Little steps but big improvements! This guy is all about slow and steady, and big and well timed releases
Apparently when I posted this, it deleted everything I wrote so let’s try this again.
Some of you may remember cello. Cello came to me to be started when my client got him for free. We did not have the whole story on cello when he came. I tried everything I knew, everything I could think of, and more. Cello would hold everything in then explode, he wouldn’t think no matter what I did. I’m not afraid to say that I felt like I was failing him. Then I got injured and he sat for two months. When I was able to work with him again, he started to make some progress but then his owner couldn’t afford to keep him in training so he went home. He sat in a pasture just being a horse for 5 months. His owner called and asked me to come catch him because he wouldn’t let her anywhere near him and decided to send him back in for training. I picked him up and from the time I got him to my barn I could tell he was different. He was curious and thinking which was very different than the horse I had before. I’ve had him 8 days just taking it easy letting him get readjusted. We have been working on round penning, being soft on the halter, moving off pressure, etc. Sunday I put the pad and surcingle on him and he took it well, I laid over him threw my leg over him, and rubbed him all over. So Monday I decided to try the next step. I tacked him up, round penned him, then tested where he was at. He was calm and thinking, so I decided I was going to get on him. I ended it there after getting on and letting him settle because the way he was responding was very different than how he’s been in the past.
Moral of the story, sometimes horses just need time to be a horse, time to mature, and time to reset.
I look forward to continuing with this boy, and helping HIM succeed!
I cannot thank anyone enough for the support and hard work from everyone this weekend and throughout the whole 4 months. Maze and I went in with no expectations, no plan, no agenda. We went in with the absolute intention of having fun. It didn’t matter where I placed because I won the best prize of all. This mare is so talented and so in tune with me. We would not be here without everyone else though. We had so many struggles. Starting with her almost ripping my face off 😬, then colicking, followed by being kicked in the hock. I felt so defeated so many times but not only did I never give up but SHE never gave up. This horse has so much try and so much heart and I can’t wait for our journey to continue but for now she’s spending the night out with her friends to relax and be a horse after the stressful weekend.
Trail could not have gone better! I’m so insanely proud of Maze! Tomorrow is awards!
Our showmanship was the best it’s ever been!!
After a lot of careful consideration and a lot of back and forth.... I have decided that Maze will NOT be available at the auction
This horse and I have come leaps and bounds together and I just can't part with her
I appreciate everyone who has expressed interest in her!
For those that are still reading and know feather, she WILL be available for purchase as soon as I get videos together!
And seven will be available for purchase by the end of the year!
Maze is making amazing progress! She has a big motor but also stops and transitions well. Speed control is coming along beautifully and she's learning how to carry herself. The next few weeks are gonna be busy! We have clinics and fair coming up!
With the rain coming plans changed, so Maze and I will not be going to the poker ride, but we are still headed out on a trail ride tomorrow! Today I got her out in the outdoor which is easily twice the size of the indoor and she handled it so well! She did not care about the horses running around, the cows, or the Buffalo!
After our ride I decided to test my luck and took her onto the trail course which she was nothing other than amazing! She opened the huge and heavy arena gate, walked over bridges and logs, walked through a ditch, and onto a huge platform. She did not bat an eye at a single thing I asked of her.
She also did all this on her second ride in a bit!
Unfortunately I didn't have a videographer today but I did get this little clip of us walking out.
This mare has so much try, and the best mind I've ever seen! She also has a huge motor, everytime we go into a bigger space she finds a little more speed but is also very controllable.
As I've said before she moves of my body language and cues so much for a horse with only 9 rides! It's hard to believe she's had so little time under saddle!
Maze had several days off due to me being at a show, then she got body work done. In total she had 4 days of no riding and limited handling, but she got turned out Monday and ridden today! She is by far the easiest horse to catch despite it being her first and second time out! I lunged her a little bit today then hopped on and despite there being another horse is the arena (this was a huge issue the first time there was horses in the arena) and did everything I asked! She has officially had 7 rides and I wouldn't believe it if didn't know! She moves off my leg and seat, transitions well, and has a ton of forward!
My goal this week is to get her in a bit, then on sat we will be headed out on a poker ride!
Maze is looking for sponsors still! I am hoping to get sponsors/donations for Maze to go to the western states stock horse show August 2nd-4th, as well as do 2 clinics on cows July and August!
If you are interested in sponsoring Maze and I, please pm me!
Today Maze and I took a trip up to Cynthia's! The main purpose of going up was not for Maze but she got to tag along so Cynthia could help me get a ride on her. I have been confident she's ready for about a week but everytime I tried she just changed up on me and I was confused.
Because we went through so much at the beginning and she's so different than anything I've worked through before, Cynthia Fisher was a great place to get help!
When I got there we talked about all the things we've been doing, how she seems, and that my plan was to get on today. Her response? "Perfect, me too!"
This style of a start is different than what I've done before and I love it!
Maze and I had the PERFECT day! I showed them all her ground work and prep then climbed in the saddle. I've seen this mare buck so I wad pretty nervous but knowing I had plenty of eyes on the ground I was confident we were safe. By the end of our ride, we walked, trotted, and loped both directions and she is very sensitive in the face and to seat cues so we were doing transitions solely off my body.
This is the most amazing first ride I've ever done and was absolutely blown away. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time. Not to mention she loped off like she'd been doing it forever!
I'm confident we will be doing some great things soon!
