Days 91-97 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

If it ain’t raining, you ain’t training. This is an old military saying that echoes in my ears when it rains from my time on active duty (Army). It was very applicable to this week’s training. It seemed every time I tacked up Phil and started some warm up ground work the sky would just…

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Days 84-90 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

90 Day Progress report • Extremely well behaved in all aspects of daily interaction from de worming to under saddle • Balking has disappeared • No problem with impulsion • Rearing was not an issue and no signs of rearing present • Ear sensitivity has disappeared • Head shyness has disappeared • Girthy behavior has…

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Days 70-76 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Phil is back in training. To regain some lost conditioning from the past 2 weeks I have gone back to the round pen. Remember the round pen is not used to chase your horse around in circles to exercise him. I think up creative ways to move Phil’s feet right, left, back, forward, sideways. Phil was…

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Days 48-54 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

Week of May 25th – I have a funny story to tell about Phil this week. I am back teaching this summer semester, so Dan is feeding again in the mornings I teach. Dan told me that he poured Phil’s feed and headed to the gate without giving Phil the ritual head rub. Dan said…

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Days 33-39 – Phil’s Courage’s Journal

The ground work is reinforced every day whether it is actual moving Phil’s feet in the round pen or by simply leading him from pasture to barn. I try to be creative and my have him serpentine or walk backwards while going from barn to pasture. In the arena I have been focusing on softening…

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