Manners Time

Ok so this morning I was able to work with both, in my traditional way. Too bad I couldn't do this the entire time.

Maverik: Well this morning I worked on backing up from pressure (Clinton Anderson Style) and he picked up in this pretty good. He was crooked and kept trying to take his eyes away from me, so this was a super good exercise for him. I then practiced walk and rub. I put him on the end of the rope facing with 2 eyes, and then walk quickly up to him and rub his nose and muzzle until he relaxes. He wasn't moving his feet backwards when I was done, but still leaned backwards, but I accepted that for his first time. I then lunged him and reversed him a lot for a little bit, he did good as always with that. Then he got tied up and practiced picking up his feet. If I lean down and put my hand on his forearm and say "Pick" he will put his hoof in my other hand. However, his hind legs are still sticky, he'll pick them up but is stiff about bending them for me hehe.

Fallon: Fallon did pretty good this morning. She is so lazy that you'd think I was asking the world to make her move. She can be super fiesty but if your persistent and firm and don't nag at her and expect her to do it, then she will do it without too much fuss. But If I go in to something thinking "I wonder if she'll do this" then she gives me a toddler tantrum about it, and I have to switch to something she knows until I can get my frame of mind in the "She's going to do this, wether she wants to or not" attitude. Then when I return to that exercise she does fine if I have that attitude. I have to make sure that this big filly goes to someone with experience with lazy horses because if not, they will not get along and it would be a bad fit for her. As far as what I did this morning, I backed her, she was NOT keen on this but I was adament she do it. She's like a teenager I swear that can throw toddler tantrums. You know the ones in the supermarket where they throw themselves on the ground kicking and screaming and the only thing you can do is walk away because their past the point of reason. Thats her hehe. She backed up in the end though and moved slow for me, but in her book rather quickly. I had to remind her to keep that hip paralell with me and not show it to me and when we got that figured out we were good. I then lunged her a bit to remind her to keep her nose off the halter when she goes round. But when I got to picking up her feet. WOW. She will pick ALL 4 of them up on cue for me. Proud moment!

I wish I had a flag to practice with and fun stuff to desenitize with so if anyone has any cheap or free idea's that I can use to get them used to stuff please comment and let me know.

The Fair Grounds

Well today was the babies first day out. Fair is next week so inbetween giving 11 people lessons today I was able to work the 2 babes in. Fallon had a heart seizure practically lol. Her eyes were huge and she tried to rip my arms out a few times.

Mav did amazingly well. He got a lot of looks from people practicing. His gaits were calm (not relaxed) and his beautiful floaty trot was completely evident. He did VERY well. He spooked at a barrel then tried to eat it hehe.

I'll get pictures next time.

Showmanship

I have decided to enter Showmanship with both of the 'stangs at the competition. Both are doing really good haunch turns both on and off side. Mav is a little more quick in his movements on his, and Fallon, as you can probably guess, is slow and steady susan or something hehe.

I tried to clip Mav and he was great at first but I learned an "iffy" spot of his even with just my hands is his ears and poll. He tosses his head, about got my nose. Unfortunately I have already had my nose cracked once from a mustang no less, who spooked with his head and smacked me in the face. My nose was the only thing "really" hurt. But Mav didn't get me too bad so my nose feels fine. hehe

If you are a competitor at Reno, please comment and let me know how your Mustang(s) are doing, I'd love to know and hear the stories... if you have a blog too let me know the address. :):)

Trailer Part II

Ok well it was Maverik's turn later on today. He has so much more spring in his step then Fallon hehe. He jumped right in every time and was happy to do it. I groomed him and he only flinched for a few seconds, then he was calm about it.. YAY THEIRS HOPE! I picked up his feet then let him stand at the "patience pole" for an hour or so.

They are both doing so well finally. I still feel very behind in their training and taking this weekend off doesn't help that feeling. But I guess I'll just work extra hard with them this next week. I wish I could have done this all along but I guess sometimes life gets in the way. Must shake it off and keep dragging on.

Trailer

I worked with Fallon this morning on leading on the off side and loading. She loads just fine, unloading is a different story hehe. She leaps out with all 4 feet tucked up under her belly like she's making the leap of her life. IT IS HILARIOUS to watch, unless she decides to do it at you. She is still sticky sometimes and if you are not RIGHT next to her head she will plant her feet and not move until you position yourself right next to her head. Funny filly. My neighbor made a good point though. She is of draft descent and they have values bred into them like "planting their feet if one horse tries to take off when pulling a cart." Which would explain her great ability at planting those hooves deep enough that even my strong poor mare about fell over at one point because it was so out of the blue. However, they are also real lazy and calm. She is that. She is NOT flinchy in the least. I can pick up all 4 feet while she sleeps halterless and can groom her all day long, or leave her tied in the trailer with the divider and door WIDE open and she just falls asleep. She is very patient in that way.

I will try to squeeze a work with Maverik in today. I will be leaving town for a few days for campus visit at OSU, Cousins Wedding, Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, potential roommate interviews etc...

If I am able to get some time to work with him it will be trailering, desensitizing to saddle, blanket and grooming tools, and working on picking up his feet some more. He gives them to me but is still weary of having me down there.

Fallons Turn

Today it was Fallon's turn. She was a little harder headed about it and my poor mare Aspen had some work cut out for her. She actually about got pulled over a few times but she's a nice mare that deals with colts a lot so she stood her ground. Fallon finally figured it out but still would haul back a few times. If I just keep at it with her she will get more muscle and be able to go around the farm more and get exposed to all the "monsters and horse eating objects." hehe

Good note is after her leading lesson she is leading very nicely now. FINALLY!

Arena Vacation

Maverik got to go out and around the farm today. He wasn't too keen on the ponying at first, but he got the hang of it. We have some nice deep summer fowell that will help him build nice strong muscles.

It's Fallon's turn tomorrow!

Off to a good start...

Ok, I completely started over with Fallon. I was sick of getting rope burn. I finally have her leading off body language with very few tantrums. She really reminds me of an over-sized toddler! I will get pics as soon as there's something worth snapping. hehe

Maverik is doing excellent (finally). I saddled him again this morning and besides a VERY minor rolling crow hop he was fine. He is really starting to relax some more. I got his feet moving in the RP with the saddle and he did great. I left it on while I fed and watered and he acted like it had been there since birth. He still needs to learn to relax about the small things but that will come in time. I have some pics for you though!


"Awww crap. Not again!" hehe His expression was hilarious!


"Posing!" Yay for Mav.


Moving on line with saddle. Look at the stride!



Anyways... More pics later!

Saddle

I saddled Mav today. He did super good. He was a little jumpy about things brushing up against him but he didn't buck once! He humped up a few times but NEVER left the ground and it was only like 3 times at the VERY beginning and he accepted it with ease and respect, as well as confidence. He has done a complete 180°.

Fallon on the other hand did a complete 180° the other way. She still refuses to lead properly and throws her weight around in the lead. She jerks her nose down and sideways to yank me off my feet when I am standing there with her, even when I'm not asking anything of her. I need to get through to her again!

I'll try to get pictures tonight of Mav and the saddle, he's sooo cute. I will get one with an english saddle because I have him pegged as an english horse. His strides and movement is just perfect for english. I think he'd be stifled in western. However, I believe firmly that Fallon will make a GREAT rope, or ranch horse. Possibly a good trail horse, or a super western show horse. I think she could do english pleasure/eq but doesn't have good movement for jumping or dressage.

Pics TONIGHT! I promise this time.

Flexing

Well I bridled Maverik today and taught him to flex. He has calmed down ten fold. He isn't nearly as jumpy anymore and he took the bridle really well. He also unbridled calmly and with coaxing kept his nose tipped around me. He picked up on flexing in only a couple seconds and acted like he'd been doing it for years.

Next step is saddling and Ponying him around the farm with my mare to get some muscle on this guy. He has come a long way, I never thought he would.

Now Fallon is being the brat. We're still on Round penning with her because she is VERY lazy and so leading her around is still tough. She wont walk, so when I get her to she leaps forward like she was bit by a snake on her butt. Then she plants her feet as I catch up and won't move again. So I start RP'ing her to get her feet loosened up and I could never keep up to make her move in my 60' RP so I made a makeshift 30ft RP and I do Clinton Anderson (duh) it doesn't matter how hard I smack her butt with that string she still walks or does a tiny jog. She is so good at IGNORING me its frustrating. I DO NOT nag at her but even when I do get her going it is ONE stride then back to a walk OR stop.! She is crazy lol. I will see if saddling/bridling her will get her feet moving some.

Promise pics later!

Mav & The Saddle Pad

So it turns out Maverik has Staff Arias NOT Strangles or Strep... This is NOT contagious and he's practically over it. I moved him to a closer pen and while he was caught I decided to throw an english pad around him. He thought it'd it him at first, but then he relaxed and I left it on his back for about 15 minutes. He just slept while he stood there tied with it. I'll get a picture of this soon.

As for Fallon, haven't had time to work with her... Tomorrow evening I will work with them both.