Well, tomorrow will make 2 weeks with the mustangs. I have been very busy the past 3 days and it has been crazy rainy. Between rain, camps, lessons and going to Lexington yesterday I have only been able to fit in a little time with Baja. I have still tried to have contact with him every day, and today I was able to go through the grooming, haltering, saddle blanket/surcingle, leading, and lunging routine with him. I left him with his equipment on for the afternoon again, and it POURED rain on him. This evening I put very loose sidereins on him for a little while so he could get used to them and start to learn about bit pressure.
Now that camps are over, I should be able to start spending lots of time with him and really make some progress towards riding!!! If only this dang rain would quit...
I may have to get him into the indoor arena.
Sorry no pics today.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Day 11
Well, yesterday (Day 10) was a recovery day from showing. I worked with Baja in the evening, mostly on accepting the saddle blanket. I also brushed him, put the halter on and off, and did a little leading. He was having a little bit of a pushy day, he tried to nip at me a couple of times and then was advancing into my space, I nipped that at the bud and made him do a little work.
This morning we started with brushing, haltering and leading. Then I added the saddle blanket and surcingle, did more leading and worked on picking up his feet. After that I put a regular halter on him that had bit snaps on it and then added a big egg-butt snaffle in his mouth. We worked on leading a bunch more, and getting him to move. Then we worked on lungeing in small circles on both sides. After that, I turned him loose with the surcingle and halter/bit to wear for the rest of the day.
This morning we started with brushing, haltering and leading. Then I added the saddle blanket and surcingle, did more leading and worked on picking up his feet. After that I put a regular halter on him that had bit snaps on it and then added a big egg-butt snaffle in his mouth. We worked on leading a bunch more, and getting him to move. Then we worked on lungeing in small circles on both sides. After that, I turned him loose with the surcingle and halter/bit to wear for the rest of the day.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Day 9
Today I managed to fit in a session between lessons and horse show. It was a good day! I start out each day by cleaning the pen, so Baja can get used to me just moving around in the pen. He is so curious, he went over and started nosing the manure bucket, pulling on the handles and trying to turn it over!
I started out by brushing him all over today. He stood like a champ for that! Then I introduced the halter and leadrope, and a saddle blanket. We had to work awhile for him to accept them. I have to work more on his right side, which is his protective side. By the end of the session, I was able to put the halter on and off of him and led him a little in small circles each direction!
I also took his number tag off his neck and now I have a new "necklace"!
I started out by brushing him all over today. He stood like a champ for that! Then I introduced the halter and leadrope, and a saddle blanket. We had to work awhile for him to accept them. I have to work more on his right side, which is his protective side. By the end of the session, I was able to put the halter on and off of him and led him a little in small circles each direction!
I also took his number tag off his neck and now I have a new "necklace"!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Day 8
Well, I feel good today!! We had a very successful day and I feel like the work I have put in this week is paying off. This morning I worked with Baja for about 2 1/4 hours and by the end I was able to rub him all over with my hands. I also introduced the brush, brushing most of his body, and then I worked on getting him to move his hips and shoulders.
Later in the day, I offered him grain out of my hand and he learned how to eat from my hand. Then this evening, I was out in the pen watching him and my husband came in the pen, walked right up to him and petted him! Baja just stood there and let him, I was shocked. Okay, so maybe the training is working...
So then I brush him all over on both sides to solidify the brushing lesson in his mind. My husband comes back in the pen, picks up the brush and starts brushing him! He is certainly enjoying the fruits of all my hard work! Then Hannah (a student) decides to give it a try, comes in the pen and pets him, then Tina (another customer) decides to get in there and pet him too. He was so good. Let everyone walk right up to him like it was no big deal!!
Baja is such a sweet horse, very good-natured. I think he will make someone a great horse!
We have been blessed with great weather all week for which I am very thankful. It has been nice to be able to put in long training sessions without worrying about the heat. Please pray for healing for his leg and continued safety for both of us. If you would like to see more pics, I will post some on my Webshots.
Later in the day, I offered him grain out of my hand and he learned how to eat from my hand. Then this evening, I was out in the pen watching him and my husband came in the pen, walked right up to him and petted him! Baja just stood there and let him, I was shocked. Okay, so maybe the training is working...
So then I brush him all over on both sides to solidify the brushing lesson in his mind. My husband comes back in the pen, picks up the brush and starts brushing him! He is certainly enjoying the fruits of all my hard work! Then Hannah (a student) decides to give it a try, comes in the pen and pets him, then Tina (another customer) decides to get in there and pet him too. He was so good. Let everyone walk right up to him like it was no big deal!!
Baja is such a sweet horse, very good-natured. I think he will make someone a great horse!
We have been blessed with great weather all week for which I am very thankful. It has been nice to be able to put in long training sessions without worrying about the heat. Please pray for healing for his leg and continued safety for both of us. If you would like to see more pics, I will post some on my Webshots.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
23 July 2009 - Day 7
Today we started with the pool noodle-on-a-stick, then went to noodle in the hand, then to just the hands scratching him. I found several good itchy spots on him and helped him shoo away some flies. He was standing pretty well and I succeeded in rubbing him all over his entire body several times covering every square inch except for his hindquarters. He is still alert to new movement and noises, but has settled down a whole lot.
I have about decided to name him Baja. As you can see, he is a pretty good size for a mustang and fairly thick-bodied. He is very inquisitive in nature, with a kind eye, and a fairly low energy level. He looks to have smooth gaits. He is eating well and is of a good weight. He has developed a little bit of a limp and looks like he may have a splint on his left front which may have come from all the fence-running he did on the first day. We'll see how it does, I may just have to take it slow for the first couple of weeks.
I'm happy with his progress and feel like we're getting somewhere now that I can get my hands on him!
I have about decided to name him Baja. As you can see, he is a pretty good size for a mustang and fairly thick-bodied. He is very inquisitive in nature, with a kind eye, and a fairly low energy level. He looks to have smooth gaits. He is eating well and is of a good weight. He has developed a little bit of a limp and looks like he may have a splint on his left front which may have come from all the fence-running he did on the first day. We'll see how it does, I may just have to take it slow for the first couple of weeks.
I'm happy with his progress and feel like we're getting somewhere now that I can get my hands on him!
22 July 2009 - Day 6
Now we're making some progress...
Today is rainy and I finally find a dry hour to go out and work with him. I put a pool noodle on a pvc conduit and start working on touch desensitization. Yay! Success... by the end of the session, he is letting me scratch him on the neck!
Today is rainy and I finally find a dry hour to go out and work with him. I put a pool noodle on a pvc conduit and start working on touch desensitization. Yay! Success... by the end of the session, he is letting me scratch him on the neck!
21 July 2009 - Day 5
Okay, I've decided I need to be realistic and let him work through it on his own timeframe.
After Yesterday, I decided he needs more desensitization and touch work before he will accept me and the halter, etc. We did not have our horses haltered at the pick-up site, so we are working towards doing everything from scratch.
Today is a busy day for me, so I decide to work on object desensitization with him. I start out by adding some objects to his pen in the morning. Saddle, Bridle, Halter, rope, poles, cone, tarp, mounting block, Wal-Mart bags, towels, big ball, noodles, etc. He is very curious and wants to check everything out!
There are alot of people around today as well, also tractors and other commotion, so it is a good day for his brain to process things.
After Yesterday, I decided he needs more desensitization and touch work before he will accept me and the halter, etc. We did not have our horses haltered at the pick-up site, so we are working towards doing everything from scratch.
Today is a busy day for me, so I decide to work on object desensitization with him. I start out by adding some objects to his pen in the morning. Saddle, Bridle, Halter, rope, poles, cone, tarp, mounting block, Wal-Mart bags, towels, big ball, noodles, etc. He is very curious and wants to check everything out!
There are alot of people around today as well, also tractors and other commotion, so it is a good day for his brain to process things.
20 July 2009 - Day 4
I want so bad to get him leading!
We start with the rope work again which he is accepting, and he is joining up esily when I enter the pen. I try looping the rope by twirling it around his head and start pressuring him into a few leading steps. He still won't let me touch him anywhere but on his nose, but I get one brief touch in on his shoulder at the end of the session!
We start with the rope work again which he is accepting, and he is joining up esily when I enter the pen. I try looping the rope by twirling it around his head and start pressuring him into a few leading steps. He still won't let me touch him anywhere but on his nose, but I get one brief touch in on his shoulder at the end of the session!
19 July 2009 - Day 3
I'm ready to go at it again and really want to get him accepting me.
We review the previous days movements, and today I add rope work. I am moving him off by swinging the rope at his haunches, and when he turns in and stops, I swing it close up and down each side of him and over his head. He lets me get closer and closer with the rope until it is touching him all over and I can throw it over his back and all over his haunches while he is moving. He is also coming up and snuffling me all over while I am in the bent over position (sounds bad!), and follows me off for a few steps.
We review the previous days movements, and today I add rope work. I am moving him off by swinging the rope at his haunches, and when he turns in and stops, I swing it close up and down each side of him and over his head. He lets me get closer and closer with the rope until it is touching him all over and I can throw it over his back and all over his haunches while he is moving. He is also coming up and snuffling me all over while I am in the bent over position (sounds bad!), and follows me off for a few steps.
18 July 2009 - Day 2
Today is the first day we will work with the horses. I am anxious to get to work with mine, but have to wait until after lessons are over.
We work on moving off , stopping, and turning in.
He is a little scared at first and crashes the fence and gets his legs over the top once. Thankfully, the fence held and we progress to milder reactions. By the end he is moving around the pen in a calm and controlled manner, stopping, and turning in. Each time getting a little bit closer until... He touches me with his nose!
We work on moving off , stopping, and turning in.
He is a little scared at first and crashes the fence and gets his legs over the top once. Thankfully, the fence held and we progress to milder reactions. By the end he is moving around the pen in a calm and controlled manner, stopping, and turning in. Each time getting a little bit closer until... He touches me with his nose!
17 July 2009 - Day 1 - Mustang Pickup
Today was the day we have been anticipating for several months... Mustang Pickup Day!!!
We have the pens prepared and we are ready to go. Several of the youth club members are going with us to join in on the excitement and see the mustangs. I picked up the stock trailer from the Co-op this morning, and we are ready to go.
When we arrive and check-in, the crew is out to lunch. So, as we wait, we go around and look at the horses. They are all milling around in their pens. I find out which number mine is and we set out to find him! There he is, in pen number 2 with another horse. They are two of the biggest horses at the holding facility. He is a solid Bay, #8371. Here is his BLM mugshot:
We have the pens prepared and we are ready to go. Several of the youth club members are going with us to join in on the excitement and see the mustangs. I picked up the stock trailer from the Co-op this morning, and we are ready to go.
When we arrive and check-in, the crew is out to lunch. So, as we wait, we go around and look at the horses. They are all milling around in their pens. I find out which number mine is and we set out to find him! There he is, in pen number 2 with another horse. They are two of the biggest horses at the holding facility. He is a solid Bay, #8371. Here is his BLM mugshot:
Here he is in the holding pen:
They can't find Erica's number on the list, so we have to wait 'til the staff comes back from lunch. Once we find out her number, she runs to the pen to see her horse. In amongst the yearlings, she spies the number on a tall bay in the back. It's a filly! Erica says "WHAT?!?" She is expecting a colt... She is cute with a small star and is clearly the biggest yearling out there.
We go and get the trailer backed up to the chute and they start to get them separated. When the filly comes down the chute, she has a HUGE trot! We yell "Look at that trot!" Dressage horse material...
They get loaded without incident and the trailer ride is an easy hour to home. We get here and back up and unload the filly first, then the gelding. They trot around a little and then start to settle in.
He is a little anxious and is pacing the fence, so I put my old mustang, BooBoo, in with him to keep him company.
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