November 25, 2012 - ACTHA Ride: 2.5 hrs

 Judged an ACTHA ride.

Morg had to inspect each water bottle before I could put them in the "pit"

We rode Morg & Maj to the obstacle, tied them off, and then judged the 2 groups before joining the ride.  We were far enough back to enjoy the ride and do the obstacles when we caught up.

Checking the obstacle ... needs a few more bottles

Morgan walked through the pit with water bottles, down a ravine and back up the other side, through streamers, and then she walked right up to a smoking camp fire, around it, and continued on to the end.  Like a rock star!

Morgan and I deep in conversation ... or, Amber blabbing away and Morgan patiently putting up with it ... again

The only "trouble" we had was standing still at the third obstacle.  She was tired but was in better shape than Majesty.  The two of them stood like champs tied to the trailer before and after the ride.

Being dorks in front of the smoking embers

I couldn't be prouder of Morgan!  She was fun to ride and well behaved!  Rock.Star.

Checking on riders ... making sure no one got left behind

November 24, 2012 - Sundance: 15 minutes

Dance was awfully cuddly so I tossed the bitless on her and took her out of the turn out.  I hopped on and we wandered around a while.  She trotted for a bit, but I slowed her back down after a few paces.  It was dinner time, so we cut the ride short.

November 23, 2012 - Morgan: 30-45 min ride, 30 min trailer

Had an hour to ride so I hopped on Morg.  Was going to pony Smoke, but she layed down in the turn out and didn't show signs of getting up anytime soon.

Rode Morg around the yard before heading out the gate.  She moved at a constant fast walk, but hesitated at the corner so I let her wander.  We went through the ravine that used to be the street.  She stopped and tried turning or crow-hopping quite a few times between Amy's gate and the next property.  I had to work hard to keep her going forward, but we made it to our destination before turning back towards the house.

Wandered in and out of the desert a few times and then in the front driveway.  Untacked her and then decided to work on loading in the new trailer.  I climbed in and asked politely to have her step in.  After 30 minutes I had her front two hooves in three times in a row, so I called it a success and fed her.  

Good work day :)

November 20, 2012 - Breeding

Thinking about breeding Morgan.  Bill liked the black Morgan from the trail ride.  I found two grulla stallions online that are about 14 hh.  I have conformation, height & personality.  I'd like to breed for color.

Wants: Bald face, grulla, buckskin, dun

Would be wonderful if there was such a thing as a medicine hat Morgan

November 18, 2012 - Morgan: 40 minutes

About 4:30 (dusky) I took Ms. Morgan for a ride.  She voluntarily went around the Utah peep's property, then we turned and walked down the north driveway and around the neighbor's house through the washed out street.  Like a rock star!

November 17, 2012 - Mochie, Majesty, & ACTHA ride

Rode Mochie on the trail ride.  Was told I would need to ride 1st because there was a young Morgan stallion who walked fast.  Damn!  Where was my Morgan?!  They left before I could get Mochie out the gate and tried to catch up, but Mochie did her springy walk/trot and bounced my iPod out of my pocket twice cause me to turn back/dismount.  Once I saw the Morgan had made the 1st turn, I headed Mochie back to join the 2nd group and Majesty.  She hustled her butt back, that's for sure!

Mochie & Majesty waiting to head out on the trail

She kept dragging her feet, but she kept with the pack and only occasionally tried to snack on the road.  I can't seem to keep her on the trail ... she wanders off to the left/right, but not straight.

Mochie and I at the top of a sand dune

Majesty climbed the huge hill on his first try, then 
calmly walked back down.  Bill had the camera, so no pics. :(

Mochie and I finding the trail

We let Maj, Mochie, and Gina's horse stretch out and canter at one point.  Great fun!  Still not used to the bumpy ride of a QH :)

Some days, I'm amazed at the scenery we get to see

They finished just fine and loaded right up.  Good day, but I still wish I'd taken Morgan.

November 16, 2012 - New Trailer

Bought a new two horse straight trailer.  Bill spent most of the day cleaning it out.  Got it ready for tomorrow's ACTHA ride.

November 12, 2012 - Morgan - 2 Hours

Ditched work early and ran home to join in another trail ride.  Rode Morgan because she needs experience with others.  Bill borrowed Seven.

This time Morg led the pack with Jackie (on Cash) following.  We had to stop three times to let the others catch up.  Morg does not like to stand still. *sigh* 

 We skipped the backing up obstacle, but did the others.  There was one rather large sand dune that everyone wanted to try, so Morg and I charged the hill.  Made it about 1/4 of the way before we turned back.  Need a breast collar to try something that vertical.  One other horse made it up.  Bill and Seven got 1/2 way up before Seven bogged down.

Morgan and I took off to run while they were playing with the hill.  Came back and this time got in the back of the pack.  Morg spent the rest of the ride basically shoving Seven along, but she walked.  We didn't do well at the "gate" obstacle, but we did better than the time before.  I did manage to get the "gate" closed.

While waiting for the others to go through the gate, I tried to keep Morg standing still.  I noticed her cheek strap was bulging and reached forward to adjust it.  She started spinning in circles as soon as my hand closed on the strap.  Had to let go and sit back in the saddle. 

Then we battled about standing still.  When she finally stood, I hopped off and adjusted the strap.  She really fought me and I am ashamed to say I lost patience and gave her a smack to the cheek to get her attention. 

I got back in the saddle and rode her in last place the rest of the time.  Twice she's acted out in the same spot.  I suppose she's anxious to get home, but really, we need to work on standing still and stopping again.  She doesn't stop like she used to anymore.  She also wouldn't load - even with a flag or the butt rope.  I think she was mad at me.  I was upset with her too.

Guess I'll be riding Mochie in Saturday's trail ride. Dang it.

November 11, 2012 - Smokem Mochem & Majesty

Smoke got a hoof trim.

Took Mochie on the trail ride by Todd's house.  Did fairly well - little push at first, but didn't crowd the horse in front of her at all.  Kept trying to eat, so had to keep after her for the first half hour.  Then she got tired and slowed down, so I moved her to the back with Bill and Majesty.  After an hour and a half she was walking so slowly I had to ask her to trot to catch up.  Poor girl!  I bet she didn't expect to ride 2 hours that day! :)

Only problem was at the "gate" opening obstacle because the string had flags that were attached.  She tried hard though and kept walking to the rope, but when I lifted it and flags fluttered, she backed away.  Ah well.

Gina sent Bill a text later that said I should get rid of Morgan and keep Smokem.  As if. :) 

Majesty was superb, but seemed tired this trip.  He was dragging at the end and we didn't even run any portions of the trail.

Temperatures dropped quickly and we lost the sun while trailer loading.  So cold!  Glad we didn't work them up into a sweat too bad.

Jackie from my work joined us for the ride.  She borrowed Todd's horse Seven.

November 10, 2012 - Wasabi, Sundance & Morgan

Sabi - 30 minutes
Rode Sabi outside the turn out.  She was not so hot to ride as I was.  Did ok the first 10 minutes - even walked down the driveway while Bill was burning weeds in an open stack, but she kept wanting to trot when she wasn't asked to and didn't wan to go the direction asked.  Got into an argument with her when I asked her to stop and she gave a small buck, so I pulled the reins up.  The she reared up once and then twice.  She was headed up a third time when I dismounted, and smacked her hard.  Then stared her down before remounting and then she walked when and where as politely as Mochie. Hmmm.

Sundance - 10 minutes
Saddled Dance and rode around the yard for a bit.  Asked her for a trot, but cut it short due to her limp.

Morgan - 20 minutes
Saddled a miffed Morgan, but she did great!  We rode out the north driveway and around the block, back to the stalls.  We putzed around and then walked around the block in the opposite direction.  This made her a bit nervous, but she handled it like a rock star!

November 4, 2012 - Morgan and Majesty

Morgan and Majesty - 2 Hours

Loaded both and hauled them to Todd's house.  Had hooves trimmed.  Saddled them up and went on a 2 hour trail ride with Todd, Gina, Wade, Cristian & Carol (paint).  

Morgan peeking through the bushes at Bill

Morg wanted to walk in front and wouldn't hold still when asked (at all), but she climbed sand dunes and went through Mesquite trees like she'd been born to do it.  Couldn't get her to focus on the obstacles if she saw Majesty, and we spent the "rest" time running around bushes and up and down dunes.  Did great on walking trough creepy/close quarter obstacles.  Walked in then backed out of a thicket, and walked down a steep hill.  We need to work on side passing - we could not do the "open and shut" the gate.  But, by then my mild headache had turned into a full blown throbbing ache.  We got ahead of the group and let Majesty and Morgan flat out run for a good stretch, then turned and ran back to the group.  She walked home as quiet as you please, and was covered in sweat, salt, and sand.  Loaded like a champ!

What did I learn?
1) work on side passing
2) she does not like to be in the back
3) she follows too closely
4) she has way more energy than I thought.  Spent most of my time pulling her back/off others. Shoulders ached for 2 days.
5) she does not like to stand still
6) climbs dunes like a rock star!
7) we do better alone than in backs.  Bill says she needs more saddle time.
8) she kept a wary on on the dogs with us. Not sure about that.

We will be leading a group for the ACTHA ride next week.  Ought to be interesting.

Good note: Todd commented that I got after Morgan - he said it like it was a compliment

November 3, 2012 - 45 minutes

Morgan & Mochie
Saddled up Morgan and ponied Mochie for a walk around the "block."  Had a little trouble getting them into position to mount - an extra pair of hands would have been really helpful.  Went down the north driveway and turned west to the corner.  

Morgan made Mochie trot at a few spots, but they easily slowed to a walk when asked.  Tried to trot the last stretch home, but Mochie was too lazy.

Unhooked Mochie and took Morgan out by herself.  We wandered through the open desert and walked calmly home, even when a 4 wheeler passed us on the road.  Took a few pictures and thought again that the best view in world is between Morgan's ears :)

* took pics from saddle