Extreme Team Mustang Makeover 2010

Photos from the competition!

2010-07-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

The full set of photos can be found here.

Highlights!

Robert in the trainer's meeting

Madi in the trainers meeting

Ruger & Robert in the stall

Rein King in his stall!

Ruger in warm up

Madi & Rein right before Team Selection

Ken McNabb during team selection (watching Madi)

Al Dunning coaching his team

Madi & Rein in competition

Rebecca Bowman and Robert go over the trail course during training with Al Dunning

Ruger, Robert, Al Dunning, Madi & Rein King

Ruger competing

Robert & Ruger during down time

Madi's Fan Favorite buckle!

Madi during fan favorite!

About to go in the auction

Rein's new owner Delia!

Results!!!!

2010-06-12T23:40:00.000-07:00

Competition has come to a close!!! Madi and Rein King placed 5th in the 2010 Colorado Extreme Mustang Makeover! Congratulations to them both!! Robert and Ruger came in 21st out of 40 but both Robert & Madi had the chance to work with Al Dunning for 2 days!

Stay tuned for photos!

Madi is FAN FAVORITE!

2010-06-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

We are in the final day of competition today but I wanted to come post an update since both Madi & Robert are a little busy!! Last night was the Team Relay event and Fan favorite competition. Madi won! She and Rein are doing fantastic! (Robert & Ruger are also doing well) There are pictures up but not the whole set yet.
Here are just a few select images. Stay tuned for more updates and when we get home I'll be sure a MASSIVE photo update follows!

Happy Driving!

2010-06-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

We're on the road and due to arrive at CSU at around 1:30am. Wish us luck!!

Colorado Countdown!

2010-06-08T22:35:00.001-07:00

Well we're off! We will be leaving at 8am tomorrow morning! Robert appears to have nerves of steel so far, but I am so nervous I barely know what to do with myself!

We will do our best to keep you guys updated as we go so hopefully there will be some pictures up over the weekend.

Stay tuned and send your well wishes our way!

Thanks Everyone,

Madeleine

Competition Count Down!

2010-06-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

Well we are on to the final few days before the big show! We will be leaving Tuesday for Colorado so we have 3 days of riding left! The horses are doing so well considering they have less than 3 months of training! It is shocking every time I get on to ride how amazingly these horses have adapted to our lifestyle, to training, and all the things we have subjected them to.

I can't wait get to the show and, no matter what the outcome placing-wise, to show the world how amazing these horses are.

Wish us luck and stay tuned for updates from the competition!

Schooling Show

2010-06-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

We took Rain and Ruger to a little schooling show in Alvarado on Saturday. The show was pretty much a bust. It was incredibly hot and humid and then their water lines broke. We left after only 2 classes because it was so miserable and ran out of bottled water to give the horses. On the bright side both Mustangs did fantastic! Ruger handled riding in the arena with all the other horses with no problems! He didn't try and kick another horse even once! Rain also kept his head and stayed nice and calm throughout the entire class! As far as the horses are concerned we couldn't have asked for more. I only got pics of Ruger before we had to leave so we'll try and get some more up of Rain soon.

Team Sorting Photo Update, May 23, 2010

2010-05-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

Madi and Robert took Rain & Ruger to a Team Sorting practice today! Both mustangs did fantastic for their first time working quickly with cattle! In fact Rain really appeared to enjoy it!

Robert saddling up!

Madi & Rain warming up!

Robert & Ruger warming up!

Waiting

First run team meeting

Madi took the first cut on Rain. It was a shallow skim and a great sort!

Second Round

The end! of this update anyways!

Training update

2010-05-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

Both Ruger and Rain have been progressing in leaps and bounds! Lately we have been practicing our reining course for the competition, working cows, and Robert has been doing a lot of shooting with Ruger. We do have a few tricks up our sleeves, however they are going to be top secret until the show :) You will have to come and see or wait until after!

We have also been working on obstacles that we might see in the trail course. Getting used to rain slickers, etc.

Ruger is really proving himself to be incredibly steady. He thinks things through and takes new obstacles in stride. He is going to make someone an amazing shooting horse, trail horse, youth horse, etc!

Rain was a little bit of a turkey this week and we had to go back and remember some leadership lessons but for the last three days he has been fantastic! He is starting to get used to his new sliders and his turn arounds are better every day.

Now if I can just get my nerves under control :) Just thinking about the competition gives me butterflies!

May 16th Photo Update!

2010-05-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

Tonight Robert & Madi took the boys to Lonesome Dove Arena and worked cows and shot guns. Ruger was great, Rain had a bit of an attitude but Madi straightened him out!

ruger shooting 1st time.MOD

2010-05-13T23:43:00.000-07:00

May 10th, 2010 Photo update!

2010-05-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

Madi haltering Rain

Rain head shot

Rain was a little full of himself, acting up around a mare. . .

Robert & Ruger

Robert wanted to ride Rain today. .

And Rain gave him a bit of an explosive ride.

He bucked several rounds around the pasture, Robert of course stuck like glue.

"What? Don't look at me, I wouldn't try to buck him off."

Rain settled and Robert had him doing a really cute jog.

Short update this time, stay tuned for pics from their first trail ride coming up soon!

Rein King video

2010-05-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

Training Update

2010-05-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

Rain- Rain has been doing great! As his musculature keeps changing we have continued to have some minor saddle-fit issues so we have been constantly adjusting pads, cinches, and saddles, to try and keep up with him. Training wise, his stops have been spectacular! I wish I could take more credit for them but really he is just a natural stopper. He is the hardest stopping horse we have on the property. He actually stops even harder than the mare we had with over a year of reining training. I am really curious to see what will happen when I get some training sliders put on him. We have also been working on his turn-arounds/spins which are coming along nicely, slowing down at the lope (he is a long legged son of a gun!), roll backs, etc. I pulled up the patterns that we will need to perform in Colorado and I think the only thing left that we haven't mastered yet is two tracking at the trot. Rain still gets a little confused. Mostly I need to start getting him out into stressful environments to get him ready for the show. My biggest worry is that we will get to Colorado and he won't be able to handle all the pressure. So in the next month we will be doing a LOT of trailering out and a lot of riding away from the group (he has been pretty herd-bound)! We will also be headed out to work some cows later this week!

Ruger- Well, so far Ruger has really lived up to his name! Robert shot the .45's off him a few days ago (pics below) and was actually able to trot him through our practice course shooting the milk jugs with no problems! I took a little video but I haven't gotten it up yet. Ruger has really taken the shooting in stride like no big deal! It is amazing to me how both these horses came from the same HMA the same year and yet are so completely different! It has been a lot of fun to work with both of them. Ruger is still dealing with some set backs caused from his club foot issues in the hind. He is very cautious when doing turn arounds or stopping hard as if he still doesn't trust his back feet to give him good stability. Who can blame him? He ran around for who knows how long on his tippy-toes! We have been gradually taking off more and more heel to help his tendon stretch back out but it is a work in progress.
Robert and Ruger have been working a lot on neck reining and riding one handed as well as speed control (Ruger is great at loping slow! I'm jealous!) , moving off leg, etc. Ruger is going to make someone an AWESOME horse! I don't remember if I have mentioned it before here but Ruger is also a little bit gaited which makes for a super smooth trot! You could ride that trot for hours! He will also be a great cowboy mounted shooting horse if there are any Colorado Shooters looking!! Ruger will be going to the Lone Star Regulators shoot in the FW Stockyards next weekend.

Day 55 photos!

2010-04-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Rain & Madi, first time shooting!

Very first shot off of Rain! Very little reaction!

Robert & Ruger

Ruger doesn't react!

Rain & Ruger = Big News in Springtown TX!

2010-04-29T17:24:00.001-07:00

Check out the newspaper article here!

Fan Favorite Voting

2010-04-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

This week on the fan favorite voting system Robert has his hardest bracket yet! He has to beat Heath Marshal one of our fellow Mounted Shooters. I got lucky this week and due to some competition drop outs got a free ride into the next stage. Please go to Helperwidgets to vote for Robert! Remember you can vote as many times as you want!

Day 51 photo update!

2010-04-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

April 25, 2010

Here is Ruger from 3 weeks ago!

2010-04-24T21:45:00.001-07:00

Here is an older Picture of Rain from about 3 weeks ago

2010-04-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

April 15, 2010 photo update!

2010-04-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

Texas Championships at the NRS Arena in Decatur

2010-04-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

Saddle Problems Solved!

2010-04-12T12:32:00.001-07:00

Thanks to our new Custom 1" PF Rider Saddle Pad from Cashel Company and our wonderful Equi-Flex Saddle from Continental Saddlery I have a solution to Rain's saddle fit problems. We have been riding in this combination for a week now with great success! This weekend Rain went along for the ride to the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assoc. Texas State Championships in Decatur, TX. He blew me away with his flexibility and ability to fit right in to the hectic environment. Since we have had the Mustangs we haven't done any shooting at home so Rain heard gunfire for the first time and couldn't care less. Everyone who met him was amazed at his progress and commented on his stunning good looks! :) Watch for pictures coming soon!

Another Update

2010-04-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

Both horses have been doing well this week. Rain is now picking up all four feet without a rope so I think it is time to get working on that club foot. We have also been working on our little trail course crossing the bridge, the tarp, the ditch, pool noodles, bag drag, etc. So far he hasn't been afraid of much our only difficulty has been keeping is rather short attention span in one place! On Friday night we trailered both horses over to Rich's arena and Rain was awesome. He's got his walk, trot, lope, down good so now it will just be a matter of refinement. I have also been working a lot on turns on the forehand and turns on the hind. By the end of our ride on Friday night Rain was giving me some really great "whoas" on a completely loose rein just responding off my seat, legs, and vocal cue. I am really excited about this horse! I am just getting worried that I am going to have a real hard time saying goodbye in June.
Robert has also been working back on the trail course getting Ruger over the bridge, tarp, ditch, etc. He has also got Ruger to lay down on command which is pretty cute!

Training Update

2010-03-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

Rain: I had a little setback with Rain last week. He has very narrow shoulders and every saddle we have slides forward on his back until they pinch. As a result he decided that he didn't want anyone to mount! This week I switched him over to my english saddle and voila! We are back on track. I am hoping that as his top line develops and fills in with muscle we will be able to find him a western saddle that fits. We have been doing some riding outside of the round pen and yesterday we even had some nice collected circles at the lope. I have found that rain has a super sensitive mouth. So sensitive that with the slightest pressure he will bend around like a noodle which makes riding and steering difficult! I have switched him into the rubber snaffle bit as you can see in the pictures and that has helped a little bit but I am working on getting him to move more off leg pressure and the neck rein in hopes that it will help his oversensitivity to the bit.

Ruger: Robert hasn't been able to devote as much time to Ruger as I have to Rain because of his obligations to his clients horses but they are also progressing nicely. Ruger is tying, trailer loading, and overall starting to relax a lot more. From the start he has been more cautious and flighty than Rain and also has a tendency to show more aggression. This has made their relationship a bit more tedious as they have to balance trust building with maintaining a level of discipline so he doesn't become too domineering. They have been working under saddle in the round pen and Robert is going to try and get him trailered out to a larger area sometime this week.

Day 22!

2010-03-28T23:03:00.000-07:00

Another quick photo update of Madi & Rain!

Day 20 Photo Update

2010-03-26T22:14:00.000-07:00

Madi & Rain, first time in an English Saddle

(Offering a carrot which was promptly spit out on the ground)

Robert & Ruger

Day 15 Photo update.

2010-03-21T23:49:00.000-07:00

Ruger Under Saddle

2010-03-21T13:52:00.001-07:00

Here is a little Montage of Ruger's first 4 days under saddle.

Rain under saddle day 12

2010-03-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

Photo update, Day 12!

2010-03-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

Robert and Ruger working in the round pen, working on moving the hind quarter away from Robert, Ruger’s first moments in a bit.

Day 9 Photo update!

2010-03-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Madi & Rain waiting on the round pen!

Day 8 Photo Update!

2010-03-13T23:28:00.000-08:00

Ruger

Rain & Madi

Day 7

2010-03-12T20:43:00.000-08:00

Robert rode Ruger!! After an hour or so of more basic groundwork Robert tacked him up and layed him down so that he could do some work on his horrible club feet. Afterwords Ruger was so chilled out that it just seemed natural to hop right on. Ruger was a champ! Zero buck! Just a little squirt and within 5 minutes was doing nice relaxed figure eights around the round pen. Of course in natural Carlson/LeClerc style we didn't get a single bit of it on camera. LOL
So you will all get to see ride #2.
Rain got the day off today to have a little horse-time. We will be off and running again tomorrow.

Photo update, Day 6

2010-03-11T21:52:00.000-08:00

Rain & Madi

Look how cute! He thinks he is bucking!

Madeleine : "Thats all you got?"

Ruger & Robert

Rein/Rain King is Under Saddle!

2010-03-10T18:25:00.000-08:00

Madeleine here again- I was able to ride Rain tonight! I was especially proud that I did it myself! Robert helped me out in the beginning putting weight in the stirrups and then was my ground crew once I got up there. Rain was awesome! We did a lot of small circles and even got a few strides of trot. Of course I didn't get any pictures of the actual riding but I got a few or him with Robert getting ready. You can also see his dorky mane sox that match his saddle pad (not on purpose lol) hopefully the nerdy look will pay off and that gorgeous long mane will be in good shape for the show.

Madeleine and Rain King / Rein King? 03/10/2010

2010-03-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

Hey all- Madeleine here. Rain has been doing awesome and we have been making process in leaps and bounds. Rain is officially halter broke and we have been practicing leading all over the property. We got him saddled for the first time yesterday and he took it all in stride. I am hoping to be riding him by the end of the week but due to the weather our round pen is currently a swamp so fingers crossed for some good mud-drying sun.Hey all- Madeleine here. Rain has been doing awesome and we have been making process in leaps and bounds. Rain is officially halter broke and we have been practicing leading all over the property. He ties to the trailer, picks up his front feet, and stands to be groomed on every part of his body. I was able to take his halter off because he will let us come right in and catch him. We got him saddled for the first time yesterday and he took it all in stride. I am hoping to be riding him by the end of the week but due to the weather our round pen is currently a swamp so fingers crossed for some good mud-drying sun. I can't say enough about his great personality! I definitely got lucky with this one and I am having a hard time seeing myself not getting attached by the time we get to Colorado :(

First Day Photos!

2010-03-06T15:42:00.000-08:00

Pulling into the BLM Center in Paul's Valley

Robert & Madi and Madi's gelding

Robert's Gelding

One last check before the drive home.

First glimpse of their home for the next few months

Robert working in the round pen while Madi works with her gelding in his run.

It's going to be a great 90 days!