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Alan Swarm asked  How well do your horses handle the fireworks? 7/1/09

Hay Alan they handle the noise pretty well, its not really as loud as the guns.  It's harder when its a suprise like fire works, but hey still pretty much ignore the fireworks.  Victor

Hi Victor,
You'll be happy to hear that when we got home today tuff was only minimally sweaty, not pawing at all and we were able to get him out of the trailer as soon as we could get the door open, and believe me, we weren't rushing!!!  We put him away- everyone calm and happy, for a much deserved break. (he entered the stall our new way)
 I got him back out at 3:00 and worked the three games with him and WE were successful...kurt was working on the tractor cutting the brush (noisy) but i could get tuff to totally focus on me, i feel so much better, i'm getting my horse back!!!  i was also able to have him work in the round pen and turn to me to change directions and come to me when we were done...i went ahead and tried this because we were successful at the games part...we ended on a very happy note and i plan on good days ahead, with alot of fun work ahead of us...thank you so much and we'll see you in a couple of weeks.
 You'll probable be hearing from me, as questions come up, and i'll report our progress to you!!
Thank you,
Pam and tuffy

Thats great Pam I really enjoyed meeting you guys this weekend.  Tuffy is a great horse, keep it fun.  Victor

Victor
For rate? I took Syd thru the Barrel pattern and realized he runs thru your hands. That's how his last owner rode him. I felt his teeth a little and at the very least he's got sharp edges in back on top. I'm loping in between the barrels and stopping at the rate spot for a minute then walking the barrel and so on. What should I use bit wise? Hackamore? Tecate? I need something with whoa. Flex not important for this fase.
Karen Sacks
 
Hay Karen
     Thanks for asking such a great question!  Lets start with his teeth I'm sure you will get that taken care of as soon as possible. If you want to join in, Brian, Advanced Equine Dental will be coming up again as soon as we get another group of ten to twelve horses, right now we have a group of six and need four more ($230.00per horse).
     As far as the rating goes thats going to come from communication trust and respect. it sounds like your on the right track with with loping between barrels stopping at the rate spot then walking or trotting the barrel.  when I'm teaching a new horse this game I start at a walk or trot and do the same pattern of stopping for thirty seconds then walking around the barrel and continuing to the next rate spot...when coming to the rate spot I want my stop to be from my seat not my reins.  The barrel turn should be from my leg and focus not my rein.  When I can get that at a walk then I move up to a trot, lope and then a gallop or run.  I want the horse to take responsibility for rating and knowing his game.  At the end of our run we always stop straight and have some signal that our run is over(I use a cookie) then leave the arena at a relaxed walk.  This developes the pattern of running the barrel patterns as fast as you can as partners and then calming down and waltzing out together. 
     As far as bits go I start in a rope Hackamore and progress to a dog bone snaffle, then a bosal, two rein and finaly a curb or spade bit.  The key in my bit choice is that each bit is used for communication.  The rope hackamore is for control and begginning comunication, after that its about refinement.  If I'm retraining a horse I have no problem going back as far as I need to in bit selection to then bring the horse forward.
     I hope this answered your questions.  If you want more help with this lets get together and play.
Victor

Victor,
I wanted you to know that I got a lot out of the clinic and did reach my goal of learning a bit more about my horse and my relationship to him. That is all good. The one thing we did not accomplish and I wish we had had time was teaching him to sidepass to the fence for mounting. If you could give me a description of the steps to get there, I will try my best to visualize it and put it into practice.
Thanks,
Jean 

And please ask Joy if she could e-mail the recipe for the small tarts. We spoke of it at the time, but I forgot to follow up on it. Thanks, Joy!

And one more thank you. I appreciate your understanding regarding my disability. You accepted my explanations at face value. I find it challenging to explain why I cannot physically accomplish certain things. I find that many times folks assume I won't do something, when, the fact is, I can't. Thanks for getting that so easily. That may have been my biggest pleasure through out this clinic.

I am happy to recommend you to my friends.

Jean Johnson

Thanks Jean I'm building a page for Joy's recipes it should be up soon.  For the side passing over to the fence/mounting block/stump... is not hard to do but requires really good timing when you come over next I'll help you with that. Victor

Didn't get the opportunity to say this in person yesterday (mouthed the words from the back seat of Dan's truck) but you were otherwise engaged in getting a horse to go into a trailer. . . nice job!
Just wanted to say thank you for the great weekend.  Was pretty confused at first but as things fell into place the 'AHA' light went on.  Am going to try to remember the RIGHT way to give signals and use them on my Quarter mare (Wrangler too!)
 
Please extend my gratitude  to Joy as well for the VERY tasty treats and hospitality.
 
Take care, keep in touch and give Chance a love for me!
 
Cowgirl Hugs,
Teri
 
Thanks Teri I really enjoyed you and Wrangler, I have a real soft spot for old horses, I'm going to give Chance a good belly rub right now.  Victor

Hey Victor,
I can't thank you enough for your time and effort for the mounted unit on Saturday evening and then for the invite to attend yesterday's clinic.  Carrie and I are both so glad we hauled our boys out there.
Take care,
Karen Yeager
 
Thanks Karen  I really enjoy helping The LASD Palmdale Volunteer Mounted Patrol unit, and you girls were a great addition to the clinic on Sunday.  Victor
 

Send your questions to victor@victorpenner.com and I will post the answers here.

coming soon