3rd Weekend with Beau working out

Beau was so dam good today. When I walked up the hill, he saw me and came to the gate. I petted his face so soft. At first he was really pushy, he seems to forget that we have been working on for our exercises and training. As soon as I could I got him to stop eating grass and walk dow the hill toward the barn door. I turned him around and he idd his first walk up the hill. I was so proud.

We worked our training, I tried to get him to engage his butt. I tried to get him to do the stomach lift too. No luck. I think that if I keep him walking then learn to lunge him, I could get in a better place for his strengths.

• Walked around the property, totally of 1.2 miles. He really did so good walking backwards and turning. We did a ton of turns out in the dirt driveway, like maybe 30 times and then both sides. I am so proud of him. 
• He wore the pad, he walked around followed me w/out the lead line and also with the lead line.
• He ran with me on cue, we did the run with a click sound and stop with a hoe word.
• He wore the new Billy Cook with his old bit, for about 20 to 30 minutes in the arena. I used the reins, Duke's old ones. 
• I sewed a sherpa pad onto Sienna's stall just like Beau's, it looked really good.
• I worked on him standing still at the mounting block, it was not as successful but at least he knows I am looking for him to be ready to ride with me bareback. Im thinking tomorrow. 
• We ran a lot and he stopped pretty good, but not perfect.
• At the end of our visit, he walked up the hill backwards 3 times. We also walked in the front of the barn, did our turns an walking backwards so many times.

 

Some ideas you may want to incorporate into your riding sessions:

• Backing up mounted or unmounted 60 steps
• Walking slowly over high raised poles (mounted or unmounted)
• Pelvic tucks and/or belly lifts
• Walking and bending around a ten-meter circle with a very low stretched neck position (mounted or unmounted)
• Tight serpentines mounted or unmounted
• Hill work – walking, trottiWo and even backing up and down hills
• Walking and trotting briskly over ground poles placed randomly around an area of varying surfaces, i.e., grass, sand, gravel.
• Carrot Stretches: While keeping your horse’s feet immobile, use a carrot or treat to entice his head/neck to the following positions:

-The middle of the chest (chin to chest)

-Between the knees

-Between the front fetlocks

-The girth

-The flank/hip region (holding the treat approximately two feet outward from the     flank)

-Toward the hind fetlock

Thursday w Beau ❤️

•  Fitted the new Billy Cook bridle with his original bit, wore it around the arena this bridle was originally for Duke bougth it at EA a few years ago After I bought it was got it home and realized that its not going to fit the big guys head. Beau is so much smaller in stature all around. Saying he is 16 hands, as I reached over my big boy Duke, his big feet, his long legs, his sweret butt. 

• Walked 1.2 miles some of it we ran together, stopped and did lots of movements
• We did a lot of walking backwards and turning around many time
•  Snacks all around, August, Spicy Joliet Sienna and Beau
•  Removed Duke's sign off his old stall 

• Stood at the mounting block with Beau and he stood still for a long time, until he sighed, I gave him a nice snack

 Just as I got to the barn someone was leaving in a car out the back road. It was so dark no lights outside all the lights were off really creepy 

I think its way too dark. There are not lights outside then the aisle lights came on after a really time.

Beau first put on his bridle and we walked in the arena for a while, I thin it was a bit uncomfortable because I need to tighten the sides. I think the chin strap is way off too. after a while I took it off in his stall and we went back out in the arena to walk.

He walked with me next to me kept up pretty good. We did a lot of turns, I see that some of the time he would go around and he has one side that he doesn't like to turn so he choose to walk backwards a lot. The walking was so fun we ran a lot and we hes still trying to do better on his stopping.

We were alone all night, completely I really loved it. I think Ill try to come on Thursday nights every week.

 

 

Saturday w/Val and Sunday working out

 Saturday with Val

-Went over for a few hours with Val. She took the visit serious, she is helping him work out and get stronger. I told her that we need to help Beau get stronger so he can play with us. When he is stronger we can ride him <3

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Played in the arena, sat on the mounting block with her little crop. She gets it it’s not to poke it’s an extension of her arm 

-Val and I worked together in the arena, he was a good boy.

-I am concerned with Vals feeling safe around him and we havent given him the total approval for understanding how to be more careful around

-Val remenbered that Beaus real full name is "Lots of Beau", and I did not rember, she chimed in when was talking to Ashley.

Sunday works out

Beau with Duke's saddle pad, he looks good, Im excited

-Kayla's fam was over the place getting her horse into the stall, and the paddocks.  The place was just crazy, 5 cars, her dad, grandmother, mother, boyfriend etc. I guess shes settled but the other horses are going crazy, August doesnt like her at all.

 

-Worked out in the arena, walked about 1 mile. 

 

-Beau did so many turns, he focuses in the arena best, Ill keep excercising in the arena and we hes a bit more trustworthy Ill take him out to te road. He was sort of all over the place when I tried to have him do his excerciess out front of the barn. 

-Turned and walked backward with no problems. He was so happy to do the exercises. He followed me like a hawk. Hes going to be the greatest liberty boy thats ever been. I keep my hand out so that he is keeping the space between us. 

 

    -Poor Sienna her her lip when she back kicked at Beau and hit her lip against her teetch on the metal. Kerri had to come help her and give her 4 stitches. It was so tattered, her skin was just hanging.

She was so patient waiting with Patti for the vet, shes a good girl. Im going to make her a cushion on the bars so she will have it softer when she's in <3

-Bonnie asked me to remove Duke's things from his old stall. She said that Kristie has a food aggressive horse and they want to keep them away from the others. Its strange fit for  

 

Dr Katz Beas back is good its just weak

 Got a text from Kristin Mc that Dr Katz is coming. I had let her know that I wanted to have Beau looked at to see if his back is an issue. 

I had to leave work at 12 is to meet him around 1245 at Greenwood.

I was the first person there, pulled up at the same time as Dr Katz. He was a nice man with a big smile. I ran up to get Beau out of his paddock, I Called him as I walked up the hill. He recongnized my voice and came to the gate. I think he gets it. During his exam he only yelled out to the herd once time.  think he yells out if hes down in the stall for longer period of time w/o being busy. I think it startles me.

I let Dr know that he hates flies and fletches his body and kicks his leg out in a way that I have not witnessed before.

Dr Katz was a kind looking man, he had a cool step block made of vinyl like a piece of furniture.

Dr Katz starts with going down his spine, with a piece of metal and his fingers. He was impressed with his potentiona and how he responded to the stimuli of working the joints and muscles.

He worked up his skin all over his back. He examined his muscles and check so many things. He asked me if, what I was working with him, if I had gotten on him, checked his saddles we checked them all. Even Dukes saddles. He was glad that I had not tried to ride him because he thought it would injure him. The tree of the saddles would go into his back in a bad way.

He gave me exercises for Beau to do, the ones that I was especially interested was the tickle on the backside, and the one where he would contract his stomach, he was too weak to flex.

It costs $125 for about 40 min check up. thorough exam. 

Kristin stayed for the exam, she talked to Dr Katz a bit too much considering it was my first exam. When she left, Dr Katz mentioned after I said I was looking forward to getting time in the arena, finding alone time at the barn. He said, do too many people weigh in on your time? I said yes. He said to keep going and not worry about all the opinions.

• Call for Dr Katz Visit, left work around 12ish for 1245 appt, I was first for being seen. After a while Kristin came in.
• Dr Katz was more of a Dr than I expected, he gave me an evaluation, when through almost every bone and muscle in his body. Stood on his step, and really paid attention.
• I liked how he focused on the eval. 
• Beau seemed very interested, somewhat calm,  being poked in some of the most sensitive places he was keeping pretty calm, but twitched and sort of kicked a few times. It make his a bit ready for some sort of a pain. But it didn't seem to haappen, event though Dr Katz was using a metal sort of spoon to check some of the areas, smoothing it over the areas and working out the bumps and knots of his back and side.
• He was very interseted in the last time he had his teeth done. I called Krystyn and she said he did have them done in a while and not the last time sthe dentist came.. I am thinking that Beau has been neglected a lot more than I had originally thought.
• I like how honest K was with me, about how she was able to communicante to me that she did not feel good about her and Beaus relationship. Not sue what happened but it was a deal beaker.
• End of appt, Dr Katzh is happy that I had been dong ground work only
• Gave me a list of things to do that include, walking backwards, lunging for a while, going over poles, walking, moving as we were doing and also working on going up hills.
• we don't have much of a hill available to work on except walking up the hill to his paddock several times.
• He said don't use those saddles for 6 weeks it would hurt him. 
• I would do him a favor by riding bareback. Im gong to find the bareback pad and work from there. Maybe ride today maybe wait till tomorrow
• Steve said, would it help if I came one time to meet Beau? I said yeah why. 
• I was happy to see that walking backwards and also movement side was part of the exercise
• Im going to time the movement and doc them here
• Also going to try and write them down to track too
• Dr Katz caught on that everyone was in my business, finding a time that I can be along with Beau and not judged or comments me. Some of them may not be helpful at all, knowing all the positive and less positive comments is not helpful unless I ask.  "Who Asked you?"
• 
  

Looking forward to Saturday with Beau,

    Lunging, 

At the end of my visit, my head was spinning.

Saturday Gotcha Day Beau

 After his farrier assessment

Vet evaluation Thursday

Saturday morning met with Krystyn in the office and wrote the check that bought Beau. I haven't ridden yet. The vet, Kerri said to take it slow, I believe that I need to get confidence with him. He acts a bit like Duke at the mounting block so Id like to continue ground work and let him see that I am going to be there throng it all. not a temporary training but til the end.

No one was there except Krystyn and Bonnie. They were finishing up stalls, and waters.  so I was able to work out alone. its was very nice. I know that people watch a lot. K was not around much she still hasn't gotten a horse yet. They travel all the time.

The rest of the day I worked with him, Put on his saddle, I went into the arena and did work on the stairs. Also worked on standing still for moments. we walked around it was very nicely. I worked on his stopping starting and turning. he was pretty happy about working out in the arena. I brought him out and about. P

Fff