Honeysuckle Rose was picked for our 3rd Annual Blaze's Ride to the Rescue Trainer Challenge. She was chosen by Youth Trainer Emily Roberts. Emily will be working with Honeysuckle Rose for the next 100 days, turning Honeysuckle Rose into a dependable riding companion. Emily will be going against 6 other Youth Trainers in our Trainer's Challenge. We also have 12 Professional Adult Trainers competing in our Trainer's Challenge. Competition is set for April 26, 2014 at the Lazy E Arena, Guthrie, Oklahoma. Honeysuckle Rose will be available for adoption immediately following the competition on April 26th, 2014. Honeysuckle Rose is a sweet girl and loves attention. Honeysuckle Rose has a current negative coggins, up to date on vaccinations, deworming, teeth floating and hoof maintenance. Honeysuckle Rose has also been freeze branded and micro chipped for her protection. If you are interested in adopting Honeysuckle Rose, please submit an adoption application and get your pre-approved status, in order to adopt Honeysuckle Rose or one of our other Rescued Horses competing on April 26th.
Adoption Fee's start at $800.00 each. If more than one pre-approved adopter is interested in the same horse, the horse will be placed into auction to the highest pre-approved bidder.
Adoption Fee's start at $800.00 each. If more than one pre-approved adopter is interested in the same horse, the horse will be placed into auction to the highest pre-approved bidder.
Update (1-11): Pick up day! Honeysuckle Rose loaded in the trailer fine to bring her home and unloaded good as well. I brushed her and took her to the round pen. My dad came out and led her around with me sitting on her bareback. She didn't hump up or spook or anything silly. Took her and tied her up so she could work on standing tied. After a few hours, I lunged her some and then put the saddle on her. She didn't bat an eye and stood ground tied through it all until I asked her to move off. No buck! Which was very surprising to me. She has some major trust issues that I can see already and spooky but nothing too bad that we can't work through with time. We have an electric fence and she seems to respect it and hasn't went through it or had any issues with it at all- she's a smart girl!
Update (1-23): We have been working on groundwork in the round pen. She is still really hard to catch and doesn't seem to want to be around anyone. I'm hoping that she will start to trust me soon, but I know it takes time and can't be rushed! I still haven't been able to actually ride her (though I've been on her and also lead around on her), but I'm not going to rush things just to get on her, that will come with time and when she's ready.
Update (1-26): I saddled her up and lunged her in the roundpen today and she did just fine so I hooked up my draw reins and ground drove her for about 20 minutes or so. When I first lightly hit her with the ropes to get her to go, she took off but once she realized she was still alive, she started walking. I got her turning, backing, and stopping decent at a walk and trot on the ground. She did get scared when she heard an ambulance siren and started trotting but calmed down sort of after that, she was just anxious until they passed. She backs nicely but we will have to start working on head placement and breaking at the poll. Also getting her to stop and work off of her hindquarters, but that will come with time. I put some reins on her halter, flexed her a few times, did some jumping beside the saddle, got on and patted her on the other side and mounted/dismounted about 3 times, then I got on her. I walked her around the round pen and turned, stopped, and backed her up. She calmed down after a few rounds and really began to relax. She is also getting easier to catch! She is doing exceptionally well!!! So proud of her :) I'll be honest and say I didn't think I could ever get her going but we're on track now and I know that I will get her going good! Her first ride was a success and the best I could have hoped for.
Update (1-28): I worked with Honeysuckle Rose for about 2 1/2 hours today and quit when it started getting dark and I didn't have any feeling left in my fingers! She is progressing extremely well! She will let me walk up to her, pet, and catch her now and even whinnies at me sometimes when I feed her. I lunged her some saddled in the round pen and she did great, she is responding somewhat to verbal cues. We worked mainly on little things like flexing, headset, breaking at the poll, backing, etc. I am not going to introduce anything new to her for awhile, we will get what I've already taught her down and then slowly add more as she progresses. I rode her for 30 to 45 minutes at a walk in the round pen and she did great (we worked on flexing from the saddle as well). She relaxed the longer I rode and I figured out she likes to move out at a walk and is headstrong! She can do figure eights, back, and stop! Also did some desensitizing with the saddle (stirrups) and worked on her standing for mount/dismount on both sides, opening gates (on the ground), and yielding her hindquarters and forequarters. If anyone wants a nice quiet, smart, level headed mare than look no further- Honeysuckle Rose is for you! She also ground ties like nobody's business, you can say whoa girl, walk way out of sight, and she'll still be standing there waiting for you when you come back! Or ask her to follow you without a lead rope and she will. She is really sweet and is finally starting to trust me ! We have the connection I've been praying for and I know things will just keep progressing from here! To top it all off.. She even joined up with me in the round pen today for the first time! There's nothing like it.
Update (2-2): I worked with Honeysuckle Rose for awhile today. Things didn't start out great at all! (She was a runaway and got in a HUGE mess!) But she came to me to help her out of her bad situation instead of running off again so we have established a bond of trust. After that things went great! I was able to trot her in the round pen, walk her, work on stopping and standing still, as well as backing up. She is getting more patient and you can definitely see the trust that we are building. I rode her for about 45 minutes with no issues. She does have a faster walk and does like to walk out, I feel that the farther she progresses, she will make an exceptional trail horse. I had to go to the tack room to get some stuff and told her whoa (my tack room is aways away and definitely out of sight), and when I came back to the round pen several minutes later, she was standing exactly where I left her! Great at standing ground tied.
Update (2-6): I haven't been able to work with Honeysuckle Rose due to the weather since the 2nd of this month. She was doing great when we left off! She is a smart girl so I know she will pick right back up when I am able to work with her again. For now she is enjoying her oats and just being a horse! She does let me walk right up to her and pet her now as well. She is doing great and I can't wait to see where this journey will take us.
Update (2-28): Took Honeysuckle Rose to the OKC fairgrounds yesterday. Had a blast! She did really well though I can't let her have her head yet or she wants to take off. She did the obstacles great! She went over the box springs, up and over the blocks or "bridge", over the teeter totter, and even through the "car wash" of pool noodles, etc. She wouldn't go over the
mattress with me riding her, but did walk over it with me leading her. I rode her bareback with a hackamore through all of this! Got her to load in a 3 horse slant trailer by herself with a push of the halter and am working on getting her to back out now. I've been stuck for awhile on what to do with her, but I think we are finally passed that and progressing well! She hauls well and seems to do well in new places and situations.
Update (3-15): Honeysuckle Rose is doing great!! I took her on her first trail ride out of a pen
yesterday and rode her for about 2 hours or so, give or take. We walked, trotted, and.... Drumroll please!... GALLOPED!!! She had absolutely no buck or spook! I did make her mad after getting her sweaty and making her work, just to push her a little to see what she would do, but she didn't blow up or do anything stupid. She is even trying to work off of leg pressure! She is a very smart mare, but also extremely sensitive and will need a light handed rider who doesn't pull on her mouth. After her workout yesterday, I unsaddled her and gave her a bath. Turns out she LOVES to play in water! Then after her bath (she did great!) I brushed her out and she let me brush her back legs and belly without trying to kick me! Did I mention that we did all of this with her standing ground tied?! That's right, no need to tie this girl up to do anything, just drop the lead rope and let her know she needs to "stay"! And
say she will. She is making huge strides in her progress! She even joins up with me now. I can see it and I've also been told by people that Honeysuckle Rose really trusts me now. Today she whinnied at me and let me pet her through the fence, when she would normally turn and rush backwards away from my hand. She is a lot more consistent now and I feel safe and comfortable with her. (I actually want to work her and spend time with her now!) I finally trust her and am so glad she trusts me! I will continue to work her and update as she progresses.
I can't tell all, however, as I want some things to be a surprise at the competition!
Update (3-19): I rode Honeysuckle Rose for about 3 hours or so yesterday. We went down the road, by the river, over a bridge and by some construction stuff, by a big sink hole and signs, and did some trail blazing through some dense tall weeds. She did great! We walked, trotted, and galloped. She did do a jump/buck thing once (she got some major air!) because she was mad and I was making her work, but that's it. I got her head around as soon as she did that so she didn't have a chance to do too much. She didn't spook at the ducks that flew when we scared them either.. However, she did spook at a bird on the way home, but didn't take off or buck or anything, just crouched down and I got her under control easy. She is doing pretty good! She is really starting to move off of leg pressure now, too. She can really read her rider and responds to your seat. I ride her in a hackamore and she responds well to it, I wouldn't use a bit on this girl- she's very light and sensitive. I'm hoping she will be ready to compete at the competition, but I won't push her. We will see where we're at when it gets closer. For now, she would make an experienced horse person an excellent trail horse!
Update (1-23): We have been working on groundwork in the round pen. She is still really hard to catch and doesn't seem to want to be around anyone. I'm hoping that she will start to trust me soon, but I know it takes time and can't be rushed! I still haven't been able to actually ride her (though I've been on her and also lead around on her), but I'm not going to rush things just to get on her, that will come with time and when she's ready.
Update (1-26): I saddled her up and lunged her in the roundpen today and she did just fine so I hooked up my draw reins and ground drove her for about 20 minutes or so. When I first lightly hit her with the ropes to get her to go, she took off but once she realized she was still alive, she started walking. I got her turning, backing, and stopping decent at a walk and trot on the ground. She did get scared when she heard an ambulance siren and started trotting but calmed down sort of after that, she was just anxious until they passed. She backs nicely but we will have to start working on head placement and breaking at the poll. Also getting her to stop and work off of her hindquarters, but that will come with time. I put some reins on her halter, flexed her a few times, did some jumping beside the saddle, got on and patted her on the other side and mounted/dismounted about 3 times, then I got on her. I walked her around the round pen and turned, stopped, and backed her up. She calmed down after a few rounds and really began to relax. She is also getting easier to catch! She is doing exceptionally well!!! So proud of her :) I'll be honest and say I didn't think I could ever get her going but we're on track now and I know that I will get her going good! Her first ride was a success and the best I could have hoped for.
Update (1-28): I worked with Honeysuckle Rose for about 2 1/2 hours today and quit when it started getting dark and I didn't have any feeling left in my fingers! She is progressing extremely well! She will let me walk up to her, pet, and catch her now and even whinnies at me sometimes when I feed her. I lunged her some saddled in the round pen and she did great, she is responding somewhat to verbal cues. We worked mainly on little things like flexing, headset, breaking at the poll, backing, etc. I am not going to introduce anything new to her for awhile, we will get what I've already taught her down and then slowly add more as she progresses. I rode her for 30 to 45 minutes at a walk in the round pen and she did great (we worked on flexing from the saddle as well). She relaxed the longer I rode and I figured out she likes to move out at a walk and is headstrong! She can do figure eights, back, and stop! Also did some desensitizing with the saddle (stirrups) and worked on her standing for mount/dismount on both sides, opening gates (on the ground), and yielding her hindquarters and forequarters. If anyone wants a nice quiet, smart, level headed mare than look no further- Honeysuckle Rose is for you! She also ground ties like nobody's business, you can say whoa girl, walk way out of sight, and she'll still be standing there waiting for you when you come back! Or ask her to follow you without a lead rope and she will. She is really sweet and is finally starting to trust me ! We have the connection I've been praying for and I know things will just keep progressing from here! To top it all off.. She even joined up with me in the round pen today for the first time! There's nothing like it.
Update (2-2): I worked with Honeysuckle Rose for awhile today. Things didn't start out great at all! (She was a runaway and got in a HUGE mess!) But she came to me to help her out of her bad situation instead of running off again so we have established a bond of trust. After that things went great! I was able to trot her in the round pen, walk her, work on stopping and standing still, as well as backing up. She is getting more patient and you can definitely see the trust that we are building. I rode her for about 45 minutes with no issues. She does have a faster walk and does like to walk out, I feel that the farther she progresses, she will make an exceptional trail horse. I had to go to the tack room to get some stuff and told her whoa (my tack room is aways away and definitely out of sight), and when I came back to the round pen several minutes later, she was standing exactly where I left her! Great at standing ground tied.
Update (2-6): I haven't been able to work with Honeysuckle Rose due to the weather since the 2nd of this month. She was doing great when we left off! She is a smart girl so I know she will pick right back up when I am able to work with her again. For now she is enjoying her oats and just being a horse! She does let me walk right up to her and pet her now as well. She is doing great and I can't wait to see where this journey will take us.
Update (2-28): Took Honeysuckle Rose to the OKC fairgrounds yesterday. Had a blast! She did really well though I can't let her have her head yet or she wants to take off. She did the obstacles great! She went over the box springs, up and over the blocks or "bridge", over the teeter totter, and even through the "car wash" of pool noodles, etc. She wouldn't go over the
mattress with me riding her, but did walk over it with me leading her. I rode her bareback with a hackamore through all of this! Got her to load in a 3 horse slant trailer by herself with a push of the halter and am working on getting her to back out now. I've been stuck for awhile on what to do with her, but I think we are finally passed that and progressing well! She hauls well and seems to do well in new places and situations.
Update (3-15): Honeysuckle Rose is doing great!! I took her on her first trail ride out of a pen
yesterday and rode her for about 2 hours or so, give or take. We walked, trotted, and.... Drumroll please!... GALLOPED!!! She had absolutely no buck or spook! I did make her mad after getting her sweaty and making her work, just to push her a little to see what she would do, but she didn't blow up or do anything stupid. She is even trying to work off of leg pressure! She is a very smart mare, but also extremely sensitive and will need a light handed rider who doesn't pull on her mouth. After her workout yesterday, I unsaddled her and gave her a bath. Turns out she LOVES to play in water! Then after her bath (she did great!) I brushed her out and she let me brush her back legs and belly without trying to kick me! Did I mention that we did all of this with her standing ground tied?! That's right, no need to tie this girl up to do anything, just drop the lead rope and let her know she needs to "stay"! And
say she will. She is making huge strides in her progress! She even joins up with me now. I can see it and I've also been told by people that Honeysuckle Rose really trusts me now. Today she whinnied at me and let me pet her through the fence, when she would normally turn and rush backwards away from my hand. She is a lot more consistent now and I feel safe and comfortable with her. (I actually want to work her and spend time with her now!) I finally trust her and am so glad she trusts me! I will continue to work her and update as she progresses.
I can't tell all, however, as I want some things to be a surprise at the competition!
Update (3-19): I rode Honeysuckle Rose for about 3 hours or so yesterday. We went down the road, by the river, over a bridge and by some construction stuff, by a big sink hole and signs, and did some trail blazing through some dense tall weeds. She did great! We walked, trotted, and galloped. She did do a jump/buck thing once (she got some major air!) because she was mad and I was making her work, but that's it. I got her head around as soon as she did that so she didn't have a chance to do too much. She didn't spook at the ducks that flew when we scared them either.. However, she did spook at a bird on the way home, but didn't take off or buck or anything, just crouched down and I got her under control easy. She is doing pretty good! She is really starting to move off of leg pressure now, too. She can really read her rider and responds to your seat. I ride her in a hackamore and she responds well to it, I wouldn't use a bit on this girl- she's very light and sensitive. I'm hoping she will be ready to compete at the competition, but I won't push her. We will see where we're at when it gets closer. For now, she would make an experienced horse person an excellent trail horse!