Connor

[rudyrocks]

Well, since I now officially lease him yayyy I might as well start up a log for Connor.

Today I caught him in his field and brought him into the barn for a good grooming. I just found this gorgeous blanket that is his. With that and his leather halter, he is one big cutie! ;D Pics coming soon Anyway after I warmed up with some walk and trot we moved onto canter. We tried a few simple lead changes and we did some circles as well. He was excellent At the end the temptationg of all the jumps in the ring were just to much, I asked Becca to watch me as I popped him over two small verticals, and then a bunch of good sized x-rails. It was sooooo much fun. After working on turning right after the jump and cantering off into the sunset (or just the other end of the ring ;D ) I cooled him out gave him an apple and turned him back out into his feild. He was so good, and I was really pleased

[rudyrocks]

Before I went out to catch Connor in his field I set up 5 canter poles so that we could practice turning right after the last one, kinda what we were doing with the x-rails yesterday. When I went to catch him in his field he decided to lead the horses in a flat out gallop out to the back of the field what a silly boy Anyway, when I FINALLY caught him and groomed and tacked up we began warming up. We did circles and we threw in some serpentines as well. After that we did our poles. It was funny 'cause he would jump over the first one

We then mixed it up a bit and worked on cantering through 3 poles and then in the space of one canter stride, come back to trot and trot through another 3. It was a really good exercise because it got him really listening to me. After that Becca put up a few x-rails which I also tried as verticals at the end and we worked on Connors strides. I would either collect him to take 4 strides to the next jump, or extend his canter stride so we took 3 long strides. After that I gave him a really long cool out. I am planning on working with him on the flat for the next couple days so that the next time we jump, he will be even more responsive! Connor<3

[happilyeverafter]

sounds like you two are doing well.
cant wait to see more pictures!

[Becca]

you guys look wicked together

Maria bring your camera down one day, i'd be more then happy to get pictuers of you two

[rudyrocks]

Don't worry Becca, I'll def. take you up on that

[rudyrocks]

There's are kinda from the past, but thats ok

Sept 3rd

Started off by trying to get a halter on him, who would have thought it would take 25 mins just to get a halter on I finally tricked him into putting his nose through by putting a treat underneath the noseband, and once i got the halter on I gave him a treat in the feed bin. After we walked around for a bit, we worked on lots of trot. Circles, sepintines, ect. After about 40 mins of that we did some canter circles and whent large. Unfourtunetly while we were cantering large this pickup truck came by and the 9 or 10 guys sitting in the back started yelling Connor didn't like that and neither did I but all he did was spook/hop away from the rail and throw his head up. We finished off by trotting around to calm down and then we cantered past the spot where he spooked. This time he was great

[rudyrocks]

Sept 5th

Rode today, did the regular w/t/c. I had set up a hunter course of poles and we trotted through them and then cantered. we worked on if we trotted through a line, we TROTTED through it. Same thing in canter. It was either all nice springy trot, or all nice light canter. Once he even did a huge exaaterated flying over one of the poles...to the wrong lead crazy boy.

[rudyrocks]

Today

Started of the same way as usual w/t/c circles and large. We also through in a couple figure 8's and we did some simple changes. Boy, is he good with his leads! We then cantered over poles and then Becca set up first one then two x rails for us. We worked on trotting very forward into them, and then after that cantering into them and away...with the right lead. He jumped very nicly when I set him up right ;D I have decided to go in the clinic this weekend at 8:00 sat morning for a semi private with Becca. FUN ;D

[rudyrocks]

Yesterday we jumped! Exciting! Becca was out riding Prince and taking him over some really low verticals so I decided to follow her. ;D Connor was really good, and we worked on staying straight before through and after the small line. We even tried a grid, which was a lot of fun. It was the first time I had done more then two jumps with him in a line, and even though we saved the bounce for another day, we did three verticals all one strides inbetween. After we did that grid, we went around and did another line on the opposite side of the ring. We also worked on having a nice BIG trot into one of our diagonal lines, and after a few tries we succesfully managed. Afterwards I gave him a long cool out and then groomed and let him into his stall.

[ruthy]

sounds like you tw owre having loads of fun together:)

[rudyrocks]

Rode w/t/c. Rode for about 45 mins and then I decided to leave it at that. We did some circles and all of the regular stuff. He started out really good, but suddenly he did this major spook...at nothing silly boy. I kinda half slipped onto his neck, lost one stirrup, and somehow managed to scramble back on, which I am quite proud about considering he was cantering one way and i was hanging onto the OTHER shoulder ;D horses, they will never stop surprising you. After that and a couple other little spooks at invisible horse eating monster that for some reason i can not see , we did a lot on a circle and did w/t/c again at which he was very good with. After I cooled him out, I groomed and untacked him, tossed him in his stall, and scratched him. Oooo the Bliss!

[rudyrocks]

I went down tonight just to hang out with him, 'cause I thought it might rain so I decided not to ride Anyway, I had a good time down there. I was hanging out with a couple other people at cloverdale, and I cleaned out Connors water buckets. I also had to watch Elvis, the HUGE great dane who was there, 'cause he kept trying to drink the soapy water ;D Anyway, after I had cleaned and refilled his buckets I took him out on cross ties and gave him nice gromming. I then put him back in his stall, gave him a few treats sat down by his stall, and began to write in my other riders log (one on paper and that stays in his tack box) I was sitting by his stall and he had his stall gaurd up and he kept poking his head over and nudging me and just keeping his head right by my face! I really really wish I had some pics of it It was a nice quiet time I had with him

[ruthy]

awww nice....I cant wait to see him:)

[rudyrocks]

Unfortunatly The Con Man is off for a day or two 'cause of one of his back hoofs Thankfully though it gives him an excuse for being a little naughty these past few days In the meantime I will probably getting a lesson or two on Duff and Connor will be getting lots of TLC I went down today to give the horses a hug and I began scratching Connor on the shoulder. He was leaning into it so much I was afraid to stop for fear he would fall over lol!

[Becca]

duff man is PRO you're going to love him! just remember to write in his book after your lesson (i alwayysss forget to do this ) so we know if he's been riding ect!