Kali and Dee

A week ago Saturday I had planned with a girl from Facebook that we would meet and she wanted to try out Kali.  She wanted to trade her ranch type horse that never liked being in an arena, so I figured it would be a good trade if we all got along.

We met in Forestburg at the little arena there and it was all easy to find, they have just converted a hockey arena into a riding arena a year or 2 ago so its still a work in progress but it worked for what we did.

We got there about 1 and got Kals saddled and I rode around on her she kinda jumped a bit whenI first got on her but I had pinched her skin in the cinch so I don't blame her but after that she was really good and just did whatever I asked her to do.  So the girl who is kinda beginner got on her.  She wanted to use her own saddle and that was fine and she was good for about 15 minutes then Kali wouldn't turn. It was kinda frustrating, I was puzzled so she got off and I got on and she was pretty hesitant for me, I wasn't bluffed by her and kicked her pretty hard and she tried to rear up (in slow motion of course, lol) and then I knew something was off.  I saddled Jess and ponied her around and she had her ears back the whole time and so then I was suspicious it was the saddle.  And sure enough it was pinching her pretty bad.  So I put my saddle back on and got on and she just relaxed and was back to normal, whew!

I showed her where it was pinching and how my saddle didn't pinch, then we saddled her horse and her saddle fit her horse and I showed her that.  She was surprised what a difference it makes.  I wasnt surprised, there is much more to know and if it fit it wasn't a big deal at the time.  Her mare was pretty nice, faster than Kali which I prefer better anyways.  So we made the deal and I headed home with Dee.  I put her and Jessie in the corral for the night since they traveled together fine.  I fed them and they are good.  Jess was a little upset with me for not letting her back on grass.  But Dee just settled in fine like it was where she came from, didn't even make a fuss over the horses in the pasture, just looked around corral and stick her head in the bale feeder (that was almost empty)

I came out in the morning and Dee is the boss, haha poor Jess.  Sunday we headed to Olds for Mothers Day then Monday caught up on everything and Tuesday moved cows and put Bailey in the corral and she's boss of everyone in there, and so poor Jess is still at the bottom, she doesn't like it much but its good for her.  Wed I hurt my back so I haven't had a chance to ride her at home yet, I'm sure she will be fine but I want someone here just in case.

Should be a good deal, shes registered appendix and pretty cute, super friendly, easy to catch and didn't get upset when I took the horses away and she was by herself so that's always a good sign.  Her previous owner pulled her ears and she just stood there didn't try to get away at all and I been doing a bit with her here and so far her temperament is nice.  She is already vaccinated and wormed and had her teeth done this year so that's nice as well.  I got her winter blankets and they need some repairs so they just got added to my pile of ones needing repairs.

Not sure I'm super keen on the name Dee it doesn't really seem to fit her well, shes more like a Dolly but I don't like that either, lol.  I better decide soon or it will be stuck with Dee.

Kali for Sale

Well I did it.  Finally listed Kali for sale.  So far just on Facebook this morning.  And have had a couple people show interest.   If no sale before I come back from Texas I will list her on Northern Horse.  But I have great hopes.  Here is the link to her ad, let me know if I should change anything...specially 4R Ranch as you show lots of sale ads, lol.

Dual Rita aka "Kali" is a super sweet 6 year old mare. She is just a nice horse to be around. She is quiet, gentle, easy to catch, load, trim, pretty much everything. Lots of groundwork done on her, she lunges, ponies just willing whatever you want. Has been ridden since a 3 year old and has some cutting and some reining training. She prefers an arena but has been ridden outside even under the full moon and on poker rallies. She knows her leads, stops, started spins. She would be suitable for a intermediate rider or a beginner with lessons. She is wonderful in the arena with other horses, the more the better. Even rode her with a cart in there the other day and she didn't care. He biggest vice is she loves her buddies and will always head to them if not directed away. She has no buck or rear, she pretty much doesn't know how to be bad, worst she does is stop and not move. Doesn't like water but is getting better. And then her papers, super super breeding being a daughter of Dual Pep and out of a Smart Chicolina mare. I am located in Finnegan, Alberta, and have been riding her regularly all winter. Can haul her to Brooks for try outs in the arena there. Asking $5000 for her.

I'm hoping good things, I need less horses, next comes Bailey and then the broodmares, or maybe the other way around.  Will be nice to get less around here :)

I Finished!!!

I finished my Horsemanship Challenge from the group I was in on Facebook.  Just barely.  It ends on Saturday and I finished Monday with 34 rides and 40 hours.  I am actually kinda disappointed in that it took me so long.  Makes me sad how little I did get to ride all winter.  Normally I try to ride 5-6 days a week but this year with hauling and I don't like to haul when its more than -20 and it was way too many days this year.  So not near enough riding occurred.  I think I need to really push to try to get an arena, although my friend S thinks that I should just go to Brooks cause its such a nice arena there and heated and huge.  But I have thought of that too, even though its cheap to ride there it still costs gas and wear and tear on the vehicle and takes forever, being an hour drive each way.  Wasn't too bad when I have company but just exhausting everyday by myself.  If I do keep using it I will definitely need a barn.  It is pretty miserable to come home and be tired and then have to stand outside and change blankets and feed horses when it was so cold.  If I could do it in a barn wouldn't mind it at all.  Lots to think about to prepare for next winter.  I thought of just turning them out and not riding all winter, but I don't know what I would do, would probly go insane with boredom.  So don't think that's gonna happen.

 (So excited that Jessie's tail is this long, last summer is was shorter than her hocks :) )

I had no intention of finishing my challenge yesterday, I had about an hour and a half left and thought I would just ride and then go back today and finish it up...or ride outside.  I brought both Kali and Jessie and we headed off a little later than planned but its light late now so not as big a deal.  I got on Jess and she was kinda being a dork but oh well just ride her though it and we worked at the trot for a long time and then I asked for a stop and she just kinda walked and then stopped.  Well that is never acceptable so we did it again and same thing so we did it again and I pulled on her and backed her up hard and then we did it again and she stopped!  So I thought that was the end of it, but no we loped and she just randomly stops, so we lope again and she just cuts the corner and totally ignored my leg to put her back.  Well that was it so I made her work lots of lope and lots of trot work and mostly lots of sideways work.  She was just in that mood that she didn't want to listen, it took a little over an hour and she was soaked and tired and listening right away again :)  I had previously thought maybe she was sore, but no heat or soreness anywhere I could find she just was being bad I think (and I hate complaining about her being bad cause she doesn't even really know what bad is)  

(I see this sign everyday on the way home, this is where I live :) )

Then it was Kali's turn.  As I was changing saddles (and cinches, lol) the cart lady came.  I don't mind her there, neither horse is afraid of her cart and it is a big enough arena we have lots of room and a little difference is good for them, and besides Kali is better when there are more people in the arena...and I mean more, we rode with 10 others in there one day and she loved it, goofy horse.  Anyways she was all upset cause I tied Jessie where she couldn't see her.  She is a little buddy sour although she cant be bad either, lol she just tried heading that way if I give her a chance.  But every time we headed back to the gate she decided to go faster, so we spent a lot of time trotting and I made her go fast away from the gate too, she has a nice fast smooth trot its so easy to ride so glad I got that in her she used to hardly move when trotting, kinda like she usually is loping.  And since she was so energetic I got her to lope lots too, used her enthusiasm for the gate as a starting point to lope and she loped the nicest I have rode since I got her, I was amazed....but now I know she can do it, lol.  Was a good ride, I think I might put her in a different bit, not that I can't control her in a snaffle but I think shes ready for more, we will see if I can find something before tomorrow.  I think the cart lady thought she was all excited cause of her at first but I said she was more worried about her buddy and it was obvious she wasn't even looking at the cart, not even enough to distract her a little.

 Then since both girls were so sweaty I grabbed my clippers and clipped Jessie's front legs, she has so much hair and when it gets muddy its just gross and I worry about scratches although none of my horses have ever had them I don't want them and it looks so pretty now :)  Next time will be back legs, woulda done em at the same time but the guy was coming in to drag out the benches from the sale and it was right behind them so I don't mind waiting for another day. 

 But that added up to finishing the challenge :)  I would like a summer challenge, maybe a bareback challenge or something different, since I am getting bored, been almost a year I been riding by myself and I need to add some interest to keep me motivated.  I do like cutting and lessons but its the in between rides that I need to do to keep Jess in shape that get pretty old.  Maybe I need more people to ride with so there is always someone but no one close to me wants to so I guess I will have to entertain myself again for a while.

Spring has Sprung :)

Hmm lets see, whats been going on here?  Well the weather has finally made a change for the better, we had our community dance last Saturday night and had a really good turn out, and everyone was so cheerful, and the day after I went to a bridal shower, and same thing, so cheerful.  I think everyone was tired of the cold weather and the huge amounts of snow we had this winter.  So glad it finally ended and now the melt is on.  Its been quite warm and our snow is shrinking lots, been riding outside lots and yesterday was a workout for Jess, poor girl, had one of the physically hardest (and mental tough) rides for a long time and all we did was walk.  The snow is about 2 feet deep and its wet with puddles underneath so we sink through every step.  I forget she is not like my other ranch horses that can see the grass sticking through and will take that spot she will not she just goes where she wants to go and sometimes it is through the deep stuff.  I had to help her find a way out a couple times and once she just stopped to rest.  I did feel kinda bad for her but today she is getting the day off and then we are gonna haul a couple times this week to the arena and then I'm hoping its dry enough to ride outside and not be as difficult.

(riding through the cows, they are getting used to me being out there now)

On Wednesday I went out and had a good ride as well, I rode Jess and ponyed Kali, I don't know why id did, Kali has those puppy dog eyes that just make me want to do what she ask, and she asked to go along.  So I took her.  But the snow was still packed then and we rode out to the cows and had a good ride and they both were rather excited so I thought I would trot and use up some energy, nothing new have done that with them lots, but Jess was going fast and I could see Kali loping to keep up, never loped while ponying and then Jess started loping, I almost put a stop to it but she was doing her normal slow arena lope and so I just sat back and enjoyed it, I was even laughing, its so much fun when you finally get to do something that has always been scary and it turns out good :)  Thought I had a video from my phone on that day but I cant seem to get it here only old videos and photos from before Feb 24th show up.

Had a lesson Thursday and brought my friend S with me, shes excited to find a horse and I am excited to have someone to travel with :).  It was just on the flag and it didn't take me near as long to figure out what I was supposed to be doing, I figure that's good as I was a little nervous with someone watching.  We headed out to the tack store cause Kali needed a summer sheet and we found out the clinician that is coming to do their clinic is Paul Hansma at the end of June.  Hmm I am sure it would be a good one, just not sure it would be worth my money to go or just stick with getting more lessons.  Also talked about the Superstakes and so we are looking into travelling down to watch them in April, its kinda late for our winter trip but that's the 5 and 6 year olds, so it should be the best of the best.  Pretty excited...as long as its not too expensive we will go.

Otherwise just started calving around here, up to 2 so far, lots more to go but a good start in good weather.  Oh and we won a 50 inch TV at the dance and since we have one we gave it to Neils Mom and Dad for his Dads birthday.

Warmer Weather Finally

Been hauling down to Brooks to ride and the last few times its been quite busy.  I actually kinda liked it when I was riding by myself but Kali is way better when there are more riders in the arena, on Friday there was 6 in there each doing our own thing and she was totally relaxed and ready to go.  She is like a much more energetic horse since I got her teeth done, guess they needed it.  I got her trot real nice and freed up and now I am working on her lope, its a lot of work though cause she is so lazy and any touch on the reins she tries to stop.  But its been getting better, we can now make 2 laps around the arena with no trouble and I don't even have to ask hard anymore, but she still feels all sticky but I can see progress.

 (shes so cute :)

(except when her big ears are in funny places)

(And Jess, still got a big belly but I'm trying to get rid of it)

It was quite a bit warmer today than it was for a long time and I rode Kali first and was off in my own little world while trotting and she tried to stop about 4 times on a round and I was kinda annoyed at her until I looked at the clock, oops it was almost 10 minutes, haha no wonder she wanted to stop.  Probly the longest we have trotted at once all winter, she was breathing hard this time...hard to make her do.  So I let her catch her breath and we loped some both directions and called it quits.

(at home, gotta open the cooler so they can eat)

Jessie is starting to shed something terrible so took a while brushing her and then had a real nice ride, I love riding her when others are around cause she is so broke I can just do anything with her, today we worked on speeding up on the long sides and slower on the ends of the arena, at a lope.  Then we worked on trotting and moving her body sideways across the arena without going faster, she is getting so much better at that without going faster.  Then while cooling out I dropped the reins and stirrups and steered her around with my legs, was cool, been working on it for a while, but today we did the barrel pattern at a walk, that was a little harder since it gave us a specific point to turn at not just a generic turn.  Wanted a empty arena so I could video again to see the change from a month ago but so hard when so many people around.  I am at 19 rides and 17.5 hours on the horsemanship challenge, really got behind with that cold weather but still have 4 weeks left, I think I will finish.

Time Off

So after the show it really bothered me I had so much trouble cutting a cow from the herd.  I usually have so little trouble with that I never think to work on it.  It took me all the way till Thursday to figure it out.  At practice all the cows are in the center of the arena and we work them outside. In straight lines back and forth like a show but on any side.  And I think that's where my trouble lays.  I have trouble push to the side and they separate...but at a show its always to the front.  Got to work on that in practice.

Have taken a couple weeks off since then cause the weather was pretty miserable.  Since I have to haul to ride unless I ride out which its too cold and icy now for that, and I wont haul if below -20*C.  And hasn't been above that.  Brrr.  And then my Grampa passed away and while still sad was not completly unexpected and he will be happier now he is with my Gramma.

On Monday the ponies got their teeth done and so Tuesday was a day of in case of sore mouths and Tuesday back riding. Rode Jess first and she was full of beans what a character she is lol.  Had a good ride even though a odd lady was there doing I dunno what with her horse.  But we worked around her and had a good time.  Sure felt good to be back in the saddle again.

I also brought Kali and had her ready to go but as I put her bridle on she was acting weird and sure enough her mouth was still sore so she just come along for the ride I guess.  Then today was a day of shopping and back at it tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday...and hope a lesson Monday :)

Cows and Riding

Tuesday I had a lesson and it was on cows.  I was gonna make her do what I wanted when I wanted.  And I got there and a whole bunch of people were there some I knew and some I just met.  We visited for a while and then Doug told me to lope my horse for 15 minutes and don't stop.  I said I doubt I can lope that long and he said just do it.  So we did, she was sweaty all over before the cows come in.  Then brought a few cows in, one guy worked before me it was good, let Jess think before it was our turn.  Then we went.  I was told to  pick up on her every time we stopped and it was soo much better, I was confused when the cows just walked and he said its fine to check them then too so now I am less confused and mostly know when to ask her to stop and so just do it, if I am wrong well that's fine, there is hardly any chance I am gonna pick up on her too often.  I guess I am going in the show on Saturday and so going back Friday to work cows again.

Yesterday we headed down to Brooks and planned an easy ride on Jessie cause she worked hard on Tuesday and it was a shorter ride but even though I was thinking just walk trot she wanted to lope and seemed like she had lots of energy so we loped a little.  She must be getting in better shape if shes so eager to lope all the time, before she did it when I asked but she was kinda slow and lazy about it.  I was a little concerned the inside of her hocks seemed warm but the don't seem to bother her so I guess I will just keep an eye on them for a bit and make sure its not anything serious.

 (I love this arena :) )

Kali was next and I was darn determined we were gonna lope, well at first she tried to hump up on me!  I don't think she really knew what she was doing cause she just kept trotting all balled up, so I pulled her around in a circle to get her loose again and asked again it was better, we got a few steps and then she slowed down, I trotted longer and asked again, we got half a lap, well not great but better.

And today we also headed down to Brooks, was a girl with three horses there when I got there and before I left about 5 more people showed up!  I have never seen that many people there at once for free riding.  I rode Kali first since my saddle was set for her and we got 2.....2 whole laps of lope together without her trying to slow down!!!!  I was shocked at that, I think it helps when someone else is there she is more happy to be out there but still I can usually get half a lap and she tries to quit!  I was pretty happy with her so only about 25 minutes on her this time but a good 25 minutes :D

And then Jess and she was good as always we trotted and loped and then some lady set up the barrels so we just pretty much got in her way when she was trying to use them :)  I don't use any equipment and its kinda a pain when others try to do stuff like that and have no concern for what everyone else is doing.  I was just cooling down and they were using them so it wasn't too big a deal this time.  I also saw my neighbor there and her couple horses riding.  First time I seen her down there that was kinda cool.  Got home kinda early today and its getting warmer but sure taking its time.

Lessons and Outside

Thursday we headed back for another lesson, meant to go Wednesday but I forgot to phone.  I need a reminder cause I like to phone after supper but then stuff happens and next thing I know its too late to call.  But Thursday was on.  I got there and it was just gonna be flag which is good for me and he had me do some different stuff like move her away from and towards the flag while staying level with it and not using my reins.  That was pretty easy for me since we had been working on that when just riding, one thing that's hard for all horses, one leg means move away from it without going faster, two legs means faster.  Hardest for Razz, but even Jess wants to go faster and so we been going around at a trot and I make her move over one way or another on the long sides of the arena, try to keep her head facing straight or a little outside and lead with her ribs.  Its hard for her cause she just want to go that way on a diagonal but we been getting it.  And I discovered she is way more sensitive on the left side than the right, gotta work to get them even.  I got thinking later it was cause my left knee bothers me a lot and I don't want to kick hard on that side so I make sure they listen to a light touch but I guess I gotta do that on the right as well.

We also worked on stopping straight, I know if I keep my cow leg on her when we stop she will think of turning in but won't cause my leg is there, its just hard for me cause when I think stop I think take legs off, but Doug said its quite common for them to like that close feeling so they know what always going on and as soon as I move that leg she goes into the turn.  Gonna have to keep practicing that till it becomes habit.

Was a good lesson, made me feel like something got accomplished.  And got a plan to work cows twice before the show on the 25th that I am hopefully going to.

Friday was a beautiful day so we rode outside again, this time I made Jess open the gate to the hay corral and we rode out towards the cows.  I find she is way better opening the gate if its on her left side but I am so awkward going that way so we practiced the other way that's easier for me.

There is still quite a bit of snow out there and so we stayed on the trail but even though that seems packed down by the tractor it really isn't for a horse.  She would walk and every four or five steps fall through.  She didn't really like it and I don't blame her so I tried to pick where it was shallowest and looked hardest.  We made it most of the way to the cows, there was one more deep spot and so we just turned around before it.  Then stopped to talk to Neil for a bit and he was welding and he said he was gonna scare my pony with his alien head and put his mask on and walked up to her and she just looked at him like "wheres the cookies"  lol.  Then we tried to walk down the road and we got to the bare spot where the grader had plowed to the ground and she was looking at it like what is that???  haha guess its been snowy so long she doesn't remember what the ground looked like.  But after much sniffing she decided it was OK to walk on, lol.  It got a little slippery after that so we headed back.  Was a nice ride out though probly the best one of the winter.

(love my tall horse, lol)

Saturday and Sunday both were hauled down to Brooks and had nice rides on them, sure makes a difference for Kali the consecutive days with her, she just gets better, I rode her like a beginner and she was so funny, I even tried leaning far to to side and she just stops and turns and looks at me, probly wondering what the crazy humans are doing now.  I didn't steer her and she just eventually wandered to the gate and stood there, it was funny.  I am enjoying her and I kinda wish I had an arena and I would keep her and maybe put her over a few jumps I think she might like that. Yesterday Shirley asked if shed be good for penning or sorting and I doubt it, shes too small for one ting compared to all horses I have ever seen and shes kinda afraid of cows, specially if they are coming at her.  And she likes slow.

Also been counting on these as my horsemanship challenge, so far am up to 8 rides and 5 hours 45 minutes with Jessie.  And even though not doing the challenge with Kali I have 5 rides and only 1 hour 45 minutes.  Wow guess those 20 minute rides don't count up very fast should ride her longer I guess...good thing I got Jess as  my challenge horse gonna get 30 rides and 40 hours in by end of March for sure on her and hopefully on Kals too.

More Ponies and Riding

OK got a few days to catch up on again, don't know why I been so behind I swear its only been a couple days since I posted last.  Well I did ride outside and it was kinda nice out.  We rode to the hay corral but the gate was closed the way we always go in the summer cause there are cows out there and we don't want them in the the yard but Jessie really wanted to go that way so we did. til the gate.  She just stood there staring at it like it would open for her, lol.  Well it didn't and so we went back and walked down the road a ways.  then on the way back Neil came out of the house and so I made him take my picture.  I laugh when I see this cause I leave my stirrups on the setting where I cut so I look silly but its so much easier than changing them all the time.

Then Saturday was show day that I didn't go to and it sounds like a good thing, the power was out till 1 and so they were super late getting started and finishing.  I headed to Calgary and went to a friends housewarming, nice new house she got kinda on the edge of town.

Sunday was also a day off unplanned cause I was gonna haul down to the barrel race in brooks and run Jess in the time onlys but since I got home at 2 and they started at 10 I was too lazy so stayed home and caught up on some housework.  Sure got behind when I was so sick there and it takes forever to catch up, doesn't help our dishwasher broke and am washing everything by hand till our new one comes at the end of the month.

Back on schedule  Monday hauled down to Brooks again and had a good ride on both girls, tried to get some video of them but when riding Jess some other girl was there and so that didn't work but did get a little of Kali, pretty boring but boring is good :)  I want to do it again and get her cantering.  Its a pain cause I gotta get off every time I wanna restart the video and so after twice with her I just quit for the day.  Next time maybe just do some cantering a video that and not the rest.  I had some lady interested in her but she made a feeble excuse why she wouldn't work.  I wish they would just say no rather than a lame excuse.  Guess I am gonna have to actually list her for sale this year rather than just hoping the right person will come along.

After the ride I turned them both into the arena and let them loose, guess no one has done that before with them cause they just stood there and looked at me.  Then the wandered and Jess rolled one side and then smelled the dirt all around and after about 10 minutes they both looked at each other and took off running as hard as they could to the other end of the arena and bucking and rearing, lol was funny but good for them.  I feel bad they never get out of their blankets except to ride and nowhere to run around too much deep snow and ice in their pen at home.

Day 2 and 3

So I phoned for a lesson and even though no one answered I left a message saying I was coming.  I like that system we just assume its OK unless we hear otherwise, there is always someone there and so unless its something big its not a problem going.  Well it was already warmer and then it started snowing, well it was just nice big giant flakes and no wind so why not I might as well still go.  So I got Jess and we loaded up and off we went.  It was a little hard to see where the sides of the road were on our driveway but after the first half mile was good going.  The pavement had a little snow on but not slippery so that was good to, by the time I got to Doug's it was actually sunny out, I don't think they got any new snow so that was nice and it was even warmer there (it usually is warmer the other side of Drum from us all winter and cooler in the summer)

I was kinda early but went in and he was working a couple young horses, one just came the night before and was just learning what a saddle is, the other had been going a bit longer.  He said he had one more to work and then we would do cows in the afternoon!  Oh perfect day to choose I love working cows :)  His other horse was pretty cool, he rode her mother and liked her so kinda neat to see the next generation.  I didn't know the mare but they all seemed to like her.

Yay cows!  I knew since it had been a while since I worked cows Jess was gonna be a little fresh but holy fresh was an understatement!!!  I thought we were well warmed up but as soon as the cows come in she was awake.  I could hardly hold her back she was so raring to go....maybe I shoulda rode her in the last 10 days!  I made her get off the cows and listen to me and we went back and she was still a little goofy but by the end we got a few good turns.  I need to learn how to stop her square every time, even if it means losing the cow, we have to stop before turning.  Its hard for me to think this I guess my brain isn't fast enough cause I can feel when shes doing it wrong but my reaction isn't fast enough then we are already on the next stop.  I need some slow cows and more I guess.

(she was tired and sweaty when we were done, it was hard work!)

Then Wednesday I went to the dentist and walked on the walking track for an hour or so at the new community center and had coffee with friends.  I need a day off now and then just to remember how much I do like to ride.  Feels like a job sometimes.

(don't know how the animated snow, but George was sleepin, 

 wouldn't even look at me the other day)

Thursday I hauled down to Brooks and it looked like Jessie had a kinda snotty nose, I thought I would take it easy but she had other plans, she was super energetic so we worked for about 45 minutes.  I had great plans of setting up my tripod and videoing us but there was another girl there and before i left 2 more people had come so not this time.  She was a little wet so I put her cooler on and rode Kali.  Its been a few days since I rode her and I could tell, she was all wiggly again and dint want to go to the far end, well not a big deal its a big arena and I can work in half, so we did lots of trotting and she wanted to go to far end so we walked down there and back, amazing how a little work where she wants to be isn't always so much fun :)  She is such a good pony its just more fun to get her to want to do it rather than make her do it, she is a lot happier if she gets to use her brain.  One day down there I may set up a jump or two for her I think she would like it.  Was only about 20 minutes on her but it seemed like longer and I was tired so that was it.

Headed home and my neighbor was over, I put the ponies away and then had a visit with her, that was nice end to the day.  Today gonna try and ride at home if it warms up a little more.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Reminds me of that song, I would sing it for you but if I am like Neil says you wouldn't recognize it anyways so no singing for you today (lucked out on that one I thinks)

Anyways now that I am back from what I thought was gonna be warm weather but wasn't in Texas I can get back on my real life.  I spent Wednesday catching up on what I missed while gone, reading mail, doing laundry, unpacking all that fun coming home stuff..  But by Thursday I could take it no longer and hooked up my trailer and loaded up the ponies and away riding we went :)  I took both Kali and Jessie again, they are gonna be my winter riding ponies I think.  And on the way there I got a notification from my truck that I had a low tire, so I stop and sure enough i can hear air leaking out but not real bad so I drive to the tire place and the fixed it for me.  So much easier that way that me having to change it then bring it in.  I dunno how we survived without all these gadgets on our vehicles (and phones!)  But if it hadn't been notifying me I woulda waited till after I rode then it woulda been real flat and I would have to change it before driving.

First up was Jessie, shes so awesome as always :)  and yet kinda goofy at the same time.  The arena was freshly worked and some spots got a little more water than others and were a little weird feeling, not slippery but just deeper and she tried to pussyfoot through them, made me laugh at her but I just kept making her go through them till she acted like they were not there.  Had a really good ride, only about 35 minutes cause she is pretty out of shape but gotta start somewhere.

then Kals, what a goober, when you pony her she is super speedy and raring to go but I lunged her and could hardly even get a trot out of her and then when I got on lazy lazy lazy.  I wish I knew how to motivate her to actually move out when I ask, never had a horse like that before, sure hate kicking them every step too.  She will move but only as mush as she has too, it kinda makes for a long ride even when it was only about 20 minutes.

Then yesterday I went for a lesson, i was kinda nervous had lots of questions but it was good, only on the flag cause he was in the middle of setting up an alleyway so he could work cows in his arena and hadn't finished it yet but that was good enough for me.  I like the flag cause for some reason I am better on it, it is kinda predictable but still helps me to learn.  he was riding a 2 year old and was talking through what he was doing while working and that actually really helped, made me think I am at the same stage as she was, lol.  Oh well gotta start somewhere.  Had coffee afterwards and lots of talk, I always leave there feeling like I learned something...and not always about cutting I really like going there.

 (some ponies were wishing they were in getting grain and hay)

 (some ponies are all blanketed and happy to be in )

(even the bull wanted in)

He was asking if I was thinking of going in the winter series and I had earlier  this year cause a neighbor was gonna to so that woulda been fun but she works all the dates they are so she isn't and I am not sure if I will either.  I hadn't planned on it but Doug goes to them all and it might be good practice if the roads are not bad, it starts in Jan so I have a little bit of time to get my horse back in shape, sure would like to do something this winter, as much as I love the arena I am riding in it is lonely.  I should find something I can do with Kali, I just don't know what she will like to do besides be lazy.  Ugg makes me want to sell her for sure now perfect for someone who likes slow and lazy cause she fits, lol as long as she has a friend shes happy.

Silver Sage

I been thinking I might just keep my ponies at home this year and haul down to Silver Sage Arena in Brooks to ride.  I love love love the arena there but it is an hour from home and so i thought I would take a test trip down there and see if it was something I wanted to do.  It was not really a real test since the ponies are out in the pasture still and they will be kept in and blanketed if I am riding, but close enough.  I took a few pics with my phone so not great quality but just to show what it was like.

So last Saturday was the day, I called and there was open riding all day and so perfect!  after lunch I hooked up the trailer and got Jessie and Kali out and before I could get the gate closed Razz got in, ugg.  I did not really wanna take her but I had to catch her now to get her back out....I almost debated on it but it was getting late and riding one more horse would just make it later so out she went, she actually looked sad I put her back...guess its time to start riding her again, lol.

I loaded up and away I went, I brought layers for me and coolers for ponies cause I didn't know what it would be like (hence test trip)  and it was fairly decent here (about -2) but warm in Brooks!  I think +5 and they have no snow!  water was running off my truck and trailer, I wanted to stay and get it all melted, lol.  But I went to look inside and there was no one there on a Saturday afternoon, was really odd.  Looks like there was a meeting upstairs but they were just leaving and so was there all by myself, weird being in such a big public place by myself.  So I turned on the lights and went and saddled the ponies and brought them in.  Am gonna try riding Kali in my ranch saddle so I don't have to switch cinches between rides (not the same at all, Jess wears a 36 and Kali a 30 but could use 28, lol)  It seems to fit her well and so that made me happy.

I had to tie Kali in the arena area cause she is such a spaz about being left alone that is would have been horrible with her calling and pawing all the time I rode Jessie.  I planned to ride Jess first cause I knew she would sweat and figured she could cool/dry off while I rode Kals.  So many spooky things in that arena, lol.  Probly wouldn't have been if we were not by ourselves, but there is bleachers and an upstairs, don't know if ponies ever seen someone come down stairs like that before, and there were balloons in there and one guy walked into them so bouncing all over, they sure gave a funny look to that, lol. Jess was really good, we did pretty much everything and all was good and she had a good workout then I kinda wimped out and thought maybe pony Kali before riding her, and she was good of course and we even trotted and she is way faster than Jessie.  I never did ride her, if there were others there I woulda but I know how she is and its been a while since i rode it woulda just ended up a fight and I didn't wanna do that and then not ride for a couple weeks, so she got an easy day.

I untacked them and put a cooler on Jess and went back inside to pay and go the bathroom.  wow is it ever hot in the bathroom, it was warm enough in the arena I rode in a t-shirt but way more in the bathrooms.  Then headed home and it was almost dark when I got there and starting to get cold, but the ponies were dry so I fed them some oats and turned them out.  Sure would be nicer if they were in, but soon they will be :)  All in all about 3 1/2 hours, so I figure if I leave at 10 should be home and organized by 2 that is more likely to happen but it wasn't too bad, but will probly only go a couple times a week and then maybe a lesson once a week if the weather is nice.  Less riding but I think it will work for now.

Summer Roundup

I have been a bad blogger this summer, so much going on and I tried to post lots but seemed as though it never happened as much as I wanted.  So here is a quick roundup of all I did this summer.

(We had the junk haulers here and they hauled away our old combine 

and a whole bunch of other steel stuff we had just cluttering 

up our bull pasture.)

(I had a bunch of flowers grown, lilies are my favorites)

(I did lots of riding, mostly on Jessie and Bailey but a few rides on Kali as well, cause

  I really wanted to sell some horses (another post altogether) 

Rode a few times at night even under the harvest moon)

(Did a bunch of touring around, both with family and Neil and by myself, the little church in Drum and the vine covered dino and the new one on the scooter, this guy made me laugh he looked at him from all directions)

(Jessie was at the trainer for a while and then we went to a show and it was much better, I did not feel defeated at the end of the show at least.)

All In All it was a pretty cool summer and even though everything I wanted to get done did not get done, I am happy with all I did.  But am so not ready for winter to come, I am already cold and don't wanna be this way for another 6 months.  This week I am up at the Supreme in Red Deer most of the week, got some pics from Monday and Tuesday but will save them for a whole post.  Pretty excited to meet up with Shirley and Sherry there too.