Wordless Wednesday....Trio :)

Good Bye Chili

Well I did it.  I sold Chili at the auction last week.  I'm not sure it was the right choice or what I should have done but after who knows what she had done with her I was not sure I wanted to spend the money to get her back to where she was when I sent her to the trainer.  I'm sure I don't have the skill so would end up costing me a whole lot if I could even find someone who would try it.

Before I sent her she was coming along, I could catch her by herself or with others, it took a couple minutes but not bad.  I could pick up her feet, back feet were a little iffy, and brushed out her mane and her body all over.  Not a lot but that's why I was sending her to a trainer, I didn't have time in June to train her.  And I've never completely started a horse so it made me nervous, specially with a horse that was kinda nervous already.

I talked to him lots, both over the phone and in emails.  We agreed that she would stay for 30 days I would go see her progress and then decide if that was good enough for me or get him to keep on riding her for the 60 days.  I have had lots of horses that have had 30 days (or less even if that's what it was supposed to be) and had no troubles so that's what I was expecting.  I was planning on using her as a ranch horse and so all I asked was if he would ride her outside a few times before I came so that's not a totally new thing for her.  If she stands to get on, moves off leg pressure and turns, and walk trots canters without trouble that's perfect.  Anything else is just a bonus.  Like Dinero he was so quiet he was working on side-passing and opening gates, started a turnaround all in the 30 days.  But I knew she wasn't gonna be like that I knew how she was and kinda expected a bit of attitude, partly cause she was 4 and she was a little nervous/fast.  She went there June 3rd.  He seemed nice, rode nice and had a nice place to train out of.

After 2 weeks, never heard anything and hate to bother them constantly but I asked how she was going.  He said she was right on track with the 2 year olds, coming along nicely, he said he would get some videos and pics next time his girlfriend come out. That made me happy, I figured she was smart enough to get stuff if presented right and seemed OK so far.

Another 3 weeks went by and still never heard anything so I asked him again how she was doing and if she was ready to come home.  He said she was going well then she got a case of girth itch and reacted badly to it so he gave her a couple weeks off and if I just wanna cover board for july he will get her back where she was before I can take her home.  So fine I sent the board money and all was well and he said he would keep her the extra month and get her going outside and such cause of the extra wait.  Sounded like a good deal to me.  Not that I was all that upset about that, lots of horses get it specially at training places,  Wish he woulda told me about it rather than having to ask though.

Then almost a month later I get a message saying he has put lots of work into my horse and shes not really coming along.  He says she knows quite a bit but was dangerous.  She works great for a certain amount of time and then she is done and will try to kick or shut down when hes on the ground.  when he rides her he says she has a bit of buck.  He thought might be ulcers or equine epilepsy or something.  He says feels bad that shes not where he wants but hes put a lot of time into her and cant afford more of his time on her.  and suggests I come pick her up.  So I agree and ask if Monday works and he can show me what hes done with her.  He says that works, says he feels bad and hates sending horses home like that.

So Monday comes around and I ask him what time works and he never gets bsck to me so I just go and am waiting on an answer, I stop in Drum for lunch and some shopping and then keep going.  I finally ask him again when works and he says he is in a meeting and might be better for me to pick her up.  I say my Mom lives in Olds and I can visit her for a couple hours if that works.  he says ya that would be perfect and he will call when hes back.  So I go have coffee with my Mom and then she has to leave at 7 so I head out, get fuel and stop for supper then figure I better just go cause its getting dark.  So I get to the place and call him again and no answer so I go get her.  Took me 45 minutes to catch and load her.  She was all skittish and jumpy and being super nervous.  I blame part of it on the dark but she was in with 5 other horses (which I didn't know expected her to be by herself) and 3 of them were super quiet and just kept hanging around me, but not her.  She finally quit running and I got her and she is a mess.  her feet are terrible long, her mane is all tangles and she is skinny.  Not what I expect from a horse that was handled daily.

So I head home, he calls me at 10 and says hes on his way, I say shes in my trailer already and I'm on the way home and something about it woulda been nice to know that Monday didn't actually work I coulda come any day.  Never got an answer back and chances are I wont ever go there or recommend him to anyone.  I don't think hes a bad trainer, I just think he had too much on his plate and didnt spend near as much time as she needed.  Hes at a new barn and the barn owner said he has his kid all day with him and he just recently got there and hasn't seen him much.  So I don't know what going on in his personal life but it wasn't any good for my horse and probly the others there as well.

Buck Brannaman Ellensburg

Oh Boy where do I start?  So much learning.  Quite a trip down there.  I left Wednesday morning and drove to Shirley's place to stay overnight.  I got there in the afternoon and she took me to see a few things in town like the Kokanee brewery where the Sasquatch tried to steal my beer!  and lots of neat things in town, cute town she lives in.  Then back to her place and we had peaches right off the tree, mmm so good.  

(left in the morning and Bob was moving his cows across the road)

(Pincher Creek was my first stop for gas and it sure is pretty there)

(the Sasquatch!)

We left the next morning, me with the trailer and her with a holiday trailer so we had someplace to stay.  Trip had a couple stops on it and we still got there in good time.  Tracey Westbury was there with a horse for Shirley to use and to pick up a dog the Karen Jackson Simmons brought her.  So I got to meet those two!  that was super cool!  Then since the horse was new to Shirley she thought shed better see if they would get along....well not at first she was a little quicker moving than was expected and she come off but Tracey got on and then Shirley again and went much better the second time.

(Tracey playing with George)

(Shirley on Doxee)

Friday we started out with me and Razz ponying Doxee and getting her warmed up.  She was coming along nicely.  Then clinic started.  Buck has a filly he started about 3 weeks ago and was working with her.  He got us to start moving our horses in a circle following the lead then driving them around if they don't follow a soft lead.  Razz doesn't yet go when I ask with my hand I need to drive her shoulder.  If I ask too far back she just pivots her hind end away from me.  After getting them following a circle with a slight bend we were to lift towards the hip and get them to move the hip out.  I had a little trouble getting her hind feet to cross correct but I noticed if I did it right she did it right.  So its all timing on my part that's off.  Then we got them to move the shoulder back and around so they were going the other way.  I need more practice with that.  Razz goes about halfway around and then quits.  But I think I stop moving so again its me.  We have to practice tonight so we are good at it tomorrow and can move on.

We watched the other classes, the horsemanship class was a repeat of what we did but in the saddle then they moved on to more.  The ranch roping was really interesting to me cause I'd like to do that.

We did our homework that night and amazing how much better Razz was then after thinking about it all afternoon.  She got the soft feel quite a few times and the turn was good.  Moving the shoulders was much improved as was her back up but it still needs more work.  

(Big classes)

(roping)

(more roping)

(roping and doctoring)

Then Saturday was more of the same to start, A lot of improvement for me.  Then after we got that down, we moved to the fence and did the same thing, with them moving between us and the fence and no rushing.  Then we climbed on the fence and got them to step over to it so its easier and safer for us to get on.  The idea is to lift up on the lead rope until they move the hip over to the fence.  This was hard for Razz she just kept moving forward and into the fence then tried backwards and she finally got a step towards the fence.  She never did get real good at it but she will if I work on it more.  While we were up there we had to swing our lead ropes and flag (if we had one) and move stirrups and put a leg over all without stepping off the fence so if they got worried and moved we were still safe.  

And then as we were leaving our class Jennie and Michelle were there!  That was so cool to finally meet them.  We all watched the horsemanship class and visited.  

(Bucks filly with about 3 weeks on her, she was not perfect but you could 

really see the improvent in her even during the 4 days we were there.  He had another 

sorrel but I missed getting her pic)

(His stallion Guapo)

(his other bay, he was in the 2 rein, a pretty cool horse he sure had some moves)

(and Razz, I snuck in a pic of her while Buck was riding)

Sunday we started with cowboy Church, nice music from a participant and a good message.  Then in our class we did more of the same and then we got on!  I got on from the ground as the fence was all full, which he said we could do as long as we did it right and careful.  We did the same, the soft feel and driving if they didn't go and then moving the hip over.  He made us bring the head around 90* and then pet their head when they stand still.  Once both sides were good we added a leg and got them to move the hindquarters and do a one rein stop.  then we walked off and did a one rein stop.  It felt out of control for a while.  Buck said looked like a snake killing.  He has some of the funniest sayings.  But then I realized I wasn't doing it in time with the feet.  If I ask for the hip as she is lifting the inside hind foot its all smooth.  I really struggle with knowing where the feet are at all times so I really had to concentrate on that.  

We got to to short serpentines, asking with a soft feel, inside leg back and outside leg forward to get the bend.  It was a lot harder than it looked like.  The H1 class did the same but they did bigger serpentines with more steps in them.  Then the ranch roping class had to doctor the cows cause quite a few had pink eye (probly from the dust)  So that was neat, gave a purpose to the roping.  They had a few good ropers and they headed then if the cow stood still they practiced roping and dallying and if they moved the tracked them.  A couple horses were unused to seeing cows to they rode by them lots an did the motions without using a rope.

I also knew a girl from the horsemanship Challenge I did in January was going, I only found out the day before.  So I was looking around or her, finally saw her horse in the H1 class and so had to talk to her.  She said she had been looking at me thinking I looked familiar.  So glad I got a chance to meet her as well.

Some cool horses there, I really liked this black and white Tennessee Walker, 

I talked to her about him and found out he was abandoned in the Mohave desert 

and was 500 pounds underweight when she got him, he looks good now, he was super pretty. 

 Shes been in a few Buck clinics and the first one he wouldn't let her ride him

 but hes good now)

(this cute Arab with ears that were almost touching at the top)

(A haffie, aww so adorable!)

(I really liked this black horse he was kind)

(And Robin and Holly the sorrel paint)

(This dun gelding was Razz's neighbor in the barn.  She was in both the the foundation

 and horsemanship classes I dunno how she done it.  She said she was glad 

she was beside Razz cause he was freaking out until she came by

 and then he calmed down)

(not a great pic but the light bay was in the two rein, the only one in the clinic who was, everyone else was in a snaffle or hackmore)

Monday we did our class again, start over and then we did a little trotting to the one rein stops which made me think again. One other thing the H1 class did and he let us trot trying it was to yeild the shoulders with the reins and get one front foot to move wider out as a start for a turnaround.  While watching the H1 class I wanted to get out and try it and so finally got a chance.  I watched, tried it and then had to watch again cause I couldn't do it.  I finally think I got it but I sure got to practice more so I don't forget.  

 He answered lots and lots of questions and that was kinda cool.  And showed us a bunch of different things we can do.  Like using the slobber straps to get a horse to back up and go forward.  Nothing I woulda thought of before but just a different way to do something.  He also told/showed us the 4 ways to move the hindqarters.  I had heard some of this before in that horsemanship challenge but I was a little confused but now I understand a little better, I need a lot more work on that too.

He also talked about what he likes a horse to know before he moves them from a snaffle bit to a hackmore and then to a two rein.  I always find this interesting since I never know when to do such things.  

(rodeo grounds were kinda cool, almost in a bowl)

(got super windy up top but just a breeze in the arena)

All in all a good clinic and I would love to go again, probly in the H1 class.  But I will be a little smarter and try not to go in the middle of July when its 38* everyday.  Of course that's not normal for them either it was kinda a heatwave

Off To School

Yesterday was a big day around here, not so much for me but for Chili.  I had talked to the guy I was gonna take a clinic with and he said the facility canceled it.  Not sure if there wasn't enough people or what but either way was a relief for me since I didn't really wanna go anyways.  But what we decided was I would take Chili there and he would start her and then I could come for some lessons or a clinic later on.  So sounds good to me, be better anyways as we are getting into branding season, first one Tuesday night.  And things would be kinda sporadic for a while and that's not the best.  And strange as things go he had 2 openings this months as he had 2 horses booked in and he couldn't get a hold of them and tried another day and nothing so rather than trying to chase after them he said I could bring her anytime.  So Wednesday was the day.

I got up early and fed and then got the trailer around.  I caught Jessie and tied her up and caught Chili and she was good, only needed one reminder to turn and face me and then she stood really nice to put the halter on.  I backed the trailer in close as I know its only her second time on one and last time I think it was an accident.  I loaded Jess and then went to get Chili.  She was pretty hesitant and after about 20 minutes I decided to just load her in the chute before I run out of patience.  I think she woulda loaded but I didn't want to force her or wait a couple hours.  So to the chute and she just walked up and shes taller than cows lol so she looked over each way and no out and then put her head down and just walked right it.  So much less stress that way.  I went in and told her how good she was and she seemed relaxed cause her buddy was in there too.

Its a long trip over there, took about 2 and half hours and it was raining over there.  Was kinda cold too, almost said chilly lol.  I unloaded her it was no big deal and led her to her pen she got to visit with the blue mares and the walkers.  She called once for Jess and Jess answered and after that she settled in quiet, just looking around.  We talked for a bit, hes gonna start working with her today and eventually ride her out and throw a rope off her, I said mostly a ranch/trail horse.  So far 30 days but we will see how shes doing and might go with 60 days.

On the way home I stopped and visited my Mom and dropped off the tables I made for a neighbor, same as the ones I made for our deck.  Simple but boy are they useful.

Then came home did chores and had a nap and played video games, best way to end an evening when Neils at golf night.

Chili Update

Well where to start.  First day she come it was snowing and cold and late, so I just unloaded them, was no big deal for them and left them together even though they had never been together before, usually a trailer ride to a new place makes them best friends.  Well the next day I went out and saw Chili kicking the crap out of Trio.  Well not happening in my corrals, gotta learn that fighting is NOT allowed ever when I'm out there.  So I figured I should separate them, I had another pen anyways.  And so Chili was heading towards the gate when I went out there so I just walked towards it to close it after her and just as she was almost through Trio come out of nowhere and hit the gate which closed and hit Chili and kinda freaked her out and she got a cut on her shoulder, nothing serious but looked gross cause was so red against her black.  But got them separated anyways and and fed them and figured in the morning I would come back and deal with everything when they were calmed down.

 (this is how I saw her for a long time, she'd watch but wouldn't turn to face me)

 I was thinking of a bunch of names and never really come up with one I liked and funny thing I just accidentally started calling her Chili, so I have to say thanks to Mrs Shoes who suggested it somehow it musta stuck in my head.  And I think it fits, as Caliente is translated to mean hot so somehow it works.

Anyways the next morning seeing as I was told she was halter broke and gentle and so I just went out there expecting to walk up to her and catch her.  Well no.  Apparently halter broke doesn't mean knows how to be caught.  So I moved her to a smaller pen so I could actually do something with her, got her caught and treated(it wasn't pretty that day)  and left her in there.  Well she run the fence and she didn't care if I was there or not so I let her settle down and put Trio with Razz and Jessie and she was totally calm and fine about that.  Weird how a yearling can be calmer and more relaxed about new things.

So after she finally quit freaking out, I went back and thought I could make frineds with her and help her over her worries.  Well it started slowly, I been feeding her everyday off a bale and so she started looking for me to feed her, eventually she started nickering when I came out, good start.  And then I went and stood in her pen and visited my other ponies, she would stand close and then one day she walked up to me and I could pet her neck.  Good sign.  A few says of that and I figured it was time to get the halter.  Well no good.  I walked in there with a halter and she sticks her nose in the corner. OK well I just put it down and got my whip and made her move around and round penned her in a square pen until she faced me.  Took a while and only lasted till I picked up the halter, so I held the halter and did it again.  Took longer but got there.  I pet her and quit.  Came back and did it again a few days was getting so much better.  So started to put the halter on her, no go as soon as I got to her she'd be fine while I put it on her nose but left before I got it done up.  OK more work.  Finally she quit moving and just faced her butt to me, so I just kept tapping her butt until she moved it away from me (was super hard not to hit harder but I know that doesn't help, lol)  and it only took a minute till she faced me and I pet her and walked up to put halter on again, same thing.  OK more tapping, only took a second and she turned and stood facing me while I put on the halter.  Yay!  Finally!!!  Gave her big scratches and let her relax and took it off.

(just hanging out having fun and relaxing and taking selfies lol)

Next day took a second but walked in and haltered her :D  Was super excited, now we can move on even though we are 5 weeks behind where I thought we would be the day I got her home.  Well I got out my rubber curry, everyone likes that brush and shes shedding like crazy so I figured its a good one.  She loved it on her neck and withers and chest.  A little unsure about it on her back but she just tensed up a bit so I kept going till she relaxed again and then went to the neck again and then quit.

The next day started over again, and brushed her girth area, oh that was a jump.  Guess shes never been touched there before.  Well we dealt with that and not a big deal the second time, I think I just caught her off guard.  Which is OK cause she jumped a bit but was no big deal, calmed down easy, I like that.  So every day kinda been building on that.  Still feel unready for a clinic this weekend specially if she is so unsettled as she was as when she came to my house, and I don't know if I can tie her, not sure I will take her, might take Dee and still get help and ideas I can do with Chili at home, still undecided, lol I got a couple more day I guess.

(weird swelling over her rump, and if you biggify the last pic it looks 

like a poor fitting saddle, lol only I know its not

 cause shes never had a saddle on)

And Lisa, I would like to cut some this summer, haven't been to any lessons this spring cause I wasn't sure I could with my sore back, I think I can now and as soon as we have a break from branding I will go back, a friend is also interested in going to a few shows this summer so I will probly go to a few just to keep in it a bit.  Not sure if I will ever be super competitive on Jessie or keep her, but that's a whole nother story for a whole new day.  If you ever want to come to our branding you are sure welcome, whether or no you are help, its always good to get new people into brandings its so fun, we are the 8th of June this year.  And grazing school in a mostly cattle management ut on by the government and all for women who want to learn without anyone saying they know it all, lol.  Its always fun and informative, since its in different areas every year. They bring in ladies who have been successful so we can hear there stories too.

Update on Miss Dee

Well I know I had to start riding Dee but I been putting it off and its so much easier to grab a horse I know what it like.  So last week I started tearing down my roundpen since I have never really used it very much and am gonna turn it into an outdoor arena.  I really been not wanting to do this cause I was afraid if I had an outdoor I would never get an indoor which is really what I want and almost need if I am gonna be competitive.  I tried to deny it for a long time but our weather is just not cooperative to riding outside most of the year.

(the new saddle pad, looks alright I guess)

Anyways that was taking longer than I planned cause it was either 35*C or raining everyday so finally on Tuesday I called up my neighbor and asked if I could come over and ride in her arena.  She said yes of course :)  It was a little wet but they got less rain out of the storm than we did so I figured I'd try it while I had the motivation.  I loaded up Jess, Razz and Dee and off we went.  Its only about 5 miles away by road and so it didn't take long.  I wasn't gonna take Jess but I figured I might as well and besides I wanted Dee to sit with the saddle on a bit before I rode her.

(nice big arena to ride in)

So I saddled Jess in my new pad and cutting saddle and Dee in my ranch saddle.  It seems to fit her quite well which is nice.  I left Dee and Razz at the trailer and rode Jess. I used my map my run and forgot to turn it on till I was halfway through my ride on Jess but we had a good ride in the crested wheat patch beside the arena as the arena was a little soggy but not slippery.

(always a dog around there...this is Bear)

(I think she looks good in my saddle)

(as does Razz, but I knew that)

Then I went back and unsaddled Jess and put my saddle on Razz.  I used a different pad as I kinda wanna keep that new one for Jess. It seemed to work well, but it needs a little more use as its quite fluffy and hard to get the cinch tight yet but other than that and it being super heavy I like it.  I took both Dee and Razz to the arena and tied up Razz and she was happy to eat grass while I worked with Dee.  I wasn't sure how Dee would be by herself so better safe than sorry.  And it was a good choice.

(I even got a pic off her, weird cause she holds her head up so much higher than I'm used to,

 and yes I rode with her halter on just in case)

I walked her around the arena and shes not spooky so it was no big deal then since I know shes not fond of fly spray I brought that with me and I sprayed her.  Not bad tried to run around a bit and runs into my shoulder when I hold her rope close to her halter but she settled down in about 5 minutes.  She should be free from bugs for a while now haha.  But it didn't seem to upset her so I tightened the cinch put on her bridle and got on.  I wasn't even nervous which kinda surprised me a little.  She stood nice so I could get on and then I got all organized and asked her to move her head around.  Little bit hard mouthed she eventually gave her head so I asked her to move her hips over...that was a chore.  I don't really think she was being bad I honestly think she had no idea what I was asking her.  I did get her to move but it wasn't pretty.  She is pretty dead sided as well.  I wore my spurs (accidentally, I meant to take them off) and she still didn't really wanna move.  I could pull on her and kick on her and she just stood there like "oh you want me to do something????"  No bad behavior just no real interest in doing anything.

(mm grass)

(Jess' sweat patterns, they already started to dry but looks pretty even)

So before I got in a wreck or mad I decided I would grab Razz and pony her around since shes so good at it and maybe it would help us go somewhere.  Not my normal choice for a first ride on a new horse but I didn't know what else to do.  So I grabbed Razz and away we went.  Razz was good likes to go kinda fast but Dee just strided out, we went out into the crested wheat area and rode around it a few times and every time we walked I used my legs on her like it was my idea not Razz's lol.  We even left the arena area and walked across the yard past tractors and chains and rubber mats and back to the trailer and it was no big deal.  Even when Jess called out neither of them cared and so I call it a success and quit there.  I went home after that and let them all graze in the yard for a bit as a treat.  I would rather that then feed them grain this time of year they don't need it, and the grass can always be mowed.

(and the next day I got her a new halter and had to try it out, I like it)

I think that will be my plan from now on with her I will ride her out ponying Razz and work on her giving and moving off my leg but it should be easier if I am not just picking on her all the time.  I don't know if shes ever been rode by herself for many years and so I don't want to start that and fight with her.  Once I get the arena done I will ride her some in there as well with the others nearby and work our way up to riding alone.  I am in a clinic on the 9th with Greg Michelson just basic horsemanship and I am taking her...and maybe Razz in case she gets to hard to work.  And then on the 12-15th another local clinic from a neighbor girl who moved to Turner Valley and runs a stable there.  She comes back every year and does a clinic and it sounds like lots of fun.  I think I might take her there as well, maybe with Razz as well and just use them both for half day each.  Be good experience for them both.

Wednesday I rode Jess and then left her to graze and grabbed Dee and worked her from the ground getting her to move her hindquarters over.  It had rained that morning then gotten hot and so I was dripping with sweat but could not stop till she got it.  It took a lot of work and lots of tapping with my whip but she did it consistently 4 times in a row on both sides.  Next is the shoulders and she runs into me a lot with them, not mean but I don't like it...just lack of respect.  But I can already tell after 2 days she looks to me to tell her what to do already and that's a good sign :)