Rode Majesty, Mustang & Morgan
Intended to start with Sabi, but Maji wanted to go, so I took him out for a quick spin (20 min). Didn't let him go too far or fast because he is out of shape. He spooked at the tarp covering the feed and again when he put his nose in the feed trailer. So cute!
Rode Sabi outside the arena for the first time! Mounted without the stool (took two tries) and then we wandered around the house and out in the desert behind the stalls. Had her trot back to our yard, but had trouble stopping her ... had to go round in circles a few times before we stopped. I got mad and snapped at her. Made her walk, stop, walk, trot, walk, stop for a while before I felt comfortable letting her an a loose rein. We need more saddle time together, but she exceeded my expectations.
No running off, no bucking, no real fighting, and no spooking. Had her go all the way around the house and trotted in the turn out. She always gives a crow hop when i first ask for a trot, but no adverse behavior when asked for a canter. It was lovely! I would describe it as floaty ... her stride is so much longer than Morgan. All said and done, I think she did rather well. I wouldn't hesitate to ride her again.
Since Morgan was jealous, I took her for a jaunt. We had to argue about standing still while mounting, but that was our only "issue." We wandered round the house until she decided to go in to the open area behind the stalls. She continued on until we hit the "street." It had been flooded out and washed away in the heavy rains. The ground was still soft, but she handled herself admirably and continued around the "block." I let her canter home from the neighbor's driveway and it was joyous! So in love with her!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
August 28, 2012 - Full Moon
Was windy and rainy for 2 weeks. Washed out driveways and flooded paddocks. Too yucky to ride.
Saddled Morg as the sun dipped behind the mountain. Full moon and breezy, but light enough to see. She was cautious but not not spooky. Rode around the yard for 20 minutes with no problems at all. For our first "night" (twilight) ride, I couldn't be happier ... she tried so hard and I appreciated her efforts!
Saddled Morg as the sun dipped behind the mountain. Full moon and breezy, but light enough to see. She was cautious but not not spooky. Rode around the yard for 20 minutes with no problems at all. For our first "night" (twilight) ride, I couldn't be happier ... she tried so hard and I appreciated her efforts!
Monday, August 6, 2012
August 6, 2012
** August 4, 2012 - Majesty and Morgan: hooves trimmed **
Planned on taking Sabi out since she was in the turn out, but something made me put her away. I pulled out the saddle and Morg practically put it on herself she was so ready to go.
* Noticed the left flap on the saddle is separating. Have to watch it
We walked out in the open area behind their stalls, about 3/4 of the way to the street before I mounted. She does much better without the stool. She blasted back the way we came and continued past the shed and down the driveway. She wanted to go left but I turned her round and we ran back ... she lost footing and then began to walk. She wasn't pulling , so I let her head round the top of the turn out and along the fence line.
Sun was in our eyes, so I turned her around again. This time we went left at the end of the driveway, but the yard art, and over to the planter where we stopped to snack. I moved her on, making our way through the narrow walkway and two steps on the cement with no hesitation. She eyed the PT Cruiser as if it would eat her, but ignored the other 3 cars. Who knows?
Down the driveway, over to the goats, back round the tack shed, big spook (two huge side steps) and then near the propane tank to eat grass by the cat condo. She was responsive, kept a great pace, and (mostly) level-headed.
She would have headed out to the open desert - heck, she would have gone anywhere I asked - she wanted to get out and have fun.
Love, love, love her!
Planned on taking Sabi out since she was in the turn out, but something made me put her away. I pulled out the saddle and Morg practically put it on herself she was so ready to go.
* Noticed the left flap on the saddle is separating. Have to watch it
We walked out in the open area behind their stalls, about 3/4 of the way to the street before I mounted. She does much better without the stool. She blasted back the way we came and continued past the shed and down the driveway. She wanted to go left but I turned her round and we ran back ... she lost footing and then began to walk. She wasn't pulling , so I let her head round the top of the turn out and along the fence line.
Sun was in our eyes, so I turned her around again. This time we went left at the end of the driveway, but the yard art, and over to the planter where we stopped to snack. I moved her on, making our way through the narrow walkway and two steps on the cement with no hesitation. She eyed the PT Cruiser as if it would eat her, but ignored the other 3 cars. Who knows?
Down the driveway, over to the goats, back round the tack shed, big spook (two huge side steps) and then near the propane tank to eat grass by the cat condo. She was responsive, kept a great pace, and (mostly) level-headed.
She would have headed out to the open desert - heck, she would have gone anywhere I asked - she wanted to get out and have fun.
Love, love, love her!
Friday, July 27, 2012
July 27, 2012
** Christopher left. **
I'm sure I did something with the horses, but I forgot to record it.
I'm sure I did something with the horses, but I forgot to record it.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
July 15, 2012 - Sundance's Pullback Issue
** July 14, 2012 - Christopher came home **
Morgan, Dance, and Mochie (Smoke) were in the turn out. I started to groom Morg, but Mochie kept butting in and cuddling. I groomed her and tossed on the saddle pad, but she walked to the very last stall and put herself away. sigh.
I saddled up Morgan (which is what I wanted to do initially). Since Dance was hanging around I figured I could pony her. I tied her to the saddle horn and started to lead Morg ... Dance pulled back and untied the lead. I retied a bit better and tried again ... same result. The third time I tied it better and started to lead Morg, but Sundance pulled back so hard she pulled Morgan back a step or two, and Dance continued to pull back (enough so her front hooves came off the the ground). Morga held steady and didn't panic. I got around to the other side and untied Dance once she stopped pulling. Morgan is amazing.
I put Dance away and rode Morg around. The weather was 70 degrees, cloudy, slightly windy and the ground was damp from 2 days of rain ... perfect riding weather to go fast!
I walked Morgie to the end of the driveway and tried to mount while having her stand in sand deeper than the packed stuff she was used to; took us 5 tries before she held still. To her credit, Bill was feeding everyone else while she was having to work.
We blasted down the driveway, to the front of the house, turned and blasted back tot the turn out gate. We sauntered over to the feed trailer and Bill gave her a cube before we headed to the open desert by their stalls. She got a bit nervous and I had to ask twice, but we made it to the bush I had selected before we turned and came back to the feed trailer. Once more up the driveway (that was a bit of a discussion) before we ran back down the driveway, round to the front, and then stopping at the tack shed.
Morgan is amazing. Simply amazing ... I couldn't ask for more!
** note to self: don't ride horses in capri pants. Right leg bruised below kneww. Doh! **
Morgan, Dance, and Mochie (Smoke) were in the turn out. I started to groom Morg, but Mochie kept butting in and cuddling. I groomed her and tossed on the saddle pad, but she walked to the very last stall and put herself away. sigh.
I saddled up Morgan (which is what I wanted to do initially). Since Dance was hanging around I figured I could pony her. I tied her to the saddle horn and started to lead Morg ... Dance pulled back and untied the lead. I retied a bit better and tried again ... same result. The third time I tied it better and started to lead Morg, but Sundance pulled back so hard she pulled Morgan back a step or two, and Dance continued to pull back (enough so her front hooves came off the the ground). Morga held steady and didn't panic. I got around to the other side and untied Dance once she stopped pulling. Morgan is amazing.
I put Dance away and rode Morg around. The weather was 70 degrees, cloudy, slightly windy and the ground was damp from 2 days of rain ... perfect riding weather to go fast!
I walked Morgie to the end of the driveway and tried to mount while having her stand in sand deeper than the packed stuff she was used to; took us 5 tries before she held still. To her credit, Bill was feeding everyone else while she was having to work.
We blasted down the driveway, to the front of the house, turned and blasted back tot the turn out gate. We sauntered over to the feed trailer and Bill gave her a cube before we headed to the open desert by their stalls. She got a bit nervous and I had to ask twice, but we made it to the bush I had selected before we turned and came back to the feed trailer. Once more up the driveway (that was a bit of a discussion) before we ran back down the driveway, round to the front, and then stopping at the tack shed.
Morgan is amazing. Simply amazing ... I couldn't ask for more!
** note to self: don't ride horses in capri pants. Right leg bruised below kneww. Doh! **
Monday, July 9, 2012
July 9, 2012
Took Wasabi for a walk and practiced tying her off for periods of time. She smelled the propane tank, sniffed the PT Cruiser, put her head over the goat fence, and walked the narrow space between the goat fend and the upside down roof. She's not afraid of anything - for better or worse.
Temperatures over 110 degrees all week - so no riding for the horses.
Temperatures over 110 degrees all week - so no riding for the horses.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
July 8, 2012 - Wasabi's Saddle Training
Saddled up Wasabi and had Bill lead her around with halter/rope combo while I sat in the saddle. Did pretty well, no spook, but for the first lap around the house, her head was up and she wanted the lead. Kept trying to get ahead of Bill. He kept having to circle her to keep her in line, but by the second lap her head came down and she was better.
Never felt nervous; in fact I felt encouraged about riding her.
Never felt nervous; in fact I felt encouraged about riding her.
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