fence working. A split second electric jolt is much better than cuts that take months to heal, if they do heal. It came to me that I needed to avoid being around when Newt got shocked. The fence was not hot and then it was. Newt would come up to me as I was working on the fence. I worried about it and changed my plans and avoided being there when he touched the fence. And he did. And he had a strong reaction. But I was not there thank goodness. I can hear him thinking “I was beginning to trust John but then he just hauls off and kicked me hard. I’ll watch out for him.”