Hercules and I will be participating in the Natural Horse Showdown this weekend in Midway, UT. It is a fundraiser for the Utah Animal Adoption Center and I think the perfect opportunity to get Hercules out in a crowd of “strange” horses and see how he will behave. So tonight we spend practicing obstacles on the ground that they used last year. We worked with a tarp and doing a slalom course with cones. Then just for fun we threw in some obstacles that we may encounter in Texas worked on crossing a bridge and some more with the ground poles and also with pulling a slicker out of a mailbox and wearing it. Hercules just thrives on new tasks. We are having so much fun.

I also wanted to expose Herc to the electric clippers since his brand will have to be clipped in Texas. He actually seemed to enjoy the vibration. I asked Janet to give him a bridle path and while she was at it she clipped his whiskers. He actually pushed into the blades to feel the vibrations. It was quite comical.

Since it has been so hot and Hercules has been doing so good I took him over to the sprinkler and let him stand in it to cool off. Then he thought he would return the favor with the other sprinkler. This horse really does have quite the sense of humor.

Time to hit the trail. Hercules has been doing so well with everything that I have given him to do that today we ventured out on the trail with Janet and Ladybug. Hercules took everything we encountered like he has done it all his entire life. WOW amazing. He even got out and led for portions of the trail, of course he felt more secure with little Ladybug out front but he definitely seemed to enjoy getting out and seeing the hills.

Today I took Hercules over the arena and we practiced what we had learned at Sage Creek on Saturday. He was much easier to get up to the faster gates in the open arena then he is in the round pen. I think he is just really bored with the round pen and so we will continue our lessons from now on in the arena and out on the trail. We were able to get walk, trot and canter in the arena.

Today we loaded up Hercules (for his first trailer ride since arriving here) and traveled to Heber so that the two of us could get some assistance from my good friend and mentor Jim Hicks. I have been struggling with getting a good steady trot from Hercules and I have not felt confident to ask for a canter yet. I also wanted to get some help with turning. Jim took a little time getting acquainted with Hercules and then we went to work. With Jim’s coaching and help I was able to accomplish what I set out to with Hercules today. We got some good turns and bending going on and then after a lot of encouragement from Jim we finally were able to get over the canter hurdle. Hercules was a dream and actually seemed to enjoy actually getting up and moving. Now to continue these lessons at home…

Today I decided to take Hercules over the arena and turn him loose and let him play. The biggest area I have turned him loose in the past was the round pen so I thought he might enjoy the wide open space.

First I walked and trotted him around the perimeter and then turned him loose. Man what a treat it was to see him move and fly across the arena.

Since my last post Hercules and I have been working on our walking and trotting with both of us staying relaxed at the same time. Some days that is easier than others but we are getting better together.

Tonight we started our routine as usual with some walk, trot, canter transitions on lounge line. Hercules appears to have a bit of a "lazy" side and doesn't really like to stay in the faster gait for very long. Will have to venture out to a bigger area and see if that is the problem or something else.

He was doing really well otherwise and staying calm so I moved right into riding. Tonight was the best night yet. No boogers found either of us and we learned to relax together. However Hercules has been continually getting more stiff when turning to the right with the halter so I added some reins to the bit and began to use the bit to support the turns and he then really seemed to "get it" and became much more light. We also began working on backing up from the saddle.

Hercules was being so good and staying so relaxed I decided to try our first ride out of the round pen. I know I am going slower than a lot of the trainers but I am really enjoying the whole experience and am just proceeding as we both feel comfortable with each other.

Hercules was so awesome. He never even got nervous. I rode him past all the stalls with the boarded horses in them, past the hay barn, past all the chickens milling around and then over some ground poles. He took it all in stride not even spooking when he accidentally stepped on a ground pole and it rolled. He maintained his composure and proceeded on across. I am so proud of how far he has come.

We are almost ready to venture out on a trail ride. Hmmm.. Maybe this weekend.