Here we come!!

The days are going by way to fast. I had to go back to work full time. Gavin comes home from work about 4:30 and works with Roy. If he can get someone to watch him he rides. But safety is first on our mind. Roy has done incredible since the accident. Joe has been over with Laredo, so the boys were able to go on a trail ride. Gavin certified Laredo for Search and Rescue. Joe has done a great job with him. Gavin was also able to take Roy through the Search and Rescue course. This includes, opening and closing a gate, pulling a drag, going through water, backing through the L, over a bridge, over a tarp, putting on a slicker, opening a map, being ponied and ponying. Mounting from both sides and a step over. Roy did everything but the mounting from both sides, we hope to have him certified before we come to Sac. We also have a Texas Two Step, it is 3 railroad ties stacked on top of each other and level dirt on each level. Both Roy and Laredo were able to go up and down the Texas two step. Joe for the first time Rode Roy. It was an amazing night. The next day I had to work late but Gavin was able to get a friend to come up. He was worried about loading Roy in the trailer, well it was no problem, he loaded, tied and was able to close the divider. The weeks since the accident have been full of positive moving forwards. Roy has alot of trust in Gavin, and Gavin is trusting Roy. (not letting his guard down) Maybe the bump on the head knocked some sense into Roy.

OH MY!!

Well here we go again, Up and down. Gavin was working with Roy last night, he had lunged him and he did great. He was ready to ride. He went to put the bridle on, reins over his head, drop and turn his head so you can slide the bridle over and bit in mouth. What happened at this stage was unbelievable. Keeping in mine Roy has had a bit in his mouth over the last 45 days probably 30 times with no problem. Roy bolted he knocked Gavin to the ground with so much force he tumbled, then he ran head first straight into the side of the corral panel. But a bow in the panel, moved the round pen and bent the t-post we had set to keep the round pen in place. He scraped his face, was bleeding from the mouth and had a cut on his leg.

This broke Gavin down, in tears he told me he was done. I will admit at that point I was relieved. Roy does great for an unpredictable amount of time then for no apparent reason he bolts. I called Joe so he could come over, it did not look like Roy needed a vet but wanted Joe's opinion. The Misners are incredible people!! While we waited for the Misners to show up Gavin walked Roy around the pen. He was in tears about half the time. How could he give up on Roy? Roy had been doing so well! Was he going to be dangerous in Sac, or to his new owners.

Joe showed up, checked out his battle scars. Then Joe, Gavin and Roy stayed in the round pen. Joe's wife and I went in the tack room, we could see out the window. They tried to get Roy to bolt, it did not happen. They tacked him up, Gavin rode him, Joe had the lung line. Roy did great! Joe asked Gavin if he wanted to lope. Gavin with a little encourgement from Joe had Roy in a lope. Roy is a pretty thing, and he has a really nice gait. Everything went well. They were done! As the saddle was being taken off, Roy bolted, this time Gavin and Joe had a line attached to Roy. He was stopped right away. Saddle went back on, back off, back on, back off Roy did nothing.

Joe's wife said your not a Mustang trainer until you cry. I will say I am alittle afraid. I really do not want my husband hurt, but I will support him in what ever dicission he makes. Roy and Gav will make it to Sac! I just wish we had way more time.

Update

Well about 4 days ago Gavin come off Roy. It was a combination of a trip, jump, bolt that caused Gav to lose his seat and he ended up flat on his back on the ground. Gav was pretty shaken up by the whole thing, but he got back on and things ended on a good note for the day. We are not sure we were cut out for this and if Joe hears you getting discouraged he stops in at just the right time to put your mind back in the game. Roy and Gavin have done great since the fall, Gavin went to a better saddle. Roy got his feet trimmed and he was a really good boy. He is still shy around other people. We have had Roy in the 40' round pen since he came home. Gavin went back to work so his time is more limited. Because of Roy's flight response we have not ventured out of the round pen. Well tonight Roy got to go on a walk about!! He was hesitant to leave his home but when he got out he was incredible. He walked past all the other horses, through the desert and into the big arena. He walked over the pole bending that had blow to the ground and his footing was great. He did the step over and past the big blue barrels. He did not show any fear!! "Wow this was better then riding him" Gavin said. We expected a fight. When he was done in the arena he quietly walked back to his round pen. We have had so many ups and downs with Roy. Is he trainable, how will he deal with the crowd? Is it our fault he has not come farther? Did we get in over our heads? Then you have a great training and it all seems worth while. Roy is so smart and he wants to please and you just melt when you look in his eyes. So we will continue to give it our best and so will Roy.

Riding Roy

Boy we really did not think we were going to get to this point. Roy has alot of trust issues. Joe Misner has been a great help. He came over and showed us how to lay Roy down. When you lay a horse down and don't eat him, he thinks differently. After we laid him down, Gavin was able to ride him. Joe came over again, he rode Pockets the Wonder Mustang. Joe had Roy tyed to Pockets so if he bolted with Gavin on his back he would be meet by the end of the rope attached to Pockets. The ride went well, no bucking, forward movement, disengaged the hind quarters, bend left and right, and he had a good back up. The next day Gavin rode Roy with no one else in the round pen. Again it went well!!! Roy had a day off yesturday. Gavin helped Joe with a clinic Joe was doing in Joshua Tree. We could not be happier that Roy will be able to go to a good home and be a good partner for someone. He is looking much better since we have been able to get some weight on him. We will continue to work on getting him fattened up. Time is going by so fast!!! Hope everyone is doing well. See ya all soon.

Ups and Downs

Boy is this an adventure. Roy was doing great, bit in, bending, yielding hind quarters, lunging. He still let Gavin know he did not want him on his back. He was ok with the saddle but no predator was going to get over his head. Well day before yesterday Gavin when out to do his normal routine with Roy. You would have thought it was the first day. He forgot everything and just wanted to run away. Well Mustangs are new to us and we were lost. We called Joe Misner, he came right over to help us get through this. Roy has some marks on his back legs, looks like he may have been caught in something and had to fight to get out. Joe said this may be why he has this flight response and we will have to teach him running away is not the answer. So that's what Gavin is working on. I went out today while Gavin went on a ride with Pockets the wonder mustang. I was just going to brush Roy. Well he was ok with that and let me brush him, then he turned a bite me on the arm. It still hurts and is going to leave a nice bruise. Oh Well good thing I'm not the trainer. I just want to add that we think Joe is the greatest!!! He is so good with these mustangs. He has been riding Laredo since the second day, he took him to a demonstration about a week into training and week two included a day of cow sorting. He is involved with the Mustang incentive program and does Gospel Round Pen with the mustangs. I really hope he does well at this competition. If your interested visit his blog at twoponiestraining.blogspot.com. I have a link on this blog. Oh I hope everyone does will not just Joe.

Roy gets a bit

Today started out rough, we have had so much wind. The shelter we made for Roy was howling. We have a flag attached to the round pen. Last night Roy had pushed his bucket under the flapping flag and was happy to eat there. Gavin was feeling like he was not progressing with Roy's training. He can't get him to lower his head and he bolts at things he doesn't want to do. So he changed his program this afternoon. When Roy bolts, Gavin stops him and brings him to him. He is trying to make him understand the safest place is next to him. That seemed to work. This afternoon Gavin was able to get a bit in Roy's mouth. This was a giant breakthrough. He gave to the bit, dropped his head and bent both left and right with Gavin on one side. We are still hopeful for a ride by Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Oh Roy likes me too now. He comes to me and lets me pet him, he also leads for me. He is really a good boy. Looking at his back legs it looks like he may have gotten into trouble at sometime and there is wire in his tail. Can't wait till we can get that out. He is putting on some badly needed weight but we are going to worm him again.

Boy are these mustangs doing great

I just visited a number of sites for trainers and was very impressed on how they are doing with their mustangs. Gavin is working with Roy but he has some diffident flight and trust issues. Gavin has saddled him and he leads. He will come to Gavin and works the round pen well. But there is no way he wants Gavin on his back. Joe Misner came over and gave Gavin some pointers so maybe this will be the week for riding. You have to have alot of patience working with these mustangs but boy does it pay off. I'm not sure how anyone that trains one lets it go. Anyway hope we can catch up to everyone before the competition. I have faith in Gavin and Roy. And everyone else keep up the good work!