Day 71 (Trust Building & Finding the Right Lead)

Steve:
This week was pretty good. This week was I spent time reviewing and kind of just taking it easy. I did however run into a little trouble (nothing too extreme) on Tuesday when I started to lope circles to the right. I also worked on spook proofing Diago for the makeover challenge.

Diago would pick up his left lead fine when loping to the left but would not pick up his right lead when going to the right. After several attempts and breaking it down (exercises to help him take the correct lead) he finally picked up the right lead. He was pretty tired after that session so the next day I was going to just lope to the right and get him comfortable loping on the right lead on a circle to the right. We started out and he picked it up right off the bat. We loped for a few minutes and then spent the rest of the time just goofing off. This up coming week I plan on more loping, riding the obstacle course, and preparation work in the arena for the mustang competition.

Day 67 through 70 (Bringing Up Baby...)

Wendy:
I’ve ridden Murphy a few more times this week, just finished up with a ride a little while ago. We moved out under saddle at a walk, trot, and canter and he is doing well with that. I started working on more steering and vertical flexion. Murphy seems to be taking that all in stride. I include some spook proofing things with the ground work and riding for my makeover mustang. I put my son Tristan’s play pen in the shade so that I could keep a close watch on him and yet still get Murphy ridden today. Murphy didn’t know quite what to think about that noisy little kid crawling around and pulling up on the side of the play pen. Steve saved the day when he came out to get pictures. I think Tristan had just about enough of being confined and was sure letting me know about it. It is really hard to focus on your mustang when your baby is yelling. ha ha

I was unable to ride two days this week due to putting up square bales for the winter. Steve, Colton and I loaded and unloaded over 600 bales and the heat index was well over 100 degrees so needless to say I didn’t have much energy to ride a horse after that, so I was bound and determined to ride today. I can’t tell you how excited I am about Murphy’s progress. He seems really smart and willing to try anything if it isn't to extreme. If I can just keep building that confidence we may just be able to do some pretty fun things, who knows!!!!

Day 55 through 66 (Riding Murphy & Singing His Praises)

Wendy:
I’ve started several new things with him and he is taking it all in stride. I’ve ridden him, clipped him with clippers, worked on his feet and a few other things. Unfortunately I have not worked with him everyday, but in spite of that he is doing well.

I can’t help but think how well he would do if I could work him more than an hour here and there. With a business to run, and a 16 month old son it is really hard to find all the time I want. I am just doing the best I can do and not worrying about the rest.

I really think Murphy is going to make someone a good horse. He has so many good attributes. With the number of days I have actually worked him, and how scared he started in the beginning, he is doing so well. We’ve had both Murphy and Diago about 60 days and I am pretty sure I would be lucky if I put a full 30 days on him. That really says a lot for him, to come so far in such a short amount of time. There were things I would try to do a month ago, that Murphy would have no part of, and I do them now and he calmly accepts them and does what I ask. I know a huge part of it is his confidence in me, but it is still soooo cool!!!!

I wonder how others in the Extreme Makeover Competiton are doing with their mustangs and if they are enjoying them as much as Steve and I are. It will sure be great to meet all of the trainers and horses and see the amazing things that I know they will be doing.

I have to be honest, I am so nervous about the competition. I don’t like to compete for the most part. I love teaching my horses to do cool stuff and I get a lot of pleasure out of helping others, but I hate being in the spot light. This will be really good for me. It’s been quite a while since I have shown in anything. Well enough for now -- I want to go ride Murphy before it gets too hot!!!!!

Day 46 (Riding Diago)

Steve:
Wow, I haven’t realized it’s been so long since I’ve last made an entry on the blog. Sorry for that. I have been real busy, the rain has dried up and I have been playing catch up with just about every thing. Diago, my mustang makeover horse, is doing great. I am now riding him at a relaxed walk, trot, and canter. I am going to ride him in the arena for the first time today. I feel he will do well because of the previous ground work on the obstacle course, arena and round pen.

The self control exercises are coming along well too which should help us out if we make it to the final ten in the competition (I can always dream!). Diago has gotten over a lot of his training mentally but still carries much of his instinctual nature with him, for example his biggest deal is if he gets startled or nervous he still wants to ark his body to be ready to wheel and kick. I can’t stand that BUT it is tremendously better that when he first arrived. This upcoming week I plan on working on his stop, go, gait, introduction to neck reining and try to introduce vertical flexion at the stand still and walk if he’s ready. The following week I would like to work on the rail, his steering, more body softness and control and more vertical flexion.