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Discussion starter · #286 ·
Ok, so I know I said Apollo should be hitting a growth spurt when I first got him as a 2yo… but this is the year for sure. He’s going to shoot right up there this summer 🤞😆😅
My friend loaned me a stick, so I have a current height for him as 13.3 hh
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Then I went out and got Cash. As a 2yo, he’s only 1 inch behind my 4yo Mustang 😆

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I worked with both of them to teach them to step towards me, or towards a mounting block (ie an upside down protein tub) since they are both going to grow so much this year 😆
Apollo picked it up about the 3rd time, and I only had to raise my arm up and cluck and he knew what I wanted without tapping on his far hip. Cash did pick it up, but not as clearly as Apollo. I didn’t want to frustrate him on it, so I didn’t push him to step towards me all tho way, just gave relief after his 2 sidestep towards me.
I trimmed Cash’s feet today, all except his front foot that was injured. He’s still a little worried about it, so I thought I’d give him another couple of weeks to heal up and forget about it. He did get the cast off last Friday. So had it on for 3 weeks…

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and since I had him in working with, I worked with getting him used to the idea of me being up on top of him. He’s really going to be a pretty good boy about it 🥰

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I was rubbing my foot across his butt and along his back and side, just having him used to the feel everywhere. Plus in case I get clumsy mounting or dismounting, I don’t want him upset at getting bumped a little bit 😅
The last picture, where I’m back on his butt further, I did put my full weight on him for a couple of minutes before getting down. The other ones, he could feel some weight pressure, but I had the fence and tub taking most of it.
He’s such a pretty boy 🥰
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Wow, Cash has suddenly bulked up. He is getting more and more gorgeous. Looks like his injury is healing nicely. And he is such a good boy! If he didn’t care about you being above him and you bumping and rubbing your feet against him and even sitting on him, I think he is going to accept a rider very nicely. And you’re so smart to be teaching them to pick you up at the mounting block (or protein tub 😉). It sounds like Apollo already knows it. Cash is picking it up way faster than I would expect but Apollo is just almost too smart for his own good. I love both those shorties, oops, I mean tall guys. 😆 I bet you Cash will end up a good height, and Apollo might just be a late bloomer. I had one like that.
 
Discussion starter · #292 ·
Thanks guys 🤗
@Dews maybe he was also stretching up on his tippy toes trying his best to make it to 14h like a kid trying to be tall enough to ride the ride 🤣
Thanks @Moers I know Cash does have a little ornery streak in him. I hope I don’t have to have any big battle with him. I am hoping he will learn to enjoy his initial rides around so he doesn’t get too upset when he needs to do a little work 🤞
@FizzyGoats your story of your late bloomer is the hope I am clinging to! 😂
I have been feeding him beat pulp mash and ground flax seed the last few months. Just to improve my chances… he has plenty of pasture, and growing slow on grass may be best for joints and all, but maybe I’m getting a little worried he needs an added boost 😅
I do think Cash has grown some this spring! I didn’t saddle him up today, but I’ll need to do that next time I bring him in and see what difference I can notice in his cinch! It’s the same as Apollos, but maybe I won’t have to wrap it thru 2x like I do for Apollo 😅

@MadHouse no risk of that! I just would like them to be a little bigger horse so I don’t get teased for riding around on Shetland ponies 😜
If they grow to a good size and then fill out well, they will be able to handle a good work day. Plus, if I’m using Cash for breeding, I’d like him at least to quarterhorse standards. So 14.3+ and maybe 1000#.
If they stay this size, I’ll have to lose another 20#! 😅
 
Discussion starter · #294 ·
I brought Cash in to work with him some more. He was not a big fan of my flag along his front legs at first. Which did surprise me. He’s had ropes all over and around his legs. Possibly due to his having hurt himself?
Other than that, he took everything in stride. I had him wear the tarp around this time. You know, just in case the occasion arises that I want to wear a big poofy dress that hangs down and around him while riding 😂
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I also introduced my black calf tire to him. I just pulled it along the ground for him to see for today. Maybe next time I will tie it to his saddle and let him feel the wait of it pulling along behind him. I didn’t want him to think it was chasing him tho, so that’s why I pulled it today.

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I think my ladigo maybe has to be tightened one notch more on him than it does on Apollo. Very close in size!
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Yes to pictures of a big poofy dress draping backwards. Boer Mama a long duster (cowboy) coat will drape the haunches if it's flipped sideways so it won't be sat on before easing into the saddle. The one I wear hangs slightly more than halfway past my knees to the ankles, and I have to flip it getting into the truck seat. First thought was the tarp looked like a duster, though a big poofy dress would be much cooler captured in a picture. Cash is very handsome and I like how alert his ears and body language are in the 2nd picture.
 
Discussion starter · #300 ·
I don’t really have any riding to do this week, so I’m practicing with Apollo pulling his calf tire, and maneuvering around to face it, back up to keep tension in the rope, and side step in case that would be needed for positioning the calf.
He’s doing pretty good with it all and I fully expect him to be a rockstar when we have our little branding and my friend ropes some calves off of him for me 🤩
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and just for fun, I played with his tail yesterday lol
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I think I’m going to wash his mane and tail and then put multiple braids in both of them. Then take out the braids Monday afternoon so he can have curly hair and look fancy for everyone driving past on the hwy 😆
 
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