It's Not Supose to Be This Easy

Jumping ahead to weeks 3 and 4 Creek is under saddle with two long trail rides under his belt. Sometime between week 2 and 3 we moved under saddle with rider. He was willing earlier but saw no reason to rush as we were making major headway from the ground. His first ride was uneventful as expected with no bolting or bucking. This guy really thinks things out if it's possible. For 4 days we just walked working on softness and balance. Trot and lope came with little encouragement and very little excitement. He gained the concept of moving his hips without the rest of his body rather quickly and now depends on a little leg pressure to make all tight turns. On ride 2 I stood in the saddle for visitors from across the big pond. They really took a shine to these mustangs! Creek was a perfect example of NH training and trust.

On to week 4 and 5. We trail ride about every other day for his benefit in enjoying life and work in the arena other times. Our stop is strong at walk and trot, we can separate those front feet for the rear and have half of our 360 complete. He's super soft in the mouth and is beginning to come up under himself in stops and backing. Patience on the trail is great with no preference to lead or follow. Already have a tarp in hand from the saddle as well as the stick and bag. Bull whip is tomorrow! Chiropractor coming today just for a evaluation. Don't expect much but I am a believer in their services for my equine friends.

COOL RUNNING CREEK

Let's jump ahead to EMM 2010. This year all three of us here at the Bar T are participating. We drew our horses the 3rd week of July and have been very busy in getting things underway.

I'll give a brief description of each then focus on my main man. Emily drew a red bay from NV. Four years old and full of himself. Lots of curiosity, 14.2 hands and ready for the sky to fall on him. She has had a hand full! Chapin drew a 3 year old from WY, another red bay, 14 hands with a nice disposition. Each gave more of a challenge for them than any in years past but are coming along nicely. Will share more on them later.

We had an event here at the Bar T to celebrate the arrival of the mustangs this year called Wild to Mild Day, only a week late due to an scheduling problem with the BLM. So as things worked out Emily and Chapin both had a week start on me because of vacation to Jamaica! Hence, the first part of his name. This put me meeting my horse the day of the event.

Now, on to the Main Man. I drew a really nice mustang this year. Probably one of the best I've ever worked with. Lots of looks, 14.3 hands, Black bleached dark brown for the summer with great bones, feet, head and mind. From the first hour spent with "Cool Running Creek" he had a certain amount of trust and willingness. Though he was willing to jump out of the roundpen without any applied pressure he had a keen sense of his surroundings and willing to give any suggestion I gave him a try. Due to the extreme heat, (103 degrees) on the Wild to Mild day I only worked with him for 2 hours with 4 breaks of 10 mins each. In that time he would move a given direction, stop, square up and yield to the pressure of a rope. 2 touches by choice and we called it a day.
Day 2 came with the enthusiasm of a new bicycle. I just couldn't wait to move on with Creek. He and I, alone for the first time were going to become friends, weather I liked it or not. With lots of pressure and release, very little running, (another really hot day), we had removed his tag within the hour and brushed down to his shoulders. I saved the haltering for another day so I could film it so we called it a day, a very productive lesson, for he and me.
The remainder of the next 2 weeks were spent with lots of ground work, exposure to the outside world, trailers, 4 wheelers, bikes, dogs, ducks, bags, whips, sticks, bridges, logs, electric fence, other playmates, bath, sheath cleaning, fly spray, feet trimming, tarps, blankets, and saddles. At no time did this fellow ever "Exit, stage right". He, with a barrel of trust digested every thing I could bring forth. His only issue was a simple pat after a good scratch. This took more time to adjust to than anything else. Folks, that is 'Cool Running Creek'.

Wrap up of EMM 2009

Ok, so I've not posted one word since Emily and Chapin finished up in TN last October. Well, They each had a fine showing. Chapin finished 4th in the Idols division and Emily finished out around 20th. "No Turn Chapin" as we now call him would have finished much better had he completed the forgotten 360. But, as he said before his turn, Dad, don't worry, I got it!
Chapin bought back Hooah for himself and Emily's horse went to a therapeutic riding school in the area. So, a good finish for 2 more of America's finest.

EMM 2009, Up and Running

Welcome back folks for an update on the makeover for 2009 here at the Bar T. I had decided to sit this year out and let the young one's take over for TN. Emily and Chapin both submitted applications and were select for the Eastern States Makeover held in Murphesboro, TN in October.

We picked up the horses on the 18th of July in Cross Plains, TN with very little problems. Also along on the ride with us was Brock Griffith, another Carolina boy with lots of training experience. That made 3 from NC that was selected for the event. Emily was not along on the ride so she didn't get to see her horse until Saturday evening as she was out of the country on vacation. I'm sure the anticipation was almost more than she could handle.

First day of training for Chapin was Saturday the 19 spending about 2 hours with his horse, Tomahawk. Within those 2 hours he had removed the # tag, put on a halter, and scratched over half of his body. This is a nice and trusting horse.

Emily worked with Amicus, (Latin for Friend) on Sunday morning with nearly the same results. Neither of these horses were roped, only advance and retreat until they created the trust to be handled.

Now, I'll jump ahead 2 weeks, Emily and Chapin are both riding their horses without either ever hitting the ground. Tomahawk seems to be having some pain issues as he refuses to lope to the right. Chiropractor is scheduled for Saturday. I have never given much weight to the chiropractic medicine until earlier this spring when I decided to give it a try with another horse that had difficulties in picking up a right lead and that one trip fixed it. So, a new believer.

Amicus is showing a little favoritism in his left shoulder so Emily has used this week to work from the ground in leading, sending, crossing obstacles, backing, and further desensitizing. Last evening she worked on yielding the fore quarters, hind quarters. Chapin was standing in the saddle on Tomahawk cracking a bull whip over his head. Now that's early on trust.

Both have been on pasture during the day and spending the night in the stalls. We've added horse feed to their diet along with all the hay they can eat at night and all the grass they can eat during the day. This has really increased the weight on these little guys. Amicus is 14.1 and 760 lbs. Tomahawk is 14.3 and 850 lbs.

I do want to invite you to the blogs of 2 of these horses, Emily's blog is www.thebartfilly.blogspot.com/ and Brock's blog is thru his website at www.brockgriffithhorsemanship.com/. Still trying to encourage Chapin to catch up his blog so all the world can see.

Anyway, I'll do my best to keep you UPD and add some pictures.

I would call it a success!

Just wanted to give a follow up on the clinic from last Saturday held at Country Farm and Home Supply in Pittsboro.
As you may have read earlier the Bar T offered a free clinic for all horse lovers in the area. Turnout was great with over fifty attendees coming thru during the three hours. We had selected four horses prior in the week thru conversations with their owners on the phone with no first hand knowledge other than what the owner had shared. On Saturday morning three horses showed up for the clinic with the forth having transportation issues.
The three horses in attendance were Piute, a seven year old Mustang with feet issues. During her last few times with the farrier Kristy shared that they've had to use a sedative to shoe her on the front and little trimming was possible on the rear. The second was a yearling gelding, Gucci, a halter bred QH. Kate expressed his lack of respect in handling and dominance issues and the third, A nice eight year old Morgan. Victoria expressed Image had lots of issues with things on the ground from hoses to barn items.

Results, Piute had her front feet picked and rasped with alot of hammering on the shoes and a trim on the rear feet. All without tying or drugs. A wonderful mare just looking for a little patience.

Gucci is now in the land of the followers when relating to humans. He now respects your space, stands and leads with direction from his handler and lunges on line with ease.

Image, the Morgan will now walk over traffic cones and cross a tarp with ease. Her trust issues will grow with time as her owner continues to challenge her to increase her comfort zone with overcoming new fears. If anyone is looking for a beautiful Morgan, Image is available for sale. She rides and drives and has a desire to please her handler.

All training with these horses was thru pressure and release and lots of patience.
Did we cure the problems. Yes, for today but tomorrow these same things must be addressed again by their owner and the confidence of both owner and horse must be worked on many times to resolve the issue. Each day will be less difficult ending with the desired results in time.

Again, thanks to Dallas and company for providing a location, Jill and Connor Blankney for putting the event together and Kate, Christy, and Victoria for providing the patients for the clinc! We do plan to offer another clinic sometime in July in another nearby location. If you have a horse you would like to offer for the clinic please contact me via email @ thebartranch@gmail.com.

The Bar T offers a free Groundwork Clinic

With all the support we have had in our ventures with the Extreme Mustang Makeover, the Bar T would like to offer a free clinic here in Pittsboro on the 30th of May at Country Farm and Home Supply. Our goal in this clinic is to share problem-solving methods for ground work issues such as manners, lounging, yielding, trailer loading, spookiness, feet-handling desensitization and safety . We will select 3 horses from local owners to work with during the clinic free of charge. If you would like us to work with your horse you can sign up in advance at Country Farm and Home Supply in Pittsboro or contact me at TheBarTranch@gmail.com/919-428-3209. The clinic will run from 9 to 12.

Pardon moves to Louisiana

Sunday morning found us with mixed feelings. Pardon and I will part today with mixed emotions. Knowing what he's gone through makes me feel his heart is much bigger than the average horse. We're up on the auction block in 17th place and I think he feels the pressure is now off. Chapin moves in first and puts on a great show with Razin' Cain and is auctioned off to a riding facility in Texas. The new owners seem very pleased and honored to have such a nice horse. Pardon and I are next and he performes well as the auctioneer rattles off the numbers. The sale prices are not nearly as great as last year but he is sold to a young lady in Lousania that already has a couple of other mustangs. I meet Lauren back in the stall area and am very pleased with her manner and understanding of mustangs. She haltered Pardon herself and we move out for a photo session for a last picture with Pardon and his new owner. I wish them fairwell and off we go headed back to NC.
I've been in touch with Lauren in LA several times since and she seems very pleased with their growing progress.