Riding and Ponies

So this summer my plan was to sell both Trio and Dee.  Really want to get down to 3 horses and that would make 4 but 4 I really like and want to keep them all so I guess for now 4.  Well I had Dee listed for sale this spring had a lot of interest but only 2 people came and I know the one guy and I knew it wasn't what he wanted but he came anyways lol.  And the other guy called back and liked her but really wanted her more broke, not sure why he called back but I think he was hoping I would lower the price more but I'm not offering that he didn't suggest it and so then I was so busy with branding I pulled her ad down and figured Id list her later after I rode her more and got her nicer.  Well then the summer was so wet and then bugs that I hardly rode at all.  So she got turned out and left, like everyone else.

Well I do love driving and was gonna get Pally going, not sure if shes ever done it but shes sensible enough I think she would be good.  So I got a cart no harness yet, but was still awful weather for being outside.

Then last week I saw an ad for a driving pony, he loves it done it a ton and that would be even better for me cause I'm pretty beginner, done it a few times but not enough to be real comfortable with it.  hes been driven with a stoneboat pulling and in a cart so excellent.  Well I don't need another horse so I asked if she would trade, gave both Trio and Dee as options and after I told her Dee gets herdbound and doesn't steer very well but is totally safe she says that's exactly what she wanted!  What????  she is tired of unsafe and can deal with others and they have a bunch of grandkids who ride and want to train a horse but she wants them safe too so she will work for that as well, and they never ride alone so that part isn't a big deal.

So we made a plan to meet in Brooks and try them out.  Well I got there early planned on riding first cause if I gotta haul down and pay might as well make it worthwhile.  So I took Razz too.  Got there and she said was running late which turned out to be a good thing cause they were doing motorcross bikes across the road and Dee thought that was awful.  didn't care when she could see them but they would make noise and then just appear.  So we wandered over there and after a few large snorts she was ok with them, sorta.  I saddled Razz and then they showed up.  We did the pony first, he seems so quet, he looked around a bit at all the new stuff but not worried then they put the harness on him and it was all work.  We never hooked up the stoneboat cause woulda scared everyone elses horses cause they are super loud but I had seen videos of it earlier.  I drove him around and messed up and  he just waited till I figured it out.  They lowered the traces and the guy pulled on them while driving and he just put his head down and worked.  Yay exactly what I wanted!!

(just waiting)

(around the building is a tame rabbit, hes so cute!)

I was worried then that he was way nicer than Dee and I kinda said so but they wanted to see her anyways so I saddled and bridled her and got on the mounting block and opeend the gate on her, not perfect but she did it.  Then she didnt want to leave Razz as normal but a few small circles she started listening and then I did a bunch of figure eights and circles and walking and trotting and even a few loping steps.  Then he got on and rode her she was pretty nice for him, he loped almost half the arena that surprised me.  Called a few times but still listened.  They liked her, whew.  so we made the deal and now I own a pony called Jumping Jax or Jax for short.  Haven't done a lot with him as I been up at the supreme and I have no harness but soon :)  Hes also been rode but not very much, he acts like its his 3rd ride which is fine, I don't wanna ride him anyways.

Afterwards I rode Razz in the arena there, shes so fun but somehow always wants to go as fast as possible in the arena, I'm sure its my fault so we did a bunch of arena stuff I haven't done on her in a long time and didn't take her long to remember it all.   But since I had my trailer hooked up already on Monday loaded up Jess and Razz and went riding in the fall colors so pretty to ride this time of year.

(good ole Jess :))

Rode Jess first in the arena then ponied Razz out around the field then came back had lunch and it was so nice we went again haha, this time I rode Razz, poor girl had 2 long days.

A Minute to Myself

Oh my so much going on and so little pictures.  I will have a few from our branding that my mom took but I gotta get them first, just a teaser shot she took off her cell phone and texted me of the branding stove.

We have been to 7 brandings and a cow moving in the last 8 days I am tired and my horses are tired.  I started out using Dee just cause she was in and she needs riding and I am kinda liking her, I can't always trust her to be where we need to be at the right time but it actually is good for me to watch and see whats going on ahead and head off the problem before we need to be in a rush.  Neil even rode her and was frustrated cause he's never rode a horse that doesn't neck rein haha but she couldn't have been that bad cause we went 2 days later and he asked if he could ride her again :)  I'm working on him riding her so we can sell his gelding to the neighbors cause they really want him and Neil rides like twice a year so no need to have his own horse.  I took Razz to a couple shes good but most aren't long enough or fast enough for her liking she gets frustrated with me when we lope to cut off a cow and then imagine I make her walk, oh I'm so awful.  Crazy horse haha.

And today took Jess to move cows to a smaller field and saddled her and it was hot and we got there and her saddle slipped so I tried to fix it in the trailer couldn't so unloaded her and as soon as she got on flat ground the saddle musta caught her in the flank and she leaped up and back and stepped on something and fell on her side.  We undid the saddle and she laid there for a minute and then got up.  I re saddled her and all was fine so we got on and moved cows.  They moved well and it was hot so we mostly walked and then a cow was heading out the wrong way so I trotted up to her and oh no shes sore at the trot :(  Too bad we are still a mile away from the trailer so I figured we would just stay at the back and walk and we did the cows moved really well and one cow took off and I was gonna leave her for someone else to get and Jess kept looking at her so OK we went that way and she decided we needed to lope (she does love chasing cows) and oh man that was awkward and all over the place but after maybe 15 steps the cow run back to the herd.  Not sure if it was cause of us or the weird loping but whatever works.  Got back and got off, no swelling anywhere, looks to be the muscle between the stifle and hock.  No heat but sore to touch.  I will give her a couple days and see how it goes. I think she did it when she fell over.  I put her in a smaller pasture with Trio so she has to walk around but not too far.  And maybe she can diet a bit there too after I was asked if she was gonna foal this year haha.

Day off tomorrow and I am gonna try and do noting, I'm not very good at it but we will see.  I really wanted to show this weekend but its not gonna happen, I rode Easy a couple times this week and hes kinda out of shape and boy he hates bugs so now hes got a fly sheet on and maybe I will have a bit more time to spend with him and Trio too, wanna get her going a bit at least, I may keep her for a bit get her started this fall and see how it goes even though I know shes gonna be way bigger than I want but so far shes pretty quiet so that always bodes well.

Camera Lens

So I was heading to Drumheller to do the MS Walk on the first and sometimes before I go I like to look and see whats on the buy and sell for that town cause I'm going and can pick it up easier than trying to make plans to get something when I wasn't going anyways.  Actually worked well that day cause it was the first of the month so the groceries were 15% off at my grocery store as well.
Anyway the walk was pretty successful, they raised 22,000.  I guess its down from previous years but the economy is too so not surprising.  Wasn't a real well organized walk, you could do 1,4, or 6K but no one kept track or even made sure you did walk.  They sorta had the paths marked but not very well, no one knew where the different lengths started and we knew the path so we were lucky it worked out well.  But they had lunch donated afterwards and it was really nice day so am glad I got to go with friends and walk.  We did the 6k, I probly coulda done more but that was a good walk and I had a blister from my new shoes rubbing where my sock fell down.

(here's the crew of us, and the picture taker I dunno why hes not in the photo)

Anyways I saw a lady advertising a camera like mine with regular lens and a zoom lens, and on the off chance I just asked if she would split them and just sell the zoom.  Took her forever to get back to me but she said she would.  Yay!  Way cheaper than new price so I was super excited!

I hooked it on my camera and needed to try it out right away, not much was around to take pics of but got a few when I got home fixing the fence so the horses could have a bit of grass.

(Bull laying down outside fence)

(wishing I would let him in)

(Closeup of the eye)

(Couple geese I think nesting in bull pasture)

(the one didn't even get up, no nest that I could find)

(our calf that was starving, hes felling fuller now)

(the cow, her bag was really chapped and dry much better now)

(Trio)

(Dee)

(mmm grass)

Turned out the horses hoping to get some fun pics but they couldn't lift up there heads.

Farrier Day

We are a bit more settled in this week. Although I messed things up again yesterday.  Farrier came out and so everyone got trimmed and wormed (except Easy, he can wait another month, kinda  a pain but hes down doing other feet in the area so will stop by and do his and check on Pally's crack and I don't know when he was wormed so he got skipped this time, will have to ask)He loves Easy, says he has heel horse written all over him.  I said hes not for sale yet :)  And he said if Pally was a gelding he would take her home today....umm no I still want her too.  Wish he wanted Dee or Trio would be easier to make a deal that way.

(Easy and Pally stood side by side 

all the time the farrier was here, 

I wasn't too worried 

hes been tied by lots of strange horses before and is fine)

 And then I put Jessie, George and Razz in the north pasture.

 And Dee in with Trio. And Pally in with Easy.

(his arched neck protecting Pally haha)

(she looks at me like really in with him?)

(Trio shes so sweet unruffled by all the craziness, 

and Easy being silly in the background)

(Dee in one of her rare fast moving phases)

They got along perfect, he herds her a bit and she just moves away and ignores him.  But boy did he not like Dee in the next pen, he would run at the fence at her and she would run away flag her tail and when he'd leave shes paw the gate so back he'd come.  Easy sure got his exercise!  This morning seems a lot more settled down.  Easy and Pally eating out of the same pile and ignoring the others, whew.  Never had this much hassle when introducing a horse to the herd.

Spent Sunday and Monday trail riding with friends on Jessie. Shes such a good horse just pull her out of the pasture load her and pick up a friend and go ride.  Then the back trailer tie is right beside the latch and we went in for coffee after a ride and the other horse must have got her halter caught on the latch and pulled back and it broke.  So we can't haul home with no door latch so we left the horses there.  Jess and Twister shared a pen and it was like they were always together, whew good thing it wasn't Easy.  Went Monday to Airdrie to get a part which they had in stock luckily and put it on and since we were there we went riding again.  Perfect 2 days in a row :)

(and a pretty sunset last night)

I'm trying to decide which shows I will go to.  Not going this weekend but maybe the central show on the 23/24. And probly central shows May 7/8 and the 14th.   Hopefully can do June 11th and July 2/3 too.   For sure the ACHA shows April 30-May 1st and June 18-19th.  June is a hard month for me cause of brandings.  I also found a Pony show in Red Deer on July 15-17th.  No shows then so maybe I will take Pally to that, not sure what we will go in yet but be fun and get to see more ponies too.

Ponies :)

Well been a long boring week here.  Haven't seen my Easy since a week ago Friday :(  Been too sick and tired to actually leave the house except for the bull sale Monday, 2 1/2 hours sitting at the hall was more than enough.

Until today my neighbor wanted to try a saddle to see how it rides and she borrowed Jess and rode around and meanwhile I brushed Dee with the intent of getting on a riding a few minutes to get a video.  Not a chance was way too tired from everything else.  Put them away and just came inside and rested :(  Boo but at least I know I was right to not go riding this week.  I got a doctors appointment on Tuesday but I think I'm getting over it not sure if I'll cancel or not have to see how this weekend goes.

I'd like to go riding Monday but it might be too much of an effort.  Oh well at least I got to see the horses today.  Thought about keeping them in but I don't wanna do chores everyday yet, but at the end of the month Easy comes home (yay) and will have to start then anyways so maybe in another week or so Ill have more energy.

Nice to have a good check on everyone out there they are all fat, except Dee who never gets fat.  The pony is a bit lazy she just trots in when everyone else lopes haha but I saw her do a pretty nice rollback to get out of Dee's way today.  I think if shes not so fat she will be a little more athletic too.

Turned Out!

Went and rode Easy yesterday again, he was soo good.  He was outside again so got him and got all ready, weather was so warm and sun was super bright just a good day to ride.  We warm up in the indoor and we were trotting around and then he spooked!  At the snow sliding off the metal roof.  All he did was lift his head up to the sky and went a little faster, whew no sideways so stupidness just faster, then calmed down and back to work we went.  All the horses were feeling a bit fresh cause of the warm weather.  Even after we worked cows and he was tired he still jumped at the snow even though we weren't in the arena anymore.

(the video of us cooling out from last time that wouldn't play)

(and him and the stall horse grooming each other, sounds painful)

He has only 2 cows in, one to work and one to sit in the middle and it was really good, I was amazed. I still gotta work on going right up to the fence and not leaning when I wanna turn but its coming.  He figured that was good we should stop but decided one more cow wont hurt, so we switched out and the next cow was a little different, she ad her head down then would just turn and run, we had to really pay attention to her, but it was good and we got lots of good turns on her and ended super happy!  Yay!!!  Then groceries on the way home, seems expensive but I shouldn't have to go for another month, well besides fruit and veggies and maybe milk.

And today the ponies in the corral are out of hay so I turned them out, gonna bring them in maybe beginning of March when it gets warmer out and for now just focus on Easy.  I plan on going every Monday, Wednesday and Friday there and the winter series shows so that should keep me busy. They were happy to be out and just to make sure no one was getting picked on I watched for a while, I was a little worried about Pally but Dee was super good and protected her.  They all met and a few squeals but lots of room out there and they were all looking for grass when I left so should be OK now.

(Dee just calm)

(Pally running towards me...and the gate)

(I love this!)

(wow 7 horses)

(so hard to see Trio but shes hiding behind George and Razz)

(Jess showing off with all her feet off the ground)

(Play time!)

(YeeHaw!)

(Trio, Bailey and Jess comin back)

(Jess favorite pastime)

(Trio and Bailey, love the mane!)

(Razz showing off her bendy moves)

(Trio Jess and Bailey coming back towards me)

(Razz posing)

(Dee protecting Pally from George)

(And Pally giving her thoughts)

(and off they go again)

I got way too many pics cause I was watching but its so fun!  So weird having 7 horses out there, been a long time since I had that many, just seems like work!  Good thing Easy doesnt know all my other horses are on rest, but he will be out there next winter I think

Dilemmas Dilemmas....And Ranch Pics

Well I have a dilemma now, I was planning on using Easy for the horsemanship challenge but I need 30 rides and 40 hours and I was calculating if I go twice a week every week plus 5 shows.  That's only 29 rides and most will be around an hour, our lessons are only about 10-15 minutes but there's warm up and cool down time so close to. But 29 rides and 29 hours wont make me finish the goal, and if the weather is bad that means even less  times I go over there.  Especially if I wanna ride other horses at home as well.  Unless I turn out my home ponies and just go for him all winter.

Or I use the pony and see if I can get enough hours in between times I go ride and show Easy.  Hmm this was a lot easier when I was planning on having him home cause he needs rode 5-6 times a week.  So many choices to make, ach!

But off topic we had family here and they wanted to go take pics of the ponies and bulls and frost, so even though it was super cold out we went.  

(Dee and Jess watching us)

(Pally after a poop haha)

(me and Pally)

(Carlos and Dee, she liked him and he wanted pictures with his palomino)

(he walked away and she followed him)

(Carlos checking out the pony, Dee still watching him)

(she pushed her way into him again)

(and he liked her :) )

(then to look at the bulls)

(with a magpie on his back)

(disturbing his eating)

(these guys were hanging out in the shed)

(oh 38 with a hay face)

(and of course Ziggy the cat came to visit)

(he needed to pose by the tractor)

(and another cool pic of our house)

Turned out good. I'm glad we went even though I thought we would freeze to death.