Back in the Saddle

Picture of Blaze ready for me to work him while Smarty looks on.

I rode Cayenne in the short shank Monte Foreman curb to pony Blaze today. She did fine as she’s pretty good about neck reining with some reminders. I tied Ziva up with a braided twine “rope” to keep her at the barn while I rode up the paved road. I intended to get to the gravel (mud) road and take Cayenne and Blaze for a good gallop. I hadn’t made it far when Blaze kept listening behind us. I looked back and there was Ziva, trotting along with a short chunk of twine on her collar. I just had to smile and turn back. She’s afraid of strange dogs and leery of strange people so it would be no fun for either of us if she went up the road with me and we ran across either. She can’t help herself and won’t listen 100% when she’s scared and I don’t want her hurt or lost. Kelsie was my 100% dog. She would listen if the world was falling down around her ears.

I’ve had two days of good working weather since our ice slick has dissipated. I’ve been ground driving Blaze but rode him yesterday and today. He’s no trouble and seems to want to stay on his hind end like his sister. Today, I drove him out through the woods and then got on and rode the same path once we got back to the barn. I left him tied while I cleaned pens and then rode him on the same path only in reverse. It’s just a short loop that takes probably four minutes but it’s something. I trotted him a bit towards the end of the last loop. I wish the ground was better so I could start loping him. He’s pretty behind for eight rides compared to where I know he could be (even though five of those rides were last fall) but it’s not his fault. He’s turning on the forehand with ease and getting some leg yield steps out in the open. He’s very sensitive, which I like, and wants to learn. He’s my resident hot-head though so it’s probably good that I’m forced to take it slow!

I did more ground work with Smokey. She has such a sweet personality. She picks up on things quickly. If the weather holds, I should make good progress with her.

Smarty got ridden yesterday but I ran out of time today. He moved back into the barn after I accidentally let him out of this other pen on Monday. It’s not a good feeling to feed in the morning and discover your stallion is gone! It’s the first time he’s escaped and I just assumed that all hell would break loose if he ever did so the silence was disconcerting. The girls were unmolested in their pens and the boys were just hanging out waiting for breakfast. I started calling and looking around when Smarty’s head poked out from behind the house. He walked up like, “What are you hollering about?” From what I can tell, all he did was eat on Pepper’s alfalfa round bale and empty the twine trash and eat all the hay pieces out of it. He didn’t even try to get into the grain barrel or visit with the other horses much. Ziva would have barked and/or I would have heard them if they were squealing or running. I swapped Pepper back into the hillside corral and put Smarty in the barn. His stall isn’t finished but he doesn’t care. It’s easier having him handy to ride.

A Beautiful Day!

I had a great day working horses! The weather was beautiful! Sunshine and blue skies with only a couple inches of crusty snow.

The holidays are over and I’m looking forward to a wonderful riding season. I’ve ridden Cayenne somewhat regularly over the past couple weeks but the rest of the crew has been mostly neglected. I’ve worked Smokey a bit on the ground as her manners need improving. She’s not mean in any way, just overly pushy and non-responsive to pressure for me! I like my horses a touch on the hot side (just a smidge) and she’s not, which is great of most people. That will help her in the kids/novice rider department later.

Today, I ponied Blaze, my now 3yr old gelding. I ponied him yesterday and ground drove him. I looked at my calendar and I put a total of 5 rides on him last fall but he’s not a dead head I feel comfortable getting back on so green! After ponying him today, I ground drove him and then got on and rode him for a few minutes a couple different times. He has been nothing but a gentle character under saddle but I’ve seen that boy move out in the pasture! If I can train him up right, he should be an amazing athlete.

In the midst of working with Blaze today, I took Cayenne for a ride around the property and up the road a ways. She’s full of energy and it’s unfortunate that I can’t lope circles and work on stops and such. The footing in the meadow was good enough to do some stops and rollbacks at a trot. I’m trying to work on all the slow stuff I neglect when I can lope around doing flying lead changes! I’m walking her in lots of circles and winding her down to a hind foot pretty good.

I brought Smarty into the barn and tied him opposite of Cayenne. Thankfully she’s not acting in heat and didn’t cause any trouble. I rode Smarty and sure do enjoy that guy. I have been contemplating gelding him since I don’t breed many mares and would rather spend my time and money riding than buying mares and raising foals. One or two foals every other year would be plenty for me and although I love Smarty’s foals, I can probably buy prospects rather than raise them. His foals have all been very easy to train and showing to be quite athletic, as they should be. While working with and riding him today, I asked myself, “Why would you want to geld a stallion that is so easy to deal with?” He said not one word or took one misstep and is a true pleasure to ride. I guess I’ll just start hauling him to more extreme trail competitions this year.

I put a bridle on Smokey, which I haven’t done yet. I put my fat three-piece “dog bone” snaffle on her and let her get used to it in the round pen for a bit. After working Blaze again, I did some groundwork with Smokey. She’s very smart and picked up quickly. I was a bit put out by her ground manners earlier in the week but she redeemed herself in a snap. I took her out for a walk and some groundwork where there were more distractions. Since the ground is too icy in the round pen, I intend to drive her for a while and do as much on the ground as possible before getting on her out in the open. I’m sure she won’t do anything as she doesn’t seem to have an excitable nature but I’m better safe than sorry!

Every day is a good day when working with horses but particularly good days really make the spirit soar! Today was motivating. I have a good group to work with and feel very fortunate!