Training Log for Savant Brown

8/24-26 Heritage Park horse trial. 34 in dressage which was 7th in a tight division. He was a little tight in his body for some reason, probably because I didn't get a chance to ride him out Friday night because we arrived late due to circumstances beyond my control. Cross country went swimmingly! We had a bit of a bow in his body to fence one, but then he got into the spirit of the things and galloped around like a champ. No time penalties, moved up to 5th. On Sunday he warmed up well, jumped around stadium in a mostly relaxed manner and didn't touch a rail. He finished 3rd! Wonderful good boy and he was proud of himself. He also, throughout the weekend, was polite to the people I had helping me and was generally a good sport. He is now qualified for the regional championships at the end of October at Hill n Hound Horse Trial, an event I was aiming him for anyway. I think we should let him have a shot at it. Afterall, he got 5th his first time out, 3rd his second, the next one will apparently be 1st. :-)

8/22/07 Hauled over a few miles to a friend's for a XC school. He loaded well, traveled well, unloaded well, schooled well (with the notable exception of not wanting to go by the water very early in the session when I was trying to show the dog where the water was for playing, but I had just thrown a leg over the poor guy and he was dropping off a bank into the water later in the session). He jumped very well and then a friend hosed him while I was schooling another horse and then she retied him to the trailer where he stood politely while I schooled the other horse. No, he wasn't perfect, but he had only a few moments of being stuck in his neck and gave the horse and rider who were schooling with me good leads over strange fences. Yay!

8/20/07 Dressage school and he was very good. Some work on half halt, stretchy canter. Soft and relaxed. Then took a walk around the pasture. What was once a major challenge is now what we do for cooling out. What a pleasure.

8/17/07 4.5 mile road and field hack. Did exceptionally well and had some significant amoutn of time being soft in his neck. His canter is even fabulouser (yes, that is now a word) that he is getting more fit. The high fat diet is really kicking in. Had two little meltdowns about large weeds that were grown out into the gravel road, but got over it quickly. Did a mile long hand gallop, which was made easier by the milder weather. He roars pretty loudly of course during it, but held up pretty well.

8/16/07 Distant thunder rumbling as we worked in the outdoor. He did very well. Lots of trot and canter work and softness and general goodness. Yay. Then went for a cooling out walk in the pasture, and when we got to the far end, the skies opened up. Ha! There are worse things than getting caught in the rain on a formerly sassy horsie turned partner.

8/15/07 Some time off here due to the heat and humidity, but back at it today. Went down to Maffit Lake Farm in West Des Moines, and after my lesson with Eddie, S and I went out and schooled their courses. He did really well. He had one minor pushback early, but he got over himself, softened in his neck and jumped everything. Even cranked them up a little bit toward the end and he did great. A garbage truck went by and he kept his cool. It was great. It may be time to start to thinking about having the tie back surgery done, now that he is coming into himself...

8/9/07 Evening ride in the humidity again. We started out in the outdoor with some walk work which is really coming along. Walk is his weakest gait, so improvement there is welcome. Then we went out for a pasture hack and he did well. On the way out of the arena, when I opened the gate, Ed and Speck came in (to roll in the soft sand, always a treat!) and S didn't like having to leave when they were coming in so he pushed back a little, but a moderate boot (without the spur) got the job done nicely. His walk work continued to be good in the pastures and we did a little jumping after we had some canter work. We found some holes that were dug overnight, though, so had to cut it short to fill them before nightfall. Very nice ride though. It is just a treat to have him getting more confident.

8/7/07 Evening ride. Humid as a bathroom after a shower, and storms to the south, but on we went. He was reshod today and I am gratified to have my usual farrier back. (He was out of town for a few weeks). He does a great job. He also put a shoe on his right hind to help protect that breakoff and it looks almost normal unless you get down on your hands and knees and inspect it. His scratches are nearly gone and now I am treating them with my friend Sheri's Not so Sweet Itch remedy and it continues to improve. I am on a mission to have it gone entirely. We worked some dressage in the arena and something is different. He actually was softly chewing the bit at times tonight and I was not having to do serious riding to request it. He never even suggested pushing back. After warmup we worked on flying changes after working on simple changes. I am using the exercises to help him come through from behind and he did very well. Then out to the pasture for a little gallop. On the walk home Peppa the newfoundland came bounding out of the corn and he only jumped a little, like any horse would. Yay! I forgot to mention the best part about Catalpa. When Quincy (trailer mate) was back from xc and being rinsed by his people, S was in his stall and very annoyed at having seen his friend come back and then quickly whisked away to be hosed after he had his tack removed. S was pawing at the stall door and upset. I went in, asked him kindly but firmly to drop his head, and then I stroked his face in long strokes. After about a minute he took a long slow breath and relaxed visibly and then he was fine the rest of the day no matter what the other horse did. It was very humbling. Yay, he is starting to trust people.

8/3-5 Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trial. He settled in nicely on Friday and we went out for a hack. He was a little bit nappy about crossing a footing issue, but he got over it. Then worked very nicely. Had around 34 in dressage, to be fourth on Saturday morning, which I thought was a bit of a rook, but he was a bight tight. (There was a wagon being pulled by two horses near the ring while I rode the test, which upset him and all the horses in warmup, so bad luck there.) XC was fabulous, with a double clear. He was really good and my friends said he looked like he knew his job and liked it. Yay! Showjumping on Sunday was less of a success, but still one. We had a stop at the first fence (scary rolltop painted like a waterfall!), but then he went clean. Dropped to 5th, but still, his first completion at a recognized event! Too hot to write much more. Must sleep.

8/2/07 Beauty shop day. Trimmed the hair on his legs and face, banged tail, shortened mane, trimmed chestnuts and ergots, thorough brushing. He shines up quite nicely. He also got about 10 cookies during the process. He likes beauty shop day...

7/31/07 Out for a hack. The outside layer of hoof below the horizontal crack he had on his right hind hoof has broken off. It looks fairly alarming, but seems to present no problem to him. My farrier is not as impressed with it as I am, so that is good. But with that in mind I didn't want to ride him on the gravel for a conditioning ride today, so we went out the back gate. No ring warmup, just out the gate like a big boy. He had one pushback when closing the gate (from his back) which was unceremoniously overruled and then praise when he went off at a slinging trot down the edge of the soybean field, ears up. He did quite well in letting go in his neck and we went about 2 miles over hill and dale. We crossed the DARK WOODS CREEK CROSSING OF MONSTERS on the way home with only a minor push back. Have to give him a lot of credit, it is dark in there and the grass is tall. Good boy. Rinse, cookies, and out with his pals.

7/30/07 Morning dressage session and also some work on flying changes to help him get engagegd behind. He was a little twitchy about them at first, but by the end he was doing them pretty well. When he was trying to figure it out, at one point, he popped his butt up in back so that he could switch. It was a very clever solution and totally non-threatening. I giggled and he was better the next time. I had both arena gates open so Claude the goofy thoroughbreds could graze the north paddock if they wanted to. Late in the ride, they got the wind in their sails and did a brilliant gallop through the outdoor where S and I were working. S got a little (understandably) upset, but was back with me politely in 3 strides. Fabulous. Fun day.

7/27/07 Off on a trail ride, again like a big boy. No arena warmup, just trot to the end of the driveway, halt to wait for traffic, and cross. This time no push back. Good boy. After the first third mile trot, we did a fair amount of canter, both for fitness and to help him practice staying soft in canter. Went well. Went a mile and a half out on gravel, then came back the back way along the field edges. Did very well, emjoyed himself, and today figured out that hand gallop is FUN. Yay, I've been telling him that for months. Near home, I presented him to the DARK WOODS CREEK CROSSING OF MONSTERS. It is actually a log in the grass that needs to be stepped over, followed by a one foot wide creek (of seasonally varying depth, but flowing well today in light of 0.8" rain last night) and then a short, steep grassy grade immediately beyond. He took a look at it and turned away (scaled down spin). I turned him back and reassured him that he could do it and gave him a confidence boot. He looked at it, considering it, I gave him a pet and another mild boot and he went forward and leaped over the huge raging one foot wide trickle. Much praise for the courage and he was rightfully proud of himself. Hose and cookies at home and out to pasture with his pals.

7/25/07 Some days I have to pinch myself. Not only is he completely all good in the soundness department (pasture bonk, away!), today he was absolutely how he should be to ride. Those thousand years of Belgian breeding are coming to the fore: all power and glory and swing and float, just a few moments of neck tension. Times past the percentages would have been reversed. Did some very nice trot leg yield and shoulder in and canter work. I actually got to engage a few brain cells working on my riding him, focusing on swinging with my seat. When I worked on that, he rewarded me by going even better. Spiral of increasing relaxation all around. Look out Catalpa Corner Horse Trial!

7/23/07 Two mile road hack. No warmup in the arena, just go out like a big boy. We trotted to the end of the driveway and had to stop and wait for passing traffic. When I asked him to go forward again he gave a mild pushback for which he got a "You gotta go!" boot back down the driveway and then off we went just fine. He was great the rest of the ride, including (drumroll please) some walking away from home. (Note to interested readers, walk is the gait he really has trouble staying forward in.) Had some nice canter work where we are working on keeping softness in a hand gallop. Not great at it yet, but improving steadily. In the trot on the way home he felt just a little "dead" on one of his hind legs. Not enough to call unsound, but NQR either. I checked him when I got home and found nothing. Probably just a pasture bonk. Will monitor. Nice cool hosing and roll when we got home.

7/22/07 Working in the arena, focusing on staying soft in his back and throatlatch. Went quite well. Much praise. Boring log entry, I know, but boring is actually good news. :-)

7/19/07 Today we had state and local government people helping to educate Savauge. As we headed out in the wide ditch along highway 210, a state trooper pulled a car over along the road, red and blue lights flashing. S found this fairly overwhelming at first, but after a moment, got over it and went by. Then we had a very nice 3 mile hack on the gravel road, including a good gallop, (rained last night so perfect footing) and on the way home met a huge road grader. Since it took up about 2/3 the width of the road, there was no way I was going to ask S to meet it head on. It really was huge, and loud. So I took him into the field and we walked in the soybean rows about 10' in. S was dubious, but brave and went by it without a fit and then went through the relatively deep ditch back to the road without a problem. Had a nice hack home. Nice of the government guys to help out with S's desensitization today. I hope we don't get a bill.

7/17/07 Warmed up slightly in the arena and then out the front gate to go down the highway ditch. He hesitated at the gate, for which he got a boot and then he was happy to go forward. Trotted fabulously for a quarter mile and then we did some walking. A bird flew up and scared him and he spun, but I was easily able to turn him back around instantly. It was as if I could hear him say, "oops, sorry, that isn't who I am anymore." It was pretty cute. We went another 3 miles round trip to home and he was stellar. Getting more relaxed in his neck out in the big world every ride. Lifestyle note: I have increased his oil and it shows. He is starting to look really buff. I am continuing to treat his scratches and that is slowly improving. Must keep the skin soft. Somewhere along the line, months ago, he got an injury to his RH hoof that is now growing out. It is a horizontal discontinuity that looks like it is about to break off about an inch up from the ground. My farrier was just out, but I will give him a call to see if I should be alarmed. Also note the new picture.

7/10/07 Warmed him up in the dressage arena which went well, then had one of my students ride him as she is working on cueing for canter from her leg rather than from her upper body. He was an excellent schoolmaster and she learned a ton. I was very interested to see if he would continue his good ways with another rider, even if only for a day. He did. He was very proud of himself. Even jumped a jump together at the end. A month ago I would have not thought it possible. Yay! Received a picture from Heritage Park from a friend.

7/9/07 Moved him up to a Mylar snaffle (still very mild) for a dressage session. He did very well. Had some nice forward and lateral work. Yay.

7/8/07 One Day Horse Trial day at the same park. Did a very nice dressage test to earn a 27. (Wow.) Jumped well in stadium after inspecting a jump on the way to fence two, but jumping clean around the course. Went around xc without fault, no balking, through the water, over lots of different types of jumps. Won the horse trial at his level by a wide margin. Yay. Yay. YAY for Savauge! Now the caveat. He needs more fitness if he is going to go training level at Catalpa Corner. The novice course took a lot out of him, but it was 90 degrees too. I will work on his fitness and also increase his oil intake. I am also going to move him to more bit for xc and stadium as he gets extremely tight in his neck. I can't easily get him to let go so that I can give him a release, so in this case less bit is actually unkind. I will play around with it the next couple rides and see what works. Very very good outing.

7/7/07 School at Heritage Park. Got up in the wee hours to drive down to KC to school before the heat of the afternoon. We schooled all of the novice stuff and some of the training, including the bank up one stride to vertical, which he thought was FUN. Only one minor tiz was had in the beginning of the schooling when I was walking around explaining something to a student. S is not so good at walking around in the beginning of a ride. But he got over it quickly. Did the entire novice course, start box to finish flags. Bought him some new bell boots that fit him well. The ones I have were not big enough and looked more like bracelets...

7/5/07 I hauled him over to KMJ to get a trim and reset. My farrier is out of town for 10 days so this was my only option before the weekend and he needed it. This is also a very good farrier. But Goofy did not want to load on the trailer. We had a probably minute and a half discussion about that, but even that is longer than I like. He figured it out. When we got back (he loaded fine on the way home), I rode him first in the arena which went very well, event had some nice lateral work. Then went out in the pasture and jumped a bit which went well. Very good!

7/1/07 Rode him during the xc school portion of the clinic. He was very good. Had one minor meltdown which passed quickly. That there was only one minor one was amazing since we were starting and stopping a lot which is hard for him. Jumped ALL the training level stuff including drops into water and a combination and all sorts of wacky stuff, by himiself going away from the group and starting and stopping. Very very good. I am considering running him at training level in August. I have to decide soon. I don't want to scare him, but recognize that his active mind needs a challenge. We're doing novice this weekend at Heritage Park. Hmmm.

6/30/07 Rode in the afternoon after the clinic. Went out on the rail to trail path and he had a moderate meltdown about a big wet area on the path. At least he is choosing to have metldowns AT something rather than randomly. We got through the water and past the log pile, where he had his meltdown last year, with no problem. Then we schooled showjumping which went well. Then out to xc again where we did some training level stuff which went great.

6/29/07 Hauled him over to Catalpa Corner for the clinic. Traveled fine, settled in fine. Took him for an evening hack which turned into a jumping festival. He was a little behind the leg on teh way out to the start box, but with firm encouragement, stepped up. He jumped great and had a wonderful time.

6/28/07 Beautiful morning. Started out with longe work which went well, then got in the tack and warmed up in the arena. He slightly objected to Peppa (Newfoundland) muddling around in the grass outside the arena, but dealt with it. Then out to the pasture with no pushback when going out the gate and jumped the log pile first thing going away from the barn, no problem. Then did some more jump schooling over an in and out and over the rolltop and oxer and a vertical and all went well. Cantered over to the gate out of the pasture, with no intention of going out, but checking if he would if asked. He was going to the gate, but then shied at the burn pile, to which Jay had added a scad of new stuff. So it was a legitimate shy and he got over it quickly. Went up to the gate, no problem. A bit more of a jump school and done for the day. Very good.

6/27/07 Can't call it 6, but a very good day. Longed and warmed up in the outdoor. When we left the arena at a canter, he had a mild push back, got a swat on the rump and went forward. Then did some jumping which went very well. Then out on the trail and he was doing very well until we came around a corner and a huge patch of something was blooming brightly in the shadows and it surprised and unnerved him enough to spin and try to leave. I turned him around and sent him there again and he said no, but just with resistance, not rearing or bucking. Did some softening exercises. Re-presented and he went on through. Then continued the hack away from home, no problem and went to a new place where Monsanto has a test plot (always nice truck paths to follow) and he was very bold about that. A bit of a bummer that we didn't get 6 good rides in a row, but the fact that the resistance was much less dramatic and had a clear reason and passed quickly makes it not a big deal.

6/26/07 Five. Yep. Crazier yet. I even didn't longe him this morning as it was 78 degrees and humid at 6 a.m. when I was grooming. We worked in the arena on dressage and he was very good. Lots of lightness, lots of transitions, alacrity. Yay!!!

6/25/07 Four. Yep. Crazy. Four days in a row of proper cooperative horse behaviour. Started out with a bit of longeing which went well and he even let out a "I feel good" buck, which is a new one. Bridled up and got on and did some dressage (all about forward and loose in the poll, nothing about drudgery of circles. Lots of transitions) which went well. Opened the gate, out into the pasture, did some more forward dressage in the pasture, with no problem and some nice lightness, then jumped a few jumps and went out the back gate for a short trail ride, no problem, other than being confused by the now belly-high corn tickling him as we trotted along the rows. Just a few understandable scoots happening. Then a, get this, walk around the pasture to catch his breath. You might remember that walk is the hardest gait for him to keep forward in, but with just a few subtle reminders he kept it up. Investigated a plastic bag stuck on the fence on the way back which was scary to him, but he dealt. Yay, another good day. Time to send in entries for Catalpa.

6/20/07 I forgot to mention the funny thig he did on the last ride we wer on. On the way home in the very wide and flat ditch along the highway, we were trotting along in the tall grass, when suddenly an old feed bag revealed itself on the ground in the grass. He gave a great leap of about 3' over its 0.5 cm height. It was highly comical. The key point is that he kept going forward, however, he chose to do it! For today, longe warmup then got on and out to the pasture. Did very well with that. On to some jumping, which went well and then some flat work, which went with out blowups, but could do with a lot more softness. That will come. Very good day. Officially 3 days in a row. Woohoo.

6/19/07 99% of two in a row. Warmed up with some longeing, then got on and went forward in trot and canter. He did very well in the pasture and out the gate. Dealt with the deer we flushed out of the tall grass with remarkable aplomb. Went forward fabulously, with ears up and joy. Through the beaver field and on to the downhill field where he just barely threw a minor tizz, just a moderate lean toward home and some neck resistance. Came around and forward with a swat to the big red hiney and on his way again. Over the bridge (in canter!) and on for another mile. Even did some walking, which is hardest for him to maintain "forward" in, and he did quite well. Homebound in a large circle over the landbridge with a low hanging branch and more to step over, past the huge barking dog, crossed the highway with the scary lines on it and trotted and cantered past our driveway without a problem. Much praising throughout.

6/17/07 It was fun today. It was fun! Forward, relaxed, polite, interested, trail ride, trotting, cantering, galloped with a deer, jumped some, no problem, no pushback, ears up, grinning red horse. Tuesday is the opening date for entering the August horse trial at Catalpa Corner near your parent's house. First weekend in August. Site of the major meltdown last summer. I think we should enter and go and have some real fun this year. Woohoo. Very psyched.

6/14/07 Tacked up and warmed up in the arena, then sent him to canter out of the gate at which point he started to throw a fit, for which he earned some galloping around the ring (I'm flashing back to having to run windsprints for missing free throws in college! Works!) Second try he went right out the gate and around the pasture. Fooled around out there in trot and canter with no problem and jumped the log pile. Then went to the gate out of the pasture to go out on a quick trail ride and he started to throw a fit by the gate and got more wind sprints, after which he decided going out the gate would be fine with him. Down to the creek and back, no problem. Nice cool rinse, cookies and out with his pals when done. Not bad.

6/11/07 Had a great weekend at the horse trial and am inspired even more than usual for S to get out and do it. Gotta get him straightened out on the flat first, so out at it again today. Warmed up in the arena which went fine and then turned to leave the arena and he started to throw a little fit for which he was rewarded with some very hard work--lots of galloping forward on a long rein, stopping, backing up, galloping forward, etc. This is not ripping him around by the bit, but making sure he is forward and then stopping when I say (and given proper advance notice for the stop. I really don't want to frustrate him, just make clear the ground rules...). Then I sent him out of the arena again and he refused again and started into fet mode, so repeat, and now he was getting a little winded. Send him out again and no problem. Then some good gallop in the pasture, then out on an absolutely perfect trail ride. Through all the "past scene of a fit" spots, and over the bridge etc. No problem and he had fun. Coming along. The push back is becoming lessened.

6/7/07 Warmed up with in hand work and under tack work in the arena which went well. Then out to the trail. He started to push back, spin, buck and rear  when were about to leave the pasture for the field, so I sent him forward like nobody's business and made him canter/gallop a half mile in lines in the pasture, with frequent halts and backing up.  He was an angel after that on a 2 mile hack over hill and dale and including a bolting deer right by us, nearly stepping on a bunny and crossing the bridge.  I think sometimes he gets stuck "out of gear" and it takes some priming to get the flywheel spinning in the right direction again.  His forward trot is absolutely unbelievable (yes, worth all the work...) and his canter in open space is like riding a dolphin dancing in front of the bow of a ship.  Powerful, joyful, full of life and fun.

6/5/07 3 mile hack after in hand work. I made the mistake of asking him to WALK out on the start of the trail. That is not possible yet, he creeps behind the leg and eventually throws a fit. Had to get through that and then re-establish forward, then things got better. Over the bridge he started to throw a fit and had spun, but I sent him forward toward home in a gallop for 50 strides, had him stop and back up, turn around and canter across the bridge. Went about 3 miles and on the way home had him stop at the neighbors and stand still and be polite while I had a beer. Every good horse should be "beer with a friend broke" and he did pretty well, despite the St. Bernard and arrival of a 4 wheeler. Walked home, crossed the scary road with the new patches on it. Did fine.

6/3/07 In hand work and then in the ring work and then out on the trail. He was a little owly at first and tried some hyjinx, but he got through them and then we had a nice ride.

6/1/07 In hand work followed by work in the arena (quite muddy elsewhere, and not every day needs to be a hack into the wild blue!). He did very well, with much softness and good work.

5/30/07 I took him out for a hack this morning before the rain and in the 20 mph wind.  I was diligent about the ground work and had a great outing-- (after a slight moment about the scary garbage cans at the end of the driveway due to it being garbage day. He stopped and turned (not spun) back but allowed himself to be quickly righted. Then he marched at the cans. He could just walk forward, he doesn't have to goosestep!) The rest of the ride was a lovely, swinging trot and canter fest (and some walk) for 3 miles, by himself, over the bridge and having to deal with two barking dogs along the way.  Neck down, ears forward and no meltdown.

Woohoo.  Each relaxed step undoes ten tight ones.

5/29/07 Jay was in a hurry to go on a trail ride so I didn't get a chance to do as much in hand work as I would have liked. S was good for the first quarter mile, but got excited and had a minor fit at one point and another minor one later in the ride. I am annoyed that I let myself be hurried with the ground work (will not happen again for any reason), but happy to see that it clearly makes a difference and does plenty good. We went about 3 miles, and last month I would have been elated with his behaviour on this ride.

5/25/07 His scratches are healing, but it takes time. I talked to a vet friend about it, and she said that once the scabs are off, and it has been treated with betadine shampoo, the most important thing is to keep it moist so that the cracks can heal. I bought some "heel cream" at Target which is actually for cracked people heels, but I thought it would work well on Himself. I treat it twice a day when I feed, and he likes it. Instead of pulling up his feet and saying "ouchie", he keeps them down and lowers his head and gets a dreamy look in his eyes. Very cute. I rode him today with a warm up with in hand work in the arena and then riding in the arena. Then out to the pasture (too muddy in fields) He was exceptional, with not one push back or even impolite moment. He had his spring vaccinations yesterday.

5/22/07 We warmed up in the arena with more Kip in-hand work, which went pretty well. I can now tell when I am really getting the work through to him, which is most excellent. I got on and warmed him up in the tack and then Jay asked if I wanted to go on a road hack. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea so we did. On the way out the driveway he spotted the garbage can (tomorrow is garbage day) and he stopped for a second, but when I put my leg on he went forward right away. Yay oh Yay. In the past that would have been the start of a difficulty. We walked in the wide ditch along the state highway with traffic going by. He stayed with me mentally. Then took the right to go on the gravel road and he went fine. This was the site of a major meltdown in the past, so it was great to just breathe and ride it. He led across the bridge. What? Repeat and clarify: led at a trot across the bridge. Then we trotted another half mile to the corner and turned right. He was getting a little tight in his neck so at the corner I asked him to do some suppling work for a minute. That seemed to re-center him and he went on beautifully. We went another third of a mile and turned around. Jay turned left back at the corner to go home and I went straight, which was away from home. S only very briefly suggested going home and went forward without a fit, away from home and away from his buddy. That is truly amazing. Much praise and release of reins and sending on in big happy trot. Yay. A few halt canters to make sure he was really on my aids and then we went and caught up with Jay (at my speed in lovely canter and trot, not in a silly rush). Then we trotted the last half mile home together. Very VERY good. Very nearly amazing.

I treated the "scratches" he has on his hind pasterns and bulbs of heel. I have been doing that for the last two days. I don't know how they got so bad, but there it is. I have used iodine shampoo daily, then dried, clipped the hair and got off the scabs as they let go. I am treating the left hind with wound cote which treats bacterial infection and the right with tolnaftate, which is an athlete's foot fungus cream that kills most fungi. I've found that scratches can from either or both. We'll see if one works better than the other and then proceed in that direction.

5/20/07 Trail ride with the Babes On Ornery Broncs (I leave the acronym to you.) This is a sliver group of the foxhunt who meets occasionally to take out green horses on leisurely trail rides to get them used to stuff. Some go on made horses just to enjoy the ride and give us leads across things. We went 6 miles at a walk. S was very well-behaved in the back, but when asked to lead, he threw a little fit (that made the other Babes' eyes a little large!). So I made him gallop away from the group in the direction of home, then pass the group and lead, in fact, canter the next mile and a half by himself. He was a little looky, but went. Then back to the group and he led fine until we got to the railroad tracks which freaked all the horses out. We got across that and then he led through a tunnel and over a bridge, very brave! Perfect gentleman all the way home, sometimes leading, sometimes following. Had to cross under the Interstate on the way home and it was very scary with a lot of loud trucks. He did it, but was very scared. Brave of him to do it. All the horses were a little scared. Excellent day.

5/19/07 Wormed yesterday with ivermectin. Warmed up with inhand work and then some tune up under tack in the arena. Out on a trail ride. Not one hissy fit. Not one. Nada. None, no hissy fit. Repeat, no hissy fit. I like writing that. He had one second of "push back" which went away with just sending him forward. Now, I was paying a lot of attention to him as I always do and when he started to get tighte we went to circles and bending for a reminder and then on, but what a delight to have not one "moment'. He was proud of himself too. Also did spring sheath cleaning after the ride.

5/17/07 Started out with in hand work and then into the tack for an arena warm up. Lots of transitions and much lightness in bridle. Off for a trail ride. He just started to get behind my leg and we went immediately into moving the hindquarters and moving the forequarters and he came out of it in less than 5 seconds. Then on through the field gate that he sometimes balks at, with no problems, through the treeline, where he had balked in the past, no problem, then another quarter mile and turn for home. I let him think he was going home then turned him back the way we came from and he (predictably) started to ramp up. This time the fit lasted about 30 seconds before it was contained, and forward he went. Did very well until I turned him away from home yet again and he started to pop another fit, but it was over in 5 seconds. I do not expect the tizzes to disappear entirely for a while yet, but I really like the tendency of them to pass more quickly and generally be less dramatic. Yay.

5/14/07 Worked in the arena on ground work and then into the tack with lots of flexibility stuff and much softness and relaxation from himself. Then out to the pasture. For the most part he managed to keep his softness and had some very nice work. He did have a moment about a truck going by with a loudly flapping tarp, but we got it back together more quickly than we have in the past. In fact, in general, things are righting themselves more quickly. Yippee. I had many opportunities to quietly praise him and he also stoppped, stood and breathed quite nicely several times. Again, yippeee. Also, got his feet trimmed today with new front shoes.

5/10/07 Trail ride. We started out with ground work which went pretty well. I am not as good at it as Kip, but we had some good work. It will become more fluent for both of us. Then rode in the indoor doing hindquarters left, front quarters right and vice versa. This is easier to the right for him, predicatably, but it went pretty well. Then some lightness on the leg aids things and backing and quiet praise and release when he stood with his neck down in a relaxed manner, which he did a lot. Out to the fields. I opened the gate from his back as I always do, but required him to be where it was convenient for me, not him. Quiet pet when he did so. Head out across the field and he just suggested that he would stop and turn back, at which point I corrected him with hindquarters right, forequarters left for just two reps and he decided that going forward was more fun. Good choice. Went through the gate that he has had meltdowns at in the past and then through the narrow place into the beaver field, site of past meltdowns. All good. Then we attempted the SCARY BRIDGE where I learned that I didn't really have him through and he pitched a moderate fit. I took him back a field and did more fundamental work again to get him through and then re-presented to the bridge. It wasn't pretty the first time, but it was effective. By the end we were going over the bridge, turning left and going up the hill or going over the bridge going straight and up the hill. Quiet praise. Also some stopping and standing with his neck down and a pet just to let him settle. On the way home through the Beaver field, a deer jumped out and surprised him (we also viewed a fox earlier, but he never saw it!). He recoverd from the deer pretty quickly and then went where it had gone when I asked him. (Away from the barn and scary and he did it. Very good.). We also met my farmer neighbor on his 4 wheeler on the way home and while he found the 4 wheeler slightly alarming he dealt with it. Fooled around in the pasture a bit when we got home too and he did well. Once, he got a little behind my leg, but I sent him forward until he was not balky, then let him wind down and pet him. Very encouraging. Interesting side note. As you probably know he likes to bang on his stall if he is the last one let out or has to be in too long or whatever. Today I had to take Ed over to the other side of the barn and leave S in the stall for a few minutes while I did so. No banging. Hmmmm...

5/7-9/07 Went out to Council Bluffs to train with Kip Fladland. He or we worked for 2 hours each day with S. There is no way I can explain all that I learned over this time, and can only suggest that if you are interested in starting young horses or retraining difficult horses, go and learn from Kip or Buck Branaman or Ray Hunt. They are the real deal. Proof for me was the trail ride we took today. Yes, S threw his usual hissy to start out. The difference this time was that I had the tools to work through it in less than a minute, and during the ride we had some of the most relaxed, happy work I have ever had with S. There is work to do to get him consistent, but I am psyched to have the tools I needed to help S figure out how to be a productive member of working horse society. Very psyched!

4/29/07 Evening trail walk. Yep, just what it sounds like. Put on a halter and walk on the trail. Some grazing. I am going back to basics in advance of going to work with Kip Fladland early next week. We walked in all the scary places and when he started to get worked up, we just stopped and I let him look at it and graze until he slowed down in his mind and breathed. Then he was fine with whatever "it" was. This may seem like slow work, but we are getting somewhere faster than pushing him, I'm sure of it. I hope Kip will help us have the breakthrough we need and I think this is groundwork for that.

4/27 and 28: Did in hand work with lots of cookies. Turn on hindquarters, stopping, backing, trot transitions, etc. He was quite good.

4/24/07 All stayed inside and hid out from the cold rain.

4/22/07 Did some in hand work on minding and stopping and backing etc. He was a little bully at first, but came around nicely, with his neck down. Much praise.

4/19/07 Evening trail ride. Recalcitrant as ever. My bag of tricks is exhausted. I recommend we take him to Kip Fladland who specializes in difficulties like this. I talked with Kip tonight and described the difficulty and he said it is "probably not a big deal". I would like to take S there for 2 or 3 days on May 7-9. I would watch him work with S or work with S under Kip's guidance. I acknowledge that the Universe gives each of us a set of skills and I can't know everything about horses. I am ready to learn how to help S through this problem.

4/17/07 Evening trail ride. I got a little cocky, I guess, and didn't longe him before riding. He was recalcitrant for the first while, not wanting to go forward, throwing the usual fit. I kept up with ignoring it, calmly correcting him back to what I wanted and praising him quietly when he went correctly. When he did go, he did very well on about a 3 mile trail ride. He just threw one minor tiz at a gate that he always does. I asked him to stop, let him stand on a long rein, put my hand on his shoulder and took a really long deep relaxed breath. He did the same and then walked forward perfectly. I remain convinced he is just scared and unconfident. We had some relaxed moments, even in trot, out in the fields, where he let go in his neck. He has a simply brilliant trot when he does so. It is like nothing I've ever had the pleasure of riding. I make a motion we continue with the trail riding and experiencing life in a more relaxed manner before we spend money on a horse trial this spring.

4/16/07 Mud and an out of town trip meant he had some time off. After I longed him we went out the gate. After I shut it and turned to go off on our ride, he started in with the usual routine. I didn't say a word, didn't even quit humming my song, which today was "love is all you need" and after a few minutes, he turned the direction I wanted to go and seemed happy to go. He threw two more minor moments later in the ride, but importantly, each was smaller than the last. Each time he started to throw it, I simply went like putty in the saddle, no smacking on the butt, no reaction to his hysterics and each time he went in the direction I wanted, I rubbed his neck. Oh, also occasional cookies for no reason when he was being good. (Not right after a fit of course.) He did excellently and was very proud of himself, so was I. Good boy Red.

4/8/07 We trailered down to Longview Horse Park for a XC school. S and I and 2 of my students on their horses went out and schooled the beginner novice and most of the novice course. S was a little behind my leg at first, and distracted by all the goings on, so had a few refusals early, but he came around nicely and had some good jumping and went in the water with his friends and after that, alone. He had some overwhelmed bug-eyed moments at a few things, but after halting and breathing for a bit, went forward. When we turned away from the barn to go do the other half of the course, he was quite naughty, bucking and turning away from forward to home. We did get through it. Then we were way out on the course and decided to do the last half toward home. We did and he did very well, galloping and jumping, but being quite tight in his neck, so I asked him to walk and relax a few times and then we went back to it and he did very well. So well in fact, that I asked him then to continue on to the first half of the course away from the barn and he smoked over every jump very well. Excellent! Then Jay walked him around and spectated on him while I schooled the Eddie around the course. He was mostly relaxed for Jay. On the way home we taked about it and we think he just gets overwhelmed and nervous. With your approval I would like to put him on this supplement which is supposed to help them be able to relax, without drugs. If you read the ingredients it is all vitamins and minerals. It is relatively inexpensive and from a good company.

4/7/07 Trailered over and played in the fun show at KMJ. Barrel raced (quite laughably, but good turning!), flag raced, egg raced, egg and spooned and more. He had a wonderful time and played well with others all day. Ears up all day and very interested in all goings on. Polite and just fun. Pictures from after horsie painting contest.

4/2/07 Started to longe him in the outdoor, but with the wetness, the footing wasn't holding up well so resorted to getting on and trotting large forward circles and also lots of cantering. Forward, forward forward. He was loving it. Then on to some lateral work including leg yield and shoulder in. Changed it up a lot with lateral work and forward work and back and forth. He thought it was a lot more fun and he did well. Lighter in bridle most times and really up in canter. What a big bouyant horsie. He did have one goofy shy in walk, which only indicates to me that he needs more forward, forward forward to keep him on track. Pretty much fun.

3/29/07 Go ahead and get a cup of coffee, this is going to be a long one. :-) So, I've been thinking a LOT about S lately, and meanwhile riding a lot of other horses and auditing clinics and so on. The first piece of the puzzle was a driving lesson I was watching with a very good international calibre clinician last week. She was having one of the ponies go in a loose balancing rein, which goes from the saddle through the bit and to the center top of the saddle. I have used a similar set up for riding, but not actually tied to the saddle so the horse just got to figure it out without any hand input. Interesting, but how could I use it since I was riding and I wouldn't tie a horse's head down (even in this loose manner) that I was sitting on? The next thing that happened was that I was riding Cielo, a wonderful off track tb, outside the other day. He was very up and tight in his neck for the first 20 minutes outside, but once he got the edge off he was relaxed, light and lovely. Happens all the time with OTTBs, but it was a dramatic enough change that I thought a little more about it. The last thing that happened, and it happened today, was I was riding a young horse who is usually mellow, but today, he was tense enough that he actually reared when asked a simple question that he knew the answer too. After a few more minutes of quiet working in trot, he was going lovely and would never have thought about rearing. So, I got to thinking about S and how these other horses reacted to what I'll call a "sugar high" for lack of a better description of being "up" and tight at the start of a ride (one got tight in his neck and one reared) and got to thinking that maybe S, who is given to the occasional rear and is the crown prince of being tight in his neck, could simply be on a sugar high. Afterall, once I get him through whatever fit he threw at the beginning of the ride, he was always fine afterwards. He never was good starting out and then threw a big fit after an hour or whatever, now that I thought about it. Finally, I got to thinking about stories friends have shared about people having trouble with Irish horses when they bring them over to the states. The Irish horses are bred to be ridden 6-8 hours per day and they just need to just go and go. Now of course S isn't Irish, but he certainly is bred, frankly, to be phenotypically physically superior to alot of the horses we are used to. It was beginning to occur to me that, even though his symptoms are balking and spinning (which usually means to me that they want to go back to the barn), it could be that he is just on a sugar high and just acting out. Thoroughbreds run when they are acting out, why can't warmbloods stop?

With all that in mind, I brushed him, tacked him up and put on his draw reins (attached at the top of the girth, not between his legs) through the bit, and put the other end around the stirrup bars. This made for a nice loose connection so that he couldn't raise his neck like a giraffe, but could stretch down or move his neck normally in all gaits. (Yes I could have used side reins, but I've never been a huge fan, for reasons I'll not bore you with.) I put him on the longe line and sent him out. To my surprise, he happily trotted and cantered around without prompting for 5 minutes in each direction, twice. Twenty minutes on the longe in trot and canter is a lot of work. You try running in a circle for 20 minutes! ;-) He was pretty tired, but happy, when I asked him to stop. I had never raised the longe whip or even clucked to him to encourage him to go and he was just clipping right along in a relaxed but animated manner, so it was his wish to go.

I got on, and Jay and Claude and I and S went for a 4 mile road hack. No shying, leaping, spinning, balking, rearing or even a laid back ear. He led through the mild ditch crossing and crossed the bridge with little comment. We trotted in a relaxed manner for half a mile and had some nice canter. He stood quietly while we chatted for a few minutes with neighbors and didn't freak out at the group of dogs in the field. Walked with neck down, floppy ears on a long rein, enjoying himself. He was a very fun horse to ride. He was a polite member of horse society. Jay and I could actually talk and ride in a relaxed manner and S clearly enjoyed himself immensely.

I very rarely drink on days that don't begin with "S", but in this case, I'm having a celebratory beer. Man it tastes great. I think we're on to something.

3/27/07 Worked in the arena (while we wait out mud season!) and did a lot suppling work. Started out with some ground work asking him to come through his back and be light to the rein aids. Had nice work with that. Had some good trot half pass work and nice canter work. He did have one meltdown over the gate being open and the electric tap being down (outside the arena), but he got over it. Ended with some very nice canter work.

3/25/07 Lots of flatwork in the arena (mud elsewhere). He did very well with his stretching work in walk and trot and pretty well in canter. Did some walk and trot canter half pass, some of which was excellent.

3/24/07 More rain, so the arena was pretty sloppy. Did a lot of walk suppling work, which is much needed, so all good. Made more progress.

3/22/07 Was intending to go on a trail ride because the mud has somewhat abated, but since Jay was attempting to start a bonfire which was about 15' high branches about 40' outside the arena, I considered that sufficient distraction to challenge our attention while working in the arena. We warmed up with some walk work with his neck down. He did well with that. Then on to walk half pass and trot half pass. Left is a lot more difficult for him and we had a few moments of discussion regarding submission, but nothing as dramatic as his board kick Tuesday. We did come to an understanding regarding trot half pass in both directions and we took frequent walk breaks during the process so that he could stretch. We had some nice canter work and even some moments of good canter half pass to the right. Trot leg yield was very nice. During this whole ride, Jay was throwing more branches on the pile and trying to start the branches, which were a bit green, with a torch. There was crackling and smoke blowing away from us. S thought sometimes that that would be a good reason to not pay attention to me, but for the most part, he did very well. Lifestyle note: When he came into his stall for grain in the evening, I had placed 2 bags of bedding, still in the bag, in the stall. It is a new type of bedding that comes in a bag that looks exactly like a feed bag. He thought so too. He picked one up and shook it sharply so that it broke open. Then he took a big moutful of the shavings pellets and started chewing. The look on his face when he tasted them was priceless. I am sure he also did not appreciate my guffaw. I comforted him after the fact, but it really was pretty dang funny.

3/20/07 Approaching storm, sustained east winds around 18 mph. I thought it would be a good day to see if we were getting somewhere with the relaxation deal and letting go in his poll. All in all it went well. We had some very nice trot work, including trot leg yield. Some barely acceptable trot half pass (this is harder than leg yield, and it is coming) and some very nice canter work. When I asked for canter half pass, which for some horses is easier than trot half pass, we had very nice work to the right. When asked to go left we had a LOT of resistance in the poll. We had a real discussion about yielding to the left rein and leg and he had a few words to say about it, especially when he kicked out and popped a board out of the fence, for which he signed up for a swat and some serious work for the next 3 minutes. He figured it out and apologized by going politely and well. We did some more canter half pass and had some passing good work. Then we cooled down with walk and walk half pass, which went well. Yay.

3/19/07 Did a lot of work in the arena, focusing on soft in the poll and through from behind. It is much harder for him to come through on the left than the right. But he had some lovely work in trot and passing work in canter. Very satisfying.

3/16/07 Arena is finally firm enough to ride, though still has a few wet spots. Good for balance to have to deal with it! I've been thinking a lot about his moments and think that if I would insist that he stay absolutely unlocked in his poll, it would make a really big difference. (When horses lock their poll, they are in a position of resistance and in some cases fear, and it tends to be a spiral of increasing tension and fear, but if you can unlock the poll and keep it unlocked, the spiral starts to unwind.) So we spent the first 20 minutes walking around and doing small circles and frequent soft halts, all insisting on softness in his poll. If he locked up, we stopped "reset" and started again. When we had that, we went on to trot, with the same requirement--absolute softness or back to walk circles or halt to unlock. After 10 minutes of rapt attention to that, we had a soft trot (it required maintenance, but it was soft!). Then on to canter, which was actually quite good to the right and quite tight to the left. Same deal. When he tightened up, back to whatever lower gait it took to fix it. I could usually fix it in trot. Encouraging day and he seemed pleased with himself. He even had floppy ears for most of the time, which is not only cute, it is a good sign of relaxation.

3/14/07 Mud is pretty bad and I don't want to risk straining a tendon in it. Back in the tack when the arena dries up, which, if we get a little sun, shouldn't be long.

3/12/07 Trail ride with Jay and Claude. He was fine until we got to the gravel road where we turn south. He threw a tiz, but we got through it pretty quickly, certainly more quickly than the other tiz he threw there last week. Progress. We are lately working under the assumption that this is mostly being a bit nappy/barnsour. It seems that once we get through it, the rest of the ride is fine. Then we went on a 3 mile hack on the gravel road and through teh CRP fields on the way home. He was relaxed most times and did well.

3/11/07 We were out of town for a few days, but now we are back and the weather is nice too! Unfortunately, that means mud and ice at the same time, but I got on today anyway and out we went. I opened the gate from the barn yard to the pasture while I was mounted on him and then we went through it and I asked him to side pass over so I could shut it. He started to throw a hissy and I started to get off to get out the can of whup, and he stopped immediately, so I did too, and off we went, having come to an agreement. We went to the other side of the pasture and did a lot of walk figures, because the footing really was by turns mushy and icy. But he kept his neck down and his attention on me and performed very well. I surprised him by giving him a cookie for his good behaviour while I was riding. That was ok with him for sure. I figured that if I turned up the volume on the discipline for him it is only fair to turn up the volume on the other end of the spectrum as well. I think he approves, judging by his relaxed good behaviour the rest of the ride.

3/6/07 Trail ride with Jay and Claude. He was going along fine, if just a little doggy. He picked a spot to stop and whirl for home. I jumped off and snapped him 3 times in the butt with the dressage whip. Then stopped and made him settle, stand still, put his neck down and politeley let me mount. After that he was a complete angel. Led when I asked him to, even at a canter and was fun and had fun. Improvement. Much less drama than Sunday's trailride and to watch his expression as I used the whip on his deserving butt, he was convinced that the wrath of the Cookie Girl was upon him, which it was. But Cookie Girl is quick to forgive and we had a very fun ride after that and cookies afterward. Believe it or not I'm about euphoric about how the day ended up. He is just a delight to ride when he is minding his ps and qs. Jay remarked that he has the "coolest canter". Yep.

3/4/07 Went on a trail ride with Jay and Claude. When I asked S to lead he was going along fine until he decided to stop and turn back. Jay passed me and led for the next bit. Then as we were going down the gravel road, S stopped and spun back and reared slightly. I got him straightened out and on his way again. After another minute or so, he did it again and I got him straightened out again, but he was still trying to crawl behind my leg, being owly and uncooperative. When he did the spin and rear thing again, I jumped off and cracked him three times hard on the butt with the dressage whip. No jury in the world would convict me and it was a dark delight to see how very surprised S was at my breaking out a can of whup. It passed quickly and afterwards I made him stop, stand still with his neck down and stand politely while I mounted. We went another mile and half and he didn't pull one more thing on even enjoyed himself. On the way home, I was leading when Jay's horse got stuck in a big snowdrift which we had just scrambled through. Jay's and his horse took a slightly different path (I ride this country more than Jay and knew it was low and there would be deeper snow where he was crossing, but he had to Lewis and Clark it...) had to stop and rest because the horse was up to his chest and more in snow and eventually they had to retreat and go home the other way. I did not want to cross back through the drift after watching what they went through, even if I went my way, so I ended up continuing home away from Jay and his horse. S was a perfect gentleman. He left the other horse without difficulty, blazed a trail by himself and was just a fun ride.

2/27/07 The weather gods conspired to bring two days in a row with weather nice enough to ride out side. Crazy! Tacked up and went for a trail ride, which eventually proved to be a mistake because 10" of snow on top of harrowed unfrozen fields, means 10" of snow, 8 inches of mud and very tough going for S. We did a lot of walking and also found some unturned areas to ride. We went past the scary combine, the terrifying ice-coated cage of some sort, the parked semi and the grain elevator, not entirely without trepidation, but successfully none the less. Very good day and he was proud of himself.

2/26/07 The weekend brought an ice and snow storm, 1/2 inch of ice and 10 inches of snow. They spent Friday night through Sunday morning inside and then ran around like kids when they went out Sunday morning. They were quite funny to watch. They were also nibbling on the ice on a tree when a big branch came down. It was not a real danger to them, but certainly a good excuse to run around the yard with their tails over their backs! What fun! I took him out for a pasture hack this morning. It was 18 degress, but sunny and still, so quite bearable. We went all over the pasture and he was good. Considering he has had the easiest month of his time with me, he was quite good. He is not as far in front of my leg as he will be, but he is at least in front of my leg most of the time. We had a good time walking, trotting and cantering about in the snow!

2/20/07 Fifty degrees! Went for a gravel road hack with Jay and Claude. We walked 4 miles. It was perfect for both of them as S got to see things while going slow and with a buddy, and Claude got to work out some stiffness from hunting pretty hard 2 days ago. S was very good and only had three minor pushback moments--great considering we went over 2 bridges, past a big drop off at a washout, past Mimi the huge dog and the small pack of dogs owned by another neightbor. Oh I forgot, we did a little trotting in the last quarter mile. He was tight in his neck to start out, but came around nicely. Very good day.

2/18/06 The weather this month is allowing me to ride on occasional Sundays. Well, take it where you can get it, I guess, for now! The weather was nice enough to allow us to hunt with our hunt horses for two hours in the morning. When I got home and settled those horses in, I was still on a high from hunting so, instead of tacking up S and doing some ringwork or maybe pasture dressage work, I kicked it up a notch and just took him out for a two mile hack in the fields. He was great! There's no reason he should have been, since he had a week off, I would have expected him to be at least a little goofy, but I think he was so happy for the change of scenery that he chose to enjoy it. He didn't do one naughty thing and one time when he shied at a bird flying up out of a bush, he did so in place. Wonderful! He had some moments of tension in his neck and we had a few canters that I had to nip in the bud for their tension, especially, but we worked through it and we had the most lovely canter for a long period! I finally had to make myself stop him because I didn't want him to get too sweaty and have him catch a chill when the sun went down, which was due soon. He was extremely pleased with himself and I am encouraged. Woohoo.

2/11/07 What? Above 20 degrees? Heck, even above 30! Out we went for a ride in the pasture. He is a little foot-tender since his shoes are off and he is acclimating, on the hard snow patches, but out in the other side of the pasture, it is softer and he felt just fine. Did some nice work in trot and not completely stuck work in canter. This is wonderful considering that he had oh, what, 2 weeks off due to the cold. Good job S!

2/7/07 Still dang cold.

1/29/07 Dang cold the last few days and not looking very promising for the next week. It will be catch as catch can for riding, but know that I still see him and play with him at least twice a day and on the really brutal wind chill nights, they are in. The barn gets comfortably warm with all 5 in.

1/26/07 Almost two in a row. Went straight out to the pasture again and everything was going along just fine until he surprised himself by noticing a truck that was parked on the side of the road. Did an about face, but recovered extremely quickly and back on the aids. He then proceeded to get entirely over it and did his nicest work to date out in the big wide world. Leg yield, shoulder in, even got to play with some extended trot. Nice canter work. Walked back to the barn at the end with his neck down and breathing in a relaxed manner. Woohoo.

1/25/07 Again skipped the arena warmup and headed out to the pasture. I had him on the aids and doing lateral work on the way to the scary part of the pasture and he was mindful and lovely. We did some trot and canter work around the trakehner jump in the middle of the pasture and he was quite good. He had one (understandable) question about a low area that had deeper snow in it. He only hesitated slightly and it just showed good sense. Semis went by and he stayed with me mentally. We worked in the heretofore scary part of the pasture and he kept his neck down and opted to keep breathing and relaxed. He really did well. When we get 10 days in a row like this I will be ecstatic. That's one. :-)

1/24/07 Skipped the arena warm up and warmed up in the pasture. He did very well, staying relaxed for most of the work. He did have a moment about a truck on the gravel road behind us, but to be fair the response was much smaller than it has been in the past. He had some very nice trot and canter work and relaxed walk back to the barn at the end. Yay.

1/23/07 Yay, got his shoes removed today so that he will have better traction in the snow. We worked in the outdoor with a lot of lateral work and a new focus on haunches in which he thinks is hard. He'll get it and he was a game tryer. He did very well, especially in light of a new horse in an adjoining paddock and some really loud traffic going by. Nice day and many cookies consumed.

1/18/07 Caught a break in the morning weatherwise, too bad I didn't get home to ride until afternoon. When I swung into the tack we had a northwest wind around 15 mph and flurries. I'd be danged if I wasn't riding through. That's why God blessed us with thinsulate. We worked in the arena and did a lot of lateral work, including squares, leg yields and shoulder in. By the end of the session we were doing some very nice leg yield trot zig zags and it was particularly fun to observe our zaggy hoofprints in the snow. We did some canter work, but since he is smooth shod, that was a little tricky. I may have his shoes pulled to give his hooves a break from being shod and have better traction in the snow. My farrier will be back in town Monday. S was in a particularly good mood today and did very well.

1/17/07 Just a little update here. Cold, wind and now ice balls in horses' feet is precluding riding. As soon as the difficulty abates we'll be back out. He is doing fine in his big wooly coat, with plenty of hay to munch, shelter from wind (and they could go in the barn entirely if they wanted to) and twice daily ice ball removal.

1/11/07 Big weather is supposed to be coming in this weekend, so went out on a trail ride today with Katie and Claude even though it was drizzling. We pretended we were in Ireland. S did really well. Was not entirely relaxed in canter, but was more than he had been. We had one moment about crossing over a culvert bridge and he pulled the wheel around card, which I aced by sending him forward in strong canter and then bringing him right back to the question at a walk. He did go across it and earned much praise. We went all over God's creation again and he went past the scary silos and elevator in canter, in front of Claude. Pretty big deal. Much praise. He had some delightful canter work and was so soft and light toward the end in trot that I actually was able to put riding him on a back burner while I coached Katie about lateral work on Claude. That is huge too. It was fun for him to get to be the shining example rather than the behaviour problem poster child. "And this is shoulder in, and this is leg yield. <spring, float, spring> Here's the right angle for shoulder fore." I am convinced that horses do have some self pride, and today was good for his pride, which will help his confidence, which will make him more relaxed, which will make him easier and more fun to ride. Success breeds success. He had a great time and so did I. Coming right along. The next few days I am going to ride if I can, but the weather does not look promising...

1/10/07 Big fat huge red letter day. I warmed up in the arena with some lateral work, really focusing on him keeping his attention on me, and then did some canter work, with much the same emphasis. I hate to get after him right away, but he has taught me that if I am too allowing in the first few minutes, he will challenge everything the rest of the whole ride. If I insist on him minding his manners right out of the box, he's a very fun partner thereafter. We (Katie on Claude, Denise on Eddie, and I) went out for an epic trail ride. We went about 5 miles. Over bridges, through water, up and down hills, fabulous canters in big fields with great footing! Trotting up hills and getting to be a big huge floating trot warmblood among mere mortals. S had a huge lot of fun. Several times I could feel him grinning. He was unsure about the stream crossing at first, but did it, following the others twice. The third time I asked him to lead over it and he said no fairly louldy to which I responded with a huge boot to the ribs. Amazingly, in an instant, he looked at the creek, walked up to it as if on a mission and marched right through. I couldn't believe the change in attitude. Fabulous! Much praise. He was very proud of himself. The next step in his ever expanding education is going to be more group trail rides when I can arrange them and he will lead some times and get confidence doing that and also follow in new situations to let the other horses show him how to be. Gold star for Sauvage!

1/7/07 Rode in the morning before the big wind came up. Warmed up in the arena with a lot of lateral work, which went well. Then went out in the pasture and did some squares in trot and some canter work, requiring him to keep his attention on me. Then went out to the far corner of the pasture and did much the same. He started to have a moment of naughtiness, he was thinking about working up to it, and I was able to nip it in the bud and keep him on task. This is the next step in his training and a very positive one. Had a nice relaxed walk back in when done. Much praise, very good.

1/5/07 Had a session with a balancing reing (like draw reins, but go to the billets rather than between the front legs) and had some very nice work. I used the balancing rein because he was coming up tight against the left rein periodicly and I wanted him to have a very steady reminder when he chose to do that, that there is a better way. I much prefer the balancing rein to a draw rein, though I'm not fond of gadgets. A season for all things though. Canter work was very nice and trot work was polite and through. Very good. All the horses are getting tired of mud.

1/2/07 Rode in the late afternoon when the mud puddles in the arena were just starting to suggest they might refreeze. Despite that, we had some good stretching trot and canter work and some attentive walk work. He has gotten to the point where he is now pretty polite most of the time and I am very pleased with that. However, now that he is strong enough and we understand each other clearly, I am going to be asking more of him in the next few weeks. More throughness, more lightness up front, more alacrity of attitude. There will be plently of praise as always, as he strives to the next level of rideability.

1/1/07 Half an inch of snow overnight, but a sunny day today with light wind, so Jay and I took S and Claude for a road hack. He was very good for the first mile, neck down and attentive. He got a little overwhelmed on the way home when I asked him to lead at a trot. He didn't want to cross the bridge and put in an abrupt stop. He did end up leading over it. The ride was successful in that most of the time he kept his neck down and was polite.

12/29/06 Started with a walk warmup which went well, then on to trot walk transitions and some very nice canter work. All focusing on keeping his attention focused on his rider with about 90% success and very good correction of the errant 10%. Halfway through the session, Ed went trotting by outside the arena with a very messed up blanket. I put S's reins around his neck and went trotting after Ed; and S very hilariously followed me at a goofy trot right over my shoulder to the gate. I gave him a giggle and a pet on the nose when I was back a minute later. Got back on and did some lateral work which is sticky, but coming along and then did some nice swinging, forward trot work in between which he thought was prertty fun. He is getting stronger, and clearly I am going to need to work on my sitting trot to be able to sit what he is offering lately! Lovely problem to have.

12/28/06 He's getting better at cookie games. This is more important than even I anticipated as that and the other little things I am doing (more "neck down" work on the ground) is softening his attitude about asserting his authority. Figuring out it is more fun to get along. We had some very nice work today. Warmed up in walk to trot to walk transitions which were very polite and attentive. Then on to trot work which was really lovely at times and just dang nice at other times. No ick moments. Canter was extremely round and soft and attentive. He had one completely understandable shy when Rudy, the cat that I have specially trained to hide in scary spots around the outside of the arena, jumped in front of S when we were coming down the rail in trot shoulder in. To S's great credit, he only wavered for one stride and was back in shoulder in the next. Wonderful.

12/27/06 Back from the holiday tour of the Midwest family and back in the tack. We continue to play the cookie game, which he was a little rusty at before the ride , forgot how to make the cute face. He did eventually remember and got the cookie (and several more), but he made it so hard on himself! We went out and did some leg yielding and side passing to get him on the leg aids, then moved on to squares, where you walk about 10 m, then do a quarter turn in walk and then do the same again and again. It really engages the inside hind, and though I didn't ask for it, I appreciated the one step of piaffe he gave me. Quite fun. Then on to some trot and canter work. The trot work went well, but in canter he was quite annoyed with me refusing to hold him up on the left rein. Even managed to have a minor hissy about it, but we just kept going forward and it got much better. By the end of the ride he was mostly engaged in canter. I cooled him down with some walk work and then revisited the cookies cute face game, at which he was much improved. :-)

12/22/06 It has just been miserable mud out in the barnyard and the horses have been staying inside overnight to give them a break from it. They go out during the day to play though, 'cause a horse is a horse of course of course. I rode him in the outdoor, which had wet but firm enough footing. We started out with some walk work and the usual-of-late moving off my leg exercises. He did very well with that. We went on to canter, halt, turn on forehand, canter on other lead back and forth around half the arena exercises and that went well, with the exception of some heaviness in the downward transitions, which got better when he started to step under from behind more effectively. Good boy. Then we went on to trot work and it was LOVELY. All that warmup really made a difference. We would have been a sight to see in context though: Woman in flapping barn jacket whose zipper broke just before the ride and somewhat muddy half chaps, extremely fuzzy big red horse being polite as a school marm and delightfully forward, on the aids, swinging along, huge hooves flinging wet arena sand, with the overcast sky and damp west wind the only audience. Huge grins on woman and horse. A little early for a Christmas present, but I am thankful none the less.

12/20/06 Quite unpleasant outside with 37 degree rain. Brought them in about 4 p.m. to give them a break from it. They'll stay in all night and probably out in the morning. Not fit for man or beast and all that...

12/19/06 Nice day today and tomorrow is possibly going to be a cold rainy day, so out we went. We warmed up in the arena, focusing on forward and having rapt attention to my leg aids. He did very well with that and had some nice stretch too. Yaaaaaaay. Then a brisk trot and canter out in the pasture with no pushback whatsoever. Some good relaxation and forwardness. Woooohooo. Lifestyle note: in the last few days I have been educating him about effective facial expressions while mugging for cookies. Making the owly face does not get him cookies. He is learning very quickly to make the "cute face" and the most comical thing is when he is annoyed because he didn't get the cookie when he made the owly face, so he knows he has to make the cute face if he wants the cookie. He then very sloooooowly will put one ear up and then the other in a monumental effort. He's figuring it out and gets probably more cookies during this education process, so don't cry for him Argentina. ;-)

12/18/06 A bit cooler, but not too bad out. No windy anyway. Rode in the outdoor and continued on the stretching theme of the last workout with good success. Very nice stretch in canter even. Then I took him out for a trot around the pasture at twilight. The light was paying tricks and he scared himself with the look of a jump we passed by, did a whirl and short bolt. I got him refocused and sent him forward and steadied him and he did well. We had some nice trot work in the pasture.

12/14/06 Another fabulous day. We rode in the outdoor and warmed up with the usual "this is my leg, hear it please" exercises, which went well. There is more to go in that department, but he is definitely getting on board with it. We did a lot of transition work and there is no doubt in my mind that he is getting stronger in his body all the time. After some canter work, we had some nice walk and walk leg yield, where I focused on him coming forward through this neck, which he sometimes is loathe to do in trot. After we confirmed that in walk, we moved back to trot and had some admirable work. After that we did some trot circles in the loveliest, soft, relaxed trot it has been my lot to ride in a good while. Come down the center line, halt square at x, rub, rub, good boy, cookies.

12/13/06 Beautiful warm day, let's go for a trail ride. We warmed up in the arena with some reminders about leg aids and set out on a ride. I focused on him keeping his neck down and ears relaxed and he did very well, even over the freshly buried drain tile. We walked through the scary gate that we had a big fight about in other days. Then we went up to Indian hill and turned around and came back, past the windmill, which had him on his toes, but he managed to keep it together. Then we went back over the drain tile and into the next field back away from the barn. He decided that was far enough for today and did a stop and spin for which he earned a sharp tap with the dressage whip on the butt and turned around and sent back to work with a growl. We were going along fine for a while until I spotted the orange of a deer hunter in the distance so we took our leave and headed home. Good day.

12/10/06 Had a tough start today. I was just about to get on when my neighbor drove his team by. The horses always get spooky about the team going by, but today the team had the added scariness of having jingle bells on. Blew their little minds! Sauvage, who I was leading, was truly scared and, as a result, unruly and huge. I just required him to be careful of me, but I couldn't punish him for being scared. He was just starting to settle down as the bells faded in the distance, and I had gotten on and started riding, when Jay started measuring things with a tape measure just out side the arena. Lots of horses are afraid of the metalic crackly noises that tape measures make and S agreed with that general assessment. I required him to continue working, which he did, but he was highly suspicious of the activities by Jay. We did some warm up work after that and some very nice trot and canter work. I was very pleased that he worked through the rough start to produce some nice results. Learning to recover from scary moments is a nice skill. At the end we took a nice neck down walk around the pasture which went well.

12/9/06 For being 50 degrees and sunny, it didn't feel balmy for December, but still not bad. We warmed up in the arena and he did very well. Then out to the pasture for lots of trotting in softness with frequent changes of direction, which went well. We even had some canter in softness and throughness out in the BIG WORLD. He managed to do an elevated canter stride that some would call a buck, but I prefer to think of it as being very round, which he most certainly was. I think he felt good. We closed with a walk around the entire pasture with his neck down and relaxed ears. Very very good.

12/8/06 We warmed up in the outdoor, focusing on him being light off the leg and forward. He did very well. Then out to the pasture where we did a lot of trot and flexibility work, focusing on him focusing on me and not traffic on the highway or whatever. He got annoyed with me once and started to buck in place. I booted him forward with no room for question and off he went. Any horse who can buck that slowly and athletically in place (balancing on his haunches like a carousel horse) has the ability to use all that athletecism for good! We worked in the far scary side of the pasture and he managed to stay with me about 95% of the time, which is great. After he did so well, we walked around the whole pasture, with his neck down and breathing in a relaxed manner. Yippy skippy. :-)

12/5/06 Nicely above normal temps so in the tack are we. Started out in the outdoor where we reviewed being light on the aids. Did lots of bending and flexing and transitions and forward, forward forward. He's so smart and did very well. Then out in the pasture for more of the same-staying politely on the aids and performing in the BIG WORLD. He did very well, even when a huge noisy truck went by. Getting better at carrying himself from behind and staying looser in his neck. He worked very hard and had some nice results. Much praise.

12/4/06 Overcast, breezy, but not too cold, around 30. Rode in the outdoor with the intention of just taking it easy on him, easing back into it after some time off. Well, there was this stray piece of styrofoam that blew near the arena that slightly changed our plans. He shied at it and spun away at which point I turned him back to it. He did very well with it and things were going along swimmingly after that with a lot of slow flexibility work. I was focusing on him being soft and he was doing well, especially after I made myself clear that I was not interested in physically moving him with my leg, but that he should move his body under his own power in response to a leg aid. We got that straight and moved forward with a clear understanding and had some very nice lightness!

11/28/06 Rode in the morning before the front came through, or it was just starting anyway. A little windy, overcast, but no precip. We warmed up at a walk and he was very relaxed and forward in his neck, then some canter work which went swimmingly with good stretch and some bit chewing and his trot work was through too! Wacky good fun. Now to make that into a habit in the arena and then transfer that skill to work elsewhere. Keep the relaxed posture and encourage the confident mind. On the way.

11/27/06 We had fun today! It was foggy and drizzling a little, but quite mild. We warmed up in walk and he was very through in his neck. After a warmup, we cantered, to get him thinking forward and then did some trot work. He sort of fell apart at the trot, not coming through his body and not having great rhythm. I asked hiim for some leg yielding which was at first ugly, but got him coming through soon enough. Then we did some work on canter trot transitions and transitions from working to a more lengthened trot and back again, which went very well. He was really getting into the spirit of the thing and was very proud of himself and a dangerously cute cookie beggar afterward. Very good night.

11/26/06 He'd had a few days off due to the holiday, and was a little goofy, as were all the horses. When I went out to catch him he popped around the place like a spring filly, tail in the air and just bouncing from diagonal to diagonal in trot. Silly boy! I went and got a cookie and they all came over pretty quickly after they'd had a little fun. Since the other two horses I'd worked today were a little goofy, I thought it might be a good day to choose to longe him and see how he went rather than hop aboard. He looked very good and got a good workout in walk, trot and canter. I learned that he shies a lot less after he has gone forward for a while and gotten some energy out. I guess I knew that, but the change really was pretty dramatic. By the end of the session he was really moving well over his back and looked great. Looking forward to being back in the tack tomorrow.

11/22/06 Rode him in the outdoor just after sunset. The arena lights were on and he was fine with that. However, he objected to the cat rustling just outside the ring in the dark in the leaves. I could not blame him for that assessment. However, he did very well trusting me about it, which is encouraging. We had one very interesting shy. We were cantering along and the cat sped across some pine needles making them sort of hiss as he moved them. S did an unceremonious about face and kept cantering, I ordered another about face and to keep cantering and he went right by the spot where the cat had just been. That is a huge step in the right direction, and also gave me a good giggle and got him a pat. His trot work was a little more through, he was quite light in the bridle and his canter work was very relaxed. Yay. Yet another thing to be thankful for tomorrow. :-)

11/21/06 He got his hooves trimmed and shoes reset. I was setting jumps in the pasture when a really loud tractor and two wagons went by. All the horses acknowledged it, and S added a flourish of buck and bolt to his acknowledgement. He didn't go far or long, but this little display is more support for my growing theory that he is simply more sensitive to sound and sight than the other horses. A little more fear or at least inexperience. At any rate not simply just naughtiness under tack, but a general way of being. I take this as very positive because we can work on helping him deal with stuff. Acclimitization work is a big part of training. Interesting.

11/20/06 Another nice day! Rode in the outdoor and he was excellent. Nice walk work, getting stronger in trot and good stretch in canter. Took him for a pasture walk to wind down and he was good until he got really scared in the southeast corner. He settled down aftermy growl for the slight bolt and then some support to get him to relax. I've half a mind to just longe him at a walk out there until he gets used to working by himself in an open environment. He's fine by himself in the arena, but he'd really like to have a horse leader out in the open. Need to continue to develop his independent confidence.

11/19/06 Another beautiful, still fall day. He's had a lot of ringwork lately, but today the fields were dry enough to not be gumbo mud, so I mounted up at the mounting block behind the barn and set off on a ride in the big field behind our place. We did a lot of walk work warmup and then went off with some trot work. He was occasionally very tight in his neck (look at all the new stuff!) and when he was we would do a few 15 m circles, get it worked out and move on. He did not like the large pile of junk that is in the corner of the field and had a minor spin and short bolt about that, but got over it and went back to work. He did quite well, even doing some very nice canter work. Fun day.

11/17/06 Beautiful, still fall day. The pasture was just a little wet yet and the fields were entirely too boggy, so we were in the arena. Did a long walk warm up which went well. Then some trot work with shoulder in and leg yielding. Today's focus was (besides the basic of encouraging contact with the right rein, back up, yield in the poll) having him stay focused on me. When we are going toward the barn he is always right with me. When we go toward the field, he usually focuses elsewhere. Today when he did that he got a quiet verbal "Where are you?" and if he didn't give me an ear, he got a tap on the shoulder. He figured it out and did very well. Much praise. He had one tiny push back moment in trot and when I took both legs off to give him a boot he jumped forward. Good response, Prince, good boy. Canter work was stellar today.

11/15/06 Since he had all those days off he can work a few days in a row here. This isn't exactly Tevis Cup work we are doing here. ;-) Blustery horrid day, so we stayed in the arena which at least has a wind break. We had some very nice walk work again and some nice lift in his back in walk and trot. Had one push back moment that was corrected immediately and in no uncertain terms and then much praise later when he went right back to work. Canter work was a little sticky in not coming through his neck, but it will come. Good day. Much cookie celebration.

11/14/06 We were gone for the weekend and then I was suffering from a lovely bit of the chest krank Monday, but today I am mostly better. I rode Sauvage in the arena, and partially due to still being a little weak myself, did a longer than usual walk warm up, paying special attention to him going to the right rein and moving off my left leg when asked. We did walk leg yield and all manner of spirals and such and after a few minutes he got measurably taller and his back really came up. Woohoo! Muscles! When we finally did trot work, it was really quite good and plenty polite and correct. His canter work was nice to, though occasionally a little budgy up front. Maybe not strong enough to carry that really "up" yet for more than a few strides. Nice day. Not one second of push back. He was proud of himself.

11/9/06 Another nice day. We worked in the arena, and after a walk warmup focused on him staying relaxed in his poll. This is important for all horses, but for him it seems to be a real key. When he gets worried about something, he gets tight and then he worries, and then he gets tighter. When I can keep him yielded in his poll, the cycle returns to the positive side. He did very well in all three gaits. As a warmdown we went out in the pasture for a walk and short trot. He did very well.

11/07/06 Really a pretty day out. I tacked up Sauvage and we went out for a walk warm up around the pasture. He felt very good in his body. After the warm up we did a pretty good amount of trot work, focusing on him yielding in his poll and carrying himself. It went very well and he felt proud of himself, as I interpreted the feel I was getting. We interspersed it with walk work and then went on to canter work which was just so lovely. We worked in the far side of the pasture and a huge combine went by on the highway and he stayed with me mentally. We did have one moment late in the workout where he shied at a xc jump and did a spin and short bolt, but he reacted approiately to the tongue lashing and smart tap on the butt he got and went right back to work with a "Sorry Ma'am" demeanor. Pat on the shoulder when he did. His walk work on the way in later was much improved with no tripping. Coming along...

11/6/06 Lately every day is Sauvage's birthday and I am just a very pleased birthday partygoer. We were out of town for the weekend and our barn person reported that Sauvage was an absolutely delightful-to-observe-frolic goofball in the pasture. Sunday when we got home we appreciated a repeat performance and today he went to Al Garcia for his follow up apointment to get his sacroilliac evened out. Since Sauvage's first apointment, Al has figured out how to get the sacroilliac to sort of "snap back" into place. It was facinating to watch. Al put S's left hind on a farrier hoof stand and then got on a step ladder and pushed first the front of S's sacroilliac and then just a little pressure on the back and it just went in. I went and looked at it and S is now perfectly even over that spot. It was cool to watch S's expression while Al did it too. He was not alarmed, and mostly acutely interested. It will be fun to ride him soon and see if a difference can be felt.

11/2/06 A bit breezy and cool, but not too bad out due to a little sunshine. I tacked up and got on with the aid of the mounting block outside of the arena. Getting a little cocky now, skipping the arena check for mood. ;-) As it turns out, he balked right off the bat. We got about 15 steps from the mounting block and he said he was not leaving his group (all the other horses were nearby). We had a discussion about that and he was a little owly, but I've experienced much worse from him and he got over it and out we went. We did a nice walk warm up and then a lot of easy trot work, focusing on him yielding in the poll and coming through his back. He had some very nice moments and got much praise and withers scritches. We had one minor meltdown when a lowboy flatbed with a backhoe went by on the gravel road. He found this objectionable and did a short bolt (maybe 3 strides and then under control again). I spent a few more minutes in trot, gave him a walk break (not major tripping, woohoo!) and then off for some canter work which went swimmingly. Relaxed walk back to the barn, untack and cookies.

10/31/06 A major cold front came through last night and today it is much cooler and breezy. I was interested to see how Sauvage was going to react. He was very calm despite the cool weather and warmed up in the arena without comment so out we went to the pasture. We did a lot of walking to get going. He is required to march and carry himself in this walk. He was doing great with the exception of one impressive trip. The voice in my head said, "Oh he's tripping, he'll come right back up. Oh, he's still tripping and I don't think he's going to save it. I think this meeting with the ground will be pretty slo mo. Nope, he saved it. Good save Sauvage!" He did go down on his knees for a stride or two. He very rarely trips and only slightly at that, at a trot and never at a canter. It has to do with engagement I think and will improve as he gets stronger. He had one naughty spin and very short bolt during the trot work, but he just isn't selling it to me like he used to. Kind of amusing actually. I just growl at him and send him back to work and he goes with much less drama than before. I do give him a break after a little more work (to make my point that he has to be polite!) though when he does that, because I do think that he is naughty when he starts to get sore. They key is challenging him physically to help build him up, but without asking really challenging things for a long time. We want to work right at the edge of his max. His trot and canter work were very very good. He is starting to come softer in his throatlatch and more active behind which is the name of the game. Woohoo.

10/29/06 Beautiful day so Jay and I went out for a walk trail ride with Sauvage and Claude. S tried to be a little snarky in the first few minutes, but he got back in front of my leg when I made an issue of it. Then we had a nice 40 minute tour of all the harvested fields by us in the warm sunshine. Long rein and relaxed. He did surprise himseslf late in the ride by noticing a combine on a flatbed over the hill and did a shy and short bolt, but when Claude just looked at him like he was silly, he got over it. Stopped to much a few ears of corn the combine missed on the way home. Yum.

10/26/06 Rained in the morning so too wet to go traipsing about the pasture. Worked in the outdoor with a lot of walk warmup and once he was warmed up, some walk lateral work, shoulder in, leg yield, half pass, focussing on staying up and through and being light in the bridle. He did very well as evidenced by Jay commenting that he looked like he was so "bouncy that he could do passage at any time." We did some trot and canter work which went well. Very good day.

10/25/06 Savant had his left hind shoe replaced. Found it in the pasture last night, even before I knew it was missing!

10/24/06 Beautiful autumn day with sun shining and no wind. He walked around the ring without comment other than one shy at a bird that flew abnormally near him, so we went out to the pasture. My plan was to keep it simple today, as there were combines working corn fields literally on 3 sides of us. I thought that would be enough of a challenge. So we did 15 minutes of marching walk and he was puffing during the end. He dealt with heavy truck traffic going by on the highway (harvest trucks) and watched a truck being filled in the next field from the combine and watched with intense but relaxed interest. The walking really was an alert, forward up walk I was requiring and he was enjoying. He did pull one naughty shy and short mini bolt for which he got no response and a simple return to work. I think it really embarasses him when I don't have a big reaction to antics and he just has to go back to work. He settles down more quickly each time and we are back on track. After the walk work, we did some trot and canter work , focusing on quality and not requiring quantity. He had some very nice work in canter and some just lovely work in trot. Yay.

10/22/06 Since this was two days in a row, I did a lot of walk suppling work to warm up, but we did eventually get to the trot and canter work. He did very well.

10/21/06 It has been an extremely busy week, with some nasty weather thrown in , so today was the first day I got to ride him. He has been doing a fair amount of self-exercising in the pasture, as the cool weather is conducive to a new fervor in horseplay in the pasture, of course. The weather wasn't exactly welcoming today either, with north wind and little needles of rain, but still I was happy to be back with Savauge. We did a lot of trot work and some shoulder in and leg yield with some half pass. Work those muscles!

10/15/06 I met Becky! She's fabulous! Had a good workout with Sauvage. He started out a little stiff, but came around and did some nice work, especially near the end. Lots of fun.

10/13/06 Had a few days off due to huge winds and cold temps. Back in the tack today. He was goofing off with Ed when I came home, feeling pretty good. I tacked up and he was fine in the arena so we went out in the pasture. We went around in trot once and then when we turned out for the second go round he had a good push back. I dealt with that and got him going again, but decided to take it easier on him because he was tripping a fair amount, and I think doing his best. We did a lot of walking and then we did approximately minute trots, focusing on really correct work--quality vs. quantity, with frequent short walk breaks. That seemed to work a lot better for him. That's just fine, we get the same amount of conditioning out of it eventually and better work in the meanwhile. Ok to let him have input on how this process goes. He had some very lovely work.

10/10/06 Soft rain and cool. We did a trot around the pasture, but he felt a little tight. Could have been the cold rain on his muscles. He put up a pretty big fit when I asked him to turn away from the barn for the second lap around the pasture. I eased him through it but then had him walk instead of trot. We did about an hour walking around. He threw a few minor fits, but we got through them. We're not even 8 weeks into the diet. We are lucky that we are doing as well as we are already. Setbacks like this will happen. S'okay.

10/8/06 We were at a horse trial in Wichita with Eddie so Sauvage missed a day of conditioning. When we drove in the driveway, he was trotting around the pasture with Claude and then when Eddie got off the trailer they played for a while. It was quite comical. Sauvage clearly feels better. He was bucking and playing and cantering small circles. Amazing. After some unpacking of the trailer, I brought Sauvage in and tacked up. He was standing normally. I walked and trotted around the outdoor and he didn't even shy at the pyramid of blue buckets from the horse trial that were drying just outside the arena. I took him out to the pasture and did 8 minutes of trot, and after the first four asked him with some half halts to carry himself a little more and he was able to for a reasonable length of time. There were times where he felt really great in his body. Then we had a walk break for a minute (He did have several trips when we were on the walk break, both front and back. I am confident this is a phase, as I went through this with Claude) and went 8 minutes more with more stretched and self carriage and some more long frame trotting. It went very well, and noisy motorcycles went by and he handled it. Woohoo. He did have one push back moment, but just a grind to walk from trot which, with a little coercion, he picked back up in trot again with less than 5 seconds. Big praise. Then we did some canter work in each direction. He's not strong enough to do it really well yet and carry himself, but he is such a natural athlete that it still feels great. I can not even yet imagine how he will feel to ride when he is strong enough to carry himself. When I brought him in to untack, he was standing stretched out as he does when he is a little tired. That's just fine. He was still bright and begging for cookies, which he got, of course. :-)

10/5/06 Another very warm day. We walked briefly around in the arena just to see if he was on the aids today and he was, so out we went to the pasture. We trotted around the outside of the pasture 9 minutes then did a walk rest and then cantered around it on the left lead. He was extremely good through all of that. When we were doing a short walk rest after that canter, a really noisy truck with trailer went by and he got a little up, but not even in the league of what he would have presented in the past, and frankly, I think any horse would have been slightly alarmed by this rig. He took a minute or two to settle and then we were off in canter in the other direction, which went well. Then some trot circle work in the middle of the pasture that went well and a walk back to the barn. Good day.

10/3/06 Wow, hot. Took it a little bit easy today since he is starting to get a winter coat and it was 88 degrees! We did a walk warm up and then 8 minutes of trot and two minutes each direction of canter. Very good. It was breezy and a dried corn leaf blew up in to the air right in front of him and he just kept trotting. Most cool. Also, saddle pads drying on the fence were moving around and he was unfazed. Woohoo. Then did another 6 minutes of trot after a short walk break a