Benjamin (Pics added Aug. 31)

[Ash]

So, I have started to work with Ben (I have been calling him Benjamin cause I also have a dog named Ben so you know...saves confusion hahah). Anyway, I can tell he is going to be an awesome horse after he has been riddin for a while.
I took him to Bland's barn (I don't have an arena at my place yet) today. It was the second time I took him there. He was a bit freaky today cause the first time I went there Lacey and Andrea where there riding Sugar and Tyra so he was too interested in them to notice anything else. But today he noticed the cows. Hahah he was thinking what are they and why are they there. So anyway I rode him in the arena for a bit at a walk and we left again.
I think with him I am going to do what I did with Lugo and start with a lot of ground work to build that trust bond. I don't have as much time as I did with Lugo but I'll see what I can do.
He is such a sweet horse though. I love him to bits!
He also needs some work with his feet. He will pick them up but when he gets sick of it he will put them down. And when a 1800 pound horse puts his feet down and refuses to pick them up again theres not much you can do!! I need to get him used to me trimming his feet and stuff. But it will come with time!

Well I am going to try him on the lunge line tomorrow so I'll see how it goes!!

[Ash]

Oh...I thought I should give Ben a better introduction!!
He is a 10 (I think) year old black Percheron. I'm not sure of his training but I do know he hasn't had much arena work. He is a very gentle soul and he aims to please. He is eager to learn but also has many questions of his own and need some reasurance sometimes but hey, who doesn't
I am right now looking after him for an unknown period of time because his owner had some things he had to take care of out of the provience and is not sure when he will be returning. So basicly I was told to look after him and love him like my own for now!! And that I am happy to do!!! He can stay forever if he wants too
But anyway thats my boy! And seems Lugo is off and on lame so much he is now semi retired so I have taken Ben on as my new riding project and I think we will go far!!! ;D
Wish us luck and I will be updating our progress!

[Lacey]

Well why don't we share a little story here..

So the day Ashley rode with Andrea and I, I tried Ben out for myself. He's a very tall horse, and I didn't think I was going to be able to mount without a mounting block - Ashley needed a step ladder the first time, but I tried and got on him first try So, I took him around, and I loved him, but as stated before he was too interested in the gorgous girls and whatnot.

So when Ashley went to get back on him, she was brave to try to get up from the ground. For those of you who don't know Ashley - she's a little height deprived. So, she grabbed his huge mane and sprang herself into the air and hauled on the mane. Not only did she make it to the top of Mount Benerevst, but she landed on the other side on the ground. haha. It was adorable. I love you Ashley.

[Robyn]

hahaha awww! that's too cute. I'll never attempt getting on Sabrina without a mounting block or anything, yay for big horses!

[heather13]

HAHAHHA AWWWW I MISS BENNN SOO MUCH!!! Misty and Shelby miss their man too!! hahah Oh ashley.. that is awesome I can definetly picture this happening haha!!

[Ash]

Hahaha it was too funny!!! I was like "Look guys, I did it!!!!" and as soon as they looked I was on the ground on the other side!!! It was horriable!!!

[Ash]

Well... I had planned to lunge Ben this evening, had planned to get him all dolled up and take pics and everything but...my boyfriends frend showed up and they were out talking about dirt bikes for 5 billion hours and I didn't have anyone to watch the baby and now it's dark *takes a deep breath* grrrr men
Anyway I still plan to go down and after I feed/clean up poop I am going to play with his feet for a bit and give him treats and grooms and scratches. Just to let him know what a good boy he is. Tomorrow I plan to ride or do some ground work with him.
So I'll update then and see what he's like on lunge line. I'm not sure if he has ever been on one but I'd say he will catch on, he is a very smart boy!!

[Ash]

So, me and Ben had a productive day today!
First I put him on a lunge line and he was actually very good!! He would stop a nice bit but it didn't take him long to figure out what he was suposed to be doing.
Then I took him to the end of my drive way to graze for some bonding time and of course he loved that part
After that I decided to hand walk him down the road a bit. I had to let him know a couple of times that running to the grass on the side of the road was a no-no but he learned that pretty fast and he would only go when I lead him to the grass Good boy!
Then we came along a drive way with big, scary, monster like flower boxes and the end of it. So we hung out there a bit and I kept walking him back towards them and with in I'd say not even a minute he was sniffing them and saying "Oh...your not that bad!". Then before I knew it he had a mouthful of the flowers Opps! But he droped them so I had to plant them again!!! Very funny though
Anyway I took him back home again and Timmy was waiting by the gate and they were sooooo happy to see each other form there whold half hour away from each other Silly boys in love
So, yeah that was our day! I think our realationship is going to grow fast! I absolutly love him to pieces and I gotta say when I bring people to see him he looks for me in the crowd!!!! So, yeah...he loves me ;D

[Ash]

I took my boy out for a ride today! We went around our yard for a bit and then I took him out on the road for a ride. He was as good as gold. The scary flower boxes wern't even scary today!!!
Well took some pics while I was out too!! Hope you like!!

First I took one of Tim and Ben sharing their round bale! I was Tim's first round bale and he is like "Mom!! I haven't seen so much food in my life!!!" Tim was a rescue pony who when I first got him he was 150 pounds smaller then right now! So he loves his food!


Ben waitin to get his groom!


Tim saying "Excuse me....I'm here too!!!"


Shiny big boy!


Gental eyes! (Trying to be artistic but I'm not that great at it! Haha)


Pretty face!


Ready to go!


Riding time! (My bf took the pics and they are really blurry so blame him!!!)




Haha the dog in the pic is my dog and his name is also Ben



I love him sooo much!!!

[Ash]

Haven't updated in a while! But I have ridden since I last wrote in here!
Had a little ride today. I can't wait to get my land cleared for my arena! I will be able to get much more riding in. Having kids and all I don't get out as much as I like but when I get my arena (even though it's going to be small ) I will be able to ride more cause I'll be right in the back yard!
Anyway he was a babe today as usual!! He is also getting much better with his feet too! I actually have done a nice bit of trimming on his fronts. Want to get him a little better with keeping his feet up before I go at his hinds. An 1800 pound horse really packs a punch when he don't want to pick up his feet! Hahah. Once there planted to the floor, there not movin!!!
But he is a doll to work with. When I am going around picking up poo, he is right there just hangin out by my side! I love him sooo much. I can tell we are going to make a great team! Who knows we might even be in the show ring by next year!!!
We'll have to wait and see!!!

[Ash]

Well...haven't updated his training in a very long time. We have done alot since I wrote in this last.
We went in a clinic with Liz Sutton and did AWESOME!!! We rode the other day with the girls and had a blast, he got a new girlfriend that day
We don't get much time to do much riding because I don't have an arena so I have to ride on the rode most of the time and with my kids here I don't get much spare time to do that. But since I brouht Skipper down I have more land cleared so today I decided to see if we could lunge out there.
Well, it worked! We had tons of room for lunging and I'd say we would be able to ride in there too. We'd just have to do lots of circle work! But theres defently enough room to make a 20 meter circle, plus we can still go large and go the whole way around the turnout. So I think it's going to work!
Which is exciting cause now nappy time is Mommy's time to ride!!! Which means I'll be able to ride wayyyy more often!!!

[Ash]

I rode yesterday! Which was heaven since I don't ride often these days cause The Hubby don't get home until after dark and I don't have anyone to watch the kiddies. It was windy and snowy but still an awesome ride. I took him down the old railway track which usually is crap to ride on cause it's really rocky but with a layer of snow, it's my fav!!! He was such a good boy ;D Took him all the way to the end and we stopped and had a look across the street to where he used to live and it made my day when he had no hesitation to turn around and go home!!! He loves living with me!! ;D Hahaha (I'm so full of it ). On the way home I let him go to see what he can do...and boy, can he move!!! He LOVED it!!
Today I lunged him and he was pro as always. For a horse who didn't do much lunging...he is wicked with voice commands!! He learns so quickly. Which gets me thinking, with all the talk on clicker training I think he would do really well with it. It would be nice to teach him to lower his head for bridling considering he's 17.1 and I'm 5'4"
Anyway, I'm defiantly looking into it!
Love my boy!

[Cassandra S]

Awww Benjamin...hes a big beautiful boy Too bad you didn't have someone video tapeing you "letting him go". That would have been nice to see. It must feel good to gallop on a big strong horse like him

[Lacey]

Sounds like you had an amazing day with him ash. I just wish i was home to be able to go with you.
I miss riding with you so much. I cannot wait for christmas. Love you.

[Kelesha]

Ben is an awesome horse, hes so strong.....I galloped Thunder, a Clydesdale, from Jiggs Farm once. Man was he strong. You can just feel the muscles beneath you Ben is adorable! A gentle giant Cant wait to come ride with you and Lacey again