Going for a drive day 3

Lets get this party started!

He did great today as well! I drove around the fields and that was a hoot! He had to push himself a little harder to go so he sped up some. Man his gait was beautiful! All that playing around over ground poles has paid off, he really nods up a storm. I am pretty excited about that!

He got nervous a little and tried to turn around by Jacks place, it does get scary there with the barking dogs and kids all over, we had a little discussion about turning around on his or my terms, then we went back to the fields and practiced turning, serpentines and halts. He isn't quite ready for full on circles, but turning is going well.

Back at the barn we went up the hill to the arena and then back down, maybe tomorrow we will practice that a little more.

I have to say, seeing him turn on the gas a little was so fun I was laughing out loud. We stayed out for an hour or so, building his strength and stamina. He might have been getting tired as well over by Jacks, we had gone around the field a few times, so I need to keep an eye on that. He wasn't as flexed today (except when we were discussing the route ;-) ) so we will get there with some time.

These aren't the same photos! Yesterday was sunny, today is overcast, that is a different mountain.

Events of the last few weeks

Wow, it has been awhile since I have posted. My daughter graduated from HS, had Mom up and did not get to the barn at all, except for chores. Blah! I am addicted to my horse, he grounds me. Anyway, I was going to go into why, but who cares? I am a freak.


So, here is the baby, no name yet.


















Been Riding Spiffy again, no new photos, but she is doing so well. She has such a great temperment, she has been in the field for 2 years and goes great right away, two rides and gaited off like a trooper. Took her as far as the highway yesterday and she had zero spooks. Nice girl. I think I will try her in the CTR rather than Army. I love to ride him but he can be a bit of an idiot, so I would rather have a steady mount to count on. Kathy may be considering selling her because I think she may want to keep the baby, but no news on that yet. M&M's poster is up at the feed store.

SO! Onto Rebel, my horse of the year, decade, life. Did I tell you a horse like this only comes around once, if at all? I have always been satisfied with my horse partners (Spirit, I love you, even with your issues) but this guy is truly once in a lifetime.

I got it into my head about a week ago that I should start him to cart. He still has a lot of size to put on and I really don't want to ride a two, so I though "hey, I'll drive him!" I posted some of this on a forum and will just play catch up:

Day 1

Well, we did it. Rebel has started to drive!



So, this morning I put the harness on him and he did pretty good, the crupper was fine, but the part that goes around his butt (the kick strap) made him flinch a little. We went out and sniffed the cart and I lead him next to it as I walked along. I was by myself and can get pretty paranoid about the shafts (I have seen it go bad before) so I walked him in forward and lifted them up. We did this for a little while and then I had to go to my riding lesson. He was blowing and sniffing at the cart, he also scooted out of the way a few times, but in general, did great.

When I came home, my daughter Amanda met me and helped futher to walk with him in the cart without any lines attached, then with the side lines and finally with the back. He did great! Turning is always a little awkward at first, but he started to get the cross over rather than flex. After a little while I put the bridle on to actually drive, but we put the reins on the halter with the bit in his mouth, he is still getting used to the bit. She drove and I walked beside them for a while then on the homestretch, I jumped in the cart and drove home. He did so great, no melt downs, no scarey stuff and he walked pretty slow trying to figure out what was being asked of him. He has such a good mind. I think the only think I noticed was he overflexes. I did natural horsemanship clinics and was so proud of his softness, now I need to get him to accept some contact. I have stopped flexing all our horses so much because of that. Anyway, it was a great start and I gave him many treats, he made me feel so proud. It was an excellent horsey day! There was one incident, totally my fault. I did not secure and lines, but didn't put the bottom girth lines on, they are there for a reason! When we were done and I was getting out, POP, up went the cart! Rebel just wanted to know if that was normal, looked over his shoulder at me and waited.

Day 2.

Today, he went even better. We mostly walked, only had a moment of checking out something scary in the woods, then he moved on. We only stayed out 45 minutes or so, we gaited on the way home for a hundred yards or so, when he was acting a bit more confident. I just am amazed by this guy, he was the wildest thing when he was born but now is so steady even though he only turns 2 on Saturday. I did use a loose overcheck, he was bringing his head pretty low yesterday, his nod didn't seem effected.



A little about the bridle in the last photo, I decided not to drive with the blinders this time, he had them on the first time. The driving bridle was way too big and I didn't want to dink with it to make it smaller. Plus I did want him to see the ugly fact of being followed in the cart, it didn't seem to bother him. He also responds better to turning in a halter, I do not have a halfbreed sidepull, so I made one out of a longing cavessoon and put the lines through both so he can learn about the bit and have the security of the noseband pressure that he knows. I always meant to get a HBSP, but never did. The last two horses I put under saddle I just used a bit, but I think using your body also helps so much, can't do that in a cart! You can't really tell in the photos, but he is just over 14.3 (or just under 15, which sounds taller?) but still wearing a cob size halter, he still is so petite compared to his mom. I got to ride his half brother who was about Rebels size at 3. I hope we get another hand, or even to 15.2.






Hey there sexy!

New Baby!

This little princess was born on Tuesday, May 13. Mom and baby are doing great, here a a few photos, will get more soon! Not a lick of white on her. Sire:Generators Silver Moon Dam:Calypso Orchid

M&M at the Parade of Stallions

My boy did so well! I am proud of you M&M! We got there a little early, I took him out and longed in the ring where we would be riding. He was very keyed up, ran, bucked, even lost his feet once and went ass over tea kettle. But, like he always does, once he got his yayas out, he was a different horse that was a pleasure to ride. He was excited, but easy to handle, not spooky or nervey, just his happy go lucky self.

Stallion Parade 2008

This weeks fun & games

No fun pics this week, I need my own camera, wait, I think I have stolen my daughters.

Here is my favorite photo from last years Parade of Stallions. Army and Silver greeting each other.

So, the yearly Stallion Parade is this weekend, it is a showcase for your stallions and sale horses. I will be riding Army and I hope he does as well or better than last year. He has been doing well under saddle, but I find he hates the ring. He loves the trail, I hope to do some CT with him. I haven't had him out this week, but I think he will be fine.

Here he is modeling my new Tucker Cimmeron. It is a great saddle, it was way costly. He goes well in it though and it fits my mounts who have a tendency to be narrower than Kathy's. Just the luck of the draw?

One last Army photo, as I was browsing my folder. I like this one because this is how he looks at me. Ears perked up, soft eye, eager. That is not how he always ends up acting however, especially with our broodies who know their jobs. Hussies all!

We have a bit of work to continue to do, I have heard it said before that ex-performance horses have issues about riding with leg. Seeing as I don't know how to ride without leg and seat, we have been having many conversations! I try to be light on my leg, more on my seat while trying to help him see the leg part is not a bad thing. I am in no rush, so we just work together and go along. Trying to get my instructor to let me use him for lessons. No word yet on that. After the SP I will change my focus.

So, my focus, who has been M&M was a rougher week. Some of the bratty side was showing, which is good really, because I want him to act up in the lesson, so I can see if my methods of correction are on target, which is some regard are, I have to teach myself not to argue with him with head tossing. I am so patient in some ways, but get stressed about when he reverts. I am told that it is very normal to have a regression here and there, it is part of his learning process. I suppose normally I don't care, but I feel like he has to be perfect for the sale ring. So, what happens in horsiedom when you feel that way? Chaos. I know that, deep breaths and whoever wants him will have to know all of him, warts and all, because they will have to continue on. I haven't gotten to much gait training yet at all, again, lighten up, I don't think a 30 day training is enough for any of them, it is a committment for life. Going forward or back.

New Baby!

She is from our stallion, Army. This is Army:

This is the baby with her Dam:

I mean, WTF??? She is bay with a coronet, star & snip. He has no white, is jet black doesn't fade at all. 3 out of 3 get are chestnut. I think it's time to call UC Davis.

M&M

He has been doing very well, he saw the farrier yesterday and got new shoes, his first pair! I got to get a few pics of me riding, wish I could photoshop my ass smaller... But oh well. It was

very windy today and M&M only made one small spook at a bucket rolling across the yard.

Wild horses!

Today, I took the boys to a friends arena to run around. They have been in the barn for a couple days because the mud has been so bad, the weather has been nice, but the mud is scary with how rough they can be playing. Rebels fetlocks were stocked up on Thursday and by today look fine.

I took a ton of pictures! My barn goggles are firmly in place, I think Rebel is the best looking guy on the planet!

Wednesdays Lesson

My lesson with M&M went so well yesterday. It didn't start out that way, there were boogiemen in the corners and he did scurry away while I was still doing the ground driving. My timing was off and he got behind my so I could not get him to go forward so we went half way across the ring. No worries though! We started over very slowly, made the corner, sniffed all the stuff (2 cavalettis and a folded tarp). It was like night and day when his brain clicked in, his whole demeanor changed, his eyes got soft and his whole face looked different.

The rest of the lesson, the riding part went great, he is getting to know how to hold himself better, keeping his head down better. We worked on turns from my hip and leg, man, what a thighmaster burn! He got it though and his coming off the pressure was very good. D and I were very pleased and impressed by him. One of the things I like the best about D is she really seems to LIKE horses and fawns over them when the lesson is over. M&M just eats it up and walks out so proud!

He is going to need to get a good Mom, I am getting to like him VERY much and it will break my heart when he gets sold. But I hope I am putting something solid in his foundation and am making him more valuable.

So, on another note, the mud is horrible so I put horses in the barn last night. Three of the boys, and two mares. They were in pens that didn't have any high ground in it and just need to dry up. Magic did not get put in because he would not lead over the stream that has developed over the road (I hate break up). We worked on it for and hour and I started so patient, but ended up getting mad. Once I got frustrated, that is where my ability train goes out the window. I am getting smart enough to read it now, see my error and quit instead of getting to the all out refusal from the horse and the total pissed from me.

Here is a picture of Magic, he is nice looking and very tall. He still has baby scrub hair, so who knows what color he will be, but it looks less chocolate than his winter fur. He ended up back in the pasture, alone, whinnying so forlornly. We will try again today.

On a good note, but colts led with a minimum of fuss and walked with me very nicely alone. It was the first time the two colts were taken seperately. So good job boys!

This is Soli.