|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Oct 16, 2009 11:15:28 GMT -3
again yesterday we did all the same stuff, he is getting better at moving off pressure, but we still have further to go. I just try to add little new things every day, yesterday I put a saddle on him, at first I flicked around with the leathers and irons, making sure that he was ok with it. We did more walking over cavalletis and poles and trotting in hand, backing up, and turing off of pressure in the forehand. hes doing well in all of it.
after all that I again ended off the day with a round around the arena on his back, Im really excited that he dosnt mind the saddle or me at all. he seems to be a bit ouchy in his feet when on rocks since they were trimmed, so I picked up some tea tree oil for him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca on Oct 16, 2009 12:49:36 GMT -3
weee this is awesome  i love reading on the progress of you guys! seem like an awesome pair  congrats again heather! |
|
|
|
Post by Amanda. on Oct 16, 2009 16:25:17 GMT -3
Congrats : )
I am still very jealous!
Your doing so well
|
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Oct 20, 2009 21:02:44 GMT -3
so, hes much better at everything, and I can get on his back without him making a step or anyone holding the lead, he dosnt move forward yet, but I can back him up! lol. We also started him with lounging tonight, well suzanne did. lol, I had Echo going around a bit while she worked with him, just to show me how to start him off seeing as I've never done it before.
|
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Oct 23, 2009 0:41:57 GMT -3
SOOO.. big day today, he was a super starr He is still ouchie so I put some tea tree oil on his feet before I worked with him and then after put fiskes all over his heels and frogs. I decided to introduce him to the bit today, sad story, my headstall is too big for him, so Im going to have to buy a cheap one until he grows into it, I love it too much to sell, and all my other headstalls are the same size. He was no trouble accepting it so he was pretty hilarious, going "NOM NOM NOM, moom what is this get it outt" He did that for a bit, until I actually took him out to the arena and walked him around and he forgot about the big metal thing in his mouth. We did a bit of jogging, backing up, going over cavalettis and stoping. Now all I have to do is turn towards him to stop. Then I tried some small lunging circles with him at a walk, he did absolutly great, and even stops when I step ahead of him. After I cuddled him and gave him lots of praise I hoped on his back, again with no one holding him, and the lead attached to both sides of his halter. At first with all the clicking and squeezing he was like "whaat do you waaannnt?" but after a bit of encouraging he took his first steps forward when asked loves my booyyy |
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Oct 26, 2009 9:19:48 GMT -3
yesterday I introduced the hose to him, rinsing the mud off his feet. its something that were going to have to work on, hes not so comfortable with it as everything else.
I led him around for a few minutes, and did some backups, which he did great on, I also worked on getting him to move off the shoulder, right now if he just takes a couple steps away, Is good. Sometimes he gets it confused with backing up at first.
After that I got on his back with a halter and eventually got him to walk all the way to the middle of the arena, he tried to turn around a few times when Id use one rein to straighten him up, he dosnt fully understand whats going on yet, all he knows that clicking means go forward and pressure on whatever side means turn that way. That being a big accomplishment, I decided to end there.
Im really happy with him, hes doing so well
|
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Oct 30, 2009 10:47:18 GMT -3
the past couple of days Ive been doing more lunging with him, both directions at a walk. Hes been doing very well with it so far, stops when I ask, walks on, and picks up pace. Other than that Ive been doing more leading with him, trotting in hand, backing up, turns, walking over stuff. Yesterday we trotted over cavelettes for the first time, went like a pro. Hes doing very well with me riding him, still a bit confused with directions to go in, sometimes when I use one rein he tries to turn right around.
My saddle will be here tomorrow, so well see how he feels about the big ole western saddle compared to the little english one. I hope it fits him.
|
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Nov 3, 2009 11:14:52 GMT -3
sunday I brought chris up to meet benson, so I didnt do anything with him. I just brushed him and put the tea tree oil and fisks on his feet, they are doing much better. When I got there the horses were in from last night and he was a bit stocked up, so I took him outside and walked him out.
yesterday I started trotting him on the lunge, he goes well in one direction except that he keeps slowing to the walk. In the other direction is another story, he likes to come intowards me and when I tell him to stop, he stops, then turns to face me. I had suzanne help me with this problem, and he became better afterwards.
|
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Nov 11, 2009 18:49:54 GMT -3
we had so much fun today, it started off with Benson loosing his first tooth! He looks so silly, and the other one will be ready to go soon.
There was a clinic being held in the Indoor, so we took the ponies outside in the arena for a jaunt. Hes such a super pony, not only can I ride him tackless, but we trotted today as well. We are definatly making a lot of progress.
after I got tired of the arena Suzanne and I got fearless and took our two year olds on the trail a little ways, Im just so excited that I actually rode him, we've only previously walked the length of the indoor and back.
|
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Nov 15, 2009 21:23:48 GMT -3
first of all, i friggen love this horse.
Jess Boyd was here for the weekend, so she did his feet. As well she brought along her saddlepad and gear so I stole it and tacked him up. Mine is all the way in Labrador, forgot to tell the momma to send that on over with my saddle.
today and yesterday I rode, it was great. The first time I rode in a saddle and bridle. We rode around the indoor a few times yesterday, worked on woahs and backups, turning, etc.. he was very good so I decided that was enough. Today we trotted!! whahooo!! I walked him over a cavaletti and it was great. lol. Jess got some pictures so some will be up of that soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by ktmuise on Nov 19, 2009 23:09:21 GMT -3
It sounds like your doing great with him, keep up the good work ! |
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Nov 26, 2009 11:23:56 GMT -3
im getting slack on this.. Ive rode since jess was here, and its been going well.. sunday my friend was here so I didnt ride, instead I put her on him and led him around, doing all the basics..
Yesterday was the same. I worked on all the basics again with him, it never hurts to go back to the basics. Trotting, stopping, backing up, turn on haunches and forehand, pressure on poll. Everytime Im leading him I try to remember to get him to lower his head, so hopefully he will soon automatically do it on his own. He also lost his other front tooth yesterday, he looks so silly. All in all, everything is going splended.
|
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Dec 5, 2009 20:18:46 GMT -3
So Benson now has three missing teeth, soon to be a fourth. The poor thing seemed to be really bothered by it yesterday.
his progress with riding and lunging is coming along well, in addition to trotting we also loped a few times. He no longer tries to come in towards me when on the lunge.
Im happy to report that He has gotten used to the washstall and hose. I dont think I've posted it before but the first time I brought him in there to wash off his dirty legs he really didnt enjoy it at all. Prancing everywhere, backing up, trying to barge off and squishing me...
So I decided to take it slow with him. I began each time with rubbing the hose over him and his face, then squirting a bit of water out, then increased until nozzel was fully open, Id wait each time until he settled down, over the course of 4 tries, he now stands there like a little gentleman.
Yesterday we rode in the outdoor arena, we did alot of trotting, trying to keep him on the rail..he likes to veer off toward the center. He was a bit distracted because of his mouth, or thats whats i assume it was.
|
|
|
|
Post by ktmuise on Dec 16, 2009 12:59:26 GMT -3
seems like hes progressing really quickly !
|
|
|
|
Post by htrimm08 on Jan 7, 2010 23:40:47 GMT -3
the past two times I was at the barn we worked on lunging, tonight he did really well.
For now were keeping it to walk/trot until he becomes strong in those on the lunge, ie, no tugging/coming in/stoping.. etc. and shows consistancy. Tonight at first it was a bit like he didnt know what "woah" was but I soon fixed him with that, once I was sure that he wouldnt take off without my ok I got him going at the trot it only took me asking him twice to do so, without the aid of a lunge whip. I continued to ask him to stop and change gaits back and forth after that I let him walk out, and had him walking, stoping, doing circles and backing up without a lead. After that I think he decided that hed done enough because he was pretty anxious to get back to his stall and supper.
|
|
i love reading on the progress of you guys! seem like an awesome pair 
congrats again heather!
