We received a some light rain/sprinkles today so did not have expectations of roundpen work when we headed to the stables. LBR had done another "fine" job of rolling - adding to the mud we were unable/willing to get off last night.
The paddock is not too bad, but still moist enough that we opted not to wash him. He greeted us at the gate tonight (I forgot to mention that this good returned yesterday).
We curried some of the mud off briefly and headed to the stables and grooming stalls for more cleaning. LBR did really well in a very active barn. The dogs (all 5-6 of them) were in the stable competing for human attention and there were 4 other horses being groomed inside as well.
We got the worst of the mud off, cleaned hooves and chilled out in the grooming rack. After about an hour of this we decided to head back to the paddock.
LBR initially led out of the barn well, but "froze" and wouldn't move forward. We could sense the tension, but didn't know why.
We found out in about 15 seconds.....one of the borders turned her overly excited horse out to graze and the horse decided that running through the pathways and driveways at a full run (not canter or lope) was a good thing.
We calmed LBR down with pats and encouragement and he moved forward. Whenever the excited horse would make another run around the property (55 acres), we would stop as he neared and let LBR watch.
We ended the night with a little grazing in the common area, led LBR in the paddock (had to put the nose rope on as after all the excitement and he responded nicely).
We ended with alfalfa cube treats and some scratching/rubbing.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
April 28, 2009
We headed over to the stables not knowing what to expect (other than a filthy LBR). The paddock was not as muddy as we expected so we haltered LBR and led him out. His far side was coated in a great layer of mud and his near side was shiny clean...does he have a split personality?
We cleaned his hooves and decided to go back to some work with leading. He really wanted to graze, but eventually gave in and led/whoa'd very nicely. He's starting to pick up on the non-verbal queues and if you think about stopping, he stops on a dime.
We led him over some low jumps in the practice arena and worked on the rail at getting parallel stops.
After about an hour in total (grooming and ground manners), we returned him to his paddock and gave him some treats.
Rain is expected for the next few days so we may be doing lead work this week.
We cleaned his hooves and decided to go back to some work with leading. He really wanted to graze, but eventually gave in and led/whoa'd very nicely. He's starting to pick up on the non-verbal queues and if you think about stopping, he stops on a dime.
We led him over some low jumps in the practice arena and worked on the rail at getting parallel stops.
After about an hour in total (grooming and ground manners), we returned him to his paddock and gave him some treats.
Rain is expected for the next few days so we may be doing lead work this week.
Monday, April 27, 2009
April 27, 2009
Over 2" of rain today in Manor, TX. We know we need to work with LBR every day, but still appreciate the rain.
We'll try tomorrow as the front seems to have passed with drier air behind.
We may get our first full bath tomorrow depending on how dry the paddock is:-)
We'll try tomorrow as the front seems to have passed with drier air behind.
We may get our first full bath tomorrow depending on how dry the paddock is:-)
April 26, 2009
This post is a day later.....
We headed over to the stables around 4:30 with a neighbor in tow knowing that LBR was going to be enjoying dinner.
Our neighbor was gracious in visiting the unknown stables and complemented LBR on his pretty face (poor guy - no wonder he's such the narcissist).
Winds were blowing about 30 mph and LBR was a bit upset about the missing horses (see previous posts about the show).
LBR worked well - but again preferred his "off side" of clockwise. He focused nicely when ground poles were added to his round pen work. We worked nicely at the walk/trot/canter.
We're anxious for his sore teeth to heal so we can introduce a bit to the daily workout....he needs a challenge.
We ended with grooming in the noisy barn and LBR did well...led back to the paddock, enjoyed water and a couple of alfalfa treats.
We headed over to the stables around 4:30 with a neighbor in tow knowing that LBR was going to be enjoying dinner.
Our neighbor was gracious in visiting the unknown stables and complemented LBR on his pretty face (poor guy - no wonder he's such the narcissist).
Winds were blowing about 30 mph and LBR was a bit upset about the missing horses (see previous posts about the show).
LBR worked well - but again preferred his "off side" of clockwise. He focused nicely when ground poles were added to his round pen work. We worked nicely at the walk/trot/canter.
We're anxious for his sore teeth to heal so we can introduce a bit to the daily workout....he needs a challenge.
We ended with grooming in the noisy barn and LBR did well...led back to the paddock, enjoyed water and a couple of alfalfa treats.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
April 25, 2009
Today, there was a local show where many of LBR's stablemates were competing. We went over mid-day and cheered them on.
After a quick lunch at our favorite BBQ spot, we headed to the stables. LBR had a pleasant surprise for us. He met us at the gate for the first time in more than a week.
We proceeded to the round-pen for quick grooming and started our ground work. The winds today were "gail force" and LBR seemed a bit distracted. We started in the clockwise (unfavored) position and he actually moved out very well at the walk/trot. We switched to the left and he still seemed to be distracted by the wind.
We decided to "challenge" him with something to get his attention.....we put down ground rails. He responded exactly as we wanted - very focused horse. We trotted for a while and he was totally focused and on the rail.
We removed the rails and he cantered BEAUTIFULLY. This is the first time he's cantered without getting the "gelding noise" . He transitioned nicely between all gaits.
We headed to the main barn for grooming and Gary led him a bit in the jump arena. LBR stepped over several low jumps/rails, but actually jumped over the one that had flowers attached.
We attempted the shower/bath stall but due to the wind, missing horses (at the show) and loud behavior of the remaining horses, we settled with grooming in the grooming racks.
LBR had his teeth floated this week so we stayed for his feeding. His teeth soreness seems to be subsiding and he ate his food w/out dropping too much.
Tomorrow, we're planning on a bath outside.
After a quick lunch at our favorite BBQ spot, we headed to the stables. LBR had a pleasant surprise for us. He met us at the gate for the first time in more than a week.
We proceeded to the round-pen for quick grooming and started our ground work. The winds today were "gail force" and LBR seemed a bit distracted. We started in the clockwise (unfavored) position and he actually moved out very well at the walk/trot. We switched to the left and he still seemed to be distracted by the wind.
We decided to "challenge" him with something to get his attention.....we put down ground rails. He responded exactly as we wanted - very focused horse. We trotted for a while and he was totally focused and on the rail.
We removed the rails and he cantered BEAUTIFULLY. This is the first time he's cantered without getting the "gelding noise" . He transitioned nicely between all gaits.
We headed to the main barn for grooming and Gary led him a bit in the jump arena. LBR stepped over several low jumps/rails, but actually jumped over the one that had flowers attached.
We attempted the shower/bath stall but due to the wind, missing horses (at the show) and loud behavior of the remaining horses, we settled with grooming in the grooming racks.
LBR had his teeth floated this week so we stayed for his feeding. His teeth soreness seems to be subsiding and he ate his food w/out dropping too much.
Tomorrow, we're planning on a bath outside.
Friday, April 24, 2009
April 24, 2009
Tonight the weather was a bit questionable for heading to the barn, but because it was early (by about 30 minutes) we headed over.
We haltered LBR in a light mist (he had not realized and had not rolled) and he stood nicely for "basic" grooming of hoof cleaning and brushing.
We headed to the roundpen. We started in the clockwise (bad) direction at the lead with a lot of whoa's and he responded well despite the sprinkles on his back.
We trotted for a short bit in this direction and as the sprinkles turned to rain LBR didn't seem to be fazed (other than skin flinches when the big drops hit). We considered this a huge accomplishment and decided to put LBR back in his paddock with treats.
We're look forward to tomorrow...it's Saturday!!!!
We haltered LBR in a light mist (he had not realized and had not rolled) and he stood nicely for "basic" grooming of hoof cleaning and brushing.
We headed to the roundpen. We started in the clockwise (bad) direction at the lead with a lot of whoa's and he responded well despite the sprinkles on his back.
We trotted for a short bit in this direction and as the sprinkles turned to rain LBR didn't seem to be fazed (other than skin flinches when the big drops hit). We considered this a huge accomplishment and decided to put LBR back in his paddock with treats.
We're look forward to tomorrow...it's Saturday!!!!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
April 23, 2009
Tonight we got a late start to the stables as a neighbor stopped by as we were leaving to let us know they had killed a 3' rattlesnake on their back porch (6 rattlers).
Gary led from mid-paddock and we skipped any grazing and groomed before heading to the roundpen.
LBR was very well behaved. Gary worked him clockwise (bad) way first at the walk for a long while, trot for a bit and a brief cross-canter. Gary then changed his direction to counterclockwise (favored) and LBR walked/trotted/cantered perfectly with only vocal (word) commands.
LBR really seems to understand what we're asking from him. After about 30 minutes in the roundpen, we headed to the main barn for a thorough grooming. We brushed, combed, cleaned feet, and salved chaffed area on pasterns.
In all our posts we have failed to comment about what we've learned from LBR. Yesterday we realized we've learned something from him. Horses hooves MUST be picked up in proper order...according to LBR who we now realize has a bit of OCD. It's front left, back left, front right, back right....and he'll pick the next one up as soon as you put the previous one down. Do it in different order and you get a horse that leans on you or tries to sit down.
Pick your battle, regardless if we need to do anything to the back hooves, we're sticking to this routine.
Leading back to the paddock was uneventful and we said our good nights around 8:30 p.m.
Gary led from mid-paddock and we skipped any grazing and groomed before heading to the roundpen.
LBR was very well behaved. Gary worked him clockwise (bad) way first at the walk for a long while, trot for a bit and a brief cross-canter. Gary then changed his direction to counterclockwise (favored) and LBR walked/trotted/cantered perfectly with only vocal (word) commands.
LBR really seems to understand what we're asking from him. After about 30 minutes in the roundpen, we headed to the main barn for a thorough grooming. We brushed, combed, cleaned feet, and salved chaffed area on pasterns.
In all our posts we have failed to comment about what we've learned from LBR. Yesterday we realized we've learned something from him. Horses hooves MUST be picked up in proper order...according to LBR who we now realize has a bit of OCD. It's front left, back left, front right, back right....and he'll pick the next one up as soon as you put the previous one down. Do it in different order and you get a horse that leans on you or tries to sit down.
Pick your battle, regardless if we need to do anything to the back hooves, we're sticking to this routine.
Leading back to the paddock was uneventful and we said our good nights around 8:30 p.m.
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