Things have been in the works for quite awhile, but today I officially accepted a job in Indiana. I will be returning to my poultry industry background. I will start my new job in a couple weeks, although I'm leaving most of my stuff behind for now. My truck and bike both need some work before I drive them hundreds of miles in one stretch.
While Indiana isn't my favorite state, the opportunity is too good to refuse. Not quite the salary I was wanting, but lots of opportunities for growth within the company. I'm looking forward to a bright future, although I will certainly miss research work.
So here's to a bright new beginning! At least I will be able to see my nephews and nieces on a more regular basis. Lots of things will be happening very quickly in the next few weeks. I hope to still have time to pop in occasionally and keep all of my readers (yes, I know there aren't many of you :-P) updated on the latest and greatest.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
I learned the secret to the universe!!
Yes, it's true! On Saturday this, the greatest of realizations, was bestowed upon me by the wise, all knowing riders of the Waubonsie Saddle Club from Sidney, Iowa.
Let me start from the beginning.
Saturday morning, Julie and I trekked down I-29 to lovely Sidney, located just north of the border between Iowa and Missouri. She brought her dependable and gorgeous Vivian and I had my beloved and beautiful (but sometimes bratty) Spotted Boy Wonder. We planned on camping overnight, so after turning the ponies out to graze for a bit and stretch their legs in the corrals of the Fremont County Fairgrounds, Julie pulled out her truck tent. Between talking to other riders and setting up tent, we lost track of the time, and before we knew it we had only a half an hour to get the ponies ready!
I collected the kids and tied them to the trailer so we could groom and tack them. I had Zeplin in his normal rope halter and thought nothing of this. I have yet to ride him in a bit, and both of us are just fine with that arrangement. Bits are for refining communication but should not be necessary for controlling your loving equine. My training goal for Zeplin is to put him in a simple snaffle when we are ready to work on collection. Until then, we are happy in the halter with reins clipped to the loop under his jaw.
Zeplin was understandably nervous, having never been around such a large crowd of horses. There were probably about 30 riders altogether, a sizeable group but not overwhelming for my young, inexperienced gelding. He pranced a little but allowed me to mount without issues. We were the only ones using English tack (Julie had opted to bring her Circle Y trail saddle to use on Vivian). I had the only Ay-rab of the group, as well. He wasn't the youngest, though, as some lady was riding a 2.5 year old paint filly.
The ride started out through a muddy lot next to the corrals and some pens for 4H show cattle. Zeplin felt tense, unsure of himself amidst the array of strange horses and humans. I soothed him with my voice and patted his neck, bending him in both directions to help occupy his mind and ease his nerves. He whinnied repeatedly, still confused and worried about the crowd. We crossed a highway and headed up a gravel drive to a large pasture filled with Angus cows and their young calves.
At the top of a hill in the pasture the ride leader halted, presumably to wait for trailing members of the group. Zeplin had settled some, and I allowed him to graze a little to help him relax. While we waited, I fielded a few questions about my sweet spotted boy. This was the first time someone made note aloud about Zep's lack of a bridle. I heard one lady advise her riding companion to "steer clear" of my boy since he wasn't in a bit. Umm.... ok... So far the only things Zeplin had done were a result of lack of experience (whinnying, jigging a little, but nothing at all out of control).
After our brief hiatus, we continued down a gentle hill in the pasture and through another gate into another section, this one wooded. Zeplin and I are not used to hills, as the area around my house is table-top flat. I knew it would be an adjustment for him, and I was determined to help him out the best I could. The most difficult part was going down the hills, as he tried to balance both me and himself without falling flat on his face.
As we continued, Zep settled down more and enjoyed looking around at the scenary. Vivian nickered deeply at him anytime she lost sight of him briefly. Julie chatted amicably with the lady behind her. Zeplin didn't like having Vivi behind him, so I tried to keep him in front of her but not too close to the generous rear of the big Quarter Horse ahead. He became better and better at picking his way through the trees and down the slopes (although at one point we did get a vine wrapped around us because I steered him to the side to avoid running into the aforementioned QH gelding on a downslope). I mentioned to the lady on that QH about how all the logs on the path would force Zeplin to pay attention to where he placed his feet so that he wouldn't trip. "He tends to gawk around him instead of looking where he is going, so he sometimes trips," I told her, laughing.
"Have you tried a bit?" was her sage response. I was dumbfounded. What does using a bit have to do with getting my boy to be more aware of his feet.
"I plan on working more with cavaletti," I replied, still bemused at her remark.
It certainly was a lovely day for a ride. In the protected hills with the bright sun shining down on us and the clouds floating overhead, the hellish winter seemed to have occurred ages ago. Zeplin enjoyed himself immensely, walking forward with eagerness and pointing those curious ears ahead. Anytime we paused, I allowed him to grab some grass while I visited with other people. Vivian wanted to be attached at the hip to her pretty little boyfriend.
At about the two and a half hour mark, I could tell my sweet boy was feeling fatigued, although he gamely continued. We were headed down a slightly steep decline and back towards the main pasture from whence the ride started. "This is the last large hill, isn't it?" I asked Julie, relieved that we would be returning because my boy was tired, but sad to have the experience end as well.
"It should be," Julie answered. At the bottom of the hill flowed a small rivelet through a ditch. The group in front of us headed southeast from that point, and I thought it odd that we were not heading closer to the starting point. My worries grew even more when we rejoined a portion of the path on which we had already traversed and turned west again.
"We are looping around again?" I wondered, confused. I panicked a little, knowing my young boy was near the end of his endurance for now. I didn't want to push him beyond his limits and destroy the pleasure he felt in going out on excursions with me.
Julie cursed a little, noting that we were climbing back up a hill we had already covered. "Let's stop at the top to rest and let most of the group pass," she said. We allowed our tired mounts to graze while other riders continued on, oblivious to the condition of their own mounts. Zeplin was sweaty but still willing to do anything I asked of him.
At the crest of the hill, we slowly followed the others, still feeling frustrated and upset that we weren't headed back by now. Vivian, out of condition like Zeplin, showed her own signs of fatigue. "Look, that group looks like it's going back," Julie said suddenly, pointing to four horses and their riders who had split from the rest behind us and were headed back towards that hill we had just descended a short time ago. "Should we go with them?"
I heard someone mention in passing that the group was looking for a lost cell phone, but it was better to try our luck with them than to push our mounts anymore than we had already.
"Let's hurry so we don't lose sight of them," Julie said, pushing Vivi into a trot. Zeplin jounced along behind her. I didn't like rushing so much, but we didn't want to be left behind, either. We reached the top of the hill, and I called to Julie to slow down. Zeplin stopped, and I considered dismounting and leading him down. I could tell he really didn't have a lot of energy to tackle the downgrade. His very hesitance spoke volumes, as my boy rarely needs any kind of urging to move forward. I squeezed him lightly, asking him to try for me.
I tried to pick out the easiest route down the slope that I could find. The group on the bottom had spotted us and was patiently waiting for us to join them. Zeplin started down, but he would find himself unable to slow down, and he'd try to turn around to go back up. In stages we worked our way down, although towards the end he was speeding up and felt like he couldn't stop. He teetered on the edge of the ditch we had passed earlier with a trickle of water, but he managed to pull himself up. I landed on his neck but didn't fall off (although the sunglasses I had borrowed from Julie that were too large slipped off and landed on the ground). We were both relieved to be at the bottom of that hill, and I knew I couldn't ask that of him again on this ride. I'd get off before doing so.
After that, the going was much easier. Zeplin followed a man on his grey horse leading a buckskin paint that a boy was riding. The man cursed the paint mare, and at one point he dropped the lead rope. Julie offered to collect it for him.
The wooded area ended with a slight slope up a muddy incline to the main pasture gate. We rode through and found a lady there, sitting on a fallen tree and waiting with her horse. I'm not sure entirely what was going on, but I think that the rest of the group was supposed to have returned with us. At some point, the main ride leader had left, hence all the confusion. Zeplin and Vivian took the opportunity to graze and catch their second wind. Julie and I dismounted and let them eat.
In the course of discussing my boy with the man who had been riding ahead of me on the grey, he warned that I had better switch to a bit, hackamore, or bosal before I "ruined" Zeplin by riding in just a rope halter. "It would be a shame to ruin such a good minded, pretty horse," he commented.
While I took pride that he noticed Zeplin's stellar qualities, I was floored by this, the third time someone mentioned that I should not ride my gelding in just a halter. Nevermind that he was happy, forward, willing, and certainly well behaved. No, I was destroying him!
It was then that I realized these kind, insightful people had only been offering me the key to the universe: the BIT!! Why of course, that was the answer to EVERYTHING!! I was now enlightened, thanks to their diligent efforts to bring awareness to all the signs that I was training Zeplin wrong. Because of these people, I could now pinpoint all of these signs that I had been on the wrong track and was close to shattering the tenuous bond I had with my silly pony. I will list these warning signs now, so as to alert wary readers as to what to look for and set them straight by immediately switching to a bit so as to avert disaster:
1. Is your boy eagerly and willingly stepping out, needing only the slightest nudge (if that) to move forward?
2. Does your boy relax and walk on a loose rein, occasionally licking and chewing?
3. Does your boy listen and respond to your cues without a fuss?
4. Do you feel like you have a good, strong line of communication with him?
5. Is he well behaved and completely under control?
6. Does he work hard to try everything you ask of him, even when he's clearly tired?
7. Is he confident in your leadership and trusts you completely?
If your horse exhibits all of these symptoms listed, then you must put him in a bit without delay!! Otherwise, you risk crumbling his spirit and sending him plunging into despair! Oh, to think I nearly did this to my own beloved Zeplin. How can I live with myself and the cruelty I've inflicted by riding him in just a rope halter?
I have seen the error of my ways!! I will repent and use the BIT on Zeplin henceforth!
Or maybe not...
The rest of the evening, after having a lovely dinner provided by the saddle club, Julie and I shared our disbelief that so many people could be so set in their ways that they couldn't even realize that using a bit is not supposed to be about control. A bit is a tool of communication. If you don't have control established without the use of a bit, are you really in charge of your steed? Julie used to own a horse who would run through the bit. If a thousand pound animal decides he doesn't want to listen to you, is a piece of metal in his mouth really going to stop him? Training is the key to control, not a bit!
Anyways, Julie and I had a wonderful time camping out at the fairgrounds. No one else stayed the night, and we had to rush over to prevent the groundkeeper from locking us out of the restrooms. Zeplin and Vivian were best of buddies, enjoying each other's company in the small corral they shared.
Julie started a camp fire while I took my spotted boy over to meet a 4H calf tied to the rail a ways down the aisle from his corral. Zeplin had never seen a cow before this day. He followed me nervously, his eyes barely leaving the scary black monster. We approached and I held my hand out to the little heifer. She sniffed my hand and then licked at it. Zeplin stretched his neck out to smell her, but he didn't want to move any closer to the furry girl. Finally he stretched his muzzle to her nose... and that dark black tongue snaked out to lick him!!
Zeplin jumped back, eyes wide. "She tried to eat me!!!" he snorted, trying to spin around on the lead line and retreat. I wouldn't let him run away, but I didn't make him go any closer. I laughed at him, unable to help myself. He was so silly!
Vivian called Zeplin, pacing up and down the fenceline. We returned to her, and Zeplin happily entered the pen where his big girl could protect him from the crazy black beasts down the row.
In the morning, Julie hopped on vivian bareback while I saddled my boy. We rode them around the fairgrounds, noting that neither seemed sore from the previous day's exertion. I asked Zeplin to look at more cows, and he trembled but obeyed. We didn't come very close to them, but I would not let him wheel around and bolt or hurry away from them. I need to get him his very own calf, to help him overcome his fears ;-)
What an incredible weekend!! I'll be moving soon, so I have to enjoy these moments while I can. Thank you so much, Julie, for all that you've done for me and my ponies. We are going to miss you!
Let me start from the beginning.
Saturday morning, Julie and I trekked down I-29 to lovely Sidney, located just north of the border between Iowa and Missouri. She brought her dependable and gorgeous Vivian and I had my beloved and beautiful (but sometimes bratty) Spotted Boy Wonder. We planned on camping overnight, so after turning the ponies out to graze for a bit and stretch their legs in the corrals of the Fremont County Fairgrounds, Julie pulled out her truck tent. Between talking to other riders and setting up tent, we lost track of the time, and before we knew it we had only a half an hour to get the ponies ready!
I collected the kids and tied them to the trailer so we could groom and tack them. I had Zeplin in his normal rope halter and thought nothing of this. I have yet to ride him in a bit, and both of us are just fine with that arrangement. Bits are for refining communication but should not be necessary for controlling your loving equine. My training goal for Zeplin is to put him in a simple snaffle when we are ready to work on collection. Until then, we are happy in the halter with reins clipped to the loop under his jaw.
Zeplin was understandably nervous, having never been around such a large crowd of horses. There were probably about 30 riders altogether, a sizeable group but not overwhelming for my young, inexperienced gelding. He pranced a little but allowed me to mount without issues. We were the only ones using English tack (Julie had opted to bring her Circle Y trail saddle to use on Vivian). I had the only Ay-rab of the group, as well. He wasn't the youngest, though, as some lady was riding a 2.5 year old paint filly.
The ride started out through a muddy lot next to the corrals and some pens for 4H show cattle. Zeplin felt tense, unsure of himself amidst the array of strange horses and humans. I soothed him with my voice and patted his neck, bending him in both directions to help occupy his mind and ease his nerves. He whinnied repeatedly, still confused and worried about the crowd. We crossed a highway and headed up a gravel drive to a large pasture filled with Angus cows and their young calves.
At the top of a hill in the pasture the ride leader halted, presumably to wait for trailing members of the group. Zeplin had settled some, and I allowed him to graze a little to help him relax. While we waited, I fielded a few questions about my sweet spotted boy. This was the first time someone made note aloud about Zep's lack of a bridle. I heard one lady advise her riding companion to "steer clear" of my boy since he wasn't in a bit. Umm.... ok... So far the only things Zeplin had done were a result of lack of experience (whinnying, jigging a little, but nothing at all out of control).
After our brief hiatus, we continued down a gentle hill in the pasture and through another gate into another section, this one wooded. Zeplin and I are not used to hills, as the area around my house is table-top flat. I knew it would be an adjustment for him, and I was determined to help him out the best I could. The most difficult part was going down the hills, as he tried to balance both me and himself without falling flat on his face.
As we continued, Zep settled down more and enjoyed looking around at the scenary. Vivian nickered deeply at him anytime she lost sight of him briefly. Julie chatted amicably with the lady behind her. Zeplin didn't like having Vivi behind him, so I tried to keep him in front of her but not too close to the generous rear of the big Quarter Horse ahead. He became better and better at picking his way through the trees and down the slopes (although at one point we did get a vine wrapped around us because I steered him to the side to avoid running into the aforementioned QH gelding on a downslope). I mentioned to the lady on that QH about how all the logs on the path would force Zeplin to pay attention to where he placed his feet so that he wouldn't trip. "He tends to gawk around him instead of looking where he is going, so he sometimes trips," I told her, laughing.
"Have you tried a bit?" was her sage response. I was dumbfounded. What does using a bit have to do with getting my boy to be more aware of his feet.
"I plan on working more with cavaletti," I replied, still bemused at her remark.
It certainly was a lovely day for a ride. In the protected hills with the bright sun shining down on us and the clouds floating overhead, the hellish winter seemed to have occurred ages ago. Zeplin enjoyed himself immensely, walking forward with eagerness and pointing those curious ears ahead. Anytime we paused, I allowed him to grab some grass while I visited with other people. Vivian wanted to be attached at the hip to her pretty little boyfriend.
At about the two and a half hour mark, I could tell my sweet boy was feeling fatigued, although he gamely continued. We were headed down a slightly steep decline and back towards the main pasture from whence the ride started. "This is the last large hill, isn't it?" I asked Julie, relieved that we would be returning because my boy was tired, but sad to have the experience end as well.
"It should be," Julie answered. At the bottom of the hill flowed a small rivelet through a ditch. The group in front of us headed southeast from that point, and I thought it odd that we were not heading closer to the starting point. My worries grew even more when we rejoined a portion of the path on which we had already traversed and turned west again.
"We are looping around again?" I wondered, confused. I panicked a little, knowing my young boy was near the end of his endurance for now. I didn't want to push him beyond his limits and destroy the pleasure he felt in going out on excursions with me.
Julie cursed a little, noting that we were climbing back up a hill we had already covered. "Let's stop at the top to rest and let most of the group pass," she said. We allowed our tired mounts to graze while other riders continued on, oblivious to the condition of their own mounts. Zeplin was sweaty but still willing to do anything I asked of him.
At the crest of the hill, we slowly followed the others, still feeling frustrated and upset that we weren't headed back by now. Vivian, out of condition like Zeplin, showed her own signs of fatigue. "Look, that group looks like it's going back," Julie said suddenly, pointing to four horses and their riders who had split from the rest behind us and were headed back towards that hill we had just descended a short time ago. "Should we go with them?"
I heard someone mention in passing that the group was looking for a lost cell phone, but it was better to try our luck with them than to push our mounts anymore than we had already.
"Let's hurry so we don't lose sight of them," Julie said, pushing Vivi into a trot. Zeplin jounced along behind her. I didn't like rushing so much, but we didn't want to be left behind, either. We reached the top of the hill, and I called to Julie to slow down. Zeplin stopped, and I considered dismounting and leading him down. I could tell he really didn't have a lot of energy to tackle the downgrade. His very hesitance spoke volumes, as my boy rarely needs any kind of urging to move forward. I squeezed him lightly, asking him to try for me.
I tried to pick out the easiest route down the slope that I could find. The group on the bottom had spotted us and was patiently waiting for us to join them. Zeplin started down, but he would find himself unable to slow down, and he'd try to turn around to go back up. In stages we worked our way down, although towards the end he was speeding up and felt like he couldn't stop. He teetered on the edge of the ditch we had passed earlier with a trickle of water, but he managed to pull himself up. I landed on his neck but didn't fall off (although the sunglasses I had borrowed from Julie that were too large slipped off and landed on the ground). We were both relieved to be at the bottom of that hill, and I knew I couldn't ask that of him again on this ride. I'd get off before doing so.
After that, the going was much easier. Zeplin followed a man on his grey horse leading a buckskin paint that a boy was riding. The man cursed the paint mare, and at one point he dropped the lead rope. Julie offered to collect it for him.
The wooded area ended with a slight slope up a muddy incline to the main pasture gate. We rode through and found a lady there, sitting on a fallen tree and waiting with her horse. I'm not sure entirely what was going on, but I think that the rest of the group was supposed to have returned with us. At some point, the main ride leader had left, hence all the confusion. Zeplin and Vivian took the opportunity to graze and catch their second wind. Julie and I dismounted and let them eat.
In the course of discussing my boy with the man who had been riding ahead of me on the grey, he warned that I had better switch to a bit, hackamore, or bosal before I "ruined" Zeplin by riding in just a rope halter. "It would be a shame to ruin such a good minded, pretty horse," he commented.
While I took pride that he noticed Zeplin's stellar qualities, I was floored by this, the third time someone mentioned that I should not ride my gelding in just a halter. Nevermind that he was happy, forward, willing, and certainly well behaved. No, I was destroying him!
It was then that I realized these kind, insightful people had only been offering me the key to the universe: the BIT!! Why of course, that was the answer to EVERYTHING!! I was now enlightened, thanks to their diligent efforts to bring awareness to all the signs that I was training Zeplin wrong. Because of these people, I could now pinpoint all of these signs that I had been on the wrong track and was close to shattering the tenuous bond I had with my silly pony. I will list these warning signs now, so as to alert wary readers as to what to look for and set them straight by immediately switching to a bit so as to avert disaster:
1. Is your boy eagerly and willingly stepping out, needing only the slightest nudge (if that) to move forward?
2. Does your boy relax and walk on a loose rein, occasionally licking and chewing?
3. Does your boy listen and respond to your cues without a fuss?
4. Do you feel like you have a good, strong line of communication with him?
5. Is he well behaved and completely under control?
6. Does he work hard to try everything you ask of him, even when he's clearly tired?
7. Is he confident in your leadership and trusts you completely?
If your horse exhibits all of these symptoms listed, then you must put him in a bit without delay!! Otherwise, you risk crumbling his spirit and sending him plunging into despair! Oh, to think I nearly did this to my own beloved Zeplin. How can I live with myself and the cruelty I've inflicted by riding him in just a rope halter?
I have seen the error of my ways!! I will repent and use the BIT on Zeplin henceforth!
Or maybe not...
The rest of the evening, after having a lovely dinner provided by the saddle club, Julie and I shared our disbelief that so many people could be so set in their ways that they couldn't even realize that using a bit is not supposed to be about control. A bit is a tool of communication. If you don't have control established without the use of a bit, are you really in charge of your steed? Julie used to own a horse who would run through the bit. If a thousand pound animal decides he doesn't want to listen to you, is a piece of metal in his mouth really going to stop him? Training is the key to control, not a bit!
Anyways, Julie and I had a wonderful time camping out at the fairgrounds. No one else stayed the night, and we had to rush over to prevent the groundkeeper from locking us out of the restrooms. Zeplin and Vivian were best of buddies, enjoying each other's company in the small corral they shared.
Julie started a camp fire while I took my spotted boy over to meet a 4H calf tied to the rail a ways down the aisle from his corral. Zeplin had never seen a cow before this day. He followed me nervously, his eyes barely leaving the scary black monster. We approached and I held my hand out to the little heifer. She sniffed my hand and then licked at it. Zeplin stretched his neck out to smell her, but he didn't want to move any closer to the furry girl. Finally he stretched his muzzle to her nose... and that dark black tongue snaked out to lick him!!
Zeplin jumped back, eyes wide. "She tried to eat me!!!" he snorted, trying to spin around on the lead line and retreat. I wouldn't let him run away, but I didn't make him go any closer. I laughed at him, unable to help myself. He was so silly!
Vivian called Zeplin, pacing up and down the fenceline. We returned to her, and Zeplin happily entered the pen where his big girl could protect him from the crazy black beasts down the row.
In the morning, Julie hopped on vivian bareback while I saddled my boy. We rode them around the fairgrounds, noting that neither seemed sore from the previous day's exertion. I asked Zeplin to look at more cows, and he trembled but obeyed. We didn't come very close to them, but I would not let him wheel around and bolt or hurry away from them. I need to get him his very own calf, to help him overcome his fears ;-)
What an incredible weekend!! I'll be moving soon, so I have to enjoy these moments while I can. Thank you so much, Julie, for all that you've done for me and my ponies. We are going to miss you!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
There ain't no rest for the wicked
So I'm way behind schedule getting my house ready to show. Wow, there are a million little things to do that all add up!! Hope to get some pictures this weekend, though.
The weekend before last was tons of fun. I had friends over on Saturday (Sudhir, his wife Isha, and a couple guys he knows). Sunday Julie and I celebrated our friend Deb's birthday. Remind me to tell you all about that stuff later.
Last weekend I spent in Indy with my brother, his wife, and their three boys. I watched the twins' first baseball game of the season. Lots of drama surrounding their team uniforms!
Yesterday I took Zep out on the roads around my house. He nearly had a heart attack when a huge tractor with the disking attachment passed us on a very narrow gravel road. We ended up in the ditch with him frozen like a statue, hoping the monster didn't notice us and have us for dinner. I felt lucky that Zeplin didn't turn and bolt for home!
More details on happenings later. I really don't have a lot of extra energy to write these days, and I never want to feel like my blog posts are forced. So enjoy a few gratuitous pics of Zep from our trip to Deb's house (he was still shedding and very dirty).
The weekend before last was tons of fun. I had friends over on Saturday (Sudhir, his wife Isha, and a couple guys he knows). Sunday Julie and I celebrated our friend Deb's birthday. Remind me to tell you all about that stuff later.
Last weekend I spent in Indy with my brother, his wife, and their three boys. I watched the twins' first baseball game of the season. Lots of drama surrounding their team uniforms!
Yesterday I took Zep out on the roads around my house. He nearly had a heart attack when a huge tractor with the disking attachment passed us on a very narrow gravel road. We ended up in the ditch with him frozen like a statue, hoping the monster didn't notice us and have us for dinner. I felt lucky that Zeplin didn't turn and bolt for home!
More details on happenings later. I really don't have a lot of extra energy to write these days, and I never want to feel like my blog posts are forced. So enjoy a few gratuitous pics of Zep from our trip to Deb's house (he was still shedding and very dirty).
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Happy April!!
Here's a trivia fact that's funny but true: my parents were married on April Fool's Day in 1967. They have yet to call the joke off...
My oldest niece, Samantha (Sammie), just celebrated her fourth birthday a few days ago. It's amazing how quickly the time flies! My younger niece, Nicole, will turn one at the end of the month.
Another exciting recent development would be my first ride of the year on each of my hairy ponies! I haven't made a lot of time to work with them, as busy as I've been lining up my new job and getting the house ready to sell. I decided on Friday that I would ride them both, wind or not (the wind had been blowing nonstop since the weather started to warm up--big surprise in Iowa, let me tell you...).
Jazzy was such a sweetheart! I had not ridden her since July, due to various reasons (abscess, crack in hoof from abscess down that had to grow out, starting Caly, getting trail time on Zep, weather). She had no objections to me saddling her at liberty. She stood perfectly for me to mount, and walked off with just the slightest squeeze of the leg. She resisted turning to the right (the side with her partially blind eye), but she didn't act up at all. I kept her in the round pen, and we trotted a little bit before I called it good. I retrieved Zeplin from where I had tied him on the outside of the pen (that boy really needs to work on standing tied patiently again--he used to do it very well). Jazzy settled in easily on the rail.
Zeplin is a four year old. Anyone who has dealt with a horse of this age (equitable to a human teenager) understands exactly what that means. He currently has the attention span of a gnat, distracted by everything and desiring to test his limits. He is far too comfortable around me and follows me happily, but he doesn't like my attempts to send him away. The best way for me to get him to longe is using a plastic sack on a stick, but he doesn't listen like Jazzy. I'm sure a lot of it is my own inexperience as a trainer, but one thing I really like about Jazzy is how responsive she is to my cues. I'm positive that it's because she grew up basically untouched. Zeplin is a spoiled brat, and while he knows better than to try to run me over or crowd my space, he still needs constant reminders of his place lower down in the herd (and not just from me, from Jazzy as well!!). This spring I'm going to have to step up his groundwork a LOT!!
Zeplin mouthed at everything while I groomed him (still building a second horse from his shedding hair). He didn't mind being saddled (at liberty) until I tightened the girth. However, in the end he realized he wouldn't escape his fate, so he allowed me to finish tacking him.
Mr. Antsy didn't want to stand still so I could get on him, so I stood on the overturned water trough I use as a mounting block and circled him around me whenever he scooted his furry butt away from me. Finally he was lined up next to me and stood still while I leaned over him and slapped at the saddle. However, once I swung my leg over, off he went again! Such a little turd!
I got Zep to stop briefly while I settled myself in the saddle and found the stirrups. He parked out, bracing against my weight. Just the slightest nudge and we were off, walking both directions of the roundpen. I kept him to a walk because he wouldn't relax and he felt testy. After a short time of reminding him to pay heed, I asked him to exit the roundpen and we walked into the yard.
Zeplin remained tense while we walked in circles in the pasture. He tried acting up a bit, but this boy lets you know years in advance when he's thinking of being naughty, and I easily diverted him with more work. He searched for things to balk at, and he tripped the first time I directed him over a log because he wasn't paying attention to where he placed his feet. We had a few episodes and fits, but for the most part he listened to my direction. I kept him to a walk because he never truly relaxed. I'm sure the wind didn't help at all.
Saturday I rode Jazzy again, but cut it short when Zeplin managed to open the clasp on his leadline and escape being tied to the rail. I sighed and slid off my patient red mare, quietly and quickly catching Zeplin to return him to his place on the panel. After that I worked Jazzy a little at liberty, then took her out still saddled to graze while I grabbed the silly gelding.
I pressed Zeplin around me using the leadrope as a longe whip. He bucked and kicked at me, but he moved his feet as I asked. My time was short, as I had promised Julie that I would help her put the second ride on her nearly three year old Westfalen gelding, Parker (aka The Mountain).
Way back at the end of February, I held Parker so that Julie could climb on his big back for the first time. She wasn't on him very long, and he remained on the leadline. The most exciting part came when she asked him to sidepass over to the bucket she used as a mounting block so that she could dismount. He understood and complied without a second thought!
Now it was time for the first ride off the line. I held Parker while Julie mounted, then I climbed on Vivian and rode around Julie's arena. Parker was hesitant and a bit sticky, but he didn't offer Julie any trouble. She rode him in a new rope hackamore.
Julie has done a lot of preparatory work with Parker (registered as Perpetual Motion). He has a very thorough and solid groundwork foundation. Parker will turn three next month. I have mentioned his dam, Hannah (TB), previously. His sire is the beautiful and extremely talented Pablo, who stands at Rainbow Equus Meadows in California. This boy is going to be HUGE (I tell Julie that he's definitely going to make it to at least 17 hands) and will be able to jump the moon when he's fully mature.
Towards the end of our session, Parker started to develop a little more confidence, and he slowly followed Vivian around the outer limits of the arena.
Julie worked Parker for about half an hour before sliding off his back and returning him to the barn. I continued to putz around the arena on Vivian, but the normally compliant grey mare felt pissy that day. She called after Parker frantically and refused to relax. After a time of walking her around the arena where she threw fits at little things, I stepped down and let Julie deal with her moodiness. It was most likely a combination of the wind and her being in season, since I know she's normally obedient and reliable.
The rest of the weekend consisted of more work on the house and little horse time. I probably won't have the chance to ride again until Thursday, that is if it's not raining!
My oldest niece, Samantha (Sammie), just celebrated her fourth birthday a few days ago. It's amazing how quickly the time flies! My younger niece, Nicole, will turn one at the end of the month.
Another exciting recent development would be my first ride of the year on each of my hairy ponies! I haven't made a lot of time to work with them, as busy as I've been lining up my new job and getting the house ready to sell. I decided on Friday that I would ride them both, wind or not (the wind had been blowing nonstop since the weather started to warm up--big surprise in Iowa, let me tell you...).
Jazzy was such a sweetheart! I had not ridden her since July, due to various reasons (abscess, crack in hoof from abscess down that had to grow out, starting Caly, getting trail time on Zep, weather). She had no objections to me saddling her at liberty. She stood perfectly for me to mount, and walked off with just the slightest squeeze of the leg. She resisted turning to the right (the side with her partially blind eye), but she didn't act up at all. I kept her in the round pen, and we trotted a little bit before I called it good. I retrieved Zeplin from where I had tied him on the outside of the pen (that boy really needs to work on standing tied patiently again--he used to do it very well). Jazzy settled in easily on the rail.
Zeplin is a four year old. Anyone who has dealt with a horse of this age (equitable to a human teenager) understands exactly what that means. He currently has the attention span of a gnat, distracted by everything and desiring to test his limits. He is far too comfortable around me and follows me happily, but he doesn't like my attempts to send him away. The best way for me to get him to longe is using a plastic sack on a stick, but he doesn't listen like Jazzy. I'm sure a lot of it is my own inexperience as a trainer, but one thing I really like about Jazzy is how responsive she is to my cues. I'm positive that it's because she grew up basically untouched. Zeplin is a spoiled brat, and while he knows better than to try to run me over or crowd my space, he still needs constant reminders of his place lower down in the herd (and not just from me, from Jazzy as well!!). This spring I'm going to have to step up his groundwork a LOT!!
Zeplin mouthed at everything while I groomed him (still building a second horse from his shedding hair). He didn't mind being saddled (at liberty) until I tightened the girth. However, in the end he realized he wouldn't escape his fate, so he allowed me to finish tacking him.
Mr. Antsy didn't want to stand still so I could get on him, so I stood on the overturned water trough I use as a mounting block and circled him around me whenever he scooted his furry butt away from me. Finally he was lined up next to me and stood still while I leaned over him and slapped at the saddle. However, once I swung my leg over, off he went again! Such a little turd!
I got Zep to stop briefly while I settled myself in the saddle and found the stirrups. He parked out, bracing against my weight. Just the slightest nudge and we were off, walking both directions of the roundpen. I kept him to a walk because he wouldn't relax and he felt testy. After a short time of reminding him to pay heed, I asked him to exit the roundpen and we walked into the yard.
Zeplin remained tense while we walked in circles in the pasture. He tried acting up a bit, but this boy lets you know years in advance when he's thinking of being naughty, and I easily diverted him with more work. He searched for things to balk at, and he tripped the first time I directed him over a log because he wasn't paying attention to where he placed his feet. We had a few episodes and fits, but for the most part he listened to my direction. I kept him to a walk because he never truly relaxed. I'm sure the wind didn't help at all.
Saturday I rode Jazzy again, but cut it short when Zeplin managed to open the clasp on his leadline and escape being tied to the rail. I sighed and slid off my patient red mare, quietly and quickly catching Zeplin to return him to his place on the panel. After that I worked Jazzy a little at liberty, then took her out still saddled to graze while I grabbed the silly gelding.
I pressed Zeplin around me using the leadrope as a longe whip. He bucked and kicked at me, but he moved his feet as I asked. My time was short, as I had promised Julie that I would help her put the second ride on her nearly three year old Westfalen gelding, Parker (aka The Mountain).
Way back at the end of February, I held Parker so that Julie could climb on his big back for the first time. She wasn't on him very long, and he remained on the leadline. The most exciting part came when she asked him to sidepass over to the bucket she used as a mounting block so that she could dismount. He understood and complied without a second thought!
The rest of the weekend consisted of more work on the house and little horse time. I probably won't have the chance to ride again until Thursday, that is if it's not raining!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
How the children grow!!
I know it's been quite awhile since I've posted. Things are still hectic, but hopefully (fingers, toes, everything crossed) I've found an awesome job. It will mean a move to a state I'm not crazy about, but the benefits outweigh the pitfalls. More about that later, when things are completely finalized and set in stone...
So, I will try to post more regularly again. I'm working part-time now, just two days a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays). While it's wonderful to have so much time to work on my house, especially with such incredible weather, obviously these kinds of hours aren't going to pay the bills. The house still has lots of work needed. Last night, when I returned home, I found that the front storm door my brother-in-law kindly replaced last fall was torn off the hinges and propped on its side against the front step!! I was pissed. I don't see how the dog, goat, or wind could've bent the metal and ripped it out of the frame, nor how any of those things could place it next to the step. What the hell??!!
Sorry about that, I just had to vent. On to more pleasant topics.
I can't wait to really start working my boy. I've been so busy with the house that I haven't done more than take the ponies for walks and some longeline work, but I need to change that if I'm going to have him ready for the Friday Before Mother's Day Ride (FBMDR) in Valparaiso, NE. We are going to trot, trot, trot, trot! this year. Maybe sometime late in the summer I can take him on his first limited distance ride. I want to register him with the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC). He already thinks he's a race horse, this will be his chance to prove it! Eventually I'd also like to show him in the Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA).
Jazzy is coming around again faster than Mr. Reactive. I threw my exercise ball into the roundpen with them the other night. Jazzy stretched out her nose and trotted straight at it to check it out. Zeplin's head flew in the air, his eyes grew wide, and those nostrils flared. He bolted away. After a few minutes, he finally examined the ball up close, then he wanted to pick it up with his teeth.
The ponies are shedding like crazy, Zeplin worse than Jazzy. I told my friend Julie that I could create a clone of Zep from his hair if she wanted one. You can't pet him without coming away with a fistful of white.
That's how things are for now. I'll be heading out of state next week for a few days to check into this job possibility. Back to story-telling again soon!!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Just when you think it's safe...
...more snow!! Why? WHY?!
Yesterday got up into the 60s, but here we are again, hovering near freezing. THIS is why I'm so ready to move south!
Anyone want to buy a small acreage in Iowa just north of Omaha? Please, spread the word. Contact me for details.
Yesterday got up into the 60s, but here we are again, hovering near freezing. THIS is why I'm so ready to move south!
Anyone want to buy a small acreage in Iowa just north of Omaha? Please, spread the word. Contact me for details.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Update
A quick update on my situation:
- I'm still looking for a new job. I'll be out of time where I currently work at the end of April.
- I ripped out some carpet in two rooms to replace with vinyl tile. However, one room had gorgeous old farmhouse-style hardwood flooring underneath, and it would be a sin to cover that! Working on quick restoration.
- It's now warmed up sufficiently that the snow has started to melt. Mud and slush all over the place. Not much I can do outside until the heavy carpet of snow is completely gone! That is going to take some time...
- Next weekend is the Nebraska Horse Expo. Really want to go, but probably just for one day rather than the whole weekend (I really don't have money to spare at this time).
Back to my three fulltime jobs: finishing projects at my current job, applying for a new position, and readying the house to show for sale. Hope to have an uplifting update soon!
- I'm still looking for a new job. I'll be out of time where I currently work at the end of April.
- I ripped out some carpet in two rooms to replace with vinyl tile. However, one room had gorgeous old farmhouse-style hardwood flooring underneath, and it would be a sin to cover that! Working on quick restoration.
- It's now warmed up sufficiently that the snow has started to melt. Mud and slush all over the place. Not much I can do outside until the heavy carpet of snow is completely gone! That is going to take some time...
- Next weekend is the Nebraska Horse Expo. Really want to go, but probably just for one day rather than the whole weekend (I really don't have money to spare at this time).
Back to my three fulltime jobs: finishing projects at my current job, applying for a new position, and readying the house to show for sale. Hope to have an uplifting update soon!
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