JR’s Journal – Trailer Loading 101

March 13, 2000Posted inJR
  The goal is to send JR into the trailer and back him out.  JR’s is a normal claustrophobic horse whose goal is to do anything to avoid getting in an enclosed hole.   I opened all the windows so it is as light as it can be inside. JR is small enough right now, that I could put a rope on his rear end and pull him in using the halter rope and the rear rope.  Think about how much fun this would be for me when he attains…

JR’s Journal – First Upcoming Clinic!

February 24, 2000Posted inJR
It’s now February 2000. I haven’t had any training sessions with JR since his arrival. I have been delegated as the feed girl. I am also the rub-him-in-places-that-he-likes girl. He has just started to try to work his way up in the five horse herd. Lately JR has decided that this is a six horse herd and he is number five. The feed girl has been determined to be number six in rank. Lately, he has been touching or lightly bumping me when I am in the midst of traipsing…

Velvet Does Dressage!

January 13, 2000Posted inVelvet
Only at the Natural Gait, a horse person's paradise, where a staunch Western rider and Missouri Fox Trotter (for goodness sake) come to embrace the mystical world of Dressage!  The words, "natural methods" in the description of a dressage clinic given by internationally regarded dressage instructor, judge and Olympic level performance competitor, Ellie Stine-Masek, made Velvet and I feel that we might be able to fit into this ancient training system originated when men made war using horses.   Here's how Velvet and her rider’s weekend went:  We found ourself…

JR’s Journal – the baby years

December 5, 1999Posted inJR
JR is part of the herd now. Everyone likes him. Even Velvet doesn't really bite him hard when she chases him away from her food. He gets to go to his food bucket in peace. He is able to get quite far from Sage now, without getting too upset. I've seen him 50' away from her now. Stepmom, Sage, and JR still hang out together. Today, the herd was across the lake where we could watch them from our window. Sage and JR were napping while the rest were grazing.…

JR’s Journal – First Day Home

November 16, 1999Posted inJR
  At five months old, how do you train a weanling.  JR arrived knowing how to lead.  He was imprinted at birth and can be touched in most places on his body.  OK, I didn’t try all of them the 1st day. I left some excitement for later.I used our first day together to walk around the pasture, so he would know the boundaries.  During our walk, he got to learn respect for my personal space.  I used the walk as an excuse to play "the games" with him.  We…

JR’s Journal – The Introduction

November 15, 1999Posted inJR
In June 1999, I bought Jim’s Last Request (JR) when he was 3 days old. I saw him fox trot at that young age.  JR and I are meant to be a pair...our hair matches.   JR is a strawberry roan sabino.   He has a red dorsal stripe, four white legs, a huge blaze, flaxen mane and tail.   His tail has a red strip down the center.   Flashy and chrome are words invented for this colt. JR's sire is Jack's Sensation, owned by a legendary horseman who is now deceased,…