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Post by cardicorgi on Apr 6, 2009 12:58:19 GMT -5
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Post by coconut on May 10, 2009 12:10:54 GMT -5
Benny was really a star pupil yesterday at the Duane Hebert Clinic. He lunged in the round pen near perfectly and took the saddle like a pro. I'm not sure he ever flinched even once! So here's a photo of Benny's first time ever wearing a saddle. There's lots more photos but I'll leave those for Monica to wrap up into one of her fabulous blogs! So for now...heeeeeere's Benny!!!!! ps: dark horse+covered arena don't exactly produce the best photos so I've lightened it a bit in hopes we can see how relaxed he is!
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Post by schwung on Jul 23, 2009 0:18:06 GMT -5
Big news for Benny! Juliane of Cowgirl Spirit offered to take a horse and get him ready for the show, and then take him to the show! Of course I jumped on the opportunity and immediately thought of Benny, who is more than ready to be started! So tonight I took Juliane over and we picked up both Benny and Sinatra from their foster home. Sinatra came back here and Benny is off to Carnation to the Cowgirl Spirit headquarters, where Juliane is itching to start working with him! I know she will post lots of photos and updates on his progress. So please thank Juliane for her wonderful donation of time and training to help Benny and SAFE!!
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Juliane
Junior BB Member
Crazy Ace
Posts: 74
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Post by Juliane on Jul 23, 2009 14:28:47 GMT -5
Benny and I arrived at the Cowgirl Spirit headquarters after dark last night, so he spent the night in one of our pipe corrals. This morning when I arrived, he was eager to join the rest of the herd in the pasture. It was foggy out, so the pictures didn't come out great, but Benny settled in immediately. I was a tad worried about Dollar, our herd boss, running him off, but instead, he's taken Benny under his wing. I'm not sure how far I'll get with Benny before the SAFE show, but it will be fun to work with him. He's a laid back, gentle soul and seems willing to learn new things. I'll try to update often on our progress. See you all at the show!
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Post by schwung on Jul 23, 2009 15:13:54 GMT -5
Wow, such BEAUTIFUL photos!!! Thank you Juliane!! If you ever get out of horse rescue/training, you should really consider a career in equine photography. Beautiful!
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Post by Whitewolf821 on Jul 23, 2009 15:16:56 GMT -5
I have to say. That is just crazy for me to see Benny all grown up! I still remember when we were on baby watch with Viv.
I'm sure Benny will blossom under your care, Juliane. Thank you for helping SAFE!
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Post by Angel62197 on Jul 23, 2009 15:34:29 GMT -5
I haven't logged on much (or posted much) as of late... but these pictures of Benny just convinced me I had to!
I remember the pictures of Benny as a tiny baby, and it's amazing to see what an incredible, exquisite horse he's turned in to. He's a picture-perfect example of what could have been lost w/o SAFE and other rescues stepping in when no one else would.
And to say any of those pictures didn't turn out that great is RIDICULOUS, I wish any of my pictures turned out like that!
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Post by lynnm on Jul 23, 2009 15:37:57 GMT -5
Benny and I arrived at the Cowgirl Spirit headquarters after dark last night, so he spent the night in one of our pipe corrals. This morning when I arrived, he was eager to join the rest of the herd in the pasture. It was foggy out, so the pictures didn't come out great, but Benny settled in immediately. I was a tad worried about Dollar, our herd boss, running him off, but instead, he's taken Benny under his wing. I'm not sure how far I'll get with Benny before the SAFE show, but it will be fun to work with him. He's a laid back, gentle soul and seems willing to learn new things. I'll try to update often on our progress. See you all at the show! These photos are beautiful.
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Post by cat67 on Jul 23, 2009 16:50:02 GMT -5
Benny looks fantastic and it will be great to see him under saddle!
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Post by coconut on Jul 23, 2009 17:28:40 GMT -5
Those photos are absolutely beautiful!!! I am so excited for him ;D
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rodeo51
Full BB Member
Katey
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Post by rodeo51 on Jul 23, 2009 23:46:16 GMT -5
Beautiful pictures Juliane!
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Juliane
Junior BB Member
Crazy Ace
Posts: 74
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Post by Juliane on Jul 24, 2009 15:00:00 GMT -5
Thanks guys! I love to take pictures of horses - almost as much as I love training/riding! However, I always want my pictures to be perfect, so when they aren't (in my eyes), I am frustrated! Hehe Benny and I spent an hour or so working on some basics last night. I am assuming he has retained quite a bit from the Duane Hebert clinic in May. He was perfect with everything, from catching in the pasture, tying and grooming, to saddling. I spent some extra time re-introducing him to my smaller, lightweight barrel saddle. He didn't have any fear, but was incredibly curious, wanting to sniff every part of it. Too cute! He was fine to cinch up, though I did it slowly and incrementally to get him used to the increased pressure around his girth. In between tightenings, we'd take a few steps to let him feel the saddle on his back. Once it was tight, I sent him out in a circle. He was perfect until I asked him to move forward at a trot, then he kind of balked for a few seconds, not sure he liked the feel of the stirrups bumping his sides. However, he got over it very quickly and soon was moving out in both directions. We did lots of groundwork, sending, hindquarter yielding and giving to the pressure of the halter. He started out a bit dull, but pretty quickly was listening to my requests. We also worked on trailer loading, since it took Jaime and I about a half hour to get him loaded at his foster home. I'm sure it was partly due to his thinking he was leaving Sinatra, but I want to make sure we get that worked out as much as possible. It took me about 5 minutes to get him loaded in the trailer last night. He was good, and as soon as he walked inside, he got lots of praise and we ended for the night. I had also spent a couple moments bouncing next to the saddle and stepping into the stirrup. He again had no fear and was fine with me swinging my leg over. We still have lots of groundwork to do, but I feel that giving him a small taste of each of the exercises rather than intense workouts focusing on a single task is the better route to work with him. So far he's been a joy to work with and I can't wait to play with him this afternoon. Sorry - the pics are bad this time - it was dusk/dark and my camera just doesn't do well in that lighting. Hopefully it will be earlier today and I'll get better pics! Thanks to SAFE/Jaime for the opportunity to play with this lovely boy!
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lyn51
Junior BB Member
SAFE Volunteer
Posts: 91
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Post by lyn51 on Jul 29, 2009 16:29:34 GMT -5
OK, here goes my anxiety and desire! He looks like a real horse next to those other horses. I still dream about this boy. It's probably a good thing I don't know where he lives.
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Post by Sara on Jul 30, 2009 11:33:25 GMT -5
How's benny doing?
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Juliane
Junior BB Member
Crazy Ace
Posts: 74
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Post by Juliane on Aug 4, 2009 17:24:15 GMT -5
Sorry for the lack of updates! Benny has been doing amazing - he's truly a superstar. Unfortunately, I took him thinking I would have all the time in the world with my own rescue world slowing down, but failed to realize that I'd be moving from my residence to a new house and that other things would be getting in the way of training, such as 100+ degree heat! I'm working a full time job, and then taking care of my own personal horses, as well as Cowgirl Spirit horses in this heat, so Benny hasn't gotten as much time as I would have hoped. I've only gotten 3 rides on him in the time I've had him, and each time he's been amazing! We've hauled out to another arena, we've ridden bareback and under saddle. We've walked and trotted. Benny is carrying the bit, but we are still steering with the halter. He'll probably graduate to using the bit in the next ride or so. Benny is pretty much unflappable and extremely easy going. This is the first time I have started a horse under saddle without a round pen or arena. His first ride was in the pasture with 10 other horses. The second ride was out in the un-fenced wide open. The third ride was in a strange arena that I hauled him (and only him) out to. He was great! I believe that tonight I will be taking him on his first trail ride. I have no doubt that he will be great at that too! I am not sure we'll have the canter down by the show, which is only 2+ weeks away, but I'll be riding him daily now. I just moved to Carnation (Ames Lake) and have 20 acres. So, Benny moved to my house last night along with two of our personal horses so that he can have more one on one time. Hopefully we will improve much more quickly now! Here's a couple cute pics (we have two bottle Jersey bull calves, so Benny got to meet them). Also, a 6 minute video of his first 3 rides all compressed together. I'll try to update more often www.youtube.com/watch?v=agRpfXZRQqo(By the way, some of the video was taken with my iPhone, others were taken with my video camera, which is on it's last legs, hence the lack of audio - I had to mute the clips as they were screeching loud! Sorry!)
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