And the fun continues....

Had another fabulous session with Diesel today. The sun was shining, he was really interested in what we were doing and he even worked up a slight sweat lol.

Happily accepted his bridle with no head-held-high, led like a pro and was great fun in the round pen. He was great with my voice commands and did some lovely work on his left rein but on the right rein he was not quite so good. Tried to stop a couple of times and turn in to me so was quickly sent back out on the circle. He just doesnt seem so fluid on that rein but will work on it.

And to finish off he had a lovely bath (shampoo and all). Diesel has not had a bath for probably over a year so thought it was time he ws re-introduced to that. He was a bit of a fidget but really enjoyed it in the end so was put back in the paddock sparkly clean and smelling lovely.

I am really enjoying this time with him and long may it continue. Have the farrier coming out on Thursday so will be interested to see if she notices an improvement.

An excellent day with Smeezie....

Well, today I had such a lovely time with Diesel. Me and Leah, a good friend of mine, built a new round pen in the paddock. Its a great size, which is good as Diesel has really grown substancially over the last 12 months!!!!

So, got Diesel out of the paddock, put his bridle on and took him over. He didnt even have a gawk at the new roundpen, just happily followed me in there. I put the gate up, sorted the lungeline out and asked Diesel to go out on a circle.

We started on the right rein and he was just excellent. Really listened to my voice and commands and as long as I was behind his shoulder he was fine. Did some really nice walk and trot work.

Put him of the left rein and in the beginning he was a bit worried about going to the edge of the ring but got the hang of it really quickly and away we went.

Only did about 15 minutes as someone turned up to fix my over so had to quickly put him back in the paddock but I was super stoked in how well he worked and behaved today. The last few times I have attempted to lunge him he just either didnt understand what I was asking or was just having me on but it wasnt an enjoyable experience, unlike today where he was really easy to work and seemed to enjoy what we were doing.

I will be doing this again tomorrow but I am started to get a little excited (although still apprehensive slightly) about this whole breaking in process.

A GOOD DAY!!!!!

Another appauling Farrier visit....

Well, I havnt updated this blog as I have done nothing with Diesel - apart from drag him out the paddock once every 10 or so days. I have HEAPS of personal things going on (involving my parents marriage) so I am not in a good place emotionally at the moment! I dont want to pass on my personal anger to Diesel so it is best that I keep a distance from him until I am in a better frame of mind and body.

But, he still has needs and one was that he needed his feet doing so booked poor old Chelsea out to do them yesterday.

Diesel was great to catch, lead to the stalls and brush (although he was a bit fidgety). So I thought all good.....

Well he was a little shite for Chelsea again, wouldnt hold his feet up, moving around alot, trying to nip me while she was working, just being a big pain up my arse!!!! In the end Chelsea took the lead off me while I cooled off and handled him herself. After a bit of 'groundwork' with her he was better but it was still darn-right embarrasing.

I dont blame him totally as I have not had the inclination to get him out of the paddock for quite some time but even so, he knows what Chelsea is there for and he knows how he needs to behave when his feet are being done...so once again I apologised many times to her and promised he would be better next time.

So, what is the problem? I think alot of it is he is bored. He just eats and sleeps all day and I cant even remember the last time he was off the property. I am a bad mother!!!!! I cant work him here at the moment as the paddocks are too wet and muddy....and I cant take him out anywhere as I dont have a float at the moment! I could borrow my mates one but I just cant be bothered....so because of my personal issues going on in my life I am making Diesel worse.

Not sure what I am going to do just yet but I have realised that I need to make some decisions......and soon.

Anyway, here are a couple of pic taken yesterday (14th September) of the boy with his grumpy face on.....at least he has come through winter with a 'good covering'.

The howling winds of August....

Today the winds were HOWLING through here, quite a cold blustery wind with the odd bit of rainy drizzle in it.

Decided to get Diesel out and give him a brush and feed and see how he would be being handled in the foul gusts....

He was a gem! Had a lovely time just chilling out with him, he didnt put a foot wrong. I havnt done anything much with him since the last blog entry as the weather had been total crap so wasnt really expecting the best behaviour today but he really surprised me.

I cant wait til Spring and the paddocks drying out so I can finally start the breaking in process.

luff my Smeezie

First time Long-reining.....

Wooo hoo, its a week of firsts for old Diesel!!!!

Today I decided to get him out and see what he would be like with reins attached to his bit. Put his bridle on and let him sort himself out and then attached the reins. Within 5 minutes he was gently turning to the slight pressure so that was all good!

Then, my dear friend Helena, came back from her lesson on Chevy and we decided to try him at long-reining. Just down from the house is the end of the cul-de-sac and its nice and round with great tarmac seal so was the perfect place to try this new thing out with the boy.

Helena was at the back end holding onto the long-reins and I had a rope attached to his halter and was just 'accompanying' him just to give him an idea of what we were asking him to do.

Well, after 5 minutes I unclipped the rope and backed off and just watched Helena working Diesel. Wow, it was amazing! He was very willing to learn and was really listening to Helena and took to it like a duck to water :o) Within 15 minutes he was turning when asked, halting when asked and being a very obliging youngster.

I watched with awe, for the first time I was truly seeing my wee man doing some work and could visualise what he is going to turn out like once he is fully backed and broken in. It was just amazing. He really is a super looking young man and today I was very proud of both Diesel, and myself, as we have come such a long way from me trying to handle a 7 month old baby.

Helena has such a wonderful way with Diesel and is going to long-rein him a couple more times before I to try it myself (weather permitting).

I am getting very excited about the prospect of finally riding him this summer...he is gorgeous!

Diesel in the round pen....

Today was a pearler of a day weather wise so I got Diesel out of the paddock for a good brush.

The round pen I have had in the paddock for about 6 months is kinda still standing (its only made of posts in the ground with electric tape around it as that is all I have) so I decided to take my boy down there and see what he thought of it.

Put his bridle on (only consists of a bridle with a bit - no nose band or anything), a halter over the top, a sircingle with a saddle pad on underneath it and a lunge line. The lunge was attached to the halter, not the bride.

Anyway, took him in and put him on a right hand circle and he was FAB!!! Really listened, was very comfortable and calm with walk and trot and just really really well behaved (this is only about our 3rd time trying to lunge and the first in a really confined area).

Put him on a lefthand circle and he just had no idea. Walked him around by his side a couple of times to see if he would get the hang of it and he was definitely better but still nowhere near as good as on the right rein. Really weird, and I dont think he was being a dick on that rein, just didnt seem to get it! I know it will take a bit of work to get him used to this but we have time on our side :o)

We had one moment where he was being a shit (on the left rein) and as he went to stop I clicked him on and moved towards his arse to get him moving again and he kind of leapt forward and gave a feck-off kick out to the side....well, he was told in no uncertain terms that it was not acceptable in and way, shape or form....he didnt try that again :o)

For only our 3rd attempt I was really pleased with him, he listened really well and for the most part was a very obliging youngster. Hopefully the area in the round pen will stay dry enough that I can continue with this over the next month or so until it dries out enough to start properly backing him.

Sorry no pics as it was just me and my boy!!

Just some new pics for today...

Just went out and took Diesels rug off and thought I would get a couple of new pics to show him all fluffy.....aawwwww!!! The other horse is Chevy (same sire as Diesel) and he is 5 years old next month. Diesel is now 3 yrs and 6 months old.