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Anne

Have made some further small steps with Fergal over these last couple of weeks. Primarily, hopping on bareback a number of times, putting a saddle on his back (no girth yet), and tightening a surcingle and walking around with no bucking. The surcingle achievement was quite a relief. I'm not certain ...

Anne

Wow, double congrats on moving to your new place, and (especially) getting Junior 'out and about'. Sounds like your mustang is the ideal buddy for the youngster. Would love to see photos!!!

Anne

Demi and MC - thanks for your positive comments! We've not measured Fergal, but think he is about 15.3hh. He's a shade taller than our measured 15.2hh gelding. He feels tiny next to our other big boys (16.2hh 3/4 Irish Draught and 16hh 1/2 Andalusian, very solidly built, and even the 15.2hh boy is m...

Anne

Continued progress with the young fella, though he's had some days off with weather and just other 'stuff'. Biggest success was that I swung a leg over him yesterday and sat on him. Keeping my upper body low for now, but he was quite unconcerned on the left side, bit more worried from the right, but...

Anne

Demi I LOVE your pictures, it is so nice to see you and the lovely Rocky, and you look like you have a super partnership with her. I'm mostly a 'lurker' here on this thread, but I really enjoy reading everyone's updates.

Anne

yeah, Kande, body language is super important eh. Fairly good progress over the last week : calmer on the lunge, and really understanding the voice commands halt/walk/trot, and importantly slowing down when asked (small shake on the lunge line, and 'hoo, hoo' of the voice). Yesterday evening I stood...

Anne

Great end to the year for you and Junior, exvet, congrats!! That first canter is *such* an achievement.

Anne

Sue, you give me hope! I really appreciate you sharing your Rudy and Tio experiences. We've brought on a number of youngsters, but none so sensitive and reactive as this guy. It's a good reminder to install a 'no' (growl) command. They have to learn what is not desired, as well as what is right. I a...

Anne

Fergal's been here 8 weeks today, and looking back, yes, there has been progress! He's more relaxed on the lunge, and is good with halt/walk/trot commands. Not perfect, but good. The last couple of days I've started some in-hand flexions / jaw releases. Mostly following the Mark Russell descriptions...

Anne

Dear Linden, I just want to add my words of support for you through your difficult times. I don't have any advice, but please know that I value you through your contributions to this bulletin board, and the old UDBB. You have such a super eye, and I always appreciate your concise, pithy, accurate co...

Anne

Heddylamar, I hope Maia is doing OK after that choke episode, sounds scary. Fergal is making progress : he's generally calmer, I'm starting to be able to pick up his back feet (he was quite kicky initially), he's OK with having a cover thrown over him (haven't yet done it up), and being sponged off ...

Anne

Lovely! Is she your bubba by Paseo II? Not spanish, but I quite like Uliana.

Anne

Sue - oh, I like that idea! thanks for taking the time to explain. We always have treats on hand, but tend to hand them out fairly randomly, and usually after a spell of good work, so I don't think there's much learning attached to them. But if we do your yes/no system, I can see how that could help...

Anne

Linden, love the descriptions of your two youngsters. Sue, thanks for describing Rudy's training, it is encouraging to hear about, and I'll read up on ttouch. At the moment we are doing lots of leading with small challenges (step closer to the scary thing) and he *is* improving. We're certainly in n...

Anne

I too have a 2013-born chestnut, a connemara-TB cross gelding, who I've owned for 3 weeks..... he's a bit of a 'project', very limited previous handling (why do people breed then not bother to do any work with the young one?! grrrr), and super sensitive and reactive and anxious. His neck and back mu...

Anne

StraightForward, would you mind sharing which Ritter course you signed up for, and I'd be really interested to hear how you find it? The 'testimonials' on his website make the courses sound very good (naturally!), but it would be super to hear directly from someone actually doing them...

Anne

Stay safe Musicdoc, you sound well prepared, and well (years!) in advance. Kudos to you. Good luck all you others in the path of the storm, it looks scary.

Anne

SF, Pickle is looking great, she is a strong looking and good moving mare. I love that the support rider is, um, supportive (!) - really watching out for Pickle and her rider, just good to see. Congrats on the progress, and I hope you get on before winter.

Anne

Ponichiwa, so glad to hear you & Kiwi are OK - many reports here in NZ of the awful flooding in TX, that's a s**tload of rain!!

Mountaineer - yiippeee!! I'm smiling for you two too.

Anne

Yay for the trailer 'swap' (hopefully with $$ in your direction), and super to see Jr's progress (I remember your post about him doing a job on your face, glad he his manners have since improved!). Hope that you can get out on the trails riding the mustang and ponying Jr? I agree with Chisamba that ...

Anne

Thought I'd add a definition of 'school trot' which I read in Steinbrecht ("The Gymnasium of the Horse") today : "The school trot should initially be identified by ....... great collection and elevation as well as diligent, raised, cadenced steps that do not cover much ground. ..... i...

Anne

I luuurve breakfast! It is a meal for which I prefer the.same.thing.every.day : weetbix, home made un-toasted muesli (rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, dried apricots, dried cranberries, raw almonds, dried coconut, sometimes some other nuts depending on what's on sale at the supermarket), fresh fruit (usu...

Anne

Adding my best wishes and healing jingles for Chancellor.

Anne

Sorry you have had a rough few months, Linden, it is good to see you back! And your horses are *gorgeous*!

Anne

Agree with you Bats79 - not a description or image I like (and had never heard it before). 'Falling down' to me implies loss of control (who ever *wants* to fall down?), and a waterfall is similarly negative - the water crashes into the ground with considerable force, not what I want the front of th...

Anne

What a good opportunity for you, he looks like an awesome partner. Good luck in your work together, and please keep us updated. He does have a sweet face!

Anne

My condolences too. RIP Bucky and kia kaha Ponichiwa.

Anne

Hi Xanthoria, welcome (back)!

Anne

Thanks for your comments S, P and C. Yes, his hooves are awful. Never been trimmed, which makes me worry, like you suggest Susan, about the bony alignment within.

Anne

Good luck to Dave in finding his new riding partner. I love that he wants a horse that 'is able to take a joke'!! Yeah, some can and some can't eh. Crossing fingers too!

Anne

I hope that Regumate helps your lovely Deneb. You seemed to be making such good progress, but running into walls/mirrors is just plain scary. Keep safe, and keep us updated!

Anne

And some more photos:

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Anne

The below photos are of a 2 yr old trakehner cross colt. Please share your opinion on whether his pasterns are too long? Stills from video of his canter seem to show a large (too much?) amount of flexion - is this normal or abnormal? It may be relevant to note that his feet have *never* been trimmed...

Anne

Demi, what a lovely update, it sounds like your patience is paying off, and I love the soft attentive look in Emma's eye and ears.

Anne

Hello Tempest, welcome back! I remember your posts on the old UDBB. You and your mare are looking super, and congrats on your upcoming wedding. I can't say I'm a fan of ferrets (major pest here in NZ), but the kitties are very cute!

Anne

Oh, exciting, and what a good plan to have a horse to ride while MP gets sorted out! Definitely sending loud jingles

Anne

Sending positive thoughts and healing jingles your way, Chancellor, from Down Under.

Anne

Rockabilly : we have just finished your chicken/balsamic/mustard roast recipe and it was super, thank you!! It kind of saved me, as I am temporarily living with a group of 3 other people (work colleagues, we are on a job for a month or maybe more living in a rented house), and we are trying to take ...

Anne

Wow, definitely adding my jingles for your scheduling and surgery, it certainly sounds like a good option to have a surgeon working in/with familiar surroundings/people, so that's a good call I reckon. Good luck, and enjoy your lovely horse in the mean time! Sounds like you've gone from the big free...

Anne

Wow Mountaineer, good luck dealing with your weather! Sounds pretty spectacular, but not much fun to get through....

Anne

Oh Linden, sincerest condolences. You sound like such a strong person. I hope the horses bring you happiness, and good luck for your knee settling down.

Anne

Hah hah, nosey parkers have to investigate! Carmen looks *so* curious about the snow creation, and great that it motivated her out to the big paddock. Love her dapples!

Anne

I'm on a budget, so re-reading quite a bit : just finished The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt); various Aurelio Zen books (Michael Dibdin), love the suave italian characters and irony; The Shipping News (Annie Proulx) - all around glorious uplifting read. And for lightweight summer reading (it's *meant* to ...

Anne

apologies definitely not needed! I love the photos, and I reckon iffeting is a great term for Kimba's big trot. Thanks for putting up the photos

Anne

Hah hah Chisamba, I'm trying to imagine the lovely Kimba 'iffeting' in the arena! Looking forward to the pics :-) [yeah yeah, I'm sure it's meant to be 'offered'!] Very much enjoying everyone's updates. Flight, what a super score for your first medium test!! Khall, the clinic sounds super, you guys ...

Anne

Snork, you'll have to move to NZ! I think that is about all we we *can* get (grass fed, whole, pasturised, homogenised milk).... sorry, probably not the answer you were looking for :-) Mean time, I'm sort of reeling about you guys having fish oil in your milk?! Will go away and research that one a b...

Anne

I love your photos Flight, esp. the one with the 'wild' mane!! What a fabulous place to ride, count me jealous.

Anne

I missed this yesterday too, so I'm raising a glass tonight. Such lovely photos of those now gone, I'm so sorry for your huge loss Chisamba, and I, too, recall you posting about it, wow, 5 years ago.

Anne

Great update on Zeus! He looks gorgeous, and you must be so excited to watch his riding progress and looking forward to having him home. How neat that there are some new PRE stallions here - presume one of them is Paseo II (just found a website with some pics of him, looks lovely), and will be inter...

Anne

Go Phoenix! I am also looking forward to updates (and photos)

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