Cajun got shod last Monday, and the shoes have made a big difference. I took him for a Lake Youngs trail ride on Sunday, and the big long rocky hill was not a problem. The main problem was we had been turning around before it in the past, because I did not want to risk his feet. So now when I asked him to go past the point where we turned around previously (twice) he had a little fit. They get habituated so quickly!

Cantering is still quite the effort for both of us, but now I think he is starting to enjoy it. I usually ask him to canter both ways, twice. This last time, when we went back to trotting exercises, he was much more eager to go forward, which is exactly what canter is supposed to do.

I still only do 45 minute sessions with him in the arena, his little brain can't take any more schoolin' than that. but our trail rides are usually for 2 hours, and the conditioning is starting to show.

Offically BIG

I brought a tape measure to the barn, so I will know what size of huge to buy for my new pony. Here are Cajun's official measurements:

• 68" or exactly 17 hands
• 1330 pounds
• foot 6" across (4 shoe in front, 3 hind)
  
• front cannon bone 9.25"
• hind cannon 10.5"

Yep. Big.

Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday I set up three trot poles and one super tiny cross rail - it was basically a "V" not an "X" . But it gave me a good idea about how Cajun will act trotting through standards.

We started out walking long and low - I say that but it is still mostly theory rather than actually being long and low. I can convince him to drop his head and lower his head and neck for a couple of steps. But that is a huge improvement over... not lowering his head and neck at all. Any way about 10 minutes walking. I do not ask for a forward walk, I just don't let him poke along like he'd rather.

Did trot / walk transitions, and regulated his trot for about 15 or 20 min. Trotted the poles probably 8 or ten times, then reversed and did the same. Did some circle work. coming along. Then at the end, I popped him over the cross rail. He did give it a look and wobble a bit on the approch, so he could trianulate on it, and then just trotted right over. Turned him around and hopped over the other way. I call that a good days work.

Sunday we went for a walk on the Lake Young's trail, because not every step needs to be shaped and controlled. We mostly just had a stroll, with some trots. He gets very forward on the trail, and just wants to pound off with his nose in the air, but is learning that even on the trail, the walk/trot transition lessons still apply.

I hosed him off completely, he was pretty dusty. He really likes playing with the hose. we had a nice hand graze, and lots of pats and treats.

Friday ride

I did not ride Thursday night because I came home with a pounding

headache. I went to bed at 4:30, and slept till 6:00 this morning! I didn't even wake up at 4:00am like I do nearly every day, to try desperately to get back to sleep before the alarm goes off at 4:45.

He is doing GREAT. I am a better rider than when I got Imax, thanks to Imax. I am making sure my cues are very clear on Cajun to make sure I don't get the same confusion I got in Imax when I later tried to teach him Training level dressage passages like shoulder in and haunches in, turn on the haunches, etc. --

He is totally getting that my leg steers his back legs, and my hands steer his front legs. I set 4 poles up in a circle - poles at cardinal points (N, S, E & W) First, I just trotted him over the poles, he went right over, no problems. No hitting the poles at all, he picks his feet up nicely - as I give him a little leg over the pole. Then I got him bending around my inside leg a bit, going around the outside of the poles. Using my outside leg, I pushed him into the circle, using the striping on the poles to line him up to keep the circle as round as possible. He still really does not get straightness yet. But so what? I used my "spiral seat" (outside leg pushing him into the spiral, inside leg on the girth to bend around and encourage forwardness) and the stripes on the poles to trot a spiral - in and out. This is actually pretty advanced stuff for him at this stage. He was pretty darn good, though.

When I ride outside he is easily distracted but that is totally natural, a young horse thing. I have to ride every stride more than inside , I can coast a bit.

He is a dream on the ground, such a joy to be around. One of the guys who works at the barn actually stopped and wanted to talk to me about Cajun - that never happens! Men just love him, they get little stars in their eyes when they look at him. The jousters still have to comment every time.

I have decided he needs shoes, so he will be getting them on a week from monday, the first time my farrier can fit me in. I don't want to worry about it any more, and he wanted to walk on the grass the other day instead of on the gravel. I don't know if it was just that one time or what, but I am tired of worrying about every little hitch in his step, and everytime he does not step out when I ask. it will be a bit more than for Imax .... are you ready for this? $140!!!!!!!!! AAckk!

First lesson with Melody

First of all, I won't be updating much for the next seven to ten business days, because my computer is going into the shop. It may or may not have to do with a wine-related incident, I am not saying. Thankfully, when I bought it, I thought "Someday I am going to pour a half a glass of gewurztraminer into this thing. Better get the "I am a lush" warranty." So it is covered, but I have to send it away.

Today was my first lesson with Melody. We took a look at my saddle, and she said it is ok for now, but I need a new one. I was starting to have my suspicions. The throat of it is wide enough, but the base needs to be wider. So I am in the market for a saddle. She wants me to buy her Passat of course. She has a seriously over inflated idea of my bank account. Hank, my Vet also mentioned he has some saddles for sale, so I will call him. And Kerry. Last I heard she was selling some saddles. too.

We started at the walk, asking him to stretch long and low. Still not fully understanding that, but it will come. At the walk, get a good forward walk, and leave him in it, moving my arms with his mouth. When he slows, tap with the stick. Mel wants me to start riding in the spurs trading off and on with the whip, so he will always pay attention, and not deaden to the aid. Soon, I won't need either. He is getting "leg means forward" but I think he forgets - his attention wanders, and he slows down. Must get the walk long and stretchy. When trotting, take up a little contact, keep the poll flexed and to the inside. Don't let him lean - bump and release, he must carry himself. The bit is ok for now, look for a Herm Springer. Do this correctly now, and I won't need to correct it later. Trot must stay active, stay in contact. From an active trot ask for canter with inside leg supporting behind the girth, outside leg back. Use both strongly till he understands the canter aid. Only ask on a bending line - beginning of the turn, or coming out of the turn ( or on a circle) never just after A or C. Ask at F, K H or M.

No nagging, ask then insist. Get it every time. Keep the aids light and he will be light. Canter at every ride. Use outdoor arena when possible. Keep sessions at 45 min for now.

July 23-26

Cajun is still settling in, and doing great. Thursday we rode in the indoor arena, and there were 3 other horses working in there at the time. He was very interested in them, but I got a little work out of him.

Friday there were way too many people in the indoor arena, the outdoor is very dusty, but I didn't care, we rode out side. He gets very lookie - loo at the jousting equipment, but I was able to get him to trot by it normally at least once! We also cantered for the first time. Not pretty, but we did it! I started really asking him to go on the bit. When we were resting between trot sets, I rode on light contact.

Saturday I was supposed to have a sewing lesson at 11:30 ( it got canceled, 10 minutes before it was supposed to start. Long story, but never go to Stitches on Capitol Hill. They suck.) Anyway because of the sewing lesson I went to the barn extra early. (Left home at 7:00, groomed at 7:30, rode from 8 - 9, untacked till 9:30, drove to be home by 10, got ready by 11, on cap hill by 11:30....See how close I had to schedule it to get to the canceled class? )

Anyway. Cajun did not like this "work before breakfast" thing at all, so had little bratty fits while I was tacking him up. But his fits are really no big deal, and who could blame him. What was great was to have the freshly groomed and watered indoor arena to ourselves.

I started with a warm up walk, then gradually would take up contact till we were going on the bit. Still learning forward, but really catching on. when the walk was active and flexing at the poll I would ask for a trot. We did walk / trot transitions to get him in front of the leg. Very good. resting walk. Then active trot, turn down the quarter line, and leg yield to the wall, practicing straightness. I asked for a couple of steps of shoulder-in, and got it, going both directions. Working on circles and not diving into the corner where the gate is. Circles still very rough. Still not getting the concept of staying on the wall, he wants to dive into the middle of the arena. I think he thinks that means he is done. Working at staying round especially in transitions. not always successful.

I hosed him down and let him have breakfast. He was grateful. Turned him out in the field with the tree. His favorite.

Today I rode early again, but without the pressure of having to be somewhere else. I let him finish breakfast first, which I think he appreciated. I tried just tying him by his chin today instead of cross ties. didn't make much difference. We went for a trail ride on the Lake Youngs Trail. We walked down the road, and instead of taking the trail we went on before, I took him along Petrovitsky , past The Parks on 188 and down the big hill. Going out I rode on light contact, he was moving forward nicely, very interested in his surroundings. got a little strong in the trot once and gave a little bolt, came back easily. Spooked once at a sign on a chain link fence. This was early in the ride. He was bold and had a good swinging stride. I kept him in a walk mostly, didn't have to dog him much to keep the pace. Is going pretty good barefoot - the trail is grass/gravel/dirt, with some of the gravel pointy. He hitches up occasionally, but no more than a shod horse. about an hour in to the ride, I let two little girls pet him, he was being very calm and steady, and their parents said it was ok, so they were my children guinea pigs. He did very good of course, and they were thrilled. We did some trotting in two-point, he had a great forward, swinging trot. I had to ask him back to a walk, he was ready to go. On the way back home, he of course was very forward, and i took advantage of that to get him to go on the bit, and start to learn to carry himself, and not lean on me. He leans badly, and I have to bump him to get him to stop leaning. Broke this up with long walks on light contact, and some on the buckle. Did some leg yielding, did great. As we came home he got a little strong, but I turned him around and made him work a bit going away from home, and I think he got the message, because he walked the rest of the way like a gentleman mostly.

I hosed him off gave him carrots and turned him out. He sometimes tries to use me as a scratching post when I take his bridle off, but did not do that today, I think he is remembering I will give him a good scratch, if he is good.

All in all, I could not ask for better. He is progressing beautifully, and taking what ever I throw at him. Very inquisitive, bold and trusting. Making fans where ever we go. Good Boy!

Back to work

So today was our first day of real work.

We rode in the indoor arena for the first time. I led Cajun around to let him look at everything, especially the mirrors.

We began the day with a good active walk, and learning straightness. This will be a big lesson, he is pretty wiggley, but he'll get the hang of it. I began asking him to walk on the bit, and still keep an active walk. He did ok, just fine. He is so willing and interested in pleasing. But he did spend most of the lesson with his nose out and back hollow, but showed many instances of relaxing at the poll and bringing his back up. This will happen in time.

We did three trot sets both ways, five minutes a piece with three to five minute active walk breaks between. Sometimes the "active" part of the walk was lacking, it was starting to get hot, even at 10 am. We practiced leg yields, learning that yes, I do mean it every time, even if you just did it a second ago. We also practiced bending and straightening with the hourglass pattern - imagine trotting an hourglass shape in an arena, with the horse's body following the curves, then straightening at the top, bending to trace the side, bend in the middle, then straighten along the diagonal, bend to trace the bottom, etc. We did that three full circuits.

He's coming along fine. I wanted to wait to have a formal lesson with Melody, but I think we are both ready for her to have a look. She'll have lots of great advice. I will call her tonight.

I hosed him down and turned him out. he likes it.

Hittin' the trail

I couldn't have asked for Cajun to be better on the trail ride today. I decided to see how he would be by himself on the trail. We tacked up, and he gets pretty animated when I tack him up. I have been packing his fly strike sores with an antiseptic before applying fly wipe - he still does not like it, but I think if I am careful not to get any fly stuff in any open sores, eventually he will be ok about the fly spray. I walked him around once inside the indoor arena, the first time he'd been in there. He was pretty interested in the mirrors.

I got on and we set out. The jousters were practicing in the outdoor arena, so we stood there and watched them for a while.

Cajun was pretty good on the road, he would walk sideways and shy at some stuff, but no big deal. Except the goats. They were scary. He had to stop and give them a good snort.

The trail is very wide and clear, and in long, straight stretches that take 90 degree turns occasionally. He has a great, brisk walk - head up, ears forward, interested in everything, but always going forward, At the beginning of the ride, I was just letting him have a good look around and keep a nice, forward walk. Seriously, so far I have had no problem with him being lazy at all. He was eager, even wanting to trot. I didn't let him at first though. I wanted a good long, low stretchy walk - he is learning to stretch his neck down when I ask. He will have an excellent top line in no time.

He was very eager to catch up to who ever was in front of us on the trail--people walking, running, pushing strollers, walking the dog, bikers - then as soon as we passed them, he wanted to catch up to the next people. There were no other horses riding on the trail, but there are plenty of horses in pastures along there, and he was very interested in them, but never pulled toward them or got silly or strong around them. I kept him in a walk till we turned around.

When I did let him trot, he was ready to go, he wanted to move out. I would let him go fast, then I would ask him to shorten and lengthen as I wanted - he did pretty good. I also started leg-yielding him back and forth across the trail, he did really great. Only a tap now and then behind the leg to reinforce my aids. Still I mostly had him walk. He has a great, ground-covering stride. I don't know if it is just because everything is new and exciting, but this horse likes to go, he's just such a pleasure to ride.

We got back to the road and he was just fine on the way back to the barn, too. -even when some asshole kid HONKED HIS HORN as he drove by. I wanted to kill the little shit, but Cajun did not even care, because he was way too busy looking at the GOATS OMG WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS? But even in full blown high-alert, he is still so manageable and easy. Geeze, what a sweetheart.

We got back to the barn and the Jousters were done, and cooling their horses out. We chatted about him and they asked if he had any brothers or sisters around. They really like him a lot - totally jealous I can tell. He would look handsome in their medieval horse-drag, but Jousting is not on the agenda.

He is a lovely, forward horse. He is smart and sane and willing. I am so lucky! I love him!

What a guy.

Cajun arrived on Thursday evening around 7:30. It had taken about three hours longer than anticipated, because it was so hot in Eastern Washington, 100+, so Kurt, the hauler, stopped every two hours to water him. So I didn't mind him being so late. Cajun was tired, but ate and drank and pooped, and really that is all you can ask of a guy after such a long journey.

Yesterday Scott and I went to the barn and led him around, turned him loose in his paddock, and generally just hung out for a bit. Cajun was fantastic, so polite, but still interested in the goings-on in his new home.

Then today, I went to the barn at about 9:30, for our first ride. I took my time taking up, and he did not get the cross ties at first, but he figured them out pretty quickly and was fine.

I took him out to the outdoor arena, and it was already pretty hot. I led him around and let him get a good look at everything. He was very interested. I got up and walked him around the arena. He does not understand walking in a straight line, but I don't forsee any problem with my leg meaning "forward". I would ask for a brisk walk, he would walk on, and eventually start to drag a bit. I would re-apply the leg, and if I did not get an immediate "good walk" gave him a reinforcing tap with the dressage whip. It did not take three of these reminders, before he was giving me a really good forward response off my leg, and sustaining a relaxed swinging walk. What a good boy!!

Then I wanted to work on walk/trot transitions. Walk 5 steps, trot 5 steps, etc. He caught on to the game very quickly, our downward transistions were choppy, but going from walk to trot was immediate and brisk almost every time. Like I said, I don't see forward being a problem at all! We would work in 10 minute sets, and then I would let him relax and look around for 5 minutes. When I would ask him to get back to work, he would get with the program pretty quickly.

Really I could not have asked for any better response - our first ride in a new arena. When we were done, I took him to the washrack and let him snuffle and look at everything, and I hosed off his legs, and let him drink from the hose, something he really enjoys. Then we went for a little walk.

Tomorrow at 9:30 we have a date with Jill and Turbo to take a walk on the Lake Youngs trail. I am looking forward to it.