April 10, 2010

One Year Ago Today

Cindy and Gary headed out in the morning to watch a local schooling show. The stable owner/LBR's trainer was showing a couple of her horses. They stayed there for a couple of hours before heading over to see LBR. They stopped on the way to the stables at a local taco-shack and enjoyed delicious barbacoa tacos with fresh pico de gallo. After the lunch break, they also stopped in at the nearby tack shop that is closing and got some great bargains (50% off everything). LBR is now well stocked with fresh white saddle pads (2) and Gary and Cindy have new stirrup pads.

When they arrived at the stables, there were a few people wrapping up their mid-day rides.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock, groomed him and put his saddle on. Gary took LBR to the grass arena for a breif lunging session in his halter. LBR was mellow again. While Gary was lunging, Cindy another boarder if she wanted to ride LBR and she did.

She mounted LBR and he was a BAD BOY....walked out of the arena. She is an excellent rider, but has never ridden LBR so she didn't know how he'd react to a FIRM correction. Gary helped her get LBR back into the arena (led by noseband).

She worked LBR at the walk and trot. She rides almost exclusively from her legs/seat and LBR is used to a combo of legs/seat/rein. She commented that he didn't totally understand but was trying and was getting it. She worked him a lot between the jumps/standards at the walk and LBR caught on after a while and really relaxed.

After she finished riding (about 20 minutes), Cindy led LBR to the mounting block. LBR tried his walk-away/out and Cindy immediately stopped/corrected him and they stood by the block for several minutes.

Cindy then rode LBR for about 20 minutes at the walk/trot and he did well. She skipped the canter today as his lesson-learned was "riding from the seat/leg". Cindy led LBR back to the grooming stall - working on loose rein, slow walk.

They then de-tacked LBR and Gary gave him a rinse off with cool water. It was extremely windy so LBR dried quickly as he grazed on the lead rope in the common area.

Gary placed LBR back in his paddock. They forgot carrots/cookies, but gave LBR alfalfa cubes for treats.