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!

Added Pictures

This is all new to me but I'm learning as I go. Gavin is busy building Roy's trust and giving him some courage. He round pens well and comes to Gavin now but that was a job all on its own. Gavin felt that once Roy let him touch him the training would speed up a bit. The wind and cold stopped the training this afternoon and tomorrow we have a search in the morning and Joe is doing a domostration in the afternoon. Gavin will be showing "Pockets" our wonder Mustang. Joe trained him in the Extreme Mustang Makeover. We were a little discouraged when we heard Joe had been riding since the second day but we know Joe and was sure he would do great. He has a way with these Mustangs. We can only do the best Roy will allow which look like it will be pretty good.

Picked them up

Gavin and Joe got home safely with their new mustangs. Joe had a heap of trouble followed by a heap of help to make his trip happen. We have named our mustang Roy. We wondered what we had got ourselves into as we watched about six mustangs loaded for the trip home. All of them seemed relatively calm for the experience. Then came Roy, he reared up 3 or 4 times I though he would go over the top. He grazed himself above the eye. They got his halter on and in the trailer he went. The trip home was great. (nothing happened) We pulled into the ranch after dark and unloaded Roy. He honks alot. Anyway the next day Gavin tried to get close and by the end of the day he still could not touch Roy. He would lead but from a distance. By the end of Tuesday Gavin is able to rub him almost all over. Will keep you posted. I am going to try to post pictures of our guy. Hope everyone is doing well.

Joe was a trainer in the first Extreme Mustang Makeover. He and Pockets placed 16th. My husband (Gavin) and I purchased Pockets. The Western States Mustang Challange sent out application. Joe and Gavin along with a number of others applied for the upcoming event. They will be two of 30 trainer taking a Mustang for 90 days, training and competing with their mustangs at the Western State Horse Expo in Sacramento on June 6 - 7th. The mustangs will then be adoption at auctions on the
8th. Joe will be meeting his mustang on the 7th of March and we will be picking up ours on the 8th. I will be doing a myspace so I can post pictures and video of the progress. We hope everyone has a great time watching. When you make it to the competions be sure to stop in a say "Hi"