Sham is a big, strong guy who is used to a firm hand. And over the past week I have been trying to be that firm hand. The problem is, I don’t send very strong signals (I’m used to working with Steen and Cal, who really don’t respond to a firm hand). Thankfully Sham is… Read more »
ground-work
Steen the Great
Both days this weekend Brian and I headed out to the barn in the morning. Yesterday things didn’t start off great. Sham decided to give us a bit of a run-around when we went out to catch him and we only succeeded in getting his halter on after coaxing him into the airlock with a… Read more »
Forward and Backward
On Saturday we woke up nice and early, and after our leisurely routine of coffee and breakfast, we headed off to the barn. It was super quiet when we arrived. Only Cathi, the owner, was there. We chatted for a few minutes and then Robin and I walked out to get our respective horses. The… Read more »
First Ride
After sleeping in and having a great morning ski with Robin, we went over to the barn to keep working with Sham and Steen. Robin went out yesterday and rode Steen and also put in some time with Sham. He had a small cut on his leg from the trailer ride, and Robin made sure… Read more »
Expecting
I had a somewhat frustrating day at the barn on Friday. I went out to do some ground-work with Steen, and the sound of the snow sliding off the roof of the indoor arena had him totally freaked out by the time I gave up and put him back in the pasture, so I’m not… Read more »
Snowed Out
Steen spent most of the last week snow-locked in his pasture. The main problem was the door into the indoor arena from the pastures was covered in a huge drift. So, being unable to get him inside anyway, I didn’t see him after my Tuesday visit until yesterday. Sunday morning found Brian and I driving… Read more »
Snow!
We have a big storm rolling through this week, so I figured I’d better get out there and see Steen today just in case the roads are inaccessible for the next few days. I found him in a snowy pasture. The herds were a bit riled. I’m not sure if it was the weather or… Read more »
Oh, Deer
On Friday, Steen and I hit the trails again, and things didn’t go so well. We started out with a mistake on my part. I assumed he’d be ok walking past a car he spooked at a few days ago. But he wasn’t. Within two minutes of the start of the ride, he’d treated me… Read more »
Barn Weekend
Last week we got a lot of rain. I went out for a solo ride on Tuesday, during which I was having a hard time getting Steen to walk away from the barn. Then it rained and rained and rained for the rest of the week. On Saturday the farrier came, so I held Steen… Read more »
Inside
Yesterday I went to the barn after a meeting with some clients. I decided last time I rode that it was probably high-time for Steen to remember what ground-work is all about, so I decided to have a non-riding, getting to know the new interior day. Steen’s been looking good lately. His leg is healing… Read more »