Report for 9/20/01

I pulled Frosty out of his pen first off and groomed him and combed his mane and forelock. Then I picked up all 4 feet (not at the same time obviously) and picked them all out. I think Frosty is ready for his first trim and he appears to be getting a little long. He handled all of this very well. I also fly sprayed him as with the return of warm weather the flies are out in force. He accepted this without hesitation. Which was really great considering it was only his 3rd time being sprayed.

Cliff then got in with him and did some flag work. Which he didn't like at first but with some persistence settled down and accepted the flag touching him anywhere. Then Cliff worked his way up to the bareback pad which he didn't even flinch at. Cliff touched him everywhere with it and he quietly stood in place. So Cliff put it on and tightened it up slowly to which Frosty still did not react. Then they strolled around the round pen for a while.

Cliff then took the pad off and took him outside the pen and had him working over some ground poles and dirt mounds. He likes to explore and loves to be outside.

Jackie Glanville was able to make it out and worked with Moose. It took a few tries for her to get up to him and get a halter on him but then he settled down. She groomed him for a while and then I entered the pen and applied fly spray. He did very well also. Jackie worked on leading and bending and then took him out to the round pen. We did some team work and worked on both sides of him at the same time. He is very concerned about this and keeps trying to get both of us back on the same side.

Jackie then took Moose for his first walk outside the round pen. He was even calmer outside and took ground poles like they weren't even there. He really stays focused on his handler. Jackie did some massage with Moose and got him extremely relaxed it was amazing to watch the transformation. Moose is putting on weight very nicely and is truly a joy to watch him walk around. He is very elegant and very aware of where his feet are for such a young horse.

Yogi got the night off and we are hoping to be able to work him tonight. We are going to change things up a little again and I am going to get in the pen with him. We are also working on constructing a "safe squeeze" for use this weekend.

9-24-01

We had our first official press visitor tonight. Jill for the Tooele Transcript joined our training session to see how the boys are doing.

Sharron Evans was also able to join the party. We first started with Frosty. He was being extremely shy and didn't want to show off. But we talked him into coming out of his stall and showing off a little of his skill. We picked up feet, groomed him, and even put a bareback pad on him again. Then he went for a little stroll around the place with Cliff in the lead.

Then it was our star pupil's turn. Moose front and center. He has filled out so nicely and is really growing into his body nicely. We also worked on leading over obstacles and backing nicely as well as bending to the sides. Sharron was able to work her way back to his tail on both sides without to much apprehension. We think Moose is about ready for the bareback pad himself so that is what we will be working towards this week.

9-25-01

Normally Tuesdays are "off" days for us but Jackie called ahead of time and made arrangements for Cliff to be there. Jackie worked mostly with Frosty today. Cliff was working on installing lights so was up on a ladder. This was a new concept for both Moose and Frosty but both seemed to handle it pretty well. Jackie worked on yielding with Frosty. Again Frosty showed his comedian side. He stole Jackie's glove and took off with it. It was quite funny to watch. She also put the bareback pad on him again. She worked on walking past bags hanging on the fence to do a little desensitizing. She did a lot of hopping around and preparing him for the movement of someone climbing on.