• Gender: Gelding
  
• Age: 5 months
  
• Color: Silver Dapple Tovero
• Weight as of 4/5/10: 658 kg
  
• Height as of 4/5/10

• Sire: McCue Tux (Paint)
• Sire Height: 16.1h
  
• Dam: "#319" (Belgian) 
• Performance Horse Registry number: 5073586
• NAERIC Registration: 5073586
• Microchip Number: 985121004879293
  
• Siblings: RU Huckleberry- class of 2007 (maternal half brother) Bred by Early Dawn Sport Horses in Virden, Manitoba, Canada

• Students: Samantha Rodgers
  
• Sponsors: Sandra Denarski and Johnson&Johnson

    We have moved the yearlings and two year- olds to the Red Barn, and everyone is getting ready for Ag Field Day and the auction.  RU Pardner did very well being moved to the Red Barn on campus.  He stepped right up onto the trailer, with just a slight hesitation.  In the trailer with Pardner was RU Honky Tonk, our smallest yearling.  It was very amusing to watch Pardner stick his head over the center barrier to Tonk for the entire ride, as if he needed reassurance from his small companion.
     Once Pardner arrived at the Red Barn, he was very excited and nervous; it took him a little while to settle down.  One of the research students took him out to his new field with the other geldings, and he ran off with the lead line still attached to him.  Once he stopped, however, he noticed the lead line and began snorting and trying to back away from it.  It snaked towards him as he backed up, which of course scared him further.  He is quite the character.  He loves his new field; he has definitely taken a higher spot in the hierarchy of the horses.  When he is taken outside in the morning, and turned out in the field, he usually trots or canters off with his field mates.  He looks absolutely stunning when he does this; he has really nice gaits for a horse of his size and bulk.  He is also finally getting his silver dapples!
     As to how he has been progressing, I know he has been doing well with his Ag Field Day student.  He has been on the Equicizer a few times, and he does very well.  He keeps his nose to the barrier in front of him and just keeps going, like a pro.  When I work with him, he is very excited to get out of his stall and investigate the barn.  It is a big step for him, from being terrified of everything to actually seeking out things around the barn. 

    I worked with Pardner last semester as his Practicum student.  He has come a long way since I first met him.   Pardner grew a considerable amount this past fall.  He will definitely be well over 17hh. 
    The research group is currently doing behavior tests with the horses.  We just finished one this week, where we tested them on the basics.  The horses had to walk, halt, back up, stand still for one minute, turn on both the forehand and the haunches, pick up their feet, and put their heads down.  For each horse, Dr. Ralston went through the test and then the horses’ students performed the same test.  I am happy to report that Pardner did very well.
    For both tests, with both me and Dr. Ralston, Pardner walked well, and now halts without any overt commands, physical or verbal.  He did wonderfully picking up his feet, and he did well standing still for one minute.  This was semi surprising to me, since Pardner tends to want to explore instead of stand in one spot.  He needs a little work turning on the forehand, but when asked to turn on his haunches, he did this effortlessly.  He also needs work on backing up, but he did drop his head quickly when asked “head down,” by putting pressure on his poll.
    Pardner is also getting less and less skittish about new things.  He will go over to things he is wary of (with encouragement, of course) and check it out.  He has also become very attentive to whoever is working with him.  He likes to turn around and watch while being groomed him, and especially while his hooves are being picked.  He is going to be a tremendous horse –in both size and ability!

    Since my first update we conducted a test to see how much the horses really know, while comparing them to each other of the same age and breed (yearling drafts) and with the other groups as well. Some of the tests included: turning on the haunches and forehand, backing, standing still for a minute, and touching the horses all over including their head and ears. Pardner passed these tests with flying colors receiving a variety of “A’s” and only two “B’s”. The areas he got a “B” in were standing for a minute straight and touching his head and ears. Since the tests were conducted I have been working with him in all the areas especially those two. He is now a lot more patient when asked to stand still and allows me to touch his head and ears with a lot more ease. He really is growing into his own as an outstanding young horse.

    Along with growing in his disciplinary areas he is also still physically growing. He now weighs a massive 549.5 kg or nearly 1210 pounds! He stands 61 inches at the withers and 63 inches at the rump. I told you we were going to start putting tack on the yearlings, but we decided to hold off on that and coordinate when all of the students who are working with the yearling draft crosses can get together and do the tests all at once. He is still out with the girls in the pasture and loves every minute of it. Chasing and nibbling on the others are a few of his favorite things to do besides eating!