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.