My Only Comment for Today!

Worked with Bubbles on Longe Line

I spent time yesterday working with Bubbles on the lunge line. We like to keep all the horses fresh and responsive to their roles as mounts when we give lessons. Bubbles never forgets to properly respond to queues given. After longeing, a 50 pound sack was tied to his saddle (to emulate, as closely as possible, a child riding him) and I worked on queues given to him while leading him around for lessons. His responses are so positive that within 45 minutes of starting, he was finished...free to go roll in the arena and have some quiet time to himself. He is so easy to work with, it's like a dream.

Update on Marie's Lesson - Saturday Morning

To recap, Marie was having problems getting Pepper into a lope, so she rode Bear to learn how to do it. Once she learned the proper procedure on Bear, who is easier to get into a lope, Marie had to ride Pepper for her lesson on Saturday and get him successfully into the lope, applying proper leg aids.

So how did it go? Well...ultimately she did fantastic! However, for the first 12 tries she got him to lope after taking approximately 5 to 8 walks / trots. This was an improvement over the last time she rode Pepper, since she barely got him into 2 steps at the lope when he immediately broke down to a trot, walk, or whatever he wanted to do, not what Marie wanted him to do. So yesterday, after Frank got stern with her, she got him to go directly into the lope from both a walk and a trot. SUCCESS! She discovered she had not been giving him leg cues with a strong enough spur...she was tickling him and he was laughing at her! So, the majority of Marie's next lesson will be spent reinforcing the queues given to send Pepper into a lope immediately when asked from a walk or trot.

It's great when things go as planned!

It's Saturday...Usually a Great Day About All Things Fun and for Running Errands!

Well, it's 6:16 AM and I am actually running a little late. It's the beginning of the month when all ranch supplies get purchased for the month, so I only have to worry about getting the minor things we run out of as the month progresses. This allows me to concentrate on the more fun things going on at Sunset Ranch. So, once all chores are done around the ranch, I will be off buying feed and running errands. Then when I come back I will order supplies online. Once this is done, say about 9:30 AM, I can start fun things...today I get to take a short ride on Kentucky Lake / Tennessee River to test out a jet ski a friend wants to buy! Cool...then it's back to the ranch to train one horse and give another a bath. All of these make for a GREAT day!

This morning Frank is giving a lesson to Marie from 8:00 to 9:00 AM. Marie has been riding only a short while and she is doing fantastic! Check out some pictures of her riding Pepper in Gallery.

For Marie's last lesson, she rode Bear, instead of Pepper. This was a good change up for her, since Pepper and Bear are 180 degrees opposite in personality and riding temperament. Both are kind and gentle; however, those are their only common traits. Pepper, being so "laid back" needs to be pushed, making him an excellent beginner's and child's horse. Marie had been having an issue getting Pepper to go into a lope, so Frank put her on Bear for her next lesson. Bear needs no pushing what-so-ever, so it was easier for Marie to get Bear into a lope and learn how to ride it. Today, maybe to her chagrin, she will be riding Pepper again so Frank can assess what she learned while riding Bear. By creating a stronger foundation for Marie while riding Bear at the lope, Marie should be able to get Pepper to go into the lope more easily now. Look for a post about the results.

Well, it's getting light outside now, so off to open the chicken condo up, feed and water them, feed and water the rabbit, and feed the horses. Pepper has an early day and no one wants him grouchy since he did not get an ample breakfast!

....Later!