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.
Monday, March 30, 2009
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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