Tuesday, September 28, 2010

September 25, 2010

Cindy and Gary are out of town - no updates on LBR.

September 24, 2010

Cindy and Gary are out of town - no updates on LBR.


September 23, 2010

Cindy and Gary are out of town. LBR needs a web cam in his paddock - they heard it rained and want to see how muddy he is.

September 22, 2010

No visits by Cindy or Gary. Gary joined Cindy in San Francisco. Her business conference ends tomorrow.

September 21, 2010

It's Tuesday and six weeks since LBR's hooves have been trimmed. Gary headed to the stables in the morning to meet the farrier. He led LBR up from his paddock and they had a short wait before LBR got his trim/re-shoe. LBR stood perfectly and patiently for the work.

Afterwards, Gary saddled LBR up and they went for a trail ride around the property. LBR was well behaved and they had a great time.

After the ride, Gary de-tacked LBR, groomed him and put him back in his paddock.

September 20, 2010

Gary stopped by to see LBR in the evening. When he arrived, LBR had no food but everyone in adjoining paddocks did. Gary led LBR up to the stables for grooming and spoke to the caretaker. The caretaker said that there was a commotion at feeding time and he must have skipped LBR's bucket.

Gary decided to just groom LBR and return him to his paddock with his dinner.

September 19, 2010

Cindy has a business trip this week and will not be back until next Sunday. Gary headed over to visit LBR in the afternoon. He the weekly supply of supplements in the feed room for LBR. Gary brought LBR up for grooming. Rather than ride, Gary took took LBR for a power walk/lead. They toured the entire farm - visiting all of the paddocks, stopping by the grass arena to step over jumps, etc.

Afterwards, Gary let LBR graze for a bit before returning him to his paddock for treats.

September 18, 2010

Gary and Cindy headed to the stables around 9:30 a.m. It's still fairly warm in Central Texas (highs in the mid-90's). Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy set out the grooming supplies and tack. Gary groomed and saddled LBR and Cindy mounted him in the sand arena. It was fairly quiet at the stables this morning. "Y" was riding "BP" when Cindy started riding, but they were about through with their ride. Cindy rode LBR at the walk/trot/canter both directions and worked on flexing and leg yields. They also trotted some ground poles. Cindy kept the ride short as Gary was riding today. Gary rode LBR in the sand arena. They warmed up on the flat and then started doing course work over cross rails. They worked mostly at the trot, but Gary did let LBR canter away from one jump. After the arena work, they took a trail ride around the stables - visiting paddocks and the grass arena.

After the ride, Cindy took off LBR's tack and Gary rinsed/groomed him. They ended the visit with LBR enjoying some grass in the common area before going back to his paddock for treats.

September 17, 2010

Today was a training ride for LBR. Gary headed over to the stables around 9:00 a.m. to bring LBR up from his paddock and get him groomed for his lesson. The trainer commented that LBR was VERY responsive and that Cindy & LBR must have had a great ride the night before. She warmed him up at the walk/trot. She then cantered him for a bit and he was doing very well.

She started him on courses at the trot and he did a good job of keeping pace (not rushing in or out).

LBR did something he's never done today....he cantered an entire course (6 jumps) and completed flying lead changes...WOO HOO!!!!!! They took a little work from the trainer, but he got them. Gary, Cindy & the trainer are very proud of LBR.

After the ride, Gary rinsed and groomed LBR before leading him to his paddock for some grazing and treats.

September 16, 2010

After Cindy got home from work, she and Gary headed over to visit LBR. Today is Thursday so there were group lessons in the sand arena. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the grooming supplies and tack. Gary groomed LBR and tacked him up. Cindy mounted LBR in the sand arena and walked around a bit before heading to the grass arena for their ride. She focused on flex work at the walk and trot - including a lot of leg yielding. LBR was fantastic. He yielded perfectly to legs, carried the bit well and was generally very happy. They cantered for a bit before wrapping up the ride on a walk on a loose rein. After their ride, Cindy rode him around the outside of the grass arena and back to the stables to cool him down.

September 15, 2010

Cindy took a private lesson on LBR this evening. It was the best lesson ever. They worked at the walk, trot and canter. Cindy learned how to have LBR do leg yeilds at both the walk and the trot. LBR was so good - crossing over both front and back legs. Cindy was exhausted by the end of the lesson but has plenty to work on. After the lesson, Cindy de-tacked LBR, Gary rinsed him off and they both led him back towards his paddock for grazing.

September 14, 2010

Gary headed over to the stables to lunge LBR. He has been spunky for his last few rides. Gary brought him up from his paddock, groomed him and saddled him. They started in the round pen before heading to the sand arena for lunging. LBR kicked up his heels at the canter and whinnied - having a great time. AFter about 30 minutes of lunging, Gary cooled LBR down by leading him on a walk around the paddocks and stables.

Gary rinsed LBR off and let him enjoy some grass before taking him back to his paddock.

September 13, 2010

LBR had the day off today

September 12, 2010

Cindy had a group lesson on LBR. He was pretty good, but didn't like being crowded by others. They completed the flat work and then did one course before leaving the lesson about 15 minutes early to go do more flat work in the grass arena. LBR has been a bit full of it for the last few rides (trainer on Friday, friend on Saturday and Cindy today).

After the ride, Gary rinsed LBR and he and Cindy led him back to his paddock for treats.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

September 11, 2010

Gary & Cindy took a road trip to San Antonio (about 1 1/2 hours) to watch a dressage competition.

"Y" road LBR today.

September 10, 2010

Gary met the trainer at the stables around 9:00 a.m. She did a "training ride" on LBR. They focused on ground work and transitions.

LBR was very good but a little full of himself.

September 9, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables after work. LBR was so muddy that Gary rinsed him with the hose rather than try and curry the mud off.

Cindy rode LBR in the grass arena as the sand arena footing was still not good. There was a lesson going on in the arena as well as 4 others riding. A total of 11 horses and LBR handled it well.

It was still a little muddy so Cindy kept the workout mostly at the walk.

September 8, 2010

The rains continued this morning.

Gary & Cindy headed over to give LBR some treats. He was a beutiful muddy mess.

September 7, 2010

Tropical storm Hermine came through Central Texas. We got bout 4" of rain at the stables but other areas nearby got up to 14".

No riding today.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Sunday, September 5, 2010

September 5, 2010

Giving Pony Rides




Today, the family headed over to the stables after breakfast.

After tacking up, Cindy mounted LBR in the sand arena before going to the grass arena. She walked, trotted and cantered him for a short time. LBR was so mellow again today.

He switched into pony-ride horse mode easily. Today, the two granddaughters and our daughter rode. Instead of leading with a lead rope, Gary walked along side and let them hold the reins. Everyone had a good ride.

After the ride, Gary rinsed LBR and returned him to his paddock.

September 4, 2010

Gary & Cindy have visitors in town. Their middle-daughter and her family (hubby and 3 grandkids) arrived about 1:00 a.m.

After sleeping in for a bit, everyone enjoyed a big breakfast before heading over to visit LBR.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy set out tack and grooming supplies and kept everyone occupied.

There were lessons this morning so the barn was pretty hectic. Gary groomed and tacked LBR. Cindy mounted him in the sand arena and after a lap around the sand, headed down to the grass arena. Cindy warmed up LBR for a bit at the walk/trot. He was a very mellow fellow which was great because his job for today and tomorrow is to give pony rides. Gary and Cindy switched his bridle for his halter.

The older granddaughter rode first. She is ten (10) years old. Gary led them around the arena, over ground poles and cross rails. LBR seemed to like his new job.

The next to ride was the younger granddaughter. She is six and weighs about 40 lbs. LBR didn't even seen to know she was on his back. He led nicely and especially enjoyed taking bites of grass along the way.

Finally, the grandson who is sixteen (16) rode. LBR continued his mellow behavior.

After the pony rides, Gary led LBR back to the stables to be unsaddled and rinsed off. Cindy was putting tack up in the tack room and Gary was grooming him....all of the sudden, it sounded like the barn was falling down.

The horse in the grooming stall next to LBR kicked out the brace that keeps the 2X4 oak slats in place and they fell like dominos into LBR's tack stall (about 20 of them). From the tack room it sounded like the barn was falling down. LBR's legs were shaking he was so scared.

Gary managed to unhook the cross ties and led LBR out of the barn. Afterwards, he brought him back into the tack stall across from the one being repaired and LBR watched. Once the divider was back in place, Gary put LBR back into the scary gooming stall. LBR was falling asleep within a few minutes.

The visit ended with Gary returning LBR to his paddock.

September 3, 2010

TGIF!

Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables after Cindy got home from work. It was a wonderfully quiet evening. They were the only boarders/riders as the stables.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack and grooming supplies. A cold front had come through overnight and it was a wonderful cool evening (82F degrees).

After tacking up, Cindy rode LBR in the sand arena. It was a WONDERFUL ride. LBR trotted nicely on a loose rein, was very flexible, listened and dropped his head when asked and seemed to have fun. After riding on the flat at the walk and trot Cindy worked LBR at the trot over ground poles and cross-rails. LBR was so consistent and even paced.

Cindy then did a little more flat work at the trot. Then...she and LBR had a blast at the canter. LBR got his leads perfectly tonight and cantered at a slow but ground covering pace. They were both having a blast!!!! Circle here, around again, half way around the arena, around the jumps...WOO HOO!!

After the cantering, Cindy trotted LBR a bit before taking LBR for a walk outside the arena to cool down.

Gary rinsed LBR off and Cindy & Gary led him back to his paddock. The sunset tonight was a taste of Fall to come. Beautiful pink clouds, a cool breeze and a sweet horse being shared together - it doesn't get any better.

September 2, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed to the stables when Cindy got home after work. The summer temperatures continue - it was 102F degrees.

Thursday nights are lesson nights so the sand arena was not available for riding. After Gary brought LBR up from his paddock, they groomed LBR and tacked him up.

Cindy mounted LBR in the sand arena and walked him around for a couple of laps before heading to the grass arena.

Cindy started LBR at the walk and then they worked on loose rein, well paced trotting. LBR seemed a bit stiff so they did a lot of flexing exercies. After LBR loosened up, Cindy cantered him both directions. LBR was having a blast. They did full laps in the arena, half laps, circles, etc. They didn't jump tonight.

After the ride, Cindy cooled LBR down by taking a short trail walk.

Gary unsaddled LBR and rinsed him off after the ride (LBR was VERY sweaty). Cindy & Gary led LBR back to his paddock where he enjoyed carrot and alfalfa treats.

September 1, 2010

Cindy and Gary headed to the stables after Cindy got home from work.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack and grooming supplies. The stables were quiet tonight with only one other boarder riding.

Cindy worked LBR in the sand arena. He was very good. LBR trotted nicely on a loose rein and they worked on walk/trot transitions. They cantered and LBR missed his right lead the first time but got the correct leads every time after that.

They ended with a walk around the outside of the arenas to cool down.

Gary & Cindy unsaddled and rinsed LBR off before taking him back to his paddock.

August 31, 2010

'A' rode LBR today. He was a bit ornery after having two(2) days off. She rode him for a bit then got off and lunged him for a while.

They worked mostly on flat work and keeping a steady trot/canter. They did some transition work and LBR was well behaved.


'A' ended the ride with some repeated circles over a single jump. LBR did not rush into or out of anything today.

Woo Hoo!

August 30, 2010

Cindy wasn't feeling well today and stayed home from work. LBR got a 2nd day off from riding.