Saturday, October 31, 2009

October 31, 2009

We are having the best weather imaginable in Central Texas. The sky is crystal blue and no humidity. It was cool this morning so Cindy headed over to see LBR in the afternoon. She expected to find a muddy horse and wasn't disappointed. The stables are still muddy from the week's rain (we've had 8 inches of rain in October - with only 25 inches for the year).

Because LBR got shoes this week to help with the tender feet, Cindy's plan was to clean and groom. She went down to LBR's paddock and LBR acknowledged she was at the gate but left the round bale of hay and started walking away. Cindy's heart sank because this is what he did last week when his feet were hurting so badly. Cindy took a minute to fix a strand of the electric tape (turned away from LBR) and then looked back to see that he was just relieving himself behind the hay. As she finished fixing the fence and as soon as he finished his bio break, he came cantering up to the gate. It was a great relief to know he wasn't lame.

Cindy haltered him and led him to the stables. She curried off as much of the mud as possible and decided to head for the wash stall (instead of washing outside).

LBR led nicely out of the grooming stall but "froze" at the wash stall entrance. Knowing that Gary has been training him to go in, Cindy immediately put the lead rope over LBR's nose, snapped it once and he went straight into the wash rack without Cindy leading in front of him.

After a quick rinse, no shampoo as the paddock is still muddy, Cindy took LBR out to graze for a bit. Unfortunately, the grass is slim and LBR got quite bored. Cindy took LBR back to the grooming stall to let him dry and finish grooming. LBR's new shoes are very handsome.

Afterwards, Cindy led LBR back to the paddock. He is feeling much better and was quite frisky - it is so nice to have his personality back.

Cindy treated LBR with carrots and said bye. Tomorrow is supposed to be another perfect weather day so though LBR can't be ridden yet, Cindy will be heading over to do other horsey stuff.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

October 29, 2009

LBR is having an easy week. Although he underwent a total training effort without any issues this summer, his feet don't seem to like the muddy/wet weather we're having.

He was tender-footed on after a walk only ride on Saturday so we decided to put front shoes on Tuesday. Gary was not able to be there when he got his new shoes, but the trainer said he did great. Cindy visited him in the evening and he loved his carrots and missed his paddock mate Bentley who escaped when LBR was being haltered (the mud is really bad - it's hard to walk through the paddock).

We're going to give LBR a week off of riding and just groom and work on basic ground manners. It's a bit frustrating, but he's five years old, we will have him for 20+ years more and this is only a week.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

October 24, 2009

LBR's stone bruise recovered nicely this week. The farrier was out and took a look at LBR and agreed that was the most likely cause. LBR was fine by Wednesday so Gary took him out for a walk-ride in the grass arena.

We had a lot of rain on Thursday, so Gary visited him on Friday. It was too wet to ride so Gary just washed/groomed him (yes - LBR is still the mud-rolling champ).

Cindy headed to the stables alone on Saturday afternoon. When she arrived, there were four (4) horses let out to groom in the common area....GRRRR!.

LBR greeted her at the paddock gate. Cindy groomed and tacked LBR. He was pretty excited by the four horses galloping throughout the property but calmed down nicely for his pre-ride lunging.

Due to the commotion going on and the still less-than-perfect footing in the main arena, Cindy decided to work LBR at the walk with focus on flexing exercises and reinless whoa's.

Cindy rode for about 30 minutes and then groomed LBR before returning him to his paddock and treating him with carrots.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

October 18, 2009

We had a great ride yesterday after the TX-vs-OU game. We arrived at the stables as the horses were being fed for the evening. The stables were quiet and LBR was happy to see us. The weather was perfect....75 degrees and about 30% humidity.

We groomed/saddled LBR and headed to the arena. He was so calm (despite feeding activities going on) that Cindy decided to start with riding right away (no longing). LBR was amazing.....although he didn't want to walk in a straight line, after a few walks around the arena, he caught on. Cindy trotted him around the arena, in circles and over cross rails and LBR was having a great time.

Gary then rode and had fun....LBR was amazing.

We planned on taking a lesson tomorrow, but unfortunately, LBR has a stone bruise on his front right hoof so we just groomed and let LBR eat some grass.....poor guy, he was so mellow and Cindy was hoping for a good lesson.

The stable owner is suggesting shoes on his front feet, but we don't want to go there unless we have to (with the rain/mud, stone bruises are going to happen??).

Friday, October 9, 2009

October 3, 2009

We are back from vacation. We got back into Austin late yesterday afternoon and headed to the stables from the airport. It was almost dark so we took LBR some treats.

He had three (3) training rides and the trainer said he did great.

Today, Saturday, Cindy took a group lesoon on LBR. He was more distracted than usual by the other horses....having one of "those" days as the trainer said. He didn't want to settle into his nice trot while we worked as a group on the rail but eventually calmed down after a lot of extra circles during our trips around the arena.

When it came to individual rounds time, he was PERFECT. Trotted all poles and cross-rails at the perfect tempo, no pulling on the bit, and very happy. We skipped the canter today due to his distracted nature.

We washed, groomed and treated and left for the day.