#229. Rode Sam

Sam was turned out in a herd for the first time today. He has one mark on his perfect body. Sigh. He will be fine I am sure and he looked happy to be out with the boys.

I lunged him first in vienna reins, just to soften him and make sure he was going right, then I hopped up. He did great. He is still just a little sore to canter, but he did great. Stayed pretty soft. Though for the first time he picked up the wrong lead.

Someone is coming to try him tomorrow. She sounds really excited and thinks that Sam could be the one. She is making a two hour drive to see him, without her trainer and was already talking about deposit. Hopefully this will work for her. He is just so nice. Perfect novice/amatuer horse.

#230. Exhausted

I still havent recovered from the two 20 hour car rides. I just feel run down and like I cant get moving.

I had appointments starting in mid-afternoon, but thankfully the earliest one cancelled. Which gave me more time to try to recover. Then my first appointment offered me a cup of coffee, which I gratefully accepted.

Unfortunately I didnt make it out to Sam. Part of it was because I was exhausted and the other part is the cost of gas. Hopefully I will make it to the handsome boy tomorrow.

#231. Frame Up Dude!

Mr. Sam has been allowed to lolly-gage at the end of the lunge line for the past week. He was mainly just supposed to be moving forward to get the swelling down.

Today, that all changed!!! I put him in a surcingle and put his vienna reins on. I warmed him up initially without the reins, which was a disaster. His head was high, he was completely disengaged. Boy, did that change. The young man certainly did not like being restricted again. I stayed within the 20 minutes, but worked him at a long trot for most of it. I did canter him a bit each direction as well. The most important part was getting him re-engaged and using his back again. I understand that he still might be a bit sore, so I am taking it a little easy on him.

He is still looking slightly thin, as you will see from the pics below, but is definately muscling and toning.

#232. SAM!

I went out to see Sam today.

His groin area looks much better than it did before I left. When I left he was so swollen, he looked like he was hiding watermelons in between his back legs. Poor dude.

We are lunging for 20 minutes twice a day and tomorrow I am going to put him in his surcingle with vienna reins and have him go around in the correct frame.

He is muscling up nicely, big plus to the gelding, this lunging at a long trot for 40 minutes a day is really building his condition. The only thing is that he is a bit skinny and he doesnt seem to be putting on weight even after upping his hay and grain.

I am going to try to take pictures tomorrow.

It was good to play with him. He was much happier....he is such a pretty boy.

#233. Home

Got home at 4:00am this morning. I have slept most of the day.

Driving there took 20 hours and driving home took 15. I think it was because we stopped a lot on the way there to potty dogs and such, but on the way home we just hussled.

The dogs all did great on the trip, after about 4 hours into the trip Ozzie had a bit of break down, but other than that he did great. As did the rest of the dogs.

Ozzie spent the time at the farm we were on running and racing. He had a great time. He is so independant that it is frightening. He doesnt need mom. doesnt check in. I have never had that with a dog before. All my dogs are glued to me. Not this kid...its weird.

Tomorrow, I am off to see SAM!

#234. Headed Home

My friend and I decided to cut our trip short by three days.

She knew that she didnt want the job she was interviewing for and I was only going for interviews because she might take the job. No sense for me to interview if she wasnt going to stay.

Great. After 48 hours of rest, we are in for another 20 hour car ride. Sigh.

My spotty boy Ozzie had the BEST time. He didnt want to leave.

#235. Beautiful

Its so gorgeous here. Creeks and rivers everywhere. Mountains surround us. It is just breath taking to me.

The farm we are staying on is incredible. The dogs are having a great time.

We are exhausted and having a hard time staying focused. I went up to the cabin for a nap in the mid-afternoon and that never came to fruition.

May be heading home early.