June 17, 2007
After practicing with Nova on trailer loading (or more importantly, unloading) a couple weeks ago, I was happy that he loaded with only a teeny bit of 'uhhhhh, naaaaaaah' before getting in, and he actually backed out of the trailer! Of course, his one hind foot hit the ground, and he panicked a bit and stepped back up, but the second time he continued back and came out wonderfully! So he just needs more practice!

June 18, 2007
Took him and Su down to the arena for my lesson on Rhythm tonight. So they got a patience lesson by being tied up during it. And he stood quite well, even though the wind was blowing (the tree fuzzies!!) and there was thunder and stuff. He also lead home really well, and if Su had just walked faster, it would have been perfect.

June 19, 2007
Well, tonight was my first night to really work with the babies before the show this weekend. So, I brushed out his tail (I love Cowboy Magic!) and I'm so in love with how long and thick it is. Did his mane too, while he was eating his goodies. After they were done eating, it was time to practice! I'm entering both of them into halter classes, so I had to practice leading, squaring, trotting, etc. He was quite good. He's not fond of the stud chain, and I can't blame him - and I only used it because if I show with a western halter I probably will be using one then. We did some trotting and he's pretty good. His whoa's are wonderful. But he needs to learn to keep his feet still! That's going to be our major downfall during the class, I can tell. But oh well, because we're going for the experience!

Oh, and we measured him tonight - 15.1hh!

June 21, 2007
Today was Nova's first bath! (At least with me.) And he was better than I thought he was going to be. Of course, he gave me the most disgusted look ("Christine, I'm getting WET!"), and tried to back away from the hose, but in only a few moments he was standing for it. Had his back humped and a grumpy expression, but he stood while we hosed, soaped, and rinsed. Thankfully he's bay, so I don't have to worry quite as much about making sure he's perfectly clean!

June 23, 2007
Okay, so I wussed out on going to the show - it was pouring rain when I got up, so I went back to bed for another hour... And of course, the sun was shining by then. But, thankfully this is a 2 day show, so we're off tomorrow - rain or shine!!

Not going today did give me more time to work with Nova today. He didn't get another bath, even though he got himself a bit dirty (I bet he thinks he's pretty lucky!). But I wanted to lunge everyone a bit (maybe take a wee bit of energy out of them before tomorrow), so down to the arena we went! I first practiced a bit of our halter stuff, and if he trots beside me nicely tomorrow, I think we'll do okay. He doesn't like the stud chain on, so I might opt to leave it off - we'll just see how he's behaving tomorrow morning.

Anyway, I lunged Rhythm, then Su, and then finally the Booger. He was quite good, a bit lazy (which isn't surprising...), but he typically listens quite well. He walks out, trots, and will drop back down to the walk by voice commands/clucks. But of course, I wanted him to go from a trot to a walk before halting (to the right), and he apparently forgot how to do that. Which is amusing, since he'd done it just fine the other direction, and I believe, already once this way. So... it took me a few minutes to finally get him to walk around me (and unfortunately a really nice smack with the lunge whip to get him out of my space), but it worked, and we ended on a good note. I was happy with that because I haven't lunged him since early spring.

He's also growing up so much! He actually fits one of the blankets I have... This is amazing!! It's either a 76 or a 78... And it fits his girlish figure! (Mr. Skinny-Toothpick)

June 23, 2007
Okay, so I wussed out on going to the show - it was pouring rain when I got up, so I went back to bed for another hour... And of course, the sun was shining by then. But, thankfully this is a 2 day show, so we're off tomorrow - rain or shine!!

Not going today did give me more time to work with Nova today. He didn't get another bath, even though he got himself a bit dirty (I bet he thinks he's pretty lucky!). But I wanted to lunge everyone a bit (maybe take a wee bit of energy out of them before tomorrow), so down to the arena we went! I first practiced a bit of our halter stuff, and if he trots beside me nicely tomorrow, I think we'll do okay. He doesn't like the stud chain on, so I might opt to leave it off - we'll just see how he's behaving tomorrow morning.

Anyway, I lunged Rhythm, then Su, and then finally the Booger. He was quite good, a bit lazy (which isn't surprising...), but he typically listens quite well. He walks out, trots, and will drop back down to the walk by voice commands/clucks. But of course, I wanted him to go from a trot to a walk before halting (to the right), and he apparently forgot how to do that. Which is amusing, since he'd done it just fine the other direction, and I believe, already once this way. So... it took me a few minutes to finally get him to walk around me (and unfortunately a really nice smack with the lunge whip to get him out of my space), but it worked, and we ended on a good note. I was happy with that because I haven't lunged him since early spring.

He's also growing up so much! He actually fits one of the blankets I have... This is amazing!! It's either a 76 or a 78... And it fits his girlish figure! (Mr. Skinny-Toothpick)