4th ride

We did not work Star yesterday but had a nice session today. Brian did most of the riding, using his Western saddle with a straight bit, curb chain, and running martingale. Star looked good. We worked a little in the outdoor arena and then spent about 30 minutes on the power line "trail." On the way back we switched horses.

Another outdoor ride

Brian came over again and spent a good 20 minutes working on Star's tail--it's finally free of tangles. He hopped on Panda while I worked with Star. I set up the lunging jump standard and worked her over it at a very low height--she was a little balky. I'd like to see her a little more forward and light.

In the saddle I was able to trot some large circles on both reins. Very calm and showing good response to the whip, with no scary surprises. She will stop moving if I let her, though.

We took both horses out for about 45 minutes of outdoor riding, along the road and up and down a power line right of way. We did a short canter going out the driveway, which felt good. Star pulled her head constantly towards home, but was otherwise very controllable and calm. Once or twice she hopped when a noisy car went past. When we got back to the barn we worked some more in the outdoor arena. Star is stepping over well on both reins now. Overall an outstanding ride for both horses.

Second riding session

The second ride was even better than the first! Maria was with me and I threw her on Panda while I warmed up Star on the ground. I finished with some turn and go as well as a lot of banging on the saddle and stirrup straps. Maria hopped on and it was clear very soon that it was a good match. She was able to work up to sustained trotting on both reins. Maria said that Star thought about bucking once or twice, but I never noticed anything. She was ridden on a very loose rein and they looked great together.

After 25 minutes or so we took the horses outside. Panda was showing a lot of nervousness, but Star took no notice and was dead calm. Maria trotted her around the outdoor arena and one of the open pastures. At a halt Panda was striking out and gave me a medium sized rear of impatience, while Maria looked like she was on an old camp horse. What a great horse!

First Ride

Brian came over to help today and we both got to ride Star for her first ride session. I warmed her up, quietly and not pushing her much, but checking her over for sensitivity carefully. I saddled her and bridled her, then did some ground work off the bit and patted the saddle hard, dropped the stirrups, etc. I took the first ride with Brian leading her. She did not show much nervousness at all, but was very sluggish. Making her go forward was the entire challenge once Brian unhooked us. At one point I tried to get a trot and ended up landing on her neck after a mild buck. I stayed on and kept riding. She did not seem too upset to have me hanging on her neck and did not show any signs of wanting to buck a second time. She only bucked because I was kicking her to trot. We will have to work to get more impulsion the next time.

I went to get Panda and Brian hopped on Star while I rode Panda bareback. Brian rode for another 25 minutes and looked great. He got her to trot a little and even lope a few strides. Panda was hot and nervous, a disappointment to me. I was riding bareback and couldn't deal with it much. But it was a great session overall and a lot of fun to get Star started as a saddle horse!

Saddle and bridle!

Today was a really nice session. I started working in the halter alone, then added the saddle, then added the bridle. Panda watched from the side of the arena where she was tied. Star handled the saddle without incident. We did the C exercise as well as in-hand work off the bridle. Everything is feeling great and she is unbelievably calm. She is also moving much nicer now on both reins. Easy to get moving and lighter on the lead line. Right side getting much softer.

I rode Panda second and ended up ponying Star around the arena. There were other horses being worked in the arena so there was plenty of commotion. Both horses did great! This was also Panda's first time ponying another horse. We ponied at the walk only.

I stepped out of the arena for a second to grab a piece of tack, leading Star with me but leaving Panda tied. Panda pulled back and broke her halter the second we were around the corner--aaaaargh! I thought she was ready for this. I will have to pick up a second aussie tie ring to keep this from happening again. Panda and Star are really tight and hate being separated, both of them calling to each other when they are apart.

first bridle

I went back again Tuesday night to work on her tail for about 30 minutes. Her tail is the most matted that anyone of us have seen. It's about 4 inches in diameter and completely solid and rigid. It drags on the ground and gets caught in her legs when she walks. I cut off the last 12" and then started combing out the hair that remained, using lots of showsheen. This ruined a nice pair of gloves but we made some progress. There is still a solid core about 2" in diameter, but I managed to save a lot of the tail. One more session should get it under control. Afterwards we did some short groundwork.

On Wednesday I had a nice session. Sending and lunging over ground poles and between barrels. After sacking out I paused to put in her first bit before continuing her ground work. I started by resuming work her off the halter underneath the bridle, then I began flexions and sending off the bridle. She accepted the bridle very quickly and was backing off either rein very quickly. I ended working on picking up her front feet (so-so) and lunging her at the walk with the lariat around the hindquarters. She shows very little sign of getting excited over any of this stuff and is really easy to desensitize.

She is still a little difficult to catch and it took about 5 minutes to corner her in the mud lot for this session.

Second session

Today I caught Panda and Star and had them both in the arena together with me. Star did better on the ground but still was sticky when lunging or sending. Flexing to the halter better. She showed a little bit of brilliance when sent over the trotting poles--very light and bouncy. Otherwise on the lunge she pulls very hard and still doesn't get it. Tomorrow I will start working off a snaffle and see if that helps her soften up. Very good with sacking out exercises. I also rode over on Panda to where she was tied up and rubbed all over her. She initially was frightened to see me above her, but she calmed down quickly. She ties OK, but can't be left alone yet.

First session

Today Brian took Star to the Pink Barn and I did her first session of ground work. She backed very well using a stick and string. I tried sending, yielding hindquarters, yielding fore quarters, and simple lunging. She did everything well except lunging. No problem with desensitizing--I had ropes all over her, and she figured out the "follow the nose" exercise very quickly. I lost my touch a little bit when I tried lunging her at the trot. I suspect she will make quick progress.