April Discussion 1. Cribbing- biting and chewing of wood while simultaneously sucking air Weaving- repeating swaying the neck back and forth, shifting weight from one leg to the other Pacing/Stall walking- rapidly walking in a circle or side to side when confined in a stall 2. To manage cribbing a cribbing collar/muzzle can be utilized. Weaving can be managed by providing more turnout time. If this is not a viable option providing hay to snack on can help with weaving. Providing a stall buddy can help greatly in managing pacing/stall walking. Horses should also receive more turnout time and increase forage received. 3. The key to managing these behaviors is- prevention. 4. Ruger has not shown any signs of stereotypic behaviors.

Ruger March Journal Under Saddle: I have officially put the first few rides on him! Our current routine includes him lunging for about 20 minutes and then I hope on. Right now he is working on developing a solid walk, yielding to leg pressure, and overall the "simple" cues. He is just learning the basics and getting used to carrying a rider. He is getting better at accepting the bit. It does take some coaxing to get it in sometimes but he is not nearly as bad once it is in. Additionally, he would have a really bad problem chomping the bit. He is not terrible with this anymore and part of that was just him learning to get a feel of it in his mouth. Right now he goes in a d-ring snaffle. I probably won't change this. De-Sensitization: We have new calves out at the barn. He totally flipped when he first saw them. Honestly, it took work to get him comfortable with them but not long. Lots of walking past them, lunging around them and letting him go up and touch them. Now he goes by them no problem and it really took him maybe two days but just time seeing them. Hooves: He had his feet done again this month. He stand fine for the farrier and goes in front shoes still. I condition his feet a couple of times a week and this is definitely helping. Overall: I am happy with his progress. He has a lot of potential to step into the ring and be competitive. As he gets more comfortable and consistent under saddle we will start trailering to new places. Video: https://youtu.be/FdpLE9nFwfQ

March Discussion 1. Personally, I feel I have grown exponentially as a horsewoman. Ruger has had some medical challenges that we have had to overcome. I have learned how to handle these various situations and to always do what is best for the horse. 2. Ruger has grown A LOT over these 6 months. He started out with a dull coat, poor topline/muscle, extremely buddy-sour, and very little experience overall. Now he is on a proper nutrition plan and is a rich, dark color. He has put on some muscle and filled out a bit more. Additionally, he can now be comfortably left alone without a friend. He has gotten to work with a lot of different things and although he still has a lot of work to do, there is an obvious change and improvement. 3. Ruger is proving to be very fit for my desired usage. I was ideally looking for something to take into the hunter or equitation ring. He has a low, floaty trot that would excel in the equitation. He only recently got started under saddle but is a quick learner and definitely has the scope to step into the hunter ring. 4. Ruger has boosted my confidence as a rider and teacher. He has taught me to (as always) be patient and that no one horse is the same. They all require different training methods and while they may pick something up quickly, it might take them longer with another task. 5. These past 6 months have only fueled my passion for the equine industry. I am heavily involved in all things horse from riding and training to being an equine ambassador. Currently, I plan to pursue a career in the equine industry and am interested in equine reproduction.

February Discussion 1. Ideas: Ruger's pattern will be fairly simple. The hope is just to have him walk, trot, canter under saddle at the show. All his maneuvers will be simple and focus will be placed on giving him a good show experience. 2. I do believe Ruger is on the right track with our show goals. His main focus currently is just to get the basics down and keep him healthy. 3. Again, there have been many set backs including: time off for medical issues, struggling to accept the bit, getting him to relax during work, buddy sourness, to name a few. 4. Ruger has made significant progress: he has remained healthy, he is getting better about the bit (just needs more work), he relaxes when consistently in work, his buddy sour issues have improved a lot and I can confidently leave him away from his buddy a not worry. 5. Unfortunately I have not given any thought to whether or not I will keep Ruger yet. My focus has just been on keeping him healthy and working. 6. Will upload once complete

Ruger's February Progress Under Saddle: I am pleased to say that he has officially begun his under saddle journey. Now he hasn't done more than a walk yet. Our everyday routine include me saddling him and lunging for 20-25 minutes. Then I'll hop on and right now we are just having someone lead us around in-hand and on the lunge line. The important thing to start is getting him to learn seat and voice cues. I honestly do not think he was every started under saddle because he has 0 idea what any of it means. Never the less he has handled it all extremely well. We do struggle with him accepting the bit. He'll throw his head when I try to put it in so I just take it slow, rubbing up and down the sides of his mouth and rewarding. I do lunge him with the bit but I leave his halter on under the bridle and connect to the halter. Since he is just learning how to carry and accept it I do not want any unnecessary pressure on the bit. Health: He is looking good. With spring, he has started to shed a little bit. He still needs a lot of work building muscle, especially in the hind end and developing his topline. Hooves: Ruger's feet were in poor condition when I first brought him home. They are slowly getting better but it is just going to take lots of time and regular maintenance. He wears front shoes and I oil his feet several times a week. Fundamentals: In reference to fundamentals, I am talking about the basic skills all horses should know. Such as- standing tied, loading in a trailer, (etc). We have worked on him standing tied and he does fine with this. This has never really been an issue but it is always good to practice. In regards to trailering, he doesn't have an issue with this but needs some more experience. By this I mean he still launches himself off the trailer if he does not have a ramp. He stands to be groomed, saddled, blanketed and bathed. Ruger couldn't care less for pets (cats, dogs) and works like a gentleman around other horses. Additional: Overall I am pleased with how he is progressing. We have had a lot of set backs due to medical issues and weather but he is very willing to learn and catches on quick. Additionally, he used to be extremely buddy sour to Rio but has improved significantly. Video: https://youtu.be/rwS-B53eirA

Ruger 9-14 https://youtu.be/_44v0VXJ8Go

January Progress Unfortunately, I have not gotten to work with Ruger much due to weather and being out of town. With this being said I have not introduced a lot of new things but rather brushing up on what he already knows and conditioning. Lunging: When consistently worked, Ruger is very knowlegable on the lunge line. He knows walk, trot, canter and stop cues and is prompt to do so. He has a habit of dropping his hip around one of the corners. To combat this I put a cone, pole in that corner and he is forced to lunge around it rather that inside. This has helped him a lot with keeping the circle rounded. Additionally, he has started polework. Right now it's just simple. I'll set out one to two poles (not raised) and send him over at walk/trot. He has gotten really good about his foot placement and learning to carry himself over and after the poles. Vet: Ruger is recovering well. He got a lot of off time to rest and has gotten a little chunky. I plan to take him back in soon and get another round of treatment done just to be sure. Futhermore, I de-wormed him this month and he handled it fine. Video: https://youtu.be/YLTW2c-QeY8

January Duscussion 1. According to the article when, two individuals bond they will serve as a secure base for each other, where they find comfort. Also acting as a safe haven where they appear to enjoy each other’s presence and find safety. 2. While there are various benefits and drawbacks to feeding treats, two pros include utilizing them as positive reinforcements for good behavior and they can be used to help horses feel more comfortable around humans. 3. One way I work on building a solid bond is through grooming. Additionally, using various leading exercises to not only help develop respect on the line, but trust in me as a handler.

December Discussion 1. Hay is crucial to the digestive system. A horse's stomach is consistently producing acid and required hay to prevent the acid from causing ulcers and damaging the stomach lining. 2. Several health risks are prevented such as gastric ulcers and the horse getting bored or hot (weaving, etc.) 3. False 4. Three key messages: horses should recieve 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay a day, nutritional quality of hay can change how much they should recieve, during the winter, an unblanketed horse may eat more to keep warm 5. Ruger weights roughly 1,100lbs, body condition=5, he should recieve 17-20lbs of hay per day When I first recieved Ruger Late November December after Colic

Ruger BBP 5-8 https://youtu.be/fSso9AUn67A

December Progress Vet: On December 22, I went out to work Ruger and he was laying down (which was unusual). He got up and started talking to me however he kept setting back when I was grooming him. Long story short, he coliced and we took him to the vet. About a month ago we treated him for ears ticks however it turns out we did not get all of them and they progressed and affected his colon. Fortunately we did not have to do surgery or flush fluids. The vet treated him accordinly and placed a catheter and then we let it pass. He was boarded at the vet from Friday and we were able to pick him up Tuesday afternoon. So far he has been doing good and we are fairly confident it was not GI related but we are still being catious. (feeding back in slowly, etc.) Right now he is still recieving grain and small portions of grass hay but no alfalfa yet. I hand walk him at least once a day and he is in a pen next to his buddy but we are keeping them seperate at the moment. I monitor how he is passing his food (etc.). He was suppose to be de-wormed however I am going to hold off another week or two. Lunging: Ruger has been making really good progress with this. We have moved into lunging in the arena. He now understands vocal cues and despite the baby moments here and there, he listens and transitions quickly. This month I have started saddling him. Again, he handled this incredibly well and it didn't phase him. I sent him over a pole too. We started by hand walking over it, then walking on the lunge line and trotting over a couple of times. It was new to him and he avoided it a few times but he became comfortable with it. Overall I am really happy with how he is progressing here and we just need a little more consistency before I get on. Ears: He is sensitive around his ears so we have been working with this. Ruger is getting better but it's just going to take time. After treatment he is getting better with his ears, but I will probably do another round of treatment to be sure. Desensitization: I showed him the tractor for the first time this month too. He did not seem to mind too much and carried on like it was nothing. Honestly, he gets to see a lot of different things at the barn. Often I will just bring him along while I put things away so he gets used to a bunch of different things. Video: https://youtu.be/Ba5stzCoTko

Ruger BBP 1-4 https://youtu.be/W__GSQy2TLg

November Progress Site Visit/ Groundwork: Dr. Huseman came out and evaluated Ruger and I this month. We learned a lot and Dr. Huseman was very very helpful. We worked on lunging and getting Ruger to learn voice and body cues. The goal currently is to develop a foundation and make sure Ruger gets a correct start to his new career. Although I would love to have him under saddle, without a solid foundation and groundwork that cannot be done. He has taken to lunging very well so far. He was quick to catch on to voice and body cues. We are not lunging in the arena till he is more comfortable with the cues. With how he is progressing right now, he should be able to move into the arena soon. Overall, the site visit went well and Ruger has been developing wonderfully! Farrier: Ruger had his feet done this month. He has thin front soles so he wears front shoes. He got some wire caught in his front right shoe several weeks ago and had to have it removed and a new one put on. When the farrier came this week to re-shoe him, he noted that he was a little sensitive to it but not terrible. Ruger's feet were not in good condition when I first got him but they have been getting better. I condition/ oil his feet a few times a week to strengthen them and it has been helping. His feet will continue to get better with the consistent maintenance. Additional Comments: Ruger has been looking awesome. He has grown a little winter coat and is really starting to shine. Dr. Huseman gave him a body score of 5-5.5. He has been handling a bunch of new things really well and has become one my favorite horses to work with. Video: https://youtu.be/iihgrvVfKVQ

November Discussion 1. Four categories include: Pressure on limbs, foreign objects, noises, and tight spaces. 2. Techniques for getting your horse comfortable around the various items listed above are as follows. Pressure on limbs- Start by picking up the horse's feet if they allow. If they do not, go back to the very basics. Using a lead rope, loop it around the pastern, cornet area of the horse. Gently apply pressure vertically till they respond and pick up the foot. Immediately reward and move to the next steps when ready. Foreign objects- First show the object to the horse. If they go up to it and investigate, reward them. If not, a good way to get them comfortable is by working around the object. Send them out at a walk (on a short line) till they grow more comfortable. Be sure to utilize changes of direction, (etc.). Noises- To desensitize them to various sounds, a good item to ensure they are ok with is clippers. To do so, rub the turned off clippers against the shoulder and move around once ready. Then turn them on and let the horse see them. Once ready, again, rub them around the shoulder and progress as needed. Tight spaces- The best advice with this is to start simple. Place two poles on the ground and have the horse walk between and over them. Progress to larger items as ready. ( cones, standards, between cars, buildings, etc.). 3. You should keep pressure applied till they stop moving and then reward. 4. One change can include the horse licking and chewing their lips and lowering their head. 5. It is important for the horse to step closer to the object they are scared off because it allows them to "drive it " back. This lets the horse know they can approach the object and have some dominance (so to speak) over it, building their confidence. Video: https://youtu.be/JClFR7Mo9cw

October Dicussion 1. Three items that are important to keep on hand include; sterlize pad/ gauze , vet wrap or some type of wrap and silver spray/spray on bandage. Additionally, personally I always keep some type of sedative (that has been authorized from the vet). Some horses just need something to help keep them calm beside food or to help with the pain of the wound. I always have an oral sedative because not all horses are comfortable with injections but it is good to have both and be comfortable administering both. 2. Step 1: Remain calm and try to de-escalate whatever the situation is, Step 2: Halter the horse and bring them somewhere safe where they can be evaluated, Step 3: Evaluate the injury (get another handler help if needed) for depth, type, severity, etc., Step 4: Take photos of injury and send to/call vet if required, Step 5: Follow with proper first aid for the injury type (hydro, silver spray, thorough cleaning, wrapping, etc). 3. One trick that can be useful is distracting the horse with food. Hay or grain can keep their minds elsewhere while you treat their injuries. 4. Dr. Huesman's webinar was very informational and inculded many useful tips. One thing that stuck out to me was that per 100 horses there are 4.2 colic events every year. The gums should be moist, pink and warm. Another way to take capillary refill time is by pinching the skin on the shoulder/major muscles and watching how quickly it returns to normal. Ideally, it should return back to normal within a few seconds. When dealing with a colic episode, pain meds should not be adminstered if a vet is checking them out with 6-12 hours as it can mask the pain and make it diffcult for the vet to evaluate what is wrong. 5. This is the vet bag/box I mainly use. The bag is insulted and has all sorts of stuff and it'll get zipped up and put in the box. I call the box my 'leg box ' as it has several types of wraps and other supplies for leg related injuries.

Ruger + Madison October Progress Trailering: He did amazing coming home from HSNT. Ruger was a little hesitant to come off the trailer but did fine once out. Since coming home he has trailered a few more times and will load even with the smell of steers in the trailer. Vet: About a week and half after him being home I noticed an unusual growth between his hind legs. The vet evaluated it and said he was part of a cord surrounded in scar tissue from when he was gelded and that he just didn't heal correctly the first time. He underwent surgery and the vet cut it out and cleaned it up. Up until this past weekend he has just been getting down time to heal. It was an open wound and we treated it as if he was just recently gelded. He handled the vet extremely well. Ruger didn't mind going into the stocks and was boarded at the vet for two days. Overall, I was very happy and impressed with how he handled it all and there were nothing but good reports of his behavior! In-hand: With his surgery we have not worked a lot on the lunge line or done any extensive work yet. He is getting better about picking up his feet and is fine being groomed. We have walked on the lunge line a couple of times and I would say he has a little experience with this but not very much. He doesn't mind dogs running around or the steers. Ruger doesn't like spray bottles so we are working on this. Additionally, we are working on him being comfortable with his ears being touched. Lunging: We finally got the lunge for the first time the other day! He has a lot to work on with this. As far as cues go he is very knowledgeable going to the left but very weak tracking right. He also likes to drop his hip and come into my space. Ruger is a sensitive horse who needs light, soft cues so this makes using a whip to push out his hip (etc.) a little more challenging. Body Condition: I am super happy with how he looks at the moment. His coat is super shiny and he is starting to turn back into a dark bay. We have had some varying weather however, he has not started growing his winter coat which is fine. Video: https://youtu.be/qzLEwdmHnbIhttps://youtu.be/qzLEwdmHnbI

Madiso and Theo: July Progress Under saddle: We have re-evaluated our tack fit for everything. Our saddle fits honestly the best we could get but my trainer had saddle that fit both of us a little better so we are using it. He is moving nicely but did have quite a lot of time off due to lameness, soreness and me being gone. Right now I have re adjusted his feed routine and medications/supplements and so far he has been sound. Our ride time has been cut to 20-25 minutes max to help keep him sound and build up energy. He does has effusion in his stifles, bad hocks and knees and a possible hock chip so making high steps is diffcult for him and he can overwork VERY easily. We just take it day by day and adapt depending on he is feeling that day. Trailering/Vet: He has done much better with this. We have gone to the vet twice. Once with a buddy and once without. He was defenitly better the second time and we had a positive experience both times around. Skin: This last week he broke out in hives. It started at the neck and moved to his whole body and his skin started peeling. We went to the vet and they gave us some medication to help with this and we are washing with an anti-fungal shampoo. Video: https://youtu.be/_2DNQof0MOs

Madison + Theo June Progress Trailering: We have been able to load him, shut the divider and take him for a ride off property twice this month! My dad was actually the one who loaded him too. He is chill once closed off and when backing out. I plan on taking him to the vet in the next few weeks and maybe school off property a few times. Under-saddle: His topline is developing which is good but now his saddle doesn't fit. Currently I am using correction pads till I find another one but he is weird with sizing. When riding he is doing good with responding to my cues and moving more forward when asked. I have started asking for him to collect up more and hold it and he is starting to get it quicker. He picked up side passing quickly but we still have work to do with it. At the canter he gets very stiff and so I am scheduling a chiropractor to see if that will help. He stretches before and after we ride but we think something may be off or out of place in the hind. Regular chiropractors and massages will probably become part of his maintenance in addition to stretches. Stalling + Farrier: With Theo having Cushing's and being black he over heats a lot faster than most horses! As a result I have to bring him in and stall him. He does really well and is super comfortable on his own or with other horses next to him. He had his feet trimmed and was well behaved (per usual). Once he starts jumping he may need front shoes but I doubt it since he won't do anything excessive or big. He'll get trimmed one more time before show. Video: https://youtu.be/tycUbUWKUDA Extra Credit: I emailed this early in the month before the 15th

Theodore's May Progress Under-saddle: He is moving pretty nicely so far. We are working on building stamina at the canter and I have started working over ground poles too. He gets really lazy and drags his feet over them so it is important to keep my leg on and really push him forward and through the exercise. I'm trying to include more 'fun' activities like going for trail rides outside of the arena. (even if just around the barn) This allows him to see different things and he really likes exploring! I always stretch my horses after a rider no matter what and this has been super important with him. He can get very stiff on his right side and stretching helps but I also learned that if he has had a very strenuous workout he requires a little extra care. It isn't too hard but this is what I'll do after a really hard workout - cool down walk 15-20 minutes, hose off legs, stretch, liniment. Making sure he gets the extra time to walk is the most important part. Our cool off laps are usually about 10 minutes but sometimes he needs that extra time to stretch out. Trailer: We are still working on this. There isn't a whole lot to update on here. He really just needs time (and lots of it) to get comfortable in a trailer but unfortunately we don't have that kind of time so we are doing everything we can to get him in, in a safe and positive way. Coat/Skin: He is finally shedding out and looking better. With him having Cushings it takes a lot longer to shed out all his hair especially since he had so much of it. Eventually I'll end up body clipping him as that is what will be best but I like to shed out as much as I can first. Video: it says June but I meant May! https://youtu.be/K2XaXu6rSxw

I emailed my sale ad