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.