Snuggly

Wednesday night we went and worked cows.  It wasn't good.   Doug was a lot harder on us, not sure if its cause we are entered in a show this weekend or cause he is more stressed out cause he has a big show going on in a few weeks.   But I was better at keeping my hand on the horn and legs under me which I had been practicing. But I am having trouble getting her to push off the cow and still stop when the cow stops.  And when we go around the pen I always tend to get ahead of the cow.  So I asked lots of questions and hopefully tonight and tomorow we will be better.  And Sunday.

We were supposed to work buffalo last night but Greg got busy so we just had an easy ride.  I was tired and I don't think Jessie was but still good to have an easy ride sometimes too.  I like hauling her different places too cause it doesn't bother her, she looks around but just goes to work.  Although at Gregs they have thier cows outside the arena and they were moving some into the corrals as we were riding and everytime the horses heard them moo, they looked.  I don't think they would appreciate us working thier uber pregnant cows though, lol.  But the horses wanted too.

I finally caved and put a blanket on Jessie.  It has been colder at night and she is shedding like crazy, which I hope keeps up, so a blanket it is.  I was a little worried she would be too warm but so far hasn't seemed to.  I love the blankets with the neck, I don't think I ever want another one without.  They sweat so much on the neck and so if they don't have all the winter hair grown there has to be better.  And besides they look so cozy in them.

I had to take a couple close ups of her face cause she looks old with all the white hair mixed in with the sorrel hairs.  So cute.  And a couple of her in her blanket, even though its uneven cause she been rolling.

Wordless Wednesday

Practice Practice Practice

Some days I wonder if I really want to cut.  Especially days when I get to go on a nice relaxing trail ride or even days I get to do ranch stuff.  And even on days like today.  I don't really want to ride today cause I have a toothache and my mouth is sore.  But I know I can't compete if I don't have a horse that is in shape or we just risk injury.  So we ride pretty much everyday.  And its boring.  We don't have much to practice cause we are just keeping them in shape.  Walk, trot, walk, lope, walk, trot, walk.   Pretty boring.  But necessary.  Especially with Jessie all I have to do is make sure she stops when I sit and its all good.  Charlene does a little more with Dude cause he gets lazy in his rollback so she practices them and the circle back exersize, but I don't do that much cause Jessie just does it soo good everytime.

And we are now entered for the Sunday show in Ponoka so I guess I better ride today and we have a lesson tomorrow with Doug.  Which is good cause everytime I go for a lesson and get to work cows, I remember why I do this.  Nothing else even compares to the feeling when its going good and the feeling like the cow will never get past us :)  So I guess I better practice so I can work more cows.

We went and worked buffalo on Sunday and it was a good day.  Jardi was over with Tangle and Candice and Mig and Greg and Heartbreaker and Gregs brother, Brad come and rode too.  He used to ride with Guy Heintz and so he helped us out a little and it was a fun day with all of us there.  Wish we could do it more often like that.  Even though I prefer cows to buffalo (cause I'm better on cows, lol)  I figure if we can work a buffalo then a cow should be easy.  And I had much better luck with Jessie on Sunday she was watching a little better and had better stops.

I am still learning how much to warm her up before we go work.  Seems if we lope and I sit and she stops right away she is ready to work if I have to help her stop she needs more loping.  It's hard to know how much to do.  Charlene's horse can probly be loped for hours before cause he gets so excited, but Jessie not as much but I don't know if too much would be bad for her either (as long as she isn't super tired)