Gunner & Zoe Reunited Again

Sorry about the poor quality picture - all I had was a cell phone for this photo-op!

I'm sure it's of no surprise that Gunner is now at Zoe's new home!  They are going to try him out for 60 days and decide after that if he is going to work or not.  My feelings won't be hurt if he doesn't work out and has to come home because...

Middle daughter and Gunner have been doing GREAT together!!  Honestly, I was going back and forth on whether or not to go through with this possible sale but ultimately decided to do what I said I would do and bring him to Zoe's new family.

Sunday, as we were getting ready to load Gunner, Hubby was checking the fluids in our truck when he noticed he was low on brake fluid.  He had some in the garage so he refilled it only to find it leaking near one of the rear tires.  FANTASTIC.  So he pulled the truck out from under the trailer and got the mini-semi.  Once he had it hooked up, he noticed one of the trailer tires was low so he backed the trailer up to the garage and put more air in the tire.  We had planned on leaving at 2pm but by now it was 3 pm.  May not seem like much or a big deal but I'm the kind of person that HATES being late so this kind of stuff really gets my feathers ruffled....

Middle daughter got Gunner loaded up (he's super easy) and away we went.  We found their house very easily - very nice, clean and safe environment for the horses.  I was very pleased!

Gunner unloaded like a good boy and, surprisingly, was very chill.  T's dad came to take a look at Gunner, I could see the excitement all over his face!  I gave him the lead rope and he took Gunner for a walk. 

While he was gone, T got Zoe out for me to visit with.  She looks GREAT!!  T has been riding Zoe everyday since she brought her home, which is exactly what Zoe needs and wants!  It was funny hearing her tell me stories of their ups and downs - so similar to mine!  We laughed about that.

T's dad turned Gunner out in their back pasture so I led Zoe over to "meet" him again.  They nosed up did a little talking and then got down to the serious business of eating.  It was good seeing them together again and I couldn't be happier with the home that they will have!

T and her family adore Zoe and her antics!  They found out that she's very affectionate and sensitive, fast and powerful, and oh so beautiful!  They said they've already had a few people offer to buy her - we told them we used to get that too.  She's just one of those horses that stands out in a crowd!

Until next time,
Lynell

Gunner

Hint....

Until next time,
Lynell

Big Announcement

I have a big announcement coming...can't tell until next week so stay tuned!



Until next time,
Lynell

Zoe's First Show

Zoe went to her first horse show of the season last weekend and she did great!  I wasn't able to make it because of 4-H (fair week) but they sent me a few pictures!

T showed her in hunt seat and they said Zoe handled the other horses in the arena like a seasoned pro!  There were about 25 other horses in the arena and she paid no attention to them...what a good girl!  They were so impressed with how well she did!

This is a video of her showing in showmanship...not sure if it will work but we'll give it a try!  She didn't pivot but they were still thrilled with her!



Hopefully I can make it to her next show! 

Until next time,
Lynell

I Miss That Face!

Another picture sent from her new family...

Until next time,
Lynell

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