Cash

[stephaniec]

I just gotta start one of these for the little guy, especially since the goal is "training".

Last night, Jess came up to see our guy. She played with him a bit, and tried him in crossties, his first real time in actual crossties. He danced around a bit, more like he was trying to figure out what the heck was attached to either side of his face haha. As soon as he settled, he was rewarded with lots of "good boys" and he was allowed to go back in his stall. He was in crossties, oh about 10 minutes I guess before he settled.

This evening, Jess came up again, and took him out for his crossties "training". He was perfect. Stood like an angel. Jess groomed him and he was wonderful. No fuss, just lovin the attention and the curry comb. What a little man he was.

Back he went in his stall until I got his dewormer from my store. We took him out again for a minute for his dewormer. Took it like a pro. No problem at all. It was clear he wan't too fussy on the taste, but who can blame him. Then Jess walked him a bit and worked on his "whoa". What a boy! He listened very well.

I gotta say, this little guy is wicked. He listens very well, and learns quick. Can't wait to start him under saddle.

Feel free to add on what I missed Jess. He's your pony too!

[Jess]

I think you've got it all perfectly!

I'm so impressed with this little guy, not to mention in love with him already. He's such a character, and he catches on REALLY quick. Like Steph said, he got all cleaned up today, lots of itchy spots and lovin' all the attention. He's really intelligent, and very easy-going and calm. He's a bit of a chunk, though, so once he learns what "whoa" means, and gets his little feet all fixed up, Stephanie and I are gonna start lunging and slowly getting him into shape.

Keep your eyes on this boy, you guys. He's gonna be some good little pony.

[happilyeverafter]

woo woo ponyyy!

[Hilary]

wooww! SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD BOY!

[Jess]

So, little man had his first lunging session today. First he got a nice grooming, and he was an angel in crossties, didn't move an inch. The first time I groomed him, he was a little ticklish under his belly, and was jerking his back leg around a bit and swishing his tail, but today there wasn't a peep out of him. Then we walked him out into the front yard, and sent him out on a circle. He was incredible, honestly. I can't even get over how fantastic he was. He was a little bit confused at first, but he figured out what I was asking him to do. We only worked for about ten minutes or so all total, a few minutes in each direction. I mostly just wanted to get the feel for how he'd react to it and where our problems would lie. We did walk and trot, his whoa is coming along pretty nicely, though I'd like for him to be a little bit quicker to respond, but when all is said and done, he is actually the most amazing little pony.

Now that we know how he is on the lunge, he'll be lunged as often as we can make time for during the week, plus Stephanie is gonna start getting him used to the bridle, putting it on him and letting him stand in crossties to work things out for himself. Once we get a saddle, we'll start getting him comfortable with that, and next weekend we may take him and Sweetie for a little bareback ride around the yard, since Sweetie is already broke and Cash is used to giving bareback pony rides.

You guys don't even know how much I love this pony already.

[Jess]

So, an update on pony-butt:

Wow, I honestly hope every pony we have is like Cash. He's amazing. Nothing phases him at all, no nasty habits, nothing. Ground manners are coming along very well, he forgets himself sometimes, but he's really starting to get what the word "whoa" means. Been practicing leaning over his back and putting my weight on him in crossties, all he does is flick his ears back to hear what's going on back there. He's had the saddle and bridle on him twice, and is a star with them. Stands like an angel in crossties, not a peep comes out of him.

Today I put the saddle and bridle on again, took him out into the paddock, and started practicing mounting. I'd put my foot in the stirrup and lift myself up like I was going to get on. After a little bit of initial "Ooh, what are you doing?", he was really great. Worked on getting him to give to the pressure of the direct rein on each side. Took him a minute to figure it out, but in no time he had it down pat. He honestly loves to please, which makes him so easy to do things with. Then I lunged him in each direction for a few minutes. I'm not worried about jogging or loping on the lunge yet, I just want him to get the whole idea of lunging down pat. He's such a good boy.

I can't wait until spring comes and the arena is built, so we can really start making some progress with him. Plus, longer days and no snow and gross cold weather!

[Sarah]

Wow. I've never heard of a horse being so ...what's the word... trainable ?
You seem to be doing great with him jess, keep it up.
Can't wait to hear more about this little superpony. ;D

[stephaniec]

Have to agree Sarah, Jess does great with him. He seems to have alot of respect for her. Its funny, cause all she has to do is speak to him and he's like "Uh Oh....OK Mom, I'll be good". And he just stops whatever he's doing. He loves her. I'm his feeder, but she's clearly the boss

[Hilary]

aww, he sounds like a cutie!!!!!

[Jess]

Cash-man is doing great lately. Since his new "girlfriend" Abby came, he's forgotten himself and was in need of a little attitude adjustment, nothing too serious, just trying to impress his new mare. So Saturday we had a good rigorous lunging session after he decided to be a bit foolish u/s, and he got back to his sweet self once he calmed down and got his head back, silly boy.

He's really after dropping quite a bit of weight, which we're really happy about. We can't wait to show off his handsome little pony self this summer. Doing a fair bit of u/s stuff lately. He's becoming a lot more comfortable in his jog, his whoa's are definitley improving, and his backup is fantastic, he's so nice and soft. Tried a little overbending with him this weekend, he wasn't too sure about the whole thing. He bends his neck and can just about touch my boot with his nose, but he keeps the rest of his body straight and stiff, so something else for us to work on.

Mostly we're just concentrating on getting his buttons in working order for his transitions. Like I said, jog is coming along really well, we're just practicing on the straightaway going up and down the road. We did a little loping, he's a little unbalanced there, and needs some coaxing to get into it, but he's not nearly as bad as I was expecting. Maybe this weekend we'll go on a little trail, if the snow decides to melt a little more?

A girl up to AEC, Alexa, came up on Sunday and took him for a little ride with Sabrina and Sweetie and from what I understand he did well, so it's all good. Anyways, that's about it for now!

[stephaniec]

Just had to update the progress on this guy thanks to Jess. He's amazing. She has him loping on cue with excellent transitions. His trot is much nicer and more smooth. He's listening much better, HUGE difference in how soft his back up is.

AND.... he's jumping!! He LOVES it. He's jumping 2 ft jumps in a western saddle And he really enjoys it. At first, Jess used to have to encourage him over the jumps. Now he just jumps on his own, and tucks his little legs up under. We have to get him his own engligh tack.

All of this has been done in a back yard....no arena. My arena won't be done until May and I can't wait to see him go once he gets some good solid schooling.

Great job Jess. Can't wait to see what you do with him over the summer.

[Sarah]

He sounds like such a nice pony!

Are you supposed to jump in a western saddle? I can't imagine it being very comfortable, not only for the horse but OUCH for the rider!!

[Elsabé]

i guess he's come along way from what i hear...keep up the good work

[stephaniec]

saraht said:

He sounds like such a nice pony!

Are you supposed to jump in a western saddle? I can't imagine it being very comfortable, not only for the horse but OUCH for the rider!!

I would normally say no, but we use a little synthetic pony saddle on him that probably weighs less than an english saddle, and he's only jumping over obstacles that he could easily walk over too One we get him jumping over higher jumps, he'll be in an english saddle. Plus, the higher jumps will be done while lunging first.