Joey

Well Joey is finally at home. I took him there earlier this afternoon. When I got there he was ready to go. I warmed him up a bit and saddled him. He only needed a little bit of reminder that I was the leader not him.  It was Judy/fred, Kathryn/tootsie and me and Joey. We rode through the woods about 20 minutes and we were walking down the path to the beach on Lake Michigan. Judy must have clout with the neighbors. Surprisingly, we only saw three others on the beach. We walked 1/2 mile or so down the beach and then went into the water. Joey has done this before, not me. Let me tell you it was fun and wet. I think Joey really liked it. We went into his belly or so and he just wanted to splash. Needless to say he didn't want to get out. Then it was back up on the mainland and down the road. Lots of obstacles what with leaf blowers and weed whackers going all around us. But Joey and the other two horses were solid. We got to a certain point on the trail where they like to canter so we did. Joey was last and at a certain point, which I found out later, was the exact point where he likes to buck when they canter, he most certainly intended to, but I put a stop to that before it got started. Then he settled down into it. It was a canter very far, but as hot as it was it was probably enough. Anyway we all made it back. It was a great ride. She has a nice trail riding area that is for sure. Thanks again Kathryn and Judy for a good ride. Thanks Kathryn for letting me work with your horse for the last 30 days.

Joey Day 30

This is it.  We had our last session today. I spent the first few minutes warming him up. Did a little bit of liberty work with him. He did good. Then I got saddled and started down the road. My plan was to get him to cross the ditch with water in it. So we got down there while doing circles and some exercises that create a softness in him. When we got to the ditch I asked him to go through and he didn't, but I had a plan. I got off and used my mecate lead and had him circle me and disengage etc. Then I led him to the ditch and finally after several tries he went across. I brought him back and let him relax and then did it again. Finally, I got on him and he went right across. We did that a few times and then we went down the power line to a pond I know of and I asked him to go into the pond. We did that and then headed back to the pen. We had a good ride and I put him up for the day. tomorrow he goes home. The plan is to ride him there for a little while to see how he is then to turn him over to his owner.

Joey day 29

Met with Kathryn today to work with Joey. This was her last of 2 lessons that come with Joey's training. I got out there early and worked with Joey a little bit. I had about 15 minutes to warm him up, going through the daily seven. I also sidepassed him around the arena real good. Then when Kathryn arrived she took him in hand, saddled and started to work with him. We went through the backup, disengagement and moving the shoulders over on the ground. She practiced this for about 25 minutes or so. I might add she did a good job. Then in the saddle I had her walking around and practicing the one rein stop a few times. Then she got him in a trot and later a lope in the right lead. By that time we were out of time. They both did very well and I am sure will develop and even closer relationship. I have one more ride on him tomorrow and then I take him home on Wednesday. The plan is for me to ride him to the beach because there he will be in a different environment and will probably act a little different. He may need the reminder that nothing changed, I or Kathryn will still be the leader. We will see what happens. Anyway a good day of training.

Joey Day 28

Yesterday at 12:30 I got to work with Joey again. It is getting kinda neat. When he knows I am coming to get him he stepped out of his stall like he was eager to go do something with me. Alot of people have to chase their horses down 'cause when they see them coming with halter in hand they do not want to go. So Joey and I have a great relationship. This time the plan was to get him outside the pen and work with him. I did my usual groundwork warmup with some added exercises like sidepassing. Then we got out and started to work some circles and softening up. I took him down a trail into the woods, which he was a bit skittish about, but we went anyway. He is constantly on the lookout for boogey men. None found though. He worked through those issues. I think now it is just trail riding that needs to be done to get him out from under his sheltered life into the real world. But this is trail riding with a twist: not just rein in hand going down the trail, but a working trail ride doing the exercises as we go. So for the last rides with me that is what we are going to do.

Joey Day 27

I had him going pretty good today. We did the sidepass across the arena worked on the same exercises. Also, I got the lariat out and we played with the rope for a while. He was real quiet with it for the most part. Then I took him out in the world. I am still trying to get him to stay on the circle without him fading in or or not wanting to stay on it. It just ain't happenin' yet. So I had to take him out back and have a talk with him, if you know what I mean. When we got back I just cantered him down the road for a 1/2 mile and then we went further down the road. But by this time my time was almost up and still had to get some hay before my date with Sharon. So I tried to work on going across the ditch with water to no avail, partly 'cause I wasn't willing to devote the time to it today. So instead we just did a lot of stepping the shoulders over, stopping and backing. Then we walked back nice and easy like. Some dogs came out at us barking and tearing around. Good practice for him. He didn't even flinch. Then on the way back home we did some work on getting the softness without a turn, just moving forward. When we got back I bridled him up and we did some work on following his nose with collection. Anyway, the lesson ended with both of us calm and a little sweaty.

Joey Day 26

Joey did real good today. So did his owner. Yes, she came today and worked with Joey. She backed him up, learned to disengage the hindquarters, move his shoulders, the million dollar move and to circle him in both directions, transition from walk to trot and back down. Joey was impressive in his responsiveness to her, reading her like a book. Then we put her saddle on to see how that worked out for her. She prefers English, but had a western saddle to use. Then after we fitted that we put her shank curb bit in his mouth. She got on, Joey was real calm and soft over all, and he stood for her to mount. Then, as I always do, she flexed him both sides.  Now it was time to move and so starting at a walk she worked on disengaging the hindquarters from the saddle and even got some shoulders over or turns on the forehand. Over all, Kathryn was a great student and Joey a great teacher. Cheers to both of them. I have a few more rides on him and one more lesson for her before he goes home next week. I don't even have to go back and fix anything. Good job.

Joey Day 25

This won't be a long blog. Yesterday, Kathryn, Joey's owner, and Judy, our friend, came over to watch me work with Joey. They wanted to see how he is coming along. So I got him tacked up and immediately took the halter off him and worked him at liberty for a few minutes. Initially, he wanted to run around and act like an idiot, not wanting to stay by me. So I let him run around knowing that he likes to stand around more than he likes to run around. He did. It only took a few laps and he waws following me. So I did some disengagements, million dollar move (moving the shoulder, thus changing sides on him). He really does this pretty good. I got the whip out and cracked that around him for more desensitizing. Then I showe them how he ground drives really well. Someone might ask, "Why ground drive a horse?" Well, glad you asked. It is helps the horse to get used to people and things behind him, so it is partly desensitizing him. It also helps to develop 'feel' for the horse with the rein. In actuality, it is like riding him from the ground. I can teach a horse to stop and back, and turn, etc. from the ground. Thus, putting a handle on him before I ever get on. Now I didn't do this with Joey in that order. Nevertheless, it helps to develop that relationship more. Then I got on him and rode him around, asking for softness. We disengaged, moved the shoulders with softness, walked, trot and canter in both directions. He likes to lope in the right lead and is rocking chair smooth. Worked on some stops and backups too. Judy wanted to test me so she had me drop the reins and ask for a walk, trot without using them. No problem. But then she asked for a walk, so far so good. But when she asked me to ask for a stop, no cigar here. He slowed, but not a stop. Needs work. But it was fun. The most important thing to me over the entire lesson was the fact that he was soft the whole time. He never once got in a tizzy about anything. There was an overall softness in him from start to finish. And that is the way I like it. They both said, that he was usually rather antsy in his demeanor when they would ride. So that is a plus for me. Anyway, it was a good ride.