Day 28

We had a great morning with Marley went out nice and early before work and school while it was still cool and quiet at the barn.  When we arrived the horses were still eating breakfast, and this usually means that Marley doesn't come to greet me at the gate.  He acknowledges me, and will let me put his halter on in between bites, but that's about it.  Today though, when I called him before I opened his gate, he nickered and turned away from his gigantic pile of hay and came right over.  It was a pretty cool start to a great day.

Mike and Marley

Mike came with me this morning and helped me with some ground work training.  They are both doing so well, Mike is learning a lot of about horses and how to work with and around Marley, and Marley is starting to be really comfortable around multiple people and situations.  He also knows that Mike is a pretty reliable source of carrots, and they've become good friends.

Mike took a lot of video today so I had to split it up because it was too long to post.  Marley is really starting to understand bend through his body and he has become very reliable and almost immediately responsive to aids.  He is so soft in the hand and is starting to understand contact and the outside rein.  He is dropping his shoulders less and less, and after his feet were trimmed yesterday I feel like he is moving better and much more forward.  I'm thinking of transitioning him into the snaffle bit in the next 2 or 3 rides.  He is still being ridden without a bit, and now that he is understanding contact, bend, and softness, I want to establish connection.  I think this is the perfect time to transition him as he is still learning a lot on a daily basis, but he comfortable and confident enough that I think the transition is going to be easy and positive.  He already understands what he is supposed to do, and I want him to remain soft and light in my hand so it was important in my training plan that he didn't figure out the bit by pulling on it and having it bump him in the mouth while he tried to understand everything else that was changing in his world.  

Marley has gotten better but is still a little funny about riding near other horses.  Most people at the barn tie their horses up to the outside of the arena to tack them up, and this morning I used it as a training opportunity when someone was doing just that.  Eventually Marley was ignoring the other horse, and we moved on.

I also had some trot poles set up in the arena which Marley figured out immediately.  He is really smart with his feet, so Mike set up a small cross rail for us and we trotted over that a few times too.  To finish up our session I took Marley over to the "bridge" in the arena and for the first time we went over it under saddle, and even trotted over it.  He's such a little smarty pants!

Day 27 - Marley Gets a Pedicure

The biggest news today is that Marley finally had his feet trimmed!  Jake came out to see Marley's progress and give us some pointers, and after a great ride I tied Marley to the inside of the arena and Jake got his tools.  

As I suspected, Marley was really wary of Jake when he walked up with everything.  It took a minute for him to take everything in and realize that Jake wasn't going to jump on him.  When he went to pick up Marley's feet, he scooted sideways a little bit but then relaxed and stood calmly.

While it didn't go as smoothly as a domestic horse standing for the farrier, it really went incredibly well, and in the end I think it was a positive experience for Marley.  I want to thank Jake for being so patient and taking the time to work with Marley rather than expecting anything out of him.  I think each trim will be easier and easier, and I'm really excited that his feet are starting to take shape a little bit. 

"I'm sorry I was scared, would you like a back rub now that we're friends?"

Marley's feet are so tough!  I guess that's how he survived in that rocky landscape!

 

Before the trim... Look at those long toes!

Hanging out in turn out while I clean his stall

I know, it has nothing to do with Marley but isn't he the cutest?

Day 26 - Late to bed, early to ride...

This is turning out to be SUCH a busy week with school.  The only way I was going to even fit a ride in on Marley today was to wake up way too early and get out there before class.  This would be fine, except that I was up all night working on a never ending mountain of school work.  I know, wah wah wah, but can't I just be grumpy for a minute?  It makes me feel better.  It does make it easier though that Mike wakes up every morning like he's just had 12 hours of sleep.  It gets me moving when all I want to do is drink a pot of coffee and reconsider being awake.  Where does he get all of his energy?

I couldn't do much ground work with Marley today as I had a really tight schedule, but I did tie him up to the outside of the large arena today where there is always a lot of activity.  I could tell he was pretty unsure about everything going on around him, but he acted like a gentleman and I think it will just take some time for him to feel comfortable with all of the horses and people walking around him.  Today was also the first time we rode in the large arena with other riders.  It was so funny, he would be completely fine until one of them started cantering, and then he would stop dead in his tracks, front feet spread apart, and snort.  I don't know what he thought they were going to do to him, but he would ignore them otherwise.  Eventually he realized they didn't care about him, and he was fine.  I wish I could just ask him what he was thinking.

I didn't have a camera today as it was just too crazy and I was by myself, but I'm hoping to get photos tomorrow.  I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that we are able to get some toe off of Marley, I think he will really feel much better. 

In other news, I sent my entry in this morning for the Abbe Ranch Spring Clinic!  I think it will be great for Marley to spend some time with lots of other horses and riders, and it will be a good learning experience for both of us.  If anyone is in the area and wants to come watch, I'm not sure what the policy is but you can check the Abbe Ranch website for details.  http://web.me.com/abberanch/Abbe_Ranch/Welcome.html

Marley on Day 1: It took hours to get this close

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

Day 25

Today I had planned on having Marley's feet trimmed, but that has been pushed back to Wednesday now.  That's ok because it gives me a couple more days to work with Marley's feet to prepare him.  The first major victory of the day was when I arrived and found Marley's blanket still on AND intact!  Woohoo! Way to go Marley!  He was also no longer afraid of the grain bucket... guess he learned that one pretty quickly.

The blanket survived!

We had a really nice ride tonight as well.  I was by myself but feel comfortable enough with Marley's understanding of breaks and turning, so I decided on riding in the large arena rather than the round pen.  We worked on serpentines and figure-eights, and even some trot/canter transitions.  Marley really has a lot of muscle to build up in order to hold a canter for too long, especially in a circle, so I would rather have one great circle of a balanced canter than 5 where I'm pushing him to hold it.  I think he is happier to transition because of it, and I know the muscling and endurance will come with time.  We also worked on some leg-yield (side pass) today.  Some people start their horses out learning basics like this, but I made the decision to wait with Marley because he was so apprehensive about going forward when I first got on him.  I figured that once we had forward movement, Marley would be more successful in his basic training anyhow.  He was really good, and I used the clicker here to help him understand quickly what it was I wanted.  It worked well and I'm looking forward to seeing how he does tomorrow.

25 days ago this horse couldn't be touched... pretty special.

Day 24 - Bundle Up!

Ahh Colorado.  If you don't like the weather here, just wait five minutes and it will change.  When I walked out the door this morning at 9 AM, it was sunny and 70 degrees.  By the time I left to go see Marley at 1:30, it was a freezing 29 degrees and snowing.  Hey, we need the moisture so I'll take it, but why can't it be a nice spring rain? 

I didn't ride today, but we brought Marley out for some exercise and I wanted to work with his feet to prepare for his trim tomorrow.  I'm also starting him on some grain, very little for now to make sure it doesn't shock his system, and today was the first day he got it.  I had never thought of the fact that he has never eaten grain before, and when I walked in with his grain pail and shook it, he jumped to the other side of the pen and snorted at me.  I'm sorry Marley!! I actually had to go put his halter on and spend a good fifteen minutes walking him up to the grain pail that almost attacked him.  Finally, after a couple of handfuls of grain, he ate out of the pail while I was holding onto it.  Phew!  Not so scary any more.  I was able to set it on the ground and finished every last bit. 

Now, Marley, if you could please not rip this blanket up, I would appreciate it.  

Day 23

I'm so glad I got to ride today! I had originally planned on giving Marley the day off as I was judging for a pony club show which I thought would last all day. We finished up really early though and by 4:00 I was out at the barn, and it was such a gorgeous afternoon to be there. No wind, 80 degrees, not too many people around... perfect. I decided to ride Marley in the small arena where the footing is a little deep so it is a bit more work, but it's very soft and nice. Mike took a lot of video today, so I wont talk too much about it, but I started to pick up a light contact today and you can see Marley settles into it a bit after a couple of minutes. At first, especially at the trot, he wiggled around with his body and his head, but I just kept asking him to move forward and stayed as quiet as I could, and he really settled. I was very happy with his progress and I think he's doing a great job!

After a great ride, we spent some quality time with Marley just enjoying the nice evening. He was (as usual) being playful and hilarious. I love this horse.

Day 22

The wind gave us a break today and remained at a tolerable breeze so I was able to ride Marley again.  I started in the round pen as there was a lot of traffic in the large arena.  Marley was great and picked up right where he left off.  I worked with his feet a little bit and his bow behavior before I moved on to riding him.

Target

Bow Approximation

I usually spend some time moving around Marley and playing with the saddle before I get on, but today I went straight to the mounting block, and he didn't miss a beat.  He was quiet and stood for me without any hesitation, and when I asked him to move forward, he did so willingly.  One thing about being in an English saddle is I feel like I have much better contact with Marley.  He is much more responsive to my seat and leg, and he is starting to understand moving off the rail as a result.  After some turns and a little bit of trotting in the round pen, I moved into the large arena where we worked on staying off the rail (his security blanket).  I only stayed in there for about 10 minutes as I'm still wanting to work slowly into more work with him.  He is currently happy to go out for a ride, and and he learns a lot each session, so I don't want to push him.  I think I will have a much happier, more willing horse in the end for it.

After a wonderful, positive ride, I got off and we worked a little more on the ground.  We spent the whole afternoon with him, enjoyed the sun, and got some good play time in.  At the end of the day we decided to start working with Marley accepting someone else coming in and haltering him, so who better than someone who has never haltered a horse??  (hahaha).  Actually, it was great.  I showed Mike a few times how he would approach Marley, put the halter on, etc., and we ran through it a few times.  I think they were both a little nervous at first, but the session was great for Marley and Mike, and Mike even walked Marley all the way back to his stall!