It's a double seater!!!
This is hands down my favorite, it is a Haflinger to boot. I laughed very hard and I hope you do too. Now if you see me writing about this is in the future it is because it looks like way to much fun. I think I have just solved the canter problem most Haflinger’s have….
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Funny Photos
Here are a few funny photos I found on Google.com Hopefully they make you laugh...
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Five Horses We Meet in Life
Sadly Wynter did not make it on my list but as a stallion he as truly made his own mark as number 6 as the first stallion. Remarkable truly a remarkable stallion. Stallions in there own right teach you a lot . I found this on several blogs and I wanted to give it a shot.
The Five Horses We Meet in Life
1. The Intro Horse
We each came into horses in our own way, but it was always with a horse leading us. This might have been a friend’s first pony, or perhaps it was a draft horse on a farm you once visited It might have been a real-life meeting, or an imaginary one.
The first horse I really remember was a mare named Willy. She was an old broodmare from a huge breeding facility that my mom used to work at. My mom would occasionally bring me to work with her. This choice that proof to be the cause of my horse addiction. The whole family blames her for it! It is a very fuzzy memory but she was the sweetest mare. She was a dull chestnut and I cannot remember her legs, not quite sure if she had white or not. I do remember her eyes she has these huge doe eyes that were so much like a kind grandmother or a sweet mother. Her also had (again it is fuzzy) a star stripe on her face. She was my favorite horse on the farm that housed around 64 horses. I was always insistent on seeing her first and saying goodbye to her. She was an angle and mom tossed me up on her back several times. I was suddenly infatuated with horses. I do have a photo of her some where so if I can find it I will scan it she really did have a kind eye, her eyes remind me of our mare Toccata.
It was a while later and I cannot remember when that mom told me that Willy had passed away I was devastated. I’m am not sure if at the time I has hoped that once they had retired her that she would magically become mine or not but it was very very sad. It still pulls at my heart stings and I can’t remember her all that well her allure was obviously quite strong.
2. The Experimental Horse
Once you had crossed the line between “Darn, they’re big!” and “Wow! Can I try that?” you found yourself face-to-face with the horse that would suffer through your early attempts at figuring out the whole horse experience … wherever this horse came from, he probably didn’t benefit from the encounter as much as you did…
At first I couldn’t think of a good example but now that I think about it I think I can claim Elvira as this horse. She was the first horse that I ever rode with a trainer. She was an older Arabian also chestnut. Amazing I rode her for at least 8 years and I do not think I have any photos…. This mare was a saint. She tolerated everything and was a bombproof angel. I learned everything on her. Now as I learn to teach my students I realized how much of a god send this mare was. For example I remember trying to put on the bridle for the first no make that 15 times. I now feel very sorry for her. Same with the saddle, the feet, blanketing, haltering and simple leading. She just tolerated me doing everything wrong. Under saddle she was also great. I could do anything on her back and she would just stop she never not listened to a command she would turn and go. Now if I was sitting there complaining to my trainer about her not doing what I wanted, it was always my fault she was doing what I was asking her.
One time I had been riding for a while then about a year and was quiet nearly ready for canter work at the age of 7 or 8. I was post trotting around the pen when she tripped and fell on her front knees. I fell forward and with being in a western saddle my gut was jammed into the saddle horn. So help me I cried and assumed that she had done it to me intentionally…hey I was 7. My trainer came over and started to tell me that she tripped and went down on her knees, we were both fine. Just so you know I hit that horn HARD. I mean I had the wind knock out of me so it hurt. I walked around on her for a while and it really shattered my confidence. Being my first riding accident (if you can call it that) I now knew that riding could hurt, I had never even thought about falling until then…. It took me years to get back to trotting and even longer to canter but alas I did. I remember this mare very well she taught me so very very much.
3. The Connected Horse
The first horses we meet don’t really connect with us, nor do we with them. Those are experiences in survival and tests of endurance. The Connected Horse is the first horse you truly bond with. This is the horse that sounds a chord that lives so deep in you that you might never have heard it otherwise…
The Five Horses We Meet in Life
1. The Intro Horse
We each came into horses in our own way, but it was always with a horse leading us. This might have been a friend’s first pony, or perhaps it was a draft horse on a farm you once visited It might have been a real-life meeting, or an imaginary one.
The first horse I really remember was a mare named Willy. She was an old broodmare from a huge breeding facility that my mom used to work at. My mom would occasionally bring me to work with her. This choice that proof to be the cause of my horse addiction. The whole family blames her for it! It is a very fuzzy memory but she was the sweetest mare. She was a dull chestnut and I cannot remember her legs, not quite sure if she had white or not. I do remember her eyes she has these huge doe eyes that were so much like a kind grandmother or a sweet mother. Her also had (again it is fuzzy) a star stripe on her face. She was my favorite horse on the farm that housed around 64 horses. I was always insistent on seeing her first and saying goodbye to her. She was an angle and mom tossed me up on her back several times. I was suddenly infatuated with horses. I do have a photo of her some where so if I can find it I will scan it she really did have a kind eye, her eyes remind me of our mare Toccata.
It was a while later and I cannot remember when that mom told me that Willy had passed away I was devastated. I’m am not sure if at the time I has hoped that once they had retired her that she would magically become mine or not but it was very very sad. It still pulls at my heart stings and I can’t remember her all that well her allure was obviously quite strong.
2. The Experimental Horse
Once you had crossed the line between “Darn, they’re big!” and “Wow! Can I try that?” you found yourself face-to-face with the horse that would suffer through your early attempts at figuring out the whole horse experience … wherever this horse came from, he probably didn’t benefit from the encounter as much as you did…
At first I couldn’t think of a good example but now that I think about it I think I can claim Elvira as this horse. She was the first horse that I ever rode with a trainer. She was an older Arabian also chestnut. Amazing I rode her for at least 8 years and I do not think I have any photos…. This mare was a saint. She tolerated everything and was a bombproof angel. I learned everything on her. Now as I learn to teach my students I realized how much of a god send this mare was. For example I remember trying to put on the bridle for the first no make that 15 times. I now feel very sorry for her. Same with the saddle, the feet, blanketing, haltering and simple leading. She just tolerated me doing everything wrong. Under saddle she was also great. I could do anything on her back and she would just stop she never not listened to a command she would turn and go. Now if I was sitting there complaining to my trainer about her not doing what I wanted, it was always my fault she was doing what I was asking her.
One time I had been riding for a while then about a year and was quiet nearly ready for canter work at the age of 7 or 8. I was post trotting around the pen when she tripped and fell on her front knees. I fell forward and with being in a western saddle my gut was jammed into the saddle horn. So help me I cried and assumed that she had done it to me intentionally…hey I was 7. My trainer came over and started to tell me that she tripped and went down on her knees, we were both fine. Just so you know I hit that horn HARD. I mean I had the wind knock out of me so it hurt. I walked around on her for a while and it really shattered my confidence. Being my first riding accident (if you can call it that) I now knew that riding could hurt, I had never even thought about falling until then…. It took me years to get back to trotting and even longer to canter but alas I did. I remember this mare very well she taught me so very very much.
3. The Connected Horse
The first horses we meet don’t really connect with us, nor do we with them. Those are experiences in survival and tests of endurance. The Connected Horse is the first horse you truly bond with. This is the horse that sounds a chord that lives so deep in you that you might never have heard it otherwise…
Above is Marquisse and I by a big stump. Her front two hooves are on a smaller stump.
I’m going to have to say that this is Marquisse. She is my rock my heart a soul. I feel quite nearly I could die with out her. I don’t think I can write anything that can bring her justice or explain what we have together. She being my first horse tolerated a lot and understands a lot. We have our ups and downs with each having a great impact. This is the mare that will fly backwards and then spook so that she does not run into me, she is the mare that can be galloping full tilt and stop on a dime if I fall off, she is the one who read the showmanship manual before I did, she is also the one who will get pissed and throw herself and me on the ground, she is the mare that will prove her point to me, she is the mare that knows English, she is the mare that loves me best, she is also the mare that will come in the pasture when no one else will, she is the mare that can face near death with me and for me, she is the mare that I would sell my soul to the devil for.
4. The Challenger
Into each horseperson’s life, a little challenge must fall. You’ll have read that one final training book, bought yourself a clicker and heading rope, and there you’ll stand, arms crossed, assessing the situation as if you actually knew what the situation was. It might be difficult to believe, as you are flying down the aisleway on the losing end of a braided cotton line, but you actually need this horse in your life…
Above is Arlo after a lot of blood sweat and tears, to bad you can tell his personality through a photo.
This made me laugh and I instantly thought of Forba and then I thought Arlo and now I am thinking Satin. I think I will pick Arlo with Forba as a close second. Arlo came to me abused and very unruly. He was a very rude gelding trying to mount the mares and was an overall bully. He would push you around and shy away from things. It has taken time patience and consistency to get him to where he is now. I get offers on him all the time, most retired or children. If only they had meet him when I had. They would want no business with him. It really does make me laugh now. To remember how bad he was then and how he is now. He is really a different horse.
Then there is Forba.
Ahh Forba, she is actually quiet recent. She is the mare that my trainer told me to get rid of or was a lost cause. I had no intention of showing her but I did want to breed her and as she was when I bought her she wasn’t manageable. My trainer seriously told me to just sell it. It yes it she was just horrible. After a solid month of my trainer long lining her as she had no business being ridden, she was not broke. I was able to get on her. I rode her for a solid two months. Trust me it was not easy as this mare has a horrible bone crushing jaw breaking jack hammer trot. Yes it is bad… she is the mare that will teach you how to post as you are doing everything yourself. She did not canter when we started and after two months she would canter. Although she had to be ridden with draw rains and a riding crop she cantered. It alluded both my trainer and I that people where riding this mare let alone children. My trainer told me as long as I stuck with Haflinger’s this mare would be hands down the hardest thing I would ever encounter. I fully believe that. Forba has taught me leaps and bounds, she is now ride able by children on the trails and intermediate can walk trot her in the pen. She still needs a semi experienced rider to canter he as she still has serious shoulder issues. He ground manners were another matter all together trust me she is much better but still a little off for a Haflinger. I like to chalk it up to her rich breeding.
Above is a photo of Forba; on the left is after her make over on the right is about 2 weeks after we brought her home.
5. Your Deepest Heart
There will come a time when you will look at yourself with a cold, appraising eye, and you’ll have to be honest about your continued ability to deal with The Challenger and other difficult horses. At that point, you’ll seek out the horse that will be your soul mate forever… You’ll have bought him the most comfortable, best fitting equipment… Maybe you’ll still go to shows and ride – brilliantly or barely – in the Alzheimer’s class. Maybe you’ll just stay home. Whatever you do, one day you’ll realize that after all the money you spent on animal communicators and trainers, you only had to stop and listen and you would have clearly heard your horse’s thoughts and desires…
Marquisse bar none. For example the other day, I was told that she had fell on the concrete isle in our barn. I nearly had a heart attack and had to check every inch of her. The next day I lead her into the barn from the pasture along with three other mares. As my hands were full I could not walk her all the way down the narrow isle with everyone else. I knew that she knows what room is her so I tossed her lead rope over her back and took her halter in my hand, looking her dead in the eye I told her to walk and reminded her that she fell last time. I swear to god she blinked and nodded at me, she walked down the isle and into her room.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Happy Holidays!
I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Wynter spent most of Christmas Eve and Christmas day out in his pasture and thought that was a swell gift. He was quite content and he was a joy to watch as we ate dinner at the kitchen table. That mane of his is something!
For fun I cruised Youtube and found some fun horse related Christmas videos for you to watch…
Love this…
Here is a funny one Santa working race horses!
I love the opening of this one it is very touching. I think I like it even more because it is a stallion.
This is a good one she is very surprised.
Her reaction is priceless and the horse slooks to know that she is his new human!
Horses singing..
For fun I cruised Youtube and found some fun horse related Christmas videos for you to watch…
Love this…
Here is a funny one Santa working race horses!
I love the opening of this one it is very touching. I think I like it even more because it is a stallion.
This is a good one she is very surprised.
Her reaction is priceless and the horse slooks to know that she is his new human!
Horses singing..
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Been Awhile
It seems that I have a lot to write about! With college I found it very hard to juggle horses and school. Thus I have not done much with any of the horses in a while. I think I have ridden Wynter only a hand full of times. I feel horrible about it! He even grew a winter coat! I am in shock he is so fuzzy. I am very very ready to take the body clippers to him.
In other news we finely got a pasture set up for Wynter. The project started a while ago as some may remember I believe that I wrote about it. For some reason we left it unfinished and I was feeling bad for Wynter. Since I was not riding him he was just sitting around so I went out and fixed his pasture. I was super excited to turn him out in it for the first time and you know what he did first. Dropped his head and eat. If a horse could stuff his face he was stuffing. Talk about an all you can eat buffet! He was in horsey heaven. He then walked around for a second ate a bit more and walk toward the back of the area. Starling a bunny he leapt up into the air all four feet off the ground to take two steps and stop and eat again. He was just really into the grass. I stood around and waited for him to do something. Actually I was waiting for him to shock himself. I wanted to make sure he knew that the fence was hot. I know I am mean but he is a stallion after all. Deciding that isn’t going to happen I lead 4 of the mares up the hill. His pasture runs from the bottom of the hill by the hay barn up around Grandmas orchard and behind the house. To get to the mares pasture we have to lead up the hill and down the drive way. He didn’t see the mares till we were just passing the orchard. I slowed down to watch him. He reached his neck over the fence and got zapped good right in the neck. He resembled a reining horse as he nearly sat down to get away from it. I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on his face. He was totally looking at the fence like OUCH! What did you do that for? He was so hurt not physically but emotionally. It was hysterical.
He whinnied a bit when I turned all the mares out but settled down. I had stopped to look at him for a while a little nervous that he would bolt through the fence. He isn’t the type but I was still a little worried. Going down I got Chance and Arlo and lead them up. I brought them through the mare pasture and around to there pasture. Wynters gate and there gate are right next to each other and I didn’t want to risk Wytner biting at either of them. This was the most nerve wracking part of the whole deal. There is only one fence dividing Wynter from Arlo and Chance and Wynter if he wanted to could go through it our at least bite one of them over it. Letting Chance go first Wynter was right by the other fence across the way. Chance didn’t care and went off in another direction. Arlo on the other hand went full bore toward Wynter. I was sure he was going to get bit but Arlo did a u-turn about a foot from the fence. Again I was busting up in laughter. I yelled out at him and called him harsh! Wynter was a little puzzled but went back to his grass.
So now Wynter is the first to be turned out and the first to come in and he is a very very happy camper. He loves his pasture. He is so pretty to watch out there behind the apple trees with all his white hair. My Grandparents love watching him as he is so beautiful. My Grandfather who loves to joke about gelding him has since lighten up on the wise cracks. He has always been worried about Wynter being a stallion. He keeps saying I would like him better as a gelding. Well, now that has been seeing him on a daily basis just grazing in the pasture, I don’t here that as much anymore. I know hear how nice of a guy he is and how calm he looks along with the comments about all his hair. He has never seen much of Wynter until recently and I believe he is starting to loose the psycho stallion stereotype he once had. It make’s me think that he thought I was lying when I told him he was a good boy! Ha ha! My Grandmother is also ecstatic about seeing him out. She felt sorry for him being in his stall every day.
I was taking some photos of my Christmas presents which I have made (I won’t tell you what they are yet) when I found some photos from June. I guess mom took some with that cretin card which I never found until now. I was stocked when I found it! I thought I would post a few of my favorites!
Wynter presenting to the Judge Brandy Wagner.
Ahh I just love this photo! Uber Sexy.
Relaxed walking the cones.
Watching the stallion in front of us.
This is my fave shot. We look like we are having a conversation.
It was slightly windy making this shot look like it needs to be in a book!
This and the photo below so him being lazy but I loved his hair in them so I had to show them to you!
For the fun of it here is a photo of Wynter rolling in the round pen after a long weekend of showing. I love his lips! 
On a closing note I will say that my new years resolution will be to finish school and work horses at the same time. Wynter’s vacation will be over after new years!
Happy Holidays & have a great and safe new year!
In other news we finely got a pasture set up for Wynter. The project started a while ago as some may remember I believe that I wrote about it. For some reason we left it unfinished and I was feeling bad for Wynter. Since I was not riding him he was just sitting around so I went out and fixed his pasture. I was super excited to turn him out in it for the first time and you know what he did first. Dropped his head and eat. If a horse could stuff his face he was stuffing. Talk about an all you can eat buffet! He was in horsey heaven. He then walked around for a second ate a bit more and walk toward the back of the area. Starling a bunny he leapt up into the air all four feet off the ground to take two steps and stop and eat again. He was just really into the grass. I stood around and waited for him to do something. Actually I was waiting for him to shock himself. I wanted to make sure he knew that the fence was hot. I know I am mean but he is a stallion after all. Deciding that isn’t going to happen I lead 4 of the mares up the hill. His pasture runs from the bottom of the hill by the hay barn up around Grandmas orchard and behind the house. To get to the mares pasture we have to lead up the hill and down the drive way. He didn’t see the mares till we were just passing the orchard. I slowed down to watch him. He reached his neck over the fence and got zapped good right in the neck. He resembled a reining horse as he nearly sat down to get away from it. I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on his face. He was totally looking at the fence like OUCH! What did you do that for? He was so hurt not physically but emotionally. It was hysterical.
He whinnied a bit when I turned all the mares out but settled down. I had stopped to look at him for a while a little nervous that he would bolt through the fence. He isn’t the type but I was still a little worried. Going down I got Chance and Arlo and lead them up. I brought them through the mare pasture and around to there pasture. Wynters gate and there gate are right next to each other and I didn’t want to risk Wytner biting at either of them. This was the most nerve wracking part of the whole deal. There is only one fence dividing Wynter from Arlo and Chance and Wynter if he wanted to could go through it our at least bite one of them over it. Letting Chance go first Wynter was right by the other fence across the way. Chance didn’t care and went off in another direction. Arlo on the other hand went full bore toward Wynter. I was sure he was going to get bit but Arlo did a u-turn about a foot from the fence. Again I was busting up in laughter. I yelled out at him and called him harsh! Wynter was a little puzzled but went back to his grass.
So now Wynter is the first to be turned out and the first to come in and he is a very very happy camper. He loves his pasture. He is so pretty to watch out there behind the apple trees with all his white hair. My Grandparents love watching him as he is so beautiful. My Grandfather who loves to joke about gelding him has since lighten up on the wise cracks. He has always been worried about Wynter being a stallion. He keeps saying I would like him better as a gelding. Well, now that has been seeing him on a daily basis just grazing in the pasture, I don’t here that as much anymore. I know hear how nice of a guy he is and how calm he looks along with the comments about all his hair. He has never seen much of Wynter until recently and I believe he is starting to loose the psycho stallion stereotype he once had. It make’s me think that he thought I was lying when I told him he was a good boy! Ha ha! My Grandmother is also ecstatic about seeing him out. She felt sorry for him being in his stall every day.
I was taking some photos of my Christmas presents which I have made (I won’t tell you what they are yet) when I found some photos from June. I guess mom took some with that cretin card which I never found until now. I was stocked when I found it! I thought I would post a few of my favorites!
Wynter presenting to the Judge Brandy Wagner.
Ahh I just love this photo! Uber Sexy.
Relaxed walking the cones.
Watching the stallion in front of us.
This is my fave shot. We look like we are having a conversation.
It was slightly windy making this shot look like it needs to be in a book!
This and the photo below so him being lazy but I loved his hair in them so I had to show them to you!
For the fun of it here is a photo of Wynter rolling in the round pen after a long weekend of showing. I love his lips! On a closing note I will say that my new years resolution will be to finish school and work horses at the same time. Wynter’s vacation will be over after new years!
Happy Holidays & have a great and safe new year!
New Photos Of Chance
Here are a few photos of Chance taken on Nov 1st 09. I am very very happy with the way he is growing.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Impossible!
I didn't get to the barn today and ifigure Wynter is quite happy about that! I spent all day at the college for my dirst day. Lots of fun my Psyc class is HARD but Spanish is fun. I'm extreamily tired so I will leave you with this fun game. Have fun and good luck!
The Impossible QuizThursday, September 24, 2009
Trail Ride in the Dark
I spent all day at the college trying to get registered! It took about 2 and a half hours and I was ten times more confused when I left. Jeeze, and they told me I start class tomorrow. I’m still in a spin and I have classes tomorrow! I’m taking Spanish and psychology fun stuff right? They were the only things open and I’m 3 days late for the semester.
After that was done Liz and I took the boys out again since it is pretty late and I have to get up tomorrow I’m going to keep this short. I tossed Wynter in the trailer without lunging him. I figured he was pretty tired from yesterday. There were other horses at the water crossing and we pulled off to the side. Liz scooted Alro so he was between Wynter and the other horses. It would have worked if the people would have went by. Instead they went down the stream and we went down the hill to the water. They was ohhing and ahhing our fabios! Liz convince me to pulling out Wynter forelock. I usually tuck it under his brow piece but half way down our first trail I pulled it out. Liz thinks it looks better. He was so flustered by the other horses the water was a snap, he didn’t bat an eye and he didn’t whinny at the other horses either. He had to be sexy and prance out of the water and up the hill though. Just because if there was a mare they had to see how good he looked.
Our only problem of the way was when we were walking though a trail and he got caught on a stick. He Didn’t lift his leg high enough or something because he went with him and the end of it rattled in the woods he went up and over. I went out of the saddle up in the air and back in my saddle. All the while laughing. It was pretty funny. I could sit the guy while he did a back flip I’m sure of it. He is so utterly smooth doing anything. Liz didn’t catch it she just laughed at the sound we made behind her.
After we went through the mud trail which we aced liz took u to the left instead of right to go over the long bridge. Wynter didn’t care at all but he did give the log that was a strange tan color a funny look. It was mainly because Arlo was terrified of it. That is the only bad art about Arlo he is so utterly a chicken.
We went a while and then I led. We took the front and went on a very tight trail up and around the road. Wynter did good he was tense but still forward. Then we hit the car bridge, and Wynter went over it first with out any hesitation. I chose to take the left after and go on the really windy one. it’s a really neat trail as it is very narrow and has a lot of turn but on top of that it goes up and down over tree roots. It’s probably my favorite to canter on.
A few steps into it and I knew we were going to have a problem. We turn around a tree and we have to step down from some roots right into a pit of mud and water. Wynter froze. His breathing quickened and he got tense instantly. At first I figured he was going to jump but then he stepped hid front feet down and then tried to back up. I didn’t let him and made him go forward, he was committed when he stepped down in the first place. So now he was standing like a circus horse with his feet really close together to he wouldn’t get in the mud. I stopped and let him gather himself. He was really huffing and very tense. I didn’t want to traumatize him so I let him come back to reality. A lot of the problem is the rider pushing the horse to fast. How would you like it if you were pressured without being about to think about the consequences or safety of something that you thought was dangerous or scary. You tend to just react and then you never ever want to do it again because it was a bad experience. I think the fact that I let him stop and think help. He was able to relax and take in a deep breath. After that I asked again and he sorta fanned around the mud. I didn’t force him to go directly into it. Choose your battles, he didn’t leap into the air or bolt or do anything stupid he was just be very cautious. Away we went.
We had a few I’m not so sure moments but were able to work though them. That trail is a very hard trail and there were a lot of steps that could be a little scary to a guy. Liz lead and she took us on a trail with no trail. To better give you a picture, it was a trail but then the area was logged so there is stuff scattered everywhere, twigs sticks, branches and piles of stuff. This was extremely hard for Wynter. He had no idea how to maneuver in a place like this. He tried to follow Arlo but that didn’t work and when he tried to do it on his own he chose horribly wrong and got him n trouble with me. That part was when we had to go down hill and he decided it would be better to go off the embankment. I said no way were going the other way. He Didn’t get it and he had to back up the hill and turn. As we went along he started to learn that e couldn’t ghost Arlo every time and that stepping on cetin things was bad and that he had to avoid other things. There was one part where it is quite literally covered in sticks its like they laid then down side by side across the trail. The horse had to walk on then and It took Wynter a second to figure out hoe to walk on them. He was also whipped in the face by a stick that Arlo snapped back. He then thought giving Arlo a few more inches was a good idea.
We went along for awhile and ended up side by side. By the time we were out of there he had a good sense of how to navigate. That’s when I spot a path made by an excavator straight up a hill. And I mean straight up like you have to put your hands by the horses ears, up. I thought it would be interesting to see how he handled it so I turned him up it. At first he was like ok and then two steps up he was like your joking right and stopped. A few taps and he was on his way again. I had to help him navigate as he isn’t the best of picking what route to take yet and he was going very slow. Usually when you go up hill especially one straight up horse bound up it. Not Wynter he had to micro manage it. One step quite literally at a time. Half way up I rein not a stick and had to move it out of the way or it would have hit me. Well, stupid me forgot I had his left rein in my hand when I did it. He was very casual about it. As I pushed the stick out of my way still holding his rein he stopped and bent his head around. I then realized that I was attached to him and let his head go. Sorry buddy keep going and he away he went. I think he stopped 3 times going up just because he wasn’t sure where to go. Once at the top Liz was like that was really hard for Arlo. He is used to the momentum and he had none following Wynter. I was so proud of him, he did it all by himself with out a lead horse.
Liz passed us and we went up and around and then went down the sand hill and back up the sand hill. Wynter thought that was silly. Its good for his back legs! Then Liz suggests we trot. So we both Jog. Wynter wasn’t happy about having to work while trail riding. Liz and I were surprised with there strides. They were matched stride for stride there rhythm was great! It was neat and we were both thinking driving.
We did that for a while and made a really neat turn and the Liz lead the way on the new water trail. Which is basically a 3rd trail toward the water tank. It ends at the other side of the tank that Wynter wouldn’t go near yesterday. Since Liz nor I had been on it since it was brand new it was neat to ride on. It was a lot longer than both of us realized and when we got to the end Alro stopped. He wasn’t sure about this angle on the water tank. It took Liz a second to make him go and then Wynter seen it. He shuffled but actually put him nose in the water today. Break through!!! We stood there and then the boys nose at each other. Arlo licked Wynter and then that to rinse his nose out splashing his nose in there water and the Wynter nosed the water and whipped his lip sin Arlos mane. We were obviously quite entrained by the boys. And do I ever mean boys, mares just wouldn’t do that.
By then it was almost 8 and getting dark quickly. So we headed back and that was the first time Wynter seen deer. There were actually on Arlos side and I turned Wynters head to her could see them. By the time it registered he was in front of Arlo. It was a herd of then 5 does and Wynter thought it was neat but could have cared less. His ears went up but there was no change in his body unlike Arlo who was about to blt it they attacked. We walked off and it got dark on us. We took a few trails and then just walked the road all the way back to the truck. It was good to ride him out there when it was dark although Liz and I wre freaked out. The wind tonight was plain creepy and then there was the fact that we swore we saw a UFO. Satellites move side to side across the sky this thing was moving up and down and didn’t blink. It freaked up out to the max.
Walking on the road back Wynter was a little more alive. Most likely because I was a little freak out with the UFO thing and secondly everything changes at night time. He had to stopped when he hit the car bridge, the bushes on the sides were very scary but Arlo walked over it. I assume it was because he knew that the trailer was on the other side somewhere. We walked down the road even further and Wynter had to look at every pot hole, we wasn’t afraid he just had to drop his nose all the way to the ground when he stepped in them.
When we go ton the main road it was darn near black out and Wynter decided he had to Whinny for some reason. I have no idea why as there was no hint of other horses except for Arlo. It was very odd it came out of nor where. Not sort after we were un tacking at the trailer. I was very very pleased with him today. He learned a lot and took the challenges in stride. I was riding him along when I looked down at his and all his hair. Who else can ride there 4 year old stallion on the trails like this?
After that was done Liz and I took the boys out again since it is pretty late and I have to get up tomorrow I’m going to keep this short. I tossed Wynter in the trailer without lunging him. I figured he was pretty tired from yesterday. There were other horses at the water crossing and we pulled off to the side. Liz scooted Alro so he was between Wynter and the other horses. It would have worked if the people would have went by. Instead they went down the stream and we went down the hill to the water. They was ohhing and ahhing our fabios! Liz convince me to pulling out Wynter forelock. I usually tuck it under his brow piece but half way down our first trail I pulled it out. Liz thinks it looks better. He was so flustered by the other horses the water was a snap, he didn’t bat an eye and he didn’t whinny at the other horses either. He had to be sexy and prance out of the water and up the hill though. Just because if there was a mare they had to see how good he looked.
Our only problem of the way was when we were walking though a trail and he got caught on a stick. He Didn’t lift his leg high enough or something because he went with him and the end of it rattled in the woods he went up and over. I went out of the saddle up in the air and back in my saddle. All the while laughing. It was pretty funny. I could sit the guy while he did a back flip I’m sure of it. He is so utterly smooth doing anything. Liz didn’t catch it she just laughed at the sound we made behind her.
After we went through the mud trail which we aced liz took u to the left instead of right to go over the long bridge. Wynter didn’t care at all but he did give the log that was a strange tan color a funny look. It was mainly because Arlo was terrified of it. That is the only bad art about Arlo he is so utterly a chicken.
We went a while and then I led. We took the front and went on a very tight trail up and around the road. Wynter did good he was tense but still forward. Then we hit the car bridge, and Wynter went over it first with out any hesitation. I chose to take the left after and go on the really windy one. it’s a really neat trail as it is very narrow and has a lot of turn but on top of that it goes up and down over tree roots. It’s probably my favorite to canter on.
A few steps into it and I knew we were going to have a problem. We turn around a tree and we have to step down from some roots right into a pit of mud and water. Wynter froze. His breathing quickened and he got tense instantly. At first I figured he was going to jump but then he stepped hid front feet down and then tried to back up. I didn’t let him and made him go forward, he was committed when he stepped down in the first place. So now he was standing like a circus horse with his feet really close together to he wouldn’t get in the mud. I stopped and let him gather himself. He was really huffing and very tense. I didn’t want to traumatize him so I let him come back to reality. A lot of the problem is the rider pushing the horse to fast. How would you like it if you were pressured without being about to think about the consequences or safety of something that you thought was dangerous or scary. You tend to just react and then you never ever want to do it again because it was a bad experience. I think the fact that I let him stop and think help. He was able to relax and take in a deep breath. After that I asked again and he sorta fanned around the mud. I didn’t force him to go directly into it. Choose your battles, he didn’t leap into the air or bolt or do anything stupid he was just be very cautious. Away we went.
We had a few I’m not so sure moments but were able to work though them. That trail is a very hard trail and there were a lot of steps that could be a little scary to a guy. Liz lead and she took us on a trail with no trail. To better give you a picture, it was a trail but then the area was logged so there is stuff scattered everywhere, twigs sticks, branches and piles of stuff. This was extremely hard for Wynter. He had no idea how to maneuver in a place like this. He tried to follow Arlo but that didn’t work and when he tried to do it on his own he chose horribly wrong and got him n trouble with me. That part was when we had to go down hill and he decided it would be better to go off the embankment. I said no way were going the other way. He Didn’t get it and he had to back up the hill and turn. As we went along he started to learn that e couldn’t ghost Arlo every time and that stepping on cetin things was bad and that he had to avoid other things. There was one part where it is quite literally covered in sticks its like they laid then down side by side across the trail. The horse had to walk on then and It took Wynter a second to figure out hoe to walk on them. He was also whipped in the face by a stick that Arlo snapped back. He then thought giving Arlo a few more inches was a good idea.
We went along for awhile and ended up side by side. By the time we were out of there he had a good sense of how to navigate. That’s when I spot a path made by an excavator straight up a hill. And I mean straight up like you have to put your hands by the horses ears, up. I thought it would be interesting to see how he handled it so I turned him up it. At first he was like ok and then two steps up he was like your joking right and stopped. A few taps and he was on his way again. I had to help him navigate as he isn’t the best of picking what route to take yet and he was going very slow. Usually when you go up hill especially one straight up horse bound up it. Not Wynter he had to micro manage it. One step quite literally at a time. Half way up I rein not a stick and had to move it out of the way or it would have hit me. Well, stupid me forgot I had his left rein in my hand when I did it. He was very casual about it. As I pushed the stick out of my way still holding his rein he stopped and bent his head around. I then realized that I was attached to him and let his head go. Sorry buddy keep going and he away he went. I think he stopped 3 times going up just because he wasn’t sure where to go. Once at the top Liz was like that was really hard for Arlo. He is used to the momentum and he had none following Wynter. I was so proud of him, he did it all by himself with out a lead horse.
Liz passed us and we went up and around and then went down the sand hill and back up the sand hill. Wynter thought that was silly. Its good for his back legs! Then Liz suggests we trot. So we both Jog. Wynter wasn’t happy about having to work while trail riding. Liz and I were surprised with there strides. They were matched stride for stride there rhythm was great! It was neat and we were both thinking driving.
We did that for a while and made a really neat turn and the Liz lead the way on the new water trail. Which is basically a 3rd trail toward the water tank. It ends at the other side of the tank that Wynter wouldn’t go near yesterday. Since Liz nor I had been on it since it was brand new it was neat to ride on. It was a lot longer than both of us realized and when we got to the end Alro stopped. He wasn’t sure about this angle on the water tank. It took Liz a second to make him go and then Wynter seen it. He shuffled but actually put him nose in the water today. Break through!!! We stood there and then the boys nose at each other. Arlo licked Wynter and then that to rinse his nose out splashing his nose in there water and the Wynter nosed the water and whipped his lip sin Arlos mane. We were obviously quite entrained by the boys. And do I ever mean boys, mares just wouldn’t do that.
By then it was almost 8 and getting dark quickly. So we headed back and that was the first time Wynter seen deer. There were actually on Arlos side and I turned Wynters head to her could see them. By the time it registered he was in front of Arlo. It was a herd of then 5 does and Wynter thought it was neat but could have cared less. His ears went up but there was no change in his body unlike Arlo who was about to blt it they attacked. We walked off and it got dark on us. We took a few trails and then just walked the road all the way back to the truck. It was good to ride him out there when it was dark although Liz and I wre freaked out. The wind tonight was plain creepy and then there was the fact that we swore we saw a UFO. Satellites move side to side across the sky this thing was moving up and down and didn’t blink. It freaked up out to the max.
Walking on the road back Wynter was a little more alive. Most likely because I was a little freak out with the UFO thing and secondly everything changes at night time. He had to stopped when he hit the car bridge, the bushes on the sides were very scary but Arlo walked over it. I assume it was because he knew that the trailer was on the other side somewhere. We walked down the road even further and Wynter had to look at every pot hole, we wasn’t afraid he just had to drop his nose all the way to the ground when he stepped in them.
When we go ton the main road it was darn near black out and Wynter decided he had to Whinny for some reason. I have no idea why as there was no hint of other horses except for Arlo. It was very odd it came out of nor where. Not sort after we were un tacking at the trailer. I was very very pleased with him today. He learned a lot and took the challenges in stride. I was riding him along when I looked down at his and all his hair. Who else can ride there 4 year old stallion on the trails like this?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Breeding and Another Trail Ride
Since I have slacked off on keeping you updated were going to start with the present and regress this may be long this may be short. I currently have a cold yet again. Will the weather ever make up its mind! I swear.
I started today way to early for my taste buds! I had my PTC test today which was pretty easy. I scored very well on my reading. Too many romance novels I suppose! My writing was a little lower than I thought but then again I am still working on it. My math was a plain joke, I scored very low. The test was completely done on the computer and only took me an hour and 12 minuets. I then dropped off my the only paper I filled out which was a basic info sheet at the consolers office. I already have an appointment to see her for tomorrow at 2:00. I’m largely awaiting my schedule so I can work around it. I would like to take a few classes at my current school and I have a girl who wants to take lessons. So I’m kinda on the fence until I know what my schedule is.
After that mom and I went to lunch and as we left we both spotted the nail place. She the offers to pay for my nails. The last time I had fake nails was like when I was 12. Sounds silly I know but I had them for a long time. I have a really cool mom! Ha ha, anyway so I tell the guy I work with horses and he give me like the industrial version of nails! They are so nice. There super thick, square and he used a very hard coating over the top to keep them hard. They have got to be the best set I have ever had. I got the French but instead of the plain white I got a glitter white. I almost got the glitter blue but figured white goes with anything. The one thing that I forgot was how fricken bad they ache when your first get them! Oh my gosh, you have no idea how they ache, typing is proving to be challenge. Every time I use my thumb nail instead of the thumb to hit space it sent a little wave up my nail. Ugg.
So once I get back home Liz wants to go for a ride. I spent a while relaxing and deciding if I wanted to ride Wynter out there or not. I did. Hooking the trailer up I lunged him in the round pen to get the freshness off. He was very very fresh yesterday but that was mainly because he hadn’t ridden him for three days…. So I have been slacking I’m sorry. We was really good in the round pen a lot more chilled out today than yesterday, which I will go over later.
We throw him in the trailer and head out. When we unload him he is like, ‘um not this again.’ He knew what was gong on the second I unladed him. Today it was just Liz and I so we took the to boys Wynter and Arlo. I tied Wyn right next to Arlo and he never once nickered or showed that he cared, he was mainly concerned about why he was here.
Has anyone run into this problem. If Wynter shakes or rubs his head his can get his halter off his ears. Not the best skill for a stallion to posses. Now he has a triple stitched leather halter that adjusts in every possible way. It fits him correctly. Around his head ect. If I tighten it anymore he will chocked by it! So I don’t know what to do about that I can’t leave him tied anywhere that isn’t closed off because he can get loose. So as I was putting my spurs on Liz and I were yelling at him for rubbing his head. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this?
When we first head out he was really ready for the ride! Arlo was a little concerned with this guy walking so close and so eager behind him. He kept look back at him like hey I’m a dude back off. It was funny we laughed for a while. With no mares Wyn was able to relax a little. We went around the other direction is instead of the one with all the logs and sticks. This way is a lot shorter and open, we usually run on it because its really good footing. Since Wynter was so fresh we walked the whole thing. When we hit the woods Wynter was a little edgy and wasn’t sure about this whole idea. He was pretty tip toie. We went down to the water and today he was not into it. He balked for a second and I got him to go forward. I always release when he goes forward. So we took baby steps and once he was in the water he was a little quick to go through it.
The end of the next trail was a puddle with mud. Today I decided he could get over the idea that he could go around them. There is also like 6 mud pits on the next trail and it rained so I knew it would be great training ground. He did not like the idea. With most horses if you make them they usually catapult over things. I figured out by the time we were done with out ride that he isn’t the catapulting type. After he weaved back and forth between my spurs he danced through the mud. He is such a prissy show pony. I don’t think he likes mud in his frogs! He doesn’t like the way it feels the next section we worked on gong through every bit of mud that we came across and we did. I had to use both reins and my spurs but he walked through them all.
With the mud nearly conquered I strated to learn about his hill work. He is weak and has to carry my fat butt up the darn thing so that’s hard for one. On top of that he doesn’t have that much practice balancing me while going up and down hills. At first he was slow going up and down and eventually he found his rhythm going up and was getting faster going down. After we went up our first hill we walked for a bit and Liz convinced we to trot him. This was me being bold. I asked and he went. At first we were slow and then we went to his power trot and I had to post. He had a fun time in the lead although he was a little nervous. It was trotting up the hil that got him, it really took it out of him. Ohh but it is so good for his hindquarters!
Then Liz decided we could walk my cursed trail. I tend to fall off on this trail every time. So I was completely ready for a deer or something stupid to scared him and un mount me but nothing happened. We walked into the main field where Liz and I watched a chip monk. I never really knew what they sounded like, I always though ti was a bird. We were laughing really hard at this chip monk. Every time he chirped he would hop. It was like the action took so much out of him that his whole body had to get in on it. At the end it make a serious of noised and instead of jumping it actually spun in a quick circle we busted up laughing at that!
Wynter tends to get scared of things on his right side. I’m not sure why he is mister brave when its on his left but going right he has to arch away from. On the right leaving the clearing was a piece of wood that people used as a mounting block. It really freaked him out for some reason so I made him face his fears and stand by it. He wasn’t to keen on the idea but he was ok with it. So we continue walking and pass an old shed which me barely bats and eyes at and I let Liz pass me up. Arlo starts going left and Wynter decided to go right with our without Arlo. Arlo is moseying along when he realizes that he is alone. Wynter is just content as can be going right. I now know that we would be ok to trail ride along with. He just doesn’t care about other horses. He has great spacing he keeps about a half a horse length when behind another horse. Arlo decided to cut through the thick brush to get to Wynter because he is a chicken! We were laughing and started to trot again for a bit.
I still think Wynter calls Arlo bait. He like really doesn’t care if he is food for the bear. I think he figures what ever pops out of the woods will eat Arlo first and he can watch. By the time its done it will be (he assumes) full and not eat him.
At the water tank we had a situation. He wanted nothing to do with it. It is a very scary with a water trough on a block of cement! We got close to it but he had to kick out as my spurs. I laughed at him he is so graceful isn’t not even a buck. He is so completely smooth. He got about a foot from the trough and I figured that was good enough. Arlo and him also made peace. I let them get nose to nose with out Wynter going stallion under me. He was very civil and he was really surprised Arlo was more than bait.
Off on the next trail we went a ways and I got enough courage to pull my feet out of the stirrups. Today was just full of bold thing! My feet not being in the stirrups was a big thing for me, please note I was wearing my helmet! Brain saver, will not ride him out on the trails until he gets more miles on his shows so to speak. He wasn’t so sure about this idea either. He eyeballed them as we walked, so I started swinging them around and he would tilt his head to look at them.
Overall he was doing super good he was walking next to Arlo with out a thought and going along great. He wasn’t slow and concerned this time around he was pretty bold Taking big steps keeping up and sometime over taking Arlo who has the biggest stride I have ever seen. He has a foot over step in all his gates.
We passed Arlo and started down a trail in the front which he really hasn’t done before. He was very very alert and went slower than usual. Then we hit a fallen tree, it was about knee high and it was at a slant across the trail. On the side we were on the bark was chipped off where horses had nicked it. So it was very light tan with the rest of the tree almost black. He didn’t want to go over it. He took a while to get enough courage to go near it and then he would sniff it. I let him take it a step at a time. He was surely taking his sweet time too! It took him two minuets! He went forward and back Arlo all the while rolling his eyes. Then Wynter bucked with both back legs and takes two big steps toward the log and steps over. Trust me I was ready to sail over the thing. I just wanted to go over it with out having to have Arlo go first and we did in a very civilized manner. I was very very proud. Arlo thought it was ridicules that I was petting him for bucking and going over a log. He was not enthused. I let Liz lead and took up the last position where Wyner was most comfortable.
Going down a hill I wasn’t paying attention. I had my crop under arm and both rein in my right hand using my legs to steer. As we went down he got a good horse length from Arlo as he is slow going down hill. He stops looking where he is going and veers off to the right. When he notices the drop off I went to pull him to the side instead he hopped down. This was the first time he ever jumped or did anything like that, so I was very unprepared! I ended up coming up and slamming into the western saddle. Very very uncomfortable! He was pretty graceful though.
Over all we had an awesome ride. He did a lot of new things and I love him to death. We are going to be taking out my BFF for the first time in like a year and I would like to take Wynter. I’m not sure he will be up for it though we had a pretty long and ride day.
Yesterday well, I guess it is a build up from the past three days. I have a friend who lives close and owns three Haflinger‘s. One being a mare. We were talking and she mentioned she was thinking about breeding her mare. I said jokingly that I knew of this really amazing silver stallion. Well, needles to say I needed up riding Marquisse over to her house ot look at her mare. We talked for about 2 or 3 hours. We talked a lot about breeding and the Haflinger breed in general.
Yesterday I told her that I would be at the barn and she could stop by to check him out. She really hasn’t seen him move. I had in the cross ties when she arrived and she looked him over real good. I was glad I went and looked at her mare and was able to see how they would cross. I must say that it will be a nice foal. She loved his legs and bone. We turned him out in the pen as the trainer was gone and let he busted around for awhile.
He was definitely showing three days of nothing. He busted around the pen and my friends loved his canter. She was oohing and ahhing over his canter. He zoomed around for a while and I had a hard time getting him to trot. Thus I through his saddle one and jumped n him. He was still very forward and ‘strong’. We had an ok ride but he was just quick and fast about everything. The good part was that she was pretty set on breeding her mare to Wynter. I’m very excited! Now we are just waiting to make sure she is breeding sound and then were waiting for spring!
So yeah I’m beat and my fingers hurt! I have a meeting tomorrow and I have to trail ride sometime during the day. So yup there it is in a nut shell. When I can get to it I will tell you about our lesson. It was very very funny we rode out a few kicks and bucks.
I started today way to early for my taste buds! I had my PTC test today which was pretty easy. I scored very well on my reading. Too many romance novels I suppose! My writing was a little lower than I thought but then again I am still working on it. My math was a plain joke, I scored very low. The test was completely done on the computer and only took me an hour and 12 minuets. I then dropped off my the only paper I filled out which was a basic info sheet at the consolers office. I already have an appointment to see her for tomorrow at 2:00. I’m largely awaiting my schedule so I can work around it. I would like to take a few classes at my current school and I have a girl who wants to take lessons. So I’m kinda on the fence until I know what my schedule is.
After that mom and I went to lunch and as we left we both spotted the nail place. She the offers to pay for my nails. The last time I had fake nails was like when I was 12. Sounds silly I know but I had them for a long time. I have a really cool mom! Ha ha, anyway so I tell the guy I work with horses and he give me like the industrial version of nails! They are so nice. There super thick, square and he used a very hard coating over the top to keep them hard. They have got to be the best set I have ever had. I got the French but instead of the plain white I got a glitter white. I almost got the glitter blue but figured white goes with anything. The one thing that I forgot was how fricken bad they ache when your first get them! Oh my gosh, you have no idea how they ache, typing is proving to be challenge. Every time I use my thumb nail instead of the thumb to hit space it sent a little wave up my nail. Ugg.
So once I get back home Liz wants to go for a ride. I spent a while relaxing and deciding if I wanted to ride Wynter out there or not. I did. Hooking the trailer up I lunged him in the round pen to get the freshness off. He was very very fresh yesterday but that was mainly because he hadn’t ridden him for three days…. So I have been slacking I’m sorry. We was really good in the round pen a lot more chilled out today than yesterday, which I will go over later.
We throw him in the trailer and head out. When we unload him he is like, ‘um not this again.’ He knew what was gong on the second I unladed him. Today it was just Liz and I so we took the to boys Wynter and Arlo. I tied Wyn right next to Arlo and he never once nickered or showed that he cared, he was mainly concerned about why he was here.
Has anyone run into this problem. If Wynter shakes or rubs his head his can get his halter off his ears. Not the best skill for a stallion to posses. Now he has a triple stitched leather halter that adjusts in every possible way. It fits him correctly. Around his head ect. If I tighten it anymore he will chocked by it! So I don’t know what to do about that I can’t leave him tied anywhere that isn’t closed off because he can get loose. So as I was putting my spurs on Liz and I were yelling at him for rubbing his head. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this?
When we first head out he was really ready for the ride! Arlo was a little concerned with this guy walking so close and so eager behind him. He kept look back at him like hey I’m a dude back off. It was funny we laughed for a while. With no mares Wyn was able to relax a little. We went around the other direction is instead of the one with all the logs and sticks. This way is a lot shorter and open, we usually run on it because its really good footing. Since Wynter was so fresh we walked the whole thing. When we hit the woods Wynter was a little edgy and wasn’t sure about this whole idea. He was pretty tip toie. We went down to the water and today he was not into it. He balked for a second and I got him to go forward. I always release when he goes forward. So we took baby steps and once he was in the water he was a little quick to go through it.
The end of the next trail was a puddle with mud. Today I decided he could get over the idea that he could go around them. There is also like 6 mud pits on the next trail and it rained so I knew it would be great training ground. He did not like the idea. With most horses if you make them they usually catapult over things. I figured out by the time we were done with out ride that he isn’t the catapulting type. After he weaved back and forth between my spurs he danced through the mud. He is such a prissy show pony. I don’t think he likes mud in his frogs! He doesn’t like the way it feels the next section we worked on gong through every bit of mud that we came across and we did. I had to use both reins and my spurs but he walked through them all.
With the mud nearly conquered I strated to learn about his hill work. He is weak and has to carry my fat butt up the darn thing so that’s hard for one. On top of that he doesn’t have that much practice balancing me while going up and down hills. At first he was slow going up and down and eventually he found his rhythm going up and was getting faster going down. After we went up our first hill we walked for a bit and Liz convinced we to trot him. This was me being bold. I asked and he went. At first we were slow and then we went to his power trot and I had to post. He had a fun time in the lead although he was a little nervous. It was trotting up the hil that got him, it really took it out of him. Ohh but it is so good for his hindquarters!
Then Liz decided we could walk my cursed trail. I tend to fall off on this trail every time. So I was completely ready for a deer or something stupid to scared him and un mount me but nothing happened. We walked into the main field where Liz and I watched a chip monk. I never really knew what they sounded like, I always though ti was a bird. We were laughing really hard at this chip monk. Every time he chirped he would hop. It was like the action took so much out of him that his whole body had to get in on it. At the end it make a serious of noised and instead of jumping it actually spun in a quick circle we busted up laughing at that!
Wynter tends to get scared of things on his right side. I’m not sure why he is mister brave when its on his left but going right he has to arch away from. On the right leaving the clearing was a piece of wood that people used as a mounting block. It really freaked him out for some reason so I made him face his fears and stand by it. He wasn’t to keen on the idea but he was ok with it. So we continue walking and pass an old shed which me barely bats and eyes at and I let Liz pass me up. Arlo starts going left and Wynter decided to go right with our without Arlo. Arlo is moseying along when he realizes that he is alone. Wynter is just content as can be going right. I now know that we would be ok to trail ride along with. He just doesn’t care about other horses. He has great spacing he keeps about a half a horse length when behind another horse. Arlo decided to cut through the thick brush to get to Wynter because he is a chicken! We were laughing and started to trot again for a bit.
I still think Wynter calls Arlo bait. He like really doesn’t care if he is food for the bear. I think he figures what ever pops out of the woods will eat Arlo first and he can watch. By the time its done it will be (he assumes) full and not eat him.
At the water tank we had a situation. He wanted nothing to do with it. It is a very scary with a water trough on a block of cement! We got close to it but he had to kick out as my spurs. I laughed at him he is so graceful isn’t not even a buck. He is so completely smooth. He got about a foot from the trough and I figured that was good enough. Arlo and him also made peace. I let them get nose to nose with out Wynter going stallion under me. He was very civil and he was really surprised Arlo was more than bait.
Off on the next trail we went a ways and I got enough courage to pull my feet out of the stirrups. Today was just full of bold thing! My feet not being in the stirrups was a big thing for me, please note I was wearing my helmet! Brain saver, will not ride him out on the trails until he gets more miles on his shows so to speak. He wasn’t so sure about this idea either. He eyeballed them as we walked, so I started swinging them around and he would tilt his head to look at them.
Overall he was doing super good he was walking next to Arlo with out a thought and going along great. He wasn’t slow and concerned this time around he was pretty bold Taking big steps keeping up and sometime over taking Arlo who has the biggest stride I have ever seen. He has a foot over step in all his gates.
We passed Arlo and started down a trail in the front which he really hasn’t done before. He was very very alert and went slower than usual. Then we hit a fallen tree, it was about knee high and it was at a slant across the trail. On the side we were on the bark was chipped off where horses had nicked it. So it was very light tan with the rest of the tree almost black. He didn’t want to go over it. He took a while to get enough courage to go near it and then he would sniff it. I let him take it a step at a time. He was surely taking his sweet time too! It took him two minuets! He went forward and back Arlo all the while rolling his eyes. Then Wynter bucked with both back legs and takes two big steps toward the log and steps over. Trust me I was ready to sail over the thing. I just wanted to go over it with out having to have Arlo go first and we did in a very civilized manner. I was very very proud. Arlo thought it was ridicules that I was petting him for bucking and going over a log. He was not enthused. I let Liz lead and took up the last position where Wyner was most comfortable.
Going down a hill I wasn’t paying attention. I had my crop under arm and both rein in my right hand using my legs to steer. As we went down he got a good horse length from Arlo as he is slow going down hill. He stops looking where he is going and veers off to the right. When he notices the drop off I went to pull him to the side instead he hopped down. This was the first time he ever jumped or did anything like that, so I was very unprepared! I ended up coming up and slamming into the western saddle. Very very uncomfortable! He was pretty graceful though.
Over all we had an awesome ride. He did a lot of new things and I love him to death. We are going to be taking out my BFF for the first time in like a year and I would like to take Wynter. I’m not sure he will be up for it though we had a pretty long and ride day.
Yesterday well, I guess it is a build up from the past three days. I have a friend who lives close and owns three Haflinger‘s. One being a mare. We were talking and she mentioned she was thinking about breeding her mare. I said jokingly that I knew of this really amazing silver stallion. Well, needles to say I needed up riding Marquisse over to her house ot look at her mare. We talked for about 2 or 3 hours. We talked a lot about breeding and the Haflinger breed in general.
Yesterday I told her that I would be at the barn and she could stop by to check him out. She really hasn’t seen him move. I had in the cross ties when she arrived and she looked him over real good. I was glad I went and looked at her mare and was able to see how they would cross. I must say that it will be a nice foal. She loved his legs and bone. We turned him out in the pen as the trainer was gone and let he busted around for awhile.
He was definitely showing three days of nothing. He busted around the pen and my friends loved his canter. She was oohing and ahhing over his canter. He zoomed around for a while and I had a hard time getting him to trot. Thus I through his saddle one and jumped n him. He was still very forward and ‘strong’. We had an ok ride but he was just quick and fast about everything. The good part was that she was pretty set on breeding her mare to Wynter. I’m very excited! Now we are just waiting to make sure she is breeding sound and then were waiting for spring!
So yeah I’m beat and my fingers hurt! I have a meeting tomorrow and I have to trail ride sometime during the day. So yup there it is in a nut shell. When I can get to it I will tell you about our lesson. It was very very funny we rode out a few kicks and bucks.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Progress
Yay I got my official student number from the college today! I’m excited although I know its going to be a LOT of work. I’m going to take my PT next Tuesday. I have to be there 13 minuets before 9 am. Ugg and they want me to test well? I’ll be half asleep then! Anyway I’m getting closer to attending college.
I was able to get on Wynter late today. Around 5ish actually. We spent a while bending and walking in circles. Today we started to add a spur stop. Which is where you add your spurs to gain collection. Sounds funny but it is a really really neat ‘button’ on your western horses. It starts at a stop where you bend right and left each time you bend right you add right spur not enough to making them go forward to as an aid. Then you release the spur and let the head go when they give. Then you do it left. We probably did it around 17 times each side and then you add both spurs again not as a forward action but more as a ‘button’. He got it and dropped his head down. Step one complete!
We had a hard to distinguishing forward and spur stop for a second. Then we got it and were able to move forward. We worked at the opposite end of the arena today since there was a jump right next to the wall at the end. At the trot I focused on pegging that inside shoulder if it tried anything funny. I also work on keeping him hip on the out side of the circle. This made him think canter so we went around at a canter for a bit. He was mucho better today. He leaned on me a little but was quicker to give and pick himself up today.
Going the other way we did a little trot work but it was pretty good going left so we went down the long wall to try and track straight. This was super good or I was missing something. I’m pretty sure I can tell where everything is but was a little skeptical that he was tracking up that well. So we reversed and he needed a little help he would swing his butt in just a little bit. Every time I added a little thing of spur he would throw it all the way out. He doesn’t know what moderation is. We did a lot of long walls today working on forward straightness.
Around this time we started working on stopping and walking of straight. He love to pitch his shoulder to the right when he step off at the walk. My right spur was in action when we did this, a few times he thought if he laid into it it would go away. When that didn’t work he moved from it and viola no spur. We whoaed and go’ed about 4 times in a row until he was walking off with out going crooked. This is something I’m going to have to work on every day until he just goes centered and then we won’t have to worry about it…much.
I then went to more canter work and his left side was really good he was soft and centered and I only did two transitions with him. Going right I was being picky about it. I made him work that side a little more just because it isn’t as good as the other side. We did about Four transitions to canter and he never missed a lead. He almost missed one of his left leads though but I shut him down before he had the option. We worked as far off the rail I could making it hard for him. He was really good by the rail but when he went to the center of the pen he would drop out with his outside shoulder and aim for the rail. We went around and around with my trying different rein and leg combinations until he finely went around the center collected and soft with out falling in or out. This was an instant whoa. He is almost a reining horse he stopped so fast.
I was really surprised he was sweaty, he was barely warm today. I called it a day with the good canter and just leaped off of him. He wasn’t sweaty enough for me to rinse him to so I just put him in hos room after I was done. Overall it was a much improved ride from yesterday. Which everyone would call progress! That’s exciting. It will be interesting to see what Jen says tomorrow.
In other news my stuff still isn’t here! Ugg I wanted new rowels before I went back to Jennifer’s. I may just use my English ones he he.
I was able to get on Wynter late today. Around 5ish actually. We spent a while bending and walking in circles. Today we started to add a spur stop. Which is where you add your spurs to gain collection. Sounds funny but it is a really really neat ‘button’ on your western horses. It starts at a stop where you bend right and left each time you bend right you add right spur not enough to making them go forward to as an aid. Then you release the spur and let the head go when they give. Then you do it left. We probably did it around 17 times each side and then you add both spurs again not as a forward action but more as a ‘button’. He got it and dropped his head down. Step one complete!
We had a hard to distinguishing forward and spur stop for a second. Then we got it and were able to move forward. We worked at the opposite end of the arena today since there was a jump right next to the wall at the end. At the trot I focused on pegging that inside shoulder if it tried anything funny. I also work on keeping him hip on the out side of the circle. This made him think canter so we went around at a canter for a bit. He was mucho better today. He leaned on me a little but was quicker to give and pick himself up today.
Going the other way we did a little trot work but it was pretty good going left so we went down the long wall to try and track straight. This was super good or I was missing something. I’m pretty sure I can tell where everything is but was a little skeptical that he was tracking up that well. So we reversed and he needed a little help he would swing his butt in just a little bit. Every time I added a little thing of spur he would throw it all the way out. He doesn’t know what moderation is. We did a lot of long walls today working on forward straightness.
Around this time we started working on stopping and walking of straight. He love to pitch his shoulder to the right when he step off at the walk. My right spur was in action when we did this, a few times he thought if he laid into it it would go away. When that didn’t work he moved from it and viola no spur. We whoaed and go’ed about 4 times in a row until he was walking off with out going crooked. This is something I’m going to have to work on every day until he just goes centered and then we won’t have to worry about it…much.
I then went to more canter work and his left side was really good he was soft and centered and I only did two transitions with him. Going right I was being picky about it. I made him work that side a little more just because it isn’t as good as the other side. We did about Four transitions to canter and he never missed a lead. He almost missed one of his left leads though but I shut him down before he had the option. We worked as far off the rail I could making it hard for him. He was really good by the rail but when he went to the center of the pen he would drop out with his outside shoulder and aim for the rail. We went around and around with my trying different rein and leg combinations until he finely went around the center collected and soft with out falling in or out. This was an instant whoa. He is almost a reining horse he stopped so fast.
I was really surprised he was sweaty, he was barely warm today. I called it a day with the good canter and just leaped off of him. He wasn’t sweaty enough for me to rinse him to so I just put him in hos room after I was done. Overall it was a much improved ride from yesterday. Which everyone would call progress! That’s exciting. It will be interesting to see what Jen says tomorrow.
In other news my stuff still isn’t here! Ugg I wanted new rowels before I went back to Jennifer’s. I may just use my English ones he he.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Long Day!
My day was just bad all day. At first I had an appointment at nine and when I get there they tell me its not till next week. That was Liz’s fault! She tells me she made an appointment and forgot to tell me what Tuesday it was for. They were able to squeeze me in at noon. It just went down hill and when I got to the barn I was hoping like crazy Wynter would be good.
I lunged him around just because he was walking on his tip toes round the pen. We only did it a few times each way and called it good. Again we sat by the mounting block for a while and then went to bending. With the bending I figured he was going to be a butt about him right shoulder. He would bend either to the right or left real good and then fall in or out. We kept at bending for a long time just because he was insistent about it.
I finely moved on to the trot and could feel that shoulder. Going right he was really pitching his butt out and dropping the shoulder. So I would push the hip in and pick the shoulder up. Again and again. We backed a few times, just because I couldn’t figure it out. Without anything else We did canter work and his right lead was just bad. He was going mock ten with his hip swung out and shoulder dove it. When I added leg he would pitch forward and swing his butt in. I was fine with the faster pace but today I just couldn’t sit his canter. I was bouncing all over and it bothered me… a lot. Once he got his butt in position we went about picking that shoulder up. He would toss everything he had on the rein and try and refuse to give. After a good sections of checking he was able to give to. He would then toss his outside shoulder out.
He was just a big puzzle that didn’t want to fit together today! At the time I wasn’t sure if he was making my day worse or miserable. So we did a lot of right canter work. We would do short spurts of good and stop for a breather. I was focusing on getting it through his head it he was correct he got to whoa. Then when we whoa’ed we had to work on how to walk of centered. He would either try and back up or dive out to the right like a drunk. So we work on going forward when he was asked to go forward.
We did even more canter work and when he gave up at the hardest part of our circle we whoa’ed. He did a reiner stop and stood there for a while. Then we went to stop go until he walked off centered. I had the option of doing a little more trot work with him but I was tired and I didn’t want to open up another can of worm. I also figured I may as well stop him on a good note.
After we cooled out I asked for the whoa and he halter off of voice alone. I was surprised he stopped just because it was a whisper or a whoa. I was just about to say it louder with purpose like I should have done in the first place when he stopped. I was happy and when I started to swing off I hung off of him for a second. And patted his right rib cage with my hands. His ears flicked but he could have cared less. I love him so much. We sprayed him off and I put him in his room for the night.
Ohh and his likit only lasted the night! So he either loves that peppermint flavor or he loves his likit. I’m going to wait untill Saturday or Sunday to put the apple one in. On top of that I noticed the ones I bought at the co op are not ‘Likit’ brand the are ‘Jolly’ it will be interesting to see the difference. I still haven’t gotten my stuff from sstack yet. Should be here any day now they are always really good about shipping.
I also found a lady who will do blanket repairs without requiring then to wash them there selves. Every blanket person I found required that they wash them. I just can’t afford to send my blanket to some one and pay to get them fixed and washed when I can wash them myself. So I have to gather some of my blanket to get them repaired before winter. Most of my stable blanket and sheets are needing some serious fixing!
Sorry this is so very short. I’m sure you can tell that I am exhausted. I will try and be a little more up beat tomorrow. Today was just long and not all that for filling. I will say even if Wynter didn’t give me the best of rides he got my mind off of things and I was able to smile afterward.
I lunged him around just because he was walking on his tip toes round the pen. We only did it a few times each way and called it good. Again we sat by the mounting block for a while and then went to bending. With the bending I figured he was going to be a butt about him right shoulder. He would bend either to the right or left real good and then fall in or out. We kept at bending for a long time just because he was insistent about it.
I finely moved on to the trot and could feel that shoulder. Going right he was really pitching his butt out and dropping the shoulder. So I would push the hip in and pick the shoulder up. Again and again. We backed a few times, just because I couldn’t figure it out. Without anything else We did canter work and his right lead was just bad. He was going mock ten with his hip swung out and shoulder dove it. When I added leg he would pitch forward and swing his butt in. I was fine with the faster pace but today I just couldn’t sit his canter. I was bouncing all over and it bothered me… a lot. Once he got his butt in position we went about picking that shoulder up. He would toss everything he had on the rein and try and refuse to give. After a good sections of checking he was able to give to. He would then toss his outside shoulder out.
He was just a big puzzle that didn’t want to fit together today! At the time I wasn’t sure if he was making my day worse or miserable. So we did a lot of right canter work. We would do short spurts of good and stop for a breather. I was focusing on getting it through his head it he was correct he got to whoa. Then when we whoa’ed we had to work on how to walk of centered. He would either try and back up or dive out to the right like a drunk. So we work on going forward when he was asked to go forward.
We did even more canter work and when he gave up at the hardest part of our circle we whoa’ed. He did a reiner stop and stood there for a while. Then we went to stop go until he walked off centered. I had the option of doing a little more trot work with him but I was tired and I didn’t want to open up another can of worm. I also figured I may as well stop him on a good note.
After we cooled out I asked for the whoa and he halter off of voice alone. I was surprised he stopped just because it was a whisper or a whoa. I was just about to say it louder with purpose like I should have done in the first place when he stopped. I was happy and when I started to swing off I hung off of him for a second. And patted his right rib cage with my hands. His ears flicked but he could have cared less. I love him so much. We sprayed him off and I put him in his room for the night.
Ohh and his likit only lasted the night! So he either loves that peppermint flavor or he loves his likit. I’m going to wait untill Saturday or Sunday to put the apple one in. On top of that I noticed the ones I bought at the co op are not ‘Likit’ brand the are ‘Jolly’ it will be interesting to see the difference. I still haven’t gotten my stuff from sstack yet. Should be here any day now they are always really good about shipping.
I also found a lady who will do blanket repairs without requiring then to wash them there selves. Every blanket person I found required that they wash them. I just can’t afford to send my blanket to some one and pay to get them fixed and washed when I can wash them myself. So I have to gather some of my blanket to get them repaired before winter. Most of my stable blanket and sheets are needing some serious fixing!
Sorry this is so very short. I’m sure you can tell that I am exhausted. I will try and be a little more up beat tomorrow. Today was just long and not all that for filling. I will say even if Wynter didn’t give me the best of rides he got my mind off of things and I was able to smile afterward.
Monday, September 14, 2009
New Likit & Timer
Today was Moms Birthday so I never got the time to do anything with horses besides feeding. We went to the co op because they have cute clothes that mom likes and I picked up two Likits for Wynter. I got him Apple and peppermint flavored ones he has had a peppermint one before and I think he has had an apple but I’m not sure.
I made a timer which took me a while to figure out! Take away about 17 hours, its start at midnight and he didn't get it till that evening other than that it is about on time. I gave him the peppermint one so lets see how long that lasts.
I made a timer which took me a while to figure out! Take away about 17 hours, its start at midnight and he didn't get it till that evening other than that it is about on time. I gave him the peppermint one so lets see how long that lasts.
The First Trail Ride
Liz and I went on a ride with Marz and Arlo and hafl way through I thought it was a good day to take Wynter out. He has been on about 4 ride in our tree farm so I decided he should go out and do a real ride. So we went back to the barn and Liz grabbed Toccata who she was going to ride bareback and mom jumped on Arlo. I lunged Wynter around in the round pen to get out the jitters. We went around for a while and then did a little join up. He was really good about that and wasn’t that warm at all. I loaded him in the trailer and he had to nicker at Arlo who we put next t him. He did it a few times and then relaxed. When I unloaded him form the trailer at the parking lot he was seriously confused. Where was the arena? He has never been somewhere just for trees.
He whinnied once and was quiet the rest of the time. He also stood still at the trailer so I was pretty optimistic. Even though I did wear my helmet. Mom and Liz jinks when I got out of the truck saying something of the effect the he was a baby. So the helmet was on! He had a really hard time standing still while I got on him but he didn’t dance he was just tense really tense. I have also never gotten on him using the side of the horse trailer before so that was new to him. I took the whip today just for an extension of my hand. I ended up using it here and there.
When we first headed out he had to nicker and walk in a arch away from everyone. He was really nervous being that close to any other horse. He thought he was going to get in trouble. So the first little section he was really slow and he was walking in a funky arch but I did get him to stop nickering. We took up the rear as it is a natural position for a stallion to take. We had Arlo in front of him and Liz was in the lead on Tots.
The first real trail we went on was a pretty hard one, I choice it so I could make him think on is feet and not the fact they we were with a mare. It worked really well. We were laughing at him the whole time. He was a prissy show boy. He tiptoed and avoided everything he could, he is also determined to not walk through mud! He was not going there and I wasn’t either. I decided to pick my battles and the mud thing was not for today or the next few ride as a matter of fact. Just going along quietly and at a steady pace was golden in my book. So I let him scurry off to the side around the mud and in one case fly over it.
This guy could be jumper. I don’t like jumping and with Marquisse she launches herself over it and you are thrown from your seat and you hit hard. The fact that I don’t know what I’m doing doesn’t help. Well with Wynter I don’t leave my seat he is very very smooth. The particular trail we took first has a log or root every 6 feet it’s a real maze and he was hopping anything mid cannon bone. He had to do it with piazza, because he is a stallion after all. He was super good tense but I was real impressed with him, I did have to use my spurs to keep him from rubbing me off on a tree. He completely forgot that my legs were there. He also didn’t understand the ‘trail’ he really never picked that up after we were done. He would try to go around a log by following it all the way down instead of going over. It made me laugh a few times. He would also try a go straight if it was an s curve, he thought those were ridicules.
Almost at the end of the trail it went straight up. Now Wynter hasn’t really had to carry a human up an embankment before and I could feel him trying to figure out how to balance me. He was very quick about it. As we went up he picked up a very brisk walk almost trot to power himself up. Mom looked back and gave me this look and said ‘he looks really good’. He was like warrior horse going up the hill. All he needed was armor and maybe a knight on his back instead of me.
The next big thing for him to concur was the water. I have ridden around and on some real greenies and I’ll tell you that the stream is a real issue. This particular water crossing is about knee deep at the deepest and about 6 feet across. It Didn’t help that there was mud at the beginning. The best part is the other two horses don’t even hesitate they just go so he was the one to stop and look at the water. He sniffed it and I added a little leg not enough to push him or make him panic just enough to encourage the idea. He go the hit but wasn’t sure about going in he had to try and get around the mud. So we went one way and I said we are not going up over the edge so he went the over way and I added a little more leg and he stepped right in. He crossed without a hitch. He even went through the mud on the other side without hopping it like I thought he would.
The trail that follow the water crossing are a compilation of figure eights. If you don’t go right you can go left and you end up on the same trail. So to mess with his mind we took the trail that the others didn’t take he could see them the whole time he just wasn’t sure on the idea. During this whole time he had been walking really slow and tensed. He would prance to catch up. His prance is super smooth to sit to so at first I didn’t notice and then I started to try and making him move out instead of prance around.
Our next big challenge was a small bridge that is about 2 and a half horse length long and not wide enough for a Haflinger to turn around on. The side come up about rider elbow height. Again the other two don’t even flinch and Wynter decided do just go over it he had no hesitation. The only time he was a little unsure about was when he was all the way on it he tilted his head but didn’t scramble to get off or quicken his pace. That was awesome. The next section is the muddiest part of the whole tree farm its like a mud pit for a few yards. He had to walk through some of it but went he could he would dance around.
We went up and around to the left and up the sand hill which he had a really hard time not trotting up. The other two were pretty far ahead so he wanted to be closer but we made it. Sadly at the top there is a big silver covert sitting above ground. Again I have seen greenies freak out over this thing. His ears went forward and he side stepped very very little, I suppose say he gave it a wipe birth is a better way to put it. The next trail was a really tight one at had the green shrubs constantly rubbing his legs he hated this trail. Absolutely hated it. He got very very tense. He whinnied at Liz a few time because she kept getting to far away. I think that was the stallion in him. He could have cared less for Arlo. Or as I put it at one point ‘the bait’ he would have love to use Arlo as bait so he could get his mare away from danger. He was totally looking out for her.
I have been riding the pretty broke trail horse for a while now and haven’t ridden a real green horn in a long time. I forgot big ass scary stumps could be scary. He would tilt his head and walk around them, like try it I’ll kill you if you make a move.
That is the strangest thing while riding a stallion. As my first stallion he is so very very different than riding anything else. Instead of running from something he will go toward it or try and attack it. Like at the end of the next trail there is a big metal loader Its like a semi truck loading ramp that is half buried into the ground. Wynter went right up to it with out my aid and was like is it alive because if it is I’ll kick its ass. When he figured it wasn’t he just mosey on. There was also the cup incident. There was a plastic mocha cup in the middle of the trail Toccata kicked it making it spin and Arlo the chicken of the group had to give it the evil eye and tip toe around it. Wynter could have cared less he just glanced at it and kept going. I was really for him to kick it and jump in the air ten feet he didn’t.
When we hit the clearing he had to get a little excited because there were other horses coming through and we also got close to his mare. He had to whinny and prance but you know I was riding him with one hand. I had faith that he wasn’t going to charge or do anything but what he was doing.
This part of the ride was the most entertaining for all of us. Again it was a real stallion thing. We were riding the main road of a huge open area that had small section s Christmas trees planted in square patches. We walked side by side next to Toccata and he nickered twice and dropped that after the hand of god smacked him up side the head. And I was starting to question brining it. He spotted two horses coming in on the far side of the area reminding me of and Arab. His head came up and he tuck his butt under him and felt like he was walking on his tip toes in front. This was the craziest he got for the whole ride. He sped walked forward and whinnied at them. It was a stallion thing protecting his herd. Once they went away he was on high alert. If you have even seen up you will get the picture of this perfectly. You know when Dog is introducing himself and explaining his collar and he see a squirrel well, Wynter did that twice but he kept walking, he didn’t stop his feet. He would be walking along and then almost get whip lash looking over at something. He was totally going to tell everyone that he seen what ever it was if he had to. Like I said he was going to protect his herd.
Its really weird to know that if the crap hit the fan he was attack it not run. So help me if a bear would have came out of the woods and attacked up Wynter would have been on it. He would have showed that bear who Willard Whyte really is! The rest of the ride he really toned down he started to relax and just trail ride. We took on trail that was tight and again he got tense and tried to go around the point less turn but he was super super good.
On the way back to the trailer Liz kept saying he was dropping. So I kept telling him that was a no no well once we got to the horse trailer and I jump off him he peed. Poor boy and I was telling him he was bad. Now I know when he drops like that he just needs to pee.
Over all I was very very pleased with his first real trail ride. He was super!!! The best ride I have ever seen by a greenie! He was great and I love him to death. He is now going to go on more. He is also gong to be soar. Oh man he was like jello Stifles when we loaded into the trailer.
Tomorrow we will see if he is to soar to ride we may just lunge him around or do a very very easy ride. I’m not sure yet and my fingers are crossed that my stuff arrived soon!! I need my rowels.
He whinnied once and was quiet the rest of the time. He also stood still at the trailer so I was pretty optimistic. Even though I did wear my helmet. Mom and Liz jinks when I got out of the truck saying something of the effect the he was a baby. So the helmet was on! He had a really hard time standing still while I got on him but he didn’t dance he was just tense really tense. I have also never gotten on him using the side of the horse trailer before so that was new to him. I took the whip today just for an extension of my hand. I ended up using it here and there.
When we first headed out he had to nicker and walk in a arch away from everyone. He was really nervous being that close to any other horse. He thought he was going to get in trouble. So the first little section he was really slow and he was walking in a funky arch but I did get him to stop nickering. We took up the rear as it is a natural position for a stallion to take. We had Arlo in front of him and Liz was in the lead on Tots.
The first real trail we went on was a pretty hard one, I choice it so I could make him think on is feet and not the fact they we were with a mare. It worked really well. We were laughing at him the whole time. He was a prissy show boy. He tiptoed and avoided everything he could, he is also determined to not walk through mud! He was not going there and I wasn’t either. I decided to pick my battles and the mud thing was not for today or the next few ride as a matter of fact. Just going along quietly and at a steady pace was golden in my book. So I let him scurry off to the side around the mud and in one case fly over it.
This guy could be jumper. I don’t like jumping and with Marquisse she launches herself over it and you are thrown from your seat and you hit hard. The fact that I don’t know what I’m doing doesn’t help. Well with Wynter I don’t leave my seat he is very very smooth. The particular trail we took first has a log or root every 6 feet it’s a real maze and he was hopping anything mid cannon bone. He had to do it with piazza, because he is a stallion after all. He was super good tense but I was real impressed with him, I did have to use my spurs to keep him from rubbing me off on a tree. He completely forgot that my legs were there. He also didn’t understand the ‘trail’ he really never picked that up after we were done. He would try to go around a log by following it all the way down instead of going over. It made me laugh a few times. He would also try a go straight if it was an s curve, he thought those were ridicules.
Almost at the end of the trail it went straight up. Now Wynter hasn’t really had to carry a human up an embankment before and I could feel him trying to figure out how to balance me. He was very quick about it. As we went up he picked up a very brisk walk almost trot to power himself up. Mom looked back and gave me this look and said ‘he looks really good’. He was like warrior horse going up the hill. All he needed was armor and maybe a knight on his back instead of me.
The next big thing for him to concur was the water. I have ridden around and on some real greenies and I’ll tell you that the stream is a real issue. This particular water crossing is about knee deep at the deepest and about 6 feet across. It Didn’t help that there was mud at the beginning. The best part is the other two horses don’t even hesitate they just go so he was the one to stop and look at the water. He sniffed it and I added a little leg not enough to push him or make him panic just enough to encourage the idea. He go the hit but wasn’t sure about going in he had to try and get around the mud. So we went one way and I said we are not going up over the edge so he went the over way and I added a little more leg and he stepped right in. He crossed without a hitch. He even went through the mud on the other side without hopping it like I thought he would.
The trail that follow the water crossing are a compilation of figure eights. If you don’t go right you can go left and you end up on the same trail. So to mess with his mind we took the trail that the others didn’t take he could see them the whole time he just wasn’t sure on the idea. During this whole time he had been walking really slow and tensed. He would prance to catch up. His prance is super smooth to sit to so at first I didn’t notice and then I started to try and making him move out instead of prance around.
Our next big challenge was a small bridge that is about 2 and a half horse length long and not wide enough for a Haflinger to turn around on. The side come up about rider elbow height. Again the other two don’t even flinch and Wynter decided do just go over it he had no hesitation. The only time he was a little unsure about was when he was all the way on it he tilted his head but didn’t scramble to get off or quicken his pace. That was awesome. The next section is the muddiest part of the whole tree farm its like a mud pit for a few yards. He had to walk through some of it but went he could he would dance around.
We went up and around to the left and up the sand hill which he had a really hard time not trotting up. The other two were pretty far ahead so he wanted to be closer but we made it. Sadly at the top there is a big silver covert sitting above ground. Again I have seen greenies freak out over this thing. His ears went forward and he side stepped very very little, I suppose say he gave it a wipe birth is a better way to put it. The next trail was a really tight one at had the green shrubs constantly rubbing his legs he hated this trail. Absolutely hated it. He got very very tense. He whinnied at Liz a few time because she kept getting to far away. I think that was the stallion in him. He could have cared less for Arlo. Or as I put it at one point ‘the bait’ he would have love to use Arlo as bait so he could get his mare away from danger. He was totally looking out for her.
I have been riding the pretty broke trail horse for a while now and haven’t ridden a real green horn in a long time. I forgot big ass scary stumps could be scary. He would tilt his head and walk around them, like try it I’ll kill you if you make a move.
That is the strangest thing while riding a stallion. As my first stallion he is so very very different than riding anything else. Instead of running from something he will go toward it or try and attack it. Like at the end of the next trail there is a big metal loader Its like a semi truck loading ramp that is half buried into the ground. Wynter went right up to it with out my aid and was like is it alive because if it is I’ll kick its ass. When he figured it wasn’t he just mosey on. There was also the cup incident. There was a plastic mocha cup in the middle of the trail Toccata kicked it making it spin and Arlo the chicken of the group had to give it the evil eye and tip toe around it. Wynter could have cared less he just glanced at it and kept going. I was really for him to kick it and jump in the air ten feet he didn’t.
When we hit the clearing he had to get a little excited because there were other horses coming through and we also got close to his mare. He had to whinny and prance but you know I was riding him with one hand. I had faith that he wasn’t going to charge or do anything but what he was doing.
This part of the ride was the most entertaining for all of us. Again it was a real stallion thing. We were riding the main road of a huge open area that had small section s Christmas trees planted in square patches. We walked side by side next to Toccata and he nickered twice and dropped that after the hand of god smacked him up side the head. And I was starting to question brining it. He spotted two horses coming in on the far side of the area reminding me of and Arab. His head came up and he tuck his butt under him and felt like he was walking on his tip toes in front. This was the craziest he got for the whole ride. He sped walked forward and whinnied at them. It was a stallion thing protecting his herd. Once they went away he was on high alert. If you have even seen up you will get the picture of this perfectly. You know when Dog is introducing himself and explaining his collar and he see a squirrel well, Wynter did that twice but he kept walking, he didn’t stop his feet. He would be walking along and then almost get whip lash looking over at something. He was totally going to tell everyone that he seen what ever it was if he had to. Like I said he was going to protect his herd.
Its really weird to know that if the crap hit the fan he was attack it not run. So help me if a bear would have came out of the woods and attacked up Wynter would have been on it. He would have showed that bear who Willard Whyte really is! The rest of the ride he really toned down he started to relax and just trail ride. We took on trail that was tight and again he got tense and tried to go around the point less turn but he was super super good.
On the way back to the trailer Liz kept saying he was dropping. So I kept telling him that was a no no well once we got to the horse trailer and I jump off him he peed. Poor boy and I was telling him he was bad. Now I know when he drops like that he just needs to pee.
Over all I was very very pleased with his first real trail ride. He was super!!! The best ride I have ever seen by a greenie! He was great and I love him to death. He is now going to go on more. He is also gong to be soar. Oh man he was like jello Stifles when we loaded into the trailer.
Tomorrow we will see if he is to soar to ride we may just lunge him around or do a very very easy ride. I’m not sure yet and my fingers are crossed that my stuff arrived soon!! I need my rowels.
Catch Up and not Heinz
Friday was a long day. I started by giving Kitt his meds and working Forba. She is looking a lot better, although she is really bracing on the inside rein. I’m not riding her yet just lunging her with a cersingle and bridle. I’m trying to get her in the zone before I jump on her. She really needs to build some muscle up before I make her going under saddle so were lunging for a bit. When I was rinsing her off my teacher came in with her daughter. We started talking while I did Forba. Who in all actuality was really quite good for not having been in the big barn in months. She got rinsed and was a little pushing going back to the pasture. I didn’t correct her to much as my teacher was right there. Not sure what kind of first impression she would have had if I started correcting Forbs in front of her.
I pulled Toccata out of her stall so the girl could brush her a bit while we talked. Toccata stand like a rock so I had no worries. Again a good reason not to sell her right? Right? Ha ha.
Anyway after that I chilled for a while until Liz came around. Sammy didn’t show because she said she didn’t feel good. SO I jumped on Wynter just a little bit before Liz got to the barn. We tacked up quickly and stood next to the mounting block for a long time. Again the trainer was cracking jokes, telling me I had a crazy one. He was a little tense today and I walked around getting his muscles stretched and his blood flowing. The trainer did a combination down the center line which we were very close to the third jump and the horse caught it sending the pole tumbling down. Wyn’s ears twitched but he kept walking. I sent him to work at the trot completely forgetting to bend. I have no idea why I forgot but I did. I remember where he got unusually heavy doing figure eights. So we halted and bent a while. After that he was a lot softer.
We did a little trot work and since he is getting better and better we haven’t been going for so long. He was really good and when Liz came in with Marz he had a hard time concentrating. He thought he had to nicker at her when he got close.
Our canter work is getting better, we went to the other end of the pen away from ‘distraction’. We went left first and he was basically the same although when he gave his gave and centered himself for a longer amount of time. Going right we had to do a few transition just because he didn’t want to go on the correct lead. Went went around for a long time because he would get centered. He was trying to brace and fall out while swing his butt out. SO we went around and around. Once he gave it was a super soft give and he was very very correct. So we stopped there. His head set was low at moments but over all he wasn’t all to low, about 50 50.
We stood and watched Liz ride Marz around. Who I had to make fun of she usually ride Arlo dressage but was soar from something and wanted to ride western. After I watched them for a second I cooled Wynter out who again thought it was necessary. When I asked for whoa he blew threw it again but his ears twitched back so I asked one more time and he stopped. I had to mad rush stripping him and rinsing him off and he was ok with it, though he was wondering why I was rushing. I needed to be quick as Liz was only half way done with her lesson and I tied Wynter in his room. I figured he needed some time to ‘himself’.
Our lesson was good except Marz was very very tense and wanted to canter the whole time. So we worked on that and Liz needs to work on her lower legs. She parks them out like she is riding a reining horse. We need to work on her seat and legs.
So anyway I didn’t pay to much attention to the Rid eon Wynter because I had to give Liz her lesson. I was like on Auto pilot when I rode him. I paid enough attention to get the work done but didn’t file it deep enough in my brain to write about it sorry if it was short or hit and miss.
On another note Justin helped me with horses that night. We traded off I said I would help him with home work if he helped me with horses. So on our way back home he asked why I didn’t use my high beams in my truck. Instead of telling him I showed him when we go to our drive way. I tapped the high beam button on the floor and within 20 seconds the power to the light cut out and it was pitch black. He was like Ohhh that’s why. It was funny. I laughed pretty hard. I slowed down to turtle speed and flicked the lights a few times until they came on.
Yesterday was spa day at the barn which means that we went and clipped everyone and re wrapped tails. Since everyone’s tail have been down for a few months it was no easy task. Liz and I spent all day in the wash rack and grooming room! The only one we didn’t get to was Wynter because his are still in although they are falling apart. I will redo them in the next week. He got the day off.
Oh oh and exciting news! My friend finely came over and put the subs in the back of my truck!!! It sounds fantastic but not as fantastic as it will sound when I get an amp back there. Right now I don’t have one but it will be soon. I love it anyway, it sounds great Liz is in love with my truck now ha ha ha!
I pulled Toccata out of her stall so the girl could brush her a bit while we talked. Toccata stand like a rock so I had no worries. Again a good reason not to sell her right? Right? Ha ha.
Anyway after that I chilled for a while until Liz came around. Sammy didn’t show because she said she didn’t feel good. SO I jumped on Wynter just a little bit before Liz got to the barn. We tacked up quickly and stood next to the mounting block for a long time. Again the trainer was cracking jokes, telling me I had a crazy one. He was a little tense today and I walked around getting his muscles stretched and his blood flowing. The trainer did a combination down the center line which we were very close to the third jump and the horse caught it sending the pole tumbling down. Wyn’s ears twitched but he kept walking. I sent him to work at the trot completely forgetting to bend. I have no idea why I forgot but I did. I remember where he got unusually heavy doing figure eights. So we halted and bent a while. After that he was a lot softer.
We did a little trot work and since he is getting better and better we haven’t been going for so long. He was really good and when Liz came in with Marz he had a hard time concentrating. He thought he had to nicker at her when he got close.
Our canter work is getting better, we went to the other end of the pen away from ‘distraction’. We went left first and he was basically the same although when he gave his gave and centered himself for a longer amount of time. Going right we had to do a few transition just because he didn’t want to go on the correct lead. Went went around for a long time because he would get centered. He was trying to brace and fall out while swing his butt out. SO we went around and around. Once he gave it was a super soft give and he was very very correct. So we stopped there. His head set was low at moments but over all he wasn’t all to low, about 50 50.
We stood and watched Liz ride Marz around. Who I had to make fun of she usually ride Arlo dressage but was soar from something and wanted to ride western. After I watched them for a second I cooled Wynter out who again thought it was necessary. When I asked for whoa he blew threw it again but his ears twitched back so I asked one more time and he stopped. I had to mad rush stripping him and rinsing him off and he was ok with it, though he was wondering why I was rushing. I needed to be quick as Liz was only half way done with her lesson and I tied Wynter in his room. I figured he needed some time to ‘himself’.
Our lesson was good except Marz was very very tense and wanted to canter the whole time. So we worked on that and Liz needs to work on her lower legs. She parks them out like she is riding a reining horse. We need to work on her seat and legs.
So anyway I didn’t pay to much attention to the Rid eon Wynter because I had to give Liz her lesson. I was like on Auto pilot when I rode him. I paid enough attention to get the work done but didn’t file it deep enough in my brain to write about it sorry if it was short or hit and miss.
On another note Justin helped me with horses that night. We traded off I said I would help him with home work if he helped me with horses. So on our way back home he asked why I didn’t use my high beams in my truck. Instead of telling him I showed him when we go to our drive way. I tapped the high beam button on the floor and within 20 seconds the power to the light cut out and it was pitch black. He was like Ohhh that’s why. It was funny. I laughed pretty hard. I slowed down to turtle speed and flicked the lights a few times until they came on.
Yesterday was spa day at the barn which means that we went and clipped everyone and re wrapped tails. Since everyone’s tail have been down for a few months it was no easy task. Liz and I spent all day in the wash rack and grooming room! The only one we didn’t get to was Wynter because his are still in although they are falling apart. I will redo them in the next week. He got the day off.
Oh oh and exciting news! My friend finely came over and put the subs in the back of my truck!!! It sounds fantastic but not as fantastic as it will sound when I get an amp back there. Right now I don’t have one but it will be soon. I love it anyway, it sounds great Liz is in love with my truck now ha ha ha!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Police
I’m happy to announce that I was able to order everything on my list today. I love sstack.com! The rubber bands are back ordered though but that’s ok. Hopefully I can get my rowels before I go to lessons on Thursday. I also reordered a sheet for Wynter. I can’t find his sheet anywhere, it’s not in either barns or the horse trailer thus I just bought him a new one. I would just toss some one else’s blanket on him but he is a 76 where the rest are 70 and 72. In other news the girls will be back staring tomorrow for lessons. Liz and Sammy come out three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday for lessons. That means Arlo and Marquisse will be getting there work for the day. I also got a phone call from my 6th grade teacher (which is weird) wanting to bring her kids out for lessons. So there coming out tomorrow to check out the horses. My winter just got a lot busier. See I told you it got crazy during the winter! I told you!
I’m really getting sick and tired of the way Wynter has been sleeping. I can not wait for his blanket to get here. He was a disaster today. He had crusty poop and pee on his back. Just how can a chestnut coat get a stain line? Seriously. After I brushed his hair out, I like him to look good and it wouldn’t completely brush out we tacked up. Today is the first day that I have ever just jumped on him and I was a little concerned but he has been a champ all week and I got gutsy. The trainer was giving a lesson which I love to. I will give you a tip as a rider trainer horse enthusiasts. If you get a chance to watch a lesson of ANY type need be western, dressage, jumping, gaming, what ever watch. You learn so much. It’s one of the greatest way to learn and I love doing it. I get on Wynter with the mounting block being right in front on the trainer who was sitting in the chair. The trainer points out I don’t have rowels, I know that, thanks I ordered new ones today.
It may have been my imagination but Wynter felt tense standing at the block, I think it was my brain saying ‘you didn’t lunge him you dolt.’ But whatever he didn’t move and when I asked for forward he backed up. We had to turn so we didn’t run the trainer over and then he found his forward. We bent for a while staying out of the way of the girl working on her flying changes. We then went to trot work when she started to jump down the center line. I had to keep my eyes up to watch where she was and where she was going. Arena etiquette #5 stay out of the way of lessons. So Wynter and I had to maneuver around and away from her making sure we weren’t in the way. I think it was good for him as it wasn’t a pattern it was completely random as I would making him go when I could. Over all he was really good. He tried slamming the right shoulder into the rail, I actually did a shoulder turn to get him off on the idea s he did it a few times in a row. After I got that over with he was ok. Going left is getting better daily it’s the darn right side that is getting to me, but it is getting better. I think I’m missing something, I’m sure Jen will point it out plain as day but I’m gonna try and figure it out before then.
After out trot work the lesson was over and I spent a good 10 minutes circling the pen talking with the girl about training horses and breeds. I was slightly concerned that Wynter would think he was done but he went back to his trot work with out a second thought. I was happy about how he handled walking next to the other horse. It was a gelding and Wynter never even consider flirting. I had figured walking les than a few feet from each other he would at least give him a look. Nope nothing he just didn’t care.
We were starting our canter work when the trainer came back in on a training horse. Our circle work was better today and I have a hard time describing why it was better than yesterday. He was still heavy and still fell in and out. I suppose the fact that he only took off on the wrong lead twice was a big deal. That was it then his leads were better and he seemed more centered cantering right today. Wynter also went back to being super low in his neck on the circles and I had to bang him up a few times and then let him go around out of the bridle so to keep his head up. The trips around the pen felt like crap today. They were wiggly and speedy and a little odd. We finished our ride by doing a circle to the right. He was really really good and I called it a day.
Right as we come out of our down transition the trainer asked me why there was a state patrol down on the road. Our arena is open on the side facing the small street that comes off the main road. There is a gravel driveway to the barn and four other homes. There was a stater sitting on the street at the entrance of the gravel road. As I cooled Wynter off we started hearing a lot more sirens and noise. We were both curious but went back to riding. When I told Wyn to whoa he ignored me so we backed and I said it again and he stopped. I will bet his gets it tomorrow.
When I dismounted and when to scoop up his pile in the pen my cell sounded off. I missed it and called my grandmother back when I was un tacking Wynter. Who shook his head after I had all his straps off sending the bridle quite literally flying from his head. With my cell in one hand I had a heck of a time putting his halter one. Luckily he never budged his feet he had a beautiful window to bolt off and see girls but he was quite content on starring at the ground. He wasn’t as sweaty as yesterday but still lazy is lazy.
My grandma then goes on about how there is a billion cop cars all over and ask me if I know what’s going on. I have been at the barn all day and have no idea. She asked me to call my mom who needs to take a tank of air back to the doctor. My grandpa ran out of air in his tank and had to borrow one from the doctor. So I text my mom. She proceeds to tell me that there is a guy running around our house (which is the next street over from the barn) with an axe. They told her to stay indoors because he was armed and dangerous and was in the area. On top of that they gave my little brother a ride home from the bus because they thought it wasn’t safe. The best part she locked her keys in the truck! Ha ha.
A while later my grandma calls and said our neighbor though it was a guy with a gun running around and that they caught him. By then there was a plane 2 helicopter and like a billion cop cars in the area. My farrier calls because he is supposed to come out and I tell him to be careful cops are everywhere. The whole thing doesn’t end until our farrier leaves. He came and did Wynters feet (which I will go over in a second) and then had to go to another appointment and come back to do the other eight.
Wynter acted like I hadn’t taken him from his stall in weeks. He was so rude. He gets insanely board while he is getting his feet done and I have to play with him to keep his brain entertained. The best part what the our farrier’s helper was pulling his front shoes off when the barn pig comes up. Now mind you she is HUGE like bigger than a great dane. They were nervous that Wynter would try and kick her but he could have cared less. So the pig was sniffing Wynter raised hoof as the helper pulled him front shoe, she then meandered out of the barn. Wynter only has a half set, which means that he only has in front shoes and is barefoot behind. I haven’t had to put shoes back there yet. He wears down a lot of toes making his feet pretty blocky so we put shoes on him when we was getting started. Since then I haven’t changed it. The more he shows the more I will consider tossing two more show son him.
As our farrier trimmed his back left he was a little rude about it. Not kicking but swinging his foot not wanting him to told it. Our farrier is really neat and tolerated him well. I told him next time to smack him for it, he has no business being rude. I can’t correct him for it with the guy holding his foot up or he would get squished. The right side he tried it again and again the guy tolerated it and then let him drop and smacked him. I was all happy about that, saying ‘there, way to go, he needed that!’ When he went for his foot again he was an angel. He is a really simple stallion, one smack and he is like… fine.
When the helper came to finish his front feet he was just annoying to me. Wynter kept leaning into the halter, he was just board, I mean dead board. It was so very dull to have his feet done, it was like me in wall mart. I can’t be in wal mart for more than 20 mins and I go crazy. I don’t know what it is but it just messing with me, I zone out get a headache and become a little off walking around the store. He was the same way. Wal Martized.
After they left I lunged Forba and Mc. Forba is looking better her eyes and attitude is already shaping back up and her back was tighter today, the muscle looked a lot better. Mc was lazy and not to happy about going back to work.
I skipped off up to the house to make our farrier his favorite cookies. Chocolate chips with walnuts. You have to take care of your farrier! I was just able to pull a second batch out when he arrived. All the horses were good today. I was anticipating Chance to be a bugger about it. This was only his second time and he is very very skeptical of humans. He isn’t sure why we exists. It a colt thing on out farm. All the boys are cautious of humans until there about a year and then they come around. Our fillies are bossy little things, and are in there term invincible. Today Chance never pulled away and stood really still. I was very very impressed.
With that my day were wrapped up. I found out that this guy running around was caught. He was caught on our road. I guess he hijacked a car with either and Axe or gun and drove all over until hitting a cop and ending up on our road. Fun stuff! The adventures we have around this place, if its not horses it’s the dogs if its not the dogs it the family if its not the family it things like this!
I haven’t decided if I want to ride Wynter tomorrow of not. The other two will be. I may just lunge him although I may just ride him, I haven’t decided yet.
Below is a link to the News about what happend today.
1 in custody in Skagit Co. carjacking, chase Local News Seattle News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather KING5.com
I’m really getting sick and tired of the way Wynter has been sleeping. I can not wait for his blanket to get here. He was a disaster today. He had crusty poop and pee on his back. Just how can a chestnut coat get a stain line? Seriously. After I brushed his hair out, I like him to look good and it wouldn’t completely brush out we tacked up. Today is the first day that I have ever just jumped on him and I was a little concerned but he has been a champ all week and I got gutsy. The trainer was giving a lesson which I love to. I will give you a tip as a rider trainer horse enthusiasts. If you get a chance to watch a lesson of ANY type need be western, dressage, jumping, gaming, what ever watch. You learn so much. It’s one of the greatest way to learn and I love doing it. I get on Wynter with the mounting block being right in front on the trainer who was sitting in the chair. The trainer points out I don’t have rowels, I know that, thanks I ordered new ones today.
It may have been my imagination but Wynter felt tense standing at the block, I think it was my brain saying ‘you didn’t lunge him you dolt.’ But whatever he didn’t move and when I asked for forward he backed up. We had to turn so we didn’t run the trainer over and then he found his forward. We bent for a while staying out of the way of the girl working on her flying changes. We then went to trot work when she started to jump down the center line. I had to keep my eyes up to watch where she was and where she was going. Arena etiquette #5 stay out of the way of lessons. So Wynter and I had to maneuver around and away from her making sure we weren’t in the way. I think it was good for him as it wasn’t a pattern it was completely random as I would making him go when I could. Over all he was really good. He tried slamming the right shoulder into the rail, I actually did a shoulder turn to get him off on the idea s he did it a few times in a row. After I got that over with he was ok. Going left is getting better daily it’s the darn right side that is getting to me, but it is getting better. I think I’m missing something, I’m sure Jen will point it out plain as day but I’m gonna try and figure it out before then.
After out trot work the lesson was over and I spent a good 10 minutes circling the pen talking with the girl about training horses and breeds. I was slightly concerned that Wynter would think he was done but he went back to his trot work with out a second thought. I was happy about how he handled walking next to the other horse. It was a gelding and Wynter never even consider flirting. I had figured walking les than a few feet from each other he would at least give him a look. Nope nothing he just didn’t care.
We were starting our canter work when the trainer came back in on a training horse. Our circle work was better today and I have a hard time describing why it was better than yesterday. He was still heavy and still fell in and out. I suppose the fact that he only took off on the wrong lead twice was a big deal. That was it then his leads were better and he seemed more centered cantering right today. Wynter also went back to being super low in his neck on the circles and I had to bang him up a few times and then let him go around out of the bridle so to keep his head up. The trips around the pen felt like crap today. They were wiggly and speedy and a little odd. We finished our ride by doing a circle to the right. He was really really good and I called it a day.
Right as we come out of our down transition the trainer asked me why there was a state patrol down on the road. Our arena is open on the side facing the small street that comes off the main road. There is a gravel driveway to the barn and four other homes. There was a stater sitting on the street at the entrance of the gravel road. As I cooled Wynter off we started hearing a lot more sirens and noise. We were both curious but went back to riding. When I told Wyn to whoa he ignored me so we backed and I said it again and he stopped. I will bet his gets it tomorrow.
When I dismounted and when to scoop up his pile in the pen my cell sounded off. I missed it and called my grandmother back when I was un tacking Wynter. Who shook his head after I had all his straps off sending the bridle quite literally flying from his head. With my cell in one hand I had a heck of a time putting his halter one. Luckily he never budged his feet he had a beautiful window to bolt off and see girls but he was quite content on starring at the ground. He wasn’t as sweaty as yesterday but still lazy is lazy.
My grandma then goes on about how there is a billion cop cars all over and ask me if I know what’s going on. I have been at the barn all day and have no idea. She asked me to call my mom who needs to take a tank of air back to the doctor. My grandpa ran out of air in his tank and had to borrow one from the doctor. So I text my mom. She proceeds to tell me that there is a guy running around our house (which is the next street over from the barn) with an axe. They told her to stay indoors because he was armed and dangerous and was in the area. On top of that they gave my little brother a ride home from the bus because they thought it wasn’t safe. The best part she locked her keys in the truck! Ha ha.
A while later my grandma calls and said our neighbor though it was a guy with a gun running around and that they caught him. By then there was a plane 2 helicopter and like a billion cop cars in the area. My farrier calls because he is supposed to come out and I tell him to be careful cops are everywhere. The whole thing doesn’t end until our farrier leaves. He came and did Wynters feet (which I will go over in a second) and then had to go to another appointment and come back to do the other eight.
Wynter acted like I hadn’t taken him from his stall in weeks. He was so rude. He gets insanely board while he is getting his feet done and I have to play with him to keep his brain entertained. The best part what the our farrier’s helper was pulling his front shoes off when the barn pig comes up. Now mind you she is HUGE like bigger than a great dane. They were nervous that Wynter would try and kick her but he could have cared less. So the pig was sniffing Wynter raised hoof as the helper pulled him front shoe, she then meandered out of the barn. Wynter only has a half set, which means that he only has in front shoes and is barefoot behind. I haven’t had to put shoes back there yet. He wears down a lot of toes making his feet pretty blocky so we put shoes on him when we was getting started. Since then I haven’t changed it. The more he shows the more I will consider tossing two more show son him.
As our farrier trimmed his back left he was a little rude about it. Not kicking but swinging his foot not wanting him to told it. Our farrier is really neat and tolerated him well. I told him next time to smack him for it, he has no business being rude. I can’t correct him for it with the guy holding his foot up or he would get squished. The right side he tried it again and again the guy tolerated it and then let him drop and smacked him. I was all happy about that, saying ‘there, way to go, he needed that!’ When he went for his foot again he was an angel. He is a really simple stallion, one smack and he is like… fine.
When the helper came to finish his front feet he was just annoying to me. Wynter kept leaning into the halter, he was just board, I mean dead board. It was so very dull to have his feet done, it was like me in wall mart. I can’t be in wal mart for more than 20 mins and I go crazy. I don’t know what it is but it just messing with me, I zone out get a headache and become a little off walking around the store. He was the same way. Wal Martized.
After they left I lunged Forba and Mc. Forba is looking better her eyes and attitude is already shaping back up and her back was tighter today, the muscle looked a lot better. Mc was lazy and not to happy about going back to work.
I skipped off up to the house to make our farrier his favorite cookies. Chocolate chips with walnuts. You have to take care of your farrier! I was just able to pull a second batch out when he arrived. All the horses were good today. I was anticipating Chance to be a bugger about it. This was only his second time and he is very very skeptical of humans. He isn’t sure why we exists. It a colt thing on out farm. All the boys are cautious of humans until there about a year and then they come around. Our fillies are bossy little things, and are in there term invincible. Today Chance never pulled away and stood really still. I was very very impressed.
With that my day were wrapped up. I found out that this guy running around was caught. He was caught on our road. I guess he hijacked a car with either and Axe or gun and drove all over until hitting a cop and ending up on our road. Fun stuff! The adventures we have around this place, if its not horses it’s the dogs if its not the dogs it the family if its not the family it things like this!
I haven’t decided if I want to ride Wynter tomorrow of not. The other two will be. I may just lunge him although I may just ride him, I haven’t decided yet.
Below is a link to the News about what happend today.
1 in custody in Skagit Co. carjacking, chase Local News Seattle News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather KING5.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Horse Sales & Right Lead
Now that school has started I lost all my barn help! I’m back to caring for all 9 horses all by my lonesome. There is a good point to this now I can really see what’s been going on. I will be honest I slack off horribly this summer. Forba needs some work, she is fat and out of shape. She has a few months before she is bred again so I am going to try and get her in the best shape I can. I really feel bad for he I have not given her the attention that he craves. She does better when she is worked on a regular basis. Then there is Mc who I thought was sold. I called the lady today and she can’t (money situation). That sucks. I turned down 3 people two of which have found there new horse partner already. Since I stopped working her when I thought she was sold she is fat and lazy. I lunged both mares today and did Kitt. He looks better and he seems to be feeling a lot better.
Today as I lunged Forbs around the pen I started to think about our program. She is the only mare I can breed to Wynter. I would like to get another one. With that being said I have a full barn and no money. I have our foals listed even our Chance man who I would love to keep. On top of that I keep falling in love with Kitt daily. The sellers market is a bad one and buyers is a great one. I can not tell you how many mares I have seen that I want. Some mares who would normally go for 8k or 15k being sold for 3k or 4k. Ugg! Wynter needs more mares! Unless I am able to sell one foal I will not be breeding anyone this year. If I can sell two I will try and breed our silver mare if I can sell three and Mc I will buy a new mare. Now the crunch line on this is it all needs to happen before Feb. I want to breed our mares late February. They will start going under lights if I have sold any one or not. I have also contemplated listed our Toccata mare for sale. This would break my heart. She is truly a phenomenal mare, totally bombproof anyone can ride she has done everything under the sun and has had one great filly. The only things that make me want to consider selling her is that she is only a 71 and I cannot breed her to Wynter. Life sucks sometimes. If I had the money I could just say keep her, but I don’t. I already have one useless horse, our Arlo. Hell will freeze over before I part with that guy.
I have three horses that I would quite literally sell my soul for Marquisse Wynter and Arlo. The rest I could sell, that doesn’t mean I want to though. So I have tossed this idea around a few times and I have never decided or acted on selling her. In all reality I know that she should move on just from a business stand point. Then again she is such a great horse, I keep telling myself that what ever mare I would purchase to replace her would be ride able and a little fancier she could also be crossed with Wynter. The choices. The decisions. The dilemmas.
I took the camera to the barn today to take photos and wouldn’t you know it I forgot it there! I wasn’t able to take that many shots anyway. I need to con my mom or Liz to take photos while I ride or something. I hate having a photo less entry, it looks dull. By the by today Wyn had a rats nest in his mane. How can a horse get one in just one night? I thought that they took days to get bad! Nope not for Wynter. He has long thick curly mane and he thinks it should be sexier with knots. I do have photos of it when I can get my camera I will add them.
He keeps laying in his pee spot on his left side. Its driving me crazy. His is a very very tidy stallion. He has a certain spot where he pees and he poops along the walls, his stall is always super easy to clean. I need to get a blanket fixed or buy a new stable blanket for him. I don’t have one for him he has a sheet (somewhere) and a winter blanket. He doesn’t have his own stable blanket and its getting about time to wear one. Not just because of his new sleeping habits but the weather is getting a little colder. Every single sheet I have is ripped all but the one on Arlo, he takes care of his blankeis. All the blanket that fit Wynter are heavy ones for winter, as I said I have no clue where his sheet skipped off to. Bottom line I need something that will fit him and transition from a sheet to mid weight blanket. Thus he needs a light weight stable blanket. Ohh goody something I can order when I get rowels! Ha ha ha. I’m an honorary customer of Scheinders. They send me coupons all the time!
Getting him ready he was relaxed and content. A horse got loose while he was in the get ready room and he could have cared less. He was just really quite today. He is always quiet but today was different some how. I lunged him around at the trot I didn’t even ask for the canter. He is almost to the point where I can guess when he needs to get lunged or not. As well as I’m almost to the point to try riding him fresh. Fresh… I don’t know if he even knows that word ha ha ha. Again we stood next to the mounting block this time he tried to take one step but whoa stopped him.
We bent around, he is getting really soft bending almost trying to anticipate the bends. He is still blocky not moving forward when bending. He is getting better though. Out off all the horses I have ridden he breaks at the base of the neck really well. He has no brace there, not yet anyway ;P
It was a short ride today we went to trot work and did posting trot around the pen doing figure eights. He felt like a freight train. He was like forward! We walked a bit and then did out long walls. He is getting straighter! He isn’t taking as much as he was to keep straight. Although a few times he all out fell to the rail basically saying screw you and your rein. He got in trouble for those moments.
It was the canter work that was hard. Since we spent a lot of time learning the pieces of his body he got confused on how to canter. He would bend in and the out taking off on the wrong lead. He was basically doing what I told him to do, if you think about it. He just needs to learn when my left is in the center it mean go, if it is behind that means his behind. He understand the girth one that is shoulder. He just gets the other two mixed up. So we had to work of this means canter not move ribcage. He got a few good spurs as he wouldn’t give to pressure. At one point he tossed his whole rib cage into my leg. He did this a few times repeatedly on his right side. I introduced him to ‘we get to back and move the hip that didn’t move when I asked you’. He wasn’t so sure about that idea. The first two times he would try and move his shoulder then he got it ohh the hip the hip. His left was really good a little fast but then again my new motto is FORWARD.
Wynter and I had a good session at the right canter. He was forward and tried to revert back to diving in this time he was trying to blast through it. We were cruising around our circle! He would try and brace on my right rein but I would let him and he would fall out with the left shoulder. Ohh I didn’t mention that I didn’t have my crop. I forgot to grab it today and just said screw it. This was the only time I wished I had it. He needed a good tap on the outside shoulder. With that said we were able to work through it and he gave me a few good stride, being centered and responsive to the inside rein.
I could have asked him to do a few more transitions at the canter and even a little more trot work but he was sweaty and in all he was really soft and responsive. After we walked around a little and went over the blue mat. The trainer as a neat blue mat that they use in gymnastics for a mock water jump and it make a fun noise when horses step on it. Wynter has been over it a few time sand today he just meandered over it.
Today when I said whoa he halted quickly. I instantly hopped off. Over all he was good except for the right canter and his leads today. Tomorrow the farrier is coming out and I will have to ride him in the morning if I want to ride him at all. He will then get tomorrow off as I never ride them the day after they get there feet done.
I need to think of something I can post for Friday.
Today as I lunged Forbs around the pen I started to think about our program. She is the only mare I can breed to Wynter. I would like to get another one. With that being said I have a full barn and no money. I have our foals listed even our Chance man who I would love to keep. On top of that I keep falling in love with Kitt daily. The sellers market is a bad one and buyers is a great one. I can not tell you how many mares I have seen that I want. Some mares who would normally go for 8k or 15k being sold for 3k or 4k. Ugg! Wynter needs more mares! Unless I am able to sell one foal I will not be breeding anyone this year. If I can sell two I will try and breed our silver mare if I can sell three and Mc I will buy a new mare. Now the crunch line on this is it all needs to happen before Feb. I want to breed our mares late February. They will start going under lights if I have sold any one or not. I have also contemplated listed our Toccata mare for sale. This would break my heart. She is truly a phenomenal mare, totally bombproof anyone can ride she has done everything under the sun and has had one great filly. The only things that make me want to consider selling her is that she is only a 71 and I cannot breed her to Wynter. Life sucks sometimes. If I had the money I could just say keep her, but I don’t. I already have one useless horse, our Arlo. Hell will freeze over before I part with that guy.
I have three horses that I would quite literally sell my soul for Marquisse Wynter and Arlo. The rest I could sell, that doesn’t mean I want to though. So I have tossed this idea around a few times and I have never decided or acted on selling her. In all reality I know that she should move on just from a business stand point. Then again she is such a great horse, I keep telling myself that what ever mare I would purchase to replace her would be ride able and a little fancier she could also be crossed with Wynter. The choices. The decisions. The dilemmas.
I took the camera to the barn today to take photos and wouldn’t you know it I forgot it there! I wasn’t able to take that many shots anyway. I need to con my mom or Liz to take photos while I ride or something. I hate having a photo less entry, it looks dull. By the by today Wyn had a rats nest in his mane. How can a horse get one in just one night? I thought that they took days to get bad! Nope not for Wynter. He has long thick curly mane and he thinks it should be sexier with knots. I do have photos of it when I can get my camera I will add them.
He keeps laying in his pee spot on his left side. Its driving me crazy. His is a very very tidy stallion. He has a certain spot where he pees and he poops along the walls, his stall is always super easy to clean. I need to get a blanket fixed or buy a new stable blanket for him. I don’t have one for him he has a sheet (somewhere) and a winter blanket. He doesn’t have his own stable blanket and its getting about time to wear one. Not just because of his new sleeping habits but the weather is getting a little colder. Every single sheet I have is ripped all but the one on Arlo, he takes care of his blankeis. All the blanket that fit Wynter are heavy ones for winter, as I said I have no clue where his sheet skipped off to. Bottom line I need something that will fit him and transition from a sheet to mid weight blanket. Thus he needs a light weight stable blanket. Ohh goody something I can order when I get rowels! Ha ha ha. I’m an honorary customer of Scheinders. They send me coupons all the time!
Getting him ready he was relaxed and content. A horse got loose while he was in the get ready room and he could have cared less. He was just really quite today. He is always quiet but today was different some how. I lunged him around at the trot I didn’t even ask for the canter. He is almost to the point where I can guess when he needs to get lunged or not. As well as I’m almost to the point to try riding him fresh. Fresh… I don’t know if he even knows that word ha ha ha. Again we stood next to the mounting block this time he tried to take one step but whoa stopped him.
We bent around, he is getting really soft bending almost trying to anticipate the bends. He is still blocky not moving forward when bending. He is getting better though. Out off all the horses I have ridden he breaks at the base of the neck really well. He has no brace there, not yet anyway ;P
It was a short ride today we went to trot work and did posting trot around the pen doing figure eights. He felt like a freight train. He was like forward! We walked a bit and then did out long walls. He is getting straighter! He isn’t taking as much as he was to keep straight. Although a few times he all out fell to the rail basically saying screw you and your rein. He got in trouble for those moments.
It was the canter work that was hard. Since we spent a lot of time learning the pieces of his body he got confused on how to canter. He would bend in and the out taking off on the wrong lead. He was basically doing what I told him to do, if you think about it. He just needs to learn when my left is in the center it mean go, if it is behind that means his behind. He understand the girth one that is shoulder. He just gets the other two mixed up. So we had to work of this means canter not move ribcage. He got a few good spurs as he wouldn’t give to pressure. At one point he tossed his whole rib cage into my leg. He did this a few times repeatedly on his right side. I introduced him to ‘we get to back and move the hip that didn’t move when I asked you’. He wasn’t so sure about that idea. The first two times he would try and move his shoulder then he got it ohh the hip the hip. His left was really good a little fast but then again my new motto is FORWARD.
Wynter and I had a good session at the right canter. He was forward and tried to revert back to diving in this time he was trying to blast through it. We were cruising around our circle! He would try and brace on my right rein but I would let him and he would fall out with the left shoulder. Ohh I didn’t mention that I didn’t have my crop. I forgot to grab it today and just said screw it. This was the only time I wished I had it. He needed a good tap on the outside shoulder. With that said we were able to work through it and he gave me a few good stride, being centered and responsive to the inside rein.
I could have asked him to do a few more transitions at the canter and even a little more trot work but he was sweaty and in all he was really soft and responsive. After we walked around a little and went over the blue mat. The trainer as a neat blue mat that they use in gymnastics for a mock water jump and it make a fun noise when horses step on it. Wynter has been over it a few time sand today he just meandered over it.
Today when I said whoa he halted quickly. I instantly hopped off. Over all he was good except for the right canter and his leads today. Tomorrow the farrier is coming out and I will have to ride him in the morning if I want to ride him at all. He will then get tomorrow off as I never ride them the day after they get there feet done.
I need to think of something I can post for Friday.
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