Keep On Riding

Well It still hurts a little to ride.

Friday I rode Jessie its been a while and I thought I would just try it out.  And I wanted to go to the dam to check if there was pussy willows.  Well got her ready and went out and walked was OK then we trotted a bit that was not bad as long as we kept it slow and controlled.  Then thought we would try a lope.  Not good.  But what a good girl Jessie is.  I had one hand on the reins which were a mile long and the other was out trying to balance me and find a comfortable spot which there wasn't one.  She coulda done anything, a step to the side woulda made me fall off.  But nope she just kept going.  Till she was tired and so was I so we slowed to a trot.  then a walk.  Then we turned back before we got where I wanted to go cause I was too sore and didn't wanna not make it back.

And when we come home I seen my herd of black and white ponies hanging around :)  So adorable.

Then yesterday was horribly miserable and windy so did nothing, but today was super nice and even though I was tired I sucked it up and rode Razz.  Had no plans, just gonna ride her around in the area outside my arena cause the arena is still decomposing sod pieces and rough and she doesn't like to leave the yard alone and I didn't want to fight her.  But to my surprise, after getting on with a pail cause she is too round lol, we did one circle and she waned to leave so I let her see where we would go.  We walked down the road, I know it was because she knows the other horses are out in that pasture but that's fine, they were being good at the far end just eating.  I could see Bailey watching us, no surprise she is always aware.

  We made it to the texas gate (half mile) and I decided that was enough for me.  I turned her around and she wasn't sure we should go back.  But we did in the ditch beside the fence and about half way back the other horses started coming up, no big deal we just kept going but when we got to the gate it was too much for Razz she didn't want to ride away from them.  OK so no biggie, I just got her stopped and calm and got off, let her stand a bit and we walked the last 5 minutes into the yard.  Was a good ride, I am super proud of her for leaving on her own and leaving her buddies when she didnt want to, and not being stupid when they were loping up towards us.

I kinda wanna desensitize the pasture horses to not come up when they see a rider, They are good at it in their winter pasture but new field and they just aren't sure yet.  But I think they will figure it out soon enough, all that work for no reward haha.  But its tough cause I do like them to come up in the mornings so I can look at them.  Ah well we will figure something out.

An Adventure To A New Arena With Razz and Jessie

A couple weeks ago a friend asked me if I wanted to go with her to try out a new arena.  So sure I'm always willing.  So I decided to bring both Razz and Jessie and got everyone loaded up in the trailer and on the way.  It was kinda snowy the day before but had cleared of and was melting.  Roads by my house were dry (of course we got very little moisture) but towards Drum were pretty wet.  I was just leaving Rosedale when it my truck sounded weird like it didn't wanna shift down.  But all looked good and was fine as I got up to highway speed.  Well Drum is only 5 Kms away and I thought I would stop for coffee at Tim's anyways and might as well have a look at the truck.  It has so many warning lights and beepers I couldn't imagine anything was going wrong without a warning but who knows.

I pulled over and as I was slowing down I knew a trailer tire was blown.  That would explain it.  Well no big deal I got a spare and so changed that..what a mess everything was wet!  But came off well and this trailer is different than my other trailers somehow I never noticed before but it doesn't have the leveling axle, it just has 2 straight axles, so even though the tire was flat it didn't look it besides the hole in the sidewall but was not on the ground.  Kinda nice that it doesn't wreck it (even though it was wrecked its not from driving on it)  

Back on my way again.  I get to her house and start loading her tack in the trailer and it looks like the opposite rear tire was low.  So I tell her and her hubby was home and he puts air in and its low again.  I think I must hit something with my other tire and it went across to that one.  So change of plans we unload my horses and put Jess in the corral and use her trailer which is only a 2 horse.  I woulda liked to bring Jess but Razz has more issues being alone and in a strange place I didn't want to test that.

Well all is well, we go there and finally get to ride :) 

 I wish I could remember his name.  But he breeds Appies (and he knows of you Sherry, I asked :) )  and does lots of cowboy challenges with his horses.  He was supposed to be in one that day but he had someone coming to get horses.  So in his arena he had all kinds of fun obstacles.  Razz has seen most of them before from the despooking clinic we did in January but it was good to see them again in a new place and some were still scary...well not scary she is just rather sure she doesn't need to do them again but shes not scared.  Just plants her feet and looks away.  Crazy horse.  But that's one of the big reasons I wanted to do more groundwork with her,  I can do all the obstacles ridden but on the ground not so much.

Took a couple videos, the first we just were trying to stay at a slow trot and she keeps speeding up which was sore on my back.  

And the second shows a few more obstacles.  The mechanical cow at the end is the most scary for her.  She will work a flag no problem but that fluffy cow on there no way!  And it is kinda creepy the way it moves, supposed to be more life like but I dunno.

All I notice is I keep going back to one hand when I should keep two and my reins are kinda long as I am always shortening them.  And the saddle horn looks like its gonna hit me in the face when I watch.  I think I have figured a way to make it higher so that won't happen.

So afterwards since my tires needed fixing I left my ponies there, Jess was sure she shouldn't stay but she got over it when they got fed.  It was so wet they stayed for 3 days I sure missed them at home, but they got good care and its good for them to be other places see other things.  Id like to go there again and probly will but its kinda far to travel on my own need friends :)

New Ponies Are Here

So Yesterday I finally made the trip up to pick up the ponies.  Its been a long time coming.  I first talked to her in October about them, not really seriously looking but she seemed to have exactly what I was looking for.  Hmm.  So I kept asking questions thinking its not what I would want and every time it was.  Ugh.  So in January there was a nice day and I went up there and seen them.  Had no intentions of really buying.  I was looking for a 2 or 3 year old but she has the 1 and 4 haha.  But still wasn't serious even though I quite liked them.  Thought they would be out of my price range.  But they were not.  And so we made a deal as long as I could talk Neil into it ;)  Haha like he would ever say no.  

So they are full sisters., BBR Miss Caliente and BBR Miss Uniquity.  I saw the sire and dam in Jan when I went, nice looking horses.  And super temperment.  Kinda cool seeing siblings and parents.   So went to pick them up, the older one is halter broke, the younger one isn't.  Neither had been in a trailer before so they had them in the barn and we backed up the trailer to the doors and were gonna just chase them on.  Her husband wanted to try and lead Cali on and so he did, she just jumped on no problem, and then Trio jumped on after her, that kinda made Cali jump and rush forward but she was OK.  So we just left them loose in there together and they seemed fine.

We did all the paperwork and on the road again.  I stopped at Trochu for fuel and that was a little scay for them, a deisel truck on one side and a rattly trailer on the other but a bit of walking around and they were calm again.  Got home and it started to try to snow but wasn't cold.  Wasn't even frozen yet.  I backed up to the pen, Went in the trailer and took off Cali's halter and opened the big door.  They were a little hesitant to jump off but we just gave them time and about a minute later off they come, not too fast pretty careful.  Razz and Jessie were on the other side of the fence coaxing them haha.

Didn't do much last night since it was supper time, just fed them and left them to figure stuff out.  Seems like they are getting along well and as soon as the snow disapears it halter time for Trio.  Then as soon as there is a little grass she can go out with the pasture horses for the summer.  And Cali needs a new name.  I had a Kali before and too confusing.  And my friend's daughter is named Cali too so definitely needs to change.  Still thinking on that one though.  Super excited about them though :)

(Their Papers)

(First view around, Cali in the back and Trio in front)

(Kinda synchronized)