BIG FOUR PROJECT
Daily Training Log
(Frequent Visitors: Remember to click on your "Refresh" button
each time you sign in, in order to get full updates.)
October 28, ‘06
Gus and Klaus
Activities:
It was Nate’s girlfriend’s birthday today. He took her and her extended family (about 10 people) on a pumpkin buying trip with Gus and Klaus. It was mostly hard roads for a couple of miles out to the pumpkin patch. Once there, the big crowd came right over to make over our horses. The owner of the patch wanted to pay Nate to come back next weekend! Then they drove home, with the girlfriend’s grandma driving the horses part of the way!
Comments:
A good time was had by all. Now we have an experienced hay ride team!
October 24, ‘06
Gus and Klaus
Activities:
Nate and his girlfriend got these two out and used them to spread several loads of manure. He loaded the spreader with our new Bob Cat skid steer loader while the team was hitched to the front, and they weren’t tied to a fence or anything. After the first two loads, Nate got his girlfriend to drive the team while he stayed back at the pens with the loader.
Comments:
Nate filmed the hauling of the first load. For that load and all the others, this team acted like a couple of perfect horses: calm, quiet, hard pulling, sensible. Like we like to say: “Soft on the lines, hard on the traces; calmer, smarter, better!”
October 17, ‘06
Gus and Klaus
Activities:
It was snowing pretty hard during the day today. I was busy teaching a clinic for a carriage company from Vail, CO. Nate spent the day driving our teams out on the road. He didn’t go all the way around the section, but took them a couple of miles out there before the weather sent him hurrying home.
Comments:
Great good behavior.
October 14, ‘06
Gus and Klaus
Activities:
Nate drove these two out around the section again on the training wagon.
Comments:
Very nice behavior all the way.
October 13, ‘06
Gus and Klaus
Activities:
Nate got these two out, harnessed them up, and put them on the training wagon for a trip all the way around the section. He did some trotting out there, then stopped by to visit at a neighbor’s house, where they stood around being admired for quite a while.
Comments:
They were nice and quiet about everything. Perfect behavior.
October 4, ‘06
Clyde
Activities:
We did more riding and driving of Clyde today. I rode Clyde some more, reviewing his cantering out in the log yard before putting his owner on. We also drove Clyde out on the road quite a bit.
Comments:
Another nice day of training with Clyde and his owner.
Klaus
Activities:
We filmed the first hitching of Klaus onto our new set of dragging shafts. I drove Klaus around the arena at a walk while in shafts.
Comments:
Klaus was a real good guy about being in shafts for the first time. He appears to be perfectly ready for a cart the next time.
October 3, ‘06
Clyde
Activities:
We started out teaching Clyde’s owner how to do “at liberty” exercises with Clyde in the round pen. I rode Clyde, then had his owner ride Clyde in the round pen. We also did some driving on the cart.
Comments:
Things are still going extremely well.
October 2, ‘06
Katie
Activities:
We put our herd all together in the arena. Clyde was back for a few days of lessons with his new owner, so the Big 4 were all back together again. We chased them around the arena at canter and trot for about three minutes, then started right in on driving Clyde on the cart, and riding him for most of the day. Later in the afternoon, we got back to Katie, at which point we harnessed her and hitched her alongside Klaus. We hitched in the arena on the training sled. After a few minutes of driving around the arena, we headed out and drove around the log yard and gravel driveways.
Comments:
Katie was just about perfect for everything. It’s been exactly one month since we’ve done any training on her, and she acted as if we’ve been working her every day! No reaction out of her when we hit the gravel driveway with the steel runner sled.
Klaus
Activities:
Same as Katie, above. Klaus was hitched twice today, first with Gus alongside him, then with Katie.
Comments:
Klaus showed excellent behavior all the way.
Gus
Activities:
Same as Katie, above. We hitched Gus with Klaus on the sled.
Comments:
Very easy going and nice about everything. We are very pleased with how great this formerly difficult horse is behaving!
Clyde
Activities:
Spent a big part of the day working with Clyde and his new owner. We put Clyde on the cart in the arena at first and spent some time walking and trotting in there. Then, we started driving him around the yard here at home and progressed to driving him out on the county road in front of our place.
Comments:
Even after a month off from being hitched, Clyde acted like he’d been driven every day. He was absolutely perfect with everything we did.
September 2, 2006
Clyde
Activities:
I finished up trimming all four of his hooves this morning before my first lesson showed up. Clyde's new owner came to pick him up today, so we spent some time putting him through all of his paces. After riding him in the arena and out around the yard, we drove him on the cart in the arena, then took him for a drive out on our county road with his new owner driving. Before he went home, I taught him how to step into and back out of his new traveling rig, a straight load two horse trailer.
Comments:
Clyde really made me feel pretty proud of him today, performing all of his newly learned skills with calmness and complete confidence. His owner thanked me for having him so light on the reins. We'll see more of Clyde at the start of October when his new owner brings him back for a few days of lessons.
September 1, 2006
Clyde
Activities:
Clyde was harnessed at the fence, then we hitched him to the cart while tied to the arena fence. I walked around beside the cart for the first round of the arena, then climbed aboard and drove him, first at a walk, then trotting for the first time. We spent lots of time trotting around the arena both directions. At the end of the session, Nate climbed on with me and we took Clyde down the road in a new direction, making sure he holds the load back nicely on our steepest downhill grade, which is right out in front of our place. Nate held Clyde's lead rope while I trimmed his back feet, but we had to quit a little early because it started raining on us.
Comments:
Clyde harnessed, hitched, drove like a much older experienced horse. He took to the trotting on the cart like he'd been doing that all along, too. He was very nice out on the road, turning around in the middle of our county road by lightly scissoring his legs. Very nice!
August 31, 2006
Clyde
Activities:
I saddled Clyde up in the round pen and chased him around with the saddle on for a few minutes before climbing on. I had him pick me up off the fence, then rode him around in the round pen for a few minutes before riding over to the arena, opening and shutting both gates from up on Clyde as we rode through. After a few minutes of trotting circles, I started cantering. We finished up in the arena by practicing his turns: on the forehand; on the haunches; side passing; and backing.
Comments:
Clyde was nice about everything. The concept of turning on the haunches is really starting to make sense to Clyde.
August 18, 2006 (day 47 of training)
Clyde
Activities:
I saddled Clyde in the round pen, then rode him in there for a few minutes before heading out to the log yard. I got Clyde to open and shut the round pen gate on the way through there. Out in the yard, I trotted big circles both directions for about 10 minutes, then had Clyde canter a few laps around the field in both directions. Then I rode beside Nate on his Thoroughbred as we walked and trotted a half mile or so up the dirt road in front of our place and back. After that we unsaddled Clyde and put his harness on for his first time being hitched to a high wheel wooden cart with shafts. We walked around the arena a few times with the cart on, changing direction once or twice and stopping and standing a few times.
Comments:
Clyde was very nice about everything. He was very quiet and settled in looking while out on the road. When hitched to the cart, he looked like a horse that has been pulling a cart for years! We had a person here today who was looking at purchasing Clyde, so the entire work session above was a showing of Clyde's training. The buyer informed us she'd like to buy him after we complete a couple more training sessions with him. I told her we'd canter him some more and get him on the cart another time or two, plus, we'd get him out on our road some more before she picks him up on Sep. 2.
Gus
Activities:
Gus was saddled and bridled while tied to the round pen fence. I chased him around the round pen for ten minutes, then started riding. Nate held the lead rope while I scrambled up his side to get on, then led me around at a walk. After a few laps, I had Nate turn us loose so I could take Gus around by himself. I taught Gus to do a one rein stop on both sides, how to yield to leg pressure, and how to move forward because of leading rein pressure. He was already stopping and backing up nicely on light pressure. Nate hooked onto Gus's halter again and we all did some trotting for a few minutes, then we turned Gus loose again and trotted him both directions.
Comments:
Gus is beginning to believe he might survive this riding training after all! He is very light and responsive on everything. It still would be easy to scare him with rapid movement, but he's getting more solid every day. He spent the whole time I was trotting him with his head down, licking his lips like he was having a great time!
August 17, 2006 (day 46 of training)
Katie
Activities:
Saddled Katie in the round pen, then led her over to the arena and got on her from the arena fence. For the first time riding in the arena, I just walked and trotted big patterns. Finished up in there by reviewing her turning, stopping, side passing and yielding to leg pressure.
Comments:
Katie is amazingly light and responsive on both reins and leg cues. She moved out nice and free in this bigger space.
Klaus
Activities:
I rode Klaus around in the round pen for a couple of minutes, then headed out the gate and out in the open around the log yard. I finished up with him by riding out the lane and trotting a ways up the road and back.
Comments:
Very nice and light about everything.
Clyde
Activities:
I got right on Clyde from the fence and rode him around the round pen for a few minutes, practicing side passing, turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, stopping, backing. Got him to side pass over to the gate so I could open it from up on him. I rode him around the log yard, walking and trotting, then took him up the road for a short distance. When we got back, I had Nate get on Clyde and pony Gus so I could film some of that activity. I had Nate trot Clyde while leading Gus, so Gus for sure felt like he was attached to Clyde. While ponied on, I climbed up onto Gus and we walked around the round pen.
Comments:
Clyde was very good about everything.
Gus
Activities:
I had Nate saddle Gus at the fence while I was saddling Clyde in the round pen. After I rode Clyde, Nate ponied Gus for a while in the round pen. I crawled up on Gus and sat there petting him for a while. We then moved off around the round pen, giving Gus lots of rubbing all over as he followed Clyde around the round pen at a walk.
Comments:
Gus is getting better every day about being a riding horse and about living life in general! He stayed nice and cooperative and trusting about everything we did today.
August 16, 2006 (day 45 of training)
Katie
Activities:
Saddled Katie in the round pen and chased her around for a couple of minutes, being sure she was comfortable about moving with the saddle. I reviewed some of Katie's previous ground work so she'd be ready for today's activities: backing in circles; one rein stops; side passing; turning rear around front; and front around rear feet. I climbed on board and practiced her starting, stopping, backing, walking, trotting, cantering, one rein stops, yielding to leg pressure, turns on the forehand, turns on the haunches, side passing.
Comments:
She is getting much nicer to ride. The turns on the haunches took a lot of doing to even get a single step, but at least it's a start. Katie was great to saddle, mount, and she's getting much softer about moving out with a light squeeze of the legs.
Klaus
Activities:
We had a riding day for all of them today, same as Katie, above.
Comments:
Klaus continues to be a real Steady Eddy. He was nice and light and responsive about everything.
Clyde
Activities:
Clyde got pretty much the same activities as Klaus and Katie, above.
Comments:
Nice about everything. Clyde needed to lighten up on his backing up skills, so we worked on that for a while, and he got much better.
Gus
Activities:
Gus got ridden for the first time today. After reviewing his ability to come alongside the fence for mounting, I had Nate leg me up so I could lay my belly over the saddle from both sides. After a few times of that, I had Nate lead me around in tight circles so Gus could learn to move his feet with a human weight up there. I did lots of reaching around and petting him as far as I could reach while up there. We finished up by trimming his hind feet.
Comments:
Gus seems like he wants to be a riding horse. He took to all of the new activities extremely well, carrying his head low and relaxed the whole time. Gus was also very nice about having his feet trimmed.
August 15, 2006 (day 44 of training)
Katie
Activities:
We harnessed Katie and hitched her along side Klaus on the steel training sled. We started out in the arena, then headed out the gate, leading a harnessed Clyde and Gus as we went over to the lake. After getting out along the lake shore a half mile or so, we unhitched Katie and Klaus and put Clyde and Gus on the sled for some driving out there.
Comments:
Katie did very well. It's a steep climb going up to the top of the dam, and more steep drop offs and climbs once you get to the lake, and she handled all of those new experiences very nicely.
Klaus
Activities:
Same as Katie, above. After driving Gus and Clyde on the sand out there at the lake, we re-hitched Klaus to the sled, pairing him up with Gus for the trip home.
Comments:
Nice horse showing lots of class every day!
Gus
Activities:
Gus was harnessed before we headed out to the lake. Once we got out there a ways, we put Gus on the front, beside Clyde for some driving out there. After that, we took Clyde off the sled and put Klaus back on beside Gus for the trip home. Once we got home, we headed out across the driveway gravel for the first time with Gus.
Comments:
Gus was very nice about everything. He and Klaus kept their heads down and acted like well seasoned horses all the way.
Clyde
Activities:
Clyde got about the same kind of activities as Gus today, as you have read about above.
Comments:
Clyde was very good about everything.
August 14, 2006 (day 43 of training)
Klaus
Activities:
Chased Klaus around over the logs for a few minutes to burn off excess energy after he had three days off. Harnessed him, then bridled with Liverpool bit, snaffle position. We hitched Klaus next to Katie on the sled after driving them into position so they had to step over the tongue. We drove Klaus and Katie in the arena for about ten minutes, then opened the gate and took them out in the open for the first time. After going around the field for a few minutes, we headed over to the driveway to see how they'd handle the intense ruckus of driveway gravel being made smaller by the heavy steel runners on the sled. We drove around for a while then went back to the arena and tied them to the fence for a rest while we got Clyde ready to drive with Klaus. Klaus and Clyde were driven over the same route. Then Klaus finished his day by being hitched with Gus.
Comments:
Klaus was absolutely perfect for everything: very calm and steady. He didn't seem to care at all about the increased noise when we hit the gravel on the driveway. Loose reins and low headed pretty well describes his approach.
Katie
Activities:
Same as Klaus, above, except she was only hitched with Klaus.
Comments:
Katie started out wanting to get her head in the air a little too much. We soon stopped and adjusted her lines to be out of the snaffle position and onto mild curb. Katie quickly settled in to being the kind of horse we are looking for. She took to driving outside the arena and driving with extremely loud noise like it was all part of ordinary living.
Clyde
Activities:
Clyde was hitched with Klaus as described above, heading out of the arena on the sled today.
Comments:
Clyde started out in the arena with his head stuck up there in the "turkey" position for a couple of minutes. After the first rest, you could see him make the decision to calm down and start believing he's alright. He gave us a perfect drive outside, keeping his head down and relaxed the whole drive, even though driving that sled on our gravel driveway makes an incredible amount of noise!
Gus
Activities:
We sent Gus over the logs for about 12 minutes, letting him work off excess energy after his long weekend. Gus was hitched with Klaus in the arena on the sled. We drove the pair of them around for about 25 minutes, doing lots of circling, turning, and stopping.
Comments:
Gus thought he had to get a little worried for about the first three minutes on the sled: getting his head up there like a hitch horse but staying well behaved otherwise. After that, he calmed down and started carrying his head down there like a good working horse. We were very pleased today with how Gus is looking. He and Klaus make a good looking pair.
