First Trip

Yesterday I ventured out with Ty to attend a clinic with Judy Westlake at Sarah's place. The day was rather uneventful, which is amazing for a green horse taking his second trailer ride.

Ty was a bit difficult to catch in the morning, but Roze was not helping the cause teasing him from over the fence. Ty loaded very easily, once on the road he was pawing for awhile, we later learned he pulled the mats off my trailer wall, a small price to pay. He did not paw on the ride home.

He hung out in a stall while we waited for our lesson time. He was very calm the entire day. When it was time to work we tacked him up and lunged him for a few minutes in the lower arena. He was so calm I decided to just put him to work.

Judy gave me some great tips for steering and getting Ty around corners. Ty walked and trotted all over the arena and never once spooked. Near the end of our lesson we put Ty back on the lunge line and had our first canter under saddle, we will definately have to work on that one.

Ty was a super star. Considering he was standing in a pasture 6 weeks ago as an intact colt with very little handling, he has come leaps in bounds in such a short time.

Our First Ride

So Sarah came up today for a lesson. I was expecting to work Ty on lunge and get him trotting well, but Sarah had other plans. We did start on the lunge and Ty was great as usual. Less than half way through our lesson Sarah felt it was time to take Ty off the line. So off we went at the walk around the arena and then off we went at the trot. Ty is a super star and has absolutely taken every thing in stride and perfectly in every way. I've posted some pics of our first ride, excuse my position we have some adjustments that need to be made to get the saddle in balance, which Sarah pointed out, I'll work on getting some pads to try on underneath it. Ty still has a lot of growing to do so we'll hold off on the saddle fitter for a bit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I may be able to take him to an Arab show at the end of June, if not we'll definitely make it out to several schooling shows this summer :D

Ty Gets a Bath

Ty can trot

After a hard workout

This doesn't make you clean

Handsome & Clean

Ty has been doing extremely well lunging and working in side reins and lunging the last few days. Ty was quite spunky today, he hadn't been worked or handled in two days due to my schedule. Today was the first day I put SMBs on him so when I tacked him up and let him run around a bit he went hopping and bucking around the arena. I've never seen him buck before so it was quite hysterical. Fortunately, after getting his kicks out, he worked well on the lunge line and is beginning to understand voice commands of walk, trot and canter.

After lunging I decided to get onto him again. My husband was there to help so I had my husband lead Ty around while I was on him. Again another eventful day under saddle. My trainer is coming up for a lesson next weekend and we'll start long lining him so hopefully soon I'll actually be able to ride him.

Since having an extra hand today I also decided it was time to get Ty cleaned up. He hasn't had a bath in who knows how long. He again took everything in stride. He wasn't thrilled but tolerated the scrubbing. I didn't bother doing his face today since I wanted his first experience to be as pleasant as possible. He's now shiny and clean.

Ty's Under Saddle

So this week has been a little light. On Friday night we put a saddle on Ty for the first time and played around a bit on getting up on the mounting block above him and tapping on the saddle to get him used to the noise.

Yesterday we worked on getting used to clippers, he's good with them anywhere except his ears, so we can work with that.

Today my hubby was around to help, so I decided to go ahead and see if he was up for being backed. I put the saddle on him and dropped the stirrups so he got used to something on his sides and lunged him for a few minutes as usual without any incident. So once I was done lunging him I decided to go ahead and work on getting up on him. I stood in the stirrup and put some good weight into it, no reaction. Then I went ahead and thew a leg over his back and I was officially on Ty. He didn't do anything. I hopped off and we walked him around for a little but and I got back up on him, again no reaction.

I'm very proud of Ty. He's taken everything we've thrown at him and he just takes it all in stide. This week I'm going to work on lunging him some more and probably work on trying to get him on a trailer again. That may be our biggest challenge.

He's a Keeper

Ty was very good tonight. He walked up to meet me at the gate and let me halter him without any issue. Once inside he did a few laps around the indoor, I think he does this just for giggles, then he came up and let me groom him and pick his feet out without being held or tied.

The ultimate test was going to the right on the lunge line. I put him on the lunge without side reins and he did very well, he was even stretching down without the side reins on. I put him in side reins for a few laps, no fighting and no resistance. I let him go with that.

Even with the pouring rain and the fuss of all the horses he was very mellow and well behaved tonight, I guess he was trying to make up for last night, but he smoothed me over enough tonight that I've decided to let him stay another week ;)

To the Right, To the Right...

All you have to do is lunge to the right... I was signing to Ty this evening trying to get him to go the right. He was being very stubborn and very unwilling to go the right this evening. I put him in side reins, which seemed to not phase him. To the left he was perfect. Started him to the right, at first he'd just stop and I got so I could catch him before he completely stopped, then he learned I could catch that and he would just quickly pivot to the left. He was just being a complete stinker tonight. After 45 minutes of fighting him and keeping him moving I finally got so I could stop him and then ask him to go again. I did this about five times and called it a night. Sounds like we're only going to work to the right this week. He's very one sided.

First Day In Side Reins

So my trainer, Sarah, came out to work with Ty and I today and we decided to put him in side reins. He did exceptionally well, he had very little resistence to them and the contact on the bit. It was great to getting him moving and working correctly. It's a great insite to what potential his future may hold under saddle.

I also got to spend a little time with Roze. The vet gave me clearence to get on her at a walk. She was so anxious to get a bridle on it was very amusing. I've never seen a horse so anxious to work. I hope that Roze makes a full recovery soon and can get back into work, I adore her and I know she likes having a job.