October 2003 ~Leroy is going to be two in March of 2004 and he is not halter broke and has not had much of anything done to him. Sometimes you can pet him if he wants you to but that is about it. For the most part he is pretty wild.
Oct 22, 2003 ~ Worked about two hours in the round pen...finally got him to trust me enough to touch his face and between his ears but not enough to put the halter on.
Oct 23 ~ Well after two more hours, he trusted me enough to put the halter on his head, now I will just leave it on him. At first it was OK to put one hand on his face but he was leery when ever I would put the second hand up there at the same time. Finally once I could get both hands on his face at the same time he started to relaxed.
Oct- 29 ~ Put a lead rope on halter and did some leading lessons. He is very quiet, layed back. Almost huggable. Head was comming down very low. Was following me in a very short time.
Nov 3 ~ Sacking out and leading lessons.
Nov 15 ~ Put Leroy in small pen by himself. Worked for three hours at sacking and leading. He is pretty good when he is by himself. Turned him out with others, he and they started running immediately so I locked Leroy back up. He might as well get used to it. Need to get more consistant at working with them.
From Nov 15 to Nov 28 ~ Have been going in with Leroy and every day is a new day. Acts like he wants to run from me every time I go in his pen...even though it may have only been about 30 mins or so from the last time I was in there. After kissing to him and him going back and forth like he is looking for a way to get out he finally stops and looks at me and then I can walk up to him. He still does not totally trust me at first. He is getting better but is still just a little nervous about me being in there. Finally after a while I can get him to relax and put his head down by putting one hand on his muzzle and the other on his neck and moving my hand up towards his ears. For some reason he does not want me to touch his ears all of a sudden. Even though when I first put the halter on him I was able to rub him all over his head and between his ears with his head down. He is a quirky one.
Dec 10, 2003 - Let Leroy out with the others.
Dec 2003 - They all (there are five yearlings in the pen together. None were halter broke...after working with them all the same as Leroy they all have halters on now) want to run off at first but if I block them and kiss to them or once they run into the small end of the pen they will stop and look at me and I can walk up to them and pet them a little. They still want to act goofy and run off when they get the chance. They definitely could all use some round pen work.
Jan 7- 2004 ~ Brought Leroy Home from Jim's. Didn't pitch too big a fight about getting in trailer. Worked with him at sacking and haltering for two hours first. Was a little hesitant at first. Clayton and Debbie had a rope behind him to keep him from going back wards. Never did pull back too hard or try to get away. We put his foot in the trailer several times, he came up on his own once then got down. With no escape he finally jumped in with both front feet then after a few moments he stepped up and all the way in.
Jan 9 ~ Went in pen several times today to pet him. The first few times he would run off so I made him go back and forth a few times. He is calming down a lot faster now days.
this evening did a little rnd pen reasoning, then put lead rope on and did some sacking out with just my hands. Was getting better at letting me put my hands farther up on his face. When he lifts his head, I just leave my hand there till he starts to put it back down. He wants to be good.
Jan 10 - more of the same as yesterday. Tied to tree for about an hour. Squirted legs with water hose for the first time. Wasn't too bad at all.
Jan 11 - Walked right up to Leroy while he was standing loose in his pen and brushed him out including his tail. He stood so good today. Did not try to go anywhere. He really is a sweatheart.
Jan 14 - Got a good workout today. Sacked out good with hands. Tied to tree for several hours.
Jan 15 through Jan 18 - going in pen and just walking up to him and sacking out and petting with hands. He is starting to trust and follow me around more and just stand there with out running off at first most of the time.
Jan 19 - Round penning, sacking...he was following me around real good and paying real good attention. I decided it was time to put a saddle on him...he did not mind it at all. Not even a flinch. stood like a perfect gentleman while saddling and cinching. Sent him off to walk, trot and lope around pen. Very good, no bucking or whencing what so ever. Then tied to tree. Sacked out real good with jacket including his ears. He would let me touch them as long as the jacket was on his head. He has calmed down and relaxed quite nicely today. Acts almost like an old gelding now.
Jan 21, 2004 - Worked in round pen to relax. Saddled...he stood there like a charm. Worked both directions a little with saddle on. Worked with lead on halter giving to pressure. very good. Stood tied in tree. Sacked out with jacket so I could touch his ears again.
Jan 23 - saddled and worked on giving to pressure on lead rope. He is getting very light. also walking in circles around me and giving and stoping and squaring up. He is calming down quite a bit and I feel he is going to be very loveable once he is totally trusting of what is going on.
Jan 24, thru 29. - just petting and loving on him...he is getting very sweet. and quiet and I can slowly rub on the base of his ears from the front as long as I rub on and around his eyes first.
Jan 30 and 31 - Saddled, worked in pen at trot and lope. He is following me around very closely now. I can slap the stirrups on his sides and he just stands there quietly. He is getting very loveable. I sacked him out with my coat today...butt, legs, belly, head, etc. He is very good. Put weight in stirrups by stepping up a little. He was good.
Feb 1 and 2-2004 - I have been taking his halter off and putting it back on each day. Not too bad. Saddled, worked in pen, sacked out, rubbed ears from both sides, still doesn't like it but is getting much better. Stepped up in stirrups and layed across saddle. Good and quiet. Climbed on fence and sat crosswise on saddle. Very good. Worked on leading leasons. Worked at picking up and holding his feet. Very good with front. Will pick up the back but needs work to let me hold them up. Leroys head is comming very low and he is relaxing quite well by the end of the lessons. 3 hrs each day
Feb 4 - 7- sacking and saddling, laying across saddle, he is relaxing, gives to lead rope real nice. Lets me pick up and clean all four feet while standing loose, head down and relaxed.
Feb- 14 - Brushed him, cleaned all four feet, and put pad and saddle on him while standing loose and quiet and relaxed in his pen. He still doesn't like his ears being touched too much but I decided it was time to put a briddle and snaffle bit on him today. I have been able to put my fingers in his mouth for quite some time now so it was not a problem to get the bit in there. It was not till after the bit was in his mouth that I worried about getting the briddle over his ears. He was so concerned about the cold hard metal of the bit in his mouth that he hardly noticed the briddle being slipped over his ears. Since he is already giving very softly to the lead rope attached to the halter...he had no problem what so ever giving to the bit. In fact there was still quite a bit of slack in the reins for the first 20 times or so when I picked it up and he gave softly. We worked on giving to both directions from both sides. He was very very good. Way to go Leroy!
March - 3 2004 ~ worked a little with plastic sack tied to a rope. Then sacked him out with it. He was very good and relaxed with it. Worked a little at touching his ears. Started at the middle of his face and slowly moved my hand over his ears and back to his neck. It did not take long at all for him to relax and let me touch his ears all over. I had been putting my hand between his ears and when he would lift his head I just held my hand there till he puts it back down. Leroy is comming along real nice.
March 7 ~ worked in pen then sacked out with plastic bag, including over ears...tied to tree.
March 8 ~ same as yesterday. Didn't really want me touching his ears today so we did a lot more rnd pen reasoning. Then sacked out with plastic bag tied to end of whip.
March 21 ~ a little rnd pn work and sacking out with plastic sack. He is getting good about that. Also is getting much better about letting me slowly rub up towards his ears.
March 28 ~ Went to touch Leroy towards his ears and he jerked away so we had to have some round pen reasoning with plastic sack tied to whip. Worked on saking him out with sack about his ears. Then with my hands finally was accepting of it, and got him to put his head down and relax about it.
May 20, 21, 22, 2004 ~ Went in Leroy's pen and just petted him and walked away a bunch of times. He is getting very good about letting me touch his ears, and behind his ears. Is putting his head down and relaxing quite a bit. Follows me around and likes for me to brush the flies off him. He is sweet and huggable.
June 10-2004 ~ Put Leroy in Rnd Pn - Tried to touch his ears. He was a little apprehensive but not as bad as he used to be. We did some trotting, with occassional loping both directions. Worked on saking out and touching his ears. Brushed him out as he just stood there. Bumped saddle pad on him several times and he just stood there as I put it and the saddle on him. Cinched it up and he just stood there quietly seamingly half asleep. Asked him to trot, lope one round, trot, reverse several times. He is very slow and quiet. (he has not had a saddle on since Feb 14-04) Way to go Leroy!!!
July 13 - Worked a little with Leroy in Rnd Pn. Walked him to trailer and stood back there for a few moments. (Trailer Lessons...Leroy has not seen the trailer since I brought him home in January. And has not been out of his pen since March. After a little while I picked a front foot in the trailer. I had to do this several times then he stepped up with the other front foot. He stood there and I petted him. Then I urged him all the way in. He stepped right up one step at a time and stood there nice and relaxed. After a few minutes I backed him out till his back feet were on the ground but his front were still in. I petted him and let him stand there a moment then asked him to get back in. We did this several times, then I backed him all the way out and asked him to get back in. He was very quiet and relaxed through the whole thing.
Then we walked to the bottom for the first time and worked on going over the bridge for the first time. He was not afraid of it but kept trying to side step it. I picked a front foot up and put it on just like in the trailer. After a few minutes he was walking over it like a champ. Way To Go Leroy!!!
July 15 - worked with Leroy a little in Rnd Pn. Put Saddle on. He stood there like a champ. I had been working on gradually moving my hands up his face and rubbing his ears. He is a whole lot better once you are actually rubbing his ears he really likes it. Sometimes though when you first go to pet his ears he still jerks away but is getting better. He was very good and quiet with the saddle on. Put Bozal on him and he was giving very good to it. Walked him down to the bottom. worked on going over bridge. WESN Lesson, and walked around the perimeter. He is very quiet and relaxed. even worked a little on putting pressure in stirrups and stepping up a little. I think he is going to be real good.
August and Sept 2004 Worked a little with just rubbing, and walking away. Relaxing nicely. Lets me rub his ears, puts his head down. Is not totally trusting of it though. He puts his head up at first when I reach for his ears then puts it down.
Oct 8, 2004 - worked a little in rnd pn. put bozal on and gave both directions from both sides. Is also moving hip over with bearly a touch. Backs when I put my hands on the bach up button behind his elbow. I did not teach him this. He does it automatically.
Oct 9 ~ Rnd pn work. Put snaffle on, gave to bit both directions from both sides. porcupine game. Went to bottom and walked, stopped, backed, went over logs and over bridge. He was very good and quiet. Wants to rush over bridge and go off the sides but at least he is going on it.
Week of Oct 10,2004 ~ Serious Rnd pn work. Saddling, briddling, giving to the bit, rubbing his ears. He jerked his head up one day as I went to rub his ears. OK.... I have been nothing but nice and gentle about his ears But, that was the last straw. I grabbed his right ear and I proceeded to twist it off his head. I decided to give him an excuse to jerk away, and I figured that is exactly what he would do. I also grabbed his upper lip and gave it a good squeeze. I held him there for about a minute and figured that once I let go he was going to take off and be a real horses patootie about his ears from then on. (but at least he would have a good excuse) . Well I let go and he just stood there like a perfect gentleman. I went to rub his ear and he put his head down as if to say he really enjoyed having his ears rubbed. He has been great about it since then too. Should have grabbed and twisted a long time ago if only I had known. Well good for you Leroy.
Week of Oct 24 ~ climb up across saddle, Leroy was relaxed. Climbed on fence and sat on saddle, jumped up and down in saddle, bumped legs on sides etc. He was pretty relaxed. He put his head down when I told him to...I just said "put your head down"
DAY ONE UNDER SADDLE ~Nov 6, 2004 Got all the way in the saddle today. Got up and down from both sides several times before I just sat there. He only had a halter on with the rope on the right side. He kept his head down and was relaxed with all this. After a while he decided to walk on his own. I let him walk and go where he wanted. When he stopped I picked up the rope and got him to give and drop his head and he would start walking again. He was very very good.
Day two under saddle ~Nov 7 ~ Leroy was awsome today. Saddled and bridled and got in the saddle. He stood for a moment or two then started walking. He is so relaxed with his head down and walking slow. When he stops I just cluck and he starts walking again. When I pick up on the reins he gives, puts his head down and turns. Way to go Leroy!
Day Three ~Nov 8 ~ Got Leroy to stay on the fence all the way around the pen several times going both directions of the arena. He is turning super...on a loose rein, giving soft, putting his head down, and flexing at the poll.
Day 4~Nov 10 ~ Leroy was going along pretty good today when something got his attention and he started being a little goosy for a second or two. First he started trotting, then got faster, I picked up the inside rein to turn his head, he sarted running and jumping in circles. I realized I was squeezing his sides with my legs and immediately took the pressure off and he stopped and just stood there. I held on to the inside rein and waited till he relaxed his head and gave to the bit.
Day 5 ~Nov 19, 2004 Leroy was very good today going along with his head down on a loose rein and walking and going where I asked him.
Day 6 ~Nov 20, 2004 ~ Wow...Awsome again. Same greatness as yesterday. Videoed him.
Day 7 ~Nov 21 ~ Awsome. Walking and staying on perimeter of fence untill I ask him to turn. Turns beautiful with head down on loose rein. Worked on the Woa cue today. Did great. He was very relaxed.
Nov 22 It was raining pretty hard most of the day. Just sacked him out with a plastic bag full of cans in his stall. He was goofy. Tied him to the tree for the remainder of the day.
Day 8 ~ Nov 24 ~ Walk along perimeter, turning great. Started working on give and drop his head to outside. Also worked on whoa. He was awsome.
Day 9 ~ Nov 26~ Walk, give, turn. Was a little less giving to bit today.
Day 10& 11 ~ Dec 21& 22, 2004 ~ Walk, give, turn. He keeps his head down so nice once the briddle is on his head. He gives so soft and is turning great and it is almost like a dance. Way to go Leroy.
Day 12 ~June 29, 2005- I have not been on Leroy since December 22 of 04. (That is 6 months) He has gotten so much better about letting me rub his ears. Only on occassion does he act goofy about them - then it is only for a split second and he is ok. He is actually very loveable. He is just now starting to really trust me a whole lot. (He has been bred to two mares now. I put them in the round pen then turn him loose in there with them. (one at a time of course) I make sure he is quiet and stands patiently before I turn him loose. He is a gentleman.)
When I first walked in the rnd pn with him today he tried talking to the mares on the other side of the fence but soon settled. I worked him loose at the walk, trot and lope, turning both ways. He was good and quiet, slow and relaxed. Then I saddled and bridled him. He was good. Does not have a broblem at all with me putting the bridle on over his ears. I layed across the saddle a few times from both sides before I actually got all the way up. Then I got all the way up and down from both sides before I just sat there. After sitting for a moment or two he started walking, quietly with head down just as if it had only been yesterday since I rode him last. He was giving softly to the bit and turning very nice. Way to go Leroy...you are awsome.
Day 13~ July 13, 05 ~ walk, give, turn, keeps his head down, work on stay on fence. Worked at give and move hip to outside from the stand still and a little at the walk. Moves hip over with very soft cue.
Day 14~ July 27-05 bozal - He was great as usual today. Rode him twice. Was a little confused as to which way to turn with the bozal but he figured it out. worked on the same as the last time.
day 15 ~ July 28 - snaffle - rode twice today. Walk and turn and stay on fence. Got him to trot for first time today. He didn't want to go at first so I had to get off and teach him a trot cue from the ground. Then got him to go several times both directions. He was a little nervous for the first few strides and the head came up but then he started to relax, slow down and the head went back down. Way to go Leroy.
Day 16 ~ july 29-05 - snaffle - Walk and stay on fence...very quiet and slow, head way down. Asked for trot, starts out only a little fast with head up only a little then slows way down and puts head way down. Is staying at the trot pretty good without stopping and picking it up pretty quick. He transitions from the trot to the walk with just my seat cues. Wow way to go...He is going to be awsome! Worked on small circles give to inside while moving hip to oustide. Also introduced him to indirect turns today. He was a little confused at first but picked it right up and was moving real nice with light cues.
Day 17 ~ July 31-05 - snaffle - walk and trot. stay on fence. Give, turn, and move hips. Transitions down softly from trot to walk or trot to stop with just seat cues...awsome. Indirect turns from give left move right first as that is the side we worked on yesterday...he as good at that. Then tried working in other direction he was confused and tried sidepassing. he will get better...at least he is trying and not arguing.
Day 18 ~ Aug 8 - snaffle- Started with giving to the bit and moving hip... Then walk and trot and stay on fence.Trotting and turning to inside or small circle. Would stop trotting on inside of turn had to earge him on. Worked on moving shoulder over...ie indirect turns. Worked on them from the left to right then right to left. It is harder for him going in the second direction but as long as I go slow he figures it out.
Day 19 ~ Aug 12-05- snaffle- Lots more trotting...nice. Trot and turn through center and go the other direction. Indirect turns very nice today. Getting very light. Walk, give, turn toward fence.
Day 20 ~ Aug 13 - snaffle. Stand give to right. Walk left along fence, give to right towards fence. Walk right along fence give to right to the inside. Trot give to right towards fence. Indirect turns. Lots more trotting today. Walk, give to outside, turn towards fence. Walk, give to inside turn away from fence. Very good.
Day 21 ~ Aug 14 - snaffle - Same as yesterday plus got him to lope for the first time today. Once around each direction of the pen.
Day 22 ~ Aug 15 - snaffle.- Hauled for the first time...Went to Jill's today. Walked right in the trailer nice and relaxed. Has not been in a trailer since July of 2004. Walk, trot, and lope loose in pen...great. Rode walk and trot in pen then rode in outside riding area for the first time...no fences. Worked on circles, cones, and guiding exercise. Awsome...quiet, head down and relaxed. Way to go Leroy.
Day 23 ~ Aug 22-2005 snaffle - Hauled to Jill's. He is so good and quiet. Keeps his head down. Does not argue or worry what the other horses are doing. Walk, trot, and lope in pen. Walk and trot around cones and small circles in riding area. Very Very good. Super relaxed and slow.
Day 24 ~ Aug 24, 05 snaffle Hauled to Jill's with Zackery...they are good together. There is less and less loose rnd pen work being done now but still just a little to make sure he is paying attention to me. I first ask him to walk, trot, lope, trot one direction, then turn him and ask for the walk, trot, lope, trot in the second direction. He listens very good and transitions up and down nicely. Under saddle I worked on walk, trot and lope both ways in the rnd pn. Then outside - walk cone work. Trot circles and serpentines and around perimeter and even asked for the lope a few times in both directions...he was awsome...Way to go Leroy! His lope is like a slow rocking chair.
Day 25 ~ August 25 - Hauled to Marty's. There were two other horses being ridden there. One mare and one gelding. I saddled him and took him into the arena at the halter. I walked and trotted him a few minutes on the end of the lead rope. At first he was relaxed and slow...then he started trotting just a little faster and had the intention of trying to follow one of the horses...not too badly though he was still listening to me. Then I walked him around the perimeter, he was quiet, head down, very relaxed.
Started riding him ...walking him just a little. He was great! reasonably relaxed...did some circles and bending and moving hip. Then he wanted to follow the other horses and get in a hurry to catch up to them so I just made him go in small circles each time he got in a hurry by, giving his head way to the inside and making him bend around my leg, then I would let him go and if he got in a hurry again or tried to go where I wasn't asking him to then I would pick him up and make a small circle in the opposite direction. After a while of this he dicided that was too much work and figured it was easier to just go along quietly and slow with his head down and relaxed. Also each time he tried to Whinny I would make him go in the same stupid circles, first one way then the other.
WOW...all in all he was awsome today and I was very proud of him as this was his first time to be hauled here, first time to be ridden around strange horses in such close proximity, this is only his 25th ride in 9 months and he is so quiet and relaxed and know so much on such light cues...he does not argue when you ask him to do something and did not act stupid one time.
After lunch I took him at halter into the strange barn into the strange wash rack and squirted him off. Then went out the back of the barn and got him to go over some logs, over a rickety bridge, over a rickety teeter totter bridge, stand on a 3 foot square pedistal with all four feet and just stand there all with his head down and so relaxed...as if he had been doing this stuff all his life. WOW...Leroy you are great! Looking at him today you would never believe he was a nervous and goofy horse not too long ago.
Day 26 August 30, 2005 ~ Hauled to Marty's. Trotted him a few minutes on the end of the lead line on his halter. Under saddle asked him to walk along perimeter of arena both directions. Was quiet with head down. Then worked on walk and trot circles. He was very good. Only Whinnied a few times.
day 27 Sept 1, 2005 ~ hauled to Jill's Walk, trot and lope in pen. Then worked on walk and stop cues. Left Leroy there so I can put him in a stall each night.
Day 28 Sept 5 ~ Worked on walk, trot and lope a little both directions. Then worked on walk and stop cues.
day 29 Sept 8 ~ Worked on walk, trot, and lope a little in pen. Then outside around cones some and walk circles, give to inside, cross center of circle go other direction repeat. He was very good.
Day 30 Sept 14 same as last time
Day 31, 32 Sept 19, 20 - Same as last time, plus trot circles, get back to walk, go through center and trot the other direction, repeat....he was very good today as usual...We also went for a walk in the woods. Head down nice and quiet.
Day 33 Sept 24 - Worked on walk, trot, and lope a little in pen. His lope was very nice and slow and relaxed today. worked on give and flex both directions at the walk and trot. He was worried where TC was and kept wanting to look in her direction but was still listening to me and straightening his head and putting it down when asked. He was very good today.
day 34 Sept 25 - walk, trot, and lope a little in pen, Outside walk and trot circle, give, turn through center and go opposite direction, repeat. Tried to get him to lope but kept getting back in trot...also didn't want to turn at lope. All and all not too bad.
Day 35 Sept 26 Walk and trot...give to bit. Lope, give to inside and put head down, relax. stop, indirect turn to inside. Lope opposite direction, give, drop, relax, etc repeat sev times. Then outside walked perimeter then went for relaxing walk in the woods he was great. Then worked on Circle at the walk, give, turn through center, walk opposite direction. Then Trot circle, give, down to walk, give, turn through center and trot the opposite direction. After working on that a little and getting him to really pay attention and stay on the circle with his head down, going slow and relaxed I aske for the lope. At first he just trotted fast then loped and wanted to go straight but I insisted he give to the bit, we got back into the trot and relaxed a little again. Then asked for the lope again...this time he stayed on the circle, giving his head and went about halfway around before geting into trot, asked him to give then trot through center and pick up lope in the opposited direction. He was great...picked up the lope and stayed on the circle nice and relaxed for at least half way around. Way to go Leroy!!!
Day 36 Sept 28 Walk, trot and lope in pen. Got him to keep loping around as he was wanting to stop or get into a trot. Then stop, and worked on inderct turns. He is awsome.
Day 37 Sept 29 Walk, Trot, and lope in pen. Then outside worked on walk and trot circles. Also worked on indirect turns both at the standstill and at the walk. He was great!
Day 38 Oct 30, 2005 Walk, Trot, Lope in pen. Stop, indirect turn lope, stop, indirect turn, lope, stop repeat. Very good.
Day 39 Dec 16, 2005 under saddle - walked, trotted and loped both directions of the round pen. Then Amanda, whom has never ridden a horse in her life before got on and rode him. He was so good and quiet. You'd of thought he was an old gelding, instead of a young stallion.
Day 40 Feb 8- 2006
Feb 22, 2006 groundwork - giving to the bit.
March 2006 - Lots more walking, trotting, loping. Pivoting on hind and fore, sidepassing, stopping, backing, etc. Circles, turn to the fence, turn away from the fence, giving to the bit,collecting, etc.
