Two wild mustangs bending at the rib cage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Qym4jDrgE

Basis Suppleness in the horse

http://www.horsetraining.org/horse-training-articles/2006/04/riding-basics-suppleness.html

Notice the difference

Last night was the first time I worked with Regalo after he had the lesson with Jerilyn.

I let him eat grass first and then went to put fly spray on him and he didn't want it on.  I respected this an didn't put it on then.

I used very small movement and got great results.  I keep my energy done and had no stick, used the end of the rope with small movements.  He did really great.

He went over the raised pole, played the touch it game, did the squeeze game, went sideways , then we worked on getting the bend in his ribs with head down.

Put rope behind him.   Worked on rope over and off his head.

Then he got to eat grass again for another 30 minutes and I put him away.

Very good session.

Jerilyn rides Regalo

She did a wonderful job. 

things to work on

walking over a cavalette without being nervous and placing each foot

working on the bend going to the right
Put 22' rope on stirrup and pull it until he is quiet about it  Having a halter and another line on the head

work on putting things over his head and around ears

get him to lower head for reins on and off

rope over the body to make a turn to get out of it

touch it on 3 different things

moving much slower around him

Bath Time

Well it has finally warmed up to 86 degrees and time for a bath (for Regalo I mean).  We started by going out and eating some grass, then over the blue tarp ( a little hesitate, but no big deal).  He is now going over the ground pole sideways.  This is something new for him.  Took off the fly boots and and got him ready for the bath.  Doesn't like the water or the wash rack.  He hated the hose.  He pulled back really hard and I thought he was going to flip over, but he stopped and let me get the hook undone.  I then but his lead line on and continued.  He will learn by the end of summer that a bath is a good thing.

He got to go out and eat more grass and dry off.  Then back with the fly boots and added this time a fly mask.  He must have had one before, because he let me put it on him right away.

Flies are really bad this time of year and I will have to keep up with the spray.

Working on some clinic stuff

Regalo is really having a good falling leaf.  Tonight he was really doing it quite well.

Keeping the stick pointed at the hinney and getting a complete disengagement  before reaching down for the rope and passing the stick under the rope.

We did some ground poles and these do make him think.  He was doing rather nicely. 

Backing up straight and going on his right side.

He did sideways over the ground pole both ways and learned how to step over and wait.

He was very good tonight.  Learning to  wait and get the stick over his head.

Got brushed (muddy on both sides) and loosing lots of hair.  Was better at catching.  He continues to go into the stall to get caught.

Talked to Jerilyn about riding him next Monday.

He is such a smart little guy.

Clinic Ride

Here he is being ridden in the arena with Christi.

Christi Rains Clinic

WOW did we learn a lot.  Regalo had only a couple of days to learn to get in my trailer, but seems he likes mind better than Catherine's anyhow.  WE started early and off we went.   Loaded like a champ.

Took some good notes on the following

Backing up Straight

Figure 8 pattern

Four steps to RESPECT

Falling Leaf Pattern

Steady Rein

Will be doing the next clinic on April 14th.  

Regalo was very good at the clinic, stood on the pedestal, went through the tarp (flying over head), went through a log squeeze game.   Jumped some logs out in the field.  Christi Rain rode him during the afternoon clinic.  He is very tight in is neck, but was very good for her. 

Big day tomorrow, feet done at 8:30 am and Chiropractor at 12:30.  I have the day off to get settled after clinic.

My Trailer

Last night I went out to get Regalo and he played the game catch me and ran around and thne just waited for me to get him.  He is getting better.  After all of that, I decided to just let him eat some grass and then try loading him in my trailer.  He ate and I sat watching him.  Then I got the stick and we went out to touch it.  He doesn't want to touch things.  So I decided to put treats on the objects to get him interested.     Worked on the driving game on front end and the rear end.  He was okay with that.

Trailer was a little different, but he got in a lot easier and then just stood there for a while backing out is still fast, but he is slowing down now because of the ramp.  He stayed in while I clean out old hay and then I had him come out.  I don't think it is going to be a real problem. 

He is getting better every day.  Love him

Nice couple of days

Friday night was a good night for me an Regalo.  We did some grazing and then went to work in the arena.  He is getting much better at the squeeze game, learned the figure 8 and did jump over one single barrel.   The big thing was to move closer to me while I was sitting on the rail ledge.  Simply tapping him with my stick, he moved over towards me.  His sideways game is doing good.    He was very good for me on Friday night.

Sunday afternoon I came out later and  fed him and then went to get the halter, he turned away, but stayed still.  I was able to put the halter on him.  This is getting much easier.  I do let him graze every time he gets out of the pen.  I was working with the twenty two foot line, and he was doing very good.  I still have some stopping on the going to the right in circle game.  We played the falling leaf pattern, he got the pattern pretty fast.  Did the touch game with the cone and barrel.  sideways down the outside of the arena was very good.   Backed into the round pen with mud very deep behind him.  He did it twice.  Went outside and went through some good mud puddles ( nice).  Then we went out to the trailer and he loaded with a send, but then gets worried about coming out and stands in there until I get in and back him out.  Second time going in was harder and took longer and again I had to go in the trailer to send it back out.   I thought he did very well with the different plans.  He was groomed and all before the work started.  He was a super star tonight.  Well done Regalo.

Learning to stay slow

Last night when I came out to work with Regalo, I realized that I do move sometimes too fast.  Like I was wearing a nylon jacket and it was getting too warm, so I quickly started taking it off and noticed Regalo was getting very nervous.  I slowed down and let him put his nose on it and them got to rub on his neck.  He quickly settled down.   When doing the sideways game, I kept pushing him and he got more out of sync.  Then when I decided to just reward him with stopping after just two steps going the correct way he was much happier and released what I wanted.

Next I wanted to back him in and out of the round pen gate.  I had to break it down into small steps where he understood what I wanted and then he did it. 

What a smart and loving horse he is.   He is hear to teach me not the other way around.

First Ride

What a ride.
When I got out the to barn, I got Regalo's grain and fed him.  I showed him the catch rope and he immediately went into his stall.  I just sat outside and waited, finally he stuck his head out and looked at me, "you coming in or not?"   It was so funny.  I am starting to think this is his game.  I finally went in and put my hand on his butt and he turned and looked at me and I put catch rope on him.

He then went out and ate some grass around his pen.   I did all the Parelli games and then saddled him up.  We put fly wraps on him and he danced around a little and then just settled down. 

It took me forever to find the right spot to mount him.  He was quiet, patient and very kind.  He had Catherine talking away to him, Laura holding the stirrup and me trying to mount from every which way.  LOL   Finally, I got on the offside and he was find.  Laura walked me around and I got my balance and he was perfect.  I talked to him and petted him.  What a brave boy he was.  Then we walked him over to the railroad ties and I put foot down, reached for the rail and took leg over his butt.  All this was in slow motion.  HA HA

Laura rode him around and had some fun.   I gave Catherine a ride on line.   I untacked  him and put him in his pen with soaked alfalfa cubes.   Life is good.

Then we broke out the margaritas and made a toast.  I have the best set of barn buddies.

Very nervous and jumpy this night

I did the usual of feeding Regalo when I got there, then put catch rope on him, haltered and took him out the side yard for grass.  There were some cattle down the way on the other side of the fence, but he only put his head up to look at them. 

After eating for about 40 minutes, I took him into the arena to do some games.  He was dong them all very well and we went to the side of the arena for the squeeze game and he was very nervous.  It went down hill from there.  He could no the sideways game,  very nervous even with the stick and string.

How he went right brain extravert so fast.  Wow 

We are doing only one day at the clinic for my sake.

Going back out tonight and see what horse shows up.  He is my little project horse.