Half Way There!

Little Louie has survived the intense life change and has reached the 6th week! He is exactly half way until The Pennsylvania National Horse show Finals. I feel confident in the things Louie has learned and has yet to learn before we make our trek to the Pennsylvania finals.

This week I taught Louie to long line. I have another (very out of date) personal blog that I started about training my own off the track Thoroughbred. In this post.................. :http://livetoridethroughbreds.blogspot.com/2012/06/my-pony-update.html
I talk about teaching my own horse to long line, and what long lining is.

 (if you chose to read through my other blog, I will preface you and say that I don't agree with some of my previous training suggestions. I was starting out training my own horse, and have changed some of my method's since then. Ex: I don't agree with lunging with side reins although my horse spent some time using them. As trainers I'm sure you have all done things unknowingly and learn better method's, later on. This is one of those situations. So please know this if you choose to read my other blog. And if you wonder why I no longer use side reins or other training devices, please ask! I would love to explain my take on these methods that are so commonly used in our sport today.) 

If you are one to get sick watching shaky video's I warn you don't watch this one! Taking your own long lining video proved to be more difficult than I intended. Although its rough I think you get a good idea of what's happening. This was the only training that Louie, may have had before he was seized and taken to Lollypop Humane Society.  As a harness horse hopeful, this is how they break horses to be driven in a cart. Louie acted as if this was foreign to him so I assume he was never broke to long line. Although this was new to him the smart guy picked up on it very quickly. This has really helped teach him where to put his feet at the trot and how to keep his outside shoulder, hip and neck in line. With this his trot has also improved under saddle. There are many other benefits to long lining other than the ones I have listed in both of my blogs. I encourage you to look up long lining and maybe give it a go with your own horse!



Louie also took his second outing to Wild Side Ranch again. We rode through most of the obstacles we will see at the finals as well as a few new ones. He is very willing to explore new obstacles and take on the challenge.

This upcoming week I hope to work more on Louie's walk and trot. He prefers to walk out at a faster pace than normal and his trot is the same. I will continue long lining him to help him figure out his feet! Other than that we will be logging more hours in the saddle in hopes to make a special guy to show off at finals! (He already is special and in his eyes he already shows off but we won't tell him he still has work to do ;))



Love................ Courtney and Louie