VLC = Easy, fairly lazy
SSG = Easy, really lazy
Beautiful Thoroughbred Mare = Not gonna be lazy at all. LOL!
I got home late last night and still got three horses ridden. Woo hoo me! (I didn't get back in the house until 10:45 and I'm swilling coffee now to stay awake, but hey, I was productive!)
First off, the VLC. Boy was he good tonight. I did turn him out with the SSG first and made sure they did some running as he's been feistier than normal on the ground lately. The BTM arrived a few days ago, and he is in love. He cannot have her, and this has been explained to him, but she is in heat and lives three stalls down so he moons over her and tries to whinny and put on a show for her when I lead him past. He is normally really good about ignoring mares - this one is just, apparently, super sexy. However, she has aborted her previous foals at 10 months due to placentitis, so her breeding career is officially over forever at age 8. Anyway, I turned the boys out and they played before we worked them. They are getting along great, which makes me very happy. Stallions need friends, but the VLC couldn't fit into the big stallion/gelding herd where I live because there's an APHA stallion that wants to eat him for lunch. And the VLC wants to eat his little brother, the BGY, for lunch, so they can't go out together. Fortunately, the SSG is the perfect match and they run around and have a great time together.
I was tired and I knew it, so I just had Josie hold everybody for mounting tonight. Better to wimp out than to be too slow on the reaction and have a stupid accident. Mounting remains the only difficult part of riding the VLC. Some days he's good, some days he's still very fidgety about it. Once I am up, it is easy from there on out. So last night I just had Josie hold him, up I went and off we went.
Well, last night he just did not put a foot wrong. He gave me the pretty, soft trot from the very beginning. We did a little bit of lope both directions and he was perfect. It is all so natural for him. He needs to tip his nose in a bit for the show ring, but other than that? The darn horse is practically ready to go. He goes naturally level with his neck, and I can't say enough excited things about what that lope is like to ride. I was saying last night that I've mostly ridden open show quality pleasure horses - the kind that want to drag themselves around by their forelegs. To show them, you glue your leg on them, drive with your seat and basically work your ass off to try to get some semblance of a pretty lope. My old Two Eyed Jack/Sugar Bars bred gelding was a fabulous show horse, but his natural gait was the four-beat. He was 15.3, built like a brick shithouse, and a lot of work to show. Positively exhausting, some days. Great trot, very hard to hold together at the lope. The VLC? Heck, he was born with that show ring lope. I've said before that I've never owned a horse this good - and now that I think about it, I do not think I have ever ridden a horse this good. Just amazing, the difference. Every day, I see more and more how much natural talent matters - and how rare it is. The same would go for anything. I'll bet in whatever discipline you ride, you've found that one horse to whom it just comes easy.
Those are the horses we need to breed more of. This is way more fun than trying to shove a square peg into a round hole, as I now realize I have done a lot of in the past. The Two Eyed Jack gelding was a wonderful show horse, but he'd probably have been much happier roping or something. He loved to run. I did let him run barrels and poles at the open shows for fun!
Moving on to the Small Spotted Gelding...good grief, this one makes the VLC look hard to break. He is SO EASY. Ride #5 and we walk on the wall both directions and trot both directions. No spook, no buck, no rubbernecking. Nothing. We hung a bit in his mouth tonight and he didn't care (see that, you silly VLC who thinks I am killing him?)The only thing that needs work is the "ho," but as Josie pointed out, that isn't something his previous ground work has focused on. He's learned all about moving forward and away from pressure and yielding his hindquarters, but "stop and glue your feet to the ground," not so much. So I have just employed one of my old OTTB tricks...I say ho twice (at the walk) and ask for it with seat and hands, and if he ignores me, I turn his nose into the wall. Of course that stops him, and then I pet him and tell him how good he is. He is catching on. He has a very different neck than the VLC - upright and almost like a gaited horse - so pulling on him is not such a good idea. I want him to stop off of seat so he doesn't pop his head. We are also continuing to work on bending, but I'm pleased to see he can and will relax and put his head down. I think that will continue to improve with work. I told Josie he'll be ready to make a sale video in two weeks, and I don't think I am exaggerating.
Finally, it was time to put a ride on the BTM, who arrived here Friday night. I believe the BTM went to the track but did not race (Karen, is that right?). She is eight years old, not going to be a broodmare, and needs to do something else. I turned her out in the arena to start. We always sit here going "wow, the VLC is soooo fast," because he likes to gallop in the indoor but...sheesh. The VLC is a turtle compared to this mare. This mare is FAST. FAST FAST FAST. Loves to run, and can throw some interesting looking bucks and twisty turns in the air into the mix as well.
Karen had warned me she was cinchy so we went slow with saddling. The only thing she did was look a little cranky when I went around and dropped the off side stirrup down after putting the saddle on her back. She was fine for the actual cinch, but I did go slow with it. (Well, I always do. Even on a non-cinchy horse, you don't want to just crank 'em up like you're tightening a corset. That annoys even the best tempered horse.)
I got on and could immediately tell there was a lot of horse there. A lot. This one is not going to be naturally slow, ha ha. She is going to be the type that needs a job and needs to be kept mentally busy to perform well. However - again, really can't complain. She was very forward at the walk but never tried to break into a trot, a pleasant surprise. I got her busy walking circles and figure 8's and she did very well, but she's going to be very different than the boys. She is naturally quick - very light on her feet. Would make a fabulous polo pony. Would be nothing to teach a rollback to. It did occur to me that if there is a spook here, it is going to be one hell of a spook and it would probably be best to invest in a pair of chaps! However, she didn't spook last night, or even look at anything funny, even though it was dark out and our arena is poorly lit. The tail was swishy but she is in raging heat so I assume that was most of it. She's probably a mare who is not very physically comfortable in heat, but if the worst she will do is swish her tail, I can't complain a bit. She is a big, strong mare, but she is kind and intelligent and I like her a lot. We'll just have to find something for her to do so she does not get bored and start looking for trouble!
That's the horse report for today. Off to get more coffee...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
41 comments:
Awesome. You really lucked out with the VLC! Just curious, are you planning on riding him both English and Western, or in a particular discipline? What are you long-term plans with him?
The long term plan on the VLC is AQHA working hunter. He needs an AQHA show record to be valuable as a stallion, but I seriously do not know of a pleasure horse trainer I trust not to put him in a twisted wire snaffle and start popping him in the face the second my back is turned. Or tie him around for four hours. Or tie up his head. They all scare the hell out of me. I worked in too many barns where that shit went on. So the compromise is working hunter...the trainers I have in mind are traditional h/j trainers who have warmbloods/Thoroughbreds and do AQHA circuit just for the fence classes. He is 16.2 and likes to jump - he'll step over those little AQHA fences, and I can already tell he's going to be easy to put a lead change on.
I told him one season, work hard and kick butt, and then you can come home and breed mares and be my trail horse - but you have to work hard for that one season!
The 4 day show we just finished-we trailered in rather than stall. All three mares in heat. Stallion just finishing up breeding season. One four horse trailer.
The boy was amazingly well behaved.
When does VLC with the next trainer?
I have NO CLUE about Honey (BTM)and her track record (or lack thereof). It's all a mystery...
I DO know I miss her much! Her deep little whicker doesn't greet me in the mornings. :O(
Pedigreequery says Honey had one start, did not place, no earnings. I'll nose around a bit more and see if I can find where that one start was. But I doubt I'll find out why there was only one start!
He'll go out in early 2010. First of all, I don't want him jumping before age 5 other than me popping him over X's...second of all it will take that long for me to figure out how to pay for it. Basically, it will cost my entire salary from both jobs, so I need for someone to support me during 2010 and pay all of my other bills. Any takers? hahahahahahaha...
Karen, she is such a sweet, sweet mare. I love her. She has such a kind eye and she has lovely manners - never pushy or bitchy. I feel kind of bad having swapped you Joy, who can be a crotchety old cow!
BTW, allergy report came back on Joy...um I might as well start looking to rehome her now, I don't think she will ever be able to live here. She is allergic to:
orchard grass
oats
apples
pretty much every weed known to mankind
We have every weed known to mankind here because my landlord does not believe in chemicals.
She is fine with alfalfa or timothy hay, and grains other than oats, and carrots.
Fugly,
About your blog on the butt bump on the VLC. I know you don't really like the natural horsemanship, but I like Clinton Anderson and LOVE his "human curry comb" I have done this on a super spooky mare that had had 180 days training but still flinched at any sudden movement. I worked her a little to take the edge off and then proceeded to do the human curry comb. To let you know how much this helped. I tripped and fell into her flank the other day (I'm super clumsy) and she side passed two steps and then turned and looked at me on the ground as if to say, "what are you doing down there?" She went from crazy run over you mare to the first in line to get a rub on the face.
It really helps to connect you with them too.
Sorry so long. I'm sure if you want a demonstration of this you can look it up on youtube under "human curry comb". Hope this may help. ;)
On the square peg in the round hole- After five years teaching my SPB to do English pleasure, I've finally given in to doing primarily western with him. We've been schooling him English because my background is h/j and because he's too fast/hot for W.P.
He's happiest going western, but I'm at a loss as to where we can take him from here. I think his background is all racer, but he's not built to hold up for games and is too squirrelly for the trails.
Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!
I must see this BTM!
Wow, it sounds like you are having some really good rides! Now BTM is going to keep you on your toes. Have you posted a picture of her yet? Any plans for her or is it too soon?
I know what you mean about trainers. Just when you think you have a good one, you walk out of the barn and they do what they want to do! Is there any reason you can't do the training for the jumping? Are you going to show VLC or is someone else? Will you stick to QH classes for points or also do traditional h/j?
Are you(and Josie)planning a pony hunter career for SSG?
I'm not planning to do anything but local showing with BCG so I'm hoping to do all the training/riding and use some lessons as my "groundperson". He is only three and also 16.2 so I also want to take it slow. He seems fine with that too since it seems like I'm interrupting him when I ask for a canter! He already has done a few crossrails.
I will probably show the VLC for experience at some local schooling shows, but his AQHA career will be with someone worthy of him...aka not me, ha ha. :-)
Will we show after he gets his AQHA points? Depends on if he likes showing or not. The only thing I'm requiring him to do to keep his testicles is earn at least an ROM but of course we'll try for some kind of national top ten or better. AQHA showing is extremely expensive, as I've noted, and there's a lot of travel involved so fairly hard on the horse. If he loves it and deals with it well, we may do more of it and try to put a Superior on him, but it's always going to be somewhat limited by the fact that I'm just not rich. While it'd be fun to try to follow in his famous uncle's footsteps (Favor Mr. Sabre, look up THAT show record on AQHA sometime if you want to see true versatility), I can only IMAGINE how much THAT cost and I'm pretty sure it was more than the cost of all the farms I've ever owned put together!
(Wonder if there are rules about sponsorships. Can I put logos on his saddle pad or something? Body clip advertising on his butt? LOL...)
The SSG's career will be at the discretion of his future owner. He will go up for sale as soon as he has a decent w-t-c under saddle. Honestly, he is such a quiet and sensible little guy that he'd be just ideal for a youth rider who wants to train their own greenie with the help of their trainer, or for a petite woman who wants a project from the "training him to bend/balance/learn new skills" perspective while avoiding the "airs above the ground" perspective. He could go a lot of directions as far as a discipline. I'm going to get video up on him probably sometime in the next month and you can check him out for yourself. May also drag him to the schooling show the end of August which would be cool as I believe they will have a pro photographer/videographer again.
And I need to take pics of the BTM. Most of Karen's are from when she first got her and she's shaggy and not as filled out as she is now. She is gorgeous right now. Ready for the A circuit, in terms of looks, if not training, haha!
VLC,
Are you going to be the one showing him and jumping him? And if so, you just might get that show bug and not want to only show one year.
And as for the big shows, chin up girl, who says your not worthy of your horsey and imagine the sense of accomplishment that you will have going up the levels with him.
I know when I started showing my meat special appy that it was a sloooooow process but the more we advanced and improved the more I felt like a part of a team. No one can get as much out of my horse as I can. There really is something to be said between the bond of a person and their horse. You may want to rethink that.
I could have sworn we were promised pictures... ;)
--
Just curious, what is his registered/barn name?
"She was fine for the actual cinch, but I did go slow with it. (Well, I always do. Even on a non-cinchy horse, you don't want to just crank 'em up like you're tightening a corset. That annoys even the best tempered horse.)"
I wish my riding buddies would read that... then they'd see I'm not the only one who doesn't just crank the cinch tight as soon as they saddle.
One tip for the BTM--my LSM actually wants to work harder and more intensely during the early phase of a heat cycle. Lots of canter work, lots of changes, lots of stuff to make her mind work. Then, when we're done, she's clearly more relaxed. She's pretty swishy and sensitive about leg during her heat cycle, so I've gone to a lot of seat cues with her.
http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii172/KarenVermillion/Honey/
The most recent photos of Honey can be see at my photobucket folder.
Pics are coming - it's the writer of the Sucker for Hard Luck Cases that is to blame, bwahahahaha! She took them and needs to burn them to a CD for me. You can hassle her in the meantime. ;-)
Sorry, I'm not going to show him myself at any level higher than "show clothes optional" LOL. I love the horse but he IS a stallion and he NEEDS to do well at the shows. It matters a lot for him and his future. Considering that I am forty years old and my previous level of accomplishment has never exceeded winning a lot of open show high points in rural Wisconsin and training some kids who did really well in short-stirrup, I think it's evident that I am not exactly Beezie Madden, and I'm never going to be. If he is going to be a stallion, and promoted as such, I owe it to him to give him the best of everything and the best chance for success. That isn't me.
At this point it is, because I can guarantee he'll be started right, not abused, and not soured. That's why I did this myself - but at some point I am going to have to trust somebody else to take it from here. I am leaning toward Hilary Carrel - I like what I know so far and she's not too far away. Of course I'm so paranoid I'll probably move to Wyoming for the year and volunteer as her stall cleaner just so I can be sure the VLC is happy and gets daily turnout...LOL!
VLC's registered name is Big Yellow Caddi (I love that name, I have a huge list of names for his future foals all made up...) and his barn name is Cecil.
Ah, I love that name!!
RE: Joy and her allergies...
I'm working on something that may get her to a point where she can live there relatively comfortably. I won't know if it'll work or not.
She got a "hot oil massage" on her hairless patches last night. I used M-T-G (Mane-Tail-Groom) It's VERY oily! She was totally digging it! Licking her lips, relaxed, one hoof cocked. Unfortunately, it's OIL so she will look like a mudball by tonight. But this stuff promoted hair growth, soothes the itchy's, etc.
I brushed out her mane and it was coming out in huge clumps! She got the oil treatment there too. And on the sides of her face. She thought she was in horse heaven. Warm oil, massage, no itchy. Aaaaahhhh!
She's only testy with the other horses. She hasn't been cranky with me. I'm taking photos tonight because she's gaining weight already and I was before and after photos.
So won't go to the pasture by herself, even though her gate is open. I noticed this morning she was sort of buddied up with Redman, so I'll open his gate tonight and see if she'll wander out with him.
Someone REALLY needs to show me how to create a blog. I want to start one called "Restoring Joy".
Yup, I used the MTG on her too. Smells like bacon! You can't get it off your hands but it does help.
However, I was warned that it reacts badly with sunlight so I stopped using it, fearing it was burning her and making things worse.
It's super easy to make a blog. Just login at www.blogger.com and they pretty much walk you through it step by step.
I love that you're giving her the royal treatment. At least now we know what the problems are. I kept thinking it was just lice and rainrot, but then I got those resolved and she was still rubbing all the hair off her shoulders and neck.
I had not heard about the MTG and sunlight. I'll watch her. If need be, she can get a bath. (It's warm enough, though she'll probably pout!)
Here's what I'm thinking with Joy. First of all, I'm cleansing her liver. A lot of times liver problems are manifested through the skin. So we'll do that.
With the allergies, those develop over time due to a variety of reasons, though in Joy's case, I think it had a LOT to do with her quality of nutrition overall, and lack of vitamins and minerals. I’m assuming that at some point she was probably bred, which would further deplete her mineral reserve. Nutrition and health directly affect the immune system. A “sickly” or compromised immune system would contribute to allergies. Perhaps with Joy, those allergies will never be completely resolved, but I’m hoping to get her some physical relief, and her owner some financial relief.
I know an equine nutritionist who is helping to move slowly through the process of “restoring Joy”. Liver first, then kidney, then eyes, then immune system. I think as things are resolved, symptoms of allergies and other issues will lessen.
Did you perchance have a blood panel run? (other than the allergy part?) She may be really low on her selenium (seeing how we DO live in the northwest...), which could also be contributing to the allergy reaction.
Can you send me a list of the things that you HAVE tried (supplements, topicals, etc) so I don't duplicate your efforts. I truely do believe that this is a manifestation of years of nutritional neglect. Sometimes hay and a salt block are just not enough....
Oh my gosh, look at her face! Absolutely gorgeous. Very elegant girl, a lot of the TB mares I've known have had rather plain heads, but she's got that lovely expressive face.
Baby's First Show!! I SURVIVED!!
He loaded and we headed for Brentwood (about 40 -60 min. drive) at about 7AM. We got there just before 8AM. He did his best imitation of a giraffe after we unloaded, and swiveled around every time a new trailer arrived, but kept snatching at his hay and finally seemed to relax a bit. I saddled and set him up for lungeing, intending to lunge in the show arena (the show didn't start until 9), but two western types were lungeing their dead quiet horses (WHY? You'd think they'd want SOME energy for showing in the AFTERNOON - all English classes in the morning), By this time, Mark was passageing on the lead line, whirling around me, high-blowing and flagging his tail like, presumably, his father (the A-rab). Sigh. At this point, I'm thinking, Hmmm.... probably not going to make it into the classes..... I took him to their round pen and he lunged like a maniac, 'tho he only bucked a little. I did NOT need a lunge whip, though I had one with me. LOL When he finally started listening to me, I noticed that one of the western horses had left the show arena, so I went in, snapped on the side reins, and he actually lunged like a normal horse, listening to my commands. After about 15 minutes, with great trepidation but a confident demeanor - or so I hoped - I put on my vest led him outside to the mounting block and got on. NOTHING happened!!! Whew!!!! Rode him back into the arena, and we worked for about 30 mins. around and about other horses lungeing (quietly, thank dog). One gal kept cracking her whip, but she was considerate enough to not crack it when I was going by. Mark got a little on the muscle at times, but was willing to relax. I stripped him down for the "halter" class, and of course, he was 2nd out of 2 to a straight shouldered, post-legged QH type that jogged when asked to display gaits. Yeah, I know Mark does not have perfect conformation, but he was much better than the QH. Whatever. I quickly saddled back up and after the interminable wait while "showmanship' was judged the big moment arrived. I found that my jacket wouldn't go over the vest, so I crossed my fingers and went vest-less. We went in for Green Horse/Pleasure/Walk/Trot, and later "W/T 18+ Over". NOW .... the entry blank specifically says Dressage/Hunt/Saddle seat permitted. But of course, the chubby cheeked cowboy hatted doofus that was the judge didn' t know what the heck to do with a 16.2 big-moving looks-like-an-Appy-but-obviously-isn't-a-Quarterloosa amid a ring of QHs, Paints and ponies, with me in my dressage saddle and asking him to keep a training level frame. I mean - even though it says dressage/hunt/saddle seat, he couldn't conceive of anything but placing horses in Kimberwickes, on slack reins, moving flat and slowly. Mark actually was not rushing or pulling or anything. He did a nice relaxed workingt trot - I even had to push him a little. He was a VERY good boy, he accepted contact and trotted quietly and didn't react adversely to the music or other horses in the ring. In fact, one gal got bucked off - fortunately on the other side of the arena from me - and Mark halted immediately and just watched. So, anyway, we were 4th out of 4 and 5th out of 6. I'm sure if the gal hadn't been bucked off, we would have be 6th out of 6. However, the main objective was achieved satisfactorily: He showed, with other horses, and behaved. The ribbons were meaningless, though one does have to shake one's head at the tunnel vision of AQHA-type judges.
I have a mare who's allergic to everything, and she does well with spirulina (I use the wafers from Springtime) and Vit. C added to her rations along with equiopathic allergy and asthma remedy (homeopathic).
If I'm consistent with that treatment she very rarely has a reaction.If she starts to react,I put her on tri-hist for a few days, then taper her back off. She has skin manifestations as well as runny eyes from her allergies.
I love MTG, I use it on my older stallion who is a compulsive tail rubber -- aka "the itchiest horse alive". It stinks to high heaven and does interesting things to silver jewelry, but it does work. I've also had good luck with microtek equys (rescue with severe rain rot + compromised immune system, she's now slick and shiny and rich coated) The equys comes in a spray so I could use it through our very severe winter with my rescue mare.
First off, let me say...Boys are STUPID! I just got a call from my 6' Toddler and he was laughing so hard, I couldn't figure out what the hell he was saying. I finally got him calmed down and this is how the phone call went:
Him: Nike got into the garage!
Me: What?! How did she get out of the pssture?
Him: Lex unhooked the gate
Me: You're damn horse better knock it off!
Him: She was in the garage trying to put her bridle on
Me: What?
Him: She had the bit in her mouth and one ear in and she was rubbing her head on the wall trying to get it over her other ear
Me: Bullshit, what was she doing in the garage?
Him: I told you!
Me: Is she back in the pasture?
Him: Um, ~pause~ ya, now she is.
Me: What did you do?!
Him: I just rode her down to the store and got a soda ~more laughter~
Me: But the saddle is in my car
Him: Duh!
Me: So you just rode a horse with MAYBE 10 rides on her down the road 2 miles to the store and back again? By yourself?
Him: Sorta
Me: What do you MEAN sorta?
Him: Well I DID ride her there and half way back, too
Me: And the other half?
Him: I dropped my soda, it busted open and started shooting soda everywhere and it got all over her...
Me: Did she dump your stupid ass?
Him: No, but reins were too sticky to hold so I just walked her back. She's covered in Mountian Dew right now. Want me to give her a bath?
Me: What do you think, dumbass?
Him: ~still laughing~ But she likes the taste of her legs!
I hung up on him. So, SSP got ridden today. To the store. On the road. Bareback. And got a Soda Bath!
Oh, Mary, that was GREAT! Thanks!
On my homefront, I caved yesterday and paid my BO to testride my SOG (Slightly Odd Gelding) for me. (My panic attacks at the very *thought* of getting into the saddle were not proving helpful to keeping him calm. I just felt I needed to see someone ELSE ride him, if that makes any sense.)
So BO played with him on the ground. Worked him in the round pen. Rode him bareback with just a halter. Rode him in an Aussie and a snaffle. Hmmm...did we leave anything out? He did a lot of the things that usually freak me out, which were somehow not so scary when they were being inflicted on someone besides me, lol. They both got through everything without major trauma, and at the end came the best part...
BO sat on him, grinned at me, and said "wanna ride now?" And my response? "Get OFF, I wanna get ON!" Oh, man, I can't begin to tell you how great it felt to just hop up on my horse without shaking, worrying, or otherwise freaking out! We just did a little bit of walk trot and lots of circles, but I was so thrilled! I was having FUN again!
I think this is the beginning of a beautiful thing with this horse. I see so much potential in him, and was getting fed up with myself for being such a wuss. Now I'm looking forward to the next time I get to ride him, instead of dreading having to work with a horse I'm scared of. YIPPEE!!!
Mary, TOO FUNNY!
Sandy, congrats on the show! Yeah, I know about the open show judges...but at least you got show experience.
Icepony, congratulations!
YOU go girl! My TB mare is a bit out in her hip and awaiting a chiro. She deserves it after a three day weekend clinic, with XC and then a lesson on long trotting/conditioning last Saturday with all her regular rides between. So Friday she gets CHIRO'd and her new shoes and a trim.
So I dragged out the Grumpy TB Gelding and put him back to work. He was in a FOUL mood b/c everyone was eating while we work and I mostly got a horrendous jarring trot with half-pinned ears, but we got a bit done. He may never be "happy" to work after his previous life.
Then I got my hubby on his 3YO and was having them work together (ride six or so?) on walking. He, too, was being a bit of a handful b/c of dinner...and DH was having to drag him around by his head and 3YO Mutt knows better as I extensively ground drove him.
So, I got on him and made his butt trot and he gave me tantrum but did what I asked (begrudgingly). He figured out that "dad" will put leg on and give up if you don't go forward but "mom" knows how to KEEP leg and and will kick your butt if you refuse to do something yoU KNOW how to do. When he finally let me get him to do a few laps and turns at the trot I stopped him, patted him and put him away.
All in all, a good thing the "other guys" got some ride time, but I swear I am spoiled with my 'trained' girl she is much more FUN! LOL
Hey I'm working on it...2 jobs and a stupid video camera and computer who refuse to talk to each other!
I have to call in one of my Cast Of Characters.....the EX... to make the dumb thing work.
Only got pics of the bath...the video is of the work in the round pen =)
I'm trying... honest!!
ok emailed the pis (8 total) to resqtb@yahoo.com
THere was some wierd funky stuff goiong on with the sun reflection
So where's a picture of this sexy mare?
Oh, and I really AM being good about blogging now- it is fun and I wish I had started sooner.
Even tho nobody reads it. :P
Someday hubby will find out that I'm keeping a blog nobody reads and make fun of me, but oh well.
Icepony: Believe it or not, after my TB mare cracked me in the face and knocked me out, I had that same fear about her! She was actually a really good girl, but we both had "off" days that sent my panic of her into overdrive. It wasn't until I saw someone ELSE ride her, without getting knocked out, before I could bring myself to get back on her.
Sandy: When I first started showing Tango, it was at local county fairs FULL of Quarters/Paints/Appies. I never knew what halter class to put him in since they didn't have a "Hunter" division. Since I refused to pull his mane, I put him in with the Pleasure stock. Shockingly, he did VERY well. Always placed in the top 2, no matter how many horses were in the class. I DID hang a sign around his neck, though, when we weren't in a class that said: "I will bite the next person that calls me a 'Really Big Quarter Horse.' I'm a THOROUGHBRED!" One thing I did learn...When in Rome, Do as the Romans do...
Kathy: There are 2 GREAT AQHA trainers out by me. They are both firm when needed, gentle as possible and have GREAT results! There is a kid (He's in this 20s...still a kid to me) that competes and WINS in AQHA Hunter, WP and other events. I've followed his family's result for a few years now. Ever since I was "spying" at the barn and saw how great they handled their horses.
I don't fall the AQHA world (Too many retards that says "I have an own son of ~fill in the name here~" I can't express enough how bad I want to donkey punch people that say that to me. YOU'RE AN IDIOT! I DON'T CARE! ~huff puff~) but I know this kid has gone to Congress shows and placed very well. He and his family do all of their training.
Here's his myspace page. I know I'm a wee bit too far, but between MN, IA, WI, OH and IL, we have soooo many HUGE HUGE AQHA shows ~insert eye roll and a gag~ since EVERYONE (but me) has one around here! http://www.myspace.com/notintoit
Hi all! I took Dude to the visiting (from Colorado!) Vet/Chiropractor yesterday. Dr. B found an immobile, spasming muscle on the offside 1st rib area that may be causing the cinchiness! It was adjusted along with lots of pelvic area adjusting. Plus Dr. B. did acupuncture! It was cool. I can ride him this weekend. Can't wait to see what happens!!
I think part of Markey-Mark's problem with this judge is that he IS an Appaloosa - an obviously so - but he's 16.2+ and no part of his conformation even slightly resembles the (now) "Normal" Quarterloosa. If he'd been a solid-colored horse, I think this guy might have made an adjustment and thought "TB" or "WB" - but no - an Appaloosa that doesn't look or move like the kind of Appies he's used to seeing - well, obviously that's WRONG. ROFLOL!!!
Ride 6 tonight. Didn't do much but get up and walk around a bit. He was really chewing the bit and there was a storm on the way. He's getting bored with what we're doing a bit and starting to think about acting up. I need to get him up into the trot but not ready to do it on my own yet. Wish I had more help :(
The statement about natural talent is definitely true. Sometimes, horses just don't fit into the mold you want them to. Take my Appendix QH gelding. He is super slow and quiet, but his headset? Terrible. Nothing more than open show quality. But, he's an excellent teacher, so open shows are all that's required of him at school.
I do have a new project now - my fairly rotund Kentucky Mountain Horse mare. Our goals are really lax, as she is going to be my training class project horse at college this fall and spring, but my goals are to have the edge knocked off and get her responsive under saddle, to make my training class easier, lol! I also want her to drop oh... 100 pounds or so. :) Planning on going from unstarted to green-broke! This blog has most certainly helped inspire me to make goals! :)
http://missythesagabegins.blogspot.com/
Post a Comment