Hi Everyone!
I'm back in the saddle! Well, K is and I'm under saddle. The abscess in my hind foot is all better and it's time for me to get in shape. Summer sheet season will be here before we know it!
K tacked me up yesterday and we worked a lot on walking around the arena getting a feel for the different views. The cattle path runs along one side ending in a chute that divides the roper start boxes at the in-gate end. Also on this end is the announcer's stand. Lots to look at! I was a bit nervous as I had only explored the whole ring once before and there were children and dogs running around while we were working. After I got a little more comfortable K had me pick up a trot and we worked on that for just a little bit. I must admit, trotting is definitely work when one has had a few months off!
I had another workout today. This time with just as much trot as there was walk. Phew! K gave me lots of praise and has been encouraging me to relax and stretch my neck as I find my balance. I must admit that it feels good to stretch every once in a while. As we cooled down I got to check out the start boxes for the roping horses. They are just like open fronted stalls!
K tells me that I get tomorrow off as it's a roping practice night. She says she'll see me again on Thursday and that we will work some more on re-building my fitness.
Until next time my friends!
~Polo
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Whinnies and nickers and Slobber Kisses
Hi Everyone!
I understand that I missed Valentines' Day yesterday, so I'm sending love and extra slobber kisses to all today!
I have new turnout sheet to wear. It is light blue and made from a more durable nylon than my first sheet. I really like my navy blue and red sheet, but it got torn so K has taken that one for repair. Unfortunately K didn't have her camera today to snap a picture. My new sheet is no longer clean as I just had to scratch my back right after K turned me out. A good test of durability right?
I would like to send out whinnies and nickers to Kentucky Equine Research. They helped K pick out a new supplement for me called Bio-Bloom. This will help my coat recover from the winter elements and will also help my hooves strengthen. Hoof strength is very important and young Thoroughbreds like me need a little help now and then. Help is especially welcome this year as our winter has been so wet.
Speaking of hooves, my abscess is getting better daily. I still have to have my foot all wrapped up by K on a daily basis to keep the mud and muck out of it while it heals. I hope to be back on my exercise program soon.
And now, for some hay.
~Polo
I understand that I missed Valentines' Day yesterday, so I'm sending love and extra slobber kisses to all today!
I have new turnout sheet to wear. It is light blue and made from a more durable nylon than my first sheet. I really like my navy blue and red sheet, but it got torn so K has taken that one for repair. Unfortunately K didn't have her camera today to snap a picture. My new sheet is no longer clean as I just had to scratch my back right after K turned me out. A good test of durability right?
I would like to send out whinnies and nickers to Kentucky Equine Research. They helped K pick out a new supplement for me called Bio-Bloom. This will help my coat recover from the winter elements and will also help my hooves strengthen. Hoof strength is very important and young Thoroughbreds like me need a little help now and then. Help is especially welcome this year as our winter has been so wet.
Speaking of hooves, my abscess is getting better daily. I still have to have my foot all wrapped up by K on a daily basis to keep the mud and muck out of it while it heals. I hope to be back on my exercise program soon.
And now, for some hay.
~Polo
Monday, February 13, 2012
A Wrinkle in the Plan
Hi Everyone!
It has been a week of ups and downs for K and me. Last week started with the two of us sharing a lovely, quiet ride around the arena for the first time. On Thursday I had my feet trimmed by my fabulous farrier Jamie and then K and I spent some quality time hanging out together. She even gave my mane a makeover!
Friday wasn't so good. My right hind foot was hurting very badly and I didn't want to walk. K tried to help but I couldn't tell her what was wrong. Saturday morning light allowed K to see a weak spot in my hoof, which prompted a repeat of our summer bandaging routine. The padding felt good and makes walking on the frozen mud much more manageable so I've been leaving it on.
On Sunday K and I had a bit of a disagreement. This was the first time that K and I have worked together in the new facility without our friends being around. I was nervous and I'm afraid I didn't help K very much in her task of bandaging my sore foot. I just couldn't stand still!
Tonight we had a better night. Our group was together and my foot is feeling much better! I have an abscess. Yuck. The abscess broke through the skin at my coronary band, relieving the pressure within my hoof. K had me soak my foot in warm water and Betadine solution and then wrapped it up again to keep it clean.
Sadly, my relief from the abscess is overshadowed by the possibility that I may soon have to find a new home. K has not had any luck in securing a new job and has become increasingly concerned about her financial capacity to care for me and also for Sweepit. I love K and my friends and I really don't want to leave!
Dear readers, please help me help K! I have posted a link to K's LinkedIn profile, on which you can view K's resume and references. K is an energetic, creative marketing professional with a background in catalog circulation. She takes initiative, tackling projects as needed, such as prepping feed while my foot soaked. She is organized (you should see how neat my grooming and medical boxes are). She knows how to plan and manage a campaign and she excels at reporting on various points of data. K is also a fabulous scribe. She makes sure that my blogs are clearly written and are posted properly. She also has a great eye for photography. Finally, I think K is a good teacher. She does her best to make my lessons stress free and we always end our lessons on a positive note.
If you are hiring or know of a position to which K should apply, please let us know! You can send a message to K via LinkedIn or by posting a comment on my blog.
K's profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlycornelius
Many Thanks!
~Polo
It has been a week of ups and downs for K and me. Last week started with the two of us sharing a lovely, quiet ride around the arena for the first time. On Thursday I had my feet trimmed by my fabulous farrier Jamie and then K and I spent some quality time hanging out together. She even gave my mane a makeover!
Friday wasn't so good. My right hind foot was hurting very badly and I didn't want to walk. K tried to help but I couldn't tell her what was wrong. Saturday morning light allowed K to see a weak spot in my hoof, which prompted a repeat of our summer bandaging routine. The padding felt good and makes walking on the frozen mud much more manageable so I've been leaving it on.
On Sunday K and I had a bit of a disagreement. This was the first time that K and I have worked together in the new facility without our friends being around. I was nervous and I'm afraid I didn't help K very much in her task of bandaging my sore foot. I just couldn't stand still!
Tonight we had a better night. Our group was together and my foot is feeling much better! I have an abscess. Yuck. The abscess broke through the skin at my coronary band, relieving the pressure within my hoof. K had me soak my foot in warm water and Betadine solution and then wrapped it up again to keep it clean.
Sadly, my relief from the abscess is overshadowed by the possibility that I may soon have to find a new home. K has not had any luck in securing a new job and has become increasingly concerned about her financial capacity to care for me and also for Sweepit. I love K and my friends and I really don't want to leave!
Dear readers, please help me help K! I have posted a link to K's LinkedIn profile, on which you can view K's resume and references. K is an energetic, creative marketing professional with a background in catalog circulation. She takes initiative, tackling projects as needed, such as prepping feed while my foot soaked. She is organized (you should see how neat my grooming and medical boxes are). She knows how to plan and manage a campaign and she excels at reporting on various points of data. K is also a fabulous scribe. She makes sure that my blogs are clearly written and are posted properly. She also has a great eye for photography. Finally, I think K is a good teacher. She does her best to make my lessons stress free and we always end our lessons on a positive note.
If you are hiring or know of a position to which K should apply, please let us know! You can send a message to K via LinkedIn or by posting a comment on my blog.
K's profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlycornelius
Many Thanks!
~Polo
Sunday, February 5, 2012
More Strange Devices and Snacks
Happy Super Bowl Sunday Everyone!
My lunging lessons continued this weekend. R worked with me yesterday while K was helping out at Sweepit's barn. I worked on walking and trotting and building my confidence in moving out on my circle without a lead.
K was back today and she brought more equipment for me to try. She put a saddle pad on and then, instead of a saddle, she fitted me with something called a training surcingle. It's got a padded top side that fits over my back and sports all sorts of rings. This top part stays on with a girth-like piece that goes around my belly.
K had me walk and trot in each direction wearing the surcingle. I didn't find it too distracting. In fact, K said I was doing well. When we stopped, I thought I was getting off early for good behavior. But K had other ideas. Instead of early dismissal K added another level difficulty by introducing me to side reins.
The side reins run from one of the sets of rings to my bit. K attached just one side at first, on it's longest setting. She explained that the side reins are meant to help me stretch out my back and neck. K called it strengthening my top line. She had me walk my circles just a few times with the side reins on to get used to the lowered position of my neck. We ended on a good note, following up with some brushing and dinner!
Dinner consists of alfalfa pellets and grain soaked in water. I wasn't so sure about it at first so K sweetened the deal with a little Karo syrup. YUMMY! I get one scoop of alfalfa pellets and one scoop of my grain. This sounds like a lot, but I get this only in the evenings. The rest of the day I have grass and hay to munch on.
K and R were talking about human treats today. I hear there are special treats that are prepared for the Super Bowl. One of the more enticing treats they talked about is something called beer bread. I like the smell of beer, so I bet this beer bread stuff is pretty yummy. I wonder if K will bring me a sample.
~Polo
My lunging lessons continued this weekend. R worked with me yesterday while K was helping out at Sweepit's barn. I worked on walking and trotting and building my confidence in moving out on my circle without a lead.
K was back today and she brought more equipment for me to try. She put a saddle pad on and then, instead of a saddle, she fitted me with something called a training surcingle. It's got a padded top side that fits over my back and sports all sorts of rings. This top part stays on with a girth-like piece that goes around my belly.
K had me walk and trot in each direction wearing the surcingle. I didn't find it too distracting. In fact, K said I was doing well. When we stopped, I thought I was getting off early for good behavior. But K had other ideas. Instead of early dismissal K added another level difficulty by introducing me to side reins.
The side reins run from one of the sets of rings to my bit. K attached just one side at first, on it's longest setting. She explained that the side reins are meant to help me stretch out my back and neck. K called it strengthening my top line. She had me walk my circles just a few times with the side reins on to get used to the lowered position of my neck. We ended on a good note, following up with some brushing and dinner!
Dinner consists of alfalfa pellets and grain soaked in water. I wasn't so sure about it at first so K sweetened the deal with a little Karo syrup. YUMMY! I get one scoop of alfalfa pellets and one scoop of my grain. This sounds like a lot, but I get this only in the evenings. The rest of the day I have grass and hay to munch on.
K and R were talking about human treats today. I hear there are special treats that are prepared for the Super Bowl. One of the more enticing treats they talked about is something called beer bread. I like the smell of beer, so I bet this beer bread stuff is pretty yummy. I wonder if K will bring me a sample.
~Polo
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Strange Devices
Hi Everyone!
My lessons in balance and in respecting others continued last night with my mom, K. First K continued my lunge lessons, this time introducing a contraption called a lunging cavesson. It's like a bridle without a bit and there are multiple rings on the top of the noseband.
In my earlier lunging lessons, K attached the lunge line by running it through the bit or halter ring on my inside, which corresponds to the direction in which I would be traveling, up over my head and clipping it to the bit or halter ring on the opposite side. In using the lunging cavesson with the rings I no longer had such a clear sense of direction. To help, K and I walked the circle she wanted me to track together several times before I was sent out on my own. It took a little longer for me to grasp, but I got it!
We are still working only at the walk and K didn't keep me on the circles too long. I think she gets bored and truthfully, so do I. So after that short lunge session K had me work on something called showmanship.
For showmanship, K had me wear my lead rope and worked on walking beside me from a very specific position at or just in front of my left shoulder. She and I also worked on turning my body away and halting. A few times while at halt K moved to stand out in front and also on the right side. K explained this practice of repositioning herself as "showing" me to a judge. It wasn't bad as an exercise, but the game would have been much more fun if I could have rifled through pockets for treats!
Treasure Hunt Showmanship! Now that is an inspired idea! I think I will mention that to K.
~Polo
My lessons in balance and in respecting others continued last night with my mom, K. First K continued my lunge lessons, this time introducing a contraption called a lunging cavesson. It's like a bridle without a bit and there are multiple rings on the top of the noseband.
In my earlier lunging lessons, K attached the lunge line by running it through the bit or halter ring on my inside, which corresponds to the direction in which I would be traveling, up over my head and clipping it to the bit or halter ring on the opposite side. In using the lunging cavesson with the rings I no longer had such a clear sense of direction. To help, K and I walked the circle she wanted me to track together several times before I was sent out on my own. It took a little longer for me to grasp, but I got it!
We are still working only at the walk and K didn't keep me on the circles too long. I think she gets bored and truthfully, so do I. So after that short lunge session K had me work on something called showmanship.
For showmanship, K had me wear my lead rope and worked on walking beside me from a very specific position at or just in front of my left shoulder. She and I also worked on turning my body away and halting. A few times while at halt K moved to stand out in front and also on the right side. K explained this practice of repositioning herself as "showing" me to a judge. It wasn't bad as an exercise, but the game would have been much more fun if I could have rifled through pockets for treats!
Treasure Hunt Showmanship! Now that is an inspired idea! I think I will mention that to K.
~Polo
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Hi Everyone!
Mom says I have to learn something called "respect". She says it means I must be on my best behavior around her and others. She explains it as standing still for grooming, tacking up, mounting, watching cows - any time we're together and not working. It also means that I have to be aware of where mom is in relation to me at all times and to move away from her when asked and to never, never step on her or otherwise force her to move. This is A LOT to remember!
If that weren't enough, mom also says I had a lesson in respect for my environment just the other day. Do you remember my mentioning The Hill in my last post? Well, um, you see as I was galloping down with my friends, I hit a slippery spot and fell down. It's VERY embarrassing! So my lesson was to be aware of the conditions and, if it's slippery, I should slow down.
I sure do respect the Grouch (llama)! He might eat me!
Mom says I did display respect during my lunge lesson yesterday. It was only my second lunge lesson ever and mom said I was a champ! She had me walk in a circle around her in each direction. I'm not sure why yet, but I know mom will tell me. It did give me something to do and it let me get a feel for the arena in which we'll be working.
Once we were done with that lesson, mom fussed with my mane and tail. She sprayed them with her favorite de-tangler (Vetrolin Shine by Farnam), and then combed out the tangles. I gather she didn't like the twig and mud look. And here I thought I was displaying good fashion sense! Apparently a neat appearance is also a show of respect. Who knew?!
~Polo
Mom says I have to learn something called "respect". She says it means I must be on my best behavior around her and others. She explains it as standing still for grooming, tacking up, mounting, watching cows - any time we're together and not working. It also means that I have to be aware of where mom is in relation to me at all times and to move away from her when asked and to never, never step on her or otherwise force her to move. This is A LOT to remember!
If that weren't enough, mom also says I had a lesson in respect for my environment just the other day. Do you remember my mentioning The Hill in my last post? Well, um, you see as I was galloping down with my friends, I hit a slippery spot and fell down. It's VERY embarrassing! So my lesson was to be aware of the conditions and, if it's slippery, I should slow down.
I sure do respect the Grouch (llama)! He might eat me!
Mom says I did display respect during my lunge lesson yesterday. It was only my second lunge lesson ever and mom said I was a champ! She had me walk in a circle around her in each direction. I'm not sure why yet, but I know mom will tell me. It did give me something to do and it let me get a feel for the arena in which we'll be working.
Once we were done with that lesson, mom fussed with my mane and tail. She sprayed them with her favorite de-tangler (Vetrolin Shine by Farnam), and then combed out the tangles. I gather she didn't like the twig and mud look. And here I thought I was displaying good fashion sense! Apparently a neat appearance is also a show of respect. Who knew?!
~Polo
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Headline News!
Hello Everyone! I hope I find you well. I apologize for my extended absence, but other than the occasional visits from K and R there just hasn't been much to tell. Until now.
Yesterday B, K, R and T loaded Sarah and me onto the trailer and took us to a new facility called Hodge Arena. K and R stayed behind with us and we took a walk around to see the sites. There were plenty of rather small horses there that K said are Quarter Horses. I'm almost 17 hands and Sarah 16.2 so horses that average about 15 hands seem small to us. But I digress. As we were walking, we came across this very oddly shaped animal that came over to the fence line and spit at us! It was black, had a round body set on spindly legs, a long, thin neck, small head and big ears and it was mean! K called it a Llama. I call it a Grouch. Grouch continued to pin his ears and spit at us the entire length of it's paddock fence line. A fine welcome, that!
Following our walk, Sarah and I followed our humans inside the arena to check it out. After being introduced to the sound of the tractor and drag we settled down for some grooming. K kicked up a fuss because I have developed a seasonal skin condition called rain rot and the hair on my back was coming off in clumps. It was a little painful while K was addressing it, but it's not nearly so bad as my wither wound from last summer. I will heal and, in the meantime, I get to forgo my raincoat [sheet] unless it is actually raining or snowing.
We had just about reached the middle of our grooming session when the cows wandered in. COWS! It turns out that Hodge is a host facility for a sport called calf roping! From what I've observed the calves are shot out of chute while two of the Quarter Horses chase them down and the riders throw ropes with the goal of catching each cow by both the horns and the hind feet. How strange. The cows don't seem to mind and the people and horses seem to enjoy it. Me? I'm not sold on the idea of cows yet. They make funny noises.
At about the same time that the cows came in, B and T had arrived with Buttons and Oreo. After they had had a chance to walk around and see the sites, and the cows, all four of us and our humans went out to check out the pasture. Buttons, Oreo, Sarah and I are now pasture mates rather than neighbors. We are in an eleven acre field with plenty of grass, thanks to the mild winter, and water. It's a hilly pasture and, well let's just say that I learned to respect the hill. Besides the four of us, there was one other horse and three donkeys in the field yesterday. That horse and the donkeys were clearly a team and they weren't very welcoming either. But we reached a truce and kept a respectful distance.
This morning the donkeys were moved and two other horses were turned out with us. This afternoon, when K and R came out to see Sarah and me, the new horses confused us. We didn't know if we should stay with them or go to our humans. K caught up to me and offered me a treat, which was nice or her. And so after Sarah agreed to go with R we walked up to and around the outside of the arena again before heading in on the back side of it. When we walked in we found more cows and roping horses at practice. I stood and watched closely and K kept telling me how good I was for standing. But then R took Sarah in to ride and I was not okay with that. Sarah is my best friend and I got really nervous when I couldn't be near her. I'm afraid I aggravated K with my fretting. I think she had hoped to groom me a little more. Instead, she and T walked me down the aisle and put me in a stall! I had to stand there for a long time and while Sarah, Buttons and Oreo got to explore the inside of the arena itself. I try to be good. Really, I do. I can't help it that the new surroundings and all of the strangers make me nervous.
Anyway, K eventually forgave me and fed me dinner. Then Buttons, Oreo, Sarah and I were turned back out in our new field for the evening.
I like the field but I'm not so sure about the arena itself. K says this is only a temporary move to give our paddocks at home a rest and to let the grass grow again. I hope we have an early spring. I'm just not sure that I'm cut out to be a cow pony.
~Polo
Yesterday B, K, R and T loaded Sarah and me onto the trailer and took us to a new facility called Hodge Arena. K and R stayed behind with us and we took a walk around to see the sites. There were plenty of rather small horses there that K said are Quarter Horses. I'm almost 17 hands and Sarah 16.2 so horses that average about 15 hands seem small to us. But I digress. As we were walking, we came across this very oddly shaped animal that came over to the fence line and spit at us! It was black, had a round body set on spindly legs, a long, thin neck, small head and big ears and it was mean! K called it a Llama. I call it a Grouch. Grouch continued to pin his ears and spit at us the entire length of it's paddock fence line. A fine welcome, that!
Following our walk, Sarah and I followed our humans inside the arena to check it out. After being introduced to the sound of the tractor and drag we settled down for some grooming. K kicked up a fuss because I have developed a seasonal skin condition called rain rot and the hair on my back was coming off in clumps. It was a little painful while K was addressing it, but it's not nearly so bad as my wither wound from last summer. I will heal and, in the meantime, I get to forgo my raincoat [sheet] unless it is actually raining or snowing.
We had just about reached the middle of our grooming session when the cows wandered in. COWS! It turns out that Hodge is a host facility for a sport called calf roping! From what I've observed the calves are shot out of chute while two of the Quarter Horses chase them down and the riders throw ropes with the goal of catching each cow by both the horns and the hind feet. How strange. The cows don't seem to mind and the people and horses seem to enjoy it. Me? I'm not sold on the idea of cows yet. They make funny noises.
At about the same time that the cows came in, B and T had arrived with Buttons and Oreo. After they had had a chance to walk around and see the sites, and the cows, all four of us and our humans went out to check out the pasture. Buttons, Oreo, Sarah and I are now pasture mates rather than neighbors. We are in an eleven acre field with plenty of grass, thanks to the mild winter, and water. It's a hilly pasture and, well let's just say that I learned to respect the hill. Besides the four of us, there was one other horse and three donkeys in the field yesterday. That horse and the donkeys were clearly a team and they weren't very welcoming either. But we reached a truce and kept a respectful distance.
This morning the donkeys were moved and two other horses were turned out with us. This afternoon, when K and R came out to see Sarah and me, the new horses confused us. We didn't know if we should stay with them or go to our humans. K caught up to me and offered me a treat, which was nice or her. And so after Sarah agreed to go with R we walked up to and around the outside of the arena again before heading in on the back side of it. When we walked in we found more cows and roping horses at practice. I stood and watched closely and K kept telling me how good I was for standing. But then R took Sarah in to ride and I was not okay with that. Sarah is my best friend and I got really nervous when I couldn't be near her. I'm afraid I aggravated K with my fretting. I think she had hoped to groom me a little more. Instead, she and T walked me down the aisle and put me in a stall! I had to stand there for a long time and while Sarah, Buttons and Oreo got to explore the inside of the arena itself. I try to be good. Really, I do. I can't help it that the new surroundings and all of the strangers make me nervous.
Anyway, K eventually forgave me and fed me dinner. Then Buttons, Oreo, Sarah and I were turned back out in our new field for the evening.
I like the field but I'm not so sure about the arena itself. K says this is only a temporary move to give our paddocks at home a rest and to let the grass grow again. I hope we have an early spring. I'm just not sure that I'm cut out to be a cow pony.
~Polo
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