Willow Acres Farm

07/26/2025

Well, I guess it is official. I rode Onyx on the arena! Fourteen days since we brought him to the farm. Twelve days of work with two rest days. I would say he has progressed quite well.

07/25/2025

I rode Onyx yesterday on day 12 and again today on day 13. Both times have been in the roundpen. Today I got on him and rode him without my mom in the round pen for assistance. I put on my boots today so that makes it a more official ride, unofficially. If I move to the arena tomorrow, I will call it an official ride. I am not sure that I am that confident yet. I am pleased with his progress and look forward to my posts being about gait progression as well as new skills.

07/23/2025

07/23/2025

Day 11. Well, I rode him. I am not calling it a full ride but we did make him move with me up. A huge thanks to my wonderful, helpful mom. Onyx worked on two new skills today. Me riding and I sent him over the the raised poles. Day 10 got skipped because it was too hot by the the time I got my chores done.

07/21/2025

Day 8 was a rest day. We had too much stuff going for me to make it out early to work Onyx and it was too hot by the afternoon. Back to work on day 9. Today was an easy day though. I did not even saddle him but I did try two new skills. The first was longeing him in the arena. He did great with this one. I was a little apprehensive as to how he would do sending but he was perfect! The second skill was walking on the wooden bridge. I just wanted to do it for fun. He readily stepped on with one foot but it took several tries to get all four feet up there. We finally got it though.

07/19/2025

Day 7. I added noisy jugs to the saddle today. I laid across the saddle as well instead of getting all the way on. I want him to get used to weight on his back. He moved around a bit with me like that. I let him move and used my lead to do something similar to a one rein stop. He did not move much but it does get used to the feel. My original timeline was to be getting on him within two weeks. We stepped that up so my new timeline is to be riding him in the big arena by the end of next week. We shall see if we can progress that much. I need to have him turning and stopping good in the rounpen before we move to the arena.

07/19/2025

I also had some fun with him.

07/19/2025

Day 6. We moved up the schedule! I started the come and get me exercise yesterday and worked on it again today. I wanted to see how he would respond to me being somewhat over him and he took that fine. My mom arrived and I told her what I had done and she said that I should just get on him. So, I did!! He took it all great. She got up on him too. I offered to let Shelby get on but she declined.

07/17/2025

Day 5 and I added a saddle to his workout! I also started the come and get me exercise. I need longer arms...

07/16/2025

Day 4! I am counting them until I get on his back. More reinforcing today and his new skill was an introduction to the clippers. He did so well that I trimmed his bridle path and front feet. It's hot here in case you can not tell.

07/15/2025

Day 3. Reinforced the skills from the other days and added a new skill. Onyx is getting better about turning but needed a reminder when we first started. He gets to do lots of backing to places because he thinks he should get to lead me. We backed to the patience pole, backed to the roundpen, backed to the trailer, and backed to the stall. He is getting good at backing. More work on yielding but he has improved there as well. Desensitization with the blanket, stick and string, and flag today. Our new skill is desensitization with a tarp. Throwing it over him, moving with it, and walking over it. It took it all in stride.