Backing Up

Went riding again yesterday, it was kinda cold and windy and we had a bit of snow, I wasn't gonna go but Neil said I should so I went.  It was nice over there, weird to be less snow they always get snow over there.  I grabbed Easy he was cheerful as always and tacked up and went to ride in the outdoor arena.  It was a bit windy so the pasture horses were hanging around the other side of the fence and we went around a few times then he spooked at something.  I stopped and went to see what it was and there was a horse laying down!  Oh my how weird.  He really didn't want to get close to it it was really odd.  Then she lifted her head and he was fine with it. I dunno, hes a goof I guess.

Well turns out he was already rode that morning cause they didn't think I was coming and so we didn't warm up that much just worked on the flag.  I have trouble going straight to the left and I cant tell.  So because we are not going straight he doesn't stop as hard.  Ugh and I don't use my feet.  Feels like I am using my feet but apparently not.  I said that and he says when he tells me to quit moving my feet then that's enough.  OK so we did two short flag works and the second had a few really nice stops but  still not great.  So I go back Wednesday and we are working cows.

We are not showing this weekend cause his boy is playing hockey in provincials and he wants to go.  And maybe to the odd and unusual sale.  I told him I wanted and Angora goat and he said I should, Neil thinks not though :(  I am actually kinda glad we aren't going cause its Easter and Neil's curling and now I can just practice.  Afterwards in the barn he was getting pretty pushy for treats and so I made him back up with the lead rope and he was so good he did it twice pretty easy.  Pretty impressive for such a food driven horse to back away from the food.  Of course he got a treat for that.  I been making him stretch and stuff before he gets them, and never when hes pushy.  Smart boy he knows.  The video is poor cause I was watching him not the screen.

Clinic With Dee

So right after we got notice we were allowed to move in I was signed up for a Kevin Pole clinic in Brooks.  I was kinda excited to go but I also wanted to stay home so I could move in.  And the Spruce Meadows Christmas fair was that weekend and just so much in one time, but I was in the clinic so to the clinic I went.

I had no plans on who to take, I was gonna take Jessie cause shes easy but I also know she needs a chiro/massage cause she doesn't like being rode 2 days in a row and so 3 days wouldn't be good for her.  Well I went out thinking maybe Bailey, be good to get me back into riding her again fro the winter and if we had any trouble there was help there for me.  I really wanted to take the pony cause thought it would be perfect to get to know her, but I didn't have the bit she rides in, I ordered one and I could probly get away with riding her in a snaffle but why bother when she was good otherwise.  So I went out to get Bailey and Dee comes right up to the gate and shes kinda pushy and bossy so I caught her, still wasn't planning on taking her just wanted her in the other corral. Then I went to catch Bailey and let Trio out too so I could work with her, her best friend ever is Bailey so she just follows her wherever.  Well then Razz had a brain fart and ran past us through the gate and in the corral, well I didn't want her in she got rode all summer she gets winter off.  Well I went to catch her and she was being a dork and running around with her tail in the air and everything.  Well 4 horses and a pony were too much in for the winter so I had to take someone back out.  I only really want 3 cause then I can haul them all when I go riding.  Or just take one and 2 are left to keep company.  Well all chaos after Razz got out so since I still had Bailey I caught her and hazed Trio into the small corral beside Pally and then let George and Jessie out and opened the way for Dee and Razz to run in the alley way again.  Good.  Then I caught Razz in there and turned her out and since I just had Dee with halter on yet I decided to take her.  Whew.  Loaded her up and off we went.

It started on Friday and I was to ride at 1, so I got in early cause I had to stop at the house place and drop off some form she forgot out here and I wanted to stop at Walmart cause the cats were complaining they are hungry so I got cat food.  I had extra time so I thought I would go have lunch at Wendy's and get a coffee and then head down there.  All was good, the arena is only 5 minutes from Brooks so that's easy.  I left Walmart and noticed my tire looked low, so I grabbed lunch and went over to the tire place.  I had an hour wasn't worrried. Of course there was worse problems than I figured, I had 2 bias and 2 radial tires which apperently don't go well together cause one round on the whole tire and one on the edges so they were really on riding on one tire on each side.  So we thought we would put 2 new ones on and go from there.  he thought he had used but of course had every size but the ones I needed.  So 2 new tires and the low one was about to blow so just threw it out and I kept the other one as a spare. Well by the time he was done it was 12:50, not much time to get there and saddled and ready but what do I do?

(at least it was nice out while I sat and waited on my tires)

So I get there had Dee inside and was saddling and he was starting so I just walk in the arena and thought Id wait while he talks and then get on, well he didn't want to talk and since he didn't see me warm up I got to go first.  Haha.  Well he just had us go around half the arena at a walk and keep them to the outside.  Well not so much, Dee was a little herd bound but we got away from the group and then because she wasn't there in time to warm up she was looky at everything in there.  Well no worries, we just worked closer to the inside keeping a circle shape and moving towards the outside.  She wasn't bad, her steering is a bit missing, lol I feel like I'm in a car I have to move my hands so much to get a turn.  Then up to the trot and same thing, that was actually easier for me.  Then a lope well no chance of that.  I was actually quite surprised we got a trot so easy, last time I could hardly get her out of a walk especially away from her friends. Well so we worked on that, don't worry about steering just lope.  Well I could get one or 2 steps and then shed break down.  We worked really hard, she tried to kinda crowhop once, I kinda laughed at her cause it was pretty pathetic, mostly she just kept trotting and not really all that fast either.  She also tried heading towards the other horses and she got kicked pretty hard when she got there and a relax when she walked away from them, then she tried the gate, same thing.  Well we quite after we got about 10 steps one way.  Whew I was tired and I think she was too.  He made me trot down to the other end and stop at the spot she thought was the scariest.  They have a water hose coming up and that musta been it.  We walked as far as she would go and then stop then walk a step then pet then another step then pet, all while looking at it.  Finally she pushed her nose out and touched it, good girl.  She is curious so that helps a lot.  We rested there while someone else went.

(the super scary water pipe)

After she was done he got me to go around  a couple more circles at a trot and see how she was, she was really good we even stayed right to the outside.  Then we were done for the day but I stayed in the arena to watch and let her cool out.  First time I had anyone tell me I had brass ovaries LOL, he said most people, specially girls woulda quit before I did.  I told him I wasn't worried about her, shes about as safe a horse as you can get and so it was just me wearing out that wanted to quit.  He also kept saying numerous times how he loved her top line.  I guess I never looked that close but she has a normally low head and he likes reiners so maybe that's why?  I think shes pretty but didn't think she was hat special.  Maybe I am wrong and she is??

(watching others work)

(one tired pony)

Saturday was better, I got there on time had her warmed up, we rode with others and away from others and she was getting better, so much improvement in one day.  He also made me change my reins cause they were too short.  They were Baileys cause I used her bridle cause i was planning on taking her.  And they were long enough to get off her mouth but he wanted longer so I put Jessie's reins on her.  They are split and really long.  And amazing how she quit bobbing her head after the first few minutes.   So simple.  Anyways we started doing the same thing but quicker progression, I got her to lope going left but right I was just tired and so he asked if Amy would get on her and she did and she worked her pretty hard, steering is still a bit weird she says it felt like riding a runaway bull cause you can turn her head but she keeps going, I laughed and said ya but she doesn't wanna run away and she said that was true, its just odd.  But she got her into a lope both directions and even got a lead change out of her, a few actually, they were pretty nice.  I gave her a rest, just tied up.  Everyone else went and the continued from yesterday and worked on collection, Dee wasn't ready for that but while we stand we did get her to soften a few times, might as well start now.  Then after everyone else's turn he hooked up the flag and the whole clinic came in and we all stood in the middle of the arena facing it and walked towards it a step, petted and continued on until we were right up at it.  One horse wasn't worried about it at all but the rest were kinda concerned, specially when it moved.  He said that's the best way to get a horse not afraid of the flag, and it sure seemed to work.

(watchin other horses not perfect always)

(and just hanging out waiting...away from others)

Sunday, I was getting tired but sure excited about the progress she was making.  I almost brought Jessie too cause I knew were were working the flag and none of those horses had, he said he wished he had a horse that knew how but too late y then.  We all worked the flag, some closer and some farther, all working on different things.  Dee we just wanted her moving with the flag and then turning with it too, she wasn't really ready for a flag but we did it anyways slowly he said it wont hurt.  Then after everyone went we brought cows in in one by one tracked them and then turned them, it was fun, I volunteered to go early and she was super good, got sidetracked by other horses a few times but she loped easy to pass the heifer and turned her good.  Probly helped I knew what I wanted to do haha.  Then I left and just watched everyone else it was good.  I would so go again, they are gonna try to get him back in January/February and so would love to be in there again.  Should get Dee going better so here is an improvement he can see.

(watching someone work the flag)

(they are all watching too, they were in the group after us but joined for the flag work)

(flag work)

(and a cow, shes not worried about cows so was just watching relaxed)

He called her Trigger lol.  There was a few Palominos in the clinic, the other was big yellow and he had nicknames for all the horses was kinda cool.  The one guy there said she looked familiar, and I said I got her a year and half ago from up by Edmonton and as we talked he said his mom looked at buying her for a broodmare.  Not a lot of pics f me working cause I didn't know anyone there and so had no one to take a pic/video.  Maybe next time.  I learned a lot in this clinic, some about me and some about Dee.  Its nice to go and not always the same horse who makes me look good all the time haha thanks Jessie.

Back At It

On Saturday I called for a lesson and it was good so away we went.  It had been so long that I wasnt sure how it would work out. I knew we were gonna do the flag cause its been forever and I wasnt really expecting much.  But much to my surprise Jessie was really good.  A little slow to stop on one end, but shes always that way going right and then tries to turn in, once I can get her to stop quick enough and stand straight she is so cool, she even had some draw when going left :)

Doug thought I fell of the face of the earth cause I hadn't been in so long so I told him Neil was sick and I got to do all the calving and then it was branding season.  He got hurt as well and was off for a couple months and still a little sore so I am glad I didn't go any earlier than this.  He actually competed in Calgary and got 3rd, I thought that was pretty good for coming back, but he said it was a good little horse, total show horse that's way better at a show than at home she loves it.

I also told him we had been moving cows and helping sort cows and he said that's good for her to do the same job in a different environment.  And I mentioned she pulled a few calves at branding and was so good and I asked if she had ever been roped off and he said definitely not and so that was good she really was a good as I thought she was.  He was quite surprised she was that good first few calves.  I like I can use my show horse for more than just showing I always thought it was good for them but now I know it is.

We went to Strathmore afterwards and stopped at K & K Livestock and I got a new saddle pad.  I knew I wanted one for a long time and I wanted to try the impact gel ones cause I heard how good they are and so that's what I got.  Jst plain black and beige and I will mostly try to keep it for showing but I wanna use it a few times first to make sure I and Jessie like it.

Then we stopped for lunch and bought KFC for supper (and lunch on Sunday) and then headed home.  Was a longer day than planned but it was good.  I never thought of it till I was back home but I shoulda brought my iPad so I coulda got my friend to video, she like it cause then she can watch and video at the same time.  Maybe next time I will do that.

Lesson and Shopping

On Thursday night Char was going for another lesson, so I thought I might as well take a horse too.  I went a little early and rode Shasta first, and she was good again although she sure gets distracted easy but not too hard to convince her to focus again.  Then I hooked up the trailer and tacked up Razz and so when Char got there we were ready to go.

We got there and as we were putting our bridles on I asked Char if Doug was laughing at my paint horse yet and she said maybe, but when he come out he wanted to buy her!  I hadn't even gotten on her yet!!  He said he always wanted a black and white paint horse to turnback on.  And she was prettier than Lorne's.  I was quite suprised thats for sure.  Of all this work I been trying to sell every other horse and the one I don't want to sell someone wants.

We warmed up then I did the flag first and he does things a little differently, when the flag stops he wants the horse to stop straight with thier head bent, or at least looking at the flag, and no backing up.  So that took a while to get her over, but it was coming.  And he wants her kinda angled towards the flag the whole time cause she has a bad habit of drifting off (which I knew).  Then Char had a turn and Dude was being a little lazy so Doug had the flag moving really fast to hurry him up.

Then we went again and she was getting better, but I think I was getting better so I was asking her better.  I knew I was a little nervous and so my cues were not as strong or as quick as they should have been.  And with doing something different, I had to think and sometimes when I get to thinking what my hands should do I forget I have legs and vice versa.  But I was pretty happy with her for being in a strange place and me being nervous.

Char went again and then Doug got on Dude and got him moving a little better. Its harder with him cause he knows he  is supposed to follow the flag so he gets lazy and the ends and starts turning before the flag moves.  Again we lots of times practiced backing up after we stopped. But he said the flag isn't moving so we shouldn't be either.  Makes sense when he says it that way.  Sometimes he moved the flag slowly at first so we could back a step or two before turning with it.  His flag is variable speed so it was kinda cool that way.

Then yesterday I got up early (for me anyways) and headed to Calgary with my sister and we went down to the Christmas craft sale in the round up centre and then to Cross Iron Mills mall, and then to Walmart in Airdrie.  I got a bunch of Christmas shopping done (and a couple items for myself, oops!)  and lots more ideas, so it was a long but productive day.  Today is K and K's Christmas party day and so we are heading in there and I have only plans to buy a neoprene and maybe a felt saddle pad if they have one.  But they usually bring a bunch of new stuff out so I guess we will have to see.  I really try not to buy stuff for myself before Christmas but since there are really no other horse people in my family I hardly ever get tack unless I ask for something specific.  And its so much easier when its stuff they know what it it (like halters, lol)

Working on Razz

Well after trimming Razz's feet on Sunday, on Monday I went and we rode pretty hard, and the poor girl was sweaty from head to tail, the only dry spot on her was on her forehead.  We were working on speed control within a gait.  She has mostly figured it out at a trot, but when I ask her to collect, she does then immediatly pulls her head away, so I been holding it and she puts her head up and sideways before back down, she is getting better, it's just not the first thought to put it down. 

At the lope, she hasn't gotten the idea yet, we need more work on it!  After loping, to go back to the trot is really hard for her cause she always wants to go fast again, so making her trot slow is really a challenge for her, but she can do it.   At the lope, her slow lope is awful and rough, if she would quit pulling on me I think it would be a lot nicer, it is almost a relief when she breaks into a trot cause its not so rough.

I took Tuesday off cause our accountant come and that was painful and super slow, but its finally done.  Today we had a lesson on the flag.  I put Razz in a twisted wire snaffle with a martingale.  I was using a regular snaffle, but she was leaning pretty good on me, so I am gonna use the twisted wire for a while then switch back later.  The martingale will hopefully stop her head from going up when I ask her to slow down.

Before the flag, I rode her quite a bit so she would be used to the new bit, and it never bothered her much, but she sure responded quicker.  We moved to the flag and she was so good!  She still sometimes goes past the flag, but her turns were excellent and she was waiting on me when we backed up.  I like riding her on the flag now, way better than we first started.  I never realized how much until today.  Another girl came down to practice the flag with us and her horse had never worked the flag.  She was pretty good, but it just reminded me how much better our horses are after 4 months on the flag.  I think Razz likes the flag too cause it is a pretty short ride and she gets lots of breaks in between work. 

I braided Razz's mane on Monday after riding cause I was hoping she would have less sweat if she didn't have that heavy mane to keep it super warm under there.  I didn't test if it worked today cause she never sweat very much but I'm sure she will tomorrow or Friday.  Guess she really is turning into a high maintenece pony.  Glad she's the only one or it would take all day just to  unblanket and braid and brush them all.

I also listed Dinero on Kijiji, and on Northern Horse, as well as Jamaica, and Jazz.  Im still up in the air about selling the babies, but we shall see.