New blanket, rope halter intro, and he's feelin' fine!

So today was a little random, we got in the new (to us) donated mid-weight turnout blanket from awesome COTHer SonnysMom and fit it to Seamus today after working on his rainrot a little. It's an 80" and he swims in it, but it's in great shape and he needs it so that's all that matters! He will "grow into it" a little bit when he gains some weight, though it will always be big. At least his bony butt doesn't stick out the back LOL

The other thing that happened today was something I've been thinking about since he came in... introducing Seamus to the rope halter and lungeline while he's still too quiet to argue about it. The thought is that it will make it easier when he's getting fit again to teach him to work on the lunge. I learned to use a rope halter to do groundwork and lunging last year from the NH-type trainer I sent my Paso Fino mare to for 30 days and I quite like it. I did need to learn so that I could bring Sugar home and still do her groundwork and then I used that knowledge to teach my TWH mare, Belle, to lunge and learn some groundwork that she was missing. It's been a great way to work the horses and I want to extend that training to Seamus while he's here.

The ground was thawed today as it got into the 40's and all Seamus did was to walk some slow circles around me for about 10 minutes, tops. He was much better going to the left, the right needs work. I don't want him to get excited with the process (not really a problem as it turned out) and I want to do this once or twice a week so that when he is fit and ready to begin his re-training as something other than a racehorse, he has a start with his groundwork without us ever having to fight about it. We will also start some desensitization once I remember to buy a new carrot stick, my old once having lost an argument with the mower last summer so it's now just a stick... a useful stick for sure, but I'd like one with a string again, thankyouverymuch!

And having an ear rub for a job well done:

After the non-traumatic introduction to basic lunging, Seamus had run of the barn aisle while I cleaned his stall and put some stuff away. He sure knows where the feed room is and has no problem trying to put himself in there with me which is a rather tight fit for a large Thoroughbred gelding (or a small TWH mare but that's another story), at least he backs up easily enough with a hand to the nose and a verbal command... Reminder to self- ALWAYS shut the feed door behind me! Needless to say this is one horse who doesn't have claustrophobic issues LOL But he seems to be in good spirits and is his personality is emerging, I think he's going to be one of those nosy, goofy geldings that everyone loves.

'Night folks!