2007-2010 May 3rd

May 3, 2007

I just couldn't get motivated today and neither could Phoenix, so I groomed him and then did a very short lesson in the upper pasture.  I rode him bareback and worked on my balance at the trot, then put him on a loose rein again and did a bunch of flexion and one-rein stops.  He was really stiff today, though, and bored - you could tell he just didn't want to be bothered.  After, I took him out and let him graze between the pastures while I sat with him.  Vaseline in the ears today, as the flies are laying eggs.

May 3, 2009

Beautiful Spring day with the horses - I even got sunburnt!  Phee let me catch him - in the pasture, while grazing, no less!  Clipped his ears and he fell asleep, then groundwork, including: fast backing, 360-degree slap and walk, and circle driving.  Rode him bareback along the driveway - loose rein, one-rein stops, serpentines and walk/trot transitions.  Onyx's groundwork included: Lungeing for Respect-stage 1, 360-degree slap and walk (first time!) and fast backing.  Rode him bareback on the driveway, too - LOTS of one-rein stops before he stood still and waited for cues.  Desensitized him to ear-clipping after.

May 3, 2010

Heavy rain overnight, but a beautiful day and evening.  We turned the boys out on the side pasture when we got home and let them graze for an hour.  We had our supper then Dave helped me "power-groom" Onyx so I could ride him before it got dark.  He was incredibly heavy on the bridle, so I just rode him bareback on the property doing lots of bending around trees and such before we rode down Substation a ways.  Did some poking when he didn't flex softly to the halter, too.  Dave groomed a very muddy Phoenix while I was riding Onyx.