Rides 16 and 17 (6/2 and 3). Tabooli survived the weekend as an only horse--everyone else went to the Pecos. The neighbors fed him of course! Had to work Tues all day so got on him yesterday and today. Yesterday, we did arena work and he is definitely a hanger on the bit kinda guy, but his steering is gettng softer, very very gradually. He still gaps his mouth at the bit pressure (and I know this because he is not wearing a cavesson--to wear one or not.... I am going with not so I can see when they have gotten the quiet mouth idea on their own....will use a cavesson if I want to get there faster on a show prospect someitmes....there is more to that story, but haven't time now).... Tabooli usually doens't lighten up right away! We are doing lots of turning and flexing and movng his hips and shoulders. He is loping complete circles on both leads, although he preferred the right lead 6/2.
Got him out on the rocky loop and he was just a s nice as ever. When we hit the road, there were cycliists, so I got off, but the bikes didn't bother him!
Bushwackin' was the word of the day for 6/3. We headed out to a trail that was over grown, so I tied him and trimmed some branches with my handly dandy saddle saw, complete with scabbard. I drug branches by him. He thought the branches were annoying but not especially frightening!
Once the low hangers were out of the way, we made it over some rough terrain to the bottom of a small canyon. The grass is still green there. There are sand stone? cliffs with deep holes in their sides that are filled with old dried leaves and pine needles.. I kept thinking there should be petroglyphs, but I didn't see any.
Scrambled up the other side, over big flat stones covered with grey-green flaking lichens and padded (or slickified, depending on your point of view) with ponderosa needles. Tabooli just motored on up! He isn't light in his steering (we are working on it, really we are!) so there was a bit of hauling him around the trees while I ducked under branches, but since he is not in a huge hurry, it worked all right. Got up to an old road that I haven't been to in years. I was looking forward to dropping down to the big cottonwood tree and the cienega--where there used to be water year round. The cliffs pinch together there, so maybe that is why there is water...but it was fenced off. It might be possible to get there by going down the canyon instead. That used to be impassable, but there was livestock on this land for a few years and they broke down some of the thick veg in the canyon bottom to get to the grass. Or there is always the saw......
6/2 with Penny: We are aiming at a show this weekend, so I did arena work and I am really pleased with the progress her WP lope has made. D. came by and we rode togther in the arena and then hit the botancial trail. The James Penstemmon is in full swing, but the dry weather has withered the cheat grass and the fox tails so it doesn't look as lush around here as it did a few weeks ago! The bigger buckwheat is starting to send up flower talks, a composite that I called Bahia (but I was wrong and I can't recall what it really is) is also onthe verge of blooming. The scarlet guara is flowering too!
Penny was loath to lead and I swear she was just trying to embarass me in public--after I bragged on what a great trail horse she was in the Pecos. THEN, she refused to cross an erosion ditch. We have been over this trail, what? 50 or 100 times in her life and she has never once refused or even really given it a second look. I actually GOT OFF and led her across. Sheesh! (and then we went back, and forth and back and I got on and rode). Duncan the Lippi had NO problems and he has been over that ditch only about 6 times.
6/3 and the ditch. Rode there alone, and kept her moving forward. Guess what? She went right over.
RISA PEESA 6/3. She got off until today! I mounted up near the pasture gate and rode toward the strip of rubber stall matting that has been lying by the tie racks for 2 months. Risa walks by or over it at least 4 days week, twice each day--over and back. Today, she refused it, then put her foot on it, yanked it off the mat as if her foot were on fire then levitated straight up and over it. Athletical little cuss. But my question is "what in the tarnation is she thinking?" Does it morph at night and schlep about like some sort of evil black shadow and then just lay there during the day waiting to suck in unsuspecting horses? Apparently Risa is the only one that suspects its true nature because everyone else just traipses right over as if it were barely there. Even May.
Used the thin bit with a German Martingale on her today. She seems to like it. Worked on soft turns, lookng for the release; sideways; neck, poll and hip flexibility. The did some leg yeilds against the fence and asked for a lope. Got a wonderful soft lope almost the instant I asked. That only lasted 4-5 steps but I'd say there is potential there and it is finally peeking it's head out! Maybe the Pecos packing job did her good. Hope she liked it because she is on the docket for 2 more pack jobs in June in the Pecos....!
My 5:30 lesson showed up and Risa didn't react too much to the trailer, but the two boys popping out of the grass at random intervals suptised her! Of course I was talking on the phone when she gave the big sideways. Not super pretty but not a horn grabber, so we have that. She got over the boys, as she ought, and was able to do more loping around the lunging lesson horse, so that was very good.
C. got her horse to set up and pick up the left lead, not by giving a cue and hoping, but by really wating for him to give her his head, pushing his hip and driving him quietly into it. He rounded up and took it. Very cool! meanwhile, Risa waited for the lesson to end by standing quietly tied to a tree. Will wonders never cease! I thnk more packing for the girl if it will keep her attitude in check!!!!
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