Well everyone, since I'm terrible at keeping this blog updated I guess you're in for an explanation of our recent activity.
Romeo is doing absolutely wonderfully. He's filling out a ton more and we are getting along so much better. His nipping has gone down quite a bit and he comes to me more easily in the pasture now.
We did have a rough patch when the mares were in heat; he decided that they were far more appealing than his owner with a lead rope. He's doing much better now, though.
My wonderful cousin has been coming out to the barn to help me with him and we've worked on a lot of things. She will be coming more regularly now so I'm sure things will continue to improve. I also plan on taking lessons on him this summer, and maybe showing him a bit.
We changed his bit from an Eggbutt Snaffle to a Full Cheek Snaffle which seems to be helping him as well. I am trying to figure out how to attach photos, so hopefully you'll be able to see those.
That's about all I have to say. Until next time!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
4/14/09
Well, once again its been a while! A lot has changed. The last post I made was about the horses being reintroduced to grain. All of them (including Ollie) are doing just fine now. I also cantered Romeo for the first time on Easter! I'm so thrilled. I've had a phobia of cantering ever since I was young, but my cousin came out to help me. Romeo was amazing and I cantered him both on and off the lunge line. I've been trying to work on it some more, but my cues aren't very good and I'm still learning. Overall I am completely THRILLED. He was so good. In any case, he's doing just beautifully and we're getting along quite well now.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
4/5/09
Its been a while since the last update, but a lot has happened. Friday, Romeo and 4 other horsie buddies broke into the feed room and ate almost 100 lbs of food. Luckily, they all had their stomachs pumped and they are doing just fine. We had a bit of a scare with Ollie; he had to have his stomach pumped again Saturday and is currently on stall rest. We do hear gut sounds and he is pooping and drinking.
Tonight the horses (besides Ollie) are slowly being reintroduced to grain as they've been off it since the stomach pumping. Hopefully all will go well.
Romeo also has a pretty nasty gash, either from briers or a kick from another horse. We put some peroxide on it today and he essentially tried to kill us in the process. So, I cut his grooming short to give him a break and let him go back into the field.
After that I walked Ollie around some, and he drank! Yes! He hadn't been drinking the water in his stall.
More updates to come...
Tonight the horses (besides Ollie) are slowly being reintroduced to grain as they've been off it since the stomach pumping. Hopefully all will go well.
Romeo also has a pretty nasty gash, either from briers or a kick from another horse. We put some peroxide on it today and he essentially tried to kill us in the process. So, I cut his grooming short to give him a break and let him go back into the field.
After that I walked Ollie around some, and he drank! Yes! He hadn't been drinking the water in his stall.
More updates to come...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
3/31/09
Once again, no barn visit today as my dad is borrowing my car. Yesterday I did have a short visit after I got my haircut. I really didn't do anything except brush him. He is shedding a LOT now though. He seemed to be in a relatively decent mood and it was a gorgeous day! More interesting updates to follow...
Monday, March 30, 2009
3/28/09 & 3/29/09
Well, today (3/30) due to being sick I won't be able to go out to the barn. So I figure I'll give a nice Romeo update.
On 3/28, I didn't do much except for brush him. He resisted me more than usual, moving around a LOT. But to be fair, there were more people around him than usual as I brought friends, and that could have excited him. I got on for a little bit but we only walked around the pasture.
Yesterday (3/29) was an interesting day. I volunteered a little more than usual out at the barn and started grooming one of my BO's horses. After I was done with her, my friend grabbed one of her other horses, Ollie, and I grabbed Romeo. We groomed them both (though I did Romeo's grooming rather hastily) and originally Haily was going to ride with me but then Ollie (and her knee) was acting up. So I ended up riding on my own, but Haily helped offer encouragement (by clicking to Romeo) to get him into a nice trot as he was feeling stubborn. We were running short on time so we only had about a 15 minute to half hour ride. I hopped off him and let him back to the field with his friends.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring a nice update.
On 3/28, I didn't do much except for brush him. He resisted me more than usual, moving around a LOT. But to be fair, there were more people around him than usual as I brought friends, and that could have excited him. I got on for a little bit but we only walked around the pasture.
Yesterday (3/29) was an interesting day. I volunteered a little more than usual out at the barn and started grooming one of my BO's horses. After I was done with her, my friend grabbed one of her other horses, Ollie, and I grabbed Romeo. We groomed them both (though I did Romeo's grooming rather hastily) and originally Haily was going to ride with me but then Ollie (and her knee) was acting up. So I ended up riding on my own, but Haily helped offer encouragement (by clicking to Romeo) to get him into a nice trot as he was feeling stubborn. We were running short on time so we only had about a 15 minute to half hour ride. I hopped off him and let him back to the field with his friends.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring a nice update.
Friday, March 27, 2009
3/27/09
Well, no riding for today because of all the rain, but we did have some nice bonding time! I went to get Romeo from the pasture, but once again he tried to avoid being caught. He seems to do this off and on. Eventually, I caught him and took him up. I got out all of my tack, planning to ride, but the rain unfortunately changed my plans.
Instead of grooming him outside like I usually do, I decided to take him into the barn alleyway. He did well, though he seems to like to move forward some if there's nothing in front of him to stop him. I've been working on speaking to him more (as I never seem to do that enough) and being less harsh in my reprimanding. I feel like I don't give him enough warning before I give him a good smack (for biting me, or trying to kick, etc.), so today I worked on reprimanding him more with my voice than my actions. It seems to be rather effective, so I'll continue to work on that.
He resisted me less today when I was brushing. He hardly pinned his ears at all (which he usually does). I spent about an hour brushing him and loving on him, and of course giving him treats! Then, I turned him back out into the pasture (and I'm sure tonight he'll roll and erase all of my hard work :)!) and let him go back with his friends.
I'm really pleased with how today went and I hope it goes just as well tomorrow!
Instead of grooming him outside like I usually do, I decided to take him into the barn alleyway. He did well, though he seems to like to move forward some if there's nothing in front of him to stop him. I've been working on speaking to him more (as I never seem to do that enough) and being less harsh in my reprimanding. I feel like I don't give him enough warning before I give him a good smack (for biting me, or trying to kick, etc.), so today I worked on reprimanding him more with my voice than my actions. It seems to be rather effective, so I'll continue to work on that.
He resisted me less today when I was brushing. He hardly pinned his ears at all (which he usually does). I spent about an hour brushing him and loving on him, and of course giving him treats! Then, I turned him back out into the pasture (and I'm sure tonight he'll roll and erase all of my hard work :)!) and let him go back with his friends.
I'm really pleased with how today went and I hope it goes just as well tomorrow!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
3/26/09
Well, today we officially accomplished...hardly anything. He felt a little off, as he has arthritis, so I didn't push him hard. I was going to lunge him after our short ride at the walk, but then it started raining so I decided to let him be. We did have a little bit of an issue today; he tried to kick me when I was grooming him (or maybe girthing him, I can't remember). He was quickly reprimanded. Other than that, things went fine. My wonderful barn owner Pam talked to someone she knows and picked him up some joint supplements, which we will now be adding to his feed.
That's about all for today!
That's about all for today!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
3/25/09
This blog was created to track my progress with my new horse, Romeo. He is a 16hh, 18 year old bay Thoroughbred gelding I adopted from the United States Equine Rescue League (http://www.userl.org).
I adopted Romeo on 2/21/09. Since then, we've slowly started him back to riding. Previously, we know he was a Hunter/Jumper horse and he raced in his younger days, but he had some time off when he was being fostered with the league.
I started riding Romeo the day after I bought him since he was adjusting to his environment so well. We only did walking work, but everything went great. Since then, we've progressed up to doing mostly trot work.
Today, we had a very good ride. Since it was supposed to rain, I hurried to tack him up and get on him. Though he is girthy, he's getting better each day. He used to puff out but has recently quit that. I hopped on him and warmed him up at the walk, and then we started on trotting. He listens well, though turning him can be a bit challenging at times. He has a nice, quick trot and is the most trustworthy horse under saddle I've ever met. Nothing seems to phase him. I worked some on posting and then we switched directions and I worked on vertical.
I quickly brushed him down after the ride and turned him out.
Overall, it was a short but sweet.
I adopted Romeo on 2/21/09. Since then, we've slowly started him back to riding. Previously, we know he was a Hunter/Jumper horse and he raced in his younger days, but he had some time off when he was being fostered with the league.
I started riding Romeo the day after I bought him since he was adjusting to his environment so well. We only did walking work, but everything went great. Since then, we've progressed up to doing mostly trot work.
Today, we had a very good ride. Since it was supposed to rain, I hurried to tack him up and get on him. Though he is girthy, he's getting better each day. He used to puff out but has recently quit that. I hopped on him and warmed him up at the walk, and then we started on trotting. He listens well, though turning him can be a bit challenging at times. He has a nice, quick trot and is the most trustworthy horse under saddle I've ever met. Nothing seems to phase him. I worked some on posting and then we switched directions and I worked on vertical.
I quickly brushed him down after the ride and turned him out.
Overall, it was a short but sweet.
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