Today, I rode Oliver for the first time since the test ride at their old home. My impression of Oliver that first day was that he was pretty darn solid, and that has been borne out by what we’ve seen since we got him down to our barn. Oliver is a pretty interesting horse. (I… Read more »
indoor ride
Aiden Assessment
We’ve had Aiden and Oliver for just over a week now, and things continue to go well. For the first several days, I worked with Aiden and Brian worked with Oliver. Aiden has a sweet temperament with a slight inclination towards anxiety. His initial pushiness and tendency to want to walk on top of you… Read more »
The Triple Double
Today, we rode three horses each. I rode Aiden, Tate, and Steen. Brian rode Oliver, Laredo, and Bear. We had a great day with both Oliver and Aiden. Oliver was the big surprise. His attitude was hugely changed today. His pushy, restless inclinations was almost entirely gone. He lead nicely, stood quietly for tacking and… Read more »
First Rides
Today we headed out after work to see what our new guys were up to. They were easy to catch, and we took them indoors to do some groundwork. Both Aiden and Oliver need some serious work on ground manners. They aren’t reactive or spooky or violent, but they are pushy, and seem to completely… Read more »
The Sunbather
This afternoon, I got a call from the manager at our barn. This always gives me a little lurch of worry. I picked up, and she said it might be nothing, but Laredo had been lying down for most of the day. It was a sunny day, and ‘warm’ (by which I mean way below… Read more »
Working with Tate
As I mentioned in my last post, one of our barn friends had a (non horse-related) accident that has left her unable to ride. She’s probably going to be grounded for a month or two. Her horse is just a few months older than Laredo, and she got him right around the same time. Since… Read more »
More Time in the Two Rein
This weekend I decided to get back to the two-rein. I have been working on the things my last ride in it identified as weaknesses, and we’ve also watched a couple more videos about riding in the two-rein, hand position, bit fit and choice, and various other things that have made me feel increasingly confident… Read more »
Down to Three
First, we got word that Zoey made it to her new home safely. Her new parents even posted a series of photos on Facebook that showed her meeting her new pasture mates and being fed apples. It looks like she is settling in quite well. Today, Brian and I found our normal conversation on the… Read more »
Being Firm to Be Soft
The last month or so, Brian has been using Steen as a lesson horse. This is a little odd for me, because mostly I have not been around during his lessons. There is something distinctly strange about staying home while Brian heads off to the barn to hang out with someone else while that someone… Read more »
A New Foundation
Today, for the first time in quite a while, I rode Zoey. Being around her is pretty different these days. I walked up to her in the pasture, and she dropped her head so I could slip the halter on. We went in and turned her and Bear out in the indoor. She’s starting to… Read more »