Shortly after my last update we attended another ‘roving clinic’ with Tom Moates hosted by Hope Horsemanship. Many of the same horses from the clinic in September were being worked again and we got to see how things were going.

Despite this being planned on for months, I somehow still ended up feeling like I was crunched for time to get me, Breeze, and the trailer prepped to pull out. The time change did not help 😒 While Asher had finished up with Marching Band, he started right into track which keeps me getting home in the dark picking him up from practice. I am planner by nature, so I like to be ready to go with everything where it needs to be the night before, including hooking up. This time around I was able to only do some things throughout the week, and with it being pitch black by 6pm, there was no easy way for me to get myself hooked up the night before. That meant getting up a bit earlier and hooking up in the pre-dawn light to be ready to roll out by 7am. I ended up being on the road early, and missed my chance for a rest-stop along the way (forgot no rest areas on the 64 portion from Lexington to Clifton Forge) and arrived at Joan’s ahead of schedule. This meant Breeze had to sit on the trailer for a bit, which he was mostly OK with, until Joan & Sunny’s work brought them within view. That actually brought about a nice distraction level for them to work through, as Sunny really wanted to see what was making so much noise over there!

Breeze was definitely a bit worked up, but backed off the trailer well and more quickly than in September came back around to centered on me with some reminders. This time I wanted to see if his anxiety induced lip-flapping would be less using a bitless set-up. Some quick ground work, then we transitioned quickly to mounting – or so I thought. Breeze’s autopilot kicked in and we discovered he did not like the idea of ground work when I was ON the block. Tom took over fir a few and helped him work through that idea, and then I gave it shot and lo-and-behold, did not get pushed off the block when placing him for mounting. We worked quite a bit on rein following, on his resistance to stopping, and backing high headed (or doing it over bent). We attempted the tire pedestal, but he wasn’t convinced to step up onto it!

We left Breeze in Joan’s hands and caravanned up to J’s place with my empty trailer, which was to be used later in the day for moving the mustang. But first, lunch and a trip to Dare to Dream Therapeutic Horsemanship Center to work with Marsha & Maui. He’s a cute little guy she hopes to use at the center one day, with what was determined to be some major anxiety over things being asked of him under saddle from prior training, but he was presenting what looked to be a pain response to ulcers or saddle fit. Tom was able to help them with clarity of the reins and the change in him was so neat to watch. Everything they did was applicable in some level to me too, so it is always beneficial to watch other sessions.

From there we headed to J’s herd, who were to be moved just a 10min drive home for the winter. The tricky part to doing so was the mustang, Wyoming, who had major trailer anxiety and has damaged her trailer a few times in working on that. I offered my stock trailer as an option since being more open style can be helpful, and there are no dividers or such that could be damaged. It went smashingly well and I drove her home while J loaded the other 2 in her trailer and met us there. You’ll have to read up on it on her blog once posted!

We finished before dark! And then enjoyed a nice chili dinner to warm up and chatted the evening away in front of the fire. The next morning we started in reverse order, on a cold frosty morning working with Wyoming again, but this time on loading into J’s trailer. Some rope handling skills were noted, as she is highly sensitive and feeling every little thing happening with that rope. Again, applicable to me as while Breeze isn’t as sensitive, I struggle to manage the tools sometimes! Next, we headed back up to the top of the mountain to see Maui who looked so much more relaxed about riding on day 2. Lunch break, then we hit the road caravanning back to Joan’s.

We discussed briefly how to do our sessions, as I wanted to purposely upset Breeze in order to give me the opportunity to work with him being “difficult” when I have help, and Sunny was definitely upset by being segregated from Breeze in his stall, so Joan was also looking to work through the worry. It was decided I would go first, with Sunny out and about, then in the barn to cause a distraction. It took a little bit more work to get him tacked up this time as Breeze was already worked up from Sunny being removed from the pasture next to him before our arrival, and the excitement of my trailer pulling back in. We started our session with a little bit of groundwork and centering focus, and working through how to keep him from shouldering-in on me during it. We did a quick few reminders at the mounting block doing ground work then went back to some stops and turns, this time back in his normal bit set up. Sunny provided a good distraction and then I asked to work in the driveway to pull Breeze further away. He definitely became more “up” and we worked at heading down the driveway and turning back, looking where the reins directed. Sunny then was let out into the pasture providing plenty to distract with by running and calling. As I took Breeze further away, he completely ignored Sunny behind him and became more interested and lookie about what was ahead. He never got super strong or so bound up I felt we were going to have an issue, but was glad to have Tom there to help guide me. I guess I shouldn’t really fear riding out on him alone – that might be in our future 🤔

Once we were done I had a little bit of centering work to do with him for untacking as he got super interested in Sunny’s session being started. This went a lot better than it did in September and I offered him some Replenimash and water while I finished up before we hit the road home. Breeze seemed mildly confused by the fact the trailer had been used by “another horse” (and a mare at that!) and actually didn’t want to stand to be tied once loaded so had to get a little extra help there with door management. Hopefully, this won’t become a “thing,” but I think after watching some of the Wyoming trailer work, I have a plan to work on it!

What are my NEXT STEPS?
To use my ‘pen’ that I set up in October to work Breeze (and probably Scooby) on all the things we have learned on the ground, at the block, and in riding. This includes changing his bit per discussions with Tom on the use of the HBT shank with ported bit (as his prior owner used) vs. a simple loose ring double jointed snaffle, or using a side-pull. I probably won’t use the side-pull when we head out in groups just yet.

I have been debating heading to an endurance ride Thanksgiving weekend – I really miss competing – but I also feel like everything this year has been last minute which makes it a bit stressful to pull together. In the end I decided to sit it out and start planning out our tentative 2024 season to feel less crunched.
That turned out to be a good decision, as the farrier was due to come Monday and reset Breeze’s shoes for that ride, and he ended up with the flu and may not be able to make this week with the holiday and all. I would have felt really hard pressed to go on the ride and either be worried about losing a shoe, or finding someone to reset beforehand.

Breeze and I did do a short ground work session the other day – ending with him backing softly in the rope halter with me at his shoulder. He had to think on that a bit after! He was ‘stuck’ where I left him almost 10min zoned with a droopy lip. His new bit arrived, so I will be swapping that out, and maybe doing some saddle work on this upcoming long weekend. I really hope to get out riding with friends again soon!

On that note… I’m still fighting to get the Octos working for Scooby. In reality the problem I think is I have the wrong size for him, as he was measured a while back and a different farrier – so I got the next size down for his hinds at least, and glued shims to the front pair (and dyed all 4 pink to hopefully find easier!). If those don’t hold we do have a pair of boots to use (he changed sizes there too!) – his hind shoes are more “important” for support while we work out the fronts (probably need to order size down there too). Breeze’s BP shoes will now be pulled when the farrier comes and I’ll work on his Octos (and boot check) next… I’m hoping what I have already will work, but this time I will check measurements again before attempting to glue so I can sell/trade for the right size if need be.

In other news… we added to our zoo again! We’ve adopted another young female from CAT Action to be an outdoor kitty. She came from a construction site and they found 2 kittens with her (who have gone on to rescue). She’s tiny and spent the first week growling at us, but really loves Skyler and now loves scratches. Hopefully we can let miss Oreo out of her acclimation crate soon to start patrolling the yard!

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!