Iceman shown in May 2007 in these photos

Dale working with Iceman late summer 2006. He hadn't forgot his foal lessons.

Iceman pictured in late fall 2006 with the adopted pony, Ringo, at his side.  He was the

official baby sitter to the young colts and the two rescue ponies we had that year.

Here we are in May 2008 and Iceman is still pastured with the two rescue ponies, Ringo and Duke,

as well as Opie, the 2007 yearling colt who will be going to Canada. Iceman is very mellow

and he loves to play with the other horses. He's like a big kid. They have a Jolly Ball

that they toss around and chase after and it's a hoot to watch them.

I believe stallions should live a normal life as a horse, not be kept cooped up in a stall and it's

my personal opinion that allowing them to be a normal horse keeps their mind sound.

I don't have the behavior problems with my boys that a lot of people end up with and that is why Iceman

is able to be pastured with these other horses.

Left: Iceman says hello to my niece, Kris, not to be confused with his dam who is also

named Kris. 

Right: Dale and Iceman working on one of the foal lessons - dragging the bag

with noisy wood blocks in it behind him.

Left: Dale taking Iceman over one of our obstacles during weanling training

Right: Iceman has a kind eye and a genuine interest in people

Iceman Goes to School!!

I had an opportunity to take Iceman to a clinic that was sponsored by Mike & Becky Poulus of Harvest Home Farm (www.harvesthomefarm.org). They were able to bring in Lew Sterrett and he presented his Sermon On The Mount (www.sermononthemount.org) for the spectators who gathered. Trempealeau County's local cable access channel was on site to   video the program and it will air sometime in the near future. I was impressed with Mr. Sterrett's training methods and it was quite interesting to see how he related what was happening with the horse and his behavior to the way humans sometimes act with or without God in their lives. He explained how the horse understands what the trainer is communicating and makes a decision whether or not to follow the trainer's guidance. He also explained the stages the horse would go through from distrust to trust, from stiff and resistant to supple and willing. It was quite an evening watching him work Iceman while relating what he was doing with the horse to human behavior.

If you ever get a chance to see Lew's program, I highly recommend it. He travels throughout the United States and Canada.

Thank you, Mike, for these great photos!!

Left photo shows Iceman in his distrust phase at the beginning of the program. He's moving away from Lew and not   listening. The right photo shows him turning and facing Lew. He is beginnning to listen and trust.

Left: Iceman turns to follow Lew. Right: Lew starts out with a rope around the neck and then around the belly to simulate

a cinch. For a while, Iceman was walking around with the looped rope over his ears and doing it calmly.

Next came the saddle pad and saddle

A little more ground work with the saddle on and then Lew was on him!!

After the program ended, Iceman was still very calm and relaxed. Lew visited with the spectators who had come to see his program.

A view of Harvest Home Farm from on top of the big hill