Rodeo

[stephaniec]

I may as well start one of these for Rodeo. I was going to call him Joel, but it just doesn't work for me. Plus, Mike has a distant cousin who has a little kid named Joel, and he looks like Caillou. Just can't get his little half bald head out of my mind.... I know I'm terrible.

Anyway, I wanted a western name and I was going to use one of my favorite bullriders until I came across a bull named Rodeo. And I think its cute that his little brother is named Cowboy and his name is Rodeo.

So... Here goes.

Rodeo is a soon to be two year old colt. Totally unhandled until he came here (I know...what was I thinking right). He arrived last Sunday. First time I tried to turn him out it took me and Mike about 20 minutes to get him out of his stall. And another 10 to get him out of the barn. He didn't like to have his face touched and had never been groomed. He had no idea how to lead at all, and was very jumpy at every little thing.

After only 5 days, he now walks on out of his stall, and into the turnout, no hesitation at all. He loves the other horses, and gets along with all the boys (no girls yet as he is still a stallion). He makes no fuss over the mares. He's learned to lead, and is learning what my personal space is. He's very well minded, and when he does spook, he just jumps a little, and settles right away. I can also hug his face, and he loves it. And I can groom him.

Our next goal is crossties, which I'll try with him over the weekend.

[Becca]

are you going to geld him or keep him a stud steph?? and what are his bloodlines?

[stephaniec]

Definitely geld him, and he is cutting bred with some halter and performance in there too.

[Emily C]

Your boy is a darling Steph, when Billy and me were out the other day I fell in love. He's very very sweet.

And quite good looking!!

[rascal]

ha ha! You should just call him Caillou! NOT. I hated that show! So glad my kids grew out of it. Rodeo is a great name.

[stephaniec]

Haven't been doing a whole lot with Rodeo this week, as I've been busy getting another turnout ready for Juno and Rousseau. He's been doing very well with leading though, and I can now lead him anywhere. He is also doing well in crossties. Moves around a bit, but that's just something to work on.

This evening was his first time out with all of the boys. The rain stopped so I stuck all of the boys out in the arena for a romp. They went retarded. Talk about testosterone. You'd swear they were all stallions. No fighting or anything like that. Just lots of bucks and rears and squeals. And Rodeo decided that he wanted Juno for himself, so he kept herding him around and chasing the other boys off.

Boys will be boys I guess

[stephaniec]

Took Rodeo out this evening and tried crossties again. He'd only been in them once before, while all the other horses were outside. He was good, but moved around a bit looking for his buddies. So tonight, they were all in, and I tried him again.

He was an absolute pro. I've never had a horse behave as well in crossties as he did tonight.

So seeing how well behaved he was, I decided I'd try introducing him to a saddle pad after he was groomed. Again, total pro. Never even batted an eyelash at it. So I tried a saddle.

After all was said and done, he'd had his second time in crossties, was groomed, picked up all 4 feet, had a saddle pad on, saddle on, and the cinch tightened, and never even flinched at it.
He's been handled for 13 days out of his 2 years.

I think I found my horse.....

[oxmaybesoxo]

YaY!
That last comment "I think I found my horse" Broke my heart! There isn't a better feeling in the world then being with the horse you've got a connection with

[stephaniec]

I love my freaking horse! He's amazing!

First thing I did was "lunge" him today. Not a proper lunging, but I just wanted to see if he'd try and walk around, or freak out. Walked around like it was no big deal in both directions, no freak outs or anything like that.

So I decided to try and groom him outside this evening. Its nice and sunny and warm in my back yard. He'd only been in crossties twice, and never tied like that, so I would have been happy with a quick grooming if he was good. I groomed him for 45 minutes! He was PERFECT! He was so perfect he let me touch his sheath (not his yoohoo, but where it shrinks up in to ) He let me spray miracle groom on him, he let me pick at his tail and brush it out. Everything. And he never moved a muscle. Just stood there with hishead down, half asleep.

And, I jumped all around him (like I was about to hop on him), I leaned across his back, I did all the movements of someone getting ready to mount. And again, he didn't flinch.

I loves my boy!

[cindy]

Rodeo.......Thats what came to my mind the other day for my yearling..... So, good name.

[Emily C]

Steph your boy was a super star today!!

[stephaniec]

Haven't updated this in a while. Rodeo has now been started. Katrina is training him.

First training session, Katrina put the saddle on, lunged him, and got on. He didn't even blink. He has progressed to w/j/l on the lunge line, right on cue. If he picks up the wrong lead, he fixes himself. He now walks well and has started jogging under saddle. Gives to the bit beautifully. Very soft mouth. Moves off the leg well.

On the ground, he stands perfect in crossties, or tied to a rail for grooming. Picks up all four feet with no problems. Leads nicely, and backs really well. Gives to pressure with the slightest touch.

He'll continue light training with Katrina for the summer and fall, have the winter off, and then pick it back up again in the Spring.

[maria]

WOW!!! He sound like the perfect little horse! Good for him for being such a fast learner

[cindy]

Wow, he sounds amazing. Isn't it wonderful watching them learn and change?

[shelly]

Need riding pictures!