Bringing Up Baby

Luxxx sniffing noses with my dog Puff

Luxxx T 2011 Holsteiner gelding 

Baby L now measures 16.1 hands.  He is looking much different than the fluffy guy I brought home 2/21/14.

I work Baby L on the lunge about 3 days a week and once a week I trailer him over to M's for work in the round pen and under saddle.  I think we have ridden him 11 times now.  He is fantastic on the lunge.  I have never had the pleasure of owning a 3 year old with such natural balance.  I have only seen him trip a couple times and when he does he gets mad at himself.  If he swaps leads I pop the lunge whip and he does a flying change! Even when he is wild he has a bottom, he gets it out then goes to work.

M worked him in the arena for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

http://youtu.be/Gl_9uQj6pTE

He has no steering right now but he has brakes so that it good.  I ride him in the round pen but am leery in the arena.  M had me get on him last week and he was being bratty.  He wanted to quit and go to the gate so M got on and worked through that.  This is typical for a baby to test boundaries and try to be in charge.  They have to be taught what is allowed and that they are to work until we say they are done.  M had me get back on and trot each way a few times.  Rewarding for positive behavior is essential.  The reward is pats and being done.  We also get off at different spots in the arena so he stops focusing on the gate.   

Baby L has been good but I still want more time working with M before I am comfortable getting on him at home.  I hope to go over to M's again this week but we will see if the weather permits.  As usual, lots of rain forecasted for this week.  Regardless I still make sure he gets handled daily.  Every interaction with babies is a learning experience for them.