Sunday, October 31, 2010

October 19 - 31, 2010

The past couple of weeks have been great. Beautiful riding weather, LBR can now be ridden in the dark under the lights. Cindy has ridden LBR 6 out of 7 days for the past 2 weeks. They took a private lesson this week. Today (October 31, 2010), Gary cantered LBR both directions in the grass arena. Been so busy and the days are long, the blog hasn't been updated much.




Tuesday, October 19, 2010

October 18, 2010

Gary and Cindy headed over to the stables after Cindy got home from work. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack and grooming supply.

Normally, LBR has Monday's off from riding, but Gary & Cindy remembered that Monday's are quiet at the barn while Tuesday's are hectic with multiple lessons going on well into the darkness. When they arrived at the barns there were no other boarders there.

Another boarder arrived while they were about to finish grooming. They finished up and headed to the sand arena.

Due to the days getting shorter, the sun was setting as Cindy mounted LBR. The other boarder came out shortly after that and turned the lights on so their horses would get used to them before dark.

This was LBR's first ride in the sand arena with the lights on. Cindy worked him at the walk/trot and did leg yields and other bending exercises. After about 30 minutes of flat work, Cindy trotted him over some cross-rails and ground poles.

LBR was fabulous tonight. There was one "shadow" that annoyed him, but when Cindy walked him over to it he acted like it was no big thing.

After the ride, Gary groomed LBR and took him back to his paddock where he gave him treats.

Cindy is so excited - LBR road well under the lights which means that Cindy will get to ride during the week this winter!!!!

Monday, October 18, 2010

October 17, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables around 9:30 a.m. They knew there would be delays because of the Austin Ironman (the bicycle portion of the races uses a road that is needed to get to the stables). The delay was about 20 minutes so they arrive shortly after 10:00 a.m.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock and they groomed and tacked him. People were arriving for group lessons as Cindy mounted LBR in the sand arena. She rode him down to the grass arena. LBR was FABULOUS today.

He ignored all the distractions (again - many green horses in the lesson). His focus was in the grass arena and listening to what Cindy asked for. He was a bit "sluggish" as it was much warmer than previous days this week. However, he still moved out when asked to.

Gary rode LBR for a while once Cindy was done and took him on a paddock/trail ride. LBR ignored the five horses being ridden into the farm by a neighboring family. Is this the same horse Gary thought????

After their ride, Gary rinsed off LBR. He "pulled" his mane and pampered LBR while Cindy cleaned the tack room. Gary led LBR back to his paddock and gave him alfalfa and carrot treats.

October 16, 2010

Gary & Cindy had a very "horsey" day, but it didn't involve LBR. They got up early and drove about 1.5 hours to a large horse supply/trailer sales place in Seguin called D&D

(http://www.d-dfarmranch.com/). It was a fun trip, but honestly, they were a bit disappointed in the "tent sale". Afterwards, they headed home to Austin and stopped by a charity horse exhibition.

Gary was fascinated with the "saddle seat" riding demonstration.

After a couple of hours there, they headed home to watch College Football and relax.

"Y" rode LBR and said he was a "good boy".

October 15, 2010

Gary headed over mid-morning to ride LBR. It was quite cool this morning (~40F degrees). Gary groomed and saddled LBR before lunging him for a bit. LBR was frisky and not paying attention at first

but eventually lunged perfectly at the walk, trot and canter both ways. They rode in the sand arena for nearly an hour before taking a nice long trail ride around the property.

After the ride, Gary washed LBR with the color enhancing shampoo. It makes LBR really shiney and brightens up his color. Gary let LBR graze and dry before returning him to his paddock for treats.

October 14, 2010

Cindy and Gary headed to the stables after Cindy got home from work. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock and they groomed him and tacked him. They used Gary's saddle as it has been a while since

Gary has ridden LBR. Cindy mounted LBR and then headed to the grass arena as there were lessons in progress. LBR was very good tonight. He ignored the insanity that was going on in the lessons (5

green horses, lots of bucks and charging). Cindy rode him for about 20 minutes and then Gary rode for another 30 minutes. After the ride, they groomed LBR and took him back to his paddock where he

got treats of alfalfa cubes and carrots.

October 13, 2010

Cindy headed to straight to the stables for her private lesson tonight. Gary arrived before her and had already groomed/tacked and lunged LBR. With the cooler weather, he is getting a bit friskier.

The lesson went very well. The trainer had them do a lot of bending/circles and working to give to the bit. They worked at the walk, trot and canter. At the end of the lesson, they did a few

cross-rails. It was a great lesson - Cindy has things to work on.

Cindy groomed LBR after the lesson and Gary and she took him back to his paddock.

October 12, 2010

Cindy and Gary headed over to the stables after Cindy got home from work. Tuesday's are lesson nights so the barn was crowded. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the grooming

supplies and tack in a grooming stall.

LBR was very calm considering all the activity tonight. Cindy mounted him in the sand arena and they headed to the grass arena for their ride. He was a bit distracted but not too bad. Cindy HATES

the fact that the days are getting shorter and she only gets to ride for ~45 minutes before it gets dark.

After the ride, Cindy groomed LBR and Gary took him back to his paddock.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

October 11, 2010

Today (Monday) is LBR's day off.

October 10, 2010

Cindy rode LBR in the grass pasture because there were lessons today.

LBR was the perfect horse today!!!!

October 9, 2010

Cindy's father and stepmother are in town visiting. They went to the stables with Gary & Cindy in the morning.

Cindy rode LBR for a while in the sand arena. He was a little anxious with the cool morning wind and no other horses in sight (the stalled horses still spend their days in their stalls).

Gary rode too and family took a lot of pictures.

October 8, 2010

The trainer rode LBR today. They did flying lead changes during the over fences portion of the lesson. Way to go LBR!!!

October 7, 2010

Cindy rode in the grass arena as there were lessons in the sand arena. It is getting really dry/dusty.

October 6, 2010

The trainer rode LBR today. He did great!

October 5, 2010

Cindy rode LBR in the grass arena after work because there were lessons in the sand arena.

October 4, 2010

LBR had today off.

October 3, 2010

Cindy had the best group lesson ever. There were only 2 in the lesson and LBR was perfect!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

October 2, 2010

Gary and Cindy headed out around 9:00 a.m. to go watch some of the riders at a local show. They stayed for about an hour and then headed over to the stables. The weather has changed to Fall in Central Texas so it was still a comfortable 75F degrees.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock and they groomed and tacked him up. Cindy started riding LBR in the sand arena. He was doing well on his flat work until Gary started lunging another horse in the round pen beside the arena. LBR was distracted by Gary's verbal queues to the other horse. Rather than fight this battle (and because LBR had started off so well), Cindy headed out on a trail ride with a friend on her horse. They rode for about 30 minutes in and out of paddocks and around the property. After the trail ride, Cindy took LBR back into the arena (Gary was not working the other horse at this point). LBR was great. He was soft in the mouth YEAH!!!!

October 1, 2010

Today the trainer put another training ride on LBR. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock and groomed him. The trainer rode LBR in the sand arena. She said it was their best ride ever. He cantered smoothly and collected perfectly before the jumps (instead of getting excited).

September 30, 2010

LBR had today off.

September 29, 2010

Today the trainer put in a training ride on LBR. Gary brought him up from the paddock and groomed him before the ride. The trainer realized that when Cindy described LBR as 'stiff' what she really meant was he had reverted to being unresponsive to the bit. They worked primarily on flat work at the walk/trot/canter today. She encouraged him to accept the bit but he was stubborn about it.

After the ride, Gary gave LBR a bath with a special shampoo for chestnuts...he was glistening as Gary let him free graze in the common area.

September 28, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables after Cindy's late arrival home from work. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy unwound from a hectic day. They groomed/saddled LBR and Cindy mounted him in the sand arena where lessons were in progress. They headed down to the grass arena for their ride tonight. LBR continued to be on the tough-mouthed side. Of all the things to forget after a week's vacation, this is no what we wanted. He moved out nicely at the walk and trot and flexed and yielded like a champ though. After the ride (it was dark by now), Gary returned LBR to his paddock while Cindy put away the tack.

September 27, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables after Cindy got home from work. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack and grooming supplies.

After grooming and tacking up, Cindy rode LBR in the sand arena. He seemed very stiff and tough mouth. He was well behaved - but just pulling on the bit. He hadn't been ridden in 9 days so Cindy kept the work at the walk/trot. The ride went well, but Cindy didn't enjoy the tug-o-war. LBR was extremely calm - especially because we are now enjoying cool weather.