Red

[rodeo]

Well that depends.... Will I be recognized for my standing around and chatting capabilities? That takes alot of work you know. Hard on the feet

[Emily C]

Yeah LOL tell me about it! You get an A+ ahha.

Worked Red again last night, this time put his headstall on (minus reins), and put his booties on. Lunged him both ways, walk, jog and lope. He bucked once and launched mud all over my face and in my ear, it was lovely. Needles to say he is definitely improving. He will halt on the lunge line and stand perfectly still until I tell him what to do next.

I really cant wait to start flat out work with him.

[Emily C]

Groomed Red for two hours this afternoon and almost suffocated with hair and dust.

Put his booties on, and lunged him in a halter for a bit. Onc ehe was warmed up I introduced bridle and sidereins. He was not sure about it at first and when they made contact with his mouth he had a little bit of a breakdown. Soon realized that they werent going to hurt him, and went on about his business.

I lunged him for about 10 minutes in each direction with the sidereins as loose as they can go, and he gave nicely to the bit, tracked up, and had his head and neck where they should be while working. He was using his hind end, and seemed very willing.

We only did walk and trot today, the footing is the shits. I hopped on afterwards, bareback, and cooled him out on a short hack around the property. He was super horse!

[Becca]

aww, i'm glad red is back on track! good job em! next time i'm out i'll have to steal your camera.. serious lack of red pictures going on here!

[jpoole]

Aww great to hear Red's decided to be a good boy again!

[Emily C]

Nothing major, lunged Red the past few days, walk and jog, in sidereins. He is building up a bit of muscle, and loosing some of his chub!

Havent been riding yet, but will be this weekend. So until then..

[Emily C]

Heather and myself rode and lunged Red on Sunday. He was a very good boy. Pretty rusty as that was one of his first under saddle REAL work outs this year (since October or so). But he tried very hard and behaved for the most part. We worked on suppling up to the right, some walk/jog/rein back, overbending, straight line turns, and started some turn on the haunches, which is pretty much non existent right now. But didnt want to do/ask for to much so we ended it on a good note. He started to figure out his leads in the end, so we called it quits and rode him. Thanks for your help Heather, its great to have someone on the ground, and also a second opinion!

Lunged for 15 minutes yesterday, no tack or sidereins, just to get him working, because I was busy, and rather lazy by the time I got home. Worked on lope transitions to the right, as soon as he loped 3 or 4 strides on the proper lead (the right is his problem, he REFUSES to lope to the right, and bucks and has a heart attack when I ask him, he usually lopes to the right on the left lead, bucking and disunited, so that is what we are trying to correct)then I would ask him to jog for a few strides, then walk. Then we would try it again. After he got his right lead 3 or 4 times, I let him walk and we cooled out.

Tacked up today, rode down to our arena, and I figured Id mix it up today and just did a few warm up excercises then went RIGHT to work on the right lead. It worked, VERY good. Best ride I ever had on Red, hands down. I am actually in disbelief. We loped 4 circles to the right on the right lead. Then went back and did some jog work to the left. Then worked on leg yielding to the right, and loping right. WOW Red aced it! Did some straight line turn work, spiralling in and out on a circle in both directions at the jog, then did some more loping. This time worked on simple lead changes. Aced it again. Picked up his right lead every single time, and did not buck once!

Decided to end it at that. So we rode all over our little town, and explored some trails. I thought it would be nice to ride him to the Vokey's house up the road and let him go play with his lady friends. So, rode him up the road, untacked him, and let him go. He had a few good rolls, and frolicked with his loves, and now is happily munching his hay in the sun with his 3 favorite mares, and his mini baby.

Definitely the best ride Ive ever had on Red. Hopefully it keeps up!!

[kylie]

thats awesome!!

[Emily C]

Been riding Red every day (he had one day off when the weather was yucky and he got the ultimate spa day, groomed him all day, clipped his bridle path and fetlocks, put hoof oil on, had a hot towel with Epsom salts on his back etc.)

We have been working on suppling up to the right and becoming more balanced through transitions and balanced in general. Lots of circling, straight line turns, and leg yielding at the walk and jog mostly.

Been working alot on loping and moving forward at the lope, which he did have big trouble with, but is really improving.

Danielle came out and worked him today and did wonderful. Had a few little disagreements with Red but nothing HUGE. Had him loping like a pro within half hour or so. Red tried very hard, and was a great boy all in all.

So, looking forward to tomorrows ride. Didn't get any pictures, I was too engrossed in watching!!

[Emily C]

Red is going great. Danielle put another ride on him, loping in both directions and working on giving to the bit. He did great and got his leads no problems!

I have ridden the past two days, walk, jog, and lope. No problems at all. Worked on making nice circles and keeping a consistent speed. No bucking, or trouble, period.

Cant wait to ride today!

[Emily C]

Ive been riding Red 3-4 times a week and lunging once or twice. He is doing super.

Rode in the Mona Lewsic clinic this past weekend at Cloverdale. I loved Mona, she was very calm and collected, explained things thouroughly and precisely, and offered a new approach to teaching that I really enjoyed.

We worked on straight lines, turn on the haunches, letting the horse go and letting the horse make the mistake then correcting it after he has had a chance to do it. IE drifting to the right on a straight line, instead of fixing him when he starts, let him drift, then turn him left.

She was great and gave us alot of exercises to work on afterwards.

[happilyeverafter]

Em- did you like the "let the horse make the mistake" thing? Andre does that up here and I really like it.

[jessicab]

It sounds really great, Im looking forward to doing this exercise with Fanj today. I find its really easy to fall into the habit of getting "naggy" or "picky", constantly correcting every little thing before it even happens. All you end up with is a fussy horse that you constantly have to pick at, that has no idea how to carry itself properly. I'm definitely guilty of it

[Emily C]

I found it hard at first believe it or not, like as soon as he would drift right I would pick up some contact and try and fix his shoulder and nose etc. It took me a bit and I had to make a super concious effort, but at the end I really got it. I am heading out for a ride now so Ill keep you updated.

[charismatic]

It is funny isn't it? I was doing the same thing with the darling i ride. I would anticipate her about to jog, so I would stop her before she did it..I've learned her let go.. then bring her back after a few strides..as if it is no big deal. I also find if I feel her getting ready to jog, if I loosen up a bit she may not jog.. No point in correcting the desire to go.. lol.