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Tex
Aug 6, 2011 23:40:51 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Aug 6, 2011 23:40:51 GMT -3
Sounds like a plan Heather! Yesterday afternoon, I brought Tex in and gave him his lunch and as he was eating picked up all four feet. He pulled, and I didn't give in and let him keep pulling, but he wasn't stopping so I waited for him to pull with a little less intention and then put them down. After a grooming and flyspray, as well as letting him walk around with his flymask on, but not done up, we went into the arena and worked on "woah" and walking on. He really does catch on so quickly. He'd stop with me at his shoulder, and start walking when I clicked and applied a little bit of pressure. He's so good at giving to pressure, I can push him around and away from me with just a hand gentley pushing on his side. Oh! I also pretty much at one point forgot that he was a baby, and he even backed up when I walked toward him and applied a little pressure and said "back". He'd never been backed up before. I'm probably getting excited about nothing, but ah, what can I say, I'm in love. Today was a quick day, because I had to work. I picked up all four feet, and held them a little longer than usual. He's fighting a bit with his feet, which he hadn't done before the farrier - but we will get over it with time and patience. I also sprayed him over with flyspray, and for the first time kept his flymask on him. I'd introduced him to it before, but had never done up the velro and left it on. He's so patient for the most part, and loves to be handled. He also tipped a hanging water bucket over onto himself (retard) and didn't care about the water soaking him.
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Tex
Aug 9, 2011 23:45:18 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Aug 9, 2011 23:45:18 GMT -3
Ohh today was a quick one as my friend is going to Germany on Thursday for a year, so I was going to her surprise party. Ally moved Tex and his group to a new field (she rotates) and he hadn't experienced this one yet so was LOVING it. Normally when I walk into the field he walks to meet me, but to my dismay today, he decided he liked the grass more than his mom! However, he didn't run away, and let me catch him right away. It took like 3 minutes to get him to the gate, because he kept stopping, he didn't want to leave the tall grass! (He'd only been in there not even an hour at that point). The thing about this field, is there's a brook on the outside of the gate that he will have to cross anytime he leaves or enters the field. He didn't realize he was even going through a brook the first time as he was following his new buddy Sasha. With me, oh boy did he realize. We stood there for less time than I thought though, only about 45 seconds, he put his front hooves in the brook, and decided to jump to the other side landing much too close to me, but I'm just glad he crossed it with such a small fuss. He jumped it on the way back to the field too.
Oh joy, we will be crossing this twice a day (it's only about 1 metre wide)... I hope he decides its safe to WALK through... any pointers on how to get him to walk instead of jump?
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Tex
Aug 10, 2011 11:06:43 GMT -3
Post by Krista on Aug 10, 2011 11:06:43 GMT -3
don't give him the option to jump it.. keep him going back and forth across the brook until he steps in it, then move on. eventually he should catch on that if he just walks through it he doesn't have to stay there all day and gets to his grain faster
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Tex
Aug 13, 2011 21:41:16 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Aug 13, 2011 21:41:16 GMT -3
Thanks Krista, it worked! He did try to nip me at first when I wouldn't let him jump, but I caught him instantly and he knew it was bad. He's now walking through it ... a little nervously and he does pick up his pace, but not any faster than a walk!
I have, however, realized that Tex needs DAILY work. I can't skip a day in between, or he thinks he can get away with things. Firstly, four days ago, he and the three mares with him were moved to another field, and the mother and colt were also moved to a field right next to the barn. So the day after his moving, I worked and was not able to see him, but I went the next day. The next day he was so taken aback by all the changes and they really did distract him. Before this rotation, he hadn't really met the other colt as he in the other section of the barn and in a field that was out of sight, so now its something that's really distracting Tex from his attention on me. I say "Bring on the distractions!" the more things for him to get used to, the better.
The next day I worked again and had slept through my alarm and until 1, and I worked at 3 so I didn't have time to see him after my shower and "breakfast". So today was a little rusty. Leading wise, he felt that he could not walk-on at my command, but he's learning that in order to get rid of the pressure on his head, he needs to walk when I want him to. He's really good with "whoa" and had been really good with walk-on as well. It's definitely something that he needs going over daily, so added to our list of things we will be doing 10 minutes of just leading work in the arena (something we had only done 4x a week beforehand). He's crossing the brook like a good boy now! He's doing very well with picking up his feet, his only problem is his hind right, but he's getting there! On our way to the field we stopped into the arena to work on leading. Now from the arena he can see the other colt, Milo & Skyla (mom) and it really distracted him. He did act up a bit and started to trot and turn but after correction with the lead and a tap on the side he smartened up. He looked at me as if to say "OMG, sorry mom! I didn't think you would ever get angry!". Well, he's learning that I will correct him, as I should, and I'm hoping that behavior like this will stop as he gets used to Milo & Skyla being where they are.
All in all, I love my boy! And I'm glad that I'm seeing his little imperfections now, rather than down the road being shocked by random bad behaviors! I'm also looking to get him fixed in September/October, if the vet is able to reach his balls, so that may or may not take away some bad things, like his "neck rolls".
So my lesson is: - Make time for Tex every single day, and it shall be easier on me in the long-run.
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Tex
Aug 13, 2011 21:45:03 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Aug 13, 2011 21:45:03 GMT -3
Oh! I have a question that I just remembered I was going to ask anyone who feels like giving me their input...
I realize foals have short attention spans. I usually spent about an hour a day work with Tex, but it's doing different things. I bring him in, give him his grain. Pick up his feet and groom him usually while he's eating. I take him out to look around the "old" section of the barn and out to the hitching post (for baths), because he's pretty nervous in that area. I then take him into the arena to work on leading for about 5-10 mins (I was just doing this part 4x a week, but now will be doing it daily), and then put him out.
Is this too much for a baby? Am I "over handling" him? He seems to like me being there and always walks toward me in the field when I'm out, so I take it that's a good sign?
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Tex
Aug 18, 2011 21:49:41 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Aug 18, 2011 21:49:41 GMT -3
So lately Tex has been acting up when leaving or going into the field. I thought it was because of the brook, but he's crossing that fine now. The path to and from the field is quite mucky because of the rain we've had... and I realized it's when he knows he has to cross the muck that he acts up. He acts up in the muck too. I'm glad its not him just being a poophead. Tonight however, he hesitated a little, but when through it without stopping once. Normally its: take a step, stop, take a step, stop, take a step, fight to go back. But tonight he's was awesome. I am so in love with him! He's picking up his front to hooves and lets me hold them for a quite some time, I'm going to start picking them now, I feel as though he can handle it. His back feet are still a work in progress, but I pick them up over and over and by then third time he just gives in and stops fighting. He will get the hang of it! I've also stopped walking infront of him when leading. I did that for the first little bit to keep him moving, as it seemed when I was at his neck he'd tend to stop more. When I first started walking with him instead of ahead he was like "uh, what are you doing mom... I only move if you're clearing the path for me." So after a few little small arguments, he's now doing much better walking by myside. He's always done really well leading in the arena for some reason, and then outside of it, he felt he could slack off. Now he's seeming to act almost the same outside as in! I'm so proud . He's growing like a weed though! And shedding like crazy, ugh. ... I also think I saw that one of his balls had dropped today! It was after I'd turned him out, and we were just hanging in the field, so I didn't get a good enough look... fingers crossed, I really want to geld him ASAP.
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Tex
Aug 25, 2011 0:25:03 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Aug 25, 2011 0:25:03 GMT -3
Well - no balls, I was wrong!
But... I adore my boy.
My BO notified me that she will soon be moving Tex and CC to the large field across the street. The other two in his "herd" have already been moved, but CC has a show coming up, and she figured she would give me the time until the show to get him used to going down to and across the road.
Yesterday, we went down as far as the edge of the house (about 50 ft away from the road). He got a little anxious, and I could have pushed him furthur, but didn't want his first experience to be a bad one, so I stopped where he was good. We then went in his stall for his extra grain, and I locked the stall door and left the barn while he was eating to get my phone from my car. I came back and you wouldn't even have known he was in there. We're making some progress! Now, of course when he finished his feed he kicked up a fuss, pacing and what not, and when he jumped he put one hoof on the top of the stall and I said "Attttaaaattt" (random noise, I know), and he immediately dropped away from the door. Since he listened I took him out of the stall and up to the field, because I had to go to work anyway.
Tonight we worked on patience at first. When I brought him in, my barn owner started talking to me next to the freezer which stores the feed. We were talking for about 3 minutes and he started being a poop and doing little stud "neck rolls" and rolling his head into my boobs. He got a hard smack and straightened up. He stood there with me until we finished talking. Then I took him into his stall with his feed and closed the stall door and went back up to talk with some girls at the barn. He was soo good! However, afterward he litterally tried to climb the walls for a second, but only tried once to get over the stall door and as soon as he heard me yell he got down. When he settled down for a second I went in and brought him out. I didn't want to chance an injury or to have to take him out while he was acting up because then he'd think that would get him out every time. So then we went down to about 25 ft from the road, and I let him munch grass. He didn't even bat an eyelash at the cars going by, or at the big loud f250 truck that came up the driveway of the barn. Ally's husband ended up using the whipper snipper, which gave him a little startle and after being good all night, I didn't want to get him in a mood, so I turned him out then. He's great though, ten minutes after I turned him out, I went to the fence and he came over to say hi. Nothing puts a damper on him, he just loves people. <3
I can't wait to go out with him again tomorrow! He's so my baby.
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Tex
Aug 26, 2011 16:19:24 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Aug 26, 2011 16:19:24 GMT -3
Gahhhhhhhhhh <3 <3 <3 (Is how I feel right now)
So yesterday was a major breakthrough day on all parts. Firstly, I brought Tex into a stall for grain, closed the door and left. All I heard was one whinney, and when I went to get him 15 minutes later he was just chillin' looking over the stall door (to the best of his ability, lol). So then my sister held him so I could try to pick up & hold all of his feet. Well the first one came up so easily, and he didn't seem to mind holding it so I tested my luck and grabbed my hoof pick. I was delighted to find that he didn't mind me picking he feet at all! He let me do all four with ease, no pulling at all, even for the backs!!! He then stood to be groomed and loved every minutes of it. He's such a sook. He just kept turning and nuzzling me. Then we walked to about 50 ft from the road and came back up (there were like 30 dump trucks going by, although it didn't phaze him too much!), and he got turned out with CC, she was whinneying like crazy for him to come back, and I didn't want to anger the pregnant mare too much! haha
So today I got an email while at work, saying that Tex was in over night last night because of the heavy thundershowers. Not only was he in a stall, but he was in a stall all alone the whole night and didn't kick up a fuss at all! It's so rewarding to feel both of our time and patience paying off. When I came to get him today, the two that were across the road were back in with him & CC, and his "adopted mom" Sasha was glued to his side, haha. They're bff's, although Tex willingly left her! I didn't do too much, just walked him to the road and picked his feet 'cause I'm going back later with my friend who hasn't yet to meet my handsome ball of love.
Got some pictures yesterday, thanks to my sister - so they will be in his album.
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Tex
Aug 30, 2011 12:21:48 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Aug 30, 2011 12:21:48 GMT -3
Well, my boy is now officially stall proof! He was stalled during "Hurricane Irene" for over 24 hours and didn't even care. In between rain fits, I went over to the barn and took him outside to stretch his legs and he loved it, but didn't have a problem going back into his stall either. So proud . He's also really good with his feet now, especially for a baby. He picks up all four and lets me pick them all out. We also measured the little munchkin, and he's 13.0 hh at the rump, if we measured correctly! He's also having his whole body covered in sunscreen cause the poor boy is burning like crazy . Next summer he will definitely need a sheet, to keep him comfortable if nothing else! After putting on a defense against the sun, I took him into the arena and walked over poles that Ally had laid out to practice western trail with the horse she is showing next weekend. My good boy only clipped three of them and we went over them about 7 times, so I'm very happy! He maden no fuss going over them at all . I'll be out to see him today, so I may update this again tonight!
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Tex
Sept 11, 2011 22:30:31 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Sept 11, 2011 22:30:31 GMT -3
Tex is now 6 months old today He is learning to tie in the barn as well, which he isn't too fond of, but after about 30 seconds he calms down. To my dismay though, after doing some old wives tale trick with Ally and Steph to "guess" what gender foal Steph's mare CC is having, we turned around to see that Tex had pulled the quick release and was just standing where I had tied him... I guess I'm lucky in that way? So I retied it, and once again he undid it! Any suggestions on how to stop this? He's a boy, and of course boys pick at everything... so really he just plays with the loose end of the lead rope and ends up pulling it off. Is there a product that I can spray it with that will taste bad to him so he will stop?
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Tex
Sept 17, 2011 15:06:32 GMT -3
Post by Sabrina on Sept 17, 2011 15:06:32 GMT -3
Lack of updates, not that I haven't been with Tex, I have been every day (unless I have to go from school straight to work, which is only 1 - 2 days a week.), but I've just been so crazy busy that I barely get online. If I do, it's from my phone which only has facebook. So after being tied only 4 times, my little boy now has no problem in the spot he's been tied to. I'll be moving to a new spot next time, to see how he fairs there! So today, the farrier came and trimmed his little feeties. Just a recap of last time he came: It took three of us girls, plus the farrier to hold him down from flipping over eachtime the farrier came to get his feet, which I didn't get cause he let me pick up his feet and hold for about 30 seconds which is all I thought I could expect from a baby. Todayyyyy, after picking up and cleaning his feet everyday, the farrier had no problem doing all four feet, even his backs! He almost fell asleep at one point so beyond proud of my handsome fellow. He's also doing well walking across the road to get to the barn from the field, as well as going back over to the field. He also had his 6 month needles on Monday, and I wasn't there because of school, but I guess he was really good for the needles themselves, but paced a bit because he didn't want to stand still for Ally. Luckily Ally doesn't put up with bull at all, so she straightened him out. And on an exciting note, Dr. Downey said that Tex has a ball ! Now we just have to wait out for his other one, which Ally was informed could be up to the age of 3 and be normal.
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