Harry Halter Trains / Plays !!

24th Feb - 2011 -Naughty Harry

Harry was full of himself today,  as if Spring was in the air.  However he took to his little halter, and responding to pressure and being led around.  Slowly and gently, taking time as his eyes opened wide, and we waited for the brace to soften.  Once comfortable Helen started on picking up his feet, wide eyed again, he balanced for the new game.  Good session with Harry.

Harry - Foaled August 2010

Harry is in with his mum for a few days, so we have taken the opportunity to use the time to start on his ground work, up until this point all his training has been given by his mum and the herd.  He is however use to us, as we never miss the opportunity to stroke a foal, in the field or in the barns.   How nice it is to have a inquisitive willing colt to work with, whose eyes open wide when introduced to something new, and then curiosity gets the better of him as he steps forward to place his nose on the objects.   Slowly and softly we introduce him to being touched and stroked all over. Watching him step forward to look, and then comes the licking and chewing.  That was yesterday, and today slowly and softly we introduced the lariat, and soon it was slipped over his head and he started to yield to pressure. More thinking, more licking and chewing, and yawning, hard work thinking and doing.  A small rope halter tomorrow.   Less haste, less work later. Nicer for all of us.

Bluey - 18th Feb

Good session today, settled and quiet with very little effort, following the feel nicely at walk, beginning to move away from the leg laterally.  Bit sticky to turn on his haunches needs work on transition into trot okay, but a bit choppy,  took him in circles to slow him down and he responded well .  Stood well for tack up and and untacking. 

Tacking Up Bluey

Cilla - 18th Feb 28th Ride

Softly softly improving transitions, and working on being smother through them, both up and down. Nice and relaxed in trot and canter today. Cilla is doing really well.  Has the makings of a nice horse.  Looking well today and out with the Wolfhounds. 

Cilla tacking up before training 

Checking out the Wolfies

Cilla - 11th & 16th Feb

11^th Feb - 27^th Ride 

Ha, Cilla was very reluctant this morning, something to do with a lovely new bale of haylage arriving, and wanting to have her fair share with her mates. Didn’t want to leave the herd, so she was very resistive 

16^th Feb - 28^th Ride 

Really good today, nice and soft feel at walk, turns her circle, upward transitions a little rushed today. Canter a bit rushed and trot too, needs work.  Needs pushing forward, so taking her out and about next time, to keep busy, this will bring her into focusing. 

Bluey - 16th Feb - 5th Ride

Not settled today, missing Bobs still,  worked on softness and getting him to settle, bit of disconnection going on.

Front shoes off yesterday and measuring him for boots … 

Bobby - 11th Feb

Nice session, quiet yet responsive to aids.  Did everything nicely, but stops could be snappier, very good to saddle up, chilled boy today. 

14^th Feb 

Bobby passed his 5* vet check and now has a new home with Clare.  We wish them both many happy hacks. 

Bobby - 9th Feb - likes the polo stick

Bobby has been introduced to the polo stick this morning, first with the friendly game, and at walk, then into full swing, very nice boy totally unfazed.  Went well. 

Worked with softness on mouth. Working on light touch and responses…very nice and light on the lateral movements too.  

Nice turns on his haunches, good and light to respond.   Walk, trot and canter with stops in all,  looking and feeling good, getting himself into a nice position for his stops now. 

Brabus - 7th Feb

Profile

Foaled:  May 18^th 2009  

He is one of ours, out of  Starlight Express (Barbie) by Dash.  A really nice gelding kind and inquisitive,  and very very chilled.    

David Stuart started basic ground work and loading in 2010 and ready for David to start him this year. 

7^th Feb 2011

Brabus very calm and confident in these gales today.  Bought him out of the field,  easy catch, nice gate manners, crosses the road without worry, and not phased by the coming and goings on the yard.  Nice quiet grooming session, made a bit of a fussed when tied, kicked out a little, but soon settled.  Responds really nicely to steady pressure, backs up, moves hind quarters.  Good around girth area, and stirrup positions, moves to pressure.  Going to be a nice easy start for DS this one, as to be expected from our home bred stock. 

Peaches - 7th Feb

Profile

Foaled:  June 10^th 2008  

She is one of ours out of Two Dot by Dash.  A really nice mare kind and inquisitive,  and very pretty with it.  She has really nice paces like her mum, it will be a shame to part with her.   

David Stuart started basic ground work and loading in 2009, and it 2010 he started her.  Really nice start for Peaches and she was completely unproblematic.  David has put  5 rides on her and she should be ready for him to hand over this year to our trainer. 

7^th Feb 2011

Very calm and confident in these high winds today.  Put her through her 7 games, progressive training to achieve PL1.  Her first time in work since DS left last  Autumn.  

TinTin - 7th Feb

Easy catch this morning again.  Gate manners have improved, walking with head down, even in the wind.   Came in for his bucket of feed.  Touched all over, even in those sensitive places.  Picked his feet up well and stood.  Calm and confident despite the gales. 

7th Feb - Patches ground work

Same as Sassy, these two mares are  very very very good in extreme weather conditions.  Patches has also taken the young foal under her wing, and they are hanging together !! (Interestingly Patches and Harry are brother and sister)  Harry's mum is never on the scene.  Looks like another confident inquisitive foal, couldn't ask for more.  

Patches- Far too windy  and gusty to ride out today.  The humans found it hard standing up, and the wind in our ears was horrendous so continued with groundwork. 

However Sassy was not troubled by the wind.  All 7 games today, quietly and calmly regardless of the gales.  Progressing with the  PL2 groundwork. 

7th Feb - Sassy ground work

Far too windy  and gusty to ride out today.  The humans found it hard standing up, and the wind in our ears was horrendous so continued with groundwork. 

However Sassy was not troubled by the wind.  All 7 games today, quietly and calmly regardless of the gales.  Progressing with the  PL2 groundwork. 

Cilla - 2nd Feb - Groundwork Skills

Looking well, put on muscle, good condition, following her feel, spring in her step today.  She enjoys training.  Pl2 progress very very good, she learns very quickly.  Nice mare.

Secret - 2nd Feb - Groundwork Skills

Very lively the morning, had an opinion about trot and canter online.  He was excited to Cilla though and impress her ! Showing off.   Ground skills are much improved, very responsive, soft feel, listening well.  Firm PL1 and PL2.   

Patches - 2nd Feb - Groundwork

Ground work going well, gaining confidence in the  driving game, yo yo game to be improved.  Level 2 going well good progress today. Very calm and gentle,  listens well, inquisitive. 

Sassy - 2nd Feb - Ground Work

Good ground work session, worked through PL1 again, bit of fine tuning.  Started PL2 - going very nicely, listens well, learning not to rush and gaining confidence. 

TinTin - 2nd Feb

Very easy catch. Very nice to see again.   Just brought him in for a bucket, and he stayed really quiet boxed for 4 hours, watching the comings and goings on the yard.  Turn out was calm and smooth, followed nice and calm, no barging or rushing forward, waited for gates to be opened and rope halter to be taken off.  Wasn’t in a rush.