Tigo Training

Last Week and Going Home

2009-07-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

The last few days I have been riding him some but mostly it has been the kids. They grab his bridle, get him out of the field, and ride and ride and ride. It has been great all around.

Tigo went home this morning. I'm going to give his owner of being an author of the blog so she can keep track of his progress on here.

Finishing Touches

2009-06-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Since Tigo will be going home soon this week we will be working on all the "icing". Making sure those ground manners are 100%. That he doesn't feel like he can push on other people. That he rides and cues and BENDS for anyone and if he doesn't it is handled pronto! We want him to go home and stay just the way he is now.

He did fabulous today!!

Attack of Teenagers!

2009-06-26T10:36:00.001-07:00

Tigo got attacked last night by 2 teenage girls!! They LOVED him even though I didn't give them a saddle.

They even went out on a short trail ride.

Sweat, Sweat, and more Sweat!

2009-06-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

Poor Tigo. He doesn't like having to work THIS hard. We have added cantering into our routine for good. He is doing great! He is consistant and easy to control and ride.

Summer camp is this week so I've let the older kids/counselors trot him around after camp. Its so good for him to have that many different riders!

Riding and Adjustments

2009-06-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

Poor Tigo has had a LONG day.

This morning a friend of mine that rides jumpers came out to the barn. She was sore and wanted to trot out her soreness so I threw her on Tigo. Its good for him to have other riders and the more trotting they do the better.

He didn't get ridden very long before Kit from Animal Krackers showed up. Tigo was first on his list. He had 3-4 ribs out on each side towards his hips, his right shoulder, and his poll. He was VERY polite about getting adjusted and was thrilled afterwards. He was licking Kit and had a very soft face.

The best thing to do is ride them after an adjustment so he got ridden again this afternoon. He did great and moves a LOT better.

Kit evaluating Tigo:

Getting his ribs put back in place:

The AHHHHHHHH face:

Trotting, Trotting, and Trotting

2009-06-15T14:19:00.001-07:00

Ugh its been raining all morning. Sunday and Monday we trotted and trotted and trotted.

I have been putting as many different people on him as I can to get him used to different riders and responding the same way to all of them. Hopefully it will stop raining soon and we can haul out and trail ride this weekend!!

Tigo Day #3 - Joining Biggest Looser

2009-06-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Today was much better than yesterday. He was very respectful on the ground and has really embraced the new rules. I finally had a photographer today. Wait till you see how slick he looks tacked up!

I rode him in a loose fitting german martingale since he wanted to fling his head a little yesterday. It only gets tight if he pulls on me or decides to fling his head around.

We started out with some bending. He was much looser today.

After a few laps of walking and bending we started out racking.

We have to take a lot of breaks because he is so out of shape. So when we do I make sure we bend more and work on moving his shoulders. See how far his right shoulder moves out and over?

Then back to the butt burning long trotting. I really have been asking him to drive forward and use that butt of his to push off.

This is ideal!
We even took a lap each way at the canter. That was rough and ugly. We won't be doing that again until he has some butt muscles.

Then it was time to walk to property and cool off.

Racking and Trotting

2009-06-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight was our first ride. He was VERY polite when I caught him and led him out. He remembered his lessons from yesterday. He stood quietly while I tacked him up.

I rode him in a full cheek snaffle and my cutting saddle. I was surprised at how well it fit him.

We started out with some bending that did NOT go well. I got really good responses when I would bend him to the right but to the left he was REALLY upset about it. I did get some softness but I'm worried about physical issues.

We got some really nice long and low trotting out of him. We are going to do a LOT of that to work on getting that 200lbs off of him.

We got some really nice racking too. He sets up nicely even though he is way out of shape.

My only other big concern with his riding is that he doesn't swallow at all. He drools and spits and is stressed. Hopefully we will get this resolved but its most likely neurotic behavior leared from being in the show pen and over bitted.

Tigo Tigo Tigo

2009-06-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

What a day for him. First his girlfriend is taken away and worked and then as soon as I bring her back into the paddock I bring him out and put him to work.

He was NOT thrilled at the new rules we worked on today.

Rule #1: You are NOT to bite, nibble, or put your mouth on ME!!!!!!

Rule #2: You are NOT allowed in my space at ALL. That means leading, backing, stopping, going through gates, etc.

Rule #3: You are to move forward in the direction I ask you to when I ask you to. You are NOT to run through my pressure or pull back away from me.

Rule #4: You will stand quietly at the end of my leadrope when I am standing still and you will be left alone. This was the hardest one for him to learn....it was hand in hand with Rule #2.

If he is good tomorrow we will probably start riding. If not, we will tackle these rules and add more until he is a model citizen.