Random Monday Catch-Up

I am done with my two weeks of cat sitting. Cats are easy but I am used to horse hair, not cat hair! Which flies up and all over hardwood floors and sticks to everything, let me tell you!

I did make it up to see My Boy. I groomed him, put conditioning cream on his dry hooves (something we don't usually have to do until August around here!) He's developed a small horizontal crack in the middle of his front right hoof. He had something similar when I first started leasing him. I'm not sure if it's a sand crack or he gouged it somehow.

My horse's sarcoid is still healing, but irritating him less. He has a strange looking scab, like dried molten lava. At this point I can not tell if it will fall off or it is part of a new sarcoid. I am hoping to get a bridle back on him this week. I don't think it will rub the sarcoid now. I won't have the vet out until I see what happens with how this scab heals, she said to give it a few weeks.

My horse was a bit confused as I left him in his pasture and went up to the arena without him. I watched Paint Girl show me her progress with Fritzy and the groundwork techniques she's been using. Fritzy has come a long way in a few short weeks! This mare has never been one to stay in her own space. She is not aggressive, just a friendly pocket pony who needed some better ground manners. I think Paint Girl was really inspired by the Clinton Anderson clinic we recently attended. I know I was! I even bought Paint Girl a pink handy stick (like a carrot stick.)

I have now seen the following horse clinicians: Pat/Linda Parelli, Buck Brannaman, and Clinton Anderson. I have learned something from all of them. I think I can really appreciate the groundwork that they all use as the foundation of their programs. Clinton really stresses safety and respect from the horse. And many of his techniques are a lot like Parelli, just different names (and he doesn't call them 'games.')

I loved Clinton's sense of humor. He did a trailer-loading demonstration that was textbook perfect. Kind of makes me feel frustrated though, because he made it look SO easy and I know it was not easy! That mare was almost on top of him several times and she probably would've flattened little old me. Clinton, and these other clinicians, have such a good sense of timing. I think part of it is natural talent, and part of it is just from the experience of working with hundreds and hundreds of horses. That is what makes them such great horseman.

Well, it's another week. I hope it's a good one!