garygtmm's Journal

The good: The little feller is clipping like a champ. He anticipates what foot I am going to look at and picks it up before I ask and he holds it up for me. Awesome! He will walk away from the mare now. Getting a bit more independant and sticking up for himself against the other gelding. Funny kid...he will climb up and stand on the ice in the 4' water trough. A bit of a billy goat! Leads better, but still needs lots of "suppling".

The bad: His left rear foot is turning out pretty bad. The farrier says it may be a symptom of a sloppy clip that is making him stand funny. He started clipping it back into shape...it will take a couple of clips to get it straight again. Leveling his foot didn't make him lame, so it really does seem like just a bad clip and not a bent foot. He is getting skinny! Too much really cold weather...I am putting him on sweet feed on top of his hay and mixing in canola oil for some extra calories.

Deisel's stong points:

1. freindly and willing to please
2. calm when with the herd, leads away ok.
3. good pesonal space manners
4. moves forward and turns in hand very well
5. goes through the gate well
6. not pushy at the barn door
7. ok to touch him anywhere
8. halters up ok, keeps head low naturally

Deisel needs work here:

1. Picking up his feet...loses balance easily. Drops feet prematurely (only pick up feet in good traction for now)
2. Get him to lead away from the herd without going nuts once he can't see them.
3. doesn't stop immediatly in hand
4. not moving way from pressure yet.
5. heavy on the front, shoulders drop into turns
6. needs to learn how to lounge...if I can find a place that isn't too slippery!
7. Remember that he is young and not the sharpest fish in the shed

Khadin's strong points:

1. backs up like a champ from the ground
2. In hand: walk, pay attention, stop and turns like a champion
3. Lounges awseome...good whoa response and only approaches when told to. goes both ways without complaint now
4. Loads and unloads great
5. stands still for halter, saddle and mounting against the fence
6. easy catcher, never turns away when� I approach
7. calm under saddle both western and english
8. responds to pressure on head, shoulder, ribs and hips

Khadin needs work on these:

1. NO gas pedal under saddle without a bridle. Ok with the halts and plow reining with a halter.
2. Need to get the snaffle on him.
3. sensitize him to the bit on the ground
4. get him a lot lighter with the leg cues (thick skinned)
5. get him less pushy handling his rear legs
6. desensitize his sheath area...he is worried touching will cause pain.
7. get him to stand still for a few minutes after mounting...he gets bored too easily
8. Figure out why he is so reluctant to trot while in hand ???

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Cara's good stuff:

• showed her that turning away from me when I approach is hard work
• getting her to remember to respond to leg cues from the ground. Progressing very well
• she lowers her head on verbal command and pressure on the poll
• she collects like a champ...really light on the front.
• stands still for mounting from a fence
• lowers head for halter/bridle and takes bit really well
• really good with healthy feet...sore foot requires caution (she will pick it up but stomp it down)
• ghost leads perfectly except a little rough moving away from me without halter cues
• lounges well in both directions...still ignores whoa if loping or at a fast trot
• ties quietly

Cara needs work here:

• learning to stop on whoa at a all speeds
• move away sideways/turn without halter cues while leading
• get her softer with the leg cues
• supple her with a bit on the ground
• lots of one rein stops to control her speed...likes to go too hard
• butte, saddle her and ride her every third day
• habitually holds her head too high...need a martingale so she doesn't get pissed off with my constant reminders.

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Wow. 2009 already!