First Cutting Show -- Ponoka

Well I made it home.  It sure was an exhausting weekend.  On Friday we headed out for a lesson and it went OK.  It was better than Tuesday but still not real good.  I am still having trouble getting her to back off my leg after we turn.  Doug said he would get on her on Sat and then we be ready for the show.

So we went back Saturday and I rode her on cows and it was a lot better, at least me knowing where to stop her.  But still having trouble with her getting off my leg without going faster.  And he was really pushing us to stay even with the cow cause it was a big pen.  Kept saying big pen.  And not knowing what it was like in Ponoka we didn't know what to think.  Doug got on her after me and rode her on the flag and got her listening to his leg pretty good and figured that would be good and she was ready to show.  It was kinda nice to watch him ride her cause I could see what she was doing and I think maybe now I can fix it.  I knew she was always crooked but now I realize she is dropping her inside shoulder in anticipation of the flag/cow turning.  Which is actually harder for them to make the turn.  Then after the lesson we were visiting and he says the pen is 175 feet wide!  Oh my!  We were all kinda  bit shocked at that cause that is massive.  And 400 feet long.  Wow!  They were trying to get them to cut it down some cause that is huge.  Most pens we cut in are between 80-100 feet wide.  And big herds too, 15 cuts before a herd change, usually only 10.  So that means 45 cows instead of 30.  Turns out they cut the pen down to about 125 which was better but still huge!

After our lesson we loaded the ponies and headed up to Ponoka cause we thought we had to be there at 9.  We dropped off the ponies and fed them and then headed to Chars aunts place for the night. She had supper for us and it was good.  We talked to Jessie Crandal (not sure on the spelliing) and he rode Dude for a month before he went to the Supreme and he showed him there so that was kinda cool.  Jessie also told us we dont have to have horses on the grounds till we show but we were kinda worried anyways that we would get in trouble from Doug, so in the morning we fed then went to Ponoka and got in a panic cause we were only in the fourth class. 

So we went back and got the horses ready and came back and we realized we panicked for nothing we still had like 4 hours before we got on.  Which was nice but we were pretty stressed.   We got to see Doug show a couple horses and that was nice and a few other people we are getting to recognize.  And this lady Lynn was awesome.  She has a horse at Doug's and she helped us a lot in knowing where stuff is and what to do and when to get ready.  Doug was turnbacking when he wasn't showing so he was always busy.  He came out a few times to let us know something, but mostly it was to make sure the horses were tired.

We got on a class and a half before ours and trotted and loped a little then walked quite a bit then lots more trotting.  It took a long time.  It was probably 2 hours from when we got on till we showed.  There was 15 in our class and Char was 12 and I was 14.  I asked Lynn's husband if he would video us and he said no problem.  But I didn't realize that my card was almost full so he got a little of Char then deleted some pics and got only my first cow. 

Char had a terrible run.  Dude wasn't listening to her leg and all and she picked up her hand lots cause she thought he would just leave the pen if she didn't.  She was pretty disappointed.  Its tough cause she really likes him but he is just not good enough.  And Doug told her afterwards she is too good a rider to deal with that.  So I don't know what she is gonna do she has to sell at least one horse before buying another one and may not buy till next spring.  Will be kinda sad we aren't showing together, but she said she will come anyways with me.

Then my turn.  I thought we were ready, Jessie was tired and she was stopping well before we went in.  We got in there and Doug was in one back corner and I think Brad Peterson in the other.  I walked in the herd and a red cow just kinda separated herself so that was the one I picked, after Doug pointed it out to me.  I was having trouble getting Jessie to go straight I could feel it especially to the right but she was ignoring my leg.  Brad was really good at letting me know when to quit the cow.  Then the second cow and that cow was a little faster and I think we didn't stop and turn so felt like we were chasing it.  Then I had 45 seconds left  (Brad told me, I don't think I could see the clock for looking)  and I went deep in the herd and a nice quiet cow came out and we probably had the best go on her.  Until the end, the cow went fast one way and we were behind and I would have lost it if Doug didn't stop it.  Thankfully the herd people were very helpful. 

All in all I felt pretty good about it.  I know we need to stop better and get her off my leg more.  But I got a score of 67 and Doug was happy with that and I was too.  I was just glad I cut cleanly and didn't fall off.  I didn't even know my score till after, I had to ask Char, lol.  I think part of the stopping problem was the ground.  Lots of people were having trouble stopping cause there was lots of dirt in the sand and it packed hard.  And since I was 14th in it was pretty well done.  Between every cattle change they worked the ground.  That was weird cause I dont ever remember a cutting where they work the ground that much.

I will have to put the video in later cause after we got home last night we were so exhausted and I forgot my camera in Chars truck so I will get it probably Tuesday cause the horses get a day off today.

Lessons and Shows

This year sounds like it will be lots of fun, I was a little worrried about stuff after we worked the buffalo, but after our flag lesson I am much more confident.

We loaded up and headed out, heard it was gonna snow but it looked good and so we got about 10 minutes from Dougs and it was snowy!  But we thought we would go and if nothing going on then we would just head home.  But we got there and they were all riding so we unloaded and started warming up.  I was nervous to go first so Char did and Dude did really well, Doug says she is actually learning something and she retained it.  I think she is learning she has to ride him harder and make him do it, he is not gonna just pack her around and when she asks something of him he steps up and does it.  Quite an improvemnt from when we started going there.

Then it was my turn.  And the first couple gos to the left she would stop crooked and I could feel it but didnt know how to fix it so he said to pick up my reins and straighten her then as we stop put inside leg on her to hold her.  It worked and she did drift a little away from the flag (which I couldnt tell cause I was paying attention to the cow)  but that was probly cause I had my inside leg on her too much after the turn.  So we did a few more turns and I feel like I am flopping around on the turns, especially when he makes the turns right after each other, but he said thats ok I am still learning to ride a cutter and I will get more in tune.   But afterwards he asked if I ever worked the flag and I told him it was  the first time with her and he was suprised cause I did really well, he even said better than her original owner!  He said he thinks she likes me.  So I was pretty happy with that and feel more confident about showing her even if we do make mistakes, I am doing all right :)))

On the way home it had quit snowing so that was nicer, there was about and inch of snow on the road but good tracks and we drove slow and had no problems, but if I knew it was gonna be like that I probly woulda postponned.  Hopefully next week we will get a chance to go twice for lessons before the show (if the weather holds)

And so we were planning on going up to the rimcuts show Saturday with Greg and then yesterday I got the ACHA newsletter in the mail and see there is on at the new Ag Center in Ponoka on Sunday so we talked about that and Doug said he is going to that so we thought we might as well stay overnight in Ponoka and go to it too.  I would rather just go to a show where Doug is going cause then he can help me, but the rimcuts are pretty easygoing learning type shows, so it will be good practice.

I put a list of all the shows, clinics on my sidebar, I am not planning on going to them all since some are onthe same weekends, but I put them all in anyways.  I know I am missinf rimcuts on the 17 of March for the clinic, and the July 6/7 show I am going to be in California then, so wont go to it, but otherwise it just depends on how much money we want to spend and how exhausted we are.

Busy Week

This week has been more busy again. Over the weekend I rode Both Charlene's horse Dude as well as Jessie a couple times.  Dude is quite a bit different than Jessie, a lot more sensitive to my legs but it was a nice change. 

Then my Mom and Dad come out for a couple day and we had a real nice visit.  They don't get to come out much so its always nice when they can.

Then we went Tuesday and since we rode till they were pretty sweaty on Monday they stayed in the barn overnight.  And I am sure they were itchy so went out and rolled in the mud from the melting snow.  Dude has a blanket and it was covered in mud as well, eww.

Then on Wednesday I went down to Lethbridge and helped my friend move to a place in Vauxhall.  It looks like a nice place and she already has a job close by so that is hopefully where she will stay for a while.

Yesterday was the memorial for a good horse man.  And just a good man.  They guy who started both Bailey and Dinero for me passed away and so went up to that.  It was nice, they had a family graveside service then just a come and go for friends and it was nice to visit with other people who knew him.

Then afterwards took the horses and went to Greg's to work buffalo.  They are a lot different than cows, which I guess I knew but its been so long since we worked them it was a lot more obvious now.  They run a lot more and turn a lot less and its harder to read them.  But we got a few good turns and it was good practice.  And of course they were sweaty again and so they stayed in overnight last night as well, hope they aren't muddy today.

Today we are going down for a cow lesson as long as the snow holds off at least till we are done.  I also entered the clinic on march 17/18 and am pretty excited about that and we are tentatively going to the show next weekend (the 3rd) There is another clinic at the end of April we just found out about as well, not sure if we are going to that yet, but I think I would like to.  Its intructed by Geoff Hoar and should be good too.

New and Exciting News

I had a really hard time posting Sunday Stills Yesterday just cause I had so much happen on Saturday but now I am all caught up and can share some exciting news.  We went shopping Saturday morning in Strathmore on our way to Char's lesson.  We stopped at Lammle's cause I got a gift card for Christmas that I said I was gonna spend on show shirts, so we walk in the door and got stuck at hats, lol.  There was a lightish one Char absolutely loved and it was priced at 59.99!  So we got looking around and another couple at that price too and the regular price on them was $200.  Thought that was a pretty good sale till the sales girl came over and said everything with a sale price was an extra 30% off, so our hats we even cheaper!!  I ended up buying a really pretty silver one (and have no pic of it) and then we went to shirts and I got 3, only 2 were on sale, but i loved the red one so I got it anyways.  Also bought a hat box so our hats will keep looking nice for a while.

We left there and headed to eat then out to K and K Livestock.  We dropped our hats off there for cleaning and Chars old hat needed to be shaped cause she squished it with her coat.  So that's why no pics of hats or hat boxes.  We actually didn't buy anything else there, just continued on to Doug's.  Char was supposed to have a lesson but Doug couldn't make it so she was gonna work cows.

I went in town boots not expecting to ride but ride I did.  That mare he talked about on Thursday was there so she was saddled up and I got on her.  I was a little apprehensive cause she hadn't been ridden in 6 or 8 months and was kinda fat.  But she was nice and quiet and even when he changed the bridle (without me getting off) she was fine.  I went into the herd and picked a black white face cow and worked her around the edges.  I had to tell Doug I never rode one handed before and didn't know what I was doing so he kinda helped me through it.  She was really good, knew what she wanted to do and did it correctly but I still had to actually ride her, she didn't pack me.  Was kinda fun and now I know what a real cutting horse is supposed to feel like. 

So all I know is she is 7, went through Doug's program and he showed her as a 3 and 4 year old, the owner showed her last year and she hasn't done anything since.  He thought we would get along really well and I could just get her in shape and show her this year, and learn a lot from her so move on to a better horse later on.  I am trying not to get too excited, think I will phone and get a soundness exam before I even think of making any decisions.  Sure is a lot easier to decide on a horse when someone knows what I should have.  I am pretty nervous though.  So nervous I never even got any pics of her!  Yikes.

Oh and I got the cutest candle holder from Charlene for Christmas and last night I put candles in it and it was even nicer.  Had vanilla scented candles so that was nice too :)

Speaking of Charlene she was also told is she really wants to show and be competitive Dude is probly not the horse she wants to get there.  He has a major problem with not stopping before turning and that is really what the basics of cutting are.  Doug figured he could fix him but not sure how well it would stick and in the mean time he would be teaching Char wrong.  So she really likes him anyways and now she doesnt know what to do cause another horse is not in her budget but she is gonna leave him at Dougs for the month and go to the show on the 21st and then decide from there.  So kinda dissapointing news for her, but after she saw me work tha mare, she kinda knew herself anyways.  She might ranch cut on him but thats not really what she wants to do so we have to wait and see what will happen.

Moving On

On Wednesday I called up Linda and we headed down to Silver Sage with out ponies to go riding.  I took both Razz and Kali.  I rode Kali first and she was super lazy!  I dont know why she is so hard to get her tolope cause once she is loping she doesnt try to stop, so we just lope till I want to stop and then we go the other way and struggle again.  maybe I should just do lots of transitions and maybe I she would get better but I was exhausted enough after half hour.  So I switched saddles to Razz and she was the total opposite of Kali and I shoulda known cause when she lives in the corral she is kinda hot.  So she managed to walk about a lap then trot a couple then we loped for about a million (well felt like it anyways)  Then I asked her to stop and she was breathing pretty hard so we walked a lot of laps and visited with Linda and then we went to other direction.  I think all those people who tell me Shast has a lot of energy need to ride a horse like Razz casue they dont know what they are talking about till they really ride a horse with lots of energy.  Before we went riding there Linda asked if we could stop so she could take a couple pictures of some horses for sale so sure no problem, but if i realized we were gonna be there for 2 1/2 hours I woulda asked if she could do it another day.  What a long boring day to stand around and watch barrel horses.    But it was on the way so  that was handy at least. 

(weird clouds yesterday, they looked greyer than this)

I been slowly working Kali towards no blanket and since its been so nice here its worked really well, last night she had no blanket on and this morning doesnt look cold so thats a good sign.  She wore her winter blanket for a couple days then it got to be 15 on Wed so I took it off and she wore her light blanket that night and yesterday took it off and just left it off and she seems fine.  I really expected it to take longer but the weather is cooperating so well that I might just end up leaving her now.  It is supposed to be warm for another couple weeks, getting above freezing int he daytime, so she should be good.  Im glad cause I didnt want to have to put her in the pasture with a blanket on.

(Kinda looked tornadoey but wasnt)

Then yesterday Char had a lesson and Dougs and I went along cause she is still a little wary of driving at night and it was good, Dude is getting more responsive already.  Not so lazy in his turns and stopping straighter on the ends. 

(sunrise this morning, so peach)

And after the lesson we brought up a new horse for me and he asked what I was looking to spend and I said definitly no more than 12 and he says that is not a problem at all, he can easily find a horse for less than that.  So I am pretty excited again, i thought I wasnt gonna be cutting this year but it might all change.  He mentioned a mare that is pretty nice but said she was not straight in the front, but they want 8 for her said she is super broke and figured I would get along good with her.  I dont know how crooked but kinda wary about that.  He also said George Canyon had a nice gelding I would really like that was showed lots but not sure if he was for sale.   I didnt know if he meant the singer George Canyon but he said later it was and he used to ride there, how cool is that!  Said there was a lot of horses out there 7 or 8 or even up to 12 out there that just get kinda lost but are really broke and have been shown lots int he past and it would take no time to get them back so he is gonna ask around for me :)))  Now maybe I will get what I really want and can learn for real.

I looked at this gelding on Northern and emailed the girl about him and I will bring the paper to Doug on Saturnday when we go back and get his opinion on him, probly not as good as some he could pick out though.  He was talking about mostly ones with lots of earnings on them, so I kinda wanna wait to see what he comes up with.

Lesson Update

Well Yesterday was a fun but full day and best of all I was still home by 5:30!  Char had a lesson planned with Doug at 2, and he said he would wait to work Kali on cows till I got there and so I was pretty excited to see her too! 

(Shasta at fence)

But first I got to Jardis a little earlier than Char cause she was getting off work and didnt want to be in a rush to hook up her trailer and tack up Dude.  So I caught Dude for her and then i had extra time and was gonna ride but not quite enough time for that, so I brushed Shasta and got a couple more pics of her.

(Really hard for her to stand still)

Then we headed down the road and he has an old cow in the pen he just calls her the babysitter and she just stays in the middle of the pen and keeps the other cows there.  Even when he chased in new cows or out cows, she just stands in the middle of the pen. She has been there forever and noone chases her so she just stays still.

(Char working cows)

Well Dude was first so Char worked him and Doug ahd a few things to say but overall he thought Dude looked pretty good.  I think Char was pretty excited and wants to go back more. 

(Pretty nice stop/turn)

Then was Kali, she was moving out better than I seen her before and she looked pretty good, but its hard to tell cause he didnt do a lot with her, just keep her with the cow and was pretty slow (which is good but boring to watch, lol)  I got a short video but I dint know when he was gonna do stuff so its okay.  I think she looked good, I was a little worried about her getting thin but not so much anymore :)

(aww shes so cute)

I liked the way he worked and super easy to talk to so now I got my brain thinking I might take Razz for some lessons, even on the flag, and see where that goes.  I need to get better anyways and if Char is going, we might as well travel together.

(sure watching a cow)

Then when we got back, I saw the sunset was pretty cool, so I got a shot of that too.