Doctoring

Well I went Wednesday and had another look at Jessie and her cinch sore and underneath her belly there are more spots where the hair has been rubbed off, but not so much that it has galled.  And it doesn't seem sore.  Wonder if I got something on the cinch that is causing this. 

Well I didn't ride, but I thought the other day her feet smelled kinda like thrush so I also brought over the coppertox and dosed her front feet.  I can't actually see where there is any rottenness but since it is kinda wet out I figure it can't hurt anyways.  I really like having my horses on pasture this time of year cause there is usually very little mud and their feet don't get packed full, but she is in I guess a big corral with maybe a little grass at the one end but mostly all worked up and turned into dirt.  So I have to clean her feet all the time.   I don't know if she is more susceptible to stuff like this or just bad luck all at once.  I don't remember ever having a cinch gall before except on a horse I got back from training, and only one horse had thrush on me (Razz last summer).  I hope this is the end of it cause I like to just ride, not deal with stuff all the time.

(oops kinda left the floor green)

I'm sure she thought I was crazy when I just caught her and brushed her and cleaned her feet and put stuff on her sore and fed her and turned her out.  I probly would have rode but the arena wasn't worked and it was sooo hard and so then I feel like I can never stop.  We heard from a guy last weekend he says if footing is bad at a show he just goes home cause it takes a seasoned horse about 3-5 shows to stop decently after going to a show with bad footing.  Wow that seems like a waste to go to those shows if you are gonna wreck the ones after it, made me think a lot about ground and stuff.  The footing at the clinic was amazing!  Even after all day 15 of us and 2 turnbackers riding and working cows in the same area the ground was not packed!  Amazing how different ground makes the arena so much nicer.  Where we ride it is pretty well just worked up dirt which is fine as long as it is worked regularly.  And probly fine for everyone else cause they are mostly just riding for fun and some kids lessons.  I feel sometimes like I am so picky about the place I board at, but I keep thinking of the things I would do if it was my place (which I shouldn't cause it works for them)  But sure makes me think of how I want my place to be.  Someday.

Central VS Alberta

So this year there has been lots of talk about which cutting club we are gonna show in.  I was told that the ACHA (Alberta Cutting Horse Association) is who we want to be with if we really want to be competitive.  But we were also told the CACHC (Central Alberta Cutting Horse Club)  is better for beginners, the classes are smaller and the people are friendly. 

This last show was non sanctioned, meaning anyone who paid the entry fee can cut.  I am still learning what this all means, glad we are with a trainer who will help us.  Doug actually said if we want to do anything serious in cutting we should be part of the ACHA, so I was kinda thinking now that I have a decent horse I would like to do that. I was thinking CACHC would be more fun and less stressful.  But this last weekend we learned the big difference between them is the help in a herd.  All the good trainers go to the ACHA so they are there to help at any show which is super helpful.  They just jump in and help everyone without need to ask and I really appreciated it.  I guess in the Central club they have whoever shows up to be turnback riders.  I'm pretty sure I would have had a disaster Sunday if I didn't have turnback helping me like they did.

We thought maybe Doug was biased cause Shauna (his wife) is secretary of the ACHA but now I can see what he means and I think even if he is not at a show there would be lots of help.  The first sanctioned show is April 7/8 at Thorlacksons and he will still be in Texas at the Superstakes.  Not gonna go to that one as Doug will be gone and it is over Easter weekend.  The next one I go to will probly be in Stavely at the Silver Slate Arena on the 20-22 of April.  Seems like such a long time, but I have the clinic next weekend so it won't be too bad.  Hopefully can get lots of lessons in in the meantime.

I am also learning what the letters after she shows mean and LAE means limited age events just not sure what that means, but not applicible to me anyways.    I think (not sure) that WE means weekend events by the NCHA.  It is kinda cool looking on the NCHA site at weekend events, there are so many events held every weekend.  Not very many held in Canada and it looks like only held in Alberta, can't see any in any other province.  So now I am a member of the ACHA and the NCHA, not sure if I need to become a member of the CCHA (canadian cutting horse association)....its so complicated.

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)

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.

Answers and Confusion

A few posts ago I was aked a bunch of questions so I thought I would try to answer some of them.  First off  "Are I plan on keeping Jazz?"  Well sincs she hasnt sold yet, I will keep her around and get her started in the sping (hopefully by March) then ride her some this summer and see how it goes.  I do like her I just wish she had more white on her. Seems wrong to have a paint that isnt painted.

Then later  "Why do I board elsewhere if I own a horse ranch?"  Well we own a ranch but it raises mostly cows so not so much a horse ranch and I dont have anywhere to ride indoors in the winter so I board a horse (or 2 or 3) elsewhere and that is where I ride with Charlene.

Then "What do I look for in a horse and what do I like in a horse?"  This is hard to answer because depending on what the horse is gonna be for or what age they are can be different things, but I will try to answer.  I prefer a horse that likes to go, has lots of energy.  Nothing irritates me more than having to kick a horse all day that is wanting to quit.  I like a smart horse, one that will do what I ask when I ask but also looking out for itself and me too.  A lot to ask I spose but it is there.  Confirmation wise it is hard to answer, I like big round bum and straight legs and good withers but otherwise I like to see how they all blend together and I cant really explain what I look for but I know what I like and what I don't like.  For temperament.  That's hard, I don't like really "clingy" horses, I actually kind of like the standoffish ones, but I like it when they like to be around me too.

Then a few comment, like the horsey card, the best part of it is it is from my sister and inside it says "You will be older than me always!"  Which is true but it used to be something I bragged about now not so much.

And about showing, there is show this weekend, the last one before Christmas but I am not sure we are going cause doesn't sound like we will have any time to practice and Char is super busy at work for the next couple months.  So we will see how it goes this week but may just go work cows on the weekend instead.  I would prefer lessons, just cause then I can practice too.  And the best part about lessons from Doug is they are free for me with a horse in training!  I had no idea when I went for lessons he told us when he gave us our November bills.  I was surprised and now I wanna go every day (but of course I wont or cant).

I don't know why I haven't been posting.  Even yesterday I totally had planned on making it and I had some pics too.  But left it till the last minute and today too is way late.  But at least I been doing something.  I got all my Christmas decorations pulled up from the basement (not all pulled out and put up yet, but still)  And I got myself a job cooking again tomorrow.  I didn't even go riding today.  I should have but wimped out cause it was kinda cold. I am kinda tempted to take all the ponies home for a month or so and just taking a break, but I also wanna take lessons and cant take lessons when I don't ride between them, that is just not fair to the pony and I wont get as much out of them either.  So I dunno what to do again.

Monday January 2, 2011

Well I have made a few decisions.  First off Shirley asked if I am taking Razz in the cutting show.  And yes she is the one I decided to take, but we are not going to compete this weekend cause we haven't had enough practice getting a cow out of the herd.  We are going up on Friday to practice and after the show Saturday we will practice again.  Then in two weeks is another show and we will probly compete then.  Jardi figures the cutting part is good, but we don't have enough cows to practice the herd, and its hard to cut if you can't get a cow out of the herd.

So with that decided, I feel like I can relax again for a few days.  I have also decided Gypsy is not a horse I want to ride, although I rode her today and she was awesome.  I rode in a curb bit ans we did circles and rollbacks and figure eights at a walk and trot and she was amazing, I forget how nice she can be.  If I just wanted a horse to ride, she would be it, especially on the trails cause you can just relax on her and she will just wander along.  So I thought I would list her for sale again and already a friend's friend is interested, so we will see.

I also rode Tom and he has a pretty good bite mark on his back so I didn't ask much, but he was pretty good for Tom.  He acts like a colt with a couple rides on him until you catch him off guard and then he is really nice, so I just been asking without prepping and he's a little better.  I sure would like to try him on the flag, cause apperently Jardi said his dad (Annies Cat) scored a 77 while she was watching, she said it was pretty good, one of the better gos.  I guess the top score possible is 80, so 77 is  pretty decent. 

This is the message I get whe I go to upload pics, I may have to break down and buy the storage I guess.

Loading...Whoops! You're out of space. Purchase more storage.


Photos are stored in your Picasa Web Albums account and are included in your 1 GB free quota for photos. Additional storage you purchase is shared between Gmail, Picasa Web Albums, and Google Docs, and is in addition to your free quota
 
GRRR... blogger.