Wednesday, December 29, 2010

December 28, 2010

Today is LBR's day off and the farrier came too. LBR got new shoes (it's been 7 weeks again as opposed to his regular 6 week schedule in the summer).

He stood patiently for the farrier.

December 27, 2010

LBR had a training ride today. Cindy headed back to work and Gary headed to the stables around 10:00 a.m.

LBR was very quiet in the grooming stalls and continued in a mellow mood for his training ride. The trainer worked on flat work today and transitions.

Video to be posted this weekend.

They had a 'GREAT' training ride according to the trainer. After the ride, Gary groomed LBR before taking him back to his paddock and giving him treats.

Monday, December 27, 2010

December 26, 2010

Cindy and Gary headed to the stables to check LBR at 8:00 a.m. He was enjoying his chops and alfalfa in his stall. They stayed and visited with the caretaker for a while and then headed home for breakfast.

They returned to the stables to groom and hand graze LBR for a while in the afternoon. LBR even got a bran mash from another concerned boarder at the stables.

He was absolutely STARVING as he had only been given a half ration of chops in the morning. As Gary led him around the paddock, he stopped at every bucket to eat up any stray pellets he could (he wasn't allowed to eat more than a handful in total).

Gary and Cindy fed him a few treats after returning him to his paddock.

Okay LBR....that was a lot of drama for Christmas!!!!

December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!!

Gary & Cindy headed up to North Texas early this morning to visit family. The plan was to spend the night.

Unfortunately, they received a call around 7:00 p.m. from the stables that LBR was not eating his dinner chops or alfalfa. The caretaker brought him up from his paddock so she could check on him through the night.

Being the worried horse owners that they are, Gary and Cindy decided to drive back that evening. They got home around 12:30 a.m. and headed over to the stables.

LBR was happy to seen them and seemed fine. They gave him a single peice of an alfalfa cube and he ate it and drooled. They left the stables at 1:00 a.m. with a relieved feeling and exhausted.

December 24, 2010

Cindy being serious



Cindy having fun



Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables around noon.

Cindy rode LBR first in the sand arena. It was very hectic at the stables with 3 other riders in the arena, one of this years foals watching from outside of the arena and two (2) horses going crazy and bucking in their paddock next to the arena.

LBR was distracted, but not to the point of being totally unfocused.

After Cindy rode, Gary rode LBR at the walk, trot and canter and trotted over some crossrails.

December 23, 2010

Cindy & Gary headed over to visit LBR in mid-morning. The winter time in Central Texas is odd. Today it was nearly 70 degrees.

Cindy had a great ride on the flat with LBR at the walk trot and canter in the sand arena. LBR is starting to flex and carry the bit and rounding out nicely.

Gary rode for a bit after Cindy rode.

After the ride, they returned LBR to his paddock.

December 22, 2010

The trainer rode LBR today. He started off frisky and they had to lunge for a few minutes to get the bucks/squeels out.

She then had an excellent ride on him including jumping several courses.

December 21, 2010

Today was LBR's day off. Ah...he must love Tuesdays.

December 20, 2010

The trainer rode LBR today. He was responsive and quiet. After the ride, Gary groomed LBR and let LBR graze in the common area.

Monday, December 20, 2010

December 19, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables around 11:00 a.m. They took clothes softener/drier sheets to eliminated the static clean. It worked!!!!

There were lessons in the sand arena so after tacking Cindy mounted LBR in the sand arena, circled once and then headed to the grass arena.

LBR was so good today. He lowered his head, softened his jaw and carried himself beautifully. There were two (2) other horses being ridden and a foal that had escaped his paddock in the arena. LBR was barely phased.

Gary rode after Cindy was done and he and LBR had their best canter ever.

After the ride, LBR fell asleep in the grooming stall. He was so happy to not be electrocuted. They ended the visit with treats in his paddock.

December 18, 2010

Yay!!! It's Saturday. Gary & Cindy headed over in the afternoon to ride. Cindy rode LBR first in the sand arena and he was a bit anxious/excited.

Eventually he calmed down and she cantered him. Gary rode for a bit afterwards.

LBR absolutely hates static electricity shocks. This seems to be what made him so anxious today.

Decemebr 17, 2010

Gary headed over in the morning to ride LBR. They had a great ride at the walk, trot and canter.

December 16, 2010

LBR had the day off today.

December 15, 2010

In order to ride consistently with the trainer, Cindy headed over to the stables after work to watch her put a training ride on LBR. The goal at this point is to get LBR's jaw softer and his head in a flexed relax position.

He is georgous when he carries himself correctly.

December 14, 2010

Gary lunged LBR today in the sand arena. He was well collected and worked nicely over ground poles.

December 13, 2010

The trainer put a training ride on LBR. He was good.

December 12, 2010

Gary & Cindy both rode LBR today. There were lessons in the sand arena so they rode in the grass arena. LBR was very well behaved.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

December 11, 2010

Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables around 10:00. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack.

There were several other boarders getting ready to ride at the same time.

After grooming/tacking, Cindy took LBR to the sand arena for their ride. LBR was amazing today. There were 3 other horses being ridden in the arena. It was somewhat chaotic as a couple of the riders are challenged with understanding arena etiquette. LBR responded beautifully - staying focused on Cindy instead of the others. After doing walk/trot/canter work in the sand arena, Cindy decided she had enough of the chaos and they headed to the grass arena.

Cindy rode him there for a bit before handing him over to Gary for their ride. LBR responded just as well to Gary today. They strugled with getting the right lead but Gary stuck with it and they cantered beautifully.

After the arena work, Gary took LBR on a short trail ride to cool down. Cindy & Gary groomed LBR and took him back to his paddock.

In the afternoon, Gary & Cindy drove to Waco, TX (about 100 miles) to watch a horse show that a couple of stable mates were showing in. It was fun, but tiring as they didn't get home until late.

December 10, 2010

Cindy left work an hour early and met Gary at the stables. After grooming and tacking up, Cindy took LBR to the sand arena for their ride.

There were two(2) other riders at the stables working with their OTTB's.

LBR was a PERFECT horse tonight. He was focused on the ride eventhough horses were being brought in for the night and the other two OTTB's were frisky.

Cindy was so proud...a year ago, we had the crazy OTTB and now we have the sane, dependable horse. The ride started with sunlight and ended with riding the arena being lit. LBR was unphased by everything and did a beautiful collected trot and canter. WOO HOO!!

After the ride and grooming, Gary returned LBR to his paddock while Cindy put the tack and supplies away.

December 9, 2010

Gary headed over to the stables mid-morning. He lunged LBR on the flat and over fences.

They had a great session.

December 8, 2010

LBR had a training ride today. Gary headed over to groom and saddle LBR for the ride.

The trainer focused on riding LBR on the flat. She commented that we may have a breakthrough. LBR was on the bit, collected and responsive at all gaits.

Woo Hoo!

After the ride, Gary let LBR graze in the common area for a while before returning him to his paddock.

December 7, 2010

Today is Tuesday and it's LBR's day off. No visit or work.

Monday, December 6, 2010

December 6, 2010

From LBR "Eeck...I got a training ride and got wormed today. I wish Cindy didn't have to work."

Sunday, December 5, 2010

December 5, 2010

BURRRR

A cold front came through overnight dropping the temperature nearly 40F degrees.

Gary and Cindy waited until it got up to 50F degrees around noon to head over to visit LBR.

LBR was standing on the south side of his shelter but in the sun (using it as a windblock). Gary brought him up from his paddock for grooming and tacking up.

There were lessons today, so Cindy mounted in the sand arena and walked a lap around before riding LBR to the grass arena.

LBR was so good today. Much to Cindy's surprise, he was a bit lazy, but she was pleased with how quiet he was. They did walk/trot/canter and ground poles. Gary rode after Cindy and LBR was responsive but still a bit lazy.

Gary finished his ride with some work on flexing.

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

December 4, 2010

Woo Hoo...it's the weekend and warm. Gary & Cindy headed over to visit LBR around 11:00 a.m.

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

Cindy mounted him in the sand arena and started their workout. Unfortunately, the arena became crowded with some unruly horses and riders. Cindy decided to head to the grass arena.

They had a FABULOUS ride. It got so warm (80F degrees) that they both broke a sweat. This is a picture of them cantering:

Gary rode LBR for a bit in the grass arena before taking him for a brief trail ride to cool down.

After the ride, Gary rinsed LBR and then everyone headed down towards LBR's paddock for some grazing and more pictures:

December 3, 2010

Today was quite warm so Gary headed over to ride LBR in the morning. They had a great ride in the sand arena but skipped the trail ride as Gary was golfing in the afternoon.

December 2, 2010

Gary headed over again during the day and rode LBR in the sand arena and on a trail ride.

Oh to be semi-retired - only 15 more years of work for Cindy.

December 1, 2010

Gary visited LBR during the afternoon again today. They lunged, did flat and course work and then took a nice trail ride.

November 30, 2010

As the days at work are getting longer for Cindy and the night time temperatures are getting colder, Gary headed over to work with LBR during the day.

They lunged over jumps, rode in the sand arena (including cantering...woo hoo) and then ended with a trail ride.

November 29, 2010

Today LBR got a break from Gary & Cindy - time to rest after a long day at the show yesterday.