Training Multiple Horses

Mika

 

I feel like I was able to accomplish a lot this evening. I got to the barn and brought Mika in first. I did some groundwork with her first.  Since she seems a bit spooky at times I got the tarp out and lunged her over that on the line. She is also nervous around the steer so I lunged her past him too. I wanted her to stop on the tarp before we finished up and I was able to get her to do that. She did excellent with the lunging so I took her into the barn and saddled her up. Once I had Mika saddled up, I thought it would be best to lunge her under saddle first before I hop on so I have an idea how she behaves with the saddle. I know she has been ridden before but not for a while. Mika is an older horse (not sure her exact age) but I wanted to cover my bases before hopping on her myself. She didn't react to the saddle so I got up on her. I walked her around a bit and then asked her for a trot. She went right into the trot. She is larger than Daisy by a bit and she is broader. I posted with her and then asked for a canter. I loved her immediately. If I actually needed/wanted another horse I so would want her. I guess I just have a soft spot in my heart for older horses especially after having Navajo :) Anyway since I had done all this work right behind the barn in a fenced in area I decided to take her out front so I have more room to work her. I worked on trotting with some cantering mixed in. Mika responded to everything I asked. I know I want her to be a bit more responsive to some of my cues and other things but I am so excited to see how she does the more I work with her. I really like her a lot :)

 

After I worked Mika, I hosed her off and then put her out in the meadow again. I brought my horses in and with Brooke and Cali's help (Anthony and Lori's 5 and 6 yr olds) I brushed Daisy and Freedom. I worked with Freedom a bit on the ground and he is really getting quite good at doing a move on the forehand and hindquarters. I think within the next couple days I want to see about teaching him to sidepass. I really want to get my cart fixed so I can drive him because I know he would really benefit from that!

 

I put Freedom out and tacked Daisy up with the French link snaffle and saddle. Tonight she did the absolute best she has ever done in a bit. I am really excited to ride her again and see how she does! She was so responsive to my cues to transition up to a trot and then down to a walk and stop. Going the one way, she kept wanting to break her gait but I worked her through that and was able to get her to trot consistently for me. I actually didn't work her very long but for the length of time I did, she did amazing. Not sure if I will get to work with anyone tomorrow because it is my last day of work and it looks like I will be working late. I also have piano lessons in the evening. I do plan to work the horses Thursday and Friday.

Catching Up

Its been quite a while since I blogged. Its been quite a busy month so far and I don't really see my summer slowing down. It will help that I will be working for my dad after Wednesday of this week. It is hard to believe I only have two more days of working as a nanny for this family for this school year. I plan to work for Dad for the summer and this family asked me back so I plan to work for them next school year. :)

 

Last week I had Bible school every evening so I didn't work with the horses at all. Friday I had off from work so I gave both horses a bath. I had worked with Freedom first. I was going to drive him and I did for a little bit before my tire on the cart went flat. So I need to fix that :) I didn't have time to work with Daisy but it was good to give both horses a bath.

 

I wasn't planning to go deep sea fishing with my youth group on Saturday but it ended up working out. I caught a star fish (which I kept), a sea creature that looked like a miniature sting ray, and a fish that was too small to keep. Overall our group caught 30 fish though. It was quite an enjoyable day!!

 

 



I had asked Anthony if he would show me how to run the weed whacker so I could do all the weed whacking around the outside of the meadow as well as along the dividing fence in the meadow. So I got there this morning before he left for work. It wasn't working so he left and I messed with it a bit more and got it running. I was able to get all the weed whacking done in 2 hrs. I came home and walked Lucy. I ran some errands with my family this afternoon then, this evening, I was able to work with my horses. First though, I worked with Mika, Anthony and Lori's horse that I am going to be training. She is an older horse who hasn't had work in a while so they want me to get her ready to ride for their children. I believe she will make a good child's horse. I worked her in the round pen tonight and I could tell she knew what she was doing. I was quite impressed with how she did. In the end she joined up with me and then followed me. I also got her to back up and do some other groundwork. Then I gave her a bath and put her out.

 

Mika

 

I then worked with Freedom. I lunged him and got him to do some work at the canter. I am very pleased with where he is with his training. Thursday the vet is coming out to geld him so not sure how that will all affect our work schedule but we will play it by ear. I actually didn't ride Daisy myself but Anthony and Lori's two girls, Brooke and Cali rode Daisy. I called my mom and asked her if she wanted to bring Rachel up. She did so, I let Rachel ride Daisy as well. :) Tomorrow evening I am hoping to ride Daisy and work with Freedom a bit.

Brooke and Daisy

 Rachel and Daisy (cell phone photos :)

Lots of Groundwork

 

Above is another one of the photos that my mom took on Saturday. I am just amazed at how tall Freedom has gotten. He is looking quite nice :) So this week I haven't done so well with working Daisy every day like I wanted because between helping my parents get ready for the show and my funny work schedule, I haven't had time to work her. I did get to work with Freedom every day since Monday though because I am just doing groundwork with him. I have mainly been working on a turn on the haunches and on the forehand, and he has greatly improved. He has been doing pretty amazing and I believe very soon I will be ready to teach him to sidepass. The rest of this week I won't get to work with either horse because I am going to be heading up to meet my family at the show they left for today. So I will be busy with the show. Next week we have Bible school and I am teaching 1+2nd grade :) Depending on how my week goes I am hoping to still work with Freedom even if I don't get to work with Daisy. Then the week following Bible school is my last week of work and then I should have more time to work with the horses. Hope that you have a wonderful rest of the week!!

 

sunset a week or two ago

Lunging Freedom and Riding Daisy

I didn't work with either horse like I had wanted to this week. A few evenings it rained but I hadn't been feeling to well all week. Last evening I just went to bed early instead of going to sleep out with the youth girls at my youth leaders house. I did feel a bit better this morning.


I went to the horses this afternoon. I worked with Freedom on the lunge line and afterwards I worked him a bit on moving his hindquarters. This evening I am going to be writing out a training schedule for him. I know he might not stay on schedule but it will help me keep my goals in order for him. I want him to be trained as good as I am able to get him on the ground for when I get ready to ride him come fall. After I had worked with him, I hosed him off and put him out in the meadow again.


I brought Daisy in. I had planned to ride her and decided to ride her bareback with the bit again after having ridden her with the hackamore the last few rides. We went around the block which was about an hour ride. She did a really good job but I want to do some fine tuning work with her this week. I am hoping to work with the horses every evening this next week but we shall see how the weather and other things work out. I am excited to see how far I get with the horses this summer because I feel this summer I will have more time than I have had with the horses in a while :)

Riding and Groundwork

 

Today I got off from work a half an hour early so I was able to do all the things I wanted to do this evening. I walked Lucy for a while. I had taken her for a short walk this morning but then for a longer walk this evening :) After I fed Lucy, I headed to the horses. I rode Daisy first. I was really pleased with how she behaved this evening. I believe we had the best ride tonight than we have had in a LONG time. We had gone up the road a little ways and then turned onto a side road that I usually ride along. She wanted to trot without me asking for it; we just worked through that and I got her to go nicely at a walk first and then after she walked nicely for a bit, I asked for a trot. I was really pleased how nicely she trotted as well. On the way back, she did the absolute best she has ever done as far as trotting. I am really excited to work with her later this week and see how she does!!

After I got back, I brushed her and then put her away. Got Freedom out and worked with him a little bit on some groundwork. Did some backing, doing the moves on the haunches and forehand both ways. We also worked a bit at his walking and trotting off when I did as well as stopping when I do. I was really happy with how he did. Hoping to maybe drive him later this week.

Warm Weather

We had absolutely gorgeous weather today! I had extra time this morning so I worked with Freedom. I groomed him, which means I was all hairy :D I mostly worked him on doing a move on his haunches and forequarters but I also got him to side pass both ways. I was really impressed with that. My friend who I was going to take for a drive with Daisy came and we went for our drive. After we got back, she left and I met up with my cousins and my friends for lunch which we ate outside ;) Then for the afternoon and evening I helped out with my youth group's work day. I was going all day but I immensely enjoyed the nice warm weather and sun! I also got to be in flip-flops and then barefoot some of the evening. Tomorrow looks like it will be another gorgeous day so I am looking forward to that as well!

Working with the Horses

Its been a busy past few days. Thursday evening I didn't work with the horses but Friday evening Sarah came. We discussed vaccinations and some of our feeding schedule for the horses and then Saturday morning we went for a morning ride. I woke up around 7 and we got to the barn around 8:30 or so. It was fun being able to ride for an hour and still having a good part of the day left to do things. In the afternoon, my mom helped me put a fence up to make a corral in the meadow. The idea being to help preserve most of the grass and then give it a chance to grow before the horses really get to be on it much. I need to get a few more posts and then I will be ready to do the dividing fence line going down the middle of the length of the meadow. Freedom of course, played with it because I didn't get a energizer for the fence till today (Tuesday) but we won't set it up till tomorrow.

Sunday and Monday evenings I had other plans. Sunday evening I went to church and Monday evening a group of friends went to sing for someone. Today I didn't have work so I had the chance to work both horses. I saddled Freedom up and put the bit in his mouth. Worked him a bit from the ground on backing up, doing both a turn on the haunches and forehand, and walking forward. I was really impressed with how he did. Friday is exactly a month till he turns two!

I then worked Daisy in the bit from the ground on doing a turn on the haunches and forehand as well. Then after she did so well with that, I hopped on her bareback and worked her on walking off, trotting and then stopping. :) She did amazing. For me what I did was short and sweet but I felt like I really got somewhere with both horses.

Driving Daisy, Groundwork, and A Rainy Evening

Yesterday (Tuesday) since I get off from work late, my evening was shorter. I was able to drive Daisy and work with Freedom a bit. Daisy did really well with driving. I decided to take her over the turnpike bridge and then turn her around and come back. I laughed at her because she sped her trot up to go over the bridge both ways, because she really doesn't like the bridge :D Overall though, she did really well with driving.

I had planned to work with Freedom longer but knew I had some important things to do when I got home that were more important than that. I did work him in the meadow a little bit before I fed. I was pleased with how he did. I got him to lay down as well as do a turn on the haunches and forehand (both ways) all without his halter on. He is turning into quite an amazing young horse. Pleased with his progress so far!

Today I didn't work with the horses. We got a lovely afternoon of rain. I know some people don't enjoy the rain but I do. Even if it means feeding in it (I feed everyone at the barn once a week and today was my day to do that). I enjoy hearing the sound of the rain on the roof, feeding the horses inside and knowing they are snug and warm. I listened to my music and took my time feeding everyone. I do think, especially when it is cold out, the most fun of getting all wet, is to come home and change into some warm and dry clothing. Tomorrow if it isn't raining, I want to work with the horses but not sure what I plan to do. Friday evening I do plan to ride Daisy most likely, so I will plan according to that. :) Hope you have a wonderful rest of the evening!

A Trip and Working the Horses

Been a bit since I wrote last. Thursday evening I just worked with both horses on groundwork. I got Daisy to do a turn on the haunches. She does really well going to the right but when I ask her to move to the left she is like "You want me to do what?". I also worked with Freedom as well. I got him to move back, do a turn on both his haunches and forehand. I was pleased with his response.

I was gone all weekend. I went to VA for a youth retreat at a friend's church. My cousin Sarah and I left Friday morning and got down there around 3:30. We ate supper at my friend's house and then after talking for a while headed to the gym to play some volleyball. Saturday we had sessions in the morning and one in the afternoon. After the session in the afternoon, Sarah and I went back to one of my other friend's house to rest. We went back to the gym for supper and an evening of fun and volleyball. Sunday we had church/sessions in the morning, ate lunch and after many not so fun good byes, headed for home. On the way home, Sarah and I stopped by Mountain View to see Elana. It was amazing being able to see her again!! We had the chance to talk for a good 2 hours or so! While we were at Mountain View it started to snow. We stayed for supper, took some pictures, then Sarah and I headed the 4 1/2 hours for home. We had snow for about 2 of those hours but then the rest of the way was mostly clear. It was good to get home again but I must say I had an amazing weekend with some awesome friends (some I knew before, some I got to know, and some I felt I knew for a lot longer than the 2 days I actually knew them, but all of them I WON'T be forgetting right away), faced some challenges but was able to come out on top. I definitely learned that if we leave ALL things to God, He will work them out and give you grace and strength for the day, no matter how hard the day/week/month, ahead may seem! Overall it was a stretching, challenging but most of all a fun and amazing weekend!

Me, Sarah, and Elana (or as everyone that knows her, call her, Lane)

 

On the way home from VA, I saw the red barn and asked Sarah to stop so I could take a picture. I just really like a red barn in the snow :) The picture below, is a house that I saw for the first time back in July when Charlotte and I took Elana to Mountain View. I look for it every time I go that way because I just love the blue roof, red trim and the yellow outside! :) Seems like such a cheerful house!

 

Today (Monday), Sarah and I slept in (woke up to snow on the ground, it followed us home), went for some breakfast, and then headed to the horses. We were at the horses for about 3 or so hours. I worked with Freedom on the lunge line and also laid him down. I was impressed that he laid down so nicely for me 3 times in a row and waited till I told him to get up. Definitely see improvement.

I then laid Daisy down too. I wasn't sure if she was going to lay down nicely without a rope or not but she did lay down just by me picking up her leg and asking her to. Sarah was working Mischa in the "round pen" and I sat on Daisy for a bit to watch her. Then I took the horses in the barn and groomed both. After putting Freedom out in the meadow, I put Daisy's bridle on and just decided to see if I could improve her turn on the haunches from the ground. I worked a bit on my cue to see if that would make a difference. It seemed to because she definitely went to the right a lot better than she had on Thursday. When I asked her to move to the left she gave me a bit of a hard time, but after working a bit more on how I ask her, she responded better. I think if we keep working on it, we will get there.

I put her out in the meadow and then cleaned some tubs and filled water buckets. Sarah and I had decided that we don't want to spend all afternoon at the barn. We are planning to go to Chincoteague and Assateague Island in September and tenting. So we spent some of our afternoon after coming back from the horses, seeing how much it will cost us and what all things we want to do while down there. We are also hoping to go backpacking in June sometime. Guess we shall see!

Hope you have a great week!!

Warm Weather and Working the Horses

Hope you are enjoying the longer evenings as much as I am. Tonight I got to walk Lucy, drive Freedom, and ride Daisy. I am not planning to be able to do this every night but was thankful I had the chance to do so today! I spent a nice amount of time outside even at work. Took the boys to the park and we ate a picnic lunch too. I was so glad it was warmer today :)

I got home from work and went to walk Lucy. I hadn't walked her this morning, due to leaving for work an hour earlier. She did excellent at not pulling on the leash and I also did some training with her. :)

After supper, I headed to the horses. I drove Freedom for about half an hour. He did an excellent job and he hardly shied at all. I think he was just going thru a phase and I don't think the scare with the truck helped at all as well as the snow being on the ground making everything look different. Either way, he did wonderful and I really enjoyed driving him. Sarah rode Mischa out to meet me since she wanted to talk to me about something. She hopped off Mischa, climbed in the cart and ponied Mischa that way. Freedom wasn't too sure what to think about the idea of a horse following but he soon got used to the idea.

When we got back to the barn, I put Freedom out in the meadow and got Daisy all ready to ride. By the time both Sarah and I were ready to ride it was still slightly light out but we knew it would be dark before we got back to the barn. We put the reflectors on the horses and ourselves. Soon it will be light the entire time we ride and we won't have to worry with reflectors at least for the horses. ;) We rode for an hour and just had the chance to talk and work with our horses. I am so glad the she moved Mischa here for this last part of the winter because it has helped motivate me to ride especially with the really cold weather we have had. Once we got back to the barn, Sarah kept going past the driveway after I let Daisy turn in. While I waited for her and Mischa a bit, I worked at Daisy's turn on the haunches from the ground. She did really good both ways. :) I am really looking forward to keep working with her on that and then hopefully this summer having her know side pass. We shall see!

Hope you have a great evening! Enjoy the warm weather!!

Shedding and Driving Daisy

Ah Saturdays are so nice!! Friday I got off from work early due to some things with my boss, but instead of working with the horses, I talked with mom and took care of the horses. We had a WeCare banquet (it was for the prison ministries that mom helped out with for a week in January) in the evening which I enjoyed so much. It just reinforced in my mind once again how important relationships are and how we relate to people.

I stayed at my cousins for the night because we were planning to work on their brother and sister-in-law's wedding book on Saturday at my house. Although we didn't get much sleep, we did get to talk and enjoy each other's company. One thing we did on Saturday, was stop for coffee on the way back to my house :) We did work on the book for a bit. After they left, I went to the horses. I did some odds and ends around the barn. I had thought of driving Freedom but I must have drank to much milk within the last 24 hours so I didn't feel well. So instead, I just did some groundwork with Daisy. We worked on the turn on the forehand, as well as a turn on the haunches. The turn on the haunches to the left was the worse. She picked up very quickly the turn on the haunches to the right. She has done the turn on the haunches and forehand on the ground and the saddle but I really want her to get better at her turn on the haunches before really working at side passing. Although I did get her to side pass to the right from the ground one time just to see if she would do it. I didn't do anything with Freedom but spent a little time grooming him.

Today (Sunday), I drove Daisy. I took my sister Rose Mary along. Both horses are shedding and I really thought about it Saturday when I groomed both horses. You walk away from grooming them, and the floor has hair on it and you do too. Well then when driving Daisy, we got a hair shower because of her shedding. I am not going to complain about all the hair because it means SPRING is coming!!!! Actually it means the days are getting longer but that points to spring too :D

After I fed the horses, Rose Mary and I came home and walked our dogs. I hadn't gotten Lucy out yesterday but she was really glad to get out today! Hoping to walk her every day this week like I did last week but tomorrow I leave for work an hour earlier than normal for a Monday so not sure if I will get the chance to or not. Looking forward to the extra hour in the evening though!! :) Hope you have a wonderful week!

Adventures with Hay and Working with My Horses

 

Friday and today (Saturday) were quite interesting days. Friday while still at work, the guy (Walter) that boards at the barn called me and asked me if I would be able to go with him to get some more hay (he doesn't have a truck at the moment so I had offered the use of mine; a couple of weeks ago we had gotten a load too). I said sure, I think that should work. Well we get to the place where we were to pick up the hay, and realized that we wouldn't be able to pull in to get the hay because the driveway hadn't been plowed and we were afraid we would get stuck. Side note: My truck is not four wheel drive (I know, I know, smart), and I have gotten stuck a total of four times this winter already. I was not in the mood to get stuck another time. Anyway, back to my story. So we just parked the truck along the road (it was a back road) and put the four ways on. We decided to investigate how we should do this. We went in to the top of the bank barn to where the hay was, threw down 12 bales to the barn floor. Then we carried the hay to the front of the barn, and threw it out the front, down to the concrete outside. We closed up the back of the barn and went around to the front. I had a sled in the truck because that is how I had taken it down to the barn when the driveway at the barn was too snowy to go down. So we loaded up the sled with 6 bales and pulled it to the truck. With ice on top of the snow it made it slightly easier to get it to the truck. We loaded those bales onto the truck, then went back for the second load. It didn't take overly long to get everything loaded and then we headed back to the barn. We stopped for 3 bales of shavings on the way back. Once at the barn, we backed down the driveway and backed into the barn to unload the hay. Once we had the hay unloaded then we took care of our horses. I must say though, that was the most work I went to getting a load of hay. Something I definitely won't forget.

 

Today (Saturday), was a good day. Around 10:30 I headed down to my friend Sharon's house. My cousin Sarah, Sharon and I were going to ride on horseback to the Panda Garden to get some lunch. We took our time riding in, grabbed some lunch, and then headed back. It took us a good part of the middle of the day but it was so relaxing and a lot of fun. After we got back to the barn, I headed out pretty much right away. Sarah was going to come up to the barn to work with Mischa. I came home and talked to my parents for a bit and then once Sarah got here we went to the barn. The guy that boards there as well, Walter, was there. We all had an enjoyable time talking and working with our horses. Sarah worked with Mischa and I was doing chores. Walter worked with two of his ponies and I got the chance to work with Daisy and Freedom. I worked with Freedom on laying down and got him to sit one time. Then I rode Daisy a bit on the road, with the French link snaffle and bareback. She did ok but she was just being a mess. I need to work with her more by herself. I really want to drive Freedom again but the driveway at the bottom is really bumpy and not sure the cart would do so well. Overall I had a great day hanging out with horse people :) Hoping to work with my horses more this next week if it isn't too cold! Have a great weekend!!

Lunging Daisy and Freedom and Riding

Last evening (Friday) I was able to lunge both horses. First I worked with Daisy. I almost had to laugh at her because she usually does great on the lunge line. Well she decided she can change directions whenever she good and well wants to. I changed her back again and made her work a bit harder. Slowed her down to a trot again and wouldn't you know, she changes directions without me telling her to once again. I got her going in the direction she had been going and made her work a bit harder, just like before. After that she didn't try to change directions without me telling her to. She can be so amusing at times.

I put her out and then went to eat some supper. I came back to the barn and then I got Freedom out. I worked him a bit on the line too. For not being lunged in a while I was pleased with how he did. He moved out when told and turned when asked. A couple of times he wanted to run thru my cue to turn but he did then. We also worked on some ground work of him just backing and such when I asked him too. Really pleased with how he is doing.

Today (Saturday) I rode Daisy in the falling snow. I got a French link snaffle for her and she seems to like it better than the regular snaffle. I rode her in that as well as bareback and had no problems. There are a few things we have to work thru but I was pleased with how our ride went. We rode for about an hour. We are getting snow once again so I guess we shall see if I will ride tomorrow or not. I would like to. :) Hope you all have a great weekend!

Lunging and a SNOW DAY

Freedom

 

Daisy

 

Last week I was able to work with Daisy and Freedom one evening. I worked both horses on the lunge line and both horses did very well. :) I used a rope halter on Freedom and I feel he responded well to that. I was pleased with Daisy. I don't know if any of you remember, but when I used to lunge her here at home I had a horrible problem of her pulling the one way. Well that problem is mostly gone. Not saying she never pulls but she goes in a nice circle around me on the line without a problem. Both ways, no matter the speed. Really happy with that. Freedom is pretty much the same way. Right now it is too sloppy to be doing much of anything but once the ground firms up a bit I want to work with them both some more.

 

Today we had snow, so I got some nice snow photos! I also didn't have to work because of the snow which is the only reason I actually got some snow pictures! Had a busy weekend and so that is why I haven't blogged lately. Hoping to do more with my horses this week.

Lunging Daisy

So how was everyone's Thanksgiving? Mine was great. I didn't get any riding in at all over my time off. Thanksgiving Day I was just into relaxing after eating a big lunch which made me tired :D and then Friday I was busy baking goodies all day to give to people as gifts. I went riding at Sharon with my cousins though just no riding on my own horse. I stayed the night at my cousin's place and in the morning then my aunt ordered her pictures and on the way home I stopped at some thrift stores. I was looking for things to sit on for my photo shoots and found two nice chairs for $25 each. I didn't do anything but groom the horses that evening. Sunday I didn't ride either.

Tonight although I didn't ride, I lunged Daisy on the lunge line. I was amazed at how well she did!! I got her to trot both ways as well as some cantering. Once we were done with lunging I got her to stand nicely, untied, while I groomed her. Hoping to groom and work with Freedom tomorrow!

FL Trip and Groundwork

Well I had a great time in FL but it is great to be home. We arrived home around 3 this afternoon after leaving around 9 last evening down in FL. I was able to come home, unpack, and then go to my horses.

I brought both of my horses in. Put Daisy in the stall and then groomed Freedom. After grooming Freedom, I just worked him from the ground, asking him to disengage his hindquarters, backing up, and trotting while leading him. He did really well. I also laid him down. Really love how well he does with that!

After I finished with him, I put him in the stall and got Daisy out. I groomed her and then worked her in the round pen. I want to ride tomorrow hopefully so I just wanted to do some groundwork with her tonight to get a feel for how she is feeling. She did really well in the round pen. After she did well with that I also laid her down. Well I brought her in and tied her. I then helped one of the guys up at the barn with his horse. I joined up with her and she did amazing, especially for a horse who had never (at least to either of our knowledge) done that before. I was pleased with her. I finished up loving on my horses and then headed home. Tomorrow hope to work with my guys more but we shall see! Have a lot of photos to go thru from FL. ;) Have a great week!

Riding and Groundwork

My family ;) We took our family pictures today

I haven't ridden Daisy since Wednesday but today I did get to ride. I had hoped that the next time I ride Daisy it is outside of the arena and that is what we did today. We went for a 40 minute ride. I rode Daisy in the English saddle and snaffle bit. She did pretty good. We mostly trotted, with some walking in the mix. Toward the end she did really good and it is cause I figured out a better way to communicate what I wanted since depending on how I cue her, it can make her bull headed. She is quite the horse. Once we got back I put her away and got Freedom out.

I did with Freedom pretty much the exact same thing I had done with him on Wednesday. Only thing I didn't do with him was lay him down. He did really well today again although I feel he did better Wednesday. I am pleased with the progress I am making with him. Might pony him along one of these evenings :)

Progress

 Daisy

Daisy 

 Freedom

Round Bales in the Evening Light

 

This evening I rode Daisy in the arena again. We worked on pretty much the same thing we have been working on every time I have ridden her for the past week. Tonight she was being a bit of a mess and I think it was because tonight she would have benefited from riding outside the arena and coming back tomorrow or Friday to the arena. Anyway, she has been walking off when I mount her but tonight she stood still. I have been riding her with the saddle and snaffle and tonight was no different. We started off at a walk and I have had an issue in the past of her wanting to trot before I told her and this evening I didn't have an issue with that. A few times she would be trotting along and she would break into a canter but I worked her thru that and got her to nicely trot along. We also worked on our stopping and tonight she definitely did better than she had the other evening. Overall I felt like this evening went well. I told Daisy as I was grooming her that she has been my greatest challenge but definitely fun to train and work with!!

After I had groomed her and put her out in the pasture, I brought Freedom in. I laid him down, then brought him into the barn and worked him at disengaging his hindquarters and forequarters and backing up. It was fun because he backed up as fast as I walked for him. If I walked slow, he backed up slow, if I walked faster, he backed up faster. Love that he is trained that way. Then I got him to disengage his hindquarters both directions just by stepping toward them. I was really pleased with how well he remembered everything from our last lesson! He is going to be fun to start under saddle! I groomed him as well then put him in the meadow.

Not sure if I will get to work with them Thursday or Friday but Saturday we are planning to take the horses to a beach in NJ. I am doing a equine portrait session for my cousins and while we are there then I plan to get some photos of myself and my horses ;) We shall see how it goes!

Riding Daisy and Working with Freedom

I have been faithful the past few days of working with both horses. This past Friday I rode Daisy in the arena. I have decided to go back to working on some basic training things that I want her to get better at and what better time to do that then winter :) I worked her on responding to my body cues and stopping and starting. She did ok. I wasn't overly impressed with how she did but we did end on a good note. I had worked her in the round pen a bit before I rode her and although she was to an extent paying attention to me, I didn't have her total attention. I figured since Saturday I had plans I probably wouldn't ride her so I decided to see if I could fit a ride in on Sunday.
I also worked Freedom. I worked him at paying close attention to what I was doing from the ground. I mostly walked and trotted him and got him to the point that I would be slowing down, he would notice and slow down without me telling him to. I want to line-drive him sometime this week maybe but if I don't drive him I plan to just work him on the ground.

Sunday then I did ride Daisy. I was tired so I had taken a nap, woke up refreshed and decided to ride. I rode Daisy in the arena once again and this time she did amazing. There were a few times she ran right thru my cues but not like she had when I had ridden her on Friday. I got her to slow down, do turns, stop, start up and everything, all with light leg, rein, and seat cues. I feel like if I keep working her at this and keep my mind focused on where I want her to be come spring I will be able to get somewhere. I feel like for the last year I have been focusing on getting her responding well to the snaffle bit which I wanted, but then not focusing on some of the other important things I want her to know. So I am not sure how this will all work this winter because I know I have a busy January and February coming up but I am determined with a little planning and determination I will be able to still get my training in. Anyway, back to Sunday, I got her nice and soft and had her responding so well, I praised her and ended on that note. As I had been working her I had been praising her and that seemed to make a huge difference. :) I was pleased with where we got Sunday.

Today, (Monday), I worked with Freedom again. This time, once again, just on the line but we did some things I haven't worked with him to much on. He does know how to disengage his hindquarters and back up but today I really got him to move his feet. I got him to back up, all body language, and when he decided he could stop, or slow down, I just twirled my rope in a circle at him and that is his cue that you better listen. He did amazing with that. I have been working him on that periodically so that didn't surprise me. Then I asked him to disengage his hindquarters on both sides. I used the same method as when I ask him to back up, first just kinda leaning in toward his hindquarters, slowly twirling the rope, and if that doesn't work, twirling the rope faster and eventually tapping him with the rope if he doesn't move. I don't really have to tap him with the rope at all since he is so sensitive. I was happy with how he did. We also just worked on him following me around and keeping up with me. I got him to walk and trot alongside me and he did very well. I was pleased with how well he did.
I put him in the stall and then got Daisy out. I hopped on her bareback with the snaffle bit, and rode her for a bit in the front yard. I honestly was really pleased with how she did. At first she walked off before I was ready so I asked for her to back up to the spot she started from. Got her to stand still then told her she could walk off again. After we walked a ways, I asked for her to stop. She walked right thru the cue so I got her to stop, then backed her up to where I had asked her to stop. After that I didn't have a problem with that :) Mostly I just worked her at stopping and starting, as well as disengaging her hindquarters both ways. What I love about Daisy is that she is sensitive so I can just lightly lay my heel against her side and that gets her to move. If she doesn't move I just add a bit more pressure and then she usually moves. :) I was quite pleased with how the evening with both horses went!

Tis the Season for Warm Weather

So I haven't posted in a while. I have had a busy weekend and a busy start to the week. Friday evening I didn't ride because I had plans with my cousins and it was a rainy evening so I couldn't have ridden anyway. Saturday I went to Clinton Anderson's Walkabout Tour in Harrisburg, PA at the Farm Show Complex with some friends of mine. I had gone a few years back but it was great to go in some ways again simply to be able to see round penning done and get a "refresher" course. Sunday was a busy day doing church stuff. Monday I had Bible Study in the evening but I still worked with the horses.

I round penned both of them but not for long because it was SO WARM. First I did Daisy and of course she was amazing. She came and followed right away and did way better than the last time I had done it with her. Then I did Freedom. He did amazing too and I could tell that he was getting the hang of what he was supposed to do. Pleased with how he is coming along. I didn't ride last evening because I had a chiropractor appointment but I did love on everyone. If it cools off slightly tonight I will work with Freedom but just love on Daisy. One of these evenings I want to get both horses and take pictures but it hasn't happened yet. Hope everyone is doing well in this heat (here it is so warm during the day).