School is in Session!

Melody has officially started her training!

We took her training into the round pen.  She was very distracted because Star was screaming for her when I took her away - so annoying!  Star is really bad right now because she's in heat...mares...  I sent her off on the circle using the lunge whip as encouragement only, just moving it along the ground to keep her moving forward.  This is her first time with the whip - I've only ever used a lead rope when round penning her but it was time to put her big girl panties on and learn what all of the training equipment is.  She protested a little bit by cutting in and then would buck.  I disciplined her by sending her into the canter and when she got to the spot where she wanted to cut in, I would step into that space and "shoo" her out of it with the whip.  After a few times around she realized what she was doing wasn't working and did what she was told.  I asked for a trot for her "release" for being a good girl.  We switched directions and the same problem arose as before...cutting in and bucking.  Repeat discipline and she reacted but changing directions, bucking as she did so.  I forced her to change directions (back to the way I wanted) and she blew up again, bucking and kicking.  I got after her by sending her into a more intense canter (we have a large round pen, by the way - plenty of room for this stuff), not quite a gallop.  She responded by galloping.  Fine.  I kept her at the gallop until she gave in and went all the way around without cutting in and bucking.  Again, her release was trotting.  It wasn't long and she was licking and chewing so I thought that now would be a great time to stop and let that lesson process.  She stopped and I rubbed her all over with the lunge whip (like a carrot stick or stick and string, I don't have either so I just use my lunge whip).  I half expected her to move away but she didn't.  I wasn't holding her at all and she stood perfectly still while I rubbed her in every little nook and cranny on her body.  I figured that went so well so I thought I would see how she would do with the string part flipping all over her body.  Again, didn't move.  She was so relaxed and happy to let me rub her anywhere I wanted.

At that point I hooked her back up with the lead rope and reviewed some of the bending exercises.  She gave me her head going down perfectly.  When I asked for some flex first to the left, she didn't want to do it.  So we circled around and around until she finally stopped her feet and gave ever so slightly.  That was a good first step.  We repeated this on the right side with the same results at first.  I switched back to her left side and she circled around only once before stopping and giving me some flex.  Again, I repeated on the right side and she repeated the same behavior as she did on the left.  A few more times on each side and we ended with her flexing with almost no hesitation.  I made sure she knew she was a good girl by giving her lots of love!

We also reviewed moving her shoulders and hips.  Each time I asked her she resisted less and less.  I was getting the correct response (her feet were even crossing correctly with the correct foot going over the other one - BONUS!) with a lighter cue than when we started so we called it a night.  She was such a good girl and I told her so lots of times! 

Training day was a success!  Can't wait to get back at it tonight!

Until next time,
Lynell

Zoe Update

Sorry for the poor picture quality...the pictures are cell phone pics sent from Zoe's new family...

Zoe is doing very well - in fact, T plans to show Zoe at the end of the month and again in July.  Yay!  T will be showing Zoe in SMS and hunt seat.  If all goes well, she will also be entering her in Western Pleasure!  Whaaa???  Yes, Western Pleasure!  I know she has a cute jog...but getting her to do it consistently was difficult.  Must be having progress in that department!  Also, her lope was a strong, powerful lope - definintely not a WP lope but maybe she was able to tame it down some...we'll see!  I was also blown away by the fact that she's going into hunt seat!  My little roper/foundation APHA is going to try hunt seat!!  WOW!  I'm so excited to see her show in a few weeks!!!!!!!  I will take lots of pictures...promise!

Not so good news is that T took Zoe out in a large field and tried running her the other day.  Too much stimulation for Zoe because she started bucking and T fell off.  T's dad said that T was ok, just a little sore.  He said her pride was more bruised than anything else and he laughed like crazy! lol

Overall, they still absolutely love her and all fight over her.  They all want her for themselves but T said that she's a keeper!  I am OVERJOYED!  I really feel like I made the best decision for Zoe...even though it was so hard...still kinda is.  Does that ever go away?

Until next time,
Lynell

She's on the Loose!

Melody is like a magician!  She's managed to undo her stall latch twice now!  The first time she managed to open her stall door she was only out for a short time, thankfully!  Last night she managed to undo her gate latch and was probably out all night!

I was running late this morning so Hubby fed the animals by himself.  He got in the barn and found Melody laying down, all stretched out.  He said she looked like she was dead (and he actually thought she was)!  He was able to get her to her feet and led her to her stall.  She didn't want to go back in her stall but he got her in anyways.  He took a look around the barn to see what all she had gotten into during the night.  He found that she had gotten into the tack room and spilled the horse treats all over the ground, managed to get into the chicken feed and ate some, and probably ate a bunch of hay!

He turned Star out and left Melody in.  He didn't want her to go out in the pasture and eat more rich grass and cause her to colic.  He topped off her water bucket and finished chores.  He said she was acting normal, no sweats and the only stress she seemed to have was that Star wasn't with her.  He called the feed store (local) and asked what the ingredients of the chicken feed were because we had a horse get out and eat some.  They said not to worry because it was all natural ingredients, many of which are in our horse feed, just all ground up.

Hubby had to leave for work but said she had drank a bunch of water and could hear gut sounds.  He hadn't noticed any new poop yet but would check on her in an hour. 

When he came back to check on her, she had pooped (looked normal) and finished her water so he refilled it.

It appears she's going to be ok.  But it was a scarey morning!  It could've gone a much different direction!  We are going to have to come up with a different latch on her gate to keep her from getting out again...

Until next time!
Lynell

Riding Gunner

Middle daughter had a great ride on Gunner over the long weekend.  I wish she could've gotten more rides in but our weekend was a blur!

Gunner has been acting kinda "studdy" (Star is in heat) lately so we round penned him before middle daughter got on.  We didn't know how he was mentally but soon found out that he was ready to work so she warmed him up and then they started working.  They were both relaxed and working well together.  Middle daughter's position was perfect!  I didn't have to remind her about her leg or sitting up at all!  So proud of the progress she's made since last year!

I put three orange cones out for her to practice some turns and patterns.  She got frustrated because Gunner didn't understand that he had to go AROUND the cones!  I went out and led them both around all of the cones and just like that, Gunner was bending nicely around each cone on his own.  He just had to have it "explained", I think!

After the work was done, the other children wanted a quick "pony ride".  I walked them around the cones and then called it a night.  Gunner was a good boy and we all told him so!  He really appreciates the treats (like all horses do!) so we gave him a couple and put him away.

It was a good night of riding - hopefully we will string more good rides together this year!

Until next time,
Lynell

The Farrier Visit

Just thought I would document how the farrier visit went...

First up was Melody.  She's been doing good with picking up her feet for us most days so I figured we would start with her since she would probably be the worst one of them all.  I needn't worry because she did excellent!  Stood there patiently while the farrier did his work.  The only thing that surprised me was when he first approached her she did a big spook away from him.  I think he must've looked funny to her with his chaps and tools in hand.  She settled down and he was able to get her done.

Star was no issue...never is!

Gunner stood like a good boy.  Sometimes he pulls his feet away but this time he waited until his feet were given back before he put them down.  Good boy!

Tyson also was a good boy.  I was particularly interested in what the farrier thought about his feet.  Ever since Tyson's accident at my brother-in-law's house (which was why he came to live with us), he's never been sound.  He's been getting around pretty good in turnout but I like to hear from a professional what they they think about him.  The farrier said Tyson's feet looked surprisingly good!  He said if he seems comfortable that we should start riding him again!  Seriously?  I haven't given that the all clear yet but I think I will saddle him up and give him a schooling in the round pen to see how he goes.  I'll decide after that if he can be put back to work after that.

All in all, it was a great time with the farrier.  It's been too long since he was last out so it was fun to catch up with him again - he likes to talk a lot so he (and his wife) stayed for 2 hours!  Good people!

Well, that's all for now!

Until next time,
Lynell

A Visit

I got invited to see Zoe in June...CAN'T WAIT!!!

Ok, actually they invited me to their daughter's (not T) graduation open house but still...I can see Zoe!

In other news, the farrier is finally able to get to our house on Friday to trim.  He got sick over the winter (a bad case of pneumonia) and has been playing catch up all spring.  So Friday is our turn!!  I hope he's able to stay healthy and keep us in his schedule!!  Along with playing catch up, he's moving right down the road from us...how convenient!! ;-)  So needless to say, he's been very busy this spring.

Melody has been feeling great!  So great, in fact, that she has decided to try biting people again.  She got my youngest on her little wrist!  My youngest was at her pen and had her hands resting on one of the boards when Melody put her head down to "sniff" and ended up biting her!  I'm thinking that she was looking for treats so we have put a stop to feeding her treats.  Plus, whenever I lead her out of her pen, she stops (with her butt only half way through the gate) and puts her head down to eat.  What a pain!!  I need to break her of that habit ASAP!!!!!

Star has been doing so well!  She's been prancing, playing and kicking out while in turnout with Melody.  Acting like a 2 year old!  But her age caught up with her yesterday because after her little playful bout with Melody, she ended up getting sore on her back leg.  This morning she was fine again...no swelling or heat.  So we will chalk it up to a mystery injury while playing....

Not much to report on Tyson.  He's in turnout with Gunner and the two seem to be happier without Zoe keeping them in line.  They zoom around with each other a lot more than they used to, Zoe must've been a tough lead mare!!

I took the pictures for T's dad of Gunner.  He's one of those horses that I just couldn't find a good angle on...so we had a lot of outtakes.  It didn't help that it was extremely windy so he was feeling frisky and didn't want to cooperate!  Grrr...you be the judge...

Well, that's all the updates for now...

Until next time,
Lynell

A Zoe Update

I remembered that Zoe had a reaction to the Pyranha Fly Spray last year so I thought I would send a quick text to Zoe's new family.  The dad responded and said that they absolutely LOVE Zoe and that he wished his daughter didn't love her so much because he wouldn't mind having her for himself. :)  Always good to hear!

I asked if Zoe was being a good girl and he said yes and that she's getting feisty.  His daughter is "too soft" and is afraid of hurting Zoe's feelings so she hasn't been very firm with Zoe.  At that point I was a little concerned that maybe Zoe was going to be too much horse for her.  She can get full of herself but if you remind her of her manners, she's just fine.  I told him that and he said that Zoe minds him fine - just wishes his daughter would get firm with Zoe.  He thinks that Zoe is testing her boundaries - sounds like my Zoe!

I asked if Zoe was going to be a problem for T and he said that he didn't think so.  Just "typical new horse/person relationships that need to be established and get to know each other."  T has been riding almost everyday (weather permitting) and things have been going pretty good!


Overall, no red flags and they still love her as much as they did when they picked her up.  Yay!

He also asked about Gunner again - I have to measure him and take some conformation pictures for him.  That's on my list of things to do this weekend...

Until next time,
Lynell