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Norco Extreme Mustang
Trail Challenge
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April 10, 2010 From Start to Foundation Once again, Comet is just sitting around. You might think you've seen just about enough of this trick. But each time it comes up again, Krista has taken it just a little bit further. At this point, Comet has gained enough confidence with this, that he can take a seat out in the open field. He's at home, so it's a comfortable place for him, but the bean bag is out in the open, without the security of a supporting wall or fence. |
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April 15, 2010 From Start to Foundation Comet once again, proves his level of confidence. |
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Krista walks Comet
up to the FlexPen gate.
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Pick up the gate to
move it .. .. ..
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Then head on out.
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Comet cruising along in a nice frame, with a loose rein. | |
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4/15/10 From Start to Foundation More tricks from Comet: he's not getting any less goofy! |
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What
has Krista added this time?
Comet has not only learned to sit out in the open, saddled, but he's become strong and balanced enough to do it with Krista on his back. |
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This takes a lot more
balance and confidence than you might expect
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Comet naps, as Krista
climbs underneath him. She's feeling that he's very safe.
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All Comet really wants
is a lot of love!
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| April 28, 2010 Corralitos
Corral Dave warms Polaris up on the longe line. Not being a real confident little guy, Polaris appreciates starting out with something familiar to him. |
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Polaris is looking
relaxed and focused as he trots along, giving Dave a good work out,
too.
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Working on a longer
line shows that Polaris has become more confident in his work.
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Polaris and Comet are able to work
next to each other. |
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Polaris is catching on to working in drivelines. He gets a little troubled sometimes, and starts looking in interesting places for solutions. But he's doing a great job of handling ropes around his body, and trusting in Dave to help him get himself untangled. |
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They start off real well, moving up to the trot, going left. |
Now to change directions. |
Polaris is a little unsure what's being asked. He doesn't make the perfect decision, but he's easily persuaded that there's a better answer. |
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Polaris has gotten
himself pretty tangled up. The important thing is not to avoid trouble
in the first place.
Rather, what matters is how well you get out of the trouble, and that you end up in a better place than when you started. |
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It's pretty amazing what Dave's patience,
consistency, dependability
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This
is just about as good as it gets!
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Ride Dave has Polaris saddled. It used to get pretty western sometimes: now, not quite so much. It's been slow going: Dave has taken all the time Polaris has needed to get ready. And it's been quite some time. Comet has had walk-trot-canter for some time. No two horses progress the same: it could be that Polaris is now in a position to just shoot ahead. But Dave has been patient, knowing that the foundation he lays for Polaris now will be with him all his life. It's just a lot of building blocks stacked one on top of the other. If the one on the bottom fails, you're back way behind even where you started. Not only do you have to restack the blocks, but you have to clean up the mess you made. Although Dave will be showing Polaris in the Trail competition in drive lines, he knows this is safest for all concerned. And most important, for Polaris. |
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Dave moves real slow.
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He's doing his best
to keep his weight as evenly balanced over Polaris' body as possible.
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Dave has mounted and
dismounted countless times.
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But they won't move
off today.
As strong and confident as Polaris has become, Dave knows that waiting will pay off in the long run. So they just sit together for a while .. .. .. and start it all over again. |
| May 10, 2010 From Start
to Foundation This day is what Dave and Polaris have been working towards for nearly 90 days: Dave steps into the saddle and feels that Polaris is ready to move forward. Polaris is reasonably confident that he can move his body and balance both himself and his rider without blowing up. Dave is fairly confident that he isn't going to get piled. What a deal! |
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Dave asks Polaris to move forward as quietly as he can. It's a real balancing act: too much leg pressure and Polaris just might blow. Dave has been conditioning Polaris from the ground that this smooching sound means go forward, so it's no surprise to Polaris. | |
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Dave's weight is forward in the saddle and he's given Polaris his reins, all to encourage Polaris to go forward. They move off at a nice, quiet walk. Polaris' head is still low and relaxed, and there's still a bit of slack in the reins. |
See that grin?
They've moved up to a trot, and made an entire revolution. Dave's still
in the saddle. Polaris is still relaxed. Even though he's raised his
head just a little, his eye is real soft.
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Just a guy and his
horse, getting a good day's work in.
This will be about it, until Norco. |
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Polaris plays with
the ball
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Polaris rolls in the
creek, while Comet wonders why.
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These two mustangs
have gone from wild to domestic partners in just 90 days.
Stay tuned for the conclusion of their journey with Krista and Dave at From Start to Foundation |
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May 14-16, 2010 Norco Extreme Mustang
Trail Challenge If you were to just look at the numbers, you might get the idea that the Trail Challenge was a bit of a disappointment for Krista and Comet, Dave and Polaris. They were outshone in the body conditioning scores, in spite of the boys looking to be in good flesh and appropriately muscled. Krista and Comet came close to the Finals with a score of 305: 44 points shy of the cutoff. Dave never mounted Polaris throughout the competition, in spite of having ridden him nicely at home. But if you think they're feeling glum about their experience, how wrong you would be! |
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In Dave's own
words:
Here's Polaris, in Norco, on his 4th ride. I'm just sittin' back and we're cruizin' right along .. .. .. |
I'm turning him
to the right, here, staying real light with my hands, and he's already
moving off of my outside leg real nice. This horse is incredible for
only 4 rides .. .. ..
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And now we're loping
for the 1st time. I've been waiting 3 months for this day. Patience
pays off!
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Nice natural carriage.
Horizontal neck, and his head is just in front of the vertical. Ears
pricked back, he's paying attention to me.
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Slowing down real
easy-like, to a walk. I don't want to pull on his face like some "dude"
to stop him. That would just start a confrontation.
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The main thing Dave
has taught Polaris is that he can be trusted.
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This looks like quite
a hill for a real green horse.
Polaris is a little strung out behind: it would have been asking too much for him to pack Dave up this hill at this point in his development. |
Polaris is still pretty
green to the sights on the trail, too.
He's taking a little exception to this particular rock. Dave's calm about it all, and this helps Polaris quit his worrying. |
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Another new site, and
Dave gently let's Polaris know with his elbow that this close is too
close. It would have been real unfair to Polaris' mind, as well as his
body, to ask him to carry a rider on this trail at this time. Dave's
wisdom will pay off soon.
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Dave's real proud of
Polaris, and Polaris enjoys the moment.
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Polaris looks for all
the world like he's interested in Dave's map.
It's more likely that there are llamas behind that fence. Or maybe the tractor with the umbrella on top just started up. How about a lawn mower in someone's front yard? Or a leaf blower? |
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Dave worked Polaris in hand, rather
than risk the trusting relationship they've established. Dave could
have pushed him. He's a cowboy who knows how to ride a buck and look
good doing it. What was heartwarming was the response to Dave's choice
not to make this about him, but to keep his mustang safe and sane. A
quick read of the
Facebook comments will give you an idea of how folks felt about
this decision. Polaris looks to be napping, as Dave
checks out the map. |
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Both Krista and Dave feel that the bonds between them and their mustangs were only strengthened during this adventure. This looks a bit more like the Tevis, than a green horse trail ride! |
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Dave and Polaris put on some miles. Dave has been nothing if not dependable for Polaris. This trip has increased Polaris' readiness for his next steps. We'll know soon where they'll be. Both horse and trainer are relaxed as they approach the very wide, but not very deep, river crossing. |
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Comet shows balance and responsiveness as he straddles the pole in a loose ring snaffle bit. |
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Except for the fancy shirt, you'd
think they were out on a Sunday ride. |
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Comet has certainly never had to get permission from a pole to cross a paved road in a cross walk! And he probably never will again. But this is proof positive that not much bothers this guy. All these experiences have added up to Comet's willing and trusting personality. |
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| Many of these photos are from Latigo Associates and are for sale. Check them out for more. | ||
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Comet's New Family Amy is the unexpected, and proud new owner of Comet Mustango. It was nearly love at first start for both Amy and Comet. Amy was casually looking for a new horse to replace hers, and was impressed with the work Krista had done with Comet. A teacher, Amy's youngest child leaves for college this fall, and Amy is looking forward to more time to take advantage of the wonderful trail system right in her backyard. With arenas of all sorts right behind her house, she'll have the opportunity to take Comet's training wherever it may lead. Comet is returning to From Start to Foundation to continue his training with Krista and Dave. Krista will present Comet as a green horse at the Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo in Reno on August 20-22. He'll then return to his new home to start his new life as a trail and general purpose riding companion. |
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Polaris' New Family Polaris' proud new owner is a 12 year
old boy from the Norco area. His father is a performance farrier in
the area, and his mother an experienced rider and horse broker. The
family appreciated Polaris for his gentle beginnings as well as his
fantastic movement. Polaris is returning to From Start to Foundation is continue learning what being a riding horse is all about, for another 30 days.. |
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Sirius Gets His Own New Family Remember Sirius? He was Krista's first draw for the 2010 Extreme Mustang Trail Challenge. His subtle lameness was missed by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, but showed up shortly after his arrival at From Start to Foundation. Vet exam showed little promise for a career as a riding horse. A sweet and loving horse, Krista decided to have Sirius entered into the Trainer Incentive Program, saving him from an uncertain future with the BLM. This meant that she and Dave would continue to work with Sirius, bringing him to his full potential, and finding an adoptive home for him. Gentled and halter broke, with good ground manners, Sirius has been adopted by a family in Paso Robles to live a life of luxury as a pasture companion. We all wish Sirius a lovely life. |
| Krista@FromStartToFoundation.com |
831-588-6214
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1425
San Marcos Rd. Paso Robles, CA 93446
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