5-15-2010

No new photos or videos today- going to try and get some tomorrow morning when I work Parsley aka "Parsnip" as he is now lovingly nicknamed at the barn =)

I wasn't planning to ride today, But did- Parsley did a great job. We took it nice and easy today- and Walked A WORKING walk- not lazy bum walk, a nice trot, and cantered a few circles each way.

He still attempts to hold a conversation with the mystery horse in the mirrors, but otherwise was a perfect angel.

Major goal for this week is to remind him to stay off his forehand at the walk, and to stay light. Today by the end of our ride, he was starting to get the idea.

Oh- and as I predicted, Parsley has his own fan club that consists of all the pony owners, and lesson kids that take lessons on the ponies at the farm =)

Parsley does have two or three bite marks on him, but nothing serious, just a small tuft of hair is MIA-but there is no breaking of the skin, cuts, etc. Thought I'd just let you know.

Oddly enough he is best friends with the horses that are turned out during the day next to the pasture board turnout... lol!

Until tomorrow,
Kristina

5-14-10

Today is Parsley's day off, he is now turned out with the pasture herd, and although there was a bit of running around, there wasn't any kicking or biting and within 5 minutes they all went back to eating their hay... lol glad that went well.

Tomorrow will be aclimating to the arena again, and hopefully Sunday will be riding!

5-13-10

Today Parsley was too cute, I still managed to make him uncomfortable and took him out of his safety zone, and he did well. First, I put him in the wash stall and hosed mud off his legs, he didn't want to stand still, and danced around before realizing that it would be over a whole lot quicker if he just stood still.

There was a lot of activity going on at the farm tonight and he picked up on that and danced around in the cross ties. So, I put him in an empty stall, turned him around and he rolled in the stall with a saddle and polo wraps on! I was definately not expecting that one. The silly boy continued to try and roll in the indoor arena too!

Although he was wearing a saddle, I did not ride him. I lunged him and let him spook at the scary shadows, have a conversation with the mysterious horse on the other side of the mirror, and the monster that was going to jump through the lounge window at any moment.

Parsley was defiant with the idea of lunging tonight, but quickly realized that it was much easer to just move forward and work on transition between walk, trot, and canter. Positive note, not once did he put his ears back =)

5-12-10

Parsley is a 4 yr old Connemara gelding that arrived at Paris Farms today and was immediately partnered up with my mustang mare, Bella Sierra. The next day or so they will be turned out with the rest of the pasture boarded horses, and once settled in I will be able to start to ride this neat guy!

Until then, the plan is to work on ground work, ground driving, and lunging.

I will add photos soon!
Until tomorrow,
Kristina