February 2020
February 29, 2020
And just like that, February is gone!
The days are getting longer and warmer! You won't find me complaining. On the training end of things I couldn't ask for better progress. Spirit had her first ride out in the hills this week and did well when she was the leader.
Jasper and I spent most of the week loping through the valley and getting him to relax and drop his head at the lope. I have learned that when teaching collection it is taught best when you allow it to happen at the horse's pace and not try to force it yourself.
Honey has been focusing on learning how to turn, stop, do forehand turns and how to side pass! She is such a quiet and willing little filly.
As for my personal horses, things are going great! Indy is getting softer and more responsive to my hands and legs. Next week I will be hauling him into the fairgrounds for some travel experience for the rodeo season as well as to practice of the drills we have been working on at home.
Now my little Dally girl, is fabulous. After all the time put on her and all the drills that we have worked on, it's like she woke up on Monday and decided to be a broke horse. I will continue to play with the technical maneuvers such as lead departures from the walk and stand still, slow spins, crisp stops and hopefully introduce flying lead changes in the next couple of weeks. I am wanting to get her going in reined cow horse. She has so much talent and so much potential. She could really become something special. She already is to me.
February 22, 2020
How can a week go by so fast and yet so slow? This week I put the first ride on Spirit, rode Honey in the hills for the first time and gave my first beginner riding lesson as Double E Horse Training!
Spirit did well, however she is a big ball of energy and lopes like a deer bounding across a field! Honey took to the hills like a natural and next week we will start working on turning and stopping!
I am just tickled with Jasper. He is so smart and yet so easy going. He is progressing so fast that I will work on lead departures with him in the next couple of weeks.
My personal horses got the short end of the stick this week due to some queen responsibility and blessings, like building a custom hat! And life. Life likes to mess up my work schedule. But next week we will bounce back! And we are supposed to have beautiful weather!
February 15, 2020
First rides, great views and amazing sunsets. Between the beautiful weather and all my fabulous horses, this was a good week.
I put the first 5 rides on Honey this week and nothing bothers her. She is quiet, sweet and gentle. She will be the perfect kids/family horse.
Spirit is also doing well. She will be ready to ride Wednesday of next week. This week we ponied out in the hills, worked on driving and wore the 3 leg hobbles for a couple of hours :)
Then there is Dally and Jasper. Right now these two are my favorite! Dally is learning how to take smooth lead departures and neck rein. While it's not perfect yet, she is showing signs of understanding and progression. In the next couple of weeks I am hoping to move her into the bosal. Jasper has had exactly 30 rides and he already collects and drops his head to the ground. His transitions are also making progress. They are smooth and his stops are to die for! Video hopefully coming soon.
February 8, 2020
This was the week before the Crooked River Roundup Gala and a busy one for Double E Horse Training. I have started to get Indy in shape for the queen year and in the next couple of weeks I will start working on his collection, turning, and neck reining.
Riding prep work has been going well with Honey and she is ready for her first ride on Monday!
Spirit started her crash course in ground work this week. We have been lounging, saddling, learning to give to the bit and flagging! She is a true dun. I have been fighting her "I don't want to, you can't make me" attitude. She is broadening my training horizons and I am eager to see how she settles into broke horse life.
Jasper began working on collection and dropping his head this week. He is picking it up fast and doing great! He will make someone an amazing trail horse, kids/family horse, or 4-H horse/OHSET!