V is home!!!

Ok, so I promised Alex I'd keep up with this :) Versace made the trip great, he was a lot more relaxed than I had expected when he got off the trailer (much much better than when he got to your place Alex, of course!). I walked him around a little and then sent him around a few times until he was chewing & paying attention. Then took him into the barn, took all his gear off (haha Alex), & hosed him off (the real bath will come tomorrow!!!).

He didn't pay the other horses any attention, but Fred the turkey was a bit of a different story. I'm gonna have to figure out a way I can work V near him to make him get over it...right now Fred stays in a stall. Versace did walk forward when asked though, toward the noisy alien. I gave him his dinner & some bute (just in case, from the long trailer ride), he relaxed in his stall for awhile, then went out with my 33yo mare Jasmine & goat Tumnis like he'd never left. I can't wait to ride him tomorrow! :) Thanks again SO MUCH Alex for everything!!! I love the new V!!!

V goes home :(

Today was V's last day. He loaded up this afternoon to make the 3.5hr trip home with his happy mom.

She promises to keep up with the blog so we will get to keep reading about him!

Little Snot!

This morning we had a light ride. We had just started into our heavy trot work when the vet showed up early. So we ran down to the barn and I threw him in his stall to eat and chill. The plan was to ride him this evening when it stopped being SO hot.

The weather had other plans of course and it rained most of the afternoon. When I went out this evening to turn him out he was FULL of himself. It was still raining and he decided he was going to SPOOK at EVERYTHING. The leadrope on a stall, the hitching post, the water hose, etc. It was funny because he didn't actually do anything other than jump and then splay his legs out. We did work at EVERYTHING though and he eventually got it and walked with his head down out to his blue girlfriend!

Field Trip!

The plan was to haul V to my friend Jim's house for the day. The rain the day before put his riding arena under water though. Since I promised to haul somewhere we headed over to Latta Plantation. Its a huge state run park with a large horse facility. They have over 5 arenas. They rent out trail horses and teach a few lessons. Fortunatley most of their arenas were dry with a few puddles. Perfect for water training!!!

When we got there he was more aggittated than normal but wasn't as upset as he was when he got the farm the first time. He looked around a lot but stood still and was respectful of my space.

When I had him all ready to go I lead him down to the arena with his bridle on his saddle. This is when he was the most upset. He spooked HARD but in place the first time he saw the other horses. Then walked around like a 17HH giant!

He was very respectful of my space though. What he didnt' do was look at me. So when we went into the arena I worked him back and forth on the scariest part for him until he did.

Once he took a breath and would look at me when I would ask him to change directions then I took the rope and bent him in both directions.

This was the result:

It was time to ride! I bridled him, got on, and started moving him shoulders like I would at home.

At home I'm VERY VERY nit picky about him looking around. He lives there, there is absolutely nothing that he needs to look at outside of my direction. At a new place there are obviously going to be things he hasn't seen before. I still don't allow him to look OUT of my direction but I'm a tiny more lenient about him looking up in the direction that we are traveling.

Looking out like this gets corrected with shoulders or a change of direction.

There was one part of the woods that he didn't like and wasn't as responsive with the shoulders so I changed tactics and leg yielded him TOWARDS the scary woods. He lifted his shoulders and settled down. He shouldn't be allowed to get his shoulders out from my aides.

Once we could make a lap and change direction without any fussing on his part we got to work. He was MUCH more settled at the trot. It is a nice way to get out some of his nervous energy but not let him go wild.

He was nervous at first but only showed his uneasiness in his tail.

Once he settled into his trot he was great! We even went trotting through a big puddle!
Want to see what a leg yeild looks like from behind??

Since he was doing so well I decided to push it a little and ask for the canter. He settled down into a really nice canter and we even went through a puddle!

Then we called it a day for the riding. We went for a walk around all the barns and other arenas. He was VERY polite but showed his stress in his tail. He settled down and was quiet. We headed back to the trailer and loaded up.

Since he was so good and it was a long day for him I gave him Sat off. Sunday he will get a light workout before heading back to real work on Monday.

It rained!

The bad news: We didn't get to haul to Jim's today or ride.

The good news: We REALLY REALLY needed the rain.

The field trip is re-schedule for tomorrow.

Look who can CANTER!!!!

Since he was left in his stall last night I figured he would be a little more UP today than normal. There was no way I wasn't going to take advantage of ticking him off.

He was pulled out of his stall and tacked up like normal. We went out to the arena. He wanted to walk off when I got on him but stood when asked. Then he wanted to TROT. He took his correction well and didn't pop a shoulder, twist up, or act like he wanted to take off. He was just ready to get to work. Once he started walking when I asked we went ahead and got to work trotting.

It was probably some of the prettiest trot work I've gotten from him.

Once when he started being consistent and warmed up then I sat down, layed my outside leg on him and twisted my hips. He fell right into the canter! No running, no excitement, nothing. I only had him canter about half the arena each way before stopping. He was floppy but was pretty slow for his size. I didn't get any good pictures of the left lead. Sorry.

I was tickled with him!!

Summer Camps and Slip N' Slides

I got V out after summer camp was over yesterday. He was very good until we went past the slip n' slide. He decided to give it a funny look so of COURSE we had to investigate.

After passing it a few times he calmly and quietly walked over it. He was very good. He acted a little funny in the barn. I put him in his stall to eat while I worked the other horses. He wasn't too eager about eating so I took his grain away and left him in his stall with hay over night. The weather has been funky and I wanted to make sure he wasn't feeling bad.

I got a call that a friend's horse was acting funny too. Maybe it was just in the air.

Weekend of fun

This weekend V's mom came out to ride Saturday and Sunday. I couldn't hardly drag her off her horse! She rode for a good hour and a half BOTH days. V was perfect of course and took good care of her.

We even pushed the envelope and had her pony a young horse.

He got the day off Monday.

V goes Camping!

Sorry sorry sorry!!! I have had family in since Thursday morning and while I've had time to ride I have had trouble finding time to post.

Wednesday night there were about 20 kids under 13 camping out at the barn. They had a bonfire and were running around wild and crazy after eating 2 bags of marshmellows. HA HA

V wasn't fazed until I brought him out of the pasture and we headed to the BIG tent. This thing must have had 9 kids in it.

He wasn't upset until the kids inside started moving around. Then he wasn't impressed at ALL and didn't want anything to do with it! He got over it quickly though and was soon walking over to smell it.

Unfortunatley they didn't put the other tents up until later and we rode around all of them while we were doing our miles and miles of trotting. He didn't hardly flick an ear at the shaking tents full of youngins. I was damn proud.

THURSDAY:

More of the miles and miles. Wait until you see where he likes to hold his head!!

Friday was his day off since his owner is coming to ride him Saturday and Sunday.

What a mean trainer I am!

V man isn't too impressed with the new trotting we have added. I will have to say I am surprised he didn't fight more.

Monday:
We went out to the arena like always and got to work. After warming up we started trotting. Instead of stopping after a good consistent half a lap or so we kept going. I only had 2 goals.... #1: Stay on the rail without having to pull him to keep him there. #2: Stay at the trot.

For staying on the rail I was tickled that when I put my inside leg on him he slid his hips over and really moved over to the rail. He was soft and willing. I am not nit'picky when it comes to staying on the rail. I allow about a 3' area but if they start drifting then they get corrected. After about 3 laps each way at the trot he figured it out and didn't require much more reminding.

For the second part he wasn't quite ready for. I REFUSE to push a horse every stride. I would ask him to trot and then follow along with my posting if he slowed or sped up I just followed. Occasionally he would come down to a walk and I would get after him hard with my legs. He didnt' scoot like I expected but he got the message. He really was inconsistent at first but then he fell into a nice trot that really felt nice. He even started stretching his neck down and out some.

We had one sticky spot changing directions where he decided that he would rather NOT turn left like I asked and he would rather go back to the gate. I set him up so that turning left was easier and he decided that was the better choice. There wasn't much fight in him at all. I was proud!

Tuesday:
Today we took it slow at first. Since we trotted so many miles yesterday the poor youngin was stiff starting out. He behaved though and picked up the trot beautifully. We did more change of directions and figure 8s today. He was unbalanced at first but then really settled back into his nice trot. We didn't ride nearly as long today but tomorrow we will be back to trotting a couple of miles.

Sweaty saddle pads are GOOD for 3yr olds.

Lets Get Consistent

V has been doing great with everything except now he has decided to suck back while trotting. He was great in straight lines but since we have added turning he has decided to not step through and carry himself.
While we have been working on it the past few days that will be our BIG focus going into this next week. We are going to do the baby drop the reins and get popped in the butt if he slacks off or doesn't stay moving forward. I like the fact that he isn't as hyper as he used to be but that doesn't mean that its acceptable for him to have to be pushed into everything.

This will help us when it comes time to canter him at the end of the week.

I have also started changing some of the obstacles in the arena and making him figure them out. He isn't too thrilled that I have all these poles so close together but he picks his way through and figures it all out.
On another note, I'm VERY proud of my V today. I put a small 2 yr old gelding out there today and while V was excited he stopped running when I pushed him a little and waited until I was out of the pasture before going after the new guy. This shows tons of respect and I'm pretty sure he will teach the new guy some good manners. He has already started pushing him around if he gives ugly faces or doesn't move fast enough. Ideally I will be able to pony the new guy off of V later in the month....what a perfect final project for V to be able to conquer.

V's World

V has been great! Friday and Saturday his owner came out and got to meet the "new" V.

Monday the weather wasn't the best.

Tuesday V decided he was going to be an ASS. He was rude in his stall and just being a pain. Instead of reacting I decided to change as MUCH as possible about his routine to see how mad I could make him. I walked into his stall with a different bridle and put it on. No brushing, no nothing. I lead him out to the arena and hopped on bareback. He wasn't too impressed at first but once he realized all the rules still applied he was a saint. We even did some trotting. Then I grabbed my camera and took some neat shots. I even rode him down to the barn, dropped my camera off, and rode back into the arena to put him outside.

Today was even better! A fellow trainer friend of mine came out for a visit. We were chatting while I worked horses and he asked if he could ride V. He used to do a LOT of AQHA/APHA pleasure horse training. He was drooling over V and was seeing $$. LOL

V was a saint for him! He acted like he should have, I was quite proud of the big yellow horse today. :)

What a Good Boy!

The more I ride V the more I like him. He has really grown up. He was SO good the past 2 nights. Wednesday night I rode him for over an hour. It was 9pm when I got off of him. The cats were RUNNING around and being crazy, the wind was blowing, and there were 2 other horses in the arena that were working hard. They were doing lots of trotting and were being ridden by kids so they didn't give V as much room as an adult would have. It was good for him!

We chased some cats and did LOTS of trotting. I could trot him all day! He was a little stubborn about steering at first but quickly got over it and realized that I do all the decision making. We even grabbed a rain jacket off the fence and shaked it all over then took it to another fence post.

The best part was last night. We were standing in the arena closest to the road and 3 fire trucks with lights and sirens and 2 ambulances went BLARING by. He hardly cocked an ear! Not 10 minutes after that 15 or so LOUD harleys and crotch-rockets went flying by. He was a champ!

Stupid Blogger

It ate my post!! It was a long detailed post about how GREAT V did yesterday. I rode him in the arena with 4 other horses and you woud have thought he had done it all his life. He didn't even flick an ear when we went on our 1 loop trail ride.

Since he is staying another month I'm going to try to haul him to a friend's arena to play one day.

Trotting and Trails!

Whew what a great day for the V man! We started out like normal. He is really solid and calm.

Then we worked on taking a rattling halter from one post to another.

We started out seeing how the trot went and he was sound so we trotted for a little while. We worked on keeping the same speed on a loose rein and some steering.

hen we headed out of the arena. We decided to take a buddy this time but I still wanted V to lead and go out where I wanted him. He did GREAT. He spooked/jumped twice but didn't go anywhere. He just startled.

Farrier, Summer Camp, Trail Rides, oh MY!

Sunday:

Versace has really grown up! He is well into High School! He is trustworthy to step on without issue, track off calmly and with good flow, leg yeilds, turns and gives to pressure, stops softly, and stands quietly.

After a VERY nice ride we decided to leave the arena. There is a nice trail around the property. Unfortunatley it was getting dark so I only got 1 good picture. He got a little stuck in 2 places but I was able to get him back on track easily. He was calm and quiet and stayed between my aids. I was very proud of him!

Monday:

I was worried about how V was going to behave when I got to the barn. The farrier was there and I had forgotten but Summer Camp had just started so there were 12 little girls running around like crazy right where the farrier works on the horses.

Versace wasn't first but when it was his turn the kids had gotten bored and weren't sitting still watching. He stood like a champ. The farrier even lit the forge when V was 3' from it and he didn't flinch.

The farrier found the tract from the abcess and has ordered the soaking to stop and the applying of iodine to start. He says the soreness is from the direction and path the abcess took. This will help dry out any more moisture and hopefully get him 100%.

Tuesday and Wednesday:

More of the same. Walking, turning, and stopping.

We have been working on picking things up from the fence and carrying it other places. Another fence post, a jump standard, or throwing it over his head/hip. He never flinches.

Our BIG accomplishment for Today...We sidepassed over to the gate, opened it, walked through and down to the barn without issue!!!

As Promised!!!

More of the 100+ pictures here: http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r47/rooloo7/Versace/