We have had Al for 3 months now. He has put on about 75 lbs and looks just wonderful. His coat has always been shiny, even when he was in a low condition when we bought him.
We have been on many trail rides. There is always someone at the barn ready to go out. There are a couple of gals I ride with regularily.
Al has been wonderful on the trail. One of the gals takes her little 8 yr old daughter with her. Sometimes double, or on a very quiet horse. They like it when Al and I go, because he is such a calm influence on other horses. Once when crossing a wooden bridge, two other horses would not cross. So they said "hey, can you go first and we will follow". Al crossed...no prob.
As wonderful as he is, his ground manners are not very refined. If he wants to eat, it takes two hands to pull his head up. We turned to a rope halter and that worked well, but now we are training with the trainer at the barn. My friend and I are taking ground manners training with our horses. Just one session and he is remarkably better. Not trying to walk ahead of me, staying at my shoulder. Staying in his own space. With winter coming on, it will be so nice to work in the arena with him on all we are learning together. It is creating a bond.
Three of us lunged our horses in the arena the other day without lines. Just positioned ourselves with the whips to keep then running around the outside and changing directions. The horses were loving it, little bucks here and there. When we stopped them, Al spotted me and quietly walked up to me. It was a telling moment in his training. He is now seeing me as his herd master.
Even those older guys can be trained. He just has been shoved from owner to owner in all his years. All kinds of different people with different styles. I am so glad we found eachother.
I just love my boy!
We have been on many trail rides. There is always someone at the barn ready to go out. There are a couple of gals I ride with regularily.
Al has been wonderful on the trail. One of the gals takes her little 8 yr old daughter with her. Sometimes double, or on a very quiet horse. They like it when Al and I go, because he is such a calm influence on other horses. Once when crossing a wooden bridge, two other horses would not cross. So they said "hey, can you go first and we will follow". Al crossed...no prob.
As wonderful as he is, his ground manners are not very refined. If he wants to eat, it takes two hands to pull his head up. We turned to a rope halter and that worked well, but now we are training with the trainer at the barn. My friend and I are taking ground manners training with our horses. Just one session and he is remarkably better. Not trying to walk ahead of me, staying at my shoulder. Staying in his own space. With winter coming on, it will be so nice to work in the arena with him on all we are learning together. It is creating a bond.
Three of us lunged our horses in the arena the other day without lines. Just positioned ourselves with the whips to keep then running around the outside and changing directions. The horses were loving it, little bucks here and there. When we stopped them, Al spotted me and quietly walked up to me. It was a telling moment in his training. He is now seeing me as his herd master.
Even those older guys can be trained. He just has been shoved from owner to owner in all his years. All kinds of different people with different styles. I am so glad we found eachother.
I just love my boy!
