Out with Others- First Ride!
Filed Under Mustang Training Blog | 1 Comment
July 19- Day 41
Today the weather is cold, rainy and windy, when I caught Chance for our adventure for today, he was blowing and a bit on edge. We had a big day planned for him. We loaded up Kody and Cassi- Celeste’s horse and Chance. He was not sure about getting in the trailer with other horses in there moving and such but he finally did and it was even better than the day we went to the vet. He stood so well. We drove about 15 miles out to a place we call driving tour, we unloaded tied Chance to the trailer and unloaded the other horses we saddled them up and brushed Chance. We mounted and took off for our first ride off the farm and with other horses. Chance was a bit worried about a rider and horse behind him but Celeste being very aware of his fear stayed back and was very calm and easy when she would come up along side him. He got use to her and the trees and such very fast. He seemed to have a great time, we went up hills, through trees and brush, around scary stumps and down roads and narrow trails he took it all in so very well, along side a pond and then into is a bit, it was really muddy so we had to be careful. Chance got where he got closer and closer to me than he had ever done before with someone above him. We rode back to the trailer tied up and unsaddled Chance stood there as if he had done this many many times before. Loaded back up and this time we shut the divider on him in the slant load trailer and he was a bit scared of the trapped feeling but soon relaxed and we headed back to town. I put Chance away and then in the afternoon- Emily Bushman came to do the first ride on him. I saddled him up tied to the hitching rail and there was many people here to watch the first ride they were sitting in chairs all around the hitching rail he was a bit on edge but he knew how to find him focus. We got all tacked up and headed to the round pen. I moved his feet just a bit and then Emily came in to touch and get Chance use to him, he was a bit weirded out about two people and then due to the sun people moved to sides of the round pen that people had never been on before, but Chance settled in and we went to work, Emily hung on the sides over the saddle, moved back and forth from front to back and all around Chance getting him to just get use to her and me all there and all doing stuff. This took some time to get him really relaxed about the whole thing, finally Emily went up and over touched him on both sides, leaning over- he took this all so very well! Then it was time jump jump hop hop and swing then she was on, moved around and then back off, and back on. Several times and then we moved his feet, front back and turning. He seemed a bit concerned when he would see Emily off the right side or his off side, he would get a bit tense but never acted as if he wanted to buck more, that he wanted to just hurry away from her. He truly had softy eyes, and a kind look about the whole thing. He truly acted as if he was enjoying it, licking his brain and really staying calm, and if he got upset or jumpy I talking to him and getting him to focus again easily put him to ease. Emily dismounted off the off side and he just took it all so very well! I am soooo very happy with Chance and the opportunity to work with Emily Bushman a great fellow trainer in this project, to make sure it went the best it could. I always use a second person to either ride or do the ground stuff in the first few rides due to the horse having the ability to relax with that more and not get reactive with just a new thing like a rider above them. And with Chance this was truly important for him, as well to have a partner like Emily that truly was like watching myself work around him with me and me! I thank her for her help and support in the EMM and with my life! I am off to judge a Mule show for the weekend, sorry Chance I will be back on Monday!
Trail horse- that wants to PLEASE!!!
Filed Under Mustang Training Blog | Leave a Comment
July 18, 2007 Day 40
Today due to his teeth and mouth we took our day softly. I saddled him and picked his feet, and did fly spray and then we put our splint boots on this time we did it at the hitching rail and then led to the arena. He had only been out in the big arena once and it was with Kody and me pony-ing him. So, this was an in hand trail day for us. Got to the arena and he looked around but nothing big! He wanted to eat the fake tree probably has much like the feed at home did! Anyway, we went to the mailbox got stuff out, into the barrels and lead around them, backed out of them, and then to the raised pole bridge. Ok most horses and I mean MOST all horses freak out at the sight of this, he looked smelled and tried it a couple times and then just right on through it like nothing. I was just so tickled and happy inside!!! Chance and I then took to the fanned raised poles and over them, to the bridge- ok this took the most time and yet nothing like I have had other trained 4-H horses do about it. It had fake colorful flowers around it which he didn’t care he stomped them a couple times on his way off. For the most part he had a hard time being up there and walking straight! But we got it and then to the poles walk through and then back through them! PRO!!! And then we moved onto the side passing the poles, to the right was great to the left took some work and yet he did both. We also walked through the BIG mud puddle on the way to the arena. Nothing big here! I just am blown away at the willingness and try in this horse!
Trip to town and Back!!!!
Filed Under Mustang Training Blog | Leave a Comment
July 17th, Day 39
Today I went out and worked in him in the round pen, which we have not been to the round pen in at least a week. We saddled tied to the hitching rail which was new, and scary but he did great. Then to the round pen, and I put splint boots on him for the first time and he thought that was super scary. He tried to bite them off, shake them off, and then walked like he was stuck! Once we got unstuck he was great. We did loose work and just got moving our feet. I worked on de-spooking and yielding and I put a bit in his mouth. My worries like always with Chance were laid to rest as he took the bit great like I thought he would and did really well with getting the bridle over his ears. He took it like he had had it done a million times! We did some more work on putting weight in the stir ups and getting above him. He freaked out when I got way above him; he took a BIG JUMP forward. He came right back to me however, and we went right back to work on it. Then we got hosed off and went back to his pen. He then got caught again loaded in the trailer and hauled to Double Arrow Vet. I tied him in the trailer and he hauled super. He panicked just a bit when I went in the trailer after getting there to get him out. But, we talked our way through it. Loaded and he got to meet Dr. Randy Greenshields whom would do this teeth float and pull his teeth. Randy was not sure I could get him into the building and then lead him to the back pen, but we did it the way we work on things are home and Chance went right in and turned and then through the door just like a champ! He took the whole thing super well. We reloaded like a champ and then back home and unloaded and back to his pen. He did as good if not better than many domestic horses! He just seems to surprise so many at how we do! I am so proud of him and I!
Big Trip- Big Gains!
Filed Under Mustang Training Blog | Leave a Comment
July 16, 2007 Day 38
Home and ready to go. Worked on sponsorship stuff today as well as set an appointmentfor him to get his Wolfe teeth pulled and floated. So, tonight we worked on loading in the trailer, and not having me in the trailer with him. He is so dependant on me, he has a hard time trusting to go in without me. Then we would lead around and under and through the trees. We would load again and then unload. He backs out great. I don’t need any help to get him in or out, just to get the gate shut with him staying in there. I had Ryan hold his lead and talk to him. We shut the divider a couple times and he was scared to death about that. He freaked out want to jump forward backward up and down all at once. We really worked on him trusting us while he stood in the trailer with the divider shut. Then we unloaded and let him think about it. We reloaded and since we don’t want to tie and shut the divider in the first trip we opened the divider and then tied him and took him for a trip up the road. He panic and freaked out a bit and turn himself around he was tied with a blocker tie ring so he was safe. I decided to get in the trailer in the feeder in front of him and ride with him to talk with him. He wanted to pull and set back he wanted to walk; I talked him and got him to relax. Got home and then we unloaded and worked on tying and working with him tied. This was a first normally we do work and then tie session with no pressure. But, tonight I wanted to brush and pick up his feet tied. He thought about it a bit and a couple times tried to step away but for the most part he did GREAT! Then we lead to the pen and worked on getting him to go under or through the car wash thing hanging both directions and back through. When I got done I turned him loose and then I did free leading with him. He stayed ear to ear and walked, stopped and turned with me and backed when I stopped and back. I am so proud of Chance!
Beyond normal- Touch all over work!
Filed Under Mustang Training Blog | Leave a Comment
July 11, 2007 Day 33
Walked right up to me today and was ready to go. It is HOT really HOT
and we have had some really hard days so today, Chance and I went to
the shade and tried to show him grass. He has not a clue what green fresh
grass is, or at least green grass in July! NV really got him; I need to ship
some sagebrush in for him to feel at home with. LOL! We worked on
picking up our feet and got the hind ones done. Worked on his ears, still
not liking anything to touch those. I am not sure we will ever get the bridle
pulled over those ears! We did another tie session. And this time we also
worked on brushing our tail out. I know his mane is scary. I guess if you
have thoughts on roach-ing it or leaving it email me and let me know. I am
not sure I can make it look good either way. Emily Brushman Certified
Equine Massage Therapist/Licensed Vet Tech and great clinician/trainer
is going to work on Chance today. It went super well, Chance really
took to being worked on and he is all good to go. He let Emily touch him
all over which is great since she is the only one to touch him other than me
really.
We past 30 days- yet not really for us!
Filed Under Mustang Training Blog | Leave a Comment
July 9, 2007 Day 31
We went to the round pen. We worked on picking our feet up and did a great job we have
three of four feet. And one is not the right hind it is actually the left hind. We are doing great
on our sessions in the pen. We saddled with a saddle today as if it were nothing. NO
BUCK, no scare just cinched up and off we went, we didn’t even have a hump and this is
the first time with a back cinch. As well we hosed off out in the barnyard, and then did
some trailer loading got completely in twice and backed out. We will go on a ride this week,
before I leave again.
Saddled up and out in the BIG world of Eastern Oregon
Filed Under Mustang Training Blog | Leave a Comment
July 10, 2007 Day 32
Saddled up in the barnyard not a problem, lead over the mud puddles,
and opened and shut the gates. Chance is really getting use to being
worked with daily. I hate to know I will soon be gone for several days.
But, we worked in the barnyard with dogs all around, people here and
there and moving. He seems to really be watching me more than them.
And once saddled I rode my gelding Kodie, and we lead Chance to the
arena. Down the road over the culvert and past the trees, through the
gate and we are good. We worked on touching and letting us stand next
to him and then him leading next to me. I let him go in the BIG arena-
WOW he ran and ran and just looked so “WILD” he had a great time
out there. Anyway, once we got him caught again I lead him through the
creek and then up the field over the pipe and through the sprinklers and
into the trees and then down into the creek and back up out. He packed
that saddle and the new so well. He really seemed to like the experience.
Then back to the barnyard, he had his first tie up experience where he
stood there like nothing. I was going in and out of the tack shed and he
just watched. I then clipped his chin and bridle path with clippers. He just
stood there. Chance is truly given me a push in my life that is unlike
anything. I realize that there are some many domestic horses out there
that are not willing and don’t try nearly as hard as Chance and they don’t
even know the life they have been given. I thank God for this chance and
giving me the opportunities to train horses and people. We are still
working on picking up our feet the front feet are great- Back feet we are
still working on not kicking out.
Filed Under Mustang Training Blog | 1 Comment