2007-2010 May 31st

May 31, 2007

It was incredibly hot today and very little breeze - the horses were standing and sweating.  I brought Phoenix up and gave him a thorough grooming - baby oil in the mane and tail, as well as a hoof treatment since his frogs and soles are dry and crumbling.  I just let him graze after that since I was sweating by that point too.  I put his fringe-style fly mask on his halter - we'll see how long he keeps it in place!

May 31, 2008

Missed the first hour of the clinic today but they just did a recap of yesterday's groundwork until noon so it wasn't a big deal.  Shana taught them the sending exercise right before lunh, then they rode in the afternoon.  It got a little exciting when one of the horses doing the cruising lesson thought that cantering near one of his buddies would save him while that horse spun around in circles in a flex but otherwise everyone did great.  Talked to Shana afterwards about Onyx's backing issue (she said to keep spanking until he goes forward) and Phoenix's canter (roundpen first then lots of One Rein Stops after 3 or 4 strides until he feels comfortable at the canter departure).  She is super nice!

May 31, 2009

Another exceptionally windy day, but we think the boys are now being kept outside 24/7, so after mucking stalls we didn't re-bed.  We groomed them in the barn aisles, though, and then let them graze in the front yard, while doing some groundwork.  Phoenix did the sending exercise between me and a construction barrel that he found frightening, and Onyx and I refined Lungeing for Respect - Stage 1 in the pasture before I did liberty work with both.

May 31, 2010

Turned the boys out on the side pasture today, but heavy rain and chance of thunderstorms tonight, so we didn't do much else with them.