Guest update

Hmmmm, see something different about this horse? Yes, yes, he now has a halter on!

Yesterday evening when the neighbor got home from work. I met him at the fence, asked about his hands ( due to rope burns from the other night trying to catch the horse), saw that his hands are pretty chewed up, told him it was ok if his horse stayed another night. Then I asked him if it was okay with him if I worked with his horse and get a halter on him.

He said be my guest and good luck but not to feed him. Well, that's all I needed. My chance to prove that patience, calmness and talking quietly really does work!

This morning after feeding my herd, I took some hay up to Roy ( horses name). I had the halter with me, went into the arena without feeding him first, talked with him, rubbed the halter all over his face and shoulders, walked out, fed him and left him alone. I know, I know, he said not to feed him, but no animal goes hungry here, ever!

A few hours later I went back up with the halter, into the arena, rubbed the halter on him, had him follow me around, talked quietly then put the halter on him. Then I took it back off, walked away, he followed, and I put it back on him. No fuss, no muss. I rewarded him with a pat and a good job, then gave him a horse treat. He didn't know what a treat was and at first wasn't too sure about it, then decided he liked it.

Getting him haltered took about ten minutes. Hmmmm, don't suppose my method worked do ya'! Wait till the neighbor gets home tonight!!!!! Oh alright, I am grinning a bit because my way worked and his good ol' boy method didn't! :)

I may go up in a little while and try to untangle that mess of a mane he has.

Until next time................................

Over Night Guest Continues

Well, the over night guest is still here. The owner came over as promised after he got off work to catch his horse. Well, since he is still here you already know he was unsuccessful at putting a halter on. He tried for over an hour with no luck. Then he decided he would just rope him. Okay then.

So he threw the rope, caught him and then the rodeo began! First there were some pull backs, then a rear here and there, and of course some pretty good bucks. The horse was having none of the rope and had no intention of cooperating in any way, shape or form.

Well, then the horse decided to bolt and bolt he did. The rope slid through through the owners hands and yup, some pretty good rope burns. The owner is getting frustrated. Horse is running all over the arena with the rope still around his neck. So the owner tried keeping the horse moving and eventually would tire out. Um, nope.


Another hour goes by. Owner is ready to blow. Horse not giving up. It's pretty dark by this time. I finally tell the owner it's ok to leave the horse and try again tomorrow. Well, the owner comes out of the arena without taking the rope off the horse. Uh, aren't you going to take the rope off for safety reasons. He tells me nope. Leave it on the little s.o.b.. Uh, aren't you worried about what could happen overnight? Nope. He then tells me what I need in my arena is a snubbing post! Really? I haven't ever had to use one, don't believe in them, and that in my humble opinion if training is done softly, with patience and asking, it gets you further and with much better results. He then tells me a story about a horse he had years ago he kept snubbed for over a week ( yes he took water and food to the horse) and that in no time he had the best horse. I made the remark about 'good old boy' training' and he said yes that is what he believes in because it works.

Ok, that's fine. Everyone trains their own way and it is not for me to judge which is best. What works for one person doesn't mean it will work for another.

So, tonight we will see if the overnight guest is still here in the morning or not.

If he is unsuccessful at getting a halter on him tonight I will ask if it is okay if I try tomorrow. With it being someone else's horse it is not my place to go out there and work with his horse without his permission.

Stay tuned!

Until next time................................

Overnight guest

Yesterday evening I noticed through the kitchen window that the sunset was really pretty. So off outside to take a few pics of it. Sorry, the focus isn't very good. It really was a pretty sunset.

As I was taking pics I noticed that the neighbors horses were running full board in their pasture. The next thing I see is their 2 year old stud colt jumped the fence right into my pasture! Off next door to let them know where their horse is. The owner came out, apologized, came over here to catch his horse, but his horse was having none of it.

To be honest, his stud colt hasn't been worked with much at all so getting a halter on him was, well, not going to happen. By this time it is getting dark so I mentioned to the neighbor to just put his horse in the arena overnight. I sure as heck don't want his stud loose with the jennies ( female donks). Not an option!

Here is his stud colt in my arena this morning. After feeding my herd I hauled water up to him. The neighbor is going to come over after he gets off work and halter his horse to take him back home. Which should be rather entertaining considering the horse is pretty much untouched! He also said he was going to call the vet out to geld him! Hooray!! One less horse to reproduce. And he is going to run a hot wire along the fence line.

Please excuse the look of the arena. With all the rain we have been having I haven't been able to get out there and rake it.

Hope everyone has a great day. There is a lot on the agenda here and I hope to get it all done.

Until next time...........................