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…