Red

[stephaniec]

So as most of you probably know, Red is at my barn for the winter. Jess and I are going to play with him and see if we can help Emily out. I hope you don't mind me posting this Em.

He arrived on Saturday, and has settled in wonderfully. He loves the new barn, and is infatuated (spl?) with the new foal. He even licks and grooms him when he can reach him. He's been getting turned out with Cash and has made fast friends with him, and has spent the last 4 days playing and getting used to the place.

Today he was so good, I decided to try him on a lunge line. Emily warned me that he wasn't good at it, but I figured...ehhh, what the hell. I'd give it a try.

We walked into the arena perfect, and I let out a few coils of the lunge line and started to get myself organized. He stepped over the line so that it came down his chest between his two front legs. Its happened loads of time before with my horses and either they fix it themselves, or I do it for them. Never got the chance with Red. Apparently lunge lines are deadly savages out to kill horses. So off he went. It was a chestnut Seabiscuit. Around the arena he went. I dropped the line to try and keep him from panicking even worse. Nope. No help. He charged around for a while before he stopped and I just let him be for a second. He was still ready to bolt at any second, so I just got him some hay, let him eat while I quietly approached and took the line off and attached a lead rope to him and reassured him for a bit with "that's ok" and lots of rubs. And he walked quietly back to the barn.

Soooooo, we have a little job this weekend. We are just going to start free lunging him to see how he reacts and go from there.

But that was his only problem so far. Other than that, he's been an angel and well mannered.

Fun fun fun ;D

[Kelesha]

Sounds awesome I bet Emily is glad he's with you Red is a beautiful horse!!!

[Becca]

awh reddy!
he's so cuute. im so happy he has you guys for the winter i bet him and the foal will be buds, thats sweet

[Erin ♥]

sounds like you have some work to do

[Emily C]

haha and it begins hey Steph? Lunge lines and puddles usually eat horses don't you know?

[stephaniec]

We lunged Red today. Well, free lunged him. We cut the corners of the arena off with lunge lines so that he couldn't run into them, and free lunged him to see what he would do.

What a boy! He trotted around, loving it. Stayed on the rail, except twice where he cut across changing direction. He never really ran at us, just kind of figured he could take a short cut across the arena. But once he realized that was a no no, he was fine. He'd stop immediately when Jess stepped in with the lunge whip, and change direction. Loped beautifully in both directions on the correct lead. Nice slow western lope. Stopped when asked and when finished, followed us around like a puppy. No lead, just walked along like he was being led with an invisible lead.

Tomorrow is going to be crappy, but hopefully we'll get some more work done Monday!

[Erin ♥]

awesome !! good to hear he's doing good !

[SoLaNgE(L)]

aww hope reds doing good

[Emily C]

Good to hear Steph. He's such a great boy when he's behaving.

[stephaniec]

Well, I haven't updated in a bit. Jess rode him just a at a walk the other day, to get him used to being ridden in the arena. He was perfect.

We now have him to the point where we can lead him with his head lowered with a relaxed attitude. We can also go into his stall at feeding time, or any other time, and do what we like with him. He's getting along excellent with all the other horses, and he LOVES "his" baby. Its so cute to see.

Next step...water!!!! Scary!!!

[whudson]

Glad to hear he is doing well Stephanie and Jess. He's a nice fella.

[Emily C]

Ok so this has not been updated in a long time. I moved Red from Stephanies last August to my house. We had a great fall, riding etc. He isnt as traumatized about water anymore and walks through it, but only if there is another horse present and she walks through it too! Which is a stard, because before he would stop, turn, and bolt int he other direction. Not fun. So, during the fall, I turned Red into a brave little trail horse. He is a million percent road safe and isnt bothered by motorcycles, cars, trucks, plows, anything. He walks over bridges, through rivers, etc. So very pleased with that.

We did a little bit of schooling in the arena, and still had troubles loping to the right, but he did do it a few times. By the time I got him going decently, and muscled up, the snow and ice came. So that was the end of that.

All winter I did groundwork with him, and took him on a few hacks in the snow, so he pretty much did crap all.

Now, I started work with him full time again. We are tackling his lunging issues, I just bought a new lunge whip and lunge line so we are rearing to go. Red used to charge at me, and if he wasent trying to bowl me over he was kicking and bucking at my head.

Jess came out over the weekend and gave him a bit of a grouwork lesson. He was good, but tested her a few times. It was great for me to actually watch other people work him and handle him, as now I know when to dicipline, and when to let off so to say, and Jess was a great help. Really helped my confidence with him.

So I lunged him last night for about 20 minutes, and he was a star. At first he was iffy, and made a few attemps to charge at me so I just laid down the law with the whip, and sent him on his merry way. Didnt take long to figure out that he was there to work, not eat mother.

We did walk, jog, and lope, on BOTH leads! Who knew Red could lope on the RIGHT lead, on a lunge line!

I am really impressed, and am introducing sidereins to him this weekend, with the help of my lovely friend Jess. So, Red has another chance to be a nice boy.

I will update tonight after his workout!

[rodeo]

Well, well.... I was there to say hi too!

[relaxen2]

fantastic em,so glad you are able to work with him...keep up the good work!!!

[Emily C]

Yes LOL sorry Steph, was at work and multitasking. You coming this weekend too??