Easy Rider

I talked to Rod Lowe (owner of Lazy L Ranch) last night, and then Liz (trainer) called me this morning. Easy got his first pair of shoes on yesterday, and was a very good boy until the last hind foot was being done. Then I suppose he just got tired of the whole thing. But Liz said she was able to get him to focus and the farrier got the job done.

Liz has also been ground driving (also known as long-lining) Easy both in the round pen and in their outdoor arena. Today she called and said this morning she rode him in the round pen! She saddled him in his stall, led him to the round pen, and had Rod hold him while she mounted and dismounted a few times. Then she felt confident in him, and told Rod to just unclip him and let him go. She was able to walk him around without any problems. We, of course, are not at all surprised at this. Rip had done these same things with him last summer. But we are pleased to hear he is being such a good boy for Liz! Liz feels like they have really bonded now.

More info I have learned about racing: before Easy can race, he will have to have a lip tattoo and be DNA-ed. Many of our foals are DNA-ed when they are first registered, but because Easy was conceived by natural cover (not artificial insemination), he was not. So we'll have to get that done. Also, to qualify for a race, horses must be Gate Approved. This means they have to show that they will both load into the gates, and will break from the gate. Also, he will have to have at least one official "timed work". That means, at an approved track, he will just have to run while an official timer times him. He doesn't have to meet any particular time standard, he just has to be timed at the track. Easy won't be ready for timed work for months yet. He will get his gate training at Lazy L in the next couple of months.