**Update: Rocky has been adopted and will be going to live with an amazing family in South Dakota**
Rocky now has a scheduled meet and greet with a family who may want to adopt him. We’re still taking back up inquiries and meet and greet sessions for now.
We’re continuing to work with both geldings till they find new homes. Tonight I chose to work with Rocky instead of Red. It was a few more firsts for Rocky Boy. First time ever:
- Cinching lesson (including front, back and flank cinch positions)
- Bareback pad
- Saddle
And
- rope around butt and under tail (ie like a crouper would be)
Rocky did amazing for his first lesson. He’s holding to his Pokey Joe nickname and still likes to take things at his pace speed wise but he didn’t is truly not a very reactive young gelding and took everything in stride tonight. A little bunching on the back and a few kicking out sessions when the rope around his but hit certain spots but nothing terrible at all and absolutely to be expected for first time ever having these things done.
The video is very long because it’s not edited at all and is our whole session. Feel free to fast forward to different parts.
Andy and Rocky Musical Freestyle.
Andy and Rocky Trail Class.
Andy and Rocky Handling and Conditioning Class.
Red and myself Musical Freestyle.
Red and myself Trail Class.
Red and myself Handling and Conditioning Class.
Rocky now goes through the cowboy curtain and the pool noodle alley. He’s coming along well. Rocky will be available for adoption at the MT Mustang TIP Challenge on Saturday August 27th at Big Sky Horse Park in Missoula, MT. Challenge starts at 8 am and available horse meet and greet scheduled to happen around the lunch break time ish.
Red is progressing nicely. This last session was an exercise in new things and how coordinated we could be (or rather I could be - have to say that there’s kinks that need to be worked out still. Lol. ). Red jumped barrels for the first time, did a couple barrel patterns while lunging (this is the part where need more coordination on my part - lol), side passed and bowed. I’m constantly amazed with Red’s willingness to try anything for whomever is working with him. He’s one amazing animal and will be available after the challenge.
Andy got Rocky to not only go into the trailer but also to back out, which means that Rocky now has met all the TIP requirements (finally- smile). Rocky has been a bit of a stubborn one but things seem to have finally clicked in the last couple sessions and now he’s doing great. Guess he was just one of those late bloomers. Smile. Rocky is a 2 year old gelding from Fish Creek Nevada and will be available after the Challenge.
Are we absolutely certain that Red was a truly wild horse and not instead a trained domestic horse that happened to be caught in the gather? Red continues to amaze me every time I work with him. Today he not only ignored all the highway traffic (I-90 is across the street and about 200 feet from the end of our front pasture) on our first walk along the road (although bicycles seemed to be something to watch pass by very intently- smile) but he also didn’t care at all about the first time encounter with a tarp and did exactly what I asked him to when I queued him to side pass towards me (and today is the first time even starting to teach him to do that). He’s sure going to make someone an amazing partner. He’s so willing, easy going and easy to work with.