Patience wins in the end

My sweet Chocolate man, excited as we turn the corner toward the farm.

He knows our routine and the days we go the farm, I get friendly reminders ALL day during work (I have a home office) of "Mom, don't forget that we go to the farm today"

Laz is doing so great on being a calm OTTB.  He's better now with if he steps on his lead to not FREAK out, he just pops his head, steps to the side and reacts much smaller.  

I groom him ground tied, allowing him to graze or not, depending on mood, and can walk into the barn without him freaking out being 'alone' for a minute.

It makes it so relaxing

(grrr on those TB ribs, but also..I wish I was ribby, lol)

BO "C" brought her 4 yr old Sawyer into the arena with us to do some work

Being a hot day, as we refilled the water obstacle I hosed off Laz's legs, chest, belly and flank areas which he enjoyed by pawing and pawing and pawing.

I love that he loves water!

Sawyer was NOT into the water obstacle.

He strongly felt that it was bad, scary, horse eating, or a bottomless hole...whatever it was, it was a bear for us to get him to step in it.

We tried having Laz show him how fun it was.

Laz was just happy to have someone to groom

Check out Sawyer's rump...he is a TANK. Even though he's probably 15.3 I would guess, he is SO strong and SOLID.  Not to mention he has fantastic, big wide barefoot feet.

He looks part draft horse in this picture, but I think he's a registered Paint? Or QH.  

Here you can really see how misaligned Laz's back/hip is.

You can also see where Sawyer STOOD for 2 hours! LOL!

Mason took a dip in the cool water obstacle too!

So, Laz did great walking around and being a great, calm boy.  A virtue I am strongly encouraging and rewarding.  Sawyer's lesson was a bit more exhausting for us.  The BO is probably very sore today, having him yank back, rear, kick out and defy going into the water obstacle for 2 hours.  

I hopped on Laz and rode him around for about 15 minutes while the BO lunged Sawyer around the water, trying to encourage him that when he stopped and came in, it would be a reward.  Laz did great, but was a bit upset when he heard the lunge whip crack, and he kinda popped to the side and crow hopped, which was fine, but I thought I was going to eat sand.  Thankfully, he calmed down and I stayed on, and we were back to ok. I told him, he was a brave boy for sticking with me and not worrying (too much) about the whip. He is very nervous and reactive to whips (I have done lots of desensitizing) but still, it's normal for him to do that.  He could have been a lot worse and I was proud of him yesterday.  

After I dismounted, I turned him in the round pen with some water, to graze and relax and to help BO with Sawyer.  We finally got Sawyer (who was sooo exhausted but oh so stubborn) in the water, by picking up his heavy feet and placing in the water and giving him his feed as reward and lots of "Goooood Booooooy!"  In the end, he got it and we got him to walk in and back out of the water, 4 times.  We couldn't quit, even though we were tired and Sawyer was tired, until we could end on a good note.  We were SOOO happy for the end success and hosed off Sawyer to cool him off.  Poor babe, just had it in him to not get in the water until the very end.

Patience won though.

We'll work on him again on Tuesday evening to see if he can bravely enter the water.  

It is so nice having someone out there to help and work on our horses because sometimes it does take another pair of hands and suggestions to get that achievement.