Monday, January 31, 2011

January 30, 2011

Today was a "light" day of riding for LBR. Gary rode another horse at the stables while Cindy rode LBR. They did light hacking in the sand and grass arenas before heading out on a long trail ride around the property.

They rode for nearly 2 hours, but it was very low key. The weather was absolutely beautiful - 82F degrees and sunny.

January 29, 2011

Cindy took a lesson on LBR today.

It started very well for all the riders in the lesson. They did walk/trot work with lots of time bending and counter bending. LBR rocked!

When it came time to canter, LBR led the way to the left. Over the ground poles at the trot and a perfect transition into his canter.

When they cantered to the right, LBR missed his lead so Cindy pulled him up. Another horse in the lesson went absolutely crazy behind LBR and bolted. The mare sped around the arena at a full out of control gallop. The rider hung on for about 5 laps before coming off. Fortunately, she only ended up with a small cut on her arm that required stitches. During all of this LBR was standing quietly in the arena, but when the mare ran out of the arena and across/around the farm, he started to get nervous.

Cindy dismounted and reassured him while he nuzzled her and nickered. After the mare was caught, the lesson resumed.

LBR was FABULOUS in his course work and seemed unphased by that incident. While waiting turns for their next pattern, another horse broke free from being lunged and ran all over the farm crazy. LBR just looked at him like he was crazy. He did two(2) more perfect courses.

After the lesson was over, Cindy rode LBR on a short trail ride before de-tacking and taking him to his paddock for treats.

Eventhough LBR took it all in stride, Cindy didn't like all the excitement (oh yeah - forgot to mention the fighting/barking dogs).

January 28, 2011

LBR had a training ride today. This was his third one this week. He was a little more forward than Wednesday's ride, but still did well.

January 27, 2011

Gary headed over in the late morning and rode LBR. They did walk, trot and canter work in the sand arena.

LBR was very good.

After the ride, they went on a trail ride around the property.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Januray 26, 2011

Great weather in Central Texas. No rain, lows in the 30F degrees and highs in the 60F degrees. LBR had a training ride and has now jumped all of the jumps in the arena.

January 25, 2011

Today was LBR's day off. No visit.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

January 26, 2011

Couldn't be more proud today...sorry for the technical challenges on Monday.


January 25, 2011

LBR had his day off today. WOO HOO - wonder what he did today?

January 24, 2011

LBR had a great lesson with the trainer. Because the video needed audio adjustments, it won't upload....see the 26th's post for video.

Monday, January 24, 2011

January 23, 2011



One Year Ago Today - adjusted by one day for day of week



Gary and Cindy headed over to the stables around 11:15 a.m. for Cindy's 12:30 p.m. lesson. The plan was to lunge LBR before the ride to get some of his energy out.

Gary headed down to the paddock while Cindy put out LBR's supplements (he's on maintenance level of weight builder) and staged the tack.

Gary returned to the sand arena after stopping short of LBR's paddock. One of the pregnant mares was down and foaling. It was sad...she wasn't due until April. The trainer stopped the current lesson and ran down to see what was going on. Unfortunately, the mare lost the foal but fortunately, she is going to be fine.

Gary was trying to lunge LBR in the grass arena while this was going on but LBR was curious about what was going on and didn't behave well. Eventually, he lunged well for about ten minutes so Gary brought him down to the stables for tacking up.

Because the lessons were delayed about 20 minutes, Gary warmed LBR up at the walk in the grass arena. Cindy started her ride about 10 minutes before the lesson.

LBR was a GREAT lesson horse today. Cindy's lesson ended up being a private lesson (at group lesson rates) because there was a no-show and a "heck no, you aren't going to ride me" attitude horse who was excused.

LBR's flat work was fabulous and Cindy is learning to do transitions with her seat (not her reins). The flat work was flawless (walk/trot/canter) except for a tight turn that was Cindy's fault. After the flat work, they did a few cross-rails - trotting in and mostly trotting out except for one very nice canter away.

The instructor/trainer was as proud of LBR as Gary and Cindy were today. There were major distractions between the mare and barking/howling dogs and LBR was unphased.

Cindy's legs were noodles after the lesson so Gary returned LBR to his paddock alone. Gary then lunged a friends horse and really seemed to enjoy working with her.

January 22, 2011



One Year Ago Today - adjusted by one day for day of week



Gary & Cindy loaded up the truck and headed over the the CAQHA show at the Travis County Expo center in the morning. They had a tack swap and Gary wanted to get feedback on his saddle stands.

He got some positive feedback, encouragement and marketing ideas.

They stayed there until mid-afternoon when they headed over to the stables. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the grooming supplies and tack.

LBR stood nicely for grooming and Cindy led him to the sand arena for their ride. LBR was a little stiff today and his mouth seemed to still be off from having his teeth floated. He tossed his head a bit but finally settled in nicely.

Cindy worked him at the walk, trot and canter on the flat. He missed his right lead the first time, but got it on the second attempt. His canter is such a joy to ride!!!

Gary then rode LBR at the walk and trot and took him over a few cross rails. They ended with a short trail ride. LBR got excited when a bunch of horses charged around/at him in their paddocks. Gary decided to dismount and work LBR with walking through the trailer ruts.

After the ride and grooming, Cindy and Gary returned LBR to his paddocks for treats.

Friday, January 21, 2011

January 21, 2011

Today, the vet came out for a day of teeth floating. It's something that makes Cindy nervous even though she knows it needs to be done.

Gary held LBR while the vet did the work. The vet suggested that LBR have his teeth done every 18 months. It had been 21 months since the last time and he had some very sharp edges in the back.

After LBR came out of sedation, Gary took him back to his paddock and into his shelter. Gary pulled hay from the big bale and put it in there with him. LBR was munching on it as Gary pulled out of the property.

A WICKED cold front came in today...dropped from 58F degrees at 8:00 a.m. to 37F degrees by 10:00 a.m. All of this while LBR was getting his teeth done.

January 19, 2011

Yay! The grass arena finally dried out enough for LBR to have a training ride.

He was an absolute dream today. He even picked up the canter from a walk!!

The trainer worked on simple lead changes as it was still a little slick from the rain.

After the ride, Gary groomed and gave LBR treats in his paddock.

January 18, 2011

Gary headed over to the stables in the early afternoon. LBR had done a great job of rolling in the mud.

Gary groomed him (nearly an hour) and tacked him up for a hack around the property. LBR was very well behaved considering he hadn't been ridden in a while. Things were still muddy so they just took a nice long walk around.

January 17, 2011

No visit to LBR due to the muddy conditions today.

January 16, 2011

The rain stopped late in the morning today. Gary & Cindy headed over to visit LBR in the late afternoon.

The stables were a muddy mess but LBR hadn't rolled yet in his paddock. They gave him treats (carrots and alfalfa cubes) and petted him over the gate.

After visiting with LBR, they walked around the stables and took pictures of most of the horses to post on Facebook as none of the other boarders had a chance to come out because of the horrible weather.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

January 15, 2011

No visit to see LBR today. We have horrible weather this weekend. 45F degrees and steady rain.

Here's a video from one of LBR's training rides about a week and a half ago. He does a course with the trainer including lead changes. Yay!!!!!

January 14, 2011

Gary headed over in the afternoon to ride LBR. The sand arena was dry enough to ride in. LBR and his neighbor "Sunny" were running, bucking and play fighting.

Gary started with lunging and LBR was distracted by a new horse being moved around on the property.

Gary started his ride and the new horse was moved to another paddock close to the arena. Due to the distracted nature of LBR's behavior, they worked at just the walk and trot in the arena. After a while, Gary got LBR's focus and they had a good ride. They took a trail ride afterwards and had a good time.

After de-tacking and grooming, Gary returned LBR to his paddock and gave him carrots.

January 13, 2011

Gary lunged and rode LBR in the grass arena today. It was cold (38F degrees) but they had a great ride. Gary did flat work (walk/trot/canter) and then they went on a trail ride around the property.

Gary groomed LBR after their ride and then gave him carrots in his paddock.

January 12, 2011

It's still too muddy to ride and very cold so there was no visit to LBR today.

January 11, 2011

Gary headed over in the cold to groom LBR while Cindy was at work. LBR had done a wonderful job of rolling in the mud and was covered from head to tail. It took Gary about an hour to get all the mud off.

Gary returned LBR to his paddock for treats.

January 10, 2011

It was a cold dreary day today and due to the rain yesterday there was no visit to LBR.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

January 9, 2011

It rained nearly 2" overnight and the temperature stayed in the low 40F degrees today.

Gary and Cindy headed over to visit LBR and put out his supplements for the week in the late afternoon.

Amazing...LBR had not taken a roll in the mud (maybe he realized it was cold)

January 8, 2011

Cindy and Gary headed over to the stables around noon. It has been a nice winter so far in Central Texas but rain and cold weather are predicted starting tomorrow.

Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged the tack. After grooming and tacking up, Cindy took LBR to the sand arena for his ride. There were already 2 others in the arena as Cindy mounted.

LBR was very calm with all of the others in the arena and didn't even notice when a fourth horse entered. Cindy worked him at the walk, trot and breif canter (due to the hectic nature of the group). She rode him over cross rails and low jumps at the trot and LBR was FABULOUS. After Cindy finished riding, Gary rode for a short ride including cantering and cross rails.

There is another horse at the stables that is for sale and Cindy rode her after riding LBR. She is a 13 year old thoroughbred who is a very experienced show horse (local and class 'A'). She's swaybacked, but has no lameness issues.

Cindy rode her and had the hardest time getting her to go. Gary had ridden her earlier in the week and said it was easy....not today. Eventually Gary got one good lap or two out of her before she shut down again - only wanting to walk.

Cindy wasn't going to let her end on getting her way so she went and got a crop and got back on. Two taps on the shoulder and the mare was WONDERFUL (her barn name rhymes with witch, but doesn't start with a "B"). Cindy cantered her both directions, did flying lead changes and really had fun. Cindy didn't jump but plans on taking a lesson on her soon.

Friday, January 7, 2011

January 7, 2011

The trainer put a training ride on LBR today. After perfect flat work (head down, no pulling on the bit, even paced), they worked on cantering jump courses.

LBR got a little "rushy" but eventually settled.

The past month has been a breakthrough period for LBR.

January 6, 2011

Gary rode LBR today. They did flat work and some trotting over cross rails. After the arena work, Gary took him on a trail ride. LBR is still unsure about the tractor tire ruts so they worked on that for a bit.

January 5, 2011

The trainer put a training ride on LBR today. He was AMAZING!

His flat work was consistent and he cantered jump courses including lead changes.

Video coming.....I promise.

After the arena ride, the trainer took him on a trail ride - he didn't like the tractor tire ruts so she worked with him on that.

January 4, 2011

Gary headed to the stables late in the morning. He lunged LBR over ground poles before riding him in the sand arena. They did walk, trot, canter work and had a great ride.

January 3, 2011

LBR had his day off early this week - it's Monday and he has been ridden 5 days in a row and did so well in his lesson yesterday that the trainer recommended giving him a day off early.

January 2, 2011

Cindy took a lesson on LBR today and he was FABULOUS!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!

January 1, 2011

Gary and Cindy headed over to the stables in the early afternoon. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy staged everything as usual.

Cindy rode LBR in the sand arena. LBR worked great at the walk, trot and canter. He got his correct leads every time.

After Cindy rode, Gary rode LBR at the walk and trot for a bit and even cantered him up the side of the arena on his left lead a couple of times.

They ended with grooming and treats in his paddock.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

December 31, 2010

Gary and Cindy headed to the stables around 1:00 p.m.

Gary brought up LBR from his paddock and groomed and tacked him up. Cindy had a great ride doing flat work at the walk/trot/canter.

Gary then rode LBR....he's now in the club. LBR crow hopped at the canter and Gary came off. He wasn't injured, got back on and rode a for a bit. Gary's comment "It was like falling off a two story building. I want a pony".

What a year it has been for all of us.

December 30, 2010

Cindy had a half-day holiday today and headed over to the stables alone as Gary was golfing.

After staging the tack and grooming supply, she brought LBR up from his paddock. He nickered to her as she approached his paddock...too sweet.

They had a great ride doing flat work at the walk, trot and canter.

It was abnormally warm today - 80F degrees and LBR and Cindy both worked up a sweat. Cindy took her time today and really enjoyed the simple parts of the day with LBR today - taking time to groom, massage and enjoy LBR after their ride.

She returned him to his paddock and gave him carrots.

December 29, 2010

The trainer put a training ride on LBR today. It went very well though LBR tried to be distracted by another horse being schooled in the arena.

She did figure eights at the canter with simple lead changes and LBR had a blast. After a couple of times, he anticipated the pattern and worked well.