FUN,FUN,FUN,FUN,FUN OH YEAH FUN.  Got outside early this morning and rode “Playboys” stable mate “Danny”.  Then haltered ‘Playboy” and worked on his head shy issues.  He is getting better everyday.  George, Sandy, and Maria wanted to go to the creek so in the trailers the horses went.  We played around in the creek for an hour or so.  Me and “Playboy” found a deep hole and I got a little wet.  The ride made for good pictures today and got “Playboy” used to more horse and riders next to him.  I unsaddled and loaded all the horses back in the trailer and hauled home.  It was to nice of a day to end there so I re saddled “Playboy” and worked on some arena stuff.  “Playboy” is starting to get a really nice stop.  After that workout it was bath time.  Tonia grabbed all the Cowboy Magic shampoo and conditioners and met me at the hose.  “Playboy” moved around during the entire bath but was not really spooky of any of it.  The hotter it gets the more he will crave a bath.  He sure looks sharp all cleaned up.   After he dried out I put him back in his corral to rest.  2 hours later back in the trailer he went.  We headed to the gymkhana at the crossroads.  He was a lot better tonight with all the commotion and I was able to introduce him to allot of new people.  We only stayed for about 30 minutes and brought him home.  I am really happy with how today went and how well “Playboy” did with a full days worth of STUFF.

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/playin-in-the-arena-with-1

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/playin-in-the-arena-with

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/photo/albums/playboy-march-30-2010

Spring weather is finally here!  Today I introduced “Playboy” to a bridle today.  He took a bit just fine.  He does not play with it like I expected.  After about 5 minutes he was flexing a giving to the bit very well.  After a short arena workout we headed down the road and a nieghbor said the creek was running and the road to it was dried out.  So we ran home and loaded up in the trailer.  Off to the creek we went.  “Playboy” didn’t even hessitate to walk in the water.  I led him around it for a while then saddled him up.  I forgot to bring a headstall so I had to use his halter.  Good thing that is how I started him.  We played in the water for about an hour or so then loaded up and headed home.  He trailers like a champ and loads like a pro.  Fun wet day.

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/playboys-first-creek-ride

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/runnin-through-the-creek

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/playboy-backing-through-water

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/run-cinch-run

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/photo/albums/playboy-at-the-creek

Just a quick note to let everyone know how “Playboy” is doing.  His training is coming along great.  I have ridden him everyday this week.  We are working on basic arena work, backing, sidepassing, trotting, and cantering circles.  He loades easily into the trailer, crosses water, bridges, trotpoles, and logs.  After our arena workout we go for a ride around town.  Sometimes with other riders and sometimes by ourselves.  Our road ride seems to be his favorite part of the day.  On the road he has seen lots of different animals, cars, bikes, and other horseback riders. 

When I am working with different horses and George is playing with “Danny”. Sandy spends time grooming ”Playboys” mane and petting him.  She finallyhas him eating treats and carrots.  He even follows her around the arena with all the other commotion going on.  Tonia and Cindy get to feed him in the morning and at night.  He meets them at the gate waiting patiently for his food.  He is on the “lotta food” diet.  And he eats every scrap.  Even with his great appetite he will stop eating in exchang for a little lovin’.

That is the update for now.  Maybe this weekend we can get a few pictures.  It has been a great week.

“Playboy” got the morning off while I took Ricky Bobby over to the Crossroads Event Center to do a little indoor shooting.  That was sure fun.  George and Sandy let “Playboy” and “Danny” out to play in the arena while we were away.  Sounds like they played pretty hard.  So tonight was the Tuesday night gymkana at the Crossroads so I loaded up “Playboy” and down the road we went.  This was his first road trip since we brought him home.  He trailered well and was pretty calm unloading him.  After he saw all the people and horses he decided that it wasn’t much fun anymore.  He tried to fit in my pocket the whole time we were there.  I saddled him and took him into the indoor arena.  He walked through the door without any problem, but all the commotion was just to much for him to handle.  After letting him soak in the new atmosphere in for about 15 minutes I decided to let him off the hook and I unsaddled him.  He jumped in the trailer as if to say “get me the heck out of here.”  As soon as we got home the the old “Playboy” was back.  To much to soon. It may not have been a good experience, but at least it was not a bad experience.  I have decided not to bring him to the shoot on Saturday.  Maybe I can get him to socialize with other horses and riders on a smaller scale down the road.  All in all it was a good day.

Another day of good weather.  A little to windy to do the tarp training I had planned.  Sandy re-braided “Playboys” mane this morning after soaking it in Cowboy Magic conditioner.  We are trying to train it to stay on one side.  Today was the first day I was able to lope “Playboy”  in a continuous figure eight without him slowing at the gate.  It was wonderful.  As much trouble as it was getting him to lope, he sure loves it now.  Sorry no pictures or videos again today.  Maybe we will do something new and exciting tomorrow.  I still need to concentrate on building what we already have. He gets softer every day.  And his stop and backing is truly amazing.  He is just one good boy.

Excellent weather today.  Nothing really new with “Playboy”.  Worked him in the arena and started to teach him to sidepass.  Several people came over to see him and he is really starting to love the attention.  Oh, he has finally started to eat his grain.  Now with that and his good mix hay he will start to put on some weight.  After his arena workout we went for a trip down the road.  Really nice day all around.

The snow melted today but it sure was cold.   The sun was out so that made it bearable.  Today me and “Playboy” worked on some softening exercises and some back up patterns.  Was a pretty uneventful day.  It is supposed to be really nice tomorrow, so I am planning on a fun day. 

Here are some pictures and a video from today’s work.

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/playboy-practicing-back-up

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/photo/albums/playboy-arena-exercises

STUPID SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great day #,????????? I don’t know I lost count.  This horse is amazing.  Started off the day like usual, groom, saddle, ride in the arena.  Then the UPS guy showed up.  He delivered our care package from Cowboy Magic.  When he left we chased the truck down the road.  1 minute later the trash truck showed up the empty the dumpster.  “Playboy” thought that was about the coolest thing he had ever seen.  He didn’t even hesitate walking up to the truck while he was lifting the dumpster.  Then came gunfire training.  He did really good from the ground.  He was not as comfortable from the saddle, but he hung in there.  After all that we went on a ride around Penrose.  He saw his first cow today.  He jumped about 5 feet when it stood up.  He quickly calmed down and down the road we went.  Fun day.

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/gunfire-training

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/shooting-off-of-playboy

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/playboy-playin-in-the-street

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/photo/albums/playboy-march-18th-2010

WOW, it was a beautiful day.  Perfect for training.  I worked on “Playboy’s” mane some more.  Sandy braided it so maybe it will stay on one side.  I don’t know if that will work, but it is worth a try.  George saddled up “Danny” so we rode around the arena together getting “Playboy” used to other horses and riders coming towards him.  I also put some balloons out to get him used to them, since they are a big part of mounted shooting.  After that we set up the barrels and taught “Playboy” to jump them.  He is smooth.  He even makes me look like I know what I am doing over the jumps.  “Playboy” worked up a good sweat so I took him down the road to cool down.  George had to go early so we went by ourselves.  The only thing that even seems to affect “Playboy” on the road is the change of road surface.  He is not sure if it is a dirt road coming up or bottomless pit. He is so fun to ride, can’t wait till the morning. 

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/up-and-away-playboy

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/jumping-with-playboy

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/video/intro-to-ballons

http://equinepartnership.ning.com/photo/albums/playboy-march-17th-2010