Natural Balance

Algore & Chopper received their first "Natural Balance" trim on Monday. We use a natural balance farrier (Al Scafani) for all of our show horses. We have debated whether or not to shoe our mustangs or to leave them barefoot. We decided to go barefoot and let their new owners make a decision if they want shoes on them or not through the winter. They both stood well for the farrier. Although Chopper was surprisingly suspicious of him at first. The shoer came in the evening after a long day of shoeing and I don't think Chopper liked his horse hoof & burnt smell! Once he decided he wasn't going to be eaten, he settled down and stood like a champ. It gives me more work. I have to make sure he doesn't treat potential owners & judges like the plague. Chopper was so good yesterday to ride. Relaxed with his head out and down in all his gates. He was the best ever.

Algore, again

Tracking & Break-away roping

Algore & The bow


Algore Loping in the bridle

Algore loping in a two - track.

Standing for the canter depart & in the left lead

Executing a flying change and loping off into the right lead

I received a comment from Tracy about a friend of hers that doesn't believe mustangs can be trained. It's interesting because my brother-in-law made the same comment last week. As you can see by Algore's progression, yes mustangs are very trainable. As I replied in my comment from last week, a mustang is a HORSE after all!

Where in the world is Chopper?

Some of you probably wonder why Algore gets all the press and nice photos. Well, although Zane is a very good horse trainer and can train one to cut, slide, rein, and rope, he can't seem to take a digital photo! The photos of me are all taken by my 8 year old! Anyway, today Algore gets more press, again.

Chopper

Chopper & Holly : Practicing just standing!



Chopper Ponying Bailey & Loving on Zayle.


Hi. I had Zayle snap some photos of Chopper today. He has a different training regimen than Algore. We spend time each day just standing and doing nothing. He is trying to learn to be patient in his maneuvers and wait for his commands. He gets a little fidgety sometimes, "now, now can I sidepass? back-up? leg yield? trot? canter depart? ...now?" He is a "bold" tempered horse and he likes things to happen on his schedule. He is so fun to ride though. I really hope he gets a great home. He is loving and personable and I don't think he'll have any trouble bonding with a new caregiver. He is doing everything so well. He is easy to catch, saddle, groom, clip, and trailer. He'll be a great mount for someone!

Grooming 101

Algore & Chopper have received lots of special care and attention this summer: Wormings, dental appointments, baths, sprays, and supplements. They have been stalled during the day and turned out at night. As our 30 day count down approaches, I hope they look good enough! They are finally both eating their grain and coat conditioners. (The container says 30 days to a shiny, glossy coat guaranteed!) The guidelines say they will be judged on their "change", not their confirmation or length of mane/tail. I hope that's true. Chopper's tail and mane are very course and unruly. I am sure they were both chewed in the pens at the BLM facility. Algore has a nice texture to his but a patch was chewed or rubbed out prior to his arrival too.

Finally today Chopper is loping around making nice, controlled, SLOW circles. (He was struggling with the slow part.) He is not quite canter departing, but is getting closer to that. He definitely has a nice stop. Sometimes he likes to initiate it on his own. He is quite the character. We have been practicing trail obstacles and I hope he doesn't plow through them all at Ft. Worth. He is definitely not scared but neither his he careful! Today I also rode him bareback for the second time.

Algore had a long workout today. He ponied horses back and forth from the barn to the cutting pen. He also brought cattle in. Zane tried to get a picture of him this morning. He was laying down grazing a circle around himself. By the time Zane got back to him he was finished.

Going Cutting

Well it is already the 15th of August. In one month we'll be heading to Ft. Worth! Algore & Chopper got to travel the last few days. Zane had a cutting in Great Falls, Montana, so they went along for the ride. Unfortunately no photos. (Bad batteries in the digital camera!) We stayed at a friends and they were perfect gentleman. (The horses!) They bunked with the mares. I am sure they felt ritzy bedding down with a Grays Starlight mare and Dual Rey filly. The girls were definitely boss.

Both horses are loading and trailering well. Algore was much more settled this trip. He laid down in his pen and didn't run the fence. They both ate, drank, slept, and rode well. Chopper was the main turn back horse for the practice pen. He is handling well and starting to neck rein some. I hope to take some pictures to capture his friendly demeanor. Zayle is able to lead and handle him now.

More news later.

Algore & Cowboy Work

Algore is progressing well. Today we took photos of some of his daily activities.

Loping a circle & leg yielding to the right at a trot

Leg Yielding to the left at the trot
backing

Algore opening the gate into the cutting pen & working the cow

Algore Tracking a bad eye heifer.

Pulling slack & going to the dally

Tying off & doctoring heifer

mustangs working in Idaho

Here are some recent photos of Algore & Chopper!

They were taken at Zane's cowhorse clinic in Idaho Falls, Idaho this weekend. Don't forget to check out the links below.

Mustangin' In Idaho

We are in Idaho Falls, Idaho where Zane is doing a cowhorse clinic. The traveling has been good for Chopper and Algore. Algore has more trouble adjusting to a new area. He has been walking his stall and not eating as well. Chopper fits right in anywhere! On the other hand, Chopper was more of a handful to ride in a new environment and Algore worked just like he does at home. I was able to ride Chopper for 2 hrs yesterday and 4 hours today. The extra time was good for us! He settled down and rode a lot better today. Algore got to do a lot of turning back yesterday during the cutting portion of the clinic. He really is a nice mover. I took a few photos of him and will post those when we get home.