Thoroughbreds can do
First Ride on Gold Commander One
Dear Michelle and Elizabeth, UPDATE: Attached is a photo, not worthy of posting anywhere, but nonetheless evidence of my first ride. I think the trainer is being particularly cautious. I appreciate her caution, but at the same time, I know Gold and I could be making a little more progress. However, I should not discount…
Desensitizing Techniques for the 21st Century: Laptops & Kitty Cats
Also, for the record, as seems very fitting to me, since he is from Bits & Bytes Farm, Aly has been properly desensitized to laptops! The other night I took mine out there to work on homework a bit, and although I didn’t get much work done, I did get some done with Aly! When I sat down beside his stall and opened the laptop, boy did his nostrils flare!
Vilas County – Finished with Basics, Ready for Training
Just wanted to give you a quick update on Vilas. I told you that we took his shoes off and his feet already improved a lot. I started feeding him Biotin already back in February and now his feet start to show a better quality. He really does pretty well without shoes. I also started…
The Dr. Is In!
Dr. Sidney has arrived safe and sound and is gorgeous!! So much nicer in person then in the pictures, that neck is to die for!
Vilas County Schools His First X-Country Jumps!
Vilas County understood directly what the game was about and as more we jumped as more he wanted to do. At the end he was really paying attention to see where the next jump is. I had great control over him and he never wanted to rush before or after the jumps. We jumped most jumps out of trot as this gives him more confidence right now.
Pride of the Fox Has a New Mom!
Congratulations to Dr. Rebecca Kestle on her purchase of Pride of the Fox! One of our favorite horses at Bits & Bytes Farm, Pride of the Fox, has a new mom.
Wise Young Sage – SOLD! June 2009
OTTB Wise Young Sage has been sold to Mimi Falb of San Antonio, Texas. He will begin his second career as an event horse.
Brett Gets a Close Shave
Brett’s only ‘hole’ has been head shyness–especially his ears. Joan and I have spent three years on this issue, slowly but consistently exposing him to more and more head/ear contact. I’ve ‘clicker trained’ him, and that’s how he learned to tolerate having his muzzle clipped–took me a good 3 months, but we got it done. The ears have been a much more challenging issue, as it took a full year until I could hold one, and it’s taken another year + to get to the point that I can grab an ear (gently) and he drops his head and turns it to me.
Diplomatic Conversions
Hi Michelle and Elizabeth, I hope this note finds you both well, along with your respective families. Memphis got a respite from ridiculous temperatures and humidity, to Goldie’s and my benefit. His skin and coat look good…the bumps are gone. He is sweating more naturally now. I think you can tell from this photo that…