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.  

Secret - training notes 31st Jan- inc. road work

Looking really good, great condition for the time of year.  Worked gently in sand school  due to frost. Nice side passes down the poles.  JB aware of his feet. Neck reining at walk was excellent.  His back ups and roll back are nice.  Lateral movement good.  Stops need to be a bit snappier, but the ground was too frozen to put much into them this morning.  Hacked out up the lane for some road work and traffic, very relaxed boy, stood calmly as he waited for the farm electric gate to open and cars drove passed him.  No problems, just very calm.  Nice around the Irish wolfhound loose on the yard.  Secret was more inquisitive than the dog, touched noses had a sniff, he didn’t even move his feet or ears, watched her as she roamed about.  

Sassy & Patches -31st Jan

Ground work assessment today with JB and HdR.  Both Sassy and Patches are  a very firm PL 1 (on line).  Continuation work now, adding in more obstacle.  Work in progress to PL2

TinTin 31st Jan

Very easy catch now, just strolled over to JB as soon as he went in the field with halter and rope.  Very nice to see.  Just brought him in for a bucket, and he stayed really quiet boxed for 3 hours, watching the comings and goings on the yard.  

Sassy - 26th Jan - 10th Ride

Sassy had ambition today, and it didn’t involve being ridden. Helen did her warm up, and despite her ground work following through, she was a tad edgy.  Hels got on but didn’t stay on for long, she was expecting it, Sassy had some energy in her back end.  JB next and found Helen to be spot on with her analysis.  Obviously it was her grumpy mare day today, completely full of herself.  She was fine for the farrier, and she had wanted to be caught, but just had a different view as to how the training session would go.  Get you next time Sassy. 

Patches - 26th Jan 10th Ride

Helen warmed up Patches today, starting with running her through the ground work skills.   She was again very good, both on the ground and in the saddle.  Very sensible, listening, following the feel, nice easy transitions.  Picking up her lateral work very nicely, just taking her slowly and considered, very soft. Whoa was very good today, and can't believe how nice her stops were, very neat and back end down.   Nice relaxed soft session again. She was very good for the farrier too.  

Cowboy Polo

Fun  for horse and rider.  

Hels helping Alex with his neck reining skills.....

Cilla - 21st Ride 25th Jan 2011

Completed all 7 games today, a very firm Parelli level 1 horse.  Level 2 in progess, and shouldn’t be too long. 

Walk and trot very relaxed today. Easy to keep moving, easy through transitions, very easy horse to work with now.  Lateral movement still needs improving.  Leg yield turn on the forehand improving. 

Very impressive little horse today

Sassy - 25th Jan - 9th Ride

Very firm groundwork Parelli Level 1.  Ridden work she is making improvements.  Really soft feel, very grounded.  Moves forward easily and will be easy to progress. Very nice paces, and not at all fazed by the drainage ditch.  Just a little impatience ! However overall JB was grinning.   

TinTin ground work training 25th Jan

Tin Tin is starting to be more inquisitive, at last, such a positive sign.   He came in again for a special bucket of feed, boxed alone on the yard and was much happier than ever we seen before.  Spent 20 mins working through his Parelli Levels 1  and he is responding nicely to them.  Listens well.  About half way there, he knows where his feet are, yields well to pressure, follows the feel through his halter. He is a lot calmer and less re-active.  Jonathan is doing a nice job grounding him in. 

Patches - 20th Jan 2011

Profile

Foaled:  May 28th  2007

Sorrel Mare, very kind, and very inquisitive, always wants a stroke when she sees you, and very interested in what you are doing.  She is out of Shortie who is an all time favourite here on the farm.  Still got some growing to do, with nice paces.  Again some lovely breedlines.  A nice mare,  we are keeping her, and hopefully she will produce us some nice colts for starting. 

David Stuart started and she has been out on experience rides with him too.  She was ready to hand over very quickly, but we find the combination of our own foals with his starts very pleasing. 

20^th Jan 2011

We tend to push to the side our own stock we are keeping and concentration on the ones ready for sale, and because of this Patches, like Sassy has only previously had one very short ride on her since David handed her over.

David Stuart - starting Patches

JB on Patches - 20th Jan 2011

However today she did not let us down, she stood still for grooming, and stood tied very nicely around the sand school.  You can tell instantly she has had a really good foundation on her, follows the feel nicely and now ready for some progression work.  We couldn’t do much with her today as the ground was still frozen this morning, but what we did do was very nice.  She was a little hesitant jumping a small drainage ditch, but perhaps needed a bit more time to put her nose on it.  She was a good example of a horse not having focus, and was unsure as to how big and deep it was. She got there in the end and became very confident with it. 

Sassy - 20th Jan

Sassy standing tied.

Profile

Foaled:  May 31^st  2007

Sorrel Mare, lovely white blaze,  very kind.  Nice bone, still got some growing to do, but should make a good size for a quarter horse.

Again some lovely breedlines,  Colonel Freckles, Peppy Nina, Nu Cash, and thats only going back a couple of generations.  A nice mare,  we are keeping her, and hopefully she will produce us some nice colts for starting. 

David Stuart started and she has been out on experience rides with him too.  She was ready to hand over very quickly, but we find the combination of our own foals with his starts very quick and very pleasing. 

She stands tied, farrier, vet, dentist, and loads. 

David Stuart on Sassy, she had a very nice start. 

20^th Jan 2011

We tend to push to the side our own stock we are keeping and concentration on the ones ready for sale, and because of this Sassy has only previously had one very short ride on her since David handed her over.

JB- on Sassy 20th Jan 2011

However today she did not let us down, she stood still for grooming, and stood tied very nicely around the sand school, not at all fidgety.  You can tell instantly she has had a really good foundation on her, follows the feel nicely and now ready for some progression work.  We couldn’t do much with her today as the ground was still frozen this morning, but what we did do was very nice. 

TinTin ground work training 21st Jan

Much less sensitive today, caught nicely, willing to come in.  Usual bucket of feed.   Was boxed for 3 hours, a lot quieter today.  

Bluey- 5th Ride 19th Jan

(Bobby & Bluey)

Groomed in stable and tacked up.  Tied one to rail by school and rode one at a time.  One stood for 20 minutes whilst the other was ridden. Johnny is preparing them for a Light Calvery Clinic, (Drill, charging and lance or sword brandishing) introduced the sword to them and rode with it clanking by his side and brandishing it around. 

Bluey- this boy has really nice paces, showing better collection.  Worked on his stops today, and showed really good improvement.  

It was a great day for working outside, nice and sunny

Bobby - 7th Ride 19th Jan

(Bobby & Bluey)

Groomed in stable and tacked up.  Tied one to rail by school and rode one at a time.  One stood for 20 minutes whilst the other was ridden. Johnny is preparing them for a Light Calvery Clinic, (Drill, charging and lance or sword brandishing) introduced the sword to them and rode with it clanking by his side and brandishing it around. 

Bobby needs more collection in canter but still going nicely.  Went over smaller jumps and went over trotting poles. Nice and relaxed in trot today. 

Bobby notes for 17th Jan 2011

6th Ride

Groundwork very good this morning, had him jumping over some raised poles, very nice,  steering good.  Stops needed some work today, not as snappy as they should be. 

Secret Training Notes 17th Jan 2011

8^th Ride 17^th  

Lighten up today, following the feel better, big improvement on base maneuvers, and lateral movement improvement too. Generally very pleasing morning. 

TinTin ground work training 17th Jan

Bought him in, lot easier to catch, despite the tractor delivering the haylage.  He has a bucket of feed:  kelp, cider vinegar, barely, chopped grass, and a splash of  vitamin concentrate. 

He was left on his own boxed for a couple of hours and then work started. It’s obvious today that this little chap has calmed down loads, he is following the feel, knows where his feet are.  Walking round jumping blocks and over poles far more relaxed in general, calmer attitude.  Developing a good foundation.

Cilla

20^th Ride - 14^th Jan 2011

20 mins in the sand school today in the heavy rain.  Bit reluctant to work today, worked on her stops, and finished on a high. Feel she needs to go out next time.  

Secret -m14th Jan 2011

20 mins in the sand school.  Little bit resistance to start with, he has got out of the routine during the bad weather.  But he softened towards the end and began enjoying himself.  Worked on his stops and saw improvement in the short time he was out there. 

TinTin

This youngster was much improved today.  Less head diving into things, took notice more, lighter and softer with his ground work and got his feet in the right place.  Was boxed after ground work session and left in for a couple of hours. His eye softened again in the box and took an interest on what was happening in the yard.   Went back out to the field with more manners, and even joined up with Jonnie instead of bucking off in all directions.  Good session.  Training plan is to bring him in three times a week and do 20 mins ground work on him, box him, feed supplements and turn out. He is to be started by David in May.

Profile and Training notes for Secret

Profile

Foaled: 6^th June 2005 

We bought him as a yearling and left him to be a horse.  

Experience

DS: started June 2009:   Has had about 30 rides.   

Helen rode him on the DS clinic after his start.  Rode in the arena with other horses, and rode out too.  DS has put a really nice start on him, Helen was impressed especially when Secret rode through a stream which came up to the top of her riding boots.  This horse has nice manners. 


Working with Jonnie

27^th Oct 2010:

 Transitions need to be a bit snappier, and bit hard on the leg to move forward. 

 10^th November 

Carsington Water.  Very slow in his walk this morning. Trot, canter and gallop - good

Needs to improves his brakes and react to seat to slow him down.  Overall very good. Ready for some school work.

14^th November 

1^st go at trail course.  Side passes down pole reasonable, little bit of resistance. Backing up good. Rope excellent.  More transition work. Really laid back today. 

 22^nd November 

Upward transitions are good.  Walk to trot very good.  Trot to canter almost there. Responsive mouth, light in the face, following the feel. Rolls back are nice, 360 turns…. Looking good. He’s starting to listen because he’s beginning to really understand.  Lighter, softer,quicker over L shaped poles. Picking up the neck reining.  Getting on to a good platform and really into learning.  Much lighter on the leg, needs to maintain gait a bit more. Using steady squeeze and rhythmic pressure with the get down rope.  In all, a very pleasing day with Secret. 

 14^th Jan 2011

 Secret is looking really good.  Nice paces, very easy going today, nice light feel, relaxing session. 

Profile and Training notes for TinTin

Profile

Foaled:  April 07 2009 

We bought him as a yearling and left him to be a horse.  

David Stuart started basic ground work and loading in October 2010.  He had to be lassoed to be caught at this time.  

Jan 2011 had a abscess and was boxed for a few days, which he didn’t like.   

Helen has done a bit of work on him for the farrier 

12 Jan 2011

Jonnie commences basic ground work in preparation for David’s visit in May2011.  

Ropes around legs, back and belly without him moving in all directions especially up.  Once he had calmed he started moving in the direction he was asked, and continued doing everything asked of him.

Suggest same again every week from now on.  

Profile and Training notes for Cilla

Profile

Foaled: 21^st April 2005 

Measured 14^th November 2010   14’1 HH  and a bit

Wormed 14^th November 2010

We bought her in and left her to be a horse.  Was very anxious about life.  Abandon two foals now in training 

Experience

David Stuart of the round pen start for Cilla

DS: started July 2010:   had 3 rides. Bracey to start with. Ridden twice with snaffle.  Needs to be ridden forward. Put 3 more rides on her in Oct 2010. Ridden out on trails and used on the open day. Huge difference in this mare now she has been put into work. 

Working with Jonnie

7th ride :  27^th Oct 2010 

She has been a lot freer today, better transitions, better focus, and more responsive.  Picking out feet was good, but she is nosey and tries to turn head and watch you!! 

First time with the hosepipe was really nice and she relaxed in to it very well. 

Gate opening and closing whilst being ridden, for the first time was not bad at all, she was listening when asked,  pause, wait and stand.  Looked good once she knew what the aim was. 

Not very good for EP only did her front feet. 

8^th ride : 5^th November

Out at Carsington.  Loaded and traveled well.  Jogger put her off into a 180 and sheep stopped her.  Looked at most things on the way out.  On the long straights she was moving off the leg nicely, and tackled bridges etc nicely.  Good on the way back. 

9^th Ride : 9^th November 

Middleton Top.  Needs shoes.  Moving off the leg better, lateral movements better,  now goes through the gates with rider.

Ready for some school work 

10^th Ride 14^th November 

Improved softness and more responsive. Needs work on western maneuvers.  Back up good. Side pass down pole for her first try was not bad. Feeling better.  Not completely listening, doesn’t like being asked, and if unsure she goes bracey. When she knows what is ask of her, with no confusion she really relaxes. 

11^th ride  18^th November 

Very good day today.  She is working well and through on her lateral movements, getting the brace out.  Started neck reining with the teardrop exercise (flexion pattern / parelli bow-tie) Her stops are improving - really nice.  Transitions improving and following the feel. 

12^th Ride - 26^th November 

Very good, very soft response, slightly better to the left than the right.  Much better off the leg, following the feel and her understanding a lot more, very good and very pleasing.  Working on the exercises up to neck reining, and she is starting to feel it.   Canter needs a bit of work, but choppy.  Stands tied really well either in the trailer or outside waiting for tack.   Parelli Level 2 for Ground and Ridden now.

13^th Ride 29^th November 

Resistance to work today,  but more that happy to walk trot and canter.  She just wanted to have fun in the snow.  Got herself in place for gate opening and closing.  JB to try a different bit with her next time. 

14^th Ride 13^th December

Greatly improved today, nice snappy ground work, although a bit reluctant on the left bend.  Follows the feel loads better since last ride, although needs to be a bit lighter on the feel for neck reining.  Good work from her today … Jonnie is smiling.

14^th Ride 15^th December 

Really good, nice and quiet session, following feel in walk and trot very relaxed. Canter a bit rushed. Calm and accepting of feel, less resistant.  Key is a 15 min ground work session prior to ride and seems to be helping her brain.  Jonnie is very very pleased with her.  Working her canter next, and into lope.  

16^th ride 30^th December

Brilliant saying yes to everything, excellent results today. Smooth walk and trot,  almost there into canter.  Really nice smart stops.  Enjoys lateral movement.  Ground work good, listens and reacts.  Looks in very good condition too, put some weight on over the last couple of weeks.  All in all very pleased with her.  She’s back out on a hack tomorrow. 

17^th Ride 31^st December

Hacks out around Carsington.  Nice 2 hour hack by all accounts., she is getting very comfortable, a lot easier, and listening.  She has a nice gait.  Getting use to being out again after the sand school training.    Also included some road work today and seems unphased by the traffic., although not too keen on push chairs today for some reason !!!

5^th Jan - Front shoes fitted for trail work

18^th Ride 10^th Jan 2011

Cilla was very very good today, either in front or following Bluey.  7 miles around Carsington, riders had to get on and off due to black ice.   Not spooking at anything.  Passed a lot of things today:  wooden bridges, top speed cyclists, trucks, bin lorry with flashing lights, sheep, through the visitors centre car park with moving cars and people, fencing repairs with machinery hammering and banging: loud noises.  Ridden by both by Jonnie and Helen today. 

19^th Ride - 12^th Jan 2011

Arena: Brilliant Session:  working through her moves slowly today. Roll backs, stops, light soft feel work, nice lateral, and she likes and responded to all of it.  Well done. 

Profile and Training notes for Bobby

Profile

Foaled: 26^th April 2005 

We bought him as a yearling and left him to be a horse.  Was prone to having an abscess or two, but hasn't had any for years now, need to X-ray and check out his rear left after having a really back infection in his hoof. 

Vaccinations: next due:  None given 

Experience

DS: started June 2009:   Has had about 7 rides with Dave, and 4 hacks out. 

Working with Jonnie

1^st November 2010:

1st Ride:  More transitional and lateral work required.  Lighter feel than the others, listening and stops ok.  Nice working stock Quarter Horse. 

24^th November 2010

Bobby has been given the all clear  by Gill (Equine vet of the year) at Pool House, his back left has healed very nicely and ready for work.

2^nd ride with Jonnie 13^th Decemeber 2010 

General fitness needs to be improved, personally I think it was the fresh bale of hayalge !!  Holds no tension/brace. Feels very good. Ground work ( parelli) very nice.  Generally likes to look around at first, just to check  there aren’t any bears in the arena, and after that he is really nice.  He is a very nice, very reasonable horse and we will improve on this with training. 

3^rd ride 30^th December

Bobby was a bit sluggish again today, and very behind the leg, needs tuning up a little. He gives to the bit, but doesn’t really want to follow it through so well at the moment.  Needs firm fair positive affirmation, and if he’s given constant leg he will just stand there.  Sounds a bit lazy to me, but maybe again he’s eaten far too much of the new bale of haylage this morning, his belly would certainly confirm that !!

4^th Ride 31^st December

2 hour hack around Carsington Reservoir including road work with Helen

5^th Ride - 3^rd Jan

Hack Middleton Top.  Starting to listen more, needs lateral improvement. Good at a straight line hack, doesn’t spook, just looks, but nothing.  Very happy just to sit either behind Alex or in front.  Need to get him back into the arena before next hack out, and look for improvement. 

5^th Jan - Front shoes fitted for trail work