Tonto Update:

I have only ridden him once in the round pen since my trip. Our ground work was less than stellar but he rode okay. Friday my friend J and I went for a noon ride. I had myself all talked into just getting on Tonto and going instead of Jet. But when I brought them up to the barn to get saddled Tonto was full of cactus again. Last night instead of riding we practiced loading into the trailer which went well. We were suppose to trailer out to R's for a chiro appt. today but it fell through. I will try to get several rides on Tonto this week.

How's he seeming, though?  Still sore? Or has the chiro been making a difference??
 
Let us know how the rides go.... and i know it gets frustrating to constantly be correcting them, when naughty, but hopefully he'll eventually get the point!! [:-]
 
Hang in there!

Had a few rides. He is doing ok. He is a little jerky and very boogery. He is back to pretty much spooking in place though. We rode out of the front gate and down the road to Titanium Grammy's and back. He spooked at the gate and he spooked when we got to T Grammy's drive. But he did go into her yard.

For some reason when lunging he is only turning properly about half the time. [:@] I think I need to have R roust him a little.
Also he is still not so good in the counter-clockwise direction. Should I work him harder in that direction?

Do you guys think it is better to ride him every day or every other to get him built back up strength-wise?

Lani, We have only had the one chiro appt. I missed one during my trip and the last one got canceled. Next Saturday is the next tenative appt. I'd like to at least do a couple more but of course hubby is grumbling. He doesn't believe in chiro?

By the way, Shirley is trying to kill her riding companions. CowGirlDude was her latest victim. We may want to rethink this road trip idea. [sm=uhoh.gif]

I'm sorry - I was swallowed by the gravity of Real Life!  Sometmes it takes hold and doesn't let go.  I'm glad to hear you're working with your 'boogery' boy, though! )  At least he hasn't found another way to avoid work.... yet!
 
He won't turn, when he doesn't turn is it always turning onto the counter-clockwise he's bad, or does it matter?  If so, he maybe feeling weak on that side and would therefore try to avoid working it.  Like you or I trying to write with our non-dominant hand.  The only way to get better would be to practice.  If you rule out he's sore on that side, I'd say work that side twice as hard as you work his clockwise side.   Becareful, as I found out with Stryder, you *can* over-do this and then you end up trying to catch his former dominant side up.  .... irony.
 
Has R come over and worked him?  Maybe he just needed his world shaken up a bit.  It's amazing what that can do to adjust a "boogery" attitude!  []
 
What did Shirley do to her??  I say I'm pretty tough and I'll take my chances if it means a rode trip with you MK and getting to ride with Shirley in CO.  I'll be sure to bring a ankle biting Nikki to watch my back for me, nothing like 11lbs of fury to strike fear ir your heart [8D]
 
Hope you're doing great! 

Here are the threads from ihorse. I think we'll need to bring some good gifts and treats so she'll want to keep us around.

http://forum.horse.com/tm.asp?m=52452&mpage=1&key=

http://forum.horse.com/tm.asp?m=52936&mpage=1&key=&

Hey Lani! As long as life spits you back out in one piece. [sm=wink3.gif]

We had some rain so I lost a couple rides on Tonto. I rode him this evening and we did alright. I am not asking for anything except walking and up and down a few slight grades. I do trot him in the round pen but he is bad going counter-clockwise. He doesn't seem to have a problem counter-clockwise when I am *not* riding. I will try to work him harder in that direction and see if there is difference. He wasn't as boogery tonight.

The spookiness the other evening was my fault. I took him out on the road and didn't think about opening the gate from his back. I'm just used to doing it with Jet. I should have got down and done it at least for the first time.

The turning problem is in both directions. He turns into the rail instead of out toward the center. He definately would benefit from a tune-up with R. We will have to struggle along until he can get to us. He also has been trying to walk off as I mount. We have been working on it and he only tried it once tonight. (We had this problem and cured it when I first got him.)

So is it better to work everyday or every other?

Hey MK,
 
That's a good question.  I'd be interested in hearing some opinions about working every other day vs. everyday, too.  I've started working stryder 5 days a week, up (after his month long vacation) from 4 days a week.  ... which requires at least a few days in a row.  I'd think as long as they get a few days off a week, perhaps a light, fun ride the day after a particularly hard work out... it'd be fine?
 
I'm glad you guys are getting some rain.  After our 42 days of rain earlier in the year I didn't think I'd ever say this, but we need some quitt badly.  A good day or two of rain would be really appreciated here.
 
I'm glad Tonto's boogery butt is mellowing a bit.  Have you been getting to ride Jet often?
 
RE: Shirley trying to kill her riding partner... surely WE are different!  She wouldn't try to kill us.... right???  )  I'll wear my helmet and be sure to bring a seat-saver!  hehehe, she's not getting rid of me that easy!
 
 

We went for our first ride with Titanium Grammy and Dillon. Just walked the usual trail ride. Tonto started out a little boogery but once we got going he did GREAT! [sm=dance.gif] One time Dillon got a little far ahead and Tonto didn't want to turn off the trail without him but that was the only problem. I was worried he would get tired but he seemed to be fine.
[sm=dance.gif][sm=dance.gif][sm=dance.gif]

We went again today. Everything was fine until T Grammy's crazy donkey decided we needed to be attacked. That crazy Josie came flying at us a-bucking and a-honking. I thought for sure it was going to be the end of me. But Tonto did fine. We just kept turning to face her until T Grammy could drive her off. I don't like donkeys! [:@]

Tomorrow we are going to trailer Jet and Dillion to the park. A test run before heading out to the new property.

The donkey attacked you!?  Good BOY TONTO!!! He deserved some extra carrots for that!  )
 
how's he doing??   Been getting to give him some regular work?

Josie has gotten used to seeing Jet. But when she saw Tonto she went into protect mode? Tonto was fine. I think Grammy and I were more surprised than anything.

I haven't done anything with him for a couple weeks as our farrier got stomped and Tonto was shoeless. The farrier was able to get to us on Saturday but I am really busy this week. Plus it has been hot and windy. I will try to sneak in some rides in the round pen.

I have worked him a few times in the round pen. We really lost a lot of ground with all the constant setbacks. He will lunge but I can't get him to turn properly at all anymore. I talked to R this morning and he is going to come work with us as soon as he can fit us in. In the meantime he said to go ahead and ride and do the best I can. I rode him the past 2 evenings in the round pen. He still seems to have a problem going counterclockwise. But everything else seems to be okay. I will try riding him around the property today and see how he does.

How'd he do?  Any improvement?  Have you continued to have him see the chiropractor?  I've been having a raki person work on Stryder.  He was still really sore from the leg injuries (I think it was a kick.  He wasn't sore on the legs, rather it seemed to mess up his hind end and made him feel a bit stiff.)  she worked on his stifle a lot and he has been noticeably better.... just a thought!
 
... hope you haven't been trying to kill TGrammy anymore? .. but hopefully keeping you both busy  

I rode him this evening. I lunged him a few times around and did get 2 good turns. I walked and trotted in the pen. Of course some cattle on the big ranch next to us had to hang around bellowing their heads off as a distraction. Then we went for a turn around the propery. R thought it would be good if I just get him out riding since things aren't going well with groundwork. We did good except he stumbled and fell on his nose but he recovered okay. It was getting dark so we called it quits. We haven't hooked up with the chiro since the first treatment. He is from a ways away but R said he is getting more clients around here. I would like to have him work on Tonto some more.

TGrammy and I were going to go to Doss but it has been pretty hot. We will have more adventures to post for your entertainment soon.