Category: Newt

Groomed, worked and rode Newt in the round pen. Then we walked into the front yard and past the garage. He showed no concern or excitement. It was just like old hat to him. He seems like a different horse. When I did that before I kept a straight arm on him at all times to protect me if he bolted towards me. The only difference is time and I changed my attitude toward him. I remember thinking “Newt’s problem is that he does not pay any attention to me. He’s always focused on something else. So I’m going to pay more attention to him and maybe he will pay more attention to me.” There is a big difference in him and that is the only explanation I have.

Magic had another good day. No problems and no limp.

Magic has no noticeable limp. I cleaned his hoof and packed the hole with iodine soaked cotton balls. I gave him a 12 cc shot of antibiotic. His mood is better and he nickers more now that his foot feels better.

I groomed and worked Newt in the round pen. It was very windy this morning which puts horses in a high alert and jumpy mood. It gave me a chance to handle Newt in a situation where he needed to trust and pay attention to me. He did not want to walk but he listened and finally did. It was a good workout. I did not get on him. No sense tempting fate.

My friend Robert Milner writes in one of his dog training books that we often end up testing the animal rather than training. His example is a Labrador pup that learns how to retrieve the dummy and the human keeps on throwing the dummy further and further until finally the pup cannot find it. The “trainer” just caused the dog to fail. Robert’s point is that in training we should always strive to make the trainee be successful.

Magic does not seem to have any damage from yesterday’s bout with the fence. Now that he is not worried about his right rear, he can concentrate on his near front. This afternoon it was worse, the left front that is. It is not as bad as Friday. I have been giving him 2 bute tablets crushed in his oats each night. I did not expect his lameness to get worse tonight.

I groomed, worked and rode Newt in the round pen. He did very good, the perfect gentleman. I hope to keep on working Newt over the next week.