Sunday, November 28, 2010

November 28, 2010

Gary and Cindy headed over to the stables at 7:00 a.m. to load up LBR and take him to a show. A local farm hosts Sport Horse Versatility shows. They have dressage, hunter and in-hand competitions. Gary showed LBR in an in-hand class and finished all of the obstacles (bridge, maze, ground poles, circles around obstacles, etc.

They stayed at the show for a while before returning home with their fourth place ribbon.

Way to go guys!











We had a blast today...pictures for now and verbiage to follow:

Saturday, November 27, 2010

November 27, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed to the stables around noon. There were so many people riding and visiting.

Cindy rode LBR in the sand arena and although he was a bit distracted, he always came back to listening to her. After Cindy w/t/c LBR and did a few cross-rail courses, Gary rode. They had a blast as things were calming down at the stables and LBR was really focused.

After the ride, de-tacking and grooming, Gary worked LBR in the grass arena on obstacles.

Here's a link to their entry in tomorrow's show (Cindy is so proud):



Gary Shows Ting'em



GO #14 (LBR aka Ting'em)

November 26, 2010

Gary and Cindy headed over to the stables around 2:30 p.m. - waiting for it to warm above 50F degrees.

Cindy rode LBR in the sand arena today. He was FANTASTIC. She was considered that he would be "HOT" due to the cold weather, but before riding, Gary lunged him and he as calm and quiet.

The did walk/trot/canter work on the flat and then did course work over crossrails - trotting in and out and then trotting in cantering out.

Gary hasn't ridden LBR in a while so he rode after Cindy's 45 minute ride. LBR and he are such a perfect match - personality and size wise.

After de-tacking, Gary stopped by the grass arena to do "in-hand" practice for Sunday's show.

Friday, November 26, 2010

November 25, 2010

It's Thanksgiving today. Cindy & Gary enjoyed a wonderful home cooked traditional Turkey dinner.

After recovering from the feast, they headed over to take LBR some carrots. This morning, it was 79F degrees but a cold front came through in the early afternoon and by the time they visited LBR the temperature had dropped to 46F degrees.

The horses in the paddocks (including LBR) were waiting in their shelters instead of at their buckets for dinner that was being served.

LBR's neighbors were spunky and playful and LBR wanted to join in but found our treats and company more enticing.

He ate his last carrot bite just before his dinner was served.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

November 24, 2010

LBR was scheduled for a training ride at 9:30 so Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables around 8:30.

The wind was blowing at about 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph so Gary lunged LBR before grooming him. LBR was amazingly focused despite the wind and did a calm walk, trot and canter in both directions.

Gary brought LBR into the grooming stall and he and Cindy groomed him. The trainer arrived and tacked him up. She wanted to try a hackamore bridle on him instead of his usual snaffle bit.

The ride started out pretty good with a lot of trotting to work on flexing. When she cantered him in the hackamore, he was still very forward and even opened his mouth as if he was trying to avoid the bit. Silly horse, there is no bit with a hackamore.

The trainer decided to switch him back into his snaffle to finish the lesson. They finished the lesson with a few courses that LBR did very well.

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

The weather is going to be drastically different tomorrow - supposed to be 30 degrees colder.

November 23, 2010

Cindy is enjoying her vacation days this week. She and Gary headed over to ride LBR around 2:30 p.m. It was very warm today - 87F degrees. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack and grooming supplies. The stables were quiet - no other riders. They groomed and tacked LBR up and then Cindy rode him in the sand arena. LBR was very good - just a bit distracted by the feed being staged for the night. It's been a while since videos and pictures have been posted so here are some from today.





After the ride, they rinsed LBR off and took him back to his paddock where dinner was waiting.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

November 23, 2010


Denali, you are my far away girlfriend. I will miss you and carry on as an OTTB lucky like you to have had a second chance.

Cindy, Gary & LBR



Denali's Blog

November 22, 2010

Cindy is on vacation this week...WOO HOO!

Gary and Cindy headed over to visit LBR around 2:00 p.m. It's unusually warm in Central Texas (84F degrees) so they decided to give LBR a good shampoo bath.

LBR seemed to enjoy it and really enjoyed grazing in the common area afterwards.

November 21, 2010

Day 2 at the show. Gary & Cindy asked one of the riders at the stables if she wanted to ride LBR in an "Under Saddle" class. She did!

She has never ridden LBR so she schooled him in 2nd warm arena. They had a great ride and she handled him so well. He was a bit excited but in comparison to others he was a very cool horse.

The class the rode in was "Green Hunter" and there were 22 entries. Because it was being held in the small warm up ring, it was split into 2 groups. This was still too many large horses in a small arena. One horse in each group was excused because they couldn't handle it. However....LBR was not one of them.

He stayed really calm going counter-clockwise and looked beautiful. When they changed directions, he got in a crowd and was a little excited. He missed his right lead on the first try, but got it on the second try.

Gary & Cindy were so proud!!!

After resting for a bit, Gary & Cindy loaded up LBR and his stablemate and Gary hauled them back to the stables (about 15 minute drive).

Way to go LBR!!!!!

November 20, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed over to the show around 8:00 a.m. LBR had finished his breakfast and was calmly enjoying his hay.

After a while, Gary took LBR out for a morning lunge. LBR was very good - a bit excited, but walked, trotted and cantered both directions on queue.

LBR was returned back to his stall for a rest. He must not have slept much over night as he layed down and took a wonderful long nap.

In the late afternoon, Gary lunged him again and all went well. After dinner, when things had calmed down in the warm up ring, Cindy rode him....woo hoo! Huge hurdle for Cindy & LBR - this arena is small and has poles in the middle of it. Instead of getting tense, Cindy relaxed and rode with her "big girl panties" on.

A trainer cut through the arena in a golf cart and instead of pulling LBR up, Cindy just trotted right behind them.

After the ride, LBR got fresh hay in his stall and was very relaxed.

November 19, 2010

Gary headed over to groom LBR for a training ride. There is a show this weekend that LBR is going to for schooling.

Instead of riding at the stables, Gary and the trainer agreed that a training ride at the show grounds would be more productive.

Gary loaded LBR and a stablemate into the trailer and headed to the show grounds around 2:30 pm. There were 10 horses from our stables going so we hauled a friends gelding with LBR.

After unloading and setting up, Gary took LBR out for lunging. He was GREAT!

LBR got a breif break before the trainer tacked up. She schooled another rider while on LBR and once they had finished, she worked LBR. It was a hectic Friday night in Austin and though he was a bit excited by the sirens, horns and traffic sounds near the arena, he listened very well.

November 18, 2010

Gary lunged LBR in the sand arena. They had a great workout.

November 17, 2010

The trainer put a training ride on LBR today. She started with lunging first and then worked him at the W/T/C. This was her first ride on him in over 6 weeks and though a bit forward, he did well.

November 16, 2010

Today is LBR's day off. No visit.

November 15, 2010

Gary headed over to the stables and lunged LBR in the sand arena. They did w/t/c and lunging over jumps. LBR was very good.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010

November 14, 2010

Gary and Cindy headed over to the stables around noon. Gary brought LBR up from the paddock while Cindy staged the tack and grooming supplies.

Cindy rode LBR first in the sand arena. They had a good ride with well paced flat work and nice jumps over several courses.

Gary rode LBR next and they had a blast. Gary is fearless on LBR and riding better each time. They did flat work and a few courses with cantering away and around the arena.

After the ride, Gary & Cindy groomed LBR before taking him back to his paddock for treats and rubs.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

November 13, 2010

Yeah....it's Saturday. A wicked cold front came through last night. Cindy & Gary waited for it to warm up a bit before heading over to the stables around 12:30 p.m.

There were lessons going on when they arrived.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack and grooming supplies and visited with other boarders.

Considering that the wind was blowing out of the NW at about 25 mph, LBR led up quietly.

They groomed and tacked LBR and Cindy started off with LBR in the sand arena. LBR was very good. He had a lot of energy, but listened nicely. After riding for about 30 minutes on the flat, Cindy handed LBR over to Gary for their ride.

Gary started with flat work and then trotted LBR over several crossrails and low jumps. LBR was perfect - no rushing to or away from the jumps.

Gary ended with jumping the "rolly-polly" and cantering away and through a perfect half-arena circle. This was their first time to take this jump and it was very impressive.

After the ride, Gary & Cindy groomed LBR. They both walked him back to his paddock and let him graze for a bit before giving him treats in his paddock.

November 12, 2010

LBR had a lunging lesson today with the trainer. Gary headed over mid-morning to bring LBR up from his paddock and groom him before the lesson.

The lesson started with lunging with side reins in the sand arena. LBR was great. The trainer then took off the side reins and lunged LBR over progressively higher jumps. They worked each jump first at the trot before cantering over.

Although in good shape for riding on the flat, LBR was tired by the end of the jumping lesson.

Gary rinsed LBR off and then took him back to his paddock for treats.

November 11, 2010

Gary headed over to visit LBR in the morning while Cindy was at work. He lunged him the sand arena and worked with LBR loading/unloading from the trailer.

They had a great session.

It's now dark by the time Cindy leaves work so they're avoiding riding Tuesday and Thursday nights because there are lessons until 8:00 p.m. in the lighted arena.

Friday, November 12, 2010

November 10, 2010

Gary headed over to the stables around 5:00 p.m. and Cindy met him there after work. Cindy was scheduled to have a private lesson at 6:30 p.m. so Gary went over to groom/tack/lunge LBR beforehand.

LBR lunged nicely and was very calm. The lesson before Cindy's was running late so she just walked/trotted LBR in the arena while the other lesson was finishing.

LBR started nicely in his lesson....until someone in the nearby round-pen cracked a whip. It's dark at this point and Cindy and LBR were in the well lit arena. However, the lunge pen isn't lit and is not visible when you're in the arena.

This set LBR off and he became super forward and non-focused. The trainer thought that some lunging might settle him down so she lunged LBR. He was super frisky...squealing in one corner when he was cantering, not listening, etc...

Eventually, the trainer admitted that though he was tired, there was no getting his 100% focus.

Cindy got back on and the lesson continued. LBR was much better. The walk/trot flat work went well and LBR was a dream over the ground poles. They ended the lesson on a good note.

After the ride, Gary rinsed off LRB's saddle area before taking him back to his paddock for treats.

November 9, 2010

Gary headed over to the stables in the morning. Today is farrier day and LBR got his feet trimmed and front shoes reset. His hooves are growing much slower in the cooler weather so it had been 7 weeks since his last trim.

After the shoeing, Gary worked with LBR on loading/unloading from the new trailer. They loaded/unloaded about six times. Gary slid the divider to the side and let LBR turn and walk out of the trailer forward. LBR does much better that way instead of backing out.

After the trailer schooling session, Gary let LBR graze for a while before putting him back in his paddock.

Cindy didn't go ride/visit after work today.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

November 8, 2010

LBR had the day off today after yesterday's long field trip.

Monday, November 8, 2010

November 7, 2010

Others from the stables riding in the eventing area



Cindy Riding LBR at Pine Hills


Today was a big day.

Ten (10) horses/riders from the stables took horses on a field trip and LBR and Cindy/Gary went.

We all headed out to http://www.pinehilltexas.com/ at 9:30 a.m. We pulled our new trailer with LBR and Libby in it. It was a two(2) hour uneventful trip.

Once at Pine Hills, everyone unloaded and put their horses in stalls. LBR had to pee so badly that he barely made it into his stall before relieving himself. Within few minutes he started snarfing and sniffing the shavings and his legs went week and he was rolling in his stall. Silly Boy!!!!

We all tacked up and unfortunately LBR was too excited to go out and ride the course. Instead, Gary and Cindy led him around the grounds and over some logs/small jumps for about an hour. Gary also took him into the main arena. LBR had many admirers...he's so handsome, he's so pretty, he's in such great shape....

After the main arena walking, Cindy rode LBR in the lower arena. He was very anxious, but did well.

They headed back to the stables around 3:30 p.m. (LBR didn't want to leave and was a bit of a brat about getting back into the trailer - but he did).

The trip back was uneventful. Gary unloaded LBR and Libby while Cindy put up all the tack/grooming supplies.

November 6, 2010

Gary was busy today so Cindy headed over to the stables around 11:30 a.m. alone to ride LBR.

She staged the tack and then brought LBR up from his paddock. It's been a long time since she's done this and she was pleasantly suprised at how quiet he was.

Cindy groomed and tacked LBR and headed to the sand arena to mount. There were lessons today so after circling the arena once, they headed down to the grass arena.

LBR was a dream today...nice smooth trot, easy canter and lots of yielding, flexing. They trotted ground poles and jumped the logs.

After the ride, Cindy groomed LBR and then let him graze for a while in the common area.

Today's weather was PERFECT and Cindy wished she could have spent the entire day with LBR. However, they're going a road trip tomorrow so she had to leave to clean up the truck.

November 5, 2010

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

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack.

Cindy rode LBR in the sand arena. There were no other riders out tonight. It was a clear cold night in Central Texas with all of the creatures in the area riled up. There were coyate's howling and yelping in the distance, owls hooting and horses in their paddocks whinnying and galloping.

Cindy's ears were on overload but LBR was unphased.

They walk/trotted/cantered and worked on pace tonight. It was great ride.

After the ride, Gary returned LBR to his paddock for treats in the cold darkness
45F degrees.

Friday, November 5, 2010

November 4, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed to the stables with the trailer in tow. Since buying it, Gary has gotten the bearings serviced/greased; had the electrical plug changed to match the truck; and added some padding to the escape doors.

LBR recognizes our Tahoe from his paddock when we pull into the stables each visit and tonight he was puzzled by the trailer in tow. The look on his face was priceless: "Am I going somewhere?" "Whinny, whinny, whinny - do they have a new friend in there?".

Gary & Cindy parked the trailer where other boarder's trailers are before the visit with LBR.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock and he had done a pretty good job of rolling in the mud. After grooming, Cindy rode LBR in the sand arena (it is dark now by the time they ride).

There were lessons going on and it was pretty hectic. Also, it was about 50F degrees. LBR was pretty forward, but Cindy still enjoyed the ride (walk/trot only).

After the ride, Cindy & Gary groomed LBR before Gary returned him to his paddock for treats.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

November 3, 2010

No ride/visit for LBR tonight as it rained most of the day, the wind is blowing out of the north with gusts to 35 mph and it's 50F degrees.

Big day for horse equipment today....purchased a trailer.

November 2, 2010

Today is LBR's day off. Gary went to the stables to bring LBR up for the farrier. However, the farrier agreed that LBR's feet looked good and that he could go at least another week.

November 1, 2010

This is what LBR looks like when a cold front is on it's way:




Gary and Cindy headed over to the stables when Cindy came home from work. It was very warm (85F degrees) and muggy in advance of a cold front that was supposed to arrive overnight.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock and they tacked up.

LBR was a bit distracted and forward tonight when Cindy rode. She "faked it" though and rode calmly and never got frustrated.

They did a lot of trotting, some cantering and ground pole work. LBR wanted to jump so badly but he was too "rushy".

After the ride, Cindy groomed LBR before Gary took him back to his paddock for treats.