Saturday

Saturday was a really crammed full day. I knew I had a baby shower for my cousin Misty and her new daughter at 1, and me and my sister had planned to go watch a movie afterwards.  But I had called the guy selling the mare I tried and said I would like to try her again and we thought Sunday would work, but then the weather forecast was for super cold, so we decided Saturday morning on my way to Calgary I would stop and ride.  So I did. 

And wow, I think I learned more in 2 lessons on her than I did in a year on all the other horses I rode.  Sure is a lot easier when all I have to concentrate on is the cow and keeping the horse away from the cow.  (and staying on, always remember to tighten cinch before cutting on a horse that can cut)  I got to work a few and Doug picked me one that was pretty fast and she could keep up but I was having trouble and he kinda laughs and says that cow is too fast for you.  And totally true, I have to concentrate on doing the right thing at the right time and hanging on but not using my legs unless I need to and keeping my hand down except when sorting a cow out of the herd, and keeping right hand on horn and not pulling myself forward, and add speed I am lost. 

It was so much fun though!! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and can see having a lot of fun with her as well and learning a ton and maybe even win some money in the mean time :)  I asked lots of questions about her, she sounds perfect.  His 4 year old grandson rides her around the pasture, she can be ridden in/out anywhere I want, she had her teeth done last Tuesday, she has energy but will stay at a walk unless you ask for more, she does have a lump on her leg, apparently it is a broken blood vessel that she did when she was 3 and it has been the same ever since, she hasn't been lame on it and the vet said he could drain it but it would probly come back.  She is out of a cutting family, her sire is a cutter (he's the one Doug tried to get for me, George Canyon's horse that they won't sell) and she has 3 sibling out of the same mare that all made cutters. He also has had her dince she was a foal.

She was shown as a 3 year old by Doug quite a bit, a few times as a 4 year old, and then not at all as a 5 year old, and last year with the owner.  Her last time being rode was last August at a show.  He thinks I can go out there and win lots this year on her even while learning.  I am pretty excited!!!!  He calls her Jessie (after her mom), but her real name is Maiden Dixie.  I asked about shoes and he says rides her barefoot unless gonna show cause you never know what its gonna be like in warm up or show area.  I asked about easy to catch and he says no problems, I seen her load and that wasn't a big deal.  I don't have any pics of me riding cause Char was riding Dude too.  But I did get a couple of her standing at trailer afterwards.  She is actually a good size for a cutter, probly about 14.3, about the same size as Razz. 

Then afterwards I headed to the baby shower and then went to see War Horse.  Was a good movie, but sad too.  I am curious to see how they filmed some of it.  I had read the book before and it has the same story line but doesn't follow it real close.  Then we went our for supper and I headed home.  Long but succesful day.  And then wake up today to wind and cold and ewww!! I plan on staying home for a week or more till it gets warmer out.  Kinda dissapoionted then I won't be able to go get her :))  Did I mention I'm a little excited, lol!!  I might board her at Dougs for a month or so and learn to ride her while getting her in shape.  I told him I am interested, but I forgot I run out of checks so I have to wait to pay for her (DUH!!!)

Had to show a pic of the cake as the shape of a baby onesie that my sister made.

And Again

Well this morning I got a call from Doug and he wants me to take Kali home cause he doesn't think she will turn out.  He figures she is very cowy, just not athletic enough to be competitive.  So I will go pick her up next week and decide from there what I will do with her.  He figures I should buy either a good 2 year old and train it up or an older horse and just go cutting.  Either way will be expensive I guess I gotta decide how much I am willing to spend to cut now.

I am kinda sad about this, but yet glad that he says so now with 6 weeks rather than waiting forever and just still not turning out.  I may just keep her till spring and ride her and then sell her as a well broke Dual Pep daughter.  Her bloodlines should be worth quite a it although it woulda been better is she woulda done something, but I am hoping I may get what I paid out of her.  Or I sell Razz to Doug as a start on buying a broke horse.  So many decisions to make.

I don't know how much I can spend but a broke horse probly isn't in my budget for this year, might just have to ride what I have and sell a couple and then we will see next year.  Or save all the money that woulda gone into training and more and build my arena.  (which will take more than this years earnings too)  but wont be as fun if I don't have a good horse to ride in the arena.

In other news, I am almost done my Christmas shopping, might go tomorrow or Wednesday somewhere with Linda and spending Christmas Eve with Neils family and Christmas Day with my family.  And we were planning on going to the movies with an old friend and her kids this week, but her oldest broke his thumb snowboarding so not sure if that will happen this week either.

Since I told Char this morning, we looked at this gelding, and she found this mare (Look down to Justa Indian Maiden).  Both outta my price range but still kinda fun to look even if I have no intention of buying right now.  It is still nice to know what is out there.  I will be pretty pciky this time around so it might take a while to find what I like to ride and will be right for me.

Ramblings about Horses

Okay, so I have a really hard time not buying horses. Ive been really good is the last year or so only bought the same amount or less than I sold. But last summer I seen a mare on Northern horse I really likes. Not sure why exactly but she caught my eye. So much so I still have the ad printed from last year. Then yesterday morning I go look on there (I know I should just stay away) and here she is listed again! Oh man and no reason to buy her, she is just an ordinary quarter horse mare, no special papers, not broke I don't think, just some reason I like her. And this year I like her foal as well, last year it was so-so. So now I have a problem, do I get the mare or not.

I need another mare like a hole in the head, but she is pretty cheap considering the price includes her, the colt, and she is bred again for next year.

This is always a problem for me, not sure why I keep looking for horses and not sure why some stick out more than others. I just always hope they sell before i have a chance to get them. Of course there was Dinero and I did like him and seen him listed twice and now I got him and so far I still really like him, but how many horses can I have reasonably? I know there has to be a limit, and I used to say I would quit when I have horses I like, but I like all the ones I have now and I'm sure I could like more. I do still like Tangle, and I'm pretty sure he wants to come live at my house, but Jardi still thinks she wants him, lol. So we will see there too.