JR’s Journal – Susan’s Big Blank Duh Look

May 10, 2003Posted inJR
JR and I were in a combined L2 and L3 clinic today doing just lovely. We do have a horse in the clinic that tends to get upset when another horse comes near him or touches him. I knew that from being in an earlier clinic with him...but I got too close. All of sudden we heard the squeal, the back up to kick, only we were too close. The horse whirled and then the head snaked at us. Ears pinned and teeth barred. The horse went in for the…

JR’s Journal – Challenge Day Event

February 1, 2003Posted inJR
JR the Tall I took JR to the Challenge Day event today at Pine Dell. There were auditors that were brand new wannabe horse owners. They fell deeply in love with JR. After the event was over, they came back to the arena barn aisle and just raved about him. A woman boarder at Pine Dell was also in the audience. She is selling her arab horse and getting a fox trotter. She cried and said "I wish you would sell him to me". JR is sort of youngish/adorable with a…

JR’s Journal – The Dentist

November 30, 2002Posted inJR
When JR had his first general examination and fall shots as a yearling, the vet said to me that his teeth were great. "This is a horse that will need to be floated maybe never or once every 3-5 years or so.  He has excellent teeth."  We were both proud. The vet. peeked in his mouth the next two years for his general examination and last year, he did float his teeth.  It didn't take long…and we were all proud of JR's mouth. A famous Equine Dentist moved to Kansas…

JR’s Journal – Dealing with the Pace

November 26, 2002Posted inJR
JR, the hard-wired to fox trot horse, starting pacing about my eighth ride.  He was started by Jennifer Vaught and got a solid flat foot walk, a beautiful fox trot and a lovely canter with her.  After my eighth ride on him, he did the pace walk, the regular pace and we lost our nice smooth canter.  When JR cantered, every leg was going to the beat of a different drummer.  Rough?  I was flying out of the saddle at every beat.   Why did he start pacing soon after…

JR’s Journal – A lot of Excitement in Learning How To Stop

November 18, 2002Posted inJR
I was going to ride JR at home and was doing the pre flight check up.  He did his version of the bucking bronco.  He has no suspension when he bucks.  It just looks like a rocking chair canter with the head down!  This went on for a while.  Then the wind came up and the rain clouds approached.  I decided this was not the time for valor!  We loaded up and went over to Pine Dell. Well, the arena was being used for turn out for a weanling and…

JR’s Journal – First Trail Ride

May 7, 2002Posted inJR
JR, the Tall is almost three and started by Jenny Vaught He's been doing great. I got another woman to ride Sage (his step mother) and I rode JR up in the Pine Dell 40 acre hay field. That went so well, we rode farther and went by some potentially scary places. JR showed no sign of fear. Then I started to ride him in the 40 acre hay field by myself, and farther. Sunday, SKIPPY  and JR went for our first real trail ride. I didn't realize that neither Skippy's new…