Cold Weather Has Finally Visited PA

It's been a bit since I've had a chance to post a blog. Work has been extremely busy with the end of one year and all the reporting that requires and the start of the next year and all the set up that requires. We also lost one employee, which then adds some work time to the schedule.

But, amid all this, Roo and I have still maintained a semblance of a schedule as far as interaction and trianing goes.

As you can see in this photo Roo has grown a bit more and I am actually bending over laughing at him here. We use alot of activities in our work now, including the tarp and the poles and flowers and cones. I am teaching Roo to run a sort of obstacle course off lead. It's like agility training for horses. There is a different command for putting only front feet on the tarp and four feet on the tarp, as well as for approaching the tarp from the side (width-wise) or from the end (lengthwise). One command asks that he walk the tarp from end to end (lengthwise). One command asks him to halt with front feet only on the tarp. Etc. We make it up as we go along. I am trying to vary the experience for him, make him use his mind and see how long it takes for him to give me the correct response. Response time has actually DECREASED (in that he gives me the correct response FASTER now) over the last month as I've added new elements to the agility course. This is good. Roo seems to be thinking critically as his vocabulary of commands (both verbal and non-verbal signals) grows.

I may have joked once about Roo becoming a trick pony (well, pony may not be the right word...LOL), but there is no joking any more. He has the potential and the mind to do exactly that.

The weather has been very cold lately. In the past week we have had wind chill advisories and wind chills of -10 to -20 degrees. After work weather has not been cooperative for Roo and I for four days now, with it being 0 - 5 each evening. Not conducive for either of us to be working. So I typcially make a run to the barn to check blankets, feet, and just be a presence, then run home and sit by the fire. These few days off seem to be a downer for Roo. He looks at me each time I bring him out of his stall with that look that seems to say "So what are we doing today, Mom?" Each time I groom him and put him back I know he is disappointed. But it is just too cold, even with the little heaters in my shoes.

I changed Roo's feed to Blue Seal Charger in the last month. He is liking it alot. I wanted him to stay on a feed that was conducive to growing horses, and Charger meets all the requirements. I will keep him on this until he is about 30 months old, then I will most likely switch him to either Blue Seal Trotter or Pacer.

When the weather clears Roo and I will go outside more and walk the farm a bit. He is very trusting of me now and really will go anywhere and do anything I ask him to do. I'm looking forward to Spring!!!