Events

Mondays
Jumping Fun Classes at Canterbrooke, (Ames)

Tuesdays
Riding Communication Classes at The Paddock (Truro) .

May 8-9
Clinic at Catalpa Corner

April 10 and 11
Clinic at Catalpa Corner.

June 4-6
Clinic and Schooling Show Catalpa Corner
(Iowa City)

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Waiver form

"Only way that horses will win is to sit there and spend time with them. Show 'em that you're trying to help 'em. Love 'em. Talk to 'em. Get to know 'em. Now that's what you gotta do. You love 'em and they'll love you, too. People might call me crazy, but that's the way it is."

-Eddie Sweat, groom for Riva Ridge and Secretariat

Training Log for Geordi Butler

Subsequent log entries can be found here.

1/16/10 Out for a hack in the snow and some dressage work. He is very amused by going out for a hack alone. The traffic going by on the highway doesn't fluster him and he is happy to play along with whatever game I choose for the day. Today was picture day and I was riding him when I snapped the snow photos on the home page and some snowdrift stuff on the way. He was happy to stand by himself on a slack rein (and very still!) while I did so. Then we had a nice school (many of the hoofprints on the circle in the snow picture are his) and a relaxed hack back in. The thing I am most pleased with in Geordi's training is his attitude. He is a real winner.

1/15/10 Snow is melting so took him out to the far reaches of the pasture, past the scary jumps and working next to the country highway. Nothing fazed him and he had some nice work in all three gaits. Very good.

1/13/10 He remembered everything from yesterday and built on it today. Had some glorious stretch in trot and some pretty good work in canter. Coming right along. Excellent.

1/12/10 Worked a lot on stretching over his topline and working while distracted (Jay was working with the tractor nearby and the other horses were nosing around nearby. I did this purposefully to help him learn to focus on me, which he did very well. He had some nice stretch in trot and canter

1/11/10 Yay, back in the tack! Geordi was really happy to go. We were working in the outdoor, where I had shovelled out the higher drifts. It wasn't too bad actually. Did a lot of work on half halt and coming over his back and down his neck. He got a little impatient with me a few times about just standing still and chilling out, but he got over himself and did quite well.

12/30/09 Should have turned the radio off...

12/29/09 Lots of very nice flatwork. He is starting to come over his back a little better and stay within my aids.

12/28/09 Brought him in and tacked up. He is holding weight very well, despite the cold. Today's topic was going to the left rein in canter. He'd much rather sit on the right rein than stand up and push to the left, but he is coming along in that regard. Some lateral work, especially leg yield. Very nice.

12/23/09 Brought him in and tacked up. Worked on leg yield, coming over his back, half halt and collecting and lengthening in canter. He did quite well.

12/22/09 While grooming, I checked his sheath to see how clean it might be. Not so much. So I, under protest from him at first, in the form of a few mild cow kicks, removed the larger chunks of stuff. After just a minute or two he figured out I was not there to harass his "bits" and tolerated it just fine. After the major chunks were removed, I promptly washed my hands! Next mild day we need to do a sheath cleaning. This isn't exactly how I do it, but close enough for rock and roll. Then I tacked up and rode. Today's topic was walk and trot leg yield, specifically staying connected over his back while doing so. He got better and better. Some work in canter expansion and collection. Very good.

12/21/09 Brought him in and took a good look at his body condition. I am loving the way he is looking now. He's quite the man these days. Nice weight, some mucle over his back, I'd like to see more over his neck, but coming along. Worked a fair bit on half halt, leg yield and canter departs and halts. Very nice work.

12/19/09 Geordi is one of the most agreeable horses I have ever met. He always has his ears up when being ridden and is polite and friendly by default. Today we worked on coming from behind in canter transitions, leg yield in trot and transitions from walk to trot. It was a lot of stuff and he handled it well and got better and better. Good man.

12/16/09 Full disclosure: Yesterday sI went to 3G from ISU, changed into my breeches and realized I forgot my paddock boots and half chaps. Penny loafers do not cut it in 20 degree weather, so the horses had to make do with a pet and cookies. But today was better. Did a lot of transition work from trot to canter, which is coming along nicely. Also much leg yielding, asking him to stay between my hand and leg rather than "pushing the square" (made by the bit, reins and hands). Becoming more engaged behind. Yay!

12/12/09 Worked in the arena with emphasis on coming underneath himself in canter, both collected and lengthened. He is starting to have better muscle and producing better work all the time. He was quite proud of himself, as he should be. :)

12/11/09 Had a nice warmup and workout in the indoor, working on canter departs, coming over his back, coming under himself with his hind feet and keeping the rhythm in trot. He did very well. Then a cool down hack in the snow, which we both very much enjoyed.

12/7/09 Brought him in and let him snack on hay while I groomed him. He is in pretty nice weight for this time of year. Yay. He was re-shod in front with borium and snow poppers on Friday, so he is good to go in the snow in the pasture. I tacked up and rode in the arena. We did a lot of stretching and flexibility work in trot, including 10 m circles in the corners of the arena and at E and B (half way down the long wall). He got better and better. Then we did a fair amount of work in canter, working on stretching over his back, which he really had some nice work on eventually.

12/3/09 The topic of today was throughness and carrying power in canter (after a warmup in other gaits). He gets stronger and more bound in the canter all the time.

12/2/09 Dressage work in the arena while the winds howled outside. Did a lot of work on connection and throughness in transitions. He is coming along really well.

12/1/09 Nice walk and trot warmup around the field and then we worked on the outdoor track on canter transitions. He was a little recalcitrant to stop politely, so we discussed it and he got better. Despite having to actually think, he enjoyed himself immensely and got better and better.

11/30/09 Back from the Thanksgiving holiday and back in the tack. He is in good muscle, but I'd like to see even a little more weight over his ribs going in to winter. We'll work on that. Out for a hack today. He is becoming terrific on the trails. Happy to go out alone, no whinnying, didn't shy at the owl that flushed very near us and was rateable in a hand gallop. There were some hunters shooting too close for comfort (I had blaze orange on) so we hacked home and worked some dressage in the arena. He comes lighter all the time. What a peach.

11/23/09 Another nice day and he needed a gallop, so out we went for a hack, after we warmed up with some flat work in the arena. He is getting really quite steady on the bit and rounder. On the trail he was very happy and relaxed to be out. We went for a moderate gallop around the lower hayfield, said hello to our owl in the woods, then went across the road and rode in Peterson Park where we came across two people which didn't faze him at all. We jumped the log without missing a beat. Had a good long walk back up the hill and returned to the barn. His hooves are generally looking good and it is nice to be able to still have him only in a sheet in November.

11/20/09 The weather was lovely and I had some time and a partner, so we went cross country schooling at a local course. He loaded up with only some hesitation, which was great, he got much praise. We hauled over, he unloaded and looked around in total relaxation. We warmed up on the flat and then Jay and Elliott lead us over all sorts of different looking small fences. The height of the fence is not the concern, getting him over all sorts of different types of jumpes was the goal. He only had a few moments of indecision over some of them and actually showed very good aptitude. He surprised himself over one jump with a small drop after it, because he jumped up over the fence and then the hang time due to the drop surprised him. He was quick to get his balance back. He went through the water complex first at a walk, then a trot and finally cantering. Then he went up the small bank out of water in walk and trot, and then down the small bank in to water in walk and trot. This was just an excellent introduction to cross country schooling and he was quite delighted with himself. He walked right on the trailer at the end of the session, after a coolout, and we trailerd back to 3G, where he went to his nice clean stall with his supper and lots of hay and fresh water. Good man.

11/18/09 Started out in the indoor with dressage work, focusing on soft connection, which is coming along nicely. Trot canter transitions and reaching from behind. Very good. Then out for a hack down the hill, along the road and into the park. I was marvelling today at home he now walks on a slack rein and follows the trail, even a new one today, by himself. He is much more relaxed and confident. What a delight.

11/17/09 Dresage work, review of what we did yesterday, which stuck quite nicely and then some more refinement of it. He did very well. Then out for a cool down hack.

11/16/09 East wind and dampness coming up, so worked in the indoor on dressage, transitions and lateral work. He started out a little inattentive, understandable after the weekend off, but came around nicely to produce some good work. Gets more connected all the time.

11/13/09 Today we did a lot of work in the indoor on dressage, much transition from trot to canter and some figures and some lateral work. He worked hard and well.

11/12/09 He lost a shoe, so I intened to work him only in the indoor, but the weather was lovely so we went for a hack in the grass. His feet were fine so we continued on and hacked about in the "pasture" and woods behind 3G. He was even and lovely so we went all over the place. Then did some dressage in the indoor. Getting better at coming over his back.

11/10/09 Out for a hack warmup. He is getting very comfortable on the trails, goes on a slack rein at a walk and just takes in the scenery, no whinnying. In trot or canter he gets a little more awake, which is understandable, but still quite rateable and balanced. Today we saw our friend the owl in the woods again (ho hum says Geordi) and came across a hiker in the woods, which he thought was equally unimpressive. We jumped the log in canter and continued cantering the 90 degree turn after it in very nice balance. When we got back, we jumped a bit in the jumping field, the vertical and the oxer. He did a nice job of it.

11/9/09 Brought him in, tacked up and out for a hack. In the mild weather, he has been able to go without his blanket, which is nice. The cut that was infected on his leg looks good. We headed out for a hack and he was completely unfazed by the tractor and spreader doing its thing around the property. Down through the woods, canter in the field and trot on the road to get to Peterson Park. Some walk, then trot on the curvy path through the woods. He is getting balanced and confident enough that this has become easy for him. Canter in the open field, then some more walk and trot in the woods and over the downed tree that bothered him last time with confidence and joy. Yay. Went around the lake, past a man and his dog, flushed a bunny along the way that he only took a little stutter step at, and then along the road for a bit, through the small creek and up the hill and home. Very good. I mostly wanted to see what he would do with the downed tree, and he did fabulously! He was quite proud of himself.

11/5/09 Out for a hack in the lovely weather. We went to Peterson Park and frolicked around the trails. When we were trotting, we came across a downed small tree, that looked ripe for jumping. Geordi was surprised by it and did a stop and slight spin. I turned him back to it without comment and asked him to step over it, which he did, then we trotted it a few times, then cantered it, then went on our way. The refusal was just surprise and not enough jumping confidence yet, no worries. Then we had a nice school over the vertical and oxer and done for the day. With the nice weather he gets to go blanketless all weekend. Woohoo.

11/4/09 I pulled some jumps outside in a clearing for a change of pace in the nice weather. After a hack warmup of about 2 miles, we came back and had a school over the vertical and the first oxer of his life, which he did quite well. Good man.

11/3/09 Overcast, but a nice day with good footing, so out for a hack. His balance up and down hills is really coming along. He is a bit pushier in his neck than I'd wish, but that is developing in the right direction. He loves to go out and hack, ears always up, and he only paused just a little in his trot when great horned owl and deer flushed at the same time about 30 and 50 yards ahead of him. We had a minor moment in the big field that I usually gallop him in when he was sure we were going to gallop and I said walk and he said, "what, get really light in front?" and I said maybe not and we walked the whole field, much to his dismay. We did get a gallop in, but it was on the rider's terms. ;-)

11/1/09 Took him on a hack to warm up, and jumped over a few natural jumps out in the field, then did some dressage in the ring and dealt with the "scary barrel" in th eend of the arena. Once we started jumping in the arena, the barrel was no problem. Then on to jumping in the arena, including raising the single jump up to 2'6" and introducing a bounce (no stride) which he did really well at and seemed to enjoy. Good fun.

10/30 and 31 Log note: Afew of my horses at home developed thrush due to the wet conditions. So I brought Geordi in each night and cleaned his hooves and put him on nice dry bedding for the overnights to give his hoovevs a break. They look great, no problems.

10/29/09 Dressage and jumping day. Did a lot of work on balance in canter and staying between my aids in lateral work. Did some quite acceptable shoulder in and leg yield and topped it off with some light jumping. He is getting much more quiet in the cross ties and generally more relaxed about life.

10/28/09 Went out for a hack and worked on balance over terrain. Cantered up and down a fairly steep hill, where he held his balance very well. Crossed a small stream. Very good.

10/27/09 Lovely day, out for a hack. Went all over the Peterson reserve by himself in all gaits. Getting much more confident all the time.

10/26/09 Day off since the weekend was a lot of riding and trailering. The leg looks good.

10/25/09 Leg looking quite good. Out for a morning hack by ourselves where we jumped our first XC jump, a railroad tie "snake". He gave it quite a bit of room the first time, but he went, and he got better and better when we did it a few more times for experience. Very good. Trailered home later in the day.

10/24/09 Loaded on a little more easily and hauled to Cedar Rapids, though he is restless in the trailer. Went for an afternoon hack with some friends. One friend fell off in the woods and her horse went roaring by up the tractor trail. Geordi was pretty sane about it, just walked a bit faster and helped catch the horse, the friend was unscathed. Then we left the group and rode by ourselves for a bit, and he had no problem with it. Amazing. Leg swelling coming down.

10/23/09 His left hind was swollen up where the cut had obviously gotten infected. Started him on penicillin. Never went off feed, stayed quite sound.

10/22/09 Spent 35 minutes trying to get him to load in the rain by myself. He was having a hard time figuring out the step up. I called Jada to come and help, and as soon as she showed up he jumped right on. Hauled him to Prematerra in Fairfield where he settled right in, no problem. I rode him in the arena, doing flatwork and he was stellar. No nerves at all.

10/20/09 Set up a related distance of low jumps in the arena. After warmup I jumped only the first then went smoothly to the left and the second time to the right of the second element. Then we jumped both and it went fine. We took a break and repeated and it got better. It was a 2 stride but I then asked him to shorten up his canter and do it in three, which he did remarkably well the secong time. He is really getting much stronger overall in his body. It is delightful to be a part of. His cut on his leg is clean and healing and he does not favor it. It remains wrapped with vetwrap in light of the bit of rain likely overnight. If the rain comes as they predict tomorrow he will be in out of it inside. After he jumped the combination well a few more times, we continued the canter right out the door on a hack. He was completely unfazed and we went all over the place. Great fun. I'd like to get him out for an elementary xc school before the footing gets hard. We should probably consider buying him jumping boots. I like these. They wear well, are easy to clean and provide excellent protection.

10/19/09 Long break in there as we were out of town at the Kentucky Horse Park. He put on some nice weight while he was out of work and it suits him beautifully. He had a new cut on the insie of his left hind. I cleaned it up (not stitch worthy, no ligament involvement), put some aloe heal and a pad on it and lightly vetwrapped it. He took a funny step at first, which passed quickly, probably a reaction to the wrap. We worked under saddle on staying connected and soft over his back. He was a little cheeky at times, but just in a "feeling good" way. His canter is getting more balanced and powerful.

10/12/09 Long hack over hill and dale at all gaits. He is getting more confident. Then a jump school in the arena when two other horses and riders were in there, one longeing, one riding. He got a little distracted coming into a jump and refused it. It was purely a focus issue and he did well the second time. A little more schooling and done for the day.

10/11/09 Long walk warmup in the arena and then flatwork including lateral work and emphasis on going from the inside leg to outside rein. Coming together. Jumping excellent tonight, time to increase the challenge in the next session. Had a nice moderate speed hack at the end for fun and confidence expansion. Very good.

10/9/09 Probably one of the last of the beautiful fall days, so out for a hack, which he enjoyed and is getting more confident all the time. Then a short jump school, which went well.

10/7/09 Beautiful day. I took him out for a hack and came upon a friend who was doing the same on her horse, so we joined up and went a few miles in the preserve. He had a few moments at muddy spots, but always went forward and he just gets more relaxed all the time out on the trail. Had some nice trot and canter work too. He is growing up. We probably should think about a winter blanket for him. Keeping that body heat in does wonders for keeping weight on.

10/6/09 Randy was out to tack his shoe back on and Geordi was well-behaved and felt great afterward. We had a nice school in the indoor while the rain pounded down. His canter is really coming along and he is getting much more confident in his footwork coming up to the fence.

10/5/09 Geordi had sprung a show and the clip bothered his sole a bit, so he was lame. Farrier has been called, haven't heard back as yet, but he is coming out to my other barn tomorrow, so I should have a good in.

9/29/09 Just on a whim today I took him out on a hack first, before jumping, rather than the other way around. We had a nice trot past the barking dogs, no problem, down the dark path in the woods to the lower field and then a nice hand gallop around the field, which we both enjoyed. Then back to the far side of the field where we turned into the woods and walked up the steep hill with the taller weeds and grass to the top of the hill where it was mowed. Some horses get funny when they are off a mowed path, and stepping on cracking sticks make them jump, but he was pretty relaxed about it. Then another canter at the top of the hill, a trot set on the way in and a walk back to the barn. Then we had a very good jump school over the single vertical. He had a minor moment about some plastic barrels that were in a new place, but I advised him to get over himself and ignore it, and he did. He is getting more confident in finding his distance to the base of the fence, but needs to get stronger in his back and hindquarters as he learns to shorten his stride and bring his feet under him when needed. This is the usual order of the development and he is doing well. He is starting to get healthily fuzzy for winter and I like his weight these days.

9/25/09 It had rained a fair bit in the morning, so a good day to work in the indoor entirely. Warm up in trot with emphasis on him carrying himself, then on to canter work with the same theme, which went well. Walk to canter transition is coming along. Jumped over a small vertical with a fair number of reps today. He is learning to figure out the distance to the base of the jump. Very good.

9/24/09 He got new front shoes on today. Jeff called while he was at the barn and said his back feet looked as good as he's ever seen them, and did I require shoes on the back. Nope, if the horse is fine, I am fine. Geordi was much more comfortable today and says Thank You. We did a fair amount of jumping over a small jump and lots of canter work today and he was quite good. Cooled out with a short hack about the property. Excellent.

9/22/09 Brought him in and groomed him, rode him in the indoor doing some dressage things and he is quite sore-footed. I suspect the rain yesterday was just enough to soften up his feet. My farrier is coming out on Monday and could work him in, which I suggest we do. I can't ask him to jump with tender feet.

9/21/09 Nice rain in the morning, so took him on a hack. His feet are still pretty tender. I think he needs shoes for now if he is going to be in work. I can easily have my farrier look at him if you like. The guy is really good. Geordi was very good on his hack today. We walked, trotted and cantered over a good part of God's creation. Good man.

9/17/09 Warmed up in the indoor with some lateral work and work in all three gaits. He is doing well. Then on to some jumping. His rhythm is staying more regular, but he is still developing the ability to natural adjust his stride length. We spend a little time at the lower fences while he figures that out, then going higher is no problem. Closed the day with a nice hack. He is still a little tender in his feet occasionally. I'd like to talk to my farrier about him and see what he suggests. He is a barefoot guru, so he will have the whole gamut of things to say.

9/16/09 After a warmup, jumped over a cross rail several times until he was landing in canter and doing the whole sequence in a relaxed manner. Excellent.

9/15/09 His feet are much better, though he is still tender on rocks. I worked him in the arena in walk, trot and canter and over poles on the ground. He remembers his lessons well, so tomorrow I will jump him over cross rails. Then I took him out on a trail ride where he did really well. He walked on a loose rein, cantered well and did not whinny. His confidence is definitely growing.

9/8/09 Fee getting better, putting on some more musle, moving in the right direction. Out for a hack. Came across the inured turkey vulture again (which the girls are going to take into the ISU wild animal clinic) and he didn't even flinch. Totally unimpressed. We hand galloped in the hay field and walked home immediately afterwards, a tought trick for a tb. He did very well. When I get home, we'll get jumping, if his feet are up to it.

9/5/09 Used the last of the Ricken's on his feet, which are better, but not entirely great. We will see what they do this week. Out for a hack and had a nice time in walk, trot and canter. Managed to scare up a pair of young deer and he just watched them with no alarm. Excellent. Had a nice gallop in the field at the bottom of the hill. He is really starting to tune into his rider and relax.

9/2/09 Feet getting better. Treated again. Out for a hack. I had some spare time so we did a lot of walking all over the place after we did the usual trotting and cantering around. With all the walking he started to swing with his back and stretch out his neck and enjoy the scenery. Excellent.

9/1/09 Feet getting better all the time. I treated them again and then we went out for a hack. Walk, trot and canter in the big wide open and he managed to keep his cool and enjoy himself. Late in the ride we came upon an injured turkey vulture hobbling on the trail, which was fairly disconcerting, but he managed it quite well. Very good.

8/27/09 Feet improving. Treated them again and I think tomorrow I will be able to ride him in the arena. I started him on gelatin today. He ate it right up. He will get a packet with each meal, morning and night.

8/25/09 Feet improving, but still quite sore. Treated them again. Though this is difficult, I think we are doing the right thing for him.

8/24/09 Feet improving, but still quite sore. Treated them again. Might take a week.

8/23/09 I gave him his second treatment and it went down perfectly. He was a gentleman.

8/21/09 I put the sole toughener on and gave him the first dose for his EPM. He was as cooperative as one could hope under the circumstances. His feet are too tender to ride him. It will come around and the rain we've had lately is a help, the ground is very forgiving.

8/20/09 I went out to check on him and ride, but his feet were hurting. I gave him some bute and the soft grass was the best option. Al brought the sole toughener in the evening.

8/19/09 Loaded him up and drove him to Equine Referral Clinic where he had his right front tendon checked. He got the go ahead for jumping training. Woohoo. Also pulled his shoes to give himi a break from being shod. His hooves are pretty tired. He is tender on gravel etc.,, but fine on grass. Diagnosis of EPM, will start treatment tomorrow. He can be worked through the treatment.

8/18/09 Warmed up in the arena and then out for a hack. He has really settled down quite a lot. He was walking on a long rein on the hack and was excellent in the arena, even with another horse being driven in it.

8/14/09 Out for a hack in the big world after a warmup. He did remarkably well.

8/11/09 Did some nice work in the arena and then went out on a hack where he didn't whinny at all and seemed to enjoy himself. Woohoo.

8/10/09 Lots of very nice work in the arena on stretching in trot and canter. He is really starting to get it.

8/5/09 Lots of work in relaxation in walk, which translated well to relaxation in trot and canter. He had some very nice work in canter today.

8/4/09 He went as if he had no time off. He was relaxed and had some nice work in all three gaits.

7/11/09 Dressage work in the indoor to warm up, then out for a hack. When he has things to do, he is very good. Trotting and cantering are good and even some walking, but with too much walking, his mind wanders and he notices he is alone and gets a little light on his feet. It is getting better all the time.

7/10/09 It was pouring during a thunderstorm outside, but he was excellent in the indoor. The wind and sound did not bother him a bit. We had some nice work in both trot and canter. He is starting to come over his back.

7/9/09 Did a lot of dressage work today and with a lot of time working on the Four Connections. He did very well and had some good trot and canter work. Then out for a trot and walk around the track where he kept it together. Excellent.

7/8/09 Worked in the indoor on asking him to come to the left rein. He said it is haaaaard and he'd rather sit on the right. Yes, darling, I know, but try. Ok, I will. Hey, that's not so hard. He did really pretty well with it. Then out for a trot and canter hack and a walk at the end. Very good man.

7/7/09 Warmed up in the indoor with some dressage work where he was quite good, coming over his back in trot and having some very nice canter work. Then out for a hack where he thought he might get a little worked up and I mentioned that it really wasn't a big deal and he could chill, which he did. Then some relaxed trot and canter around the track, which he richly enjoyed.

6/30/09 Rode in the morning when it was cool and the wind was up. Did a warm up in the indoor and then went out and rode on the trails alone. He was a little up due to the cool weather and tried a few light on the front end party tricks which I found not impressive and just bought him more work. Poor dear. He got over himself, then did some more relaxed work and walked back to the barn. Very good.

6/29/09 He was a little goofy in the cross ties, but I really took my time so that he would have to settle down and just deal with being alone. He likes to have other horses around, but I want him to look to people for leadership. He is getting on board with that. Did a lot of work on long and low once I got in the tack. He needs to learn to come over his back rather than be up and tight in his poll. He is also coming along with that in all gaits. Ended with a hack around the field, where he was not relaxed, but minded well and is starting to breathe a little easier out alone. Very good.

6/24/09 I spent a lot of time grooming and playing with him today, just letting him be a horse with a person. He liked it.

6/23/09 Worked in the indoor on leg yield, coming through his neck and over his back and canter departs, which are getting better all the time. After the work on that was done, we went out to the quarter mile track for a walk and trot hack, which went very well. He is gaining more confidence out by himself.

6/22/09 Quite warm out, so we were both happy to stay in the indoor out of the sun. We did a lot of flatwork, focusing on letting go on the right side and stretching down and forward. Also much work on walk/canter transitions, a great strengthening exercise. He did well and his trot work is coming right along.

6/18/09 We were out on a trail hack when I got a call from Jada that the farrier had arrived. We hacked home lickety split and he had a fun time trotting and cantering along. He was very good and brave. We walked the last quarter mile home and he was mostly relaxed on a long rein. I had to teach a lesson while he had his feet done and I guess he was a bit of a pill for the first part. After the lesson I went and talked with Geordi and he settled down very nicely and behaved very well, so I stood there for the last two feet, which Jeff appreciated.

6/17/09 Out for a hack in the muggy heat with Cindy on Takoda. Geordi led the entire way and is starting to settle in nicely on the trail. He objects to sudden areas of mud, but got lots of practice today as most of the trail was dry, but then occasional mud made him suspicious. He led over the small ditch he learned about last week (good man!) and by the end was walking in a relaxed manner through some of the muddy areas. It wasn't deep mud at all, just different than dry ground. I would guess he was not a good mudder on the track! But he dealt with it well today and by the end of the ride was walking on a slack rein with his neck down. Very good.

6/15/09 Because of the rain, Geordi had been in his stall with the run, not the big pasture, so he was a little tight when we started out. We did a lot of work in walk and trot on softening, then moved on to canter. It was difficult for him to let go to the right, but he did eventually. After that we went out for a lone hack. Jada was out there driving a young horse, so we kept half an eye on each other as we went about our business. Geordi was a little tight in his neck, but I encouraged him to let go, and going forward in working trot and canter helped him relax. He did very well indeed!

6/11/09 Out in the big world again for a trail ride with Takoda and Cindy. He led sometimes and followed sometimes. He is quite tight in his neck at first, but it gets better. We went down the hill and did two laps around the lower big hay field, encountered a deer, had some nice trotting and cantering around the field and he led over the small stream on the way home with confidence. He could use some simple boots for his back fetlocks, which he occasionally interferes with. Maybe woofs. Do you have any handy?

6/10/09 Out for another hack. He led and followed today, led across the small creek and cantered in the open field in a lovely manner. He was very proud of himself. Then he promptly dropped his left hind shoe in his stall.

6/9/09 Big trail ride day after some basic work in the arena. We went out with Cindy and Takoda on a longish trail ride. We went in the field, through the woods and down the gravel road to a trail through the woods. He crossed a simple small stream following Takoda, then when we came to a stream with more sloped (but still gently sloped) sides and a bit muddy trail coming down to it, he was not so sure. He didn't do anything naughty in not crossing it, but was pretty sure it didn't look like fun. I got off, detached one rein from the bridle so I had a 12' leather rein to hold on to, then I walked down to the stream and showed him it was not to be feared. After a minute or two, he bravely crossed it, got much praise and a break to gather this thoughts, then we did the same thing a few more times, then I got on and rode him across it a few times and he did well, much praise. Then we had a nice trot on the shoulder of the gravel road and hacked home, and on the way home, he led across the simple stream. Very good.

6/8/09 Lots of work on transitions in the indoor, asking him to come from behind and use his back, which he is getting better at. Much work in canter too, which went well. Then out for a trail hack with another horse. He led most of the way and did well. He got annoyed with my leg one time and kicked out at it, for which he got a thump to the ribs and got over himself. He did whinny once late in the ride. All in all, though, he did quite well and was quite pleased with himself.

6/5/09 Out for a major hack with my assitant and her horse. He dealt with woods, hills, a creek crossing and birds, with only moderate tension. Very good.

6/4/09 Lots of activity in the dressage arena in the middle of the track, so I thought it would be another good day to get out and get more experience in the big wide open. He was by turns very good and occasionally quite light in front and goofy. The confidence is distant, but it is coming.

6/3/09 Did dressage in the indoor, where he is coming along nicely, learning to let go and come to the bit. Then out on a hack around the field and around the track, where he was nervous and whinnied and carried on, but got slightly more confident. It is a process.

6/2/09 Worked with him in the cross ties on not backing up and standing where put. He is getting a lot of praise for his efforts and he is doing well. Tacked up and worked on flatwork, including leg yield and sidepass and a lot of canter work. He was fairly tight in his throatlatch at times, and also managed a buck in the first canter, but this is understandable since, due to the rain, he is in a paddock and has some extra energy to burn. He did quite well after that.

6/1/09 Worked on relaxing in the poll, leg yield, canter depart, cross rails, all of which are coming along. Then out for a short walk and trot hack around the property, which makes him quite nervous, but he gets better each time.

5/28/09 Getting better in the cross ties. Warmed up with work in walk and trot and some sidepass and leg yield. He is getting better about carrying his neck in a relaxed manner and letting half halts come through, but we are just seeing the start. On to canter work which was quite balanced and willing. We then trotted and cantered a cross rail which went fine. On to an 18" vertical, which he found perplexing, mostly from a distance to the base perspective. He is learning to rearrange his feet to match the jump's location. All part of the process and he did very well. Then out for a walk hack around the property which he could use more of. He was fairly tense during it, but managed to keep a lid on it. Much praise.

5/26/09 Tacked him up in the cross ties, where he was slightly unsettled, but coming around. He whinnies to me when I go and get the saddle in the nearby tackroom. Very cute, but with confidence that will stop. Under saddle we worked on staying connected back to front generally, and in transitions in all gaits. Then on to the rails on the ground between standards, and then as a cross rail, which he found quite easy. Very good. Have we ever had that right front tendon ultrasounded? Before we get too involved with jumping, that should be checked out. I'd hate to ask him to do something that might injure him. If it won't hold up to jumping, he'd make a very nice dressage horse, so no worries either way.

5/20/09 He was more relaxed in the cross ties today and very good under saddle. He is coming softer in his throatlatch and bending in his body more. We worked on sidepassing and he did get a little anxious about it, but with steady encouragement, he relaxed and did well. Walk, trot and canter work over the pole, which was rhythmic and relaxed. Yay.

5/19/09 Cindy tacked him up while I was riding another horse. I could see him in the cross ties from the arena. He raised his neck up in the cross ties and skittered around a bit and then leaned back and the fuse on the cross tie broke and he got loose. Not a big deal, just trotted out of the barn to near the other horses and was caught easily. I got back on my horse while Cindy put Geordi in a stall whle she brought in another horse to help Geordi relax. Then she put him back in the cross ties and quietly started brushing him again. He skittered around again, so I concluded my session with the other horse and went to Geordi. He was worried, so I spent about five minutes softly brushing his face and loving on him until he took a big breath. Then I finished with tacking up and he was fine. He just gets worried. I suspect an incident like this is how his skull was fractured. He will settle with more attention. At any rate, under saddle he was quite good. He had a lot of good work in trot and canter. I placed a pole on the ground for him to walk over and it was pretty terrifying to him at first, which is not uncommon. He walked over it (after a skitter the first time), then walked over it in rhythm in both directions. Then on to some sidepassing work and then over the pole in trot, very well done. Then more work in sidepassing which went well and then on to canter over the pole, where we gloriously missed the distance several times as new jumping horses do until the figure out how to arrange their feet. He had several nice iterations over the pole and we called it a day. Very good.

5/18/19 Tacked up and rode in the indoor. He was mostly relaxed in the cross ties. We worked on rhythm in the trot and canter. He whinnied to his friends once or twice, but is learning to focus on the work at hand. He is getting better with letting go in his poll in all three gaits.

5/14/09 Brought him out, tacked up and got on. He was a little unsure in the cross ties, whinnied a bit when he realized he was alone. Under saddle we worked on flexibility in both directions and he did quite well. Right is much harder for him, and it was very intersting to see today that he broke out in a sweat on the left side of his neck and not his right. It is a lot of work to stretch the tight muscles on the left. He did a good job.

5/13/09 Groomed and tacked him up and rode him in the indoor. He was quite enamored of himself in the mirrors and generally sensible. We did a lot of walk work, asking him to yield in his poll and when he did, he got a nice release and pet. He started to pick it up quickly. Then on to the same exercise in trot with some good success. Canter work was relaxed and rhthmic in both directions, though notably stiffer to the right, as expected. However, he did start to yield the ribcage to the left (a major thing for a right stiff horse) in walk, which is a very good start.

5/12/09 Brought him out, brushed up and examined. He was a little nervous at first, being by himself, but he settled down when another horse was brought in coincidently. He was groomed and his feet picked and he was fine with all of that. Upon examination, he has a bump on his nose due to a fracture that I was made aware of from his owner. He has a scar on his left haunch that apparently injured the muscle fascia. He has a bony growth on the outside of his right hind cannon with no heat. He has an old bow on his right front which tends to make him look over at the knee. It is cold and he appears sound on it. We fitted a saddle on him and then I took him out to longe. He wasn't sure about walking on the longe, but picked it up quickly. He is quite astute and picks things up quickly generally. He obviously has been taught voice commands, as Hilary indicated. He is left handed, and moderately more stiff to the right, not a difficulty, but a factor. We spent some time getting to know each other and I look forward to working with him.

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