Soldier - 7/2/12

Again, with the inconsistency....

Rode today with the idea that we were going to start advancing him.  His releases are not perfect, but with patience he usually picks up what I want.  I also started asking him to turn toward the fence, this is more about moving his feet and him not getting his feet stuck in the ground.  He did really well and I even started asking him to move forward with some light contact on his mouth.  I know this seems like really slow progress, but if you spend more time now...you spend less time later (I stole that saying!).  From now till  the 13th, Soldier will be getting a lot of work.  So we should see a lot of improvement, but all in all, Soldier is not as far along as some, but he is getting there.

Soldier - 6/26/12

Started today with a little warm up on the ground.  Basic ground skills, but mostly to take any fight out of him...since I will be using a snaffle today, I did not want a blow up.  When he was ready to ride, I reached down and asked him to open him mouth and pretty as you please he accepted the bit.  Good day at Black Rock!  I didn't push real hard, but we spent the day releasing to the pressure and learning how to circle with a little pressure.

Soldier - 6/25/12

Started today with the side pull, but was taught a lesson about checking tack and keeping tack in the proper shape.  Now I have had this side pull for about 20 years and probably not used in 15, so its just been hanging there...in the heat and dust...rotting.  Today, after a little warm up with releasing to pressure...Ol' Soldier had a breakdown.  He freaked out a little and I did the right thing and pulled him into a one rein stop....BAM...the headstall broke.  I think the released surprised him and much as me.  He immediately stopped!  I figured that this was as good a time as any to do some groundwork.  So we worked on some yeilds and such on the ground for a couple of hours and called in day.

Soldier - 6/22/12

Ok, it's been a couple of weeks and consistant I have not been!  With rain and the kids schedule (I thought summer would be easier on that...) I have not rode much the last two weeks.

When I rode Soldier today he, of course, was a little rusty.  So today was basically a refresher on some of the basics.  Releasing to pressure was a biggy and it is something I work on everytime I ride any horse. Still riding with the side pull, since it is a bit of a fight with the snaffle.  So there is it short and sweet, spent the whole ride working on releasing to pressure.  Release left, release right, walk in a circle and release....