I have about an hour before I run out to a horse show, then give a tour of Cat Tail Farm to a potential boarder, then give a lesson, then ride CP, then work with Ozzy, then probably drive 20 minutes to work with a two year old.... so let me catch you up on a few things. I've been busy. Are we surprised?
On Tuesday, Tor came down for the day. I took advantage of her presence and went up to do my first session with Jen's coming two year old American Warmblood, Romeo. Jen picked him up on Craigslist. He was originally listed for $400 and a friend of hers told her to go take a look. The poor thing needed an upgrade. She told the owners that she'd have to pick up his expenses so she wasn't looking to pay for him, but she would provide him with a good home and proper training.The owners agreed and she got him for free. The poor thing was ribby, covered in rain rot, and barely handled. He didn't lead or tie and hadn't seen much of the world.
Since then, Jen has worked on all the basics with him. He ties, picks up his feet, bathes, and has been introduced to the basics of lunging. He has also worn a harness and bridle. He turns two next month. Neither Jen nor I believe in riding two year olds, but he's a big boy and we WOULD like to get him used to having someone sit astride at the walk. Jen wants to sell him in a few months, and the more he knows, the better the home he will find. In the mean time, I'll get a much-needed chiropractic adjustment for every time I work with the youngster.
You'll notice in the photos that I'm carrying a Carrot Stick. Jen uses the 7 Games with all her horses and I respect that. Long time followers may know that I went to several NH clinics a few years ago. I have seen Parelli live and have a very good understanding of how it works and the theories behind it. I have studied it enough to use the parts I like and to understand the parts I don't like enough to undo them. Personally, I'm much more in agreement with Clinton Anderson, but that's a whole different blog entry. I don't normally mention my knowledge of NH or my opinions on it (or its followers), but I will say that I've gotten my share of Parelli horses gone wrong. With that out of the way, Jen does Parelli CORRECTLY, and while it does present me with some training challenges, it's mostly a useful thing.
I arrived at Jen's and was greeted by an excited pig. Herbie remembered the pig from last time and got much braver the second time around. The two of them actually spent a good bit of time playing together.
Sunraider and Romeo had taken down the electric tape at the back of the ring and were hanging out in the woods when I arrived, but both boys came galloping right up as soon as they heard people. It was clear from the get go that Romeo was going to be very frisky that day. The first time I saw him, it took a lot of effort for Jen to keep him moving forward, but on Tuesday he was prancing around with his tail flagged.
I started off by just lunging him in a rope halter to get a feel for what he knows and how he reacts to different forms of pressure. He was definitely up, but obedient. After sending him over some ground poles and around some obstacles, I brought him into the barn. He stood calmly while the pig and Herbie tore up and down the barn aisle in a game of chase.
Romeo had never had a saddle on before, but I didn't see a reason he couldn't start then and there. He barely flicked an ear when I thumped the saddle on his back and tightened the girth. Good man. The loud endurance stirrups didn't seem to bother him and he snoozed while I retrieved his bridle.
We went back out in the ring and worked some more, mostly at the trot. I eventually introduced side reins to get him used to the pressure of the bit in his mouth. He was a pro about the whole thing. He still needs to learn the fine line between being out of my space and dragging me off my feet, but that will come with time. Over all, our fist session went very well. He even broke a sweat! I think he'll be a quick study and will make someone a very nice riding horse in another year and a half or so.
Next we went back to Cat Tail Farm where Tor groomed Ozzy while I rode CP. Mike and I had run out to Home Depot the night before to pick up some ground poles and the pony is officially starting his jump education. I hand walked him over the rails the first time, but he didn't even bat an eye so I climbed on board. I kept it short and simple... walk, trot, canter over the poles in each direction, 20m circles at each gait, and call it a day. CP definitely had his concentration ears on for the poles, but he went right over albeit in a slightly drunken manner.
Yesterday I tried to do him a favor by lunging him over the poles so he could just worry about his feet and not the weight of a rider, but he seemed to lose his confidence that way. He went over, but it took a lot more coaxing. I'll probably just keep riding him over them for a few days. I won't have jump standards until next week anyway.
Finally, Tor finished up by riding Ozzy.
I've been afraid to say anything out loud, but I still don't think he's right. In fact, his whole hind end seems to be getting worse. He's always had bad conformation and we know he's got all sorts of arthritis, and I think that's the root of it, but I can't help wondering if there's more to it than that. He's incredibly unfit. After all, he's had most of the year off. He has lost all his butt muscles and top line and really just kind of looks ratty in general. I think that's a big part of why he's fumbling around and being clumsy, but I'm not 100% sure. I'm getting him re-tested for Lyme and I'll probably have his ankles and hocks injected at the beginning of the summer, but I'm starting to wonder if he's going to fall apart in his teens. He's happy in the field and doesn't seem lame, but he's definitely not the rip roaring endurance horse he once was. Tor confirmed my fears, saying that he felt sloppier than usual. Ugh. They had a good ride, but we definitely took it easy on him.
I'm going to put him back in slow, easy, regular work in the next month and see if gaining muscle helps with his lack of coordination. I'm perfectly happy just having him as a pleasure horse, but I'm still trying to figure out which steps to take next. Shipping a sound, happy horse to the clinic for a battery of expensive tests seems silly, but I've always been about doing EVERYTHING I need to do for him, and I'll kick myself if it turns out he has something and I didn't catch it early enough. ARGH.
Ozzy DID give a lesson to my youngest student yet yesterday. V is a four year old little girl who has had the horse bug since day one. Her mom is friend's with L's mom(from a few months ago) and when she mentioned she was looking for a riding stable, L's mom recommended me. I warned them right off the bat that I have a full sized horse and that I wasn't sure how much a four year old could physically do, but welcomed them to come out for a trial lesson.
When I arrived, the horses were up by the indoor. Ozzy greeted me with an excited whinny, but then trotted away when I came up to him. I gave cookies to Art and Rue and Ozzy came back long enough to snatch one and run off. I grabbed a bucket of grain and lured Art and Rue to the indoor. Ozzy followed and I shut the door. Art knew what was up and came right up to me. I put him back out to eat and be away from the drama. Rue and Ozzy went into full fledged 'OMG you're gonna kill us' panic mode, galloping around the indoor like a pair of lunatics. I had told Herbie to get out and stay and she sat at the gate, half-barking in frustration. I prayed that my new clients wouldn't pull up the driveway into the middle of this circus. Eventually, Rue caved and came up to me. I threw him outside and Ozzy knew the game was up. He came up to me like nothing ever happened.
Of course he was sweaty and gross by the time my clients arrived. Thankfully, Ozzy was on his best behavior and I didn't have to convince them that he'd take care of their child. Sheesh!
The lesson went really well, actually. V was very gung ho about the whole thing and memorized everything I told her. I was extremely impressed when she was able to identify the girth. She was brave and chatty and didn't seem shy about meeting a new person at all.
Before long, we all went down to the outdoor and V got boosted into the saddle. I told her how to hold her hands and feet and instructed her to sit up straight and hold on tight.
"When you want the horse to walk, you go like this," I clucked. "Can you do that?"
She kissed twice, ever so softly. Ozzy flicked an ear and walked forward. A few strides later, she said, "Whoa." Ozzy stopped dead. Good lesson pony.
By the end of the lesson she was actually stopping and steering on her own. Did I mention she made up a song just for Ozzy on the spot? The smile on her face totally melted my heart. I think I'm going to have to invest in a slightly smaller kid safe horse.
After the lesson, we took a walk out to the pony pasture. CP was totally intrigued by the little girl. I told him, "If you ever learn to behave, you can have one of your own, you monster!"
Meanwhile, V was totally enamored with Lunar. He wasn't quite sure what to make of such a tiny human so he just stood stock still and let her do as she pleased. I should get a mini harness and break him to ride. The exercise would be good for him and he's the perfect size for a four year old. He's such a mellow guy...
So, yes, V was thrilled and it looks like I have a new student for the time being. I'm gonna need a smaller saddle.