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 :)