Monday, June 8, 2009
June 6, 2009
We took the day off today and just chilled out watching NCAA baseball. Air conditioing is a wonderful thing....it was 98 degress today.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 5, 2009
Tonight we skipped the roundpen work and tacked up and headed to the main arean. LBR was VERY distracted tonight as his paddock mate has been moved and many other horses had been moved to different paddocks as well.
We started with the ground head/bit flex work and some ground turn on the haunches.
Cindy then rode him. Although he was very aloof, he did his whoa's well, but did not focus/listen well overall. Cindy decided to stay at the walk tonight due to LBR's lack of concentration. He didn't back well on the first try, but did for subsequent attempts.
Gary rode for a bit and experienced LBR's aloofness too....particularly at the far end of the arena (he got "bounced" for a couple of steps). We finished in the arean with some more ground flex work. LBR does the flex work much better at the end of his lessons - we must be consistent and patient:-)
We detacked and then led w/out any hesitation in/out of the wash rack two (2) times.
We walked back to/through the paddock and because he no longer has a roommate, we placed alfalfa treats on his big round bale of hay. He "discovered" them very quickly. However, when picking/eating one, he got some bermuda hay in the bite and was not happy. He spit out all of the half-eaten cubes in his mouth. It's not that his bermuda hay is bad (he eats it all the time). He just didn't expect/like the combination of the two.
That reminds me...have I mentioned that LBR doesn't like sugar cubes and he bites carrots and spits them out. The only treat he will eat is alfalfa cubes - not only is Gary a food-princess, LBR is too.
We started with the ground head/bit flex work and some ground turn on the haunches.
Cindy then rode him. Although he was very aloof, he did his whoa's well, but did not focus/listen well overall. Cindy decided to stay at the walk tonight due to LBR's lack of concentration. He didn't back well on the first try, but did for subsequent attempts.
Gary rode for a bit and experienced LBR's aloofness too....particularly at the far end of the arena (he got "bounced" for a couple of steps). We finished in the arean with some more ground flex work. LBR does the flex work much better at the end of his lessons - we must be consistent and patient:-)
We detacked and then led w/out any hesitation in/out of the wash rack two (2) times.
We walked back to/through the paddock and because he no longer has a roommate, we placed alfalfa treats on his big round bale of hay. He "discovered" them very quickly. However, when picking/eating one, he got some bermuda hay in the bite and was not happy. He spit out all of the half-eaten cubes in his mouth. It's not that his bermuda hay is bad (he eats it all the time). He just didn't expect/like the combination of the two.
That reminds me...have I mentioned that LBR doesn't like sugar cubes and he bites carrots and spits them out. The only treat he will eat is alfalfa cubes - not only is Gary a food-princess, LBR is too.
June 4, 2009
We headed to the stables excited to try our new techniques. Because it is a lesson night for the group lessons, we would have to work in the roundpen.
We saddled up LBR and started with the "head down" exercise. LBR was resistant at first but he dropped his head a few times from each side so we moved on and Cindy rode first.
LBR was very focused and ignored grazing horses and commotion nearby the roundpen. He was a bit "stubborn" when asked to back the first time, but did it well on subsequent requests.
Gary rode for a bit and described it as his best ride ever:-)
We ended with de-tacking and leading into the wash rack (the trainer cured his fear of this yesterday after the lesson too).
We saddled up LBR and started with the "head down" exercise. LBR was resistant at first but he dropped his head a few times from each side so we moved on and Cindy rode first.
LBR was very focused and ignored grazing horses and commotion nearby the roundpen. He was a bit "stubborn" when asked to back the first time, but did it well on subsequent requests.
Gary rode for a bit and described it as his best ride ever:-)
We ended with de-tacking and leading into the wash rack (the trainer cured his fear of this yesterday after the lesson too).
June 3, 2009
Tonight the trainer at the stables rode LBR. She taught us some ground training flexing techniques that will help LBR become softer on the bit.
Standing next to him, she pulled down on one rain and said "head down"...it took him about 5 minutes to flex/relax when she first started. She also had him turn on his haunches (crossing over front legs) from the ground. She worked both directions with these exercises before mounting.
She then rode LBR in the main arena. She did some walk trot and a lot of whoa's. She recommended a few things: 1) More work on the whoa's with heavy seat queues (like bracing for a stop at the canter) 2) Turning on the haunches (even if it's just one step). 3) Backing - new concept for LBR under saddle and 3) Flexion work from both the ground and saddle. 4) Be consistent and keep his focus (he's easily distracted).
We have plenty to work on for a few weeks:-)
Standing next to him, she pulled down on one rain and said "head down"...it took him about 5 minutes to flex/relax when she first started. She also had him turn on his haunches (crossing over front legs) from the ground. She worked both directions with these exercises before mounting.
She then rode LBR in the main arena. She did some walk trot and a lot of whoa's. She recommended a few things: 1) More work on the whoa's with heavy seat queues (like bracing for a stop at the canter) 2) Turning on the haunches (even if it's just one step). 3) Backing - new concept for LBR under saddle and 3) Flexion work from both the ground and saddle. 4) Be consistent and keep his focus (he's easily distracted).
We have plenty to work on for a few weeks:-)
June 2, 2009
Tonight we rode in the roundpen and LBR was a better than the previous night. We concentrated on more figure-eights and stops.
Tomorrow is the big night....trainer will be riding LBR in order to evaluate him and provide us with some tips-for-training.
Tomorrow is the big night....trainer will be riding LBR in order to evaluate him and provide us with some tips-for-training.
June 1, 2009
We were hoping for an inactive stables but there were many boarders riding in the main arena. It had been almost a week since our last ride (we've been doing ground work) so we tacked up and headed to the roundpen.
LBR was unsure of what Cindy was asking him to do (stop, walk, trot) but eventually seemed to get it (though not as well as previous rides).
Gary rode for a bit and LBR "bounced" him for the first time (aka trot).
We led back to the grooming stall, de-tacked and back to the paddock for some treats.
LBR was unsure of what Cindy was asking him to do (stop, walk, trot) but eventually seemed to get it (though not as well as previous rides).
Gary rode for a bit and LBR "bounced" him for the first time (aka trot).
We led back to the grooming stall, de-tacked and back to the paddock for some treats.
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