Weeee!

Pony-ing is something I never had the opportunity to do with T-Bone, but I found it to be not only a great form of exercise for Hampton (without stressing his young joints too much), but the old therapy horses at the barn also get good exercise ... and I find it to be quite entertaining! As you can see by the photo, Hampton is pretty bored with ring work now. He's ready to be ponyed out on the trail for sure. My goal is to do that this week. I've been on his back a few more times, and he's bored with that, too. Still needs more work on steering and stopping before we can go off without a handler, though. He's still very clueless about the bit - which is fine, I don't push the issue since he most likely needs his teeth done anyway and ... well he's just two. I'm just happy that he plods along with no bucking or tension. He'll be wormed tomorrow and maybe there won't be 500mph wind so I can actually work him a little. He probably would have behaved today, but the wind was so fierce and cold that it hurt my ears so I wimped out.

The bass player for Phish

I met Mike Gordon yesterday.




That is all.

Confirmed: He is actually 2 years old

So today I go out in the field to fetch Hampton. It's quite a walk out to the grass where the herd is grazing. I catch him, and go to walk toward the barn. The horse plants his feet and WON'T MOVE. I try to take him off balance, doesn't really work. So I get after him a bit and make him lunge a few circle to get him moving his feet. Great. Go to lead again. Stops. Won't move. If I stand beside him and swat him with the lead rope behind me, he flies backwards. So I end up backing him halfway up to the barn. I gave him several chances to go forward and walk with me, but he wouldn't - so we kept backing up. A few times he reared, and once he struck out with a front leg. Luckily I wasn't in firing range. He finally changes his mind as we get closer to the barn and the rest of the day went smoothly. I made it easy for him and just lunged in the round pen. But we were both out of breath and sweaty after trying to walk in from the pasture. GEEZ! Now I will be bringing a whip with me so that this doesn't happen again. Ah, babies.

Here horsie horsie



When I first showed Hampton the clippers, he spent about an hour pouting in the back of his stall snorting like a bull. (I had hung them on his stall door so he could deal with it while I went and rode). Turning them on also got the snorting reaction and cowering in his stall. Now I can turn them on, run them on his neck (obviously I don't clip his neck hair), and occationally touch his nose and clip some whiskers. He is still a bit leery, but mostly it's just ticklish now and he'll get over that, too. If only baths were making the same progress.



A thirsty pony!

My horse is a jungle-gym

Hampton is doing extraordinary. Today I ponied him off of one of the older school horses (I have done this a few times already), and then with the help of a friend I climbed aboard! I have sat on his back once before, but didn't go anywhere. Today we walked around just a bit. He was a bit unsure if he should walk - I'm sure it was part that he felt unbalanced, and part that he wasn't sure it that was OK. But he was not nervous at all. Not one bit of tension. My helper was even able to step away for a few minutes to snap some photos! :-) I don't intend to do anything but work on walking, stopping and steering with him until next year when we can start actually "riding." But I wanted to make sure he was ok with the whole "Yes, you let me ride you" thing before he got too enormously big.

I'm so impressed with his calm nature. All of this first ride stuff was going on at the same time that a loud dump truck was driving around the farm making loud noises. Never bothered Hampton.

All natural?

The lady from Harmony Natural Horse Care trimmed Hampton's feet this morning. It was my first experience with a "natural" barefoot trimmer. And Hampton's first experience with the farrier without any tranquilizer. He was, all considered, a pretty good boy. He got a little snotty about one back leg - even kicked out a few times - but for a giant 2 year old who was basically new to this game, he did well. I suspect the next trim or two will be even easier.

Anyway, the lady, Sue, was very nice. She was VERY patient with Hampton (most farriers would have whacked him numerous times). She explained that his two front feet did have a flare, which would grow out with time. All in all his feet are in good shape. I'm curious to see how he moves later this week with his new pedicure. I have read very little about natural barefoot trimming, but most of it has been positive. I realize down the line he will probably need shoes if we end up showing a bunch (merely for protection for all the hard surfaces), but for now I think I'll stick with this barefoot thing and see how it goes.

He's also scheduled for a message in the next week or two.

He needs wormed, too. Perhaps a Friday project.

I've also been back taking dressage lessons at Forrest Hill. I wish I could ride there 7 days a week. *sigh*

Sorry no photos today!

they grow up so fast

Hampton, the big gangly 2-year-old I got in July is about ready to be sat on. He has come a long way from an insecure fellow who could barely lead (mostly like a drunk sailor at that) to a quiet and sensible young horse. He lunges walk and trot with good brakes, long-lines in just a halter, wears a saddle with the girth "riding tight", picks up his feet, stands for grooming and fly spray, ties to the wall, stands quietly while I slap the stirrups around and jump all around him - even with a mounting block. He also is quiet when I lay over his back and will walk around with me there, too. Today, he learned how to pony off another horse (frankly, the old mare I was riding was more nervous than Hampton was) ... so seeing a human above him is no problem. All the foundation blocks are there. He just needs to wear a bridle. Which really should wait until he gets his teeth done. The most I will do this year is merely sit on him - MAYBE do small walking sessions. And that's it. Next year, he will begin lunging in side reins and than additional riding work. If everything goes as plan, I want to aim for the USEF 4-year-old young horse classes with him. But we'll see.

Today I also found an orange flag, a hula hoop and a foam "noodle" that I waved all around. He never blinked an eye.

(This photo is from about a month ago when he was wearing a saddle for the first time)

nevermind.

.... but probably not able to go now because of work.

(see below)