Shasta

So yesterday I went riding and took along Shasta to get some videos of me riding her so I can sell her.    I am having a hard time deciding who to sell.  I like them all.  But I think if I sell Shasta and Disco and Kali I will be okay with that.  Probly OK with selling Jazz too if it happens before I ride her.  But then yesterday riding Shasta I wanted to keep her too.  But she is not at all what I want really being a better arena horse and good for barrels and team roping, neither of which I do.  But just a nice horse.  

I was a little worried she was gonna be silly cause its been a while since she has been rode and I haven't rode her very much, so I tacked her up and took her in the arena and she had to have a look around at everything in there then I lunged her.  She was fine.  So then I got on her and walked  and trotted, lots of circles and she was really good.  Still needs a little work on her stops, but they are not too bad.  She doesn't really like to stand still much but I am sure she would get over that.  She trots like an English horse, feels all floaty.  Was kinda neat, I like seeing how different horses ride.

We never loped but she was pretty sweet the whole time and even though it was only about half and hour, she was pretty sweaty.  Poor girl.  But she still has a lot of winter fur even if it was shedding like crazy too.  In the video it kinda looked like she got clipped up to the dark legs.  Looks weird. 

It was a lot of fun, I was surprised when I got on and I haven't used my ranch saddle in a while and so my stirrups were super long and that was weird feeling.  I sure like them long like that, but I am sure I would lose them if I rode them cutting like that.  It was a fun day, even though I was kinda hesitant to take her I am glad I did. 

Sunday Stills--A Small Part of a Whole

This week we are supposed to get a whole item and then capture a small part of it.  So I picked trees.  The first is the 2 oak trees Neils Gramma planted way back when, they are over 60 years old and super close together.  She planted a whole row, but the two right next to each other grew.  They have been producing acorns for about 10 years now. 

Then I zoomed in on the bark.  I always think it looks like it is gonna peel right off it is so rough, but it is tougher than it looks.

Then I got the poplar tree that is off center cause one branch got broke in a storm.

And the buds on it, the only good thing about the broken branch is it used to hang over where I park and leak on my truck, but now it doesn't.

For More visit Sunday Stills.

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.

Finally

Well I never rode Monday cause it was a day off for Jessie and I needed a day to recuperate from the weekend.  Wow it was exhausting.  Then Tuesday I was gonna go but the roads were bad so last night I went and she was good although we just exercised.

I went and picked up my camera and so now I finally got the partial video of me.  I really am upset at myself for not thinking of bringing an extra memory card.  I was worried the batteries might die cause I couldn't remember the last time I charged them but never even thought of another card.  Well now I will always make sure I have an extra one along.  I wish I coulda seen the rest of the run cause I don't remember a whole lot of it, but I think my last cow was probly the best one.  I know the second cow wasn't that good so I don't mind it being missed, lol.

I have been thinking a lot about that weekend.  And I decided I probly wasn't ready to show, but at the same time I am glad I did go.  I finally clued in to how important all the stuff Doug was telling us was.  Not that I didn't believe him when he was telling me but sometimes it takes a while to sink in.  All that really matters is riding to the stop and going straight across the pen.   The cow will pull the horse through the turn if I stop straight and even.  Kinda neat when it all comes together.  Now I just gotta practice doing what I know now.

I phoned Doug last night for another lesson but its gonna be a while cause he is super busy getting ready for the super stakes.  I said not a problem I can wait till he gets back sometime in April.  I was thinking our show on Sunday was busy with 97 entries, but I got looking and his one class on the first day of the super stakes has 135 horses in it.  In just one class!  Its crazy.  Bet it would be pretty cool to watch though, I am gonna try to see it online.