November 4th, 2010

I did try the EquiAmi yesterday on Andy. It was a bit hard to figure out how to adjust it but he was quite game in trying it out. It did seem to shorten him up a bit but I still have a terrible time with the canter transition. He just runs into it which is kind of the same problem I have when I ride him. Actually yesterday he ran into the canter and then took off bucking but I got him back pretty quickly. I worked him for about 15 minutes then unharnessed him and let him tear off into the pasture. He needs a running buddy to help him get rid of his yayas.

Nothing today. It rained much of the day and I kept them in until about 1. It has stopped raining but it is cold and I am lazy.

EquiAmi

My new EquiAmi lunging aid came in the mail. I think I am going to muster the energy to try it on Andy right now.

Cato

My Jack Russell Cato has the horses completely rattled. He stands on our porch and barks incessantly. The horses have decided that his alarm should be heeded and are standing in their pasture looking for trouble.

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 Night Time

Andy and Boozer spent the night outside.

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Andy and Boozer went to Chapel Hill today to have their feet done. Andy got x-rays and new shoes. It turns out he is back sore because his hind toes are so long. He has plenty of sole and with his new Natural Balance shoes should be ready to rock'n'roll. Boozie has feet of steel with no need for shoes. At 25 he doesn't do that much anyhow.

As I am growing weary from stall cleaning already, I am going to leave them turned out tonight. I am hoping that they will chase the coyotes out of the pasture.

Tomorrow if it isn't raining I will trot Andy around in the field and see if he feels better.

Oh, Andy weighed 1410 pounds today. He is looking a bit thin but I am not going to try to put weight on him.

Andy = Olando

Olando is Andy's registered name. Everyone confuses it with Orlando which I hate. This is a photo of Andy in his pre-me days.

November 1st, 2010

Today I lunged Andy for 20 minutes in side reins with an eggbutt snaffle. He was very well behaved even with idiot Boozer running around like crazy in the pasture. He did some trot work, about 10 walk-trot and trot-walk transitions in both directions, and about 6 trot-canter transitions. The trot-canter transitions are very bad and this is what I really need to get better. I have a lunging cavesson but couldn't use it because it was too small, even though it is horse sized. I ordered a new lunge line and an EquiAmi which is a bitting rig from England.

The plan is to work him on the ground two days a week, flat him two days a week, and then hack him one or two days a week. Once we perfect our canter, we will move on to jumping. Hopefully this will happen by year end.

This is Boozer.