Envoy and Casper off to Boarding School

How did it go today, love? Will you visit them Sunday? I'm a little worried Casper will feel abandoned and need to see you.

Everything went well. Both boys are tucked into their stalls/paddocks. Casper was a bit upset when Envoy went into his stall for dinner and "disappeared." I walked with him into his own stall and showed him his food bucket. That cured his upsetness. I put the hay nets on the paddock fences so Casper can see Envoy. He will get used to things, and then I can feed them both inside. The weather is supposed to be nice for most of the week, so eating hay outside won't hurt them. They'll have their blankets on, so they won't get chilled.

I'm going out every day but Fridays (and special occasions), so no one will feel abandoned. I need to go out both for them an for me. If I don't clean every day, the stalls and paddocks will be a disaster. Part of my deal is that I provide care for my boys. I can't leave them for more than a day and keep up with the work.

That sound great. I'm sure it will all be fine, especially when Casper gets used to the new digs and feels secure that meals will come in regularly. I hope, also, he'll find it interesting to be in this lively and friendly place and find he has challenging tasks to do with you. How did they seem today?

Today, I rode Envoy. We just had a light ride since it's been a while since we worked. He was excellent as usual. He even visited with some horses who were riding around the neighborhood. We'll probably join them another day. Today, we were trying to get our legs back.

Casper was challenging today. He was not happy when I brought him into the arena. He ran and bucked for a while. I see some longe lessons and ground work for him for a few weeks. He tried to kick out at me while I was brushing him in the cross ties. I bopped him with the brush. He got the message that kicking is not allowed. He actually calmed down once he realized that if he kicks and acts bad, I would just bop him on the side with the brush. It is how mom horses treat their kids. "Do something bad, and I'll instantly bite/kick you." He kicked and I "kicked" back. After 2 tries, he behaved himself. He's smart. He'll get it.

Glad Envoy was a good boy, well I guess some silliness is to be
expected from Casper. Happy to hear that he settled down

I have a feeling Casper will settle down even more in the next few weeks. You being 'mama' and using discipline he understands will go a long way to making him a better horse. Good thing Envoy is there to help too, a nice example to see of how a horse is supposed to behave. No kicking, no bucking, no fuss.

My heart goes out to Casper, sent off to a strange environment after the paradise of home. I can't blame him for being resentful and grumpy. BUT! That's no excuse for bad manners, and he acknowledged that, so points for him. He clearly trusts and respects his Ma, and
hopefully he'll eventually put his grumpiness aside and come to enjoy the whole experience.

Can't help but contrast him today, secure enough to express his feelings, to the broken and deeply depressed creature he was when he first came to you. That horse wouldn't have even bothered to protest.

He is definitely developing his personality (and his voice). He was very well behaved today. He shouted while Envoy was getting groomed, but it was just shouting. He didn't fuss when I put his blanket on, which is an improvement. He didn't act grumpy. So, he improved. I didn't work with him today. Weekdays, I need to trade between the two. So, tomorrow, Envoy gets the day off and Casper gets some ground work.

Tonight's ride on Envoy was terrific. I tried a new bit (Pelham with no curb rein or strap attached Pelham image). Envoy loved it. He was completely forward and really trusted that bit. Now, I need to find something similar with no curb shank.

Try a Tom Thumb or jointed, I've had horses go very well in them.

Tom Thumb is a no-go. I had a KK loose ring bit (with the little football in the middle) on him before. He just fools around with the football. He hates a single jointed snaffle. Right now, we're going to stick with the Pelham rigged up as a snaffle and just pretend like there are no shanks. I'll continue the bit search. By the time I find the perfect one, I'll have a wall full of the things.

Lol! You ladies are talking Martian to the rest of us! But I gather Envoy liked the new bit, so

How did Casper do today?

I had so many mouthpieces at one point I could have opened
store.

Essentially, a Tom Thumb bit is a curb bit with a ported mouthpiece. A curb bit has "arms" on the sides so your reins work with some leverage on the horse's mouth. It can help to keep a horse's head down. It can also be very harsh if you have hard hands.

Here's a link about mouthpieces. About Horses - Mouthpieces

Essentially, horses often prefer different bits, and they can be kind of picky about it. Envoy is pretty picky. He doesn't fuss if he doesn't like a bit, but he won't relax and drop his head either. I think he's quite happy right now. Hopefully, I can find a mullenmouth mouthpiece with no shanks. If I ever want to show, I'm not at a level where I can use a curb bit.

Casper and Envoy both had today off. I had a stupid meeting at work that ran really late. I didn't want to be out until the sun came up, so tomorrow's Casper's day.

Okay, horse ladies, I have a question for you. I haven't ridden a horse since I was a kid, and don't think I rode with anything more than a hackamore. I've always thought that a horse must mind a bit in his mouth, and always wanted to ask about that. Does he mind? If not, why the heck not? Why would he tolerate a piece of metal over his tongue?

It all depends on how the horse is started as a youngster. If you are slow and gentle, there
will be few problems down the road. Also a good horseman will be wary of the really servre
mouth pieces. Xenophon wrote over two thousand years ago the more iron in a horses mouth
the less skill in the hands of the rider. As to biting a horse it's also a slow process, like Becky is
doing with Envoy. They can talk and when the bit doesn't work they will let you know in a skinny
minute.

Bits are just things horses learn to accept. If the bit is fitted properly and the horse's mouth is cared for, it shouldn't be uncomfortable. I compare it to mouth guards that football players wear. They aren't natural, but the players learn to tolerate them. Like Sue says, much depends on how a horse is started, and how the rider uses his/her hands. Harsh hands = harsh bit. And, harsh hands can actually flip a horse over with a long shanked hackamore.

Casper did really well tonight. We longed in saddle and halter. I found out that his used bridle broke, so he isn't going anywhere with me on his back until I can get a replacement. He learned voice commands for walk and trot. He obviously knows trot, but it seems that no one has asked him to go slowly and calmly. So, we did about a million transitions up to trot and back down to walk. He also hasn't been asked to work going to the right. We did some of that. His big challenge is learning to stop on the circle. I don't like a horse coming into the circle when we stop. I like them to stand and let me approach them. Safety first! Casper finally got that, and we stopped. I stuffed him full of horse cookies. He looked very proud of himself when we came back into the barn so he could get brushed and put to bed. I think he likes having a job.

****SIGH****I'm telling you children there is more to be learned at the walk and
on the ground than you can imagine. It's the basis for all. I hear you on that habit,
it can be unsettling at best. What a smart boy

Wish I could've seen the look on Casper's face when you took him back to the barn. Bet it was priceless.

Sounds like Casper tried hard and really wanted to work well for you. What a good boy! He should be proud! So should you, Bek. You're giving him such a great second chance.

He's got a ways to go, but he's a fun guy. He's getting along really well with the trainer's horses. She's considering letting everyone out together. The young filly thinks Casper is really cool. I don't think she's seen a gray horse before.

No riding or working for any of us today. I got caught in a horrible traffic jam. It took me almost an hour to go 2 miles to the closest exit. By the time I got done with cleaning, it was almost 8:00. It's an hour from the barn home, so I decided I'd go tomorrow. I normally take Fridays off, but I'll just swap today for tomorrow.

He is such a character. I'm glad you two found each other.

I am glad you found each other too. Seems like a match made in heaven.

Bobby socks flirtation with the young filly? I think Casper's going to really like this new horizon once he gets used to the idea!

Heehee! I wonder if Lukie (the big old horse) will agree to let Casper flirt. He isn't as protective of the babies as Pavie was.

Tell us about Lukie and Pavie!