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!