Gronski & Medick Performance Horses

Well January went out with a bang.  I made my 1st trip to the Color Breed Council judge's seminar in Oklahoma City - it was 70 degrees; sunny AND gorgeous!!  I could definitely move down there; however it sounds like we got out just in time...there is now 12 inches of snow on the road in front of our hotel!  What a change just 48 hours makes! 

The final hours of January 2011 were marked with SNOW and a horse trailer bringing Joker (SHOWMETHEINVITATION) to the barn so that he can start his career as a riding horse.  I am looking forward to the month and getting to ride a "tall pony"

Wow!  While driving to the "REAL" job this morning I discovered that it is -18 degrees!  Our high temp today is supposed to be -1 (not even above zero!!).  I'm excited to get to Oklahoma City next week for the Color Breed Council Judges Conference where the current temperature is 16 ABOVE and by next week when we arrive down south it should be close to 50 degrees!

Well it is cold here...this week our highs were 11-13 degrees with the over night lows approaching -20.  To add to the insult we had 18.5inches of snow in Marshfield (15 in Custer where the ponies are currently at) AND it blew.  Which means that we had drifts that were just about as tall as the babies.  Thankfully Mom, Dad and Stacy shoveled/snowblowed the paddocks and a few paths into the pasture so the horses were able to get out of their stalls after being locked in for 4 days.  We are all counting down the days until spring (except Mike...he is counting the minutes until the snowmobile trails open this weekend...) when we can all warm up again!

The best part of Gronski & Medick Performance Horses is that our ponies are getting some much deserved vacation.  We may not be showing in Tulsa in January or even ready to show by April but the ponies are getting a great vacation from being clean, clipped and in show condition.  Danson is learning showmanship with Mom and when it is warm enough (over 20 degrees) I sneak in a quick ride in the indoor...sometimes bareback even and the baby ponies are getting to grow up.  They've gotten the basics of lounging (go in a circle and stop at the walk and jog) and every day they get their feet picked of course but they also are getting time to just be baby ponies.  The big baby pony lesson so far this winter has been about winter blankets...all the ponies are wearing them...they aren't pony eating monsters!

Have a great holiday season - stay safe!

Sara

It is hard to believe how quickly April has flown by, between my 'real' job and the ponies - free time is hard to come by.  With Danson I've been busy putting rides on him - we've continued to work on steering, added some lateral movements and we're beginning to work on picking up that lope a little nicer.  Skyiler is just about back in show shape - we've been doing lots of trotting and lateral movements and he is coming along nicely this spring - and just 31 days until we leave for the Eastern Classic.  Both boys have gotten their spring bathes, been clipped and pretty soon it will be time to shorten up those manes!

So, it has been a while...Skyiler joined us the end of March and he is really starting to get in shape and is shedding like crazying.  We've been doing lots of long trotting and working over some poles- just practicing for trail. 

Danson is now in a snaffle bit, he steers and stops (always a good thing) and he has learned to set his head with occasional reminders.  Yesterday I rode him with one other horse in the arena - which was pretty distracting for him - but he handled it pretty good and got to practice being passed on the rail just  like  a big boy!  Danson had his first bath this week - no soap, just water - it was a nice day - 80 degrees and tonight they are calling for 30 - what a big change!

Well both of the boys had nice little rides on Friday.  Danson was asked to start setting his head a little and was lounged in the sidereins with the bit - we worked on giving to the bit on the ground- he really did well.  Skyiler did lots of long trotting and we spent some time currying him so that he can hopefully start losing his winter coat.  Saturday I was in Madison at the Wisconsin State Horse Council judge's seminar so the boys had the day off.  On Sunday after the live judging test I worked with both boys.  Once again more trotting for Skyiler and learning how to give to a bit instead of the side pull for Danson. 

Both boys are looking good- but really need to lose their winter coats- the warm weather this week should help that!

Well - Danson is coming along very nicely.  He really is getting the hang of this riding thing - he is really starting to give his face nicely laterally under saddle and his steering has improved 100%.  On Monday (22nd) I lounged him for the first time with the sidereins and the bit - he has been carrying the bit around for nearly 2 weeks-  I think it is time we start using it a little bit. 

Skyiler joined Danson at the barn on Saturday - he rode like a pro Saturday afternoon - nearly show ready!  He is a bit furry though and needs to get in shape.  I think we'll be spending the next few weeks long trotting

Well on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 I continued to work with Danson on lounging, giving laterally and hopped on and we walked and jogged a little around the arena.  Danson seems to have gotten "go" down and is quickly beginning to understand "stopping" too - which is a little more confusing since we started spur stops right from the start.  But he is quickly learning  

On Wednesday I decided not to ride and just work on other important pony skills.  Like clipping...Danson was not overally impressed with the clippers - he did allow me however to run them all over his body.  We also worked on some showmanship - trotting next to me was a bit challenging for him...but he is full of try and quickly understood.

This weekend Skyiler will be joining Danson at the barn so we can start preparing for the Eastern Classic- it will be my first time going.  I'm very excited that I will be able to take Skylier to compete in the JPFC 3-4y/o classes!

Danson had another great day!  After repeating once again all of his ground it was time to hop back in the saddle.  We spent several minutes walking around the arena, stopping and turning and then walking again.  Danson did all of this while another horse was being ridden around him!  After 5 minutes of actual riding, I gave a few more bumps with my legs and clucked; Danson broke right into a jog trot with his head hanging!  He did great!  We did a big figure-eight so that we could jog each direction; stopped and that was all for the day.  Danson has settled in  beautifully at Sunny Meadows and is really thriving!

Danson was a very brave boy over the weekend.  He took his first steps under saddle on Saturday (being lead by a good friend) - we walked about 30 feet and asked him to give his face to each side once again and that was all!  We of course lounged and did ground work before hopping in the saddle!

On Sunday I was by my self - not nearly as fun as when friends are at the barn.  But Danson still had a good day - we lounged over a ground pole - which was a new experience - he did very well.  Danson bumped the pole a few times but quickly learned to watch for the pole and to pick up his feet!  In a day or two a second pole will be added.  After the ground work, I once again swung up into the saddle and this time after flexing I asked Danson to walk forward (bump, bump, bump w/ my legs) and Danson quickly took a step.  After stopping the bumping Danson stopped walking...so the bumping resumed.  It only took Danson a few minutes to figure out the "go forward" cue.  We walked about 1/2 way around the arena and ended on a good note.  What a brave boy!