Monday, April 12, 2010
April 11, 2010
Argh...allergies. Cindy missed her lesson, but they took LBR's supplements over for the next week after staying inside all day.
LBR trotted up from the end of the paddock for treats and kisses....oh so sweet.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
April 10, 2010
Cindy and Gary headed out in the morning to watch a local schooling show. The stable owner/LBR's trainer was showing a couple of her horses. They stayed there for a couple of hours before heading over to see LBR. They stopped on the way to the stables at a local taco-shack and enjoyed delicious barbacoa tacos with fresh pico de gallo. After the lunch break, they also stopped in at the nearby tack shop that is closing and got some great bargains (50% off everything). LBR is now well stocked with fresh white saddle pads (2) and Gary and Cindy have new stirrup pads.
When they arrived at the stables, there were a few people wrapping up their mid-day rides.
Gary brought LBR up from his paddock, groomed him and put his saddle on. Gary took LBR to the grass arena for a breif lunging session in his halter. LBR was mellow again. While Gary was lunging, Cindy another boarder if she wanted to ride LBR and she did.
She mounted LBR and he was a BAD BOY....walked out of the arena. She is an excellent rider, but has never ridden LBR so she didn't know how he'd react to a FIRM correction. Gary helped her get LBR back into the arena (led by noseband).
She worked LBR at the walk and trot. She rides almost exclusively from her legs/seat and LBR is used to a combo of legs/seat/rein. She commented that he didn't totally understand but was trying and was getting it. She worked him a lot between the jumps/standards at the walk and LBR caught on after a while and really relaxed.
After she finished riding (about 20 minutes), Cindy led LBR to the mounting block. LBR tried his walk-away/out and Cindy immediately stopped/corrected him and they stood by the block for several minutes.
Cindy then rode LBR for about 20 minutes at the walk/trot and he did well. She skipped the canter today as his lesson-learned was "riding from the seat/leg". Cindy led LBR back to the grooming stall - working on loose rein, slow walk.
They then de-tacked LBR and Gary gave him a rinse off with cool water. It was extremely windy so LBR dried quickly as he grazed on the lead rope in the common area.
Gary placed LBR back in his paddock. They forgot carrots/cookies, but gave LBR alfalfa cubes for treats.
April 9, 2010
Cindy met Gary at the stables after work. Gary was grooming and putting on LBR's saddle when she arived.
They headed down to the grass arena for a pre-ride lunge. LBR is lunging much better in his halter than his bridle. The ground is getting really hard in the grass arena as we haven't had any rain this week. LBR didn't want to canter while lunging becuase of the cement-like ground.
Gary finished up the lunging then took LBR back to the grooming stall and put on his bridle. LBR was a very mellow fellow tonight.
Cindy led LBR to the sand arena for a ride and worked on keeping him in the proper leading position with loose reins. She mounted LBR and he stood nicely - not attempting to leave the arena.
She started with a walk around the rail and then trotted for a while. LBR was very relaxed and carried the bit perfectly (the ride Gary did with the German martingale yesterday seemed to help).
Because LBR was so responsive and Cindy was feeling confident, she cantered him tonight. First they cantered counter-clockwise and LBR was SO HAPPY (so was Cindy).
They cantered the entire arena and did circles at the far end. They then came back to the walk, changed directions and worked for a short bit at the trot. Cindy queued him for the canter in the turn and LBR picked up the correct lead (right) in the clockwise direction too....WOO HOO!!!
Cindy kept the ride short (about 35 minutes) and ended with a nice walk on a loose rein.
LBR and Cindy are really starting to build confidence and respect for each other.
Friday, April 9, 2010
April 8, 2010
Gary headed over to the stables in the afternoon as Cindy was not feeling up to going after work tonight. When Gary arrived, LBR was very happy...the newly cleared, still muddy area provided for GREAT rolling. Gary brought LBR up to the stables, groomed him and tacked up using his HDR saddle and the D-ring snaffle with the German martingale. It was lessons night so Gary decided to ride for a bit in the sand arena while the beginer lesson (flat work) was going. LBR did GREAT!
When the lessons started their pattern work, Gary rode LBR down to the grass arena. There were two(2) advanced rider for the later lesson warming up and LBR seemed to enjoy the company. Gary worked him at the walk/trot and even tried a few strides of cantering...WOO HOO!!! They did some patterns before heading out for a trail ride.
They rode down the road to the end of the property. They then returned and explored TJ & Keeper's paddock for a while. After the ride, Gary de-tacked and groomed LBR before taking him back to his paddock for treats.
April 7, 2010
Cindy headed over after work and met Gary and LBR. They had finished grooming and lunged for a bit. Gary had trimmed LBR's mane and he looked quite handsome (LBR though Gary did too). Gary rode LBR first for a while in the sand arena. LBR was tacked using his copper-roller snaffle (favorite), but for some reason he was very mouthy tonight.
Cindy then rode LBR working on flat work at the walk and trot. LBR did not seem to want to move forward...maybe he was a little tender from the shoeing yesterday. Cindy did a couple of patterns of cross-rails and then walked LBR on the loose rein to cool down.
While Cindy de-tacked and groomed LBR, Gary took the tractor down to LBR's paddock and leveled the hay/mud. Cindy brought LBR down toward the paddock and let him graze in the common area until Gary returned with treats. LBR also got a fresh round bale of hay in his paddock later in a new/dry area.
April 6, 2010
Gary met the farrier at the stables early (8:30 a.m.) and LBR got a trim and fresh shoes on his front hooves. Afterwards, Gary let LBR graze for a bit and returned him to his paddock.
The round bale of hay that LBR has had for over a month is getting low and the remaining hay is dusty/moldy so Gary flipped the ring and spread out the remaining hay. He had hoped to use the tractor to spread the mud/hay out but it was not cooperating.
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