Scary thought taking a wild mustang to the vets office in the middle of town.... but it turned out fine. Mav did great. He let the vet take his temperature (for those that don't know: It goes in the anus) and he stood on the scale like a gentleman. He even let the vet poke and prod under his jaw and touch his belly all over on both sides...
He loaded in and out of the trailer good too, and when I got home I sent him in and out of it about 25 times. He walks in perfectly but is less then graceful on the way out. He peels out and because the mat is slick from dropped hay he slides and it's hilarious to watch needless to say lol.
Prognosis: Sick, but no antibiotics needed! Yay for that!
Fallon is doing great, she longes nicely and is all clipped up and looks nice and pretty. She is on the chubby side at the moment but thats ok, she's growing and will probably consume that pretty quick.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Day 10
I lunged both of them this morning on my Clinton Anderson lead. Maverik was terrible. He got loose in the open but ran right back to his pen. I have yet to get through to him. He's been a major challenge.
Fallon although she is super one sided, she is still a good girl. She still has trouble leading but is getting much better. She has a gorgeous show gait. She will make someone a really nice show horse someday.
Fallon although she is super one sided, she is still a good girl. She still has trouble leading but is getting much better. She has a gorgeous show gait. She will make someone a really nice show horse someday.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Day 9
Well lets see, when I fed this morning, the horses had somehow let Fallon out (her stall is in their paddock ... weird set-up...) and so she was roaming around with all of them this morning. I was able to catch her though without much fuss. So now I let her out during the day after she has her breakfast, and put her in at night.
I talked to my farrier and he thinks she has draft in her to. He said that during war time a long time ago, they turned draft horses, Thoroughbred, Arabs etc.. out with the herds to make cavalry horses. It completely explains why she is a hefty thick stocky solid built filly, and Mav is a tiny stick figure of a horse. The first time I saw him I told my mom I thought he was of Anglo-Arab origin (Thoroughbred/Arab cross) because he has a TB body but an Arab neck and head.
Mav is still jumpy and touchy but I was able to pet him and touch him with out the halter so I might be able to halter him without too much of a glitch. I'll post again this evening after I work with them today.
I talked to my farrier and he thinks she has draft in her to. He said that during war time a long time ago, they turned draft horses, Thoroughbred, Arabs etc.. out with the herds to make cavalry horses. It completely explains why she is a hefty thick stocky solid built filly, and Mav is a tiny stick figure of a horse. The first time I saw him I told my mom I thought he was of Anglo-Arab origin (Thoroughbred/Arab cross) because he has a TB body but an Arab neck and head.
Mav is still jumpy and touchy but I was able to pet him and touch him with out the halter so I might be able to halter him without too much of a glitch. I'll post again this evening after I work with them today.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Halters
I have been so busy lately the poor things have been cooped up with no work. I did take their halters off this evening though. Fallon will act all skitterish but will stand their and let you pet her and I took her halter on and off, and practiced catching her. Mav was probably more of a stupid idea but his halter was rubbing his hair so I took it off anyways. I'll get to catching him when the time comes.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Day 6
Today was a crappy day to train. It was raining buckets off and on, and when it wasn't raining buckets, it was drizzly or sprinkling. The wind also kicked up later in the day. I worked with Fallon in the morning in the RP but she was being a dork and wouldn't let me catch her afterwards. I ended up putting a call into my cousin for advice because she was truly being dumb. I finally left her after I was ready to fall on the ground from exhaustion after an hour. I fed the other horses and then came back a few hours later and tried again. This time I worked with her 45 minutes before she let me catch her (barely). I then tied her up for a few hours and brought Maverik out.
Poor Mav has been neglected the last couple days because Fallon has been monopolizing my time. From now on I'm starting with Maverik. He RP's great and leads great but is still jumpy and such when I handle him... unlike Fallon who RP's horrible and leads horrible but I was able to clip her nose and ears and bridle path and trim her eye lashes etc... without a problem... It's really hilarious how black and white these two are. They are COMPLETELY different. If I ever get time Im gonna seperate them because Mav's jumpiness rubs off on Fallon and it takes like 10 minutes for her to settle down when I'm messing with her.
Poor Mav has been neglected the last couple days because Fallon has been monopolizing my time. From now on I'm starting with Maverik. He RP's great and leads great but is still jumpy and such when I handle him... unlike Fallon who RP's horrible and leads horrible but I was able to clip her nose and ears and bridle path and trim her eye lashes etc... without a problem... It's really hilarious how black and white these two are. They are COMPLETELY different. If I ever get time Im gonna seperate them because Mav's jumpiness rubs off on Fallon and it takes like 10 minutes for her to settle down when I'm messing with her.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Day 4: May 20, 2008
Well today I was only able to work with Fallon. My dad tilled my RP and arena so it was nice and deep and trying to spank her when she broke gait (or even get the umph to jog at her butt was tough). It took longer because of this but she got better.
I worked on yielding her hindquarters which she did good, but Fallon has a space issue. She will run right into with her shoulders and you can use the butt of your hand as hard as you want, she'll still throw her head towards you. So I did A LOT of yielding forequarters with her. At first she'd try to bolt and sidepass (at bolting speed) and then when that didn't work she tried to come towards me... I stuck with her and she finally figured it out and then was calm and cool about it. She is funny that way. She'll have an initial heart attack for about 5 seconds, then she acts like she's been doing this for 20 years. Funny funny filly! lol I finally have her leading a bit better. When I moved Mav and her into a pen that you have to walk THROUGH the barn door to get to, both decided that wasn't happening. Mav is more willing to lead so it only took a little give to pressure with the halter before he came through the door (it's not a man door but it's only a couple feet wider and a few feet taller). Fallon however, wasn't having anything to do with going through that door. I ended up resorting to backing her through because she's really light at backing up (go figure) but she bumped the closed side and jumped forward, tried to bolt, but I just swung her hips around and tried again. she was all spooky and such but then tonight she did what Mav did this morning lol.
I was able to rub clippers all over her and even clipped her bridle path. I have some hand clippers that are for men's necks and so their tiny. I stuck the handle end in both of her ears and she just stood there. SHE LOVED the vibration. especially around her nose. she leaned into it and did a monkey face... weirdo filly seriously! I'm gonna get some pictures of both once I clip them up and wash them so you can see the "Montana Joe" side of them. (message if you don't get the reference and I'll explain).
I worked on yielding her hindquarters which she did good, but Fallon has a space issue. She will run right into with her shoulders and you can use the butt of your hand as hard as you want, she'll still throw her head towards you. So I did A LOT of yielding forequarters with her. At first she'd try to bolt and sidepass (at bolting speed) and then when that didn't work she tried to come towards me... I stuck with her and she finally figured it out and then was calm and cool about it. She is funny that way. She'll have an initial heart attack for about 5 seconds, then she acts like she's been doing this for 20 years. Funny funny filly! lol I finally have her leading a bit better. When I moved Mav and her into a pen that you have to walk THROUGH the barn door to get to, both decided that wasn't happening. Mav is more willing to lead so it only took a little give to pressure with the halter before he came through the door (it's not a man door but it's only a couple feet wider and a few feet taller). Fallon however, wasn't having anything to do with going through that door. I ended up resorting to backing her through because she's really light at backing up (go figure) but she bumped the closed side and jumped forward, tried to bolt, but I just swung her hips around and tried again. she was all spooky and such but then tonight she did what Mav did this morning lol.
I was able to rub clippers all over her and even clipped her bridle path. I have some hand clippers that are for men's necks and so their tiny. I stuck the handle end in both of her ears and she just stood there. SHE LOVED the vibration. especially around her nose. she leaned into it and did a monkey face... weirdo filly seriously! I'm gonna get some pictures of both once I clip them up and wash them so you can see the "Montana Joe" side of them. (message if you don't get the reference and I'll explain).
Sunday, May 18, 2008
May 18, 2008: Day 2
I worked with Mav this morning in the Round Pen (RP). It took about an hour but I was finally able to get him circling with me. I then continued to circle him and got the circle wider and wider until he was following me around this circle. Every time he quit following, I'd make the circle tiny again and then spiral back out. He followed me all the way from one end to the other without circling.
I then rubbed all over him (both sides) and swung my rope over his back. Both him AND Fallon are REALLY one sided. I just need to spend more time on the right side, less on the left for a while. Mav wasn't to pleased about the rope swinging around him and tried to bolt a few times but nothing major. He'd hit the end of his lead and turn around (no dragging of me or fighting with me). After about 1 minute he settled down and relaxed.
This afternoon I worked with both Mav and Fallon. I picked up both front feet and tapped them and rubbed their legs down. Besides Mav rubbing his nose on me (I figured he'd try to bite but never did), they both did great. I did the slap the ground with Mav and after about 10 seconds he practically fell asleep. I was worried he'd come along at a slower rate but they seemed to have switched personalities all of a sudden. I can walk up to both just fine. Mav is in the RP and Fallon is in my arena but their both fairly easy to catch. Give them a few more days and I will take their halters (or at least their lead ropes) off.
See the pictures below...
and here is some of me picking their feet up:
I then rubbed all over him (both sides) and swung my rope over his back. Both him AND Fallon are REALLY one sided. I just need to spend more time on the right side, less on the left for a while. Mav wasn't to pleased about the rope swinging around him and tried to bolt a few times but nothing major. He'd hit the end of his lead and turn around (no dragging of me or fighting with me). After about 1 minute he settled down and relaxed.
This afternoon I worked with both Mav and Fallon. I picked up both front feet and tapped them and rubbed their legs down. Besides Mav rubbing his nose on me (I figured he'd try to bite but never did), they both did great. I did the slap the ground with Mav and after about 10 seconds he practically fell asleep. I was worried he'd come along at a slower rate but they seemed to have switched personalities all of a sudden. I can walk up to both just fine. Mav is in the RP and Fallon is in my arena but their both fairly easy to catch. Give them a few more days and I will take their halters (or at least their lead ropes) off.
See the pictures below...
and here is some of me picking their feet up:
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Pick-Up Day > May 16, 2008
Wow, I just got back home in La Grande from my excursion to Reno, Nevada to pick up my 2 yearling mustangs. It was pretty much a first come first serve. When we got to the BLM grounds we were handed a paper with the #8 on it. So there were 7 in front of us to get mustangs. After "checking in" we lined up the trailers and loaded up 1 by 1. They would bring 6 at a time into a small pen that led into a chute. They then would take a whip and swing it above them to get them to move towards the chute, (quietly) then when 1 would go in, they'd close the back of the chute. they'd put the persons halter on the yearling, then open the front of the chute into a V shaped area that was completed by the trailer. They would go into the trailer, and head back over the the office, get the remaining documents, then head to wherever they were going. I got a blood bay filly with a star, QH build and a dark/seal bay gelding with a Anglo-Arab build with 2 white socks.
We got out of the BLM facility at 10am and headed towards Adrian, OR where my cousin, her husband and their 2 little girls live. He trains horses so had the perfect facilities for me to work with them that night and this morning. I unloaded them into the round pen at around 6:30pm (8 1/2hrs on the road) and let them rest for a few minutes, then I round penned them, found that the filly, now named Fallon (Fal-in), was quick to pick up on the cues and would turn in every time. I finally recruited my cousin to help me split the two up and put the Gelding into the arena, now named Maverik. Once seperated, she was roped so I could get close enough to grab her lead rope (that the wranglers put on). Once I got the lead, I was able to rub her all over and swing my rope around her back etc... she was really calm considering.
(Pics: Fallon At Trailer, Maverik in Round Pen)
This morning it wasn't too hard to catch Fallon and once I did I was able to get her to lead with some coaxing from behind her, and get her in and out of the trailer calmly. I then tied to her to the trailer and set out to get Maverik. Mav put his head right next to the fence and I was able to grab his lead through the fence and so there was no need to rope him. He fought pretty good though. He threw himself down a few times and would kick and strike and rear straight up. I just kinda waited him out and hung on to him. After a bit of coaxing I got him leading as good as I could and worked on getting him in and out of the trailer. Once I got him ok there, I tied him in the trailer, grabbed Fallon, put her in next, closed the gate and then grabbed my other 2 trained horses that were hanging out there too and made the 3hr drive home from there.
Fallon resting happily tied to my cousins trailer
Maverik fighting the Halter (this was the best version after 30 minutes of fight)
20 minutes After previous Picture
Once home I put them in my round pen, and put my yearling Auzzie in with them. I figure they can teach eachother a lot. Auzzie is real friendly so while I was scratching him, they were watching inquisitively. I was able to slowly walk up to Fallon and grab her lead under her head and rub her all over and work some more of giving to the pressure of the halter to lead. She still is cautious and weary but isn't real jumpy or spooky. It is 91 degree's so I will work with them both tomorrow morning for the first "dedicated and dictated" lesson. I can already tell that Fallon will be a puppy dog in a week following me around and being an "in your pocket" kind of horse where Mav will be more cautious and less trusting for a while and will still look at the world through "arab" eyes.
We got out of the BLM facility at 10am and headed towards Adrian, OR where my cousin, her husband and their 2 little girls live. He trains horses so had the perfect facilities for me to work with them that night and this morning. I unloaded them into the round pen at around 6:30pm (8 1/2hrs on the road) and let them rest for a few minutes, then I round penned them, found that the filly, now named Fallon (Fal-in), was quick to pick up on the cues and would turn in every time. I finally recruited my cousin to help me split the two up and put the Gelding into the arena, now named Maverik. Once seperated, she was roped so I could get close enough to grab her lead rope (that the wranglers put on). Once I got the lead, I was able to rub her all over and swing my rope around her back etc... she was really calm considering.
(Pics: Fallon At Trailer, Maverik in Round Pen)
This morning it wasn't too hard to catch Fallon and once I did I was able to get her to lead with some coaxing from behind her, and get her in and out of the trailer calmly. I then tied to her to the trailer and set out to get Maverik. Mav put his head right next to the fence and I was able to grab his lead through the fence and so there was no need to rope him. He fought pretty good though. He threw himself down a few times and would kick and strike and rear straight up. I just kinda waited him out and hung on to him. After a bit of coaxing I got him leading as good as I could and worked on getting him in and out of the trailer. Once I got him ok there, I tied him in the trailer, grabbed Fallon, put her in next, closed the gate and then grabbed my other 2 trained horses that were hanging out there too and made the 3hr drive home from there.
Fallon resting happily tied to my cousins trailer
Maverik fighting the Halter (this was the best version after 30 minutes of fight)
20 minutes After previous Picture
Once home I put them in my round pen, and put my yearling Auzzie in with them. I figure they can teach eachother a lot. Auzzie is real friendly so while I was scratching him, they were watching inquisitively. I was able to slowly walk up to Fallon and grab her lead under her head and rub her all over and work some more of giving to the pressure of the halter to lead. She still is cautious and weary but isn't real jumpy or spooky. It is 91 degree's so I will work with them both tomorrow morning for the first "dedicated and dictated" lesson. I can already tell that Fallon will be a puppy dog in a week following me around and being an "in your pocket" kind of horse where Mav will be more cautious and less trusting for a while and will still look at the world through "arab" eyes.
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