[wyldterv]

I've been meaning to sit down and write this post since yesterday but for some reason just haven't gotten to it yet. For those of you following the Mustang Poncho Training Saga I have more GOOD news updates!

After Thursdays big work out with introduction to saddle pad and attempts of saddle intro, Poncho had Friday and Saturday pretty much 'off'... Just some good scratching and hand feeding of yummy marsh grass... Plus it was too bloody hot outside to want to work hard, horse OR human, LOL.

Sunday Roger and I drove down to meet our trainer at 5:30pm. Things started out great as Poncho actually walked up to the fence and allowed Roger to reach through the paddock railing to scratch his face! IT was EXCELLENT! That's the first time he's done this, so we were thrilled (yah I know doesn't take much to make us happy, eh? LOL).

Then Eric showed up and the real work began. First Eric spent some time leaning up on Poncho's neck and then actually leaning over his back, bare back and Poncho was relatively calm about it, only a couple of small hops no big bucks. Then Eric decided to see if he could get the Saddle on. Well, we were able to get the saddle on Poncho and CINCHED UP for the first time! He bucked for about 30 seconds initially then calmed down. Eric worked him on the ground for about 30 mins and then started putting weight on the saddle from the ground. He was able to put foot in stirrup and stand full weight with out horse taking off and bucking... GOOD... SO Eric decides this would be good time to go ahead and do a full mount up and sit on Poncho. Stand up in stirrup and holds position for 30 seconds, things go well. Eric slowly put's right leg over saddle, Poncho still standing, but a bit tight. As Eric is JUST about to put his foot in the stirrup and sit down BOOM, Poncho realizes the program and decides he'd like to remain a Wild Mustang a bit longer and BUCKAROO begins... Poor Eric get's caught in the groin by the saddle horn and rips out the inseam of his jeans and bails off over Poncho's left side before he gets slammed into the corral... Got his brand new white straw hat dirty and a dent in the crown... TOLD him not to wear his NEW hat LOL...

Fortunately no one injured, and after a quick change of jeans Eric was back to work getting Poncho to accept the weight of the human in the saddle. He did not end up sitting on him that evening but did get Poncho to accept him laying over the saddle and thumping the fender on the other side with his hand. He also managed to learn to stand still for unsaddling.

All in all decent progress I think . Tomorrow we're back at it with HOPEFULLY that first real ride, we'll see. I DO know I'm glad that was Eric getting tossed behind over teakettle into the panels rather then ME! LOLOL Roger decided I was NOT crazy to spend $700 a month in training on a $125 Mustang! LOL and offered on the spot to pay for a second full month, ROTFL...

Thanks for letting me go on about my lil' red 'pony'

[madvoice]

IMO $700 a month for professional training isn't all that expensive. In the long run it will probably pay for itself. Its good to see that Poncho is coming along quite well though

[thrghbrdrder]

yeah...i'd go with the trainer

good progress so far :-)

[wyldterv]

The way I look at it is this: $700 a month is ALOT less expensive then Karyn (me) ending up in ER with no good insurance!!!! LOLOL

As long as we're making solid progress I don't mind paying for what I'm getting, this way by fall I'll be able to bring Poncho home to do the finishing work on him myself but he should be reasonably reliable to handle by then... Less likely to kick, bolt etc. Of course he's a HORSE, so you never really should get too lax around them but he'll be PEOPLE oriented at least by then... He's really starting to enjoy humans scratching him, brushing him and putting fly wipe on him, so that's a big bonus.

I'm pretty sure I'd buck like the dickens if you tried to saddle ME, lazy thing that I am, LOLOLOL.

[Paint_luver]

Well, sounds like a pretty good day overall then! Despite the bucking of course! I'm glad no one was hurt! I can't wait to see a pic of you on him one of these days when the time is right!

Hannah

[wyldterv]

Thanks Hannah! I can't wait to see it myself, LOLOL... Actually I keep meaning to take the digital camera with me to take some photos of he and Eric and he and Roger... I AM getting it all on video though, even poor Eric ripping out his pants! I said good thing Roger and Eric's wife were both standing there or people would be wondering what he and I had been up too! ROTFL

[Paint_luver]

ROFL. I'm glad you arent' getting frusterated with the ups and DOWNS then! I bet some of those videos are pretty hilarious!

Hannah

[wyldterv]

Aw heck no I'm not getting frustrated at all I KNEW what I was getting myself into from the get go and I knew I would not be bringing home a horse I could ride that day. I've only had Poncho for two months now, so I can't complain, REALLY I could, but I WON'T! LOLOL

YES Some of the video's are pretty funny... I'm going to edit it a bit and then give a copy to Eric and his with with dubbed in sound, they'll pee themselves laughing knowing them! LOLOLOL

[Paint_luver]

ROFL. Sounds great!

Only two months for a mustang making that much progress is nothing to be frusterated with at all! Keep up the fantastic work, and keep writing it down too! I love hearing about you and Poncho!

Hannah

[wyldterv]

Oh I'm pretty sure there will be many more MUSTANG PONCHO reports to come I get so excited and I don't have alot of 'horsey' friends anymore, my doggy friends all go, "that's nice' but look at me like I've lost my ever loving mind, LOL.... KIND of like my NON-Doggy friends do when I try to explain about big show wins... They TRY to be happy for me but just don't really understand it all... The forum is a great outlet for me to tell my tales and have people who GET IT!