Stanley
Stanley is a 7yo Bay gelding gathered from Spruce-Pequop HMA in Nevada on 02/21/2011. He stands approximately 14.2 hands tall. This gorgeous gelding is in training as part of the Trainer Incetive Program. He will lead, load and pick up all four feet before he goes home. He is NOT trained to ride but should make an excellent trail horse with additional training. The adoption process is simple. Learn how to get started here: Adoption Process
February 6, 2015
Stanley had today off but we’ve been working with him on the obstacle course as well as on reinforcing his basic training behaviours. More detailed information about the excellent progress he is making will be added soon!
January 24, 2015
Today we hauled Stanley to the 4H symposium at the AV Fairgrounds. Unfortunately the weather was horribly windy enough to upset even seasoned horses let alone a horse with only three weeks of training so we decided not to take him out because we didn’t want to risk over stimulating him!
January 20-22, 2015
We have been focusing on getting Stanley ready for his first outing to the 4H symposium on Saturday. We worked on picking up all four feet, coming in and out of his stall, and trips to the obstacle course. We also cinched him for the first time with the bareback pad. He didn’t buck at all. This video shows him moving off just after he was cinched up. Check him out!
January 18, 2015
Today was a big day for Stanley. He had his first trip out into the open, first time on the obstacle course, first time trailer loading by himself and first time trailer loading with friends. He was super great for all of it! More details and video in the works but here are some pictures.
January 15, 2015
Tonight started off with more review then I started introducing picking up a front foot to Stanley. He already has been standing pretty quiet for me to rub my hand all over his front legs. At first, when I would ask for his foot, he would jerk it up hard and move off. To help him understand the concept more easily I used my soft rope and taught him to lead around by a front foot. Once he would follow the feel of the rope I went back to trying to pick up his foot. First I did so with the rope, then with my hand. By the end of our training session he was easily picking up his left front foot for me.
January 14, 2015
Stanley had a couple of days off due to rain and subsequently mud. This evening I took Stanley out of his stall and back into another pen. He’s getting better and better about haltering though it still takes him a couple minutes to accept it. We worked on desensitization review especially concentrating on grooming in preparation for teaching him to pick up his feet. At the end of our training session I put Pistachio in his stall with him to guage his personality with another horse in close proximity. He and Pistachio never said one word to each other. Just hung out and eventually were grooming on each other!
January 10, 2015
Had to bring Stanley out of his stall today because rain was imminent and the stall we had him in had no shelter. His previous lesson earlier in the week I had removed the halter so today I had to put it back on. I worked with him on simulating haltering during our last training session but the best way to practice is actually haltering. The video below shows the first time Stanley has his halter put on without a chute. Once in his new stall I worked on reviewing desensitization exercises.
Haltering
First Outing
January 6, 2015 – Training Day 3
Fun night for Stanley. We worked lots on approach and retreat and leading to both the left and the right. He was really sticky one direction but we sorted it out. Also worked on touch. He was worried at first but I was able to get him comfortable with both sides of his neck and shoulder being touched. He’s a little worried around his ribs to his hip area so we’ll keep working on that. Overall he did great! We should be able to bring him out of his stall this weekend.
January 4, 2015 – Training Day 2
Worked with Stanley some more on leading and approach and retreat. He’s starting to get the hang of it. He’s a very calm, left brained kind of horse. He thinks a lot and I have yet to hear him snort at anything. Sometimes he does get worried and has to run off but overall he is doing very well. We worked today on leading, desensitization with the flag and I was able to touch him for the first time! I thought this was the full video session…but now I found another file…I think my camera split it into two. I will check and upload second half if that is the case.
January 1, 2014 – Training Day 1
I worked with Stanley briefly moving him around left and right. Started him with the fundamentals of leading. Also worked with him with tossing a rope over his back. I was really pleased that he didn’t try to kick out at the rope at all. He is a little worried about his new surroundings but I think he’ll settle in just fine!
December 31, 2014 – Arrival Day
Stanley was observant in the pens but not overly friendly which I like. He was curious and wanted to check us out but not too closely. After we got him home I gave him about an hour to settle in and then played with him for about five minutes. He’s alert and curious but cautious. He isn’t overly reactive and should gentle pretty easily. Video will be uploaded soon.
