4/29 and 4/30. Rides 12 and 13.
99 mph was the speed of a gust recorded on top of Sandia Peak on 4/29. My building at work was creaking all day as well, but when I got home, it really was not that bad, so I rode in the round pen. I think the wind was blowing over the area where I live and the gusts that did dip in were working their way over the round pen area. It honestly was not that bad.
Antsy feet got a lesson. So I decided that I needed to work on the "i can't stand still with u up there" problem. Got on. She moved. I bent her head left to my toe and asked her to move her hind end untiil she softened up. Then ,I let off the leg pressure and waited for her to stop (still soft.) She began to move again with in 5 seconds, so I repeated. I kept on repeating until she just stood there for a minute (afer which I was the one with antsy feet). It took about 5 minutes, whch is along time when you are doing it,but not that long really!
Thinking about loping. She is not quite ready, but thought I'd ask for a bit more on the trot and let her lope if she wanted to. She didn't. So, working on neck flexibilty, sideways, pushing her hind quarters in and leg yeilding against the fence. I get caught up in gettng the ACTION I want so I constantly have to remind myself to release and look for the try. This means I get a little and let off, get a ltitle and let off. It is so easy to get them heavy and it is work to get the softness back.
Woke up to snow, (4/30) so I fed the dogs (to shut them up) and went back to sleep! I kept checking the thermometer all day and around 2:30 if finally broke 40 (and the snow had melted), so I finished grading papers and....played a few word games on Facebook--(this is completely my sister's fault, but I will beat her top score one day, maybe.) Got to the barn by 4:20! Had time to work all 4. I love the longer days!
May is very sensitive, and a little flightly, so it is constant give and take between being strict and being reassuring. Too strict and she gets wary. Not strict enough and she cannot focus. She needs the structure. She also really gains comfort from her horsey buddies and not as much from me, yet. Usually this changes over time, through regular handling, being consistent and fair. She dose like to be talked to and petting and will put her head down and relax if I ask her to put her head down.
Her feet remembered. I got on and she was relaxed and still! I very nearly got off and called it a day! She did fiddle with the bit some and flip her head, so I held the reins a bit tighter to give her more support. This seemed to help, so later I was able to let her carry herself. Her round pen work today was quite similar to yesterday.
Trailer loading in highish winds is a bit of a challenge, so I tied the trailer door open. 4/29, Tabooli was NOT keen on getting in, even with 1 foot. He kep pushing his shoulder into me, so I snapped it back with the longe whip, repeatedly, so he would be lined up to go in. It is a three horse slant stock trailer, so it is an easy trailer to load into. Put the lead rope through the side and out so he can follow the rope in, and so he can't turn around once in there. Kept asking him to get in and he pawed and jumped up and put this foot in and out--much more distress than previous days, but finally, he decided to try. I kept asking for this and backed off when I got anything, but started up again until he would put a foot in.
Got in, can't get out. He is afraid of backing out, so between the wind and that, he had a hard time getting out and when he did, it was in a convoluted rush. He was able to do it by sort of turning sideways and going out like a crab. On 4/30, it was quieter wind-wise, and he stepped right in really sweetly and then couldn't get out! I got in and helped. He sort of jumped out, backwards, of course. I was effusive with the praise. This horse is very sensible (but some stuff worries him) and he seems to really want to please. Plus he believes me when I tell him he is a rock star. This is a nice combo because then I convince him to try stuff and that he "did good"! Debated and decided to do a third go. He got in and was able to get out in a pretty smooth way. Not perfect but pretty darn good! Rock Star!
Got up, but not on. He wore the tarp wthout complaint. He loped both directions with equal ease (May is right leaded naturally, but she also loped both ways with equal ease today). He was settled and paid good attention even though all the girls were tied up with in sight--actually BECAUSE they were in sight and not running amok next fiel over like 4/29 and distracting him. So, I set him up facing the rail and got up in the stirrups. I just stood there. Yesterday he flinched big time when I reached over to pet him, but today, he was very quiet! Did that on both sides and laid on him, too. Swung my leg around and this did not bother him. Nearly got all the way on, but it started snowing. He had done so well, decided to stop at this good spot!
"I'm not supposed to whinny! Doh!" I was leading him back to his pen and he started to talk. I have been popping the lead rope, hard, when he talks and scolding him verbally. He quits pretty quick, usually. This time he started up, but before I coudl get after him, he had stopped moving and started backing. He also shut up. I think he is getting the message!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
May says: "The stud colt makes me nervous" and other quirks.
4/28/2010: I looked for the Mexican Gilia today, but it is not there. I did, however, find the Short Stemmed Lupine (Lupinus brevicaulis). It is one of my favorites. It is 2 inches tall, dark green with some red, hairy, and has a small group of purple flowers. It is not yet blooming, but spring is really here!
We had a visit from DuncanHorse (http://networkedblogs.com/3gCI3) (his mom is a book author so her blogs are pretty fun to read!) I ride alone most of the time, so it is nice to have "strangers" come to give the youngsters some experience. I thought Duncan might make her nervous but this is what actually happened:
I was inside eating plain yogurt to which I had added instant coffee, brown sugar, and mixed nuts (from Costco). The caffeine is necessary in the late afternoon and the sugar vs the salty crunchy nuts makes a nice culinary contrast. As I was savoring this and reading the Economist, DuncanHorse rode down the driveway. I was expecting them, but had recently driven on the very road by which they were coming and they were not yet en route, so I erroneously thought they would be a little later.
I brought Risa and May in to the tackroom area. Risa is in season, so I kicked her back out back. Tabooli was already amping up because I had the audacity to MOVE horses (with out his express permission?) He is actually not very bossy, but he does know the difference between a boy and a girl and he is still a little unsettled in general, having only been her since Saturday. I tied May.
May was focus-less! Tabooli seems to make her extremely nervous. Too many hormones wafting about and oohh (picture a hanky held to her forehead) "i just can't take it any more!" He IS a golden boy and he has a big mouth. He makes her weak in the knees and prone to squishing me in the corner. I had to keep talking to her and holding my space so I could saddle her up and get out of there to the arena.
I had expected May to be further discombulated by DuncanHorse. She didn't know him, after all. But I think after "escaping from the clutches" (says May, breathlessly) of Mr. Hormone (never nearer than 30 feet and 2 electric fences), DuncanHorse seemed like a cloud of calm. She rode at the walk and trot, was fiddling a lot with her head and bit, and the logs kept running into her feet--how rude of them!-- but she was pretty soft, and was giving me her shoulders. She stood with all 4 feet quiet for progressively longer periods (not very long still) and after a bit we attempted to show off at the gate.
How about the west side? "Noooo, i can't do it" said May, so I pretended I didn't care and guided her to the east side, where she lined up not very close, but close enough. I opened the gate. I eased her though (slowly--I CAN learn). We stopped. We got all the way through (this is where things usually go bad) and I felt her weight change. I asked her to hold up and move sideways toward the gate, very very softly. She did! I hooked the rope. I practically vaulted out of the saddle and petted her nose. Well done!
If the gate success were not enough, I took a chance and rode her down the road (until a car came and I got off) with DuncanHorse. She was very very good! I hand walked her home.
Risa's lope is coming along. She gave me two hard stops with no rein, just voice and weight. Her spins have great potential but I need to keep working on techniques to teach that better.
I am figuring out who should be where, when, to best manage the emotions of all the youngsters. Cometa, the old man at 12, thinks he should be allowed to go mano a mano with Tabooli, just to prove that he still has it (he was herd boss of the gelding group on 8000 acres when he was 3) but other than, he's cool! Whatever!
Tabooli is working on trailer loading, ground manners (he is very respectful in hand) and being saddled and mounted. He got scared (perhaps of the howling wind? which seems like should be a character in today's adventures, but really wasn't SO bad, if you don't mind grit in your teeth and ears deliverd by the occasional dust devil) and hustled backward and bucked as I put my foot in the stirrup. Got over it. But not enough to convince me to mount up! Will do rope and tarp work in the round pen tomorrow with the girls all tied up. No round pen company for Tabooli!
Ran out of time for Penny as my head stall cleaner has to work for a living and is at a workshop, so I had to clean! The horror!
We had a visit from DuncanHorse (http://networkedblogs.com/3gCI3) (his mom is a book author so her blogs are pretty fun to read!) I ride alone most of the time, so it is nice to have "strangers" come to give the youngsters some experience. I thought Duncan might make her nervous but this is what actually happened:
I was inside eating plain yogurt to which I had added instant coffee, brown sugar, and mixed nuts (from Costco). The caffeine is necessary in the late afternoon and the sugar vs the salty crunchy nuts makes a nice culinary contrast. As I was savoring this and reading the Economist, DuncanHorse rode down the driveway. I was expecting them, but had recently driven on the very road by which they were coming and they were not yet en route, so I erroneously thought they would be a little later.
I brought Risa and May in to the tackroom area. Risa is in season, so I kicked her back out back. Tabooli was already amping up because I had the audacity to MOVE horses (with out his express permission?) He is actually not very bossy, but he does know the difference between a boy and a girl and he is still a little unsettled in general, having only been her since Saturday. I tied May.
May was focus-less! Tabooli seems to make her extremely nervous. Too many hormones wafting about and oohh (picture a hanky held to her forehead) "i just can't take it any more!" He IS a golden boy and he has a big mouth. He makes her weak in the knees and prone to squishing me in the corner. I had to keep talking to her and holding my space so I could saddle her up and get out of there to the arena.
I had expected May to be further discombulated by DuncanHorse. She didn't know him, after all. But I think after "escaping from the clutches" (says May, breathlessly) of Mr. Hormone (never nearer than 30 feet and 2 electric fences), DuncanHorse seemed like a cloud of calm. She rode at the walk and trot, was fiddling a lot with her head and bit, and the logs kept running into her feet--how rude of them!-- but she was pretty soft, and was giving me her shoulders. She stood with all 4 feet quiet for progressively longer periods (not very long still) and after a bit we attempted to show off at the gate.
How about the west side? "Noooo, i can't do it" said May, so I pretended I didn't care and guided her to the east side, where she lined up not very close, but close enough. I opened the gate. I eased her though (slowly--I CAN learn). We stopped. We got all the way through (this is where things usually go bad) and I felt her weight change. I asked her to hold up and move sideways toward the gate, very very softly. She did! I hooked the rope. I practically vaulted out of the saddle and petted her nose. Well done!
If the gate success were not enough, I took a chance and rode her down the road (until a car came and I got off) with DuncanHorse. She was very very good! I hand walked her home.
Risa's lope is coming along. She gave me two hard stops with no rein, just voice and weight. Her spins have great potential but I need to keep working on techniques to teach that better.
I am figuring out who should be where, when, to best manage the emotions of all the youngsters. Cometa, the old man at 12, thinks he should be allowed to go mano a mano with Tabooli, just to prove that he still has it (he was herd boss of the gelding group on 8000 acres when he was 3) but other than, he's cool! Whatever!
Tabooli is working on trailer loading, ground manners (he is very respectful in hand) and being saddled and mounted. He got scared (perhaps of the howling wind? which seems like should be a character in today's adventures, but really wasn't SO bad, if you don't mind grit in your teeth and ears deliverd by the occasional dust devil) and hustled backward and bucked as I put my foot in the stirrup. Got over it. But not enough to convince me to mount up! Will do rope and tarp work in the round pen tomorrow with the girls all tied up. No round pen company for Tabooli!
Ran out of time for Penny as my head stall cleaner has to work for a living and is at a workshop, so I had to clean! The horror!
Monday, April 26, 2010
The show Sunday and too much drama today
4/26/2010. Ride 10. Too much drama.
Ok, so all is not sweetness and light in horse training. I would rather just not tell the real story, but this is supposed to be the real story--the one you never hear about -good and bad, so here goes:
Tabooli the stud colt (he is a looker--pictures eventually) came on Saturday. May is quite enamored of Risa and I separated them last night. Result: May is unhappy. Tabooli seems to make her nervous and she is pacing in her pen as she wants to get out to be with Risa.
First Mistake. Tied May to tie rack. Tabooli's pen is close to the tie racks and he came right to the fence and started talking and running up and down. May started pawing, moving and tossing her head. I had to move her and go tie Tabooli in his pen (to a tree). He was obviously also excited so he was pawing and wandering around and complaining loudly.
Second problem: Brought May back to the tie rack, but she just could not relax, so I hobbled her. She was hobbled yesterday at the trailer (see below) and did great. Not this time. She panicked, sank back, reared, rammed the tie rack, repeat. That's the kind of thing that cannot be stopped and you just have to wait it out. I talked to her the whole time, and really was just hoping some of the hardware would break, but it all held and she stopped 5 plunges later. I stood with her, decided to leave the hobbles on for a bit longer, but untied her so if there was a repeat, she could move some. No repeat. Sigh.
Took May to the arena and mentally she was quiet--the physical restraint of the hobbles seems to affect her like swaddling does a baby. We did the usual ground work and then we rode--walk, trot, turning, move hip, give shoulder, go sideways, bend to a halt, two rein stops. She had some moments of tenseness, but it was VERY good!
Rode out of the arena and all around the property. She wanted to sneak up on the world--one step at a time, so that's what we did. We spent about 10 minutes riding "out" and she was willing but did have some moments when she was very tight.
Bridge and gate and third error: Over the bridge, both directions! The bridge is getting over-grown with grass--here in the desert! This makes it trickier, but she was game! Approached the gate and stood nice and quietly. Opened and walked through it. Very wll done (but I should have gone slower). Got through and then she had the need to back away from the gate (i cant o it!). It took a while to get her back to it and close it (probably because she felt my annoyance). I should have just stopped there, but NO! I thought she should be a bit better at the closing by now (three? tries and 10 rides total...um who is a dope?), so I pushed her, upset her and then had to go back and fix it by opening, going through, coming back to close it and accepting that.
Fourth drama. We don't need our teeth. Got Tabooli, tied him in the barn area to a telephone pole that holds up the barn roof. It is bolted with angle iron to the barn. It is sturdy. Really sturdy it turns out. I walked 10 feet to the tack room to get something and Tabooli wrapped himself around the pole (he had about one foot of rope--go figure), got himself snubbed, panicked and pulled back, and kept on. The pole shook! The barn creaked! The roof shimmied! I started talking calmly, waiting to be killed as the barn collapsed....
The rope halter stretched and got into his mouth, and either he just gave it up or my calm (ha! inside I was saying lots of bad words) helped him out. And the barn is still standing!!!! He let me help him with the halter and oh look there is a loose tooth...Nope not loose. Out. Oh great! Well, it was a baby tooth....but it wasn't quite ready to come out. Broke out. There is a fun call to make to his owner, who took the news calmly, while I blabbered on. Clue I am not comfortable: fast blabbering.
Tabooli is a good boy though! I did a little ground work in the round pen and I think he is going to be a real quick study, if I can keep his teeth in his head.....
Last little drama. Brought Tabooli back and let him go. D##n! May (standing nice right now) and Risa (I relented and brought her out to keep May company) are tied at the rack and a tree. Tabooli headed right there and started getting a little excited (just a little, if you know what I mean). Oh big suprise. Double DOH! I ran over there and got him away from the fence with my lunge whip. He tried to go around me about 3 times and then stood and faced me, waiting most politely for me to come get him. Nice!
Tied him up (so I could move the girls). He started talking. I tossed a plum sized dirt clod at him (underhanded, with arc, lest you think I am a true brute) and it bonked him on the side. He shut up immediately and never said another word until much later when I got everyone put away, untied him and let him go!
So, despite my Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad training Day (thank-you Judith Viorst who wrote the kid's book from which I stole the phrase), the only casualties: my pride and a tooth.
4/25/2010. The appy show. Gave up a back country work project for the show, but it was still fun! Risa and May were tied to the trailer for the day and May was upset and nervous at first so got to wear the hobbles for about 20 minutes. Took them off and she was really mellow as long as Risa was "in her place". Any moving of Risa, to get water for example, created anxiety for May! Poor baby.
Penny had to work. Penny showed in 3 hunter under saddle classes and did best in her first one--walk trot (second place!). Her head got a little too low in the next two classes but she was very quiet and had some really good steps, especially at the trot--just not enough of them!
Her western pleasure classes involved laziness, heaviness on the bit and breaking (THREE times) from the lope to the trot. The last time I used my spur to goose her. Naturally, this really blew the class, but that's ok. She is still learning.
Trail was the best--she is a natural at it and she only had a bit of a glitch in the lope off after the turn-around box. My favorite: her trot overs into the box--super nice, followed by a really smooth 360 turn. She did two trail classes and won one and got second in other--earning some national Appy points (a half point I think...but still!)
Ok, so all is not sweetness and light in horse training. I would rather just not tell the real story, but this is supposed to be the real story--the one you never hear about -good and bad, so here goes:
Tabooli the stud colt (he is a looker--pictures eventually) came on Saturday. May is quite enamored of Risa and I separated them last night. Result: May is unhappy. Tabooli seems to make her nervous and she is pacing in her pen as she wants to get out to be with Risa.
First Mistake. Tied May to tie rack. Tabooli's pen is close to the tie racks and he came right to the fence and started talking and running up and down. May started pawing, moving and tossing her head. I had to move her and go tie Tabooli in his pen (to a tree). He was obviously also excited so he was pawing and wandering around and complaining loudly.
Second problem: Brought May back to the tie rack, but she just could not relax, so I hobbled her. She was hobbled yesterday at the trailer (see below) and did great. Not this time. She panicked, sank back, reared, rammed the tie rack, repeat. That's the kind of thing that cannot be stopped and you just have to wait it out. I talked to her the whole time, and really was just hoping some of the hardware would break, but it all held and she stopped 5 plunges later. I stood with her, decided to leave the hobbles on for a bit longer, but untied her so if there was a repeat, she could move some. No repeat. Sigh.
Took May to the arena and mentally she was quiet--the physical restraint of the hobbles seems to affect her like swaddling does a baby. We did the usual ground work and then we rode--walk, trot, turning, move hip, give shoulder, go sideways, bend to a halt, two rein stops. She had some moments of tenseness, but it was VERY good!
Rode out of the arena and all around the property. She wanted to sneak up on the world--one step at a time, so that's what we did. We spent about 10 minutes riding "out" and she was willing but did have some moments when she was very tight.
Bridge and gate and third error: Over the bridge, both directions! The bridge is getting over-grown with grass--here in the desert! This makes it trickier, but she was game! Approached the gate and stood nice and quietly. Opened and walked through it. Very wll done (but I should have gone slower). Got through and then she had the need to back away from the gate (i cant o it!). It took a while to get her back to it and close it (probably because she felt my annoyance). I should have just stopped there, but NO! I thought she should be a bit better at the closing by now (three? tries and 10 rides total...um who is a dope?), so I pushed her, upset her and then had to go back and fix it by opening, going through, coming back to close it and accepting that.
Fourth drama. We don't need our teeth. Got Tabooli, tied him in the barn area to a telephone pole that holds up the barn roof. It is bolted with angle iron to the barn. It is sturdy. Really sturdy it turns out. I walked 10 feet to the tack room to get something and Tabooli wrapped himself around the pole (he had about one foot of rope--go figure), got himself snubbed, panicked and pulled back, and kept on. The pole shook! The barn creaked! The roof shimmied! I started talking calmly, waiting to be killed as the barn collapsed....
The rope halter stretched and got into his mouth, and either he just gave it up or my calm (ha! inside I was saying lots of bad words) helped him out. And the barn is still standing!!!! He let me help him with the halter and oh look there is a loose tooth...Nope not loose. Out. Oh great! Well, it was a baby tooth....but it wasn't quite ready to come out. Broke out. There is a fun call to make to his owner, who took the news calmly, while I blabbered on. Clue I am not comfortable: fast blabbering.
Tabooli is a good boy though! I did a little ground work in the round pen and I think he is going to be a real quick study, if I can keep his teeth in his head.....
Last little drama. Brought Tabooli back and let him go. D##n! May (standing nice right now) and Risa (I relented and brought her out to keep May company) are tied at the rack and a tree. Tabooli headed right there and started getting a little excited (just a little, if you know what I mean). Oh big suprise. Double DOH! I ran over there and got him away from the fence with my lunge whip. He tried to go around me about 3 times and then stood and faced me, waiting most politely for me to come get him. Nice!
Tied him up (so I could move the girls). He started talking. I tossed a plum sized dirt clod at him (underhanded, with arc, lest you think I am a true brute) and it bonked him on the side. He shut up immediately and never said another word until much later when I got everyone put away, untied him and let him go!
So, despite my Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad training Day (thank-you Judith Viorst who wrote the kid's book from which I stole the phrase), the only casualties: my pride and a tooth.
4/25/2010. The appy show. Gave up a back country work project for the show, but it was still fun! Risa and May were tied to the trailer for the day and May was upset and nervous at first so got to wear the hobbles for about 20 minutes. Took them off and she was really mellow as long as Risa was "in her place". Any moving of Risa, to get water for example, created anxiety for May! Poor baby.
Penny had to work. Penny showed in 3 hunter under saddle classes and did best in her first one--walk trot (second place!). Her head got a little too low in the next two classes but she was very quiet and had some really good steps, especially at the trot--just not enough of them!
Her western pleasure classes involved laziness, heaviness on the bit and breaking (THREE times) from the lope to the trot. The last time I used my spur to goose her. Naturally, this really blew the class, but that's ok. She is still learning.
Trail was the best--she is a natural at it and she only had a bit of a glitch in the lope off after the turn-around box. My favorite: her trot overs into the box--super nice, followed by a really smooth 360 turn. She did two trail classes and won one and got second in other--earning some national Appy points (a half point I think...but still!)
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Ride 9 and the gate...so close!!!
4/24/2010. Risa has a cow over the rubber mats. The mats out at the hitching rail moved the other week and Risa has never recovered. She has been convinced that the oneprotion of the mat is going to rise up and consume her, most likely in one large gulp. Today I decided it was time to fix that.
I tied her there and made her move around (one freak out moment where she pulled back hard the offending mat had the good grace to stay in place.) Walked her over and around. Rode her over and around .... which did not happen right away...things are much safer (in her mind) if I go first and she follows. That way I can be eaten first. If I am up on top and she has to go first--not safe. The we rode out and YIKES more mats were out on the driveway. Had to get off and repeat it all. Rode out to Dart's arena, came back and I led her over those driveway mats again and tied her back up on the tie rack mats. She did well but I could tell she wasn't totollay relaxed and then...
Tabooli came: He is 4 yr old palomino QH stud colt here to get started. He is a ooker! May was tied to the tree and Risa was at the tied rack, which are both near the pen the colt will be in. Tabooli was all keyed up and thus so were the girls. Risa was still upset about the mats so she held still but May began to try to dig a hole, so I moved the girls. Risa got to go out--well she did have to walk over the mats some more--good job! May went into the tack room area. We got Tabooli settled (hot wire--stay off the fence! and here have some food!)
Now it is getting late and there is a show tomorrow...and I hven't got the paper work done, I am not packed up, I am tired (had my trailer inspected with the Pecos chapter of the Back Country Horsemen, Karen and Daryl came for a lesson that included a fun trail, rode Penny (some more because she went on the trail), rode Risa, the sun is getting pretty darn close to the top of the mountain and thinking about sliding over..... but I saddled up May and took her to the arena.
She was jumpy on the way there and Tabooli was crying. He thought everyone was going to stay in their proper places....he has a big suprise coming--things are not that predictable around here. All this running about and vocalizing didn't help (kind of like the way Dart was crying at Risa and she cried back when I rode her over at his place earlier--bunch of cry babies!)
Made it to the arena which is 200 feet? from the tack room tie area and we
lunged at the trot on a 12 foot line over the logs and both ways until May got even in her movement (5 minutes at the most-very pleased at how fast and well she settled and focused!) and then I got on. She stood still--no antsy feet-----for 30 seconds. We walked and turned; trotted and turned. Trotted over the logs--that was a first. She whacked 'em pretty good, but it didn't upset her. Last time she couldn't trot over. She had to break to a walk. Next try, she trotted over very well; next, she balked; next, all was well. And she whoa'd on a 2 rein cue!
Jim walked down to work on the trailer for the show. The sneak! Walking down the road like that! So I made him come and watch May as a "penalty" for suprising her. So he watched her go right to the east side of the gate, first try. I opened the gate, she walked through, turned and then..... we backed to the end of the rope, which I dropped. Messed around a bit getting back in position, picked up the rope and closed the gate!
Tomorrow the three girls are going to the show and Penny is competing. Everyone else is gettng patience training and I am pretty sure that will involve hobbles for May since she pawed so much at Mark's last week that I was afraid she was going to rip a tail light right off the trailer. Would rather be going to the BCH trial project! There is another show next weekend.
I tied her there and made her move around (one freak out moment where she pulled back hard the offending mat had the good grace to stay in place.) Walked her over and around. Rode her over and around .... which did not happen right away...things are much safer (in her mind) if I go first and she follows. That way I can be eaten first. If I am up on top and she has to go first--not safe. The we rode out and YIKES more mats were out on the driveway. Had to get off and repeat it all. Rode out to Dart's arena, came back and I led her over those driveway mats again and tied her back up on the tie rack mats. She did well but I could tell she wasn't totollay relaxed and then...
Tabooli came: He is 4 yr old palomino QH stud colt here to get started. He is a ooker! May was tied to the tree and Risa was at the tied rack, which are both near the pen the colt will be in. Tabooli was all keyed up and thus so were the girls. Risa was still upset about the mats so she held still but May began to try to dig a hole, so I moved the girls. Risa got to go out--well she did have to walk over the mats some more--good job! May went into the tack room area. We got Tabooli settled (hot wire--stay off the fence! and here have some food!)
Now it is getting late and there is a show tomorrow...and I hven't got the paper work done, I am not packed up, I am tired (had my trailer inspected with the Pecos chapter of the Back Country Horsemen, Karen and Daryl came for a lesson that included a fun trail, rode Penny (some more because she went on the trail), rode Risa, the sun is getting pretty darn close to the top of the mountain and thinking about sliding over..... but I saddled up May and took her to the arena.
She was jumpy on the way there and Tabooli was crying. He thought everyone was going to stay in their proper places....he has a big suprise coming--things are not that predictable around here. All this running about and vocalizing didn't help (kind of like the way Dart was crying at Risa and she cried back when I rode her over at his place earlier--bunch of cry babies!)
Made it to the arena which is 200 feet? from the tack room tie area and we
lunged at the trot on a 12 foot line over the logs and both ways until May got even in her movement (5 minutes at the most-very pleased at how fast and well she settled and focused!) and then I got on. She stood still--no antsy feet-----for 30 seconds. We walked and turned; trotted and turned. Trotted over the logs--that was a first. She whacked 'em pretty good, but it didn't upset her. Last time she couldn't trot over. She had to break to a walk. Next try, she trotted over very well; next, she balked; next, all was well. And she whoa'd on a 2 rein cue!
Jim walked down to work on the trailer for the show. The sneak! Walking down the road like that! So I made him come and watch May as a "penalty" for suprising her. So he watched her go right to the east side of the gate, first try. I opened the gate, she walked through, turned and then..... we backed to the end of the rope, which I dropped. Messed around a bit getting back in position, picked up the rope and closed the gate!
Tomorrow the three girls are going to the show and Penny is competing. Everyone else is gettng patience training and I am pretty sure that will involve hobbles for May since she pawed so much at Mark's last week that I was afraid she was going to rip a tail light right off the trailer. Would rather be going to the BCH trial project! There is another show next weekend.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Rain! Dart goes home!
4/22/2010. Ride 8. Blek. Rain. Cold. Snow? Snow!
Dart goes home. Joan came over today to pick up Dart! Boo hoo! We will miss him! I think it might be bad to get too attached to horses you don't own....Oh well! First we lunged him and he was full of it! Feeling a little better although still coughing some. It wasn't raining, yet, but it was chilly and he wanted to play! I rode and Joan rode and then it got colder and started to rain.
May walks Dart home. May got her gear on and we walked up the road with Dart to keep him company on the way home. I thought about riding, but the rain was dripping down, the road was black and glassy and steam was rising up. Given today will be ride 8, I walked.
Bikes are scary...sort of. We met the neighbor kids on their bikes. May had no problems when they came up to us from the front, but when they "snuck" up behind us, she tucked her heinie and scooted forward! The kids were really nice. They slowed down, pulled over and best of all TALKED to May. That made her feel better! OH! They are kids on .... whatever those things are....bikes!
After delivering Dart. we walked home. Crying! (May cried. I did not cry! Just want to make that clear.) "We left Dart. Waah! (not that i really like him)! Where's Risa? Waah!" Of course Risa did not help. She answered back!
Riding in the rain. Well. So. She was already saddled. We were already damp. Just because water would run off my helmet when I moved my head....
Lunged her a bit and I needed a short lunge whip to keep her on task. Trot and walk on the 12 foot line and got on! Stood a bit (15 seconds? I forgot to count but it wasn't real long) ......and antsy feet. Walked. Go, turn, go turn, trot, walk, turn, bend to a stop. We walked over the ground poles, we did the turn around box--one time a super nice 180 and one time destroyed the box (but she stayed quiet). Will re-set tomorrow. Worked on movng off my leg which invovled: NO! Shoulder is stuck. i will back. Neck is stuck. i will back. etc. and eventually (to the right)....
OH, if i soften my neck and move my shoulder..this is EASY! The right (arced left--leg yieldish) is always easier.
Gate. No bridge. The bridge is slick when wet. But the gate! Well, we still can't line up on the west, but got to the east side pretty quick. Opened! I said, "Go through." She said. "NO! The rope is moving. i should back up. Oops bummer u dropped the rope." "Poop!" I said. "Go through anyway." She did and then I reached down and picked up the rope, closed the gate and got off.
Joan took a nice picture of me and May against the rail with the shrouded mountains in the background. I accidentally deleted it. She took all of today's pics
4/21/2010. Ride 7.
What a lovely day! 70 degrees! Slight breeze, great views. Can't beat it! Green grass all around which has not been usual for spring the last few years. I am looking forward to seeing if the Mexican Gillia grows this year on my place. It is not a parituclarly spectacular flower--trumpet shaped and purple and not very large, but it only seems to show up in years with wet springs.
The peach tree just started to bloom. Last year it bloomed in February and the majority of the flowers froze. I am optimistic that we will have peaches this year! We always seem to have apples--small and with lots of worms--maybe because I am always with the horses and don't pay enough attention to the fruit trees?
May got hobbled and I let her graze with Risa for an hour or so. Of course they could not stay where I put them. They had to come to the gate and talk to Penny--I think they said "Na na na. u are in the dry lot! We are in the grass!" She said, "i don't care!" (she was lying). "u have on hobbles and i do not! hmff." (She added the "hmfff" under her breath.) I know Penny was not truthful because when I brought May and Risa back in, Penny tried hard to slither out!
Saddled up! and took May to the arena, alone. She was a bit subdued, probably because she really isn't completly comfortable with the hobbles, yet. I walked her over the bridge (on foot) and although it took a few tries to get all 4 feet on and over in sequence, it was not sacry for her. We did a bit of the usual ground work.
Up in the saddle and she was a bit antsy. I thought standing around would suit her, but the best she could do was about 25 seconds of immoblity and then those feet just had to go somewhere. We started walking and turning. Nice! We moved up to trotted with lots of turning. Soft soft or not so soft and then soft agian when she listened. Left is her sticky direction. Practiced one rein halting, which is not all that great. Antsy feet!
And now for the final accomplishments! We rode to and OVER the bridge. Ho hum--ok not quite ho hum, but hum..... Whoa! Did i just walk on the bridge!? And to finsh up, we approached the gate and retreated and approached and went sideways and went behind the gate and backed up and tried hard to find all possible ways to not go there--there's a wood pile! There are tires! There are tarps in the tires! But finally (and quicker than ride 6) we opened the gate and went through but ....could not close it! One step better!
Sideways was ok to today. Trot felt much more relaxed and cadenced.
Dart goes home. Joan came over today to pick up Dart! Boo hoo! We will miss him! I think it might be bad to get too attached to horses you don't own....Oh well! First we lunged him and he was full of it! Feeling a little better although still coughing some. It wasn't raining, yet, but it was chilly and he wanted to play! I rode and Joan rode and then it got colder and started to rain.
May walks Dart home. May got her gear on and we walked up the road with Dart to keep him company on the way home. I thought about riding, but the rain was dripping down, the road was black and glassy and steam was rising up. Given today will be ride 8, I walked.
Bikes are scary...sort of. We met the neighbor kids on their bikes. May had no problems when they came up to us from the front, but when they "snuck" up behind us, she tucked her heinie and scooted forward! The kids were really nice. They slowed down, pulled over and best of all TALKED to May. That made her feel better! OH! They are kids on .... whatever those things are....bikes!
After delivering Dart. we walked home. Crying! (May cried. I did not cry! Just want to make that clear.) "We left Dart. Waah! (not that i really like him)! Where's Risa? Waah!" Of course Risa did not help. She answered back!
Riding in the rain. Well. So. She was already saddled. We were already damp. Just because water would run off my helmet when I moved my head....
Lunged her a bit and I needed a short lunge whip to keep her on task. Trot and walk on the 12 foot line and got on! Stood a bit (15 seconds? I forgot to count but it wasn't real long) ......and antsy feet. Walked. Go, turn, go turn, trot, walk, turn, bend to a stop. We walked over the ground poles, we did the turn around box--one time a super nice 180 and one time destroyed the box (but she stayed quiet). Will re-set tomorrow. Worked on movng off my leg which invovled: NO! Shoulder is stuck. i will back. Neck is stuck. i will back. etc. and eventually (to the right)....
OH, if i soften my neck and move my shoulder..this is EASY! The right (arced left--leg yieldish) is always easier.
Gate. No bridge. The bridge is slick when wet. But the gate! Well, we still can't line up on the west, but got to the east side pretty quick. Opened! I said, "Go through." She said. "NO! The rope is moving. i should back up. Oops bummer u dropped the rope." "Poop!" I said. "Go through anyway." She did and then I reached down and picked up the rope, closed the gate and got off.
Joan took a nice picture of me and May against the rail with the shrouded mountains in the background. I accidentally deleted it. She took all of today's pics
4/21/2010. Ride 7.
What a lovely day! 70 degrees! Slight breeze, great views. Can't beat it! Green grass all around which has not been usual for spring the last few years. I am looking forward to seeing if the Mexican Gillia grows this year on my place. It is not a parituclarly spectacular flower--trumpet shaped and purple and not very large, but it only seems to show up in years with wet springs.
The peach tree just started to bloom. Last year it bloomed in February and the majority of the flowers froze. I am optimistic that we will have peaches this year! We always seem to have apples--small and with lots of worms--maybe because I am always with the horses and don't pay enough attention to the fruit trees?
May got hobbled and I let her graze with Risa for an hour or so. Of course they could not stay where I put them. They had to come to the gate and talk to Penny--I think they said "Na na na. u are in the dry lot! We are in the grass!" She said, "i don't care!" (she was lying). "u have on hobbles and i do not! hmff." (She added the "hmfff" under her breath.) I know Penny was not truthful because when I brought May and Risa back in, Penny tried hard to slither out!
Saddled up! and took May to the arena, alone. She was a bit subdued, probably because she really isn't completly comfortable with the hobbles, yet. I walked her over the bridge (on foot) and although it took a few tries to get all 4 feet on and over in sequence, it was not sacry for her. We did a bit of the usual ground work.
Up in the saddle and she was a bit antsy. I thought standing around would suit her, but the best she could do was about 25 seconds of immoblity and then those feet just had to go somewhere. We started walking and turning. Nice! We moved up to trotted with lots of turning. Soft soft or not so soft and then soft agian when she listened. Left is her sticky direction. Practiced one rein halting, which is not all that great. Antsy feet!
And now for the final accomplishments! We rode to and OVER the bridge. Ho hum--ok not quite ho hum, but hum..... Whoa! Did i just walk on the bridge!? And to finsh up, we approached the gate and retreated and approached and went sideways and went behind the gate and backed up and tried hard to find all possible ways to not go there--there's a wood pile! There are tires! There are tarps in the tires! But finally (and quicker than ride 6) we opened the gate and went through but ....could not close it! One step better!
Sideways was ok to today. Trot felt much more relaxed and cadenced.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Still on Hobbling and Ride 6
4/20/2010- Technical difficulties--see photos in previous post. Risa and May are tied in the arroyo just north of the arena, prior to hobbling.
Hobbled! I got the leather hobbles from a client that was over 80 years old and he was getting out of horses. They are just a loop of folded soft leather with a hole and a leather knot. To use them, you have to open them, put around one leg, twist them, and put the knot in the hole.
Before I hobbled her, I put a rope around her her front legs one at a time and asked her to give to the pressure. She is pretty low key, so since she had little problem with that, I put on the hobbles. They cannot be put on loosely due to their design. Not enough twist and the horse pulls her feet out. Oops. That happened.
Tried again with one more twist. May fussed with them and got both feet off the ground, tried to pull a foot out again (it worked before!) and then decided to eat. She has a club foot and always eats with that foot way back. Can't do that with hobbles! That did not make her happy!
More arguing with the hobbles, but they would NOT come off, so she decided to kneel down to eat! She did this several times and it was funny to see! I have a picture but it just looks awkward and you can't tell she is actually eating!
Meanwhile Penny was loose and decided she needed to run. She ran all over, not actually near us. May got pretty excited and elected to try out running in her hobbles. She was frighteningly good at it! Might have to add a rope from the halter to the hobbles to slow her down in the back country. Over all she was moderate to low in her reaction to hobbles. They made her mad, but she didn't panic, nor did she freeze up
Riding in the arena! After the excitement of hobbling, I put Penny in the pens, tied May back in the trees and rode Risa. Ol swishy tail! She has a lot of opinions and is not afraid to share them.
I switched the saddle to May, and left Risa at the tree ties. Penny was busy crying because she was left out. I lunged May on a 10 foot line at the walk and trot. Backed, sideways, moved her hip and took my time mounting as it was her first time out of the round pen. The arena has 2 sides of pipe fence, one side is an embankment and the other side is open. It is about 70 feet wide and 100 feet long + another 100 feet that is not as wide. It has a crusher fine and sand base which is great in wet and snowy weather!
I got on and off until she felt quiet under me and then started walking and turning. She is not really stopping with 2 rein pressure, but if I bend her gently, either way, and quit riding by softening my brain and my body, she stops and stands. If I up the tension in my body, she will walk off. Main key is keeping her relaxed and responsive.
We did trotting and and turning around the barrels, walked over logs and into a turn-around box where she paused did 90 and 180 turns. She will rush the trot, so we circled a lot to control her speed and energy without pulling on her face. She will quit trotting if I quit riding. I use voice commands: walk, trot, canter, whoa, back. Her trot will take some time to gain rythym while she gets used to packing a person.
To end, we lined up by the rope gate. With in a few days we will end by opening and closing this gate. Ending with the gate provides a lot of incentive to master it and most of my horses take very little time to figure that out (after they get over sniffing the rope, investigating the gate "posts", worrying about the embankment and the wood pile and who is tied up in the arroyo!)
More of the same tomorrow!
Hobbled! I got the leather hobbles from a client that was over 80 years old and he was getting out of horses. They are just a loop of folded soft leather with a hole and a leather knot. To use them, you have to open them, put around one leg, twist them, and put the knot in the hole.
Before I hobbled her, I put a rope around her her front legs one at a time and asked her to give to the pressure. She is pretty low key, so since she had little problem with that, I put on the hobbles. They cannot be put on loosely due to their design. Not enough twist and the horse pulls her feet out. Oops. That happened.
Tried again with one more twist. May fussed with them and got both feet off the ground, tried to pull a foot out again (it worked before!) and then decided to eat. She has a club foot and always eats with that foot way back. Can't do that with hobbles! That did not make her happy!
More arguing with the hobbles, but they would NOT come off, so she decided to kneel down to eat! She did this several times and it was funny to see! I have a picture but it just looks awkward and you can't tell she is actually eating!
Meanwhile Penny was loose and decided she needed to run. She ran all over, not actually near us. May got pretty excited and elected to try out running in her hobbles. She was frighteningly good at it! Might have to add a rope from the halter to the hobbles to slow her down in the back country. Over all she was moderate to low in her reaction to hobbles. They made her mad, but she didn't panic, nor did she freeze up
Riding in the arena! After the excitement of hobbling, I put Penny in the pens, tied May back in the trees and rode Risa. Ol swishy tail! She has a lot of opinions and is not afraid to share them.
I switched the saddle to May, and left Risa at the tree ties. Penny was busy crying because she was left out. I lunged May on a 10 foot line at the walk and trot. Backed, sideways, moved her hip and took my time mounting as it was her first time out of the round pen. The arena has 2 sides of pipe fence, one side is an embankment and the other side is open. It is about 70 feet wide and 100 feet long + another 100 feet that is not as wide. It has a crusher fine and sand base which is great in wet and snowy weather!
I got on and off until she felt quiet under me and then started walking and turning. She is not really stopping with 2 rein pressure, but if I bend her gently, either way, and quit riding by softening my brain and my body, she stops and stands. If I up the tension in my body, she will walk off. Main key is keeping her relaxed and responsive.
We did trotting and and turning around the barrels, walked over logs and into a turn-around box where she paused did 90 and 180 turns. She will rush the trot, so we circled a lot to control her speed and energy without pulling on her face. She will quit trotting if I quit riding. I use voice commands: walk, trot, canter, whoa, back. Her trot will take some time to gain rythym while she gets used to packing a person.
To end, we lined up by the rope gate. With in a few days we will end by opening and closing this gate. Ending with the gate provides a lot of incentive to master it and most of my horses take very little time to figure that out (after they get over sniffing the rope, investigating the gate "posts", worrying about the embankment and the wood pile and who is tied up in the arroyo!)
More of the same tomorrow!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Ride Five
4/19/2010. I went away to DC for the weekend, so everyone had three days off! Dart has a bit of a snotty nose, but he is the only one so far.
May was standing in the tack room area when I got ready to ride today. Not because she was expecially eager, but because she apparently (or some one else) broke in, and was then trapped by the ever friendly (not...) Penny, who is determined NOT to descend from Princess #2 to Princess #3. (Risa is Princess #1, Cometa is currently King, and Dart is a knave on the lowest level).
Hair hair everywhere: I brushed everyone and all were flinging hair left and right. Horsehair mattress anyone? May has a fine glossy red coat coming out. Saddled her up and tied her to a tree while I inhaled everyone else's hair and tied them all up in vaious locations. Bridled her too.
Rode with the bridle and reins today: I did just a little ground work and then clipped on some reins and got on. May had no ring-side spectators today because everyone was having patience training tied to some tree or hitching rail. She was very calm. The baggie was no biggie, the tarp was cool, too. Mounted up and there was no wiggling, so, using the reins, we did some lateral flexion, and then rode off. Had a few words about what the bit/rein combo was for, but steady pressure followed by quick release of pressure convinced May to follow the bit. Worked on walking, stopping, trotting, stopping, move hip, sideways and turning. Sideways was better today, but going left is not her favorite. Trot is choppy. Stopping is nt all that direct--it may involve stopping and then drfiting off to one side or the other, or backwards a bit.
Left the round pen, steering optional. When her steering seemed decent, I opened the gate (without dismounting) and rode out. Steering became somewhat optional in May's mind, so we spend a little time with the reins and legs keeping her under me and moving in the direction I suggested. Went over telephone poles and after 5 minutes, I dismounted, unsaddled and tied her to the tree again while I rode Dart and Penny. Nice progress today.
May was standing in the tack room area when I got ready to ride today. Not because she was expecially eager, but because she apparently (or some one else) broke in, and was then trapped by the ever friendly (not...) Penny, who is determined NOT to descend from Princess #2 to Princess #3. (Risa is Princess #1, Cometa is currently King, and Dart is a knave on the lowest level).
Hair hair everywhere: I brushed everyone and all were flinging hair left and right. Horsehair mattress anyone? May has a fine glossy red coat coming out. Saddled her up and tied her to a tree while I inhaled everyone else's hair and tied them all up in vaious locations. Bridled her too.
Rode with the bridle and reins today: I did just a little ground work and then clipped on some reins and got on. May had no ring-side spectators today because everyone was having patience training tied to some tree or hitching rail. She was very calm. The baggie was no biggie, the tarp was cool, too. Mounted up and there was no wiggling, so, using the reins, we did some lateral flexion, and then rode off. Had a few words about what the bit/rein combo was for, but steady pressure followed by quick release of pressure convinced May to follow the bit. Worked on walking, stopping, trotting, stopping, move hip, sideways and turning. Sideways was better today, but going left is not her favorite. Trot is choppy. Stopping is nt all that direct--it may involve stopping and then drfiting off to one side or the other, or backwards a bit.
Left the round pen, steering optional. When her steering seemed decent, I opened the gate (without dismounting) and rode out. Steering became somewhat optional in May's mind, so we spend a little time with the reins and legs keeping her under me and moving in the direction I suggested. Went over telephone poles and after 5 minutes, I dismounted, unsaddled and tied her to the tree again while I rode Dart and Penny. Nice progress today.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Burros and Shoes
4/14/2010-Got home from work, hooked up the trailer, saddled Penny (with the new saddle that is now broken in because she chewed on the saddle strings and we managed to rip a saddle bag off the bag by snagging on a tree last weekend.....) Loaded Penny first, Risa second and May third. Headed off the chase burro, except I left the directions at work. Mark's (the man with the burro) cell phone was dead, and I knew I could get close to his place, but I hate to have to turn around in unfamiliar areas with the trailer, so I called Peter and he saved my bacon with directions with details--the car in Mark's driveway, the red white and blue gas line poles--important details. At Mark's, I met Leon, the burro, who was going to stand in for a cow, in case anyone is wondering why I might be chasing a burro. May was unhappy with the whole situation, so she got to hangout in the round pen instead of pawing at my trailer and removing the wiring or a light.. Risa stayed tied to the trailer, and just to add excitement a gale force wind started up. Out past my house, the mountains slide eastward, and flatten out all the way to west Texas. Lots of space for wind. Penny thought tracking Leon was pretty cool--she tracked pretty decent and after she got bored (pinning her ears was the big clue), I switched over to Risa. She is cutting bred and tracks everything from tarps to chickens, but is a little edgy and hadn't ever been asked to track on purpose. She was un fazed by the swirling dust, but thought the cow chute was a menace. In the pen, she latched right on to Leon with her eyes, and pretty much wanted to go eat him up immediately, and with major purpose. Unfortunately, she was too aggressive about it so Mark and I rode around and around ignoring Leon and letting Risa to settle. Eventaully, we tracked Leon from 1/2 the pen away, for a few steps. She will need more work but was pleased that she did settle!
Loaded up and went home. May travelled well--some pawing and the trailer was a little weavier behind the truck than usual.
4/15/2010-May got her first pair of front shoes! She has a club foot and now that we are riding some, she needed to get squared up and ready to go. She is moving much better now. She held it together very well for the farrier, except a little resistance on the last hind foot.
I turned Penny and Risa out to graze. We have grass! It might end up being a bunch of fox tails, but right now it is amazingly abundant. Usually at this point we have mustard and Kochia growing everywhere, but last year I had a bunch of Crap Grass hay that no one would really eat. It was baled too wet and was marginally moldy. But it had a lot of seed heads. The un eaten Carp Grass hay seed got spread all over as compost and by the wind. Then it rained like crazy in September for about 2 or 3 weeks and many of the those seeds sprouted and held on. This late August/ September rains are the best for getting grass to establish. So, out they went to graze. This upset May and when we went to the round pen to work: her usual retinue of observers were absent. Dart was in with the dogs and Cometa was far more interesed in cleaning up scraps of hay left over from breakfast than keeping May company. So, May was tense and looking for Penny and Rias. Her ground work was good, but she did lose focus more often and her body was tense. I played with the grocery bag while ignoring her. Stood by her and put the bag in my pocket, got it out, shook it, changed pockets etc. She was not too concerned or else she simply didn't notice, as her mind was mainly on the missing Penny and Risa. Got up and down and then stayed on. I am riding in the rope hackamore still and she testing to see if she needed to listen to it. Yep. Lots of walking and NO you cannot just stop and refuse to go--kept her aiming where I wanted and used my legs and the rope to bump her forward-- and yes, continuing forward is the plan.Whoa does mean stop and if two reins is too much, I am happy to do a bend to a stop and move to a one rein stop. Worked on sideways and although that was easy two days ago, it was confusing for her today, but kept adjusting her body position with my leg and rein until she figured it out and was able to go both ways. She did manage to squish me against the fence once., which was not that nice. Eventually, she gained focus and we trotted (leg and rope flagging) and worked up to 2x around the pen. Got lateral flexion, hip movement, shoulder, sideways, and stopping along with the trotting, so it was a good day!
Risa also had a good day working with draw reins on her loping, which is still pretty uneven, but that little girl can change leads--change direction, adjust her hip and magic! she changes leads with ease! Aiming at some low key reining in August!
Loaded up and went home. May travelled well--some pawing and the trailer was a little weavier behind the truck than usual.
4/15/2010-May got her first pair of front shoes! She has a club foot and now that we are riding some, she needed to get squared up and ready to go. She is moving much better now. She held it together very well for the farrier, except a little resistance on the last hind foot.
I turned Penny and Risa out to graze. We have grass! It might end up being a bunch of fox tails, but right now it is amazingly abundant. Usually at this point we have mustard and Kochia growing everywhere, but last year I had a bunch of Crap Grass hay that no one would really eat. It was baled too wet and was marginally moldy. But it had a lot of seed heads. The un eaten Carp Grass hay seed got spread all over as compost and by the wind. Then it rained like crazy in September for about 2 or 3 weeks and many of the those seeds sprouted and held on. This late August/ September rains are the best for getting grass to establish. So, out they went to graze. This upset May and when we went to the round pen to work: her usual retinue of observers were absent. Dart was in with the dogs and Cometa was far more interesed in cleaning up scraps of hay left over from breakfast than keeping May company. So, May was tense and looking for Penny and Rias. Her ground work was good, but she did lose focus more often and her body was tense. I played with the grocery bag while ignoring her. Stood by her and put the bag in my pocket, got it out, shook it, changed pockets etc. She was not too concerned or else she simply didn't notice, as her mind was mainly on the missing Penny and Risa. Got up and down and then stayed on. I am riding in the rope hackamore still and she testing to see if she needed to listen to it. Yep. Lots of walking and NO you cannot just stop and refuse to go--kept her aiming where I wanted and used my legs and the rope to bump her forward-- and yes, continuing forward is the plan.Whoa does mean stop and if two reins is too much, I am happy to do a bend to a stop and move to a one rein stop. Worked on sideways and although that was easy two days ago, it was confusing for her today, but kept adjusting her body position with my leg and rein until she figured it out and was able to go both ways. She did manage to squish me against the fence once., which was not that nice. Eventually, she gained focus and we trotted (leg and rope flagging) and worked up to 2x around the pen. Got lateral flexion, hip movement, shoulder, sideways, and stopping along with the trotting, so it was a good day!
Risa also had a good day working with draw reins on her loping, which is still pretty uneven, but that little girl can change leads--change direction, adjust her hip and magic! she changes leads with ease! Aiming at some low key reining in August!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
May’s First ride!
I gave her the 9th off as she had done something for 6 days straight.
On 4/10 I did all the ground work as described before and she was pretty focused, so I repeated all the mounting work—Then I got on. She was not wearing the 1970’s bit because she decided that she wanted to suck in the bit guards. So I put another reinless rig on her and let her carry that. I also had her wear a rope halter/ hackmore with reins. She was very comfortable, so I asked her to give me her head (laterally) and she did that, really softly. Then I asked her to bend her head and move her hip. Soft! I usually feel kind of tight on the first ride. I really want it to be easy for the horse, but there is the real possibility of a wreck. It is relatively easy to misjudge and ask for too much and then the horse might get scared or worse—kapow—blow up! Didn’t want that! Next, I asked her to move her front feet and walk off. I don’t kick a green horse—that leads to bucking too often, so I usually flag with my legs and use a rope back an forth over the withers until something happens. Then quit and let them move. This time she walked off—a few slow hesitant steps. Yeah! Did that about 3 times and quit.
4/11-Horse show! May stayed home and I took Penny to show, Dartagnon to show and Risa to hang out at the trailer and ride around. Penny was so very laid back! She even won some classes and had a very strong showing in trail, where she is a natural. Dart has been afraid of new venues and he did really well also! Risa tied well at the trailer and was able to walk and trot in the warm up arena, so not bad at all!
4/12. May ride 2. I did the ground work—move all the parts! That was soft. I am still impressed by her nice sideways movement. Introduced a plastic bag—very scary. She finds it very different than the tarp. Lunged her with the bag tied to the saddle and she had some humpiness! “Go faster!” I said, which helped her work it out some. Took off the bag and worked on getting up and down inthe stirrups before settling into the saddle. Really want to feel her relaxed not tense and it took a little. Plus I used a different saddle because the other one was in the trailer not the tack room and I would have had to go get it. It felt different to her and did make her a little tense. Got on and sat there. I will not get on unless they stand still, which she did. I used the same hackamore and reinless bridle set up, asked for lateral flexion, move the hip, then move the forehand and walk. Not fast! Not steady! But got forward motion and she remained relaxed! Also asked her to go sideways against the fence, which she did!
4/13 Ride 3. Ground work with the bag—need to do a lot more with bags, but we did a lot of approach and retreat and she got more confident—not calm, but progress for sure. She doesn’t know me well enough yet to really trust me, but she is getting there. She seems to still feel out of place here and doesn’t know who her friends are. She ate with Dart tonight—they ate out of the same pile! She will be bummed when he goes home 4/22. Watching her free lunge reveals that her lope is rough but she is clearing the log I have in the round pen much better at all gaits. Ok, so I got on and she got a little tense but I spoke to her sternly and she quit. Lateral flexion, move hip, walk off—and she just walked right off. Plus her steering was remarkably improved from yesterday. To turn I lead with the rein, look where I want her to go and push or use intermittent pressure with my leg, usually to influence the shoulder. I practice WHOA(long and low) and sink down, followed by 1-3 steps backing every time we stop, and then turn and walk off. Decided to try a few trot steps around the round pen. Used the rope over her withers and my legs and said trot where upon she startled forward and I choked up on her and pulled her down to a walk. Not the best—she needed to be allowed to move. She was not too worried so I tried again and she trotted a few steps. Walk, stop, back, turn, repeat. After a few tries I got off. Very cool! She is going sideways, stopping, backing, turning and trotting on day 3. All of this needs lots of refining but we are getting a start on the basics! AND she seems calm and interested. Oh yeah—had four spectators—Risa, Penny, Dart and Cometa. Only Dart offered to help by leaning over the round pen to nip at May. I told him I didn’t need help and shooed him away. The crowd did not seem to bother May at all, if they walked with her or ignored her completely. Nice!
I gave her the 9th off as she had done something for 6 days straight.
On 4/10 I did all the ground work as described before and she was pretty focused, so I repeated all the mounting work—Then I got on. She was not wearing the 1970’s bit because she decided that she wanted to suck in the bit guards. So I put another reinless rig on her and let her carry that. I also had her wear a rope halter/ hackmore with reins. She was very comfortable, so I asked her to give me her head (laterally) and she did that, really softly. Then I asked her to bend her head and move her hip. Soft! I usually feel kind of tight on the first ride. I really want it to be easy for the horse, but there is the real possibility of a wreck. It is relatively easy to misjudge and ask for too much and then the horse might get scared or worse—kapow—blow up! Didn’t want that! Next, I asked her to move her front feet and walk off. I don’t kick a green horse—that leads to bucking too often, so I usually flag with my legs and use a rope back an forth over the withers until something happens. Then quit and let them move. This time she walked off—a few slow hesitant steps. Yeah! Did that about 3 times and quit.
4/11-Horse show! May stayed home and I took Penny to show, Dartagnon to show and Risa to hang out at the trailer and ride around. Penny was so very laid back! She even won some classes and had a very strong showing in trail, where she is a natural. Dart has been afraid of new venues and he did really well also! Risa tied well at the trailer and was able to walk and trot in the warm up arena, so not bad at all!
4/12. May ride 2. I did the ground work—move all the parts! That was soft. I am still impressed by her nice sideways movement. Introduced a plastic bag—very scary. She finds it very different than the tarp. Lunged her with the bag tied to the saddle and she had some humpiness! “Go faster!” I said, which helped her work it out some. Took off the bag and worked on getting up and down inthe stirrups before settling into the saddle. Really want to feel her relaxed not tense and it took a little. Plus I used a different saddle because the other one was in the trailer not the tack room and I would have had to go get it. It felt different to her and did make her a little tense. Got on and sat there. I will not get on unless they stand still, which she did. I used the same hackamore and reinless bridle set up, asked for lateral flexion, move the hip, then move the forehand and walk. Not fast! Not steady! But got forward motion and she remained relaxed! Also asked her to go sideways against the fence, which she did!
4/13 Ride 3. Ground work with the bag—need to do a lot more with bags, but we did a lot of approach and retreat and she got more confident—not calm, but progress for sure. She doesn’t know me well enough yet to really trust me, but she is getting there. She seems to still feel out of place here and doesn’t know who her friends are. She ate with Dart tonight—they ate out of the same pile! She will be bummed when he goes home 4/22. Watching her free lunge reveals that her lope is rough but she is clearing the log I have in the round pen much better at all gaits. Ok, so I got on and she got a little tense but I spoke to her sternly and she quit. Lateral flexion, move hip, walk off—and she just walked right off. Plus her steering was remarkably improved from yesterday. To turn I lead with the rein, look where I want her to go and push or use intermittent pressure with my leg, usually to influence the shoulder. I practice WHOA(long and low) and sink down, followed by 1-3 steps backing every time we stop, and then turn and walk off. Decided to try a few trot steps around the round pen. Used the rope over her withers and my legs and said trot where upon she startled forward and I choked up on her and pulled her down to a walk. Not the best—she needed to be allowed to move. She was not too worried so I tried again and she trotted a few steps. Walk, stop, back, turn, repeat. After a few tries I got off. Very cool! She is going sideways, stopping, backing, turning and trotting on day 3. All of this needs lots of refining but we are getting a start on the basics! AND she seems calm and interested. Oh yeah—had four spectators—Risa, Penny, Dart and Cometa. Only Dart offered to help by leaning over the round pen to nip at May. I told him I didn’t need help and shooed him away. The crowd did not seem to bother May at all, if they walked with her or ignored her completely. Nice!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Days 5 and 6 + tarp games
Day 5. Miss May Belle—what a sweetie! Today was really nice—50 + degrees, New Mexico sunny which means bright blue sky , yellow yellow sun and something crystalline, without being fragile, about the air. All that dust that was climbing up into the stratosphere yesterday either went into outer space or landed somewhere in Texas. On my way into the college early this morning, Mount Taylor, 80 mi W, was right there at the Big I in the middle of Albuquerque. Ok, so back to May. Went to catch and her and she decided that was a bad idea. All this catching = work at this place. It doesn’t equal treats and total pampering! Oops forgot to mention that to her when she showed up that first day! Still after following her out of the barn area, out into the N dry lot, past Dartagnon, around Penny, she thought, “Well this is tedious. Maybe I will see what that woman wants!” She stopped to face me so I went up to her shoulder and gave her a good scratch and haltered her up. Brought her to the tack room, and big surprise, brushed her, spitting the hair out of my teeth because I couldn’t pick it out due to wearing my newish LILAC mesh gloves. It is probably too late at this stage in my life, but I am trying to keep that NM sunny sun from doing more skin damage….Saddled her and she was a tiny bit cinchy so must remember to go slow on that. Just because she is ok with saddling doesn’t mean I get to be thoughtless. Snug but not tight. Tighten in a bit and tighten once more before getting one. She does not have a ton of wither, much like many of the modern horses, so finding a) a good saddle fit and b) not making the saddle too tight are both considerations. Am using a “reining” saddle from Corriente Saddle company n Anthony NM. It is on a standard tree and has a reining sort of leather work arrangement, so it kind of looks like a reiner but really is not. It fits most horses ok, with the right padding, and is comfortable for me. I just bought a new Larry Trocha performance saddle (ranch versatility style) made by Jim Taylor that I am liking a lot, (4 rides on 2 horses: Penny and Risa) but am not ready to put in on a totally green horse yet.
Out to the round pen where I tried the tarp—no reaction at all today. I so wished I remembered the camera! May had the ratty blue tarp draped over her neck in front of the saddle and it was dragging the ground. I asked her to walk around the pen, which she was doing with a completely relaxed expression on her face (and I am thinking that if she continues to make progress at this rate I am not going to get to keep her very long! Bummer! I like her!). Dart was following her around on the outside of the pen. Penny was off to the east and Risa was waiting for Dart on the N. All were kind of twiddling their thumbs, do de do, another day on the ranch, so to speak. Great photo op, missed. Maybe tomorrow.
I took off the tarp but her lead rope was tied up and I sent her out to free lunge. NO BUCKING! That was surprising to me. I expected a little action. I had a log she had to trot and lope over and that was intermittently challenging—she had to pay attention. She was really not too keen on working that hard and kept asking to come in, so I let her—I want her to look at me for rest and relaxation. I am not lunging her for fitness right now, but for attitude. She may have done 6 or so laps in each direction at most. Brought her in and moved her shoulder, hip, backed her and did sideways. Sideways was the best—soft, body straight, nice reachy steps across, and very relaxed. So, started messing with the stirrups and put my foot in. I had the reinless headstall on and a rope halter. I had the lead rope on my side, but the rope was loose. I flipped in over her head whenever I changed sides. Foot in, head up! Not huge, but up and stiff necked. She stepped back a step or two, not fast, but not standing absolutely still. I stopped and repeated, moved to the other side, repeat, repeat repeat. She’d move, I’d quit, and start again. 3 on one side, 3 the other, 3 repeats. Then I used voice (“Ho”) and some lead rope pressure to ask her to stand more quietly. She did. I stood up in the stirrup—head popped up a little, but feet stayed still. Rubbed her neck, got down, other side, repeat, 3x each side. Thank-goodness she is not that tall. Al that up and down is a work out. She was standing still!
Took her to the hitching rail, and she stood quietly and I didn’t see her argue , be mad, or paw at all. She was tied for about 1.5 hours while I rode Dart—he’s an Andulusian/ Azteca. His owner came to watch and I am excited for her to ride him next week when her back feels better, but that is another story. Got in 20 min. on Risa in the round pen—in 12-18 mo I will be having a blast reining on her I think! Penny, my all around rail/ trail and we will add on everything else a year at a time girl, got the day off because I had to go to a Back Country Horsemen meeting, where I realized that between Appy shows, buckskin shows, a graduation and a trip, I can’t do a single BCH project in the back country until May (the month, not the horse). Poo.
Clearly I cannot write this much every day, but I want to show the smalls steps that build a horse….
Day 6. I trained my first horse when I was 16—a big blue roan Tennessee Walker that I was leasing. Not terribly talented as far as Tennessee Walkers go, but very game—we did all the fun classes—trail, water glass…and all us girls had some very silly times staying up all night at the big show of the year at Cal Expo. Bow’s Easter Bunny. I taught her to pick up her leads using cues exactly the opposite of those that actually help the horse, because I apparently read the training book wrong…I also cantered around the field next to the barn and used the sharp left turn to get that left lead to work…I guess that means she was actually an able lead changer…hmmm. Haven’t thought about that for many years. The bit I used on that mare is the same bit I used on May today—with the same rubber bit guards that are actually still in good shape (picture)! The bit cost 2 dollars.
May was in a run today instead of out and she had a bit more energy. We did some tarp work (see picture) and the same ground work. She bucked again today when free lunging but not too hard, and she was also more easily distracted. I did get on her—there was a lot of foot in stirrup, wait for her to stop moving, weight in, wait more…Eventually I was able to get on and sit there briefly. I want to feel her relaxed and I do not want to feel her tight. I just get off and start off when she gets tight. Then she doesn’t have a chance to get too worried. Only trouble is, it is work for me to get on and off so much! We might be moving by Monday….!
Fire somewhere in the valley—I could smell the smoke and see the haze but not see the plume…
Out to the round pen where I tried the tarp—no reaction at all today. I so wished I remembered the camera! May had the ratty blue tarp draped over her neck in front of the saddle and it was dragging the ground. I asked her to walk around the pen, which she was doing with a completely relaxed expression on her face (and I am thinking that if she continues to make progress at this rate I am not going to get to keep her very long! Bummer! I like her!). Dart was following her around on the outside of the pen. Penny was off to the east and Risa was waiting for Dart on the N. All were kind of twiddling their thumbs, do de do, another day on the ranch, so to speak. Great photo op, missed. Maybe tomorrow.
I took off the tarp but her lead rope was tied up and I sent her out to free lunge. NO BUCKING! That was surprising to me. I expected a little action. I had a log she had to trot and lope over and that was intermittently challenging—she had to pay attention. She was really not too keen on working that hard and kept asking to come in, so I let her—I want her to look at me for rest and relaxation. I am not lunging her for fitness right now, but for attitude. She may have done 6 or so laps in each direction at most. Brought her in and moved her shoulder, hip, backed her and did sideways. Sideways was the best—soft, body straight, nice reachy steps across, and very relaxed. So, started messing with the stirrups and put my foot in. I had the reinless headstall on and a rope halter. I had the lead rope on my side, but the rope was loose. I flipped in over her head whenever I changed sides. Foot in, head up! Not huge, but up and stiff necked. She stepped back a step or two, not fast, but not standing absolutely still. I stopped and repeated, moved to the other side, repeat, repeat repeat. She’d move, I’d quit, and start again. 3 on one side, 3 the other, 3 repeats. Then I used voice (“Ho”) and some lead rope pressure to ask her to stand more quietly. She did. I stood up in the stirrup—head popped up a little, but feet stayed still. Rubbed her neck, got down, other side, repeat, 3x each side. Thank-goodness she is not that tall. Al that up and down is a work out. She was standing still!
Took her to the hitching rail, and she stood quietly and I didn’t see her argue , be mad, or paw at all. She was tied for about 1.5 hours while I rode Dart—he’s an Andulusian/ Azteca. His owner came to watch and I am excited for her to ride him next week when her back feels better, but that is another story. Got in 20 min. on Risa in the round pen—in 12-18 mo I will be having a blast reining on her I think! Penny, my all around rail/ trail and we will add on everything else a year at a time girl, got the day off because I had to go to a Back Country Horsemen meeting, where I realized that between Appy shows, buckskin shows, a graduation and a trip, I can’t do a single BCH project in the back country until May (the month, not the horse). Poo.
Clearly I cannot write this much every day, but I want to show the smalls steps that build a horse….
Day 6. I trained my first horse when I was 16—a big blue roan Tennessee Walker that I was leasing. Not terribly talented as far as Tennessee Walkers go, but very game—we did all the fun classes—trail, water glass…and all us girls had some very silly times staying up all night at the big show of the year at Cal Expo. Bow’s Easter Bunny. I taught her to pick up her leads using cues exactly the opposite of those that actually help the horse, because I apparently read the training book wrong…I also cantered around the field next to the barn and used the sharp left turn to get that left lead to work…I guess that means she was actually an able lead changer…hmmm. Haven’t thought about that for many years. The bit I used on that mare is the same bit I used on May today—with the same rubber bit guards that are actually still in good shape (picture)! The bit cost 2 dollars.
May was in a run today instead of out and she had a bit more energy. We did some tarp work (see picture) and the same ground work. She bucked again today when free lunging but not too hard, and she was also more easily distracted. I did get on her—there was a lot of foot in stirrup, wait for her to stop moving, weight in, wait more…Eventually I was able to get on and sit there briefly. I want to feel her relaxed and I do not want to feel her tight. I just get off and start off when she gets tight. Then she doesn’t have a chance to get too worried. Only trouble is, it is work for me to get on and off so much! We might be moving by Monday….!
Fire somewhere in the valley—I could smell the smoke and see the haze but not see the plume…
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
May Days 1-4
I really like starting young horses under saddle--not too young--the real young ones are so...well...young. Got a new one Saturday. May. I might have to call her May Belle evey now and then because she has a very cute face. 3 years old, and her owner said she was good natured but a little spoiled. Day 1--introduction to the place and the round pen with a little ground work--walk, stop, back, sideways, move your front end, move the butt, go around me in a circle--yes round not oblong. Walking is fine, rushing is not. Day 2. She likes atention. She likes people. Tossed a saddle up (I knew she had been saddled before) and that was fine. Then I tied her up--actually I wrapped the rope to create drag if she decded to pull back hard, which she did not. Made her mad to be tied though! There will be a lot of tying in her future. More ground work and round pen work. Tied the lead rope to the saddle and and a buttrope rope around, well, her butt, and let her go. Bucking! Apparently the lead rope is irritating to her because it came loose and she stopped bucking. The butt rope was a non-issue. Go figure! Have another horse who lets me clip her ears but not her front feet..... Not a big display of bucking but enough that we will work through a few more things before I climb up on there. Day 3. More of the same expect that today was incredilbly windy and she was unsettled much more than the rest of the herd by the wind. I also added a reinless bridle. Saddled and tied her where upon she untied herself twice. Clever girl. Plus someone needs to learn to tie better. Later on, out to the round pen where we got to see more bucking. I expect that will work out over the next days and it will be fun to see how long it takes. She moves pretty handy and bucks in the middle, mainly, so it should not be too hard to ride if that crops up when I am up there. Continued on with her ground work and she is moving better already and starting to watch me when she isn't blowing away. It will be fun to see her attention span increase. She has a willing nature. She got to go out for dinner with another horse and that made her happy. They had alfalfa and some grass and after the first round of MINE by Risa, the two of them were eating peacefully side by side. The hay didn't blow around too much, suprisingly.
Day 4. Another windy day, and a biting wind, but somewhat more intermittent than yesterday. The round pen is also in a location that is a little shielded from the winid, depending on the direction. Decided to let May have her workout first and tie her second today, so got her saddled and bridled with the reinless rig again. She was was very relaxed about the whole thing. Up to the round pen where she dragged a rope and had her lead rope tied to her saddle; only had a few hippity hoppity steps! Not holding my breath, though. There is aways tomorrow. I left her in the round pen to go retrieve the tarp which had blown out of the round pen last night. The tarp was formerly 5 x 7, but due to some interest in the tarp as a play toy, it is now approximated 2.5 by 14 feet, with tassles. While I was out getting that, the "help" Risa (3) Penny (3) and Dart (12, going on 3) decided they would play some crazy buck and run game. Penny started it. Given that the round pen is in a larger horse pen, May was not amused. She began to pace up and down the south side of the pen. When I got back (3 minutes later) with the tarp, I asked May to keep going in one direction for a bit and then switch. With in a few rounds she was back focused on me, and helpfully, the 3 decided to come watch, quietly. May had no problem walking on the tarp--head down, checking it out. Flapping? She didn't care. But when I wanted to put it ON her, she sunk back (no moving of the feet) and turned her head toward her left shoulder where I was bringing the edge of the tarp. Not thinking she really wanted me to touch her with it! A really short amount of: here, take a look, relax, here take a look, relax and she consented to have it on her. Great! In front of the saddle! Lunge at the walk. Easy. On the saddle--same! Behind the saddle--all good. MInd you it was really windy so the tarp was not just sitting there quietly miniding its own business. It was a busy tarp. THEN part of the tarp escaped and fell to the ground and DRAGGED. May looked right. She arched right and she side stepped away, but she did not bolt. She kept looking at it and I kept going with her to reassure her that death would not ensue and shortly, she stopped. Ahhh. When the tarp was released to drag on both sides, that was some how easier. Finished up with jumping up and down along side her and fidgetting with the stirrups. Getting on crossed my mind, but the helmet was in the tack room and besides, May had a great day so far. Unsaddled and tied her to a tree branch (she will be used in the back country eventually). Brought Risa out to the nearby hitching rail. May was....MAD! and the tree branch was flexible, so May tested the flexibilty a little--nothing major. She probably was just making sure I actually tied her up properly! She tried pawing for a while. Meanwhile Risa decided the rubber mats at the hitching rail were evil (one moved the other day) so she stood off to one side and fell asleep. I don't think May ever gave it up enough to nap, but after a about 1/2 an hour was standing quietly. Love days like this, except for the cold wind part.
Day 4. Another windy day, and a biting wind, but somewhat more intermittent than yesterday. The round pen is also in a location that is a little shielded from the winid, depending on the direction. Decided to let May have her workout first and tie her second today, so got her saddled and bridled with the reinless rig again. She was was very relaxed about the whole thing. Up to the round pen where she dragged a rope and had her lead rope tied to her saddle; only had a few hippity hoppity steps! Not holding my breath, though. There is aways tomorrow. I left her in the round pen to go retrieve the tarp which had blown out of the round pen last night. The tarp was formerly 5 x 7, but due to some interest in the tarp as a play toy, it is now approximated 2.5 by 14 feet, with tassles. While I was out getting that, the "help" Risa (3) Penny (3) and Dart (12, going on 3) decided they would play some crazy buck and run game. Penny started it. Given that the round pen is in a larger horse pen, May was not amused. She began to pace up and down the south side of the pen. When I got back (3 minutes later) with the tarp, I asked May to keep going in one direction for a bit and then switch. With in a few rounds she was back focused on me, and helpfully, the 3 decided to come watch, quietly. May had no problem walking on the tarp--head down, checking it out. Flapping? She didn't care. But when I wanted to put it ON her, she sunk back (no moving of the feet) and turned her head toward her left shoulder where I was bringing the edge of the tarp. Not thinking she really wanted me to touch her with it! A really short amount of: here, take a look, relax, here take a look, relax and she consented to have it on her. Great! In front of the saddle! Lunge at the walk. Easy. On the saddle--same! Behind the saddle--all good. MInd you it was really windy so the tarp was not just sitting there quietly miniding its own business. It was a busy tarp. THEN part of the tarp escaped and fell to the ground and DRAGGED. May looked right. She arched right and she side stepped away, but she did not bolt. She kept looking at it and I kept going with her to reassure her that death would not ensue and shortly, she stopped. Ahhh. When the tarp was released to drag on both sides, that was some how easier. Finished up with jumping up and down along side her and fidgetting with the stirrups. Getting on crossed my mind, but the helmet was in the tack room and besides, May had a great day so far. Unsaddled and tied her to a tree branch (she will be used in the back country eventually). Brought Risa out to the nearby hitching rail. May was....MAD! and the tree branch was flexible, so May tested the flexibilty a little--nothing major. She probably was just making sure I actually tied her up properly! She tried pawing for a while. Meanwhile Risa decided the rubber mats at the hitching rail were evil (one moved the other day) so she stood off to one side and fell asleep. I don't think May ever gave it up enough to nap, but after a about 1/2 an hour was standing quietly. Love days like this, except for the cold wind part.
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