Saturday
We got out late today because my car was dead at school and my dad had to come jump it. =/ Thankfully it's working now and he charged up the battery so it should work for a while!
That said, my dad had to stay home because he would've been late for work otherwise. It was so nice going and not having to rush. I got our new carrot stick in the mail, so I used that with Brie. She didn't seem too into working today. She barely came out of a walk on the longe. I think it was because it was so hot out today. We played a bit of the friendly game, yo yo game, and porcupine game. I can't get the front end down pat yet. Instead of moving sideways, she just goes forward and I don't know how to get her to change it. I need to look into it more.
She's been giving me trouble on the mounting block lately, so I squeezed her between the block and the fountain next to the sound board. She knew it was coming from last week, so she resisted, but I got her in there. I didn't get on and go right away, but got on and off a couple of times, that way maybe she would get the picture that I want her to stand still at the block. She was doing so well but now she's testing me again!
She had a wonderful walk and we walked outside a bit in the arena too. She was a little hyper walking around the fields, but manageable and good all the same. She got a bath afterwards and I led her out for some grass =]
Sunday
This is it. The last day of posting. I feel like maybe I should've done something more, but this was really a perfect day. What a great ride to make a last post about.
I played with the carrot stick more with Brie today and tried to do the driving game but she was not having it. I think she actually fell asleep...it was pretty warm out, so I don't blame her. The mounting block was better today and she was a little limpy at the beginning but worked it out. She had a wonderful walk, corto, and largo. I couldn't ask for more. If she keeps up calm like that, we'll definitely win at Michigan.
After we worked, we went outside and walked around. She actually walked!! We had a slow corto going too. She was absolutely amazing. No issues, no drama, just a great, enjoyable ride. Like I said, even though it was nothing spectacular, it was spectacular just in itself. I couldn't have asked for a better ride than that to make my last post about.
After the ride, I gave her another bath and grass, like yesterday, fly sprayed her up, and gave her carrots. Today was the exact kind of day that everyone dreams about at the barn, and I wish I didn't have to ever leave.
This weekend we might not be going out, because we're trying to go to Spectrum in Miami. It's a giant horse show down there, bigger than Nationals even, and we've always wanted to go check it out and now we have the chance, so we'll see.
This feels so weird, knowing I'm not going to post anymore. I'll see where we're at with shows at the end of the summer and make that my final update on this blog. I don't know what's in store for me in the future, with graduation next month and law school starting in August, but I hope that I still have time to ride. Riding is what I look forward to the most in my life, like I'm sure it is for many. It gives me time to focus on animals that need me to take care of them, a chance to bond with them, and a way to get away from all of the problems from the rest of my life to just focus on what is right there in front of me. I have to say that I'm sad, ending this blog, but I know it's just opening up for a new journey ahead. Who knows, I may start another one, and this time I may even be a real horse trainer. Not just a horse trainer in training.
So with this post, I wish you all luck on your journeys with your horses, wherever you may be. Don't ever give up on them, because even if it takes 3 years, you will get to where you want to be and you will never regret it.
With love,
Lexa
Monday, May 20, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Days 297 & 298
Saturday
Only two more days left!!!
Thursday was Nina's birthday! Happy 7th Birthday, Nina! =] She still is a little baby horse to me <3 p="">
I didn't really work Brie today. We mostly just kind of walked around a bit to stretch out in the indoor and then went outside to go find where my mom and brother went. My mom was working Harry in the round pen and he looked good! If there was a round pen class, he would win it. I don't get how he is perfectly okay going in a circle and pretty much okay going around outside, but when he is in the arena, if he largos, he has a tendency to pace.
After my mom was done, we went for a walk around outside. All was going well until we started to come back. My brother just lets Nina go wherever she wants to outside, even if it's away from us, but Harry always wants to be by Nina so if she starts to go away, he wants to catch up to her. Well Nina started to walk back to the barn and Harry was back with me and Brie, a ways away from Nina. We were walking back to the barn too, but Harry wanted to catch up to Nina. My mom let him go into a largo but he tried to start cantering. First of all, Harry doesn't even have the coordination to do a canter. Really, it's true! He never picks up the right lead! And it takes him a while to pick it up. So as he was trying to pick up his canter, my mom started bouncing in the saddle and started to fall over. She almost righted herself, but not enough, so she rolled out of the saddle and into the grass. Thankfully, she is okay.
When that happened, Harry turned around and looked at her on the ground and backed up a little bit before standing still and putting his head towards the ground. He was looking at her like, "Momma? What are you doing down there??" It was the cutest face! I was scared he was going to bolt, but he just stood there as I got off Brie and went over by him to hold him and help my mom up. She got back on and rode Harry back to the barn by the outdoor arena and worked him in there for a while, but he was pretty shaken up after she fell off so he wasn't really cooperating. We brought them all in and brushed them off before we gave them some giant carrots for Nina's birthday.
Sunday
Happy Mother's Day! I made my mom pancakes today before we went to the barn.
I worked Brie today. She was a little canter-y on the corners, so I was working on slowing that down. She was coming along great! I really want to show her at Michigan.
Mom and Harry worked more in the round pen before we walked around outside for a bit. Brie has gotten this nasty habit now of trying to race to the little hill in the back as soon as we get out the door. She likes to look over everything. But she has to know that she can't do that if I don't want her to do that! No one fell off today, which is great =]
We came in and Jane was having a hard time with Taco. She just got a new jaquima for him and he was acting up and cantering the board and generally not listening to her. My mom adjusted it because it was pretty tight and then raised the bit because that was pretty low. No wonder he was being weird, he was uncomfortable in the face and lax in the mouth! After that he was a little better for Jane, but still was being weird and spinning the reverse back onto the board, so my mom offered to get on.
Taco was super good with my mom! He was gaiting and looked fantastic. Super fabulous. I forgot how pretty he could look. And he sounded like a train! If that was a class, he would've one first place. After my mom got off, Jane got back on and he was better for her, but she needs to work on faking him out before he reverses back onto the board because he anticipates it and spins it, which could lead to Jane falling off if he goes too fast. After her short little trial, she was satisfied with him being nice to her and got off.
Then she offered him to me. I haven't ridden Taco in a long time, not since last year when I was trying to train to bring him to the State Fair because Paco was complaining about it. Paco didn't want anyone else to ride Taco and complained to Jane that I was screwing Taco up, even though he was getting better with me at the time. So I got mad and just stopped. So I was iffy when Jane asked me to ride him, but I did after my mom pressed me on. Taco was like a dream! He wasn't pulling like he used to, he was practically floating. I would love to show him, but I don't know if I want to deal with the sass and remarks from people about what I do when I ride him.
Finally, I don't know whether we're going to go to a Parelli clinic or the Michigan show...if we went to the Michigan show, I could show Brie for the first time in years, and I'd really like to because she's coming along great. I would also miss my friend's graduation...If we went to the Parelli clinic, we would bring Harry, and I think it would be beneficial for him in the long run. I could then potentially go to my friend's graduation. I really don't know what to do. I was so set on showing Brie this year and I'm not sure if I'll have the chance to again this season if I don't go to Michigan. I don't know what to do.
Only two more days left!!!
Thursday was Nina's birthday! Happy 7th Birthday, Nina! =] She still is a little baby horse to me <3 p="">
I didn't really work Brie today. We mostly just kind of walked around a bit to stretch out in the indoor and then went outside to go find where my mom and brother went. My mom was working Harry in the round pen and he looked good! If there was a round pen class, he would win it. I don't get how he is perfectly okay going in a circle and pretty much okay going around outside, but when he is in the arena, if he largos, he has a tendency to pace.
After my mom was done, we went for a walk around outside. All was going well until we started to come back. My brother just lets Nina go wherever she wants to outside, even if it's away from us, but Harry always wants to be by Nina so if she starts to go away, he wants to catch up to her. Well Nina started to walk back to the barn and Harry was back with me and Brie, a ways away from Nina. We were walking back to the barn too, but Harry wanted to catch up to Nina. My mom let him go into a largo but he tried to start cantering. First of all, Harry doesn't even have the coordination to do a canter. Really, it's true! He never picks up the right lead! And it takes him a while to pick it up. So as he was trying to pick up his canter, my mom started bouncing in the saddle and started to fall over. She almost righted herself, but not enough, so she rolled out of the saddle and into the grass. Thankfully, she is okay.
When that happened, Harry turned around and looked at her on the ground and backed up a little bit before standing still and putting his head towards the ground. He was looking at her like, "Momma? What are you doing down there??" It was the cutest face! I was scared he was going to bolt, but he just stood there as I got off Brie and went over by him to hold him and help my mom up. She got back on and rode Harry back to the barn by the outdoor arena and worked him in there for a while, but he was pretty shaken up after she fell off so he wasn't really cooperating. We brought them all in and brushed them off before we gave them some giant carrots for Nina's birthday.
Sunday
Happy Mother's Day! I made my mom pancakes today before we went to the barn.
I worked Brie today. She was a little canter-y on the corners, so I was working on slowing that down. She was coming along great! I really want to show her at Michigan.
Mom and Harry worked more in the round pen before we walked around outside for a bit. Brie has gotten this nasty habit now of trying to race to the little hill in the back as soon as we get out the door. She likes to look over everything. But she has to know that she can't do that if I don't want her to do that! No one fell off today, which is great =]
We came in and Jane was having a hard time with Taco. She just got a new jaquima for him and he was acting up and cantering the board and generally not listening to her. My mom adjusted it because it was pretty tight and then raised the bit because that was pretty low. No wonder he was being weird, he was uncomfortable in the face and lax in the mouth! After that he was a little better for Jane, but still was being weird and spinning the reverse back onto the board, so my mom offered to get on.
Taco was super good with my mom! He was gaiting and looked fantastic. Super fabulous. I forgot how pretty he could look. And he sounded like a train! If that was a class, he would've one first place. After my mom got off, Jane got back on and he was better for her, but she needs to work on faking him out before he reverses back onto the board because he anticipates it and spins it, which could lead to Jane falling off if he goes too fast. After her short little trial, she was satisfied with him being nice to her and got off.
Then she offered him to me. I haven't ridden Taco in a long time, not since last year when I was trying to train to bring him to the State Fair because Paco was complaining about it. Paco didn't want anyone else to ride Taco and complained to Jane that I was screwing Taco up, even though he was getting better with me at the time. So I got mad and just stopped. So I was iffy when Jane asked me to ride him, but I did after my mom pressed me on. Taco was like a dream! He wasn't pulling like he used to, he was practically floating. I would love to show him, but I don't know if I want to deal with the sass and remarks from people about what I do when I ride him.
Finally, I don't know whether we're going to go to a Parelli clinic or the Michigan show...if we went to the Michigan show, I could show Brie for the first time in years, and I'd really like to because she's coming along great. I would also miss my friend's graduation...If we went to the Parelli clinic, we would bring Harry, and I think it would be beneficial for him in the long run. I could then potentially go to my friend's graduation. I really don't know what to do. I was so set on showing Brie this year and I'm not sure if I'll have the chance to again this season if I don't go to Michigan. I don't know what to do.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Day 296
Sunday
We didn't end up going out yesterday because on Friday, our new puppy, Pepina, accidentally ate one of my brother's pills and she had to stay in the overnight ER. She is okay, thank God, but we stayed home on Saturday just to make sure that she returned to her normal, happy self.
I rode Brie today, since we're aiming to take her to the Michigan show next month, and I wanted to make sure that she stays focused and calm like she has been. We rode in the outdoor arena because it was absolutely beautiful out today, even a bit hot!
I never thought I would say this, but I think that Brie is pretty much finished. At 11 years old, I think that she is done trying to one-up us and has settled into the program -- we come out, we pet her, we groom her, we want to have a nice ride, we give her carrots, we go home for a week. Her attitude is completely relaxed in comparison to the whole rest of her life. I have to say, I think it's probably the magnesium that she's on that's helping break down the sugar in her blood so she's not so hyper all the time. But I also have to give us some credit. Without our understanding and patience, I'm sure she'd still be a crazy fool.
We had a beautiful ride and even did a slow canter...A SLOW CANTER. It was fantastic! And also she was strangely nice to Sadie today, and Sadie was nice to her...we think it's because there's a new mare on our side, Isabel. Brie and Sadie hated each other, but maybe they're teaming up against Isabel. Thankfully they're not all put out together!
My mom was having a hard time with Harry today. I blame it entirely on the wind, which is kind of dumb, but horses make up things in their heads to be afraid of, and it was pretty windy outside. So my mom took him in the indoor, and then the round pen, where he apparently had a magnificent largo. I wish I would've watched, but Brie and I were roaming around the property at that time. Once Harry came out of the round pen, he joined Brie, Nina, and Sadie for a ride around the property. We went a little ways down the street before a big gust of wind came by and Harry got a little iffy, so we turned around and went back.
Afterwards, we scrubbed them with a good bath! Brie was soooo dirty. When I was brushing her at first, the more I brushed, the more dust came up! She was pretty grey by the time she was "clean"! After a good bath, they all felt smooth and I took them out for some grass in the sun before bringing them back in and worming them. For me, it was the perfect day at the barn. Doesn't get much better than that!
We didn't end up going out yesterday because on Friday, our new puppy, Pepina, accidentally ate one of my brother's pills and she had to stay in the overnight ER. She is okay, thank God, but we stayed home on Saturday just to make sure that she returned to her normal, happy self.
I rode Brie today, since we're aiming to take her to the Michigan show next month, and I wanted to make sure that she stays focused and calm like she has been. We rode in the outdoor arena because it was absolutely beautiful out today, even a bit hot!
I never thought I would say this, but I think that Brie is pretty much finished. At 11 years old, I think that she is done trying to one-up us and has settled into the program -- we come out, we pet her, we groom her, we want to have a nice ride, we give her carrots, we go home for a week. Her attitude is completely relaxed in comparison to the whole rest of her life. I have to say, I think it's probably the magnesium that she's on that's helping break down the sugar in her blood so she's not so hyper all the time. But I also have to give us some credit. Without our understanding and patience, I'm sure she'd still be a crazy fool.
We had a beautiful ride and even did a slow canter...A SLOW CANTER. It was fantastic! And also she was strangely nice to Sadie today, and Sadie was nice to her...we think it's because there's a new mare on our side, Isabel. Brie and Sadie hated each other, but maybe they're teaming up against Isabel. Thankfully they're not all put out together!
My mom was having a hard time with Harry today. I blame it entirely on the wind, which is kind of dumb, but horses make up things in their heads to be afraid of, and it was pretty windy outside. So my mom took him in the indoor, and then the round pen, where he apparently had a magnificent largo. I wish I would've watched, but Brie and I were roaming around the property at that time. Once Harry came out of the round pen, he joined Brie, Nina, and Sadie for a ride around the property. We went a little ways down the street before a big gust of wind came by and Harry got a little iffy, so we turned around and went back.
Afterwards, we scrubbed them with a good bath! Brie was soooo dirty. When I was brushing her at first, the more I brushed, the more dust came up! She was pretty grey by the time she was "clean"! After a good bath, they all felt smooth and I took them out for some grass in the sun before bringing them back in and worming them. For me, it was the perfect day at the barn. Doesn't get much better than that!
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