Falcoln's first trail ride

Judie on Falcoln and Jen on her horse Wildfire.  Some things are spooky over there!
 

Falcoln doesn't mind the brush off-trail on his first ride

Falcon's last day at MSTC
Owner Kim rides him and takes him home.

Update from Owner

Hi Judie,

I wanted to update you on the progress that Falcon and I are making.

I can't remember if I wrote and told you about last Saturday.

First of all, he was a PILL to try and mount, so I walked him 2/10 of a mile then was able to get on where he stood perfectly still.

I was with a friend and we went to this huge pasture to ride. I dismounted and opened the gate and when I went to mount again...MR PILL....so I went AAAATTTTT and he backed up, turned around ripping the reins with a toss of his head from my hand and off he went at a nice collected canter up the hill.

He had no interest in being caught and we had to walk about half a mile before we caught up with him in the barnyard of the pasture.

He still wouldn't let me mount, so I started making him BACK UP after about 5 tries, he gave in and stood nicely. But still had that look in his eye, like what in the world is that THING on my BACK! After that we had a nice ride.

On Tues. I decided to work with the mounting thing in our barn lot. Well, don't ya know, he stood STOCK STILL. No issues at all, on and off just like you taught him to do.

On Thursday we went with Betsy Maitland to Fort Valley. If you don't know Betsy, she is a past endurance person and has done 50 milers and Is a WONDERFUL mentor, getting after me when I need it and encouragement as well.

Falcon thought about giving me trouble, but as soon as I said ATTTt he backed up two steps and stood still nicely, not moving until I told him to.

Betsy took me on a 12 mile ride up to Kennedy's Peak. Wow what a ride! All of those ROCKS ROCKS ROCKS!

I am happy to say that Falcon was marvelous other than trying to keep him at a trot instead of a canter on the ridge...and he was not about to let Betsy's horse get in front of him there, so we had a nice little competition side by side while I held him back, but then finally let him pull ahead.

He took care of himself very well on the rocks and finished unscathed.

Today we went out for a 5 mile jaunt alone at 7:30 a.m. He stood perfectly for mounting and was good on the trail other than the trot canter thing. He really pulls hard and seems to totally ignore the bit when I try and slow him down...I really am trying to focus on relaxing and digging deep into my seat, but for me I still stiffen some, which I know doesn't help either.

I tried lifting up on one rein like you said to do, but he just puts his head up and tosses and keeps on going. Any words of wisdom there? I suppose that I should work him on giving to the bit weaving around my apple trees in the orchard.

He does that well at the walk, so I guess I will do that on days that I am "resting" him.

So Then he tried to be ornery on the way home, so I turned him around and made him go up another trail just so he would know he couldn't run away home with me.

I feel like we are making tons of progress. He is just too smart for his own good. I suppose it will take some time before he realizes that I am as stubborn about being the boss as he is.

The good news is, I am not afraid of him anymore and feel like we are bonding well. After the Kennedy Peak ride, I had a lot of trust in him for taking care of us over the rocks.

So, thanks for putting a good base on him and encouraging me not to let him get the best of me. He is such a sweet boy....and I probably am still giving him way too many treats, but how can you deny that soft little nicker! (I feel guilty for him having to deal with ME!) hah!

Have a great week and hope to see you on the 31rst.
 

Falcon and I completed the Virginia Highlands Endurance Challenge in August.  For the most part he did great.  The first Vet stop was a challenge for him with all of the stimulation, but he finished with mostly all A's.  THANKS JUDIE for his great start!