Saturday, April 15, 2006
Gamblin Man hits the jackpot!!
Yes! We entered early, ran hard and won $125! I wasn't completely happy with the smoothness of our run - it was a little sloppy - but hubby seemed to think we ran an excellent pattern. That was Good Friday ... hmmm, Good Friday tends to be special for us; a couple of years ago we had a filly born on that day. :)
The next day we ran again, and it was sloppier, yet faster by 2/10s of a second. Not good enough for money, though.
Padre gets so very excited from the second I mount up - I am working on getting him to relax by allowing time enough in our warm up for him to stand still off to the side, as well as walking him in and out of the alley of the arena, letting him stand in there, too. I need to work him slow on the pattern and tune him up, but I currently have nowhere to set up a pattern. I'm starting to think about hauling him to a few small shows to work him slowly in some exhibitions, let him see that he doesn't have to fly in all the time.
The third barrel is his bogey barrel - if he's running hard, he tends to run wide around it, so I have to waste time by slowing him up from the second to the third. He has joint problems (very little, if any, cartilage in his hocks). I've had his hocks injected, as well as his right coffin joint. He's been to the chiropractor and I've had him on veterinarian recommended minerals and joint supplements.
I think he started having the problem turning tight because of pain, then maybe after having the pain issues resolved, continued out of habit. And, him being uber hyper before, during and after the run doesn't help.
I know what he's done in the past - he was awesome. The turning problem is basically how I came to own him. I'm certain we can resolve this issue ... I just need the right tools. Until I have those tools, I will have to wing it and see how it goes.
Our next competition is in Deridder, LA next weekend at the NBHA LA State Championship Show. Hopefully we can pull a check there! After that we are off to the Josey Reunion and will try to bring home a hefty check and a beautiful saddle. However, come what may, we will have TONS OF FUN!!!
You can get the horses ready for battle, but it is the Lord who gives the victory. Proverbs 21:31
