I kinda postponed this and am late cause couldn't get a good shot of glare this week if I tried, and I did try. Usually have excess glare I don't want but I all I got this week was the sun shining off a magazine. So here it is but it ain't what I was going for.
(not great but it is glarey)
(usually the fireplace gets glare but just reflections this week)
But while I had the camera out and was BBQing
(mmm steaks)
I saw the moon was almost full coming up
(Looked so much bigger in real)
so made Neil come outside so I could play haha and this is what we come up with.
(His arm kept being clear and the moon fuzzy
but since its so small you can't tell)
Haha what a willing subject he is, woulda worked better if the moon was lower, maybe tomorrow except I don't think Ill be home :(
On Tuesday I had a lesson and it was well nothing special just a day on the flag, then it was so nice out I thought I'd go out to the hayfield and meet the other 2 ladies who were riding out there for a cool down. Well there was a puddle with a chunk of ice in it and Easy figured that was too much and I didn't wanna fight so we went around it, then a trench where water was draining and he had a real good look, I was ready for him to leap over it and no he just took big steps over it so that was good. Sure was nice out there I coulda rode out all day. On my way over, just a few miles north of our house I saw 4 elk. We have been getting more and more here all the time but we hadnt seen any since our bunch of 37 left in December sometime. Of course no camera so you get a cell phone pic.
(Elk, they still have antlers)
Wednesday and today were spent helping my neighbors video bulls for their bull sale coming up in March. Pretty slow work but its always interesting to listen to them talk about the genetic behind each bull. Some were really nice others just nice, they seem to be getting better every year. Doesn't really matter if I like them anyways haha since they are black and we have red cows. But they have good cows and pretty quiet and you could tell. I was essentially a gate who kept the ones not done from the done ones and then brought a new one when needed.
(Hanging out in the alleyway)
Back to lessons tomorrow as long as the rain we are getting now doesn't make all the roads a skating rink by morning.
Today was another show day. I didn't go to practice yesterday cause the weather was miserable. Kinda nice that my trainer rode him for me and got him ready, but also weird not to ride the day before a show.
Again never left till 8 am, that sure is nice! Got there and the first class was still going. Could leave later since I know the show list and I am way down but it stresses me out not knowing where they are and how long till I go. So I go and sit there and drink my coffee. Hardly know anyone so not much visiting which is fine, I'm not really that social. Kinda wish I was and could talk to anyone like Neil can. But not so so I sit by myself. Louisa visited for a while but she busy riding too.
(Practicing with my camera)
(Love this stop)
(getting down)
When it was 2 herds before I went I got him all saddled and the hired guy loped him, that's so nice! He woulda loped him till it was time for me to go in the ring but that's weird for me too so I got on him 4 before my turn. He was acting grouchy and I couldn't figure out why. He was itchy so I let him itch his face and we put boots on and I never use boots but hes had them on before. I made sure the cinch wasn't pinching and it seemed fine and then he kinda settled a bit and then was time to go in.
Didn't have anyone to video so nothing this time :( But the first cow we cut was good to get out of the herd, she just kinda cut herself like they are supposed to....or maybe it was me helping too I dunno. I thought we were way off course so I picked up my hand and turns out we were fine so I got a penalty for that. And one for losing our working advantage on the same cow, not sure what that really is, I am gonna ask when I go back Tuesday.
The second cow same thing she was easy to cut out and worked really well. Was pretty slow but I like slow cows, easier for my brain to understand. No real mistakes there. The third cow I cut out the front one, like I'm supposed to do and didn't pick a cow and go with it. That's hard for me but I'm learning. Helps to have someone telling me that all the time out there too. My herd help is great. I really only notice the 2 at the back talking to me, the front 2 are to push the cow towards me if its not moving or slow it down or turn it off me if I need help. I don't know what they do cause I don't notice them out there yet. But I'm thinking not a lot as I don't need fast cows pushed at me right now.
(my score sheet, 4th down, WS Hesastar)
(tired pony at the trailer
really wanting to steal hay but hes been told NO)
Anyways ended up with a 68, best score I have ever got, but I was still 6th out of 14 in my class and they only pay till 4 :( But still improving so maybe next time will be a paycheck at the end :)
And then after we cooled out and I went to take hi saddle off I just touched the back cinch and he sucked up his belly. Well shoot someone sucked it up tight and he doesn't like that. I shoulda looked but I didn't. What a good boy to do all the right stuff even if he was uncomfortable.
Thursday, my only day off this week and its dreary out. Was so nice earlier this week that I somehow expected nice forever. Haha. I can only wish. I saw a picture on Facebook saying I'm giving up winter for Lent. Oh if only that could be true.
Went for a lesson again yesterday, seems that's all I do anymore. But its fun sure gets me out of the house for winter anyways. We decided (maybe) I will probly bring Easy home after the winter series and just ride him out here for a month or so and then see how it goes. Ill probly still go over for some lessons and see maybe go to some shows then but I'm not in a race for the buckle or anything this year just wanna ride and show and not be last all the time.
I stayed after to visit and there was a guy there I never met before and boy he had some good stories, he could have a film crew following him around and make for entertaining TV, not that there is anything much to compete with on TV these days. We been watching Oak Island and Museum Secrets and I like some of the Alaska series but that's about all.
(the tail knot I do so he doesn't step on it when we work cows,
I wanna try the mustache knot but I'm not that good at it yet)
I'm entered in the show Saturday and should be fun, we warmed up inside yesterday, lots of people there so I didn't rush but we were warm and he was lazy. Until we went outside I could feel fresh coming out and so we loped a few laps outside before the cows got in but we coulda done a few hundred more before we started. Well it was interesting, but good he still did the right stuff just a lot more enthusiastic about it. Of course we messed him up by picking the slowest cow ever and so he had to wait on her. I like her. Haha it gave me time to think before just all over the place all the time. Then another slowish cow and then I picked a fast one. She was good though not too pushy and we actually had control of her for a while, that was cool like I could do no wrong, and then she messed me up and was in control again. Oh well short lived but fun.
Been a crazy but fun few days around here. Last week I went riding Wednesday and Thursday, odd to go 2 days in a row I usually don't but I had weekend plans. We worked the flag both days as it was kinda cold and the outdoor pen got real soggy from the melting then it froze again so he was working it and trying to get it to dry out.
I took a scrapbooking weekend, every February we go to Sundre to this wonderful place that has a pool and hot tub, fabulous food and of course some scrapbooking. I spent a lot of time in the pool and hot tub, I really would love a pool at home but Neil hates swimming so probly not ever gonna happen, although he did say he wouldn't mind a hot tub so that's progress. I did get all the pictures I took along done and that was nice, I coulda brought more but I like finishing :) There was 10 of us there that worked really well visiting with people I don't see very often too.
(Not my picture, but I love this area)
(again not mine, but the pool and eating area behind it)
(and again not mine but the room me and my aunt shared)
(this is mine, I don't know is she wanted her face shown
but she went down the slide, what fun we had!)
(And we drove around town to find this house,
my mom wants to paint her door this color)
Then yesterday had another lesson and it was 11*C out so my boy got a bath after our ride. His own fault lol. He was kinda a dork when I warmed him up. He hadn't been rode in a few days which is fine and we went to the indoor (mostly so I can use the fence to get on) and rode in there for about 15 minutes, then we went outside to finish warming up and he say the helper walk by the fence and then jumped sideways when he passed the gate, ugh. So we worked harder and then a few more laps of loping he jumped at the other gate at the steer who was there for the last 10 rounds. Ugh again. Sometimes the athletic ability of a cutting horse is not a benefit to me! But I stayed on and rode him more (till I was tired) then we worked cows, 2 were nice slowish and not too turney then the third was really turney, she was pretty playful, I felt kinda like a ragdoll but always got back in position and then the 4th cow was just fast, she liked to run around the pen which was just what I needed, we went fast and stayed at her head and stopped when she stopped and went again. Its hard to think so fast but it was good. And since so warm and so much work he got a bath, which meant he didn't get to go outside but he likes his barn so it was all good. Then afterwards I met a friend in town and we went for a walk, was supposed to be some run but it was too icy out, glad the weather is warmen now we can get outside and walk again.
(hes so chill about it, not his face though,
but I think we can get that too soon enough,
helps when the water was warm too)
And today I went down and delivered my Sean Ryon saddle. Kinda sad to see it go, I really liked it was so comfy. But didn't fit Easy so it was the right choice, I think this Roo will fit Jess too so all's well. Finally got to meet Shayla and her 2 horses, she even offered we go for a ride so I got to ride her giant Allie horse. What a star even if her feet were tender on the rocky ground.
(Can't believe its February with these temps!)
(sun was so pretty on the way to pancake supper tonight,
even with power lines in the way)
And back to riding Easy tomorrow :) Gotta get ready for the show Saturday.
Saturdays Show was much better than last time. Sure is nice not having to leave home til 8:30 :) Its a little more than 2 hours there and I just show up and when its time I saddle my horse and get him ready. I forgot to ask if I had to enter so I just did and went back on Wednesday (entries close Tuesday night) and found out I was now entered twice. Hmm well wouldn't have been all bad but by the end of the week it was all changed around another lady wanted my second spot so she took it and I was back to just being entered once.
I felt much more comfortable out in the show pen. Still made a few mistakes of course. I need to stop harder out there like I do at home. I had my reins a bit tight and so got a reining penalty and then I had a hot quit on my second cow. I guess I waited too long and he started moving before I put my hand down. And I can tell in the video I stopped a bit short a few times. Oops but all in all still a better show. And I had no trouble cutting out of the herd that was nice. I figured out why I have trouble, at home we pick a cow for me to cut but at the show we are supposed to pick after they are out top. But its coming I'm figuring it out and Doug's been great, he gave me a cow after they we out this time and that worked a lot better.
I also took a pic of my score sheet but its a bit fuzzy but close enough. I got a 63, not a bad score, sure not good enough to win anything but at least its a score :)
(WS Hesastar cause he really is a star :) 6th down )
(and the bruise on my arm from hitting the saddle
trying to keep my hand down, doesn't really hurt just looks ugly)
Today is a new month, a day off and we are heading to Lethbridge to visit Neil's cousin and will be back riding on Wednesday.
