Napoleon and I had a great day today. He was very easy to catch although he did pull the "domestic" horse trick of not wanting to lead away from his friend, (also not wanting to lead past the green grass :)). He was a gentleman to saddle and ride today. We worked on straightness in his body. Learned how to side-pass to the right and then worked both left and right sidepassing a lot. He was smart about it. Most of the time, young colts get frustrated with sidepassing when they learn both directions. They will fight the new direction, but I have to remember, Napoleon is not a young colt. His body and mind are more mature and mustangs don't give you quite as much "bull" as their domestic counterparts. (In quite the same areas, anyway).
We went to the big indoor next and we were able to ride another hour there. He is getting easier to direct and handle from the saddle. He was more comfortable with other horses in the arena moving around him - getting more confident. We loped both directions in the big arena and he seems to be naturally leaded. He is also a natural stopper. I think he'll slide soon.
Today was also the day that Napoleon got to join the "general population". Now that he is easy to catch in an open area, he gets to come up closer to the barns and bunk out with the 2 year old geldings. I'll enjoy not having to walk so far to catch him and put him up.
Tomorrow, or at least sometime this week, we will work on swinging a rope and hopefully progress to the outdoor arenas and then by the end of the week to the great outdoors. Then, maybe I can add some pictures. (By the way, he is looking fuller and shinier. His rear and back have filled out some already. Of course I am impatient to have him in top condition :0)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
End of week 3
Today marks the end of week 3 for Napoleon. He did well yesterday. I had a few people in the barn walk up and pet his shoulder and neck area. He tolerated it better as the day went on. I also cleaned his feet out so he is letting me hold them up easily. I trimmed his front pasterns with a pair of scissors. His rear and stomach are getting shinier. I can brush on them easily and he lets me rest my hand on his hip and walk behind him without swinging side to side. Yesterday I was also able to easily reach under him and grab the cinches without the use of a hook. Zane also rode him for the first time. (Which I really appreciate). Napoleon was nervous at first, he zigzagged around but then settled down. Zane tracked a cow on him, and I must say he is very "cowy". A great sign for us, since that what we do around here :)
I will ride him some more today. I can't wait until the arenas dry up outside so we can start working there as well. I need to get him going in the big outdoor before I can take off across the countryside. There is great hill riding out here and I want to do slow hills to build up his backside. I am hoping he is ready for shoes in another week. The farrier actually comes almost every day as he only shoes 2 horses a day. So, I am going to introduce them on Monday and have the farrier start picking his feet and let Napoleon get comfortable with him.
I had Zane check his mouth for wolf teeth. (I can never feel them). He doesn't have anything on the left, but does have something odd on the right. Zane's not sure if it is a wolf tooth or a fractured tooth, so we'll have to have that looked at sometime late next week. (Our truck will be in the shop, so can't haul him to the dentist yet. )
Tomorrow is a sabbath day off for all. :)
I will ride him some more today. I can't wait until the arenas dry up outside so we can start working there as well. I need to get him going in the big outdoor before I can take off across the countryside. There is great hill riding out here and I want to do slow hills to build up his backside. I am hoping he is ready for shoes in another week. The farrier actually comes almost every day as he only shoes 2 horses a day. So, I am going to introduce them on Monday and have the farrier start picking his feet and let Napoleon get comfortable with him.
I had Zane check his mouth for wolf teeth. (I can never feel them). He doesn't have anything on the left, but does have something odd on the right. Zane's not sure if it is a wolf tooth or a fractured tooth, so we'll have to have that looked at sometime late next week. (Our truck will be in the shop, so can't haul him to the dentist yet. )
Tomorrow is a sabbath day off for all. :)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Omolene
Yeah, today Napoleon ate his Omolene. Scarfed it up in fact! Now, I am sneaking in a coat conditioner. He only has about 100 days to get fat and shiney! Of course now the bugs are hatching out and will play havoc with my grooming plans for awhile. The other thing messing up his pretty face is some halter rubs and a small laceration on his nose. (Somehow, he went "bump" in the night at the beginning of his stay. I swear, all horses need a padded stall.) These are also on the mend. His halter doesn't need to be left on all the time anymore so his nose has time to re-grow hair. He let me halter and catch him easily in his pen today.
Today was a building block on yesterday. I tied him in the barn alley today and saddled him like a big boy. He did great. Also let me groom him and brush his tail out like it was all old news. He wasn't too worried about all the barn activity. My little boy walked by him without any trouble. I picked up all his feet easily. Will continue to work this area a lot, and have Zane and the "hired" man do the same. He will need shoes in another few weeks and will need to tolerate the farrier. His feet are tender when I lead him over the gravel and he will need sliders. (You have to remember, he's been in a holding facility for 2.5 years so his feet are no longer hardened in fact they are chipping just from leading across the gravel.)
I rode him in the little indoor arena at first. Just concentrated on riding straight lines. "Colts" are wiggly at first. Then I worked on side-passing to the left, just a few steps at a time. After a short 20 minute ride, I took him over to the big indoor arena. Of course, this was a much busier area as well as much bigger. He was pretty nervous with the reining manuevers going on around him. He let me mount easy and did his best to keep all 3 other horses in his line of site. I eased him around. He did blow and buck once, 2 quick jumps - if there had been three he would have lost me! After another 20 minutes of walking and trotting, we called it a day.
Today was a building block on yesterday. I tied him in the barn alley today and saddled him like a big boy. He did great. Also let me groom him and brush his tail out like it was all old news. He wasn't too worried about all the barn activity. My little boy walked by him without any trouble. I picked up all his feet easily. Will continue to work this area a lot, and have Zane and the "hired" man do the same. He will need shoes in another few weeks and will need to tolerate the farrier. His feet are tender when I lead him over the gravel and he will need sliders. (You have to remember, he's been in a holding facility for 2.5 years so his feet are no longer hardened in fact they are chipping just from leading across the gravel.)
I rode him in the little indoor arena at first. Just concentrated on riding straight lines. "Colts" are wiggly at first. Then I worked on side-passing to the left, just a few steps at a time. After a short 20 minute ride, I took him over to the big indoor arena. Of course, this was a much busier area as well as much bigger. He was pretty nervous with the reining manuevers going on around him. He let me mount easy and did his best to keep all 3 other horses in his line of site. I eased him around. He did blow and buck once, 2 quick jumps - if there had been three he would have lost me! After another 20 minutes of walking and trotting, we called it a day.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Napoleon
I haven't figured out how to publicize this blog very well yet, so this writing is just for my own records! I have finally named my mustang today: "Napoleon".
Yesterday was our first ride. (I was gone all last week, so he missed 7 days!) I was hoping Zane would be the first one on. He is so much more graceful from ground to saddle, and the horse barely notices that he arrived, but since I have done most of the groundwork (Zane does have 21 horses to ride a day...and groundwork with the mustang has been averaging 3 hours.) Napoleon wasn't ready for Zane to mount, but he would let me stand at his side. Boy, was I nervous! I hadn't prepared myself mentally for the challenge, all along assuming that Zane would be the rider. I just don't do the first few rides. (Not since I was 18, anyway. ) Zane really had to coach me through it. He had the pony horse and kept reassuring me that the horse was ready and would let me on. I was practically hyperventilating, and glad no one but Zane knew. Of course, he has been ribbing me about it today ;)
Napoleon let me in the saddle and Zane held the line and ponied us around the arena. The biggest complication was that he kept banging into the pony horse and trying to almost "hide" against her. I had bitted him up a few times though, and he let me guide him so we didn't get as mashed against her as we could have. Both Zane's right knee, and my left knee are bruised today though!
(The first ride is usually much easier in the round pen, but since the mustang arrived, we have been drowned in rain! It has made his work more challenging but perhaps has been a blessing as well. I walk him up from his pen to the indoor arena and he lets me walk him through the barn to the saddling area. Riding in the indoor arena allows the mustang to move freely and seems to help the turning and impulsion learning exercises. Zane doesn't like to work in any makeshift panels, so it was just Napoleon and I and one big arena :)
Today was his second riding session. Napoleon was especially easy to catch today and he is learning to graze while on the leadline. (They really have to learn to relax in your presence to graze, so he is starting to let down. )I led him to the barn and saddled him easy. I am amazed that he lets me get that saddle on him without any tension or resistance. I am always a little clumsy getting everything settled in, so it says something about his disposition that he lets me be imperfect with it all. It still startles him a little when I carefully bring the front cinch up against his girth, but he is fine when it is tightened. He was good about the back cinch today. Monday-not so much!
He was a champ today about picking up his feet! Even being better about his hinds than his fronts! That is a good sign that he'll let me mount and dismount without much trouble today! Zane uses a different pony horse to get us started. Bobby Starlight did the honors and he doesn't let Napoleon push his shoulder into him. (I think my mustang was too familiar with the other mare and wanted to hide against her yesterday. )
One lap and Zane unhooks us. My mustang just trots around easily. He didn't bolt one time and I rode him in 4 different short sessions this afternoon. In each session I was able to mount and dismount without any outside assistance. I can tell he his going to have a very light mouth and he turns easily each direction and can easily do a 360 turn. Hallelujah! I am so happy with my choice of horses! I was also elated that he wants to back up easily. We have found in the past, that, at first, learning to back up can be a challenge for some mustangs-but Napoleon wants to. He also wants to stop which is something I noticed from the beginning groundwork, even on his sale video.
Today Napoleon also took the bridle without any trouble and he seems to have a quiet mouth. My last EMM horse "Chopper" had the busiest mouth imaginable, so I am happy with Naploeon's quietness.
Typical of the trusting bond a new mustang makes with the rider, today I stood in the arena with Napoleon as Zane worked cattle, the Reymanator and Zane took a cow down the fence right behind us and my horse just stood quietly on his lead. He's giving me the nod, that "if it's okay with you, it's okay with me." He also let the tractor go right by as well as the 4-wheeler. He let some other horses be led by unfamiliar people behind him too. Also, when we were done with our ride, I led him to the concrete wash rack and gave him his first warm bath.
I don't want to make it all sound easy or too "rosy" . He is a mustang still, and you always have to be cautious. They are lighting fast. I always make sure I have a good hold of him on a long lead, as I don't want him to bolt and get away if he is frightened. Especially since we are not in an enclosure. I want to help insure that each training session ends with him and me both calm and moving forward, not digressing. It takes careful planning each day. It also helps to have a husband who has trained several mustangs - some easy, some extremely challenging- to coach me and give me lesson plans each day. "Now do this, don't progress to this until you can accomplish "A", etc, etc. " I must say it is extremely gratifying to see excellent progress. I can't wait until tomorrow!
Yesterday was our first ride. (I was gone all last week, so he missed 7 days!) I was hoping Zane would be the first one on. He is so much more graceful from ground to saddle, and the horse barely notices that he arrived, but since I have done most of the groundwork (Zane does have 21 horses to ride a day...and groundwork with the mustang has been averaging 3 hours.) Napoleon wasn't ready for Zane to mount, but he would let me stand at his side. Boy, was I nervous! I hadn't prepared myself mentally for the challenge, all along assuming that Zane would be the rider. I just don't do the first few rides. (Not since I was 18, anyway. ) Zane really had to coach me through it. He had the pony horse and kept reassuring me that the horse was ready and would let me on. I was practically hyperventilating, and glad no one but Zane knew. Of course, he has been ribbing me about it today ;)
Napoleon let me in the saddle and Zane held the line and ponied us around the arena. The biggest complication was that he kept banging into the pony horse and trying to almost "hide" against her. I had bitted him up a few times though, and he let me guide him so we didn't get as mashed against her as we could have. Both Zane's right knee, and my left knee are bruised today though!
(The first ride is usually much easier in the round pen, but since the mustang arrived, we have been drowned in rain! It has made his work more challenging but perhaps has been a blessing as well. I walk him up from his pen to the indoor arena and he lets me walk him through the barn to the saddling area. Riding in the indoor arena allows the mustang to move freely and seems to help the turning and impulsion learning exercises. Zane doesn't like to work in any makeshift panels, so it was just Napoleon and I and one big arena :)
Today was his second riding session. Napoleon was especially easy to catch today and he is learning to graze while on the leadline. (They really have to learn to relax in your presence to graze, so he is starting to let down. )I led him to the barn and saddled him easy. I am amazed that he lets me get that saddle on him without any tension or resistance. I am always a little clumsy getting everything settled in, so it says something about his disposition that he lets me be imperfect with it all. It still startles him a little when I carefully bring the front cinch up against his girth, but he is fine when it is tightened. He was good about the back cinch today. Monday-not so much!
He was a champ today about picking up his feet! Even being better about his hinds than his fronts! That is a good sign that he'll let me mount and dismount without much trouble today! Zane uses a different pony horse to get us started. Bobby Starlight did the honors and he doesn't let Napoleon push his shoulder into him. (I think my mustang was too familiar with the other mare and wanted to hide against her yesterday. )
One lap and Zane unhooks us. My mustang just trots around easily. He didn't bolt one time and I rode him in 4 different short sessions this afternoon. In each session I was able to mount and dismount without any outside assistance. I can tell he his going to have a very light mouth and he turns easily each direction and can easily do a 360 turn. Hallelujah! I am so happy with my choice of horses! I was also elated that he wants to back up easily. We have found in the past, that, at first, learning to back up can be a challenge for some mustangs-but Napoleon wants to. He also wants to stop which is something I noticed from the beginning groundwork, even on his sale video.
Today Napoleon also took the bridle without any trouble and he seems to have a quiet mouth. My last EMM horse "Chopper" had the busiest mouth imaginable, so I am happy with Naploeon's quietness.
Typical of the trusting bond a new mustang makes with the rider, today I stood in the arena with Napoleon as Zane worked cattle, the Reymanator and Zane took a cow down the fence right behind us and my horse just stood quietly on his lead. He's giving me the nod, that "if it's okay with you, it's okay with me." He also let the tractor go right by as well as the 4-wheeler. He let some other horses be led by unfamiliar people behind him too. Also, when we were done with our ride, I led him to the concrete wash rack and gave him his first warm bath.
I don't want to make it all sound easy or too "rosy" . He is a mustang still, and you always have to be cautious. They are lighting fast. I always make sure I have a good hold of him on a long lead, as I don't want him to bolt and get away if he is frightened. Especially since we are not in an enclosure. I want to help insure that each training session ends with him and me both calm and moving forward, not digressing. It takes careful planning each day. It also helps to have a husband who has trained several mustangs - some easy, some extremely challenging- to coach me and give me lesson plans each day. "Now do this, don't progress to this until you can accomplish "A", etc, etc. " I must say it is extremely gratifying to see excellent progress. I can't wait until tomorrow!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover 2010
For those who watched us in 2007 with Algore & Chopper, "I" (Holly) am back for the 2010 Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover. Zane is busy with his performance horses and busy fall show schedule and will not be competing this time around. This year is quite a different format than 2007. The horses are all 6 year olds and include mares & geldings from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah & Nevada herds. All the approved participants were able to bid on a horse of their choice. We picked our horses up May 8th from various holding facilities across the country. I have had my horse now a week! I haven't named him yet. He is doing well although was skinnier than I expected when I picked him up. Hopefully, he will flourish on all you can eat high protein hay. Of course, he is not eating grain yet, but I am keeping it in front of him and feeding it to his pen mate, hoping he gets the idea. He is progessing well, not as easy as Chopper from 2007, but more respectful :) . He will get his first ride on Monday and I have saddled him the last two days. He is leading well and ties up already. Today I also bitted him up both directions.
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