Wordless Wednesday

Road trip to Montana

Ted and I went for a Sunday drive to visit our friends in Montana, the people we bought Beamer from. We left the dogs in their new kennel.

They weren't too impressed with being left behind, but we can't take them across the border until we get their shots updated.

This is Beamer at the age of 3 months, the first time I saw him. I fell in love with his cuteness and spoke for him then, bought him just over a year later.

We took a backroad through northern Montana not knowing that it wasn't maintained in the winter, so we had to detour through another backroad that took us about an hour out of our way. It was kind of a surprise to see roads like this:

There were a few stretches of road like that, but we made it through and spent a few hours visiting at our friend's ranch. They have a training barn and specialize in reining horses. The economy is hitting them hard right now. They have some really nice horses for sale, including a daughter of Skeets Peppy that I fell in love with.

Their stallion is a half brother to Beamer; same sire, different mare.

He was shown successfully in reining, I don't have his stats, but if anyone is interested in breeding to him I can put you in touch with his owners; he stands in Eureka, Montana.

They also own a Reba daughter, a full sister to Janice's Sage and Carol's Jess.

She is so much like Reba! Only smaller.

Same intensity; she was stalking a cat in this photo.

There were a lot of deer hanging around the ranch, and on the way home we saw a lot of deer, the mild winter sure must have helped them.

And what visit to a ranch is complete without barn cats?

Theresa and her daughter do energy balancing- on horses and humans- and they worked on Ted and me. I definitely feel better today, and so does Ted.

We have pouring rain today, and I have to work this afternoon, so it's an inside day for me. Ted is outside tearing down the old rotten mobile home that borders part of the mare's pen. I can't wait till it's gone, such an eyesore! That'll be the subject of another post.

So I leave you with my pathetic Beamer, all snugged up in his rain coat today.

Sunday Stills- a day in the life

It was tough to pick which day's photos to use for this challenge, but I narrowed it down finally. This day started with moving big square bales for the horses, and the Foose cat loves to hide out in between the bales; his own little snug spot to watch for mice.

Later, I filled up the water trough for the mares, and Chickory and Velvet always come for a drink while I have the hose in there; I guess they like bubbly water.

And you know my day had to include Beamer, who was being his sweet self, and a little lazy on that sunny warm day.

In fact, I had to chase him up a little to get him to move so I could get an interesting shot.

A Busy Saturday

We made progress today, on the dog run and on the garden. It was windy and cool, so it was a little tough getting the weed barrier laid down, but we managed without getting too cranky; the neighbor was to come over in the afternoon and screen our soil, so it had to be ready.

The dog run took most of the day, and Ted did a darn fine job on it.

Just in case he ever has to sleep in it!

It now has a sliding window, and a dog door on the front operated from a rope and pulley so that I don't have to go in the pen to let them out of the "house" area. All snug and ready, except that it needs a coat of paint. I'll get a better photo of it later.

Ready for the soil, which is piled on the right, waiting to be screened.

I took a ride on the B Boy today, and we got a Beamer's eye view of everything.

Checking on his girls

The fellow with the screener came over in the evening and screened the soil, and used the bobcat to place it in the garden enclosure. I guess tomorrow's job is leveling the soil, and taking some of it for my barrel planters.

Some days are stone

In the interests of "keeping it real" as Sherry posted one day on Fern Valley Appaloosas, not all things go smoothly here. The other day when I went to work Chickory, we unraveled a little bit. First of all, she wouldn't let me catch her; even with grain. When I ran her into the foaling pen, she was pretty nervous and climbing the walls even though I used very little pressure; just body position to make her change direction. You think I would have been smart enough not to try working her, but I'm kinda thick- headed sometimes. So at the hitching rail after I haltered her, she was quieter, and I went to saddle her as I usually do, and she stepped away from the saddle. Went I tried again, she blew back and flung her head sideways- right into my head! Remember I said I was thick- headed? Good thing! I got knocked sideways, and it really rung my bell. Came up mad; took a deep breath and told myself to only be mad at myself for not working safely! So I went back a step and worked her with the flag; she stood like a trooper for that. No problem there so back to saddling; only this time I did it the way Walt Vermadahl taught us to do with green colts- not tied up, but with the lead rope draped over my elbow. That way, when they move away, you can follow them and they don't feel trapped. After a little waltzing around, the saddle was on. I longed her on the lead rope a little, then bridled her and asked her for a baby give. OK so far. Then I wanted to put the rein around the off side and ask her to follow her nose and face up- well you would have thought that rein was a cougar attacking her butt! I couldn't leave the lesson there, so I brought Beamer out of his pen so I could work the filly in an enclosed area, and we went back a step again. I used the longe line and asked her to just move out and lope a little. Remember I said I was waiting for her to blow? I guess this was her day! She tried to buck a little, when she did I asked her to speed up, which leveled her out. She settled down fine after that, and we finished on a good note.

For the next two days, Chickory was friendlier in the corral; less inclined to move away from me. I think she has a lot of fear issues , not from me because I've never done anything to cause fear or lack of trust for her, but she was extremely wild when I first got her. It'll be a long road, but we'll get there!

My "hoof care provider" came yesterday, and I gave him some info that I found courtesy of Mrs. Mom on barefoot trimming. He was happy to get it, and will take any more that I can print off for him (He has no internet). He's really interested in pursuing this kind of hoof care, which really makes me happy!

Velvet had her first time using the stand.

Working on Beamer.

Fastening rope halters

I had a request on how to properly fasten rope halters, and here to model for you is Beamer. I'll show the right way and the wrong way, and show why it's the wrong way.

The right way

To start, when you run the rope through the loop, that's when you snug it up, so that you don't have to adjust it after it's tied.

The wrong way

Then you run the end under the loop, from the back to the front.

Right way

Wrong way

Then feed the tail of the loop back through;

Right way

Wrong way

And pull it tight.

Right way

Wrong way

Here is a video to show you why its the wrong way.

Wordless Wednesday

Schooling the babies

A nice sunny day and not having to go to work meant plenty of time for the horses today. Deciding to start with miss Velvet, I had to convince her that nap time was over, and Kindergarten was about to begin.

I got the most pathetic look from her after I finally managed to get her up.

I worked on her go-forward cue, getting her to go around me in a little circle, then I used the ball to do a little de-sensitizing. If you remember the video with the ball bouncing off Beamer's butt when the dogs were playing, you gotta know that that is a good place to start around here. The basic technique I use is to advance and retreat with the new item, and try to do the retreat before they get alarmed and try to move away; and to get a little closer or more active in increments as they tolerate more.I was able to scoot the ball under her belly at the end of a few minutes, and to deflect it off her legs, to put it on her back and let it fall and bounce off. She did well, so we moved on to the flag.

She was a little startled at first, but not for long.

After that I brought Chickory out, saddled her and worked her in hand. I reviewed our round pen lessons (minus the lope as I was just working in the yard, no corral). The flag went well, so I bridled her and introduced the next element in her education- giving to the rein. I take one rein and drape it over her neck, then take the other rein, for example I will take the right rein, stand on her left side, take that right rein and bring it along her side and around her butt, with a little bit pressure, and ask her to follow her nose around to the right, and turn and face me. Confused yet? I will try to video it next time, maybe tomorrow. Also, I am going to post on how to correctly fasten a rope halter, as I have had a request for that. Beamer will be happy to model for you, I'm sure! Especially as all he got to do today was let me sit on him as he chowed down on fresh grass.

Sunday Stills

The color orange is today's challenge, and I did find a couple of items of interest.

Reba sports an orange biothane collar.

My favorite sherry with it's bright orange label-mmmmm!

Sparkle leaves, and saddle fit

Janice picked up Sparkle today, and brought over her saddle to try on Beamer. I've been looking for a better fit for him. My saddle sits right down on his back at the back of the saddle, and I'm sure it is really uncomfortable for him. I took this photo without a saddle pad so you can see how flat it is back there. ( Don't pay any attention to all that dust on it!)

The good thing about this saddle is the way the bars flare out at the front, which allows him freedom to extend his shoulders especially in lateral moves. Beamer is wider at the shoulders than he is over his loins, and this saddle carries the same width throughout.

I rode him in Janice's saddle, which has a nice channel at the back, and it didn't hit his spine at all, but the bars in the front were too tight, and you can see in this photo, after I took the saddle off, the pressure spot, which shows as a dark circle just below his withers. Good thing he's dirty, because you can really see it on his dirty back! Bath time soon!

That doesn't allow his scapula much freedom of movement, which I could really tell when I asked him to spin- he just flat out didn't want to do it, and Beamer loves to spin. I think Janice is posting a video she took of that, so you should be able to see what I mean.

So I'm not sure what to do next; I'll keep looking for the saddle that fits just right, maybe I'll have to get one built.

Sparkle loaded fairly well in Janice's trailer, stood quietly as we said our goodbyes. There was a lot of whinnying going on as she drove out the driveway, but I think she'll haul well. You'll have to visit Own A Morgan blog tonight to see how she did.

Bounce that ball!

My dogs are always pestering me to play ball with them, and last weekend when Janice was over and we had Beamer tied to the hitching rail was no exception. Watch the video, and tell me if you don't think Beamer is on his way to becoming a good bomb-proof horse!

(The extra dog is Janice's dog, Sage, a Reba daughter from her first litter).I think he'll do well in the parades this year, and I really gotta get that flag built to practice with!

Steppin' it up a notch, and an invitation reminder

Back to the round pen with Chickory today. I started off longeing her unsaddled, so I could get her loping, which all went well. Then saddled her up and did the same thing. I must say, I was expecting her to get a little goosey loping saddled the first time, but as you can see from these videos, it really wasn't a big deal.

After that I bridled her and worked on the baby give, then added one more element- sacking out. I used the flag on her, and once again I was pleasantly surprised at how well she did. I'm waiting for her to blow; I expect it, especially since I know how jumpy she can be when things bother her. The goal of my training though, is to get her broke without having her come apart on me; a slow, systematic approach, building trust, so that looking to me to get her out of trouble over-rides her strong flight instinct. Because if I can't do that, she'll leave me sittin' in the dirt.

You might notice that I changed the halter on Chickory; I wasn't happy with the way the green one sat so low on her nose.

Side note- she did well loading and unloading in the trailer today.

After I brought her home, I brought Sparkle out for some trailering lessons. Janice is coming for her on Saturday, and I wanted to make sure she would load. I thought I had a video, but apparently I only took two stills; she loaded like an old pro!

And also I want to remind everyone that we are still looking for bloggers and their friends to come ride with us in the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains. The trails we will ride are maintained by the Kootenay Backcountry Horsemen, which I joined this year. Check out the link, Janice just put some new photos on that will wow you. C'mon, ride with us!

Chickory in the round pen

School is in session! I loaded up Chickory- she hopped in the trailer nicely- and off we went to the round pen. She didn't unload as nicely though! Took her at least 10 minutes to step out of the trailer. I had to tap her butt, with forward movement the reward that stopped the tapping, until she finally- and gracefully- stepped out. I'm glad she didn't leap out. I longed her for couple of minutes, then saddled her and longed her some more. This was her first time longeing, and she did really well. When I moved her up into a trot I wondered if she would get upset at the stirrups flopping, but no problems. Then it was time to introduce her to the snaffle bridle. First time for that too.

More longeing while she figured that one out.

There was the usual mouthing, and some neck shaking, but thought she handled it well.

What I was really pleased about is that she doesn't seem to be a bucker. This girl has a really strong flight instinct; she about jumps out of her skin if she isn't sure about something.When she does that, she doesn't go far, just a big jump then she stops and figures it out. It's that big jump that has me worried though; I think I will have to spend more time on groundwork with her than on any other horse I've started, cause I sure don't want her doing that when I'm in the saddle! But that ability to move like that is what is going to make this mare perfect for cutting.

After longeing I asked her to give to the bit; just looking for that little give to pressure, then release.

That was enough for day one, so it was time to leave, and I loaded her, then unloaded her a couple of times, and I guess she figured out the unloading part because she went in and out with no problems- except for me letting her step over the lead rope when she was unloading- hey, I had my hands full with camera! But except for her flight instinct, she really is a very smart horse. And I think that as she gets mentally mature, we'll be able to get a handle on that too.

It's good news week!

She's a beauty, isn't she! So full of potential, and with diva type presence, Sparkle won someone's heart this weekend. Yes, that's right, I sold her.

We've followed her from her first moments..........

watching her grow...............

To become the lovely young lady she is now.

But here's where more good news kicks in- you will still get to see her and watch her grow and progress, after she goes to her new home soon. You see, she is going to Janice at Own a Morgan!

I guess Janice now owns more than Morgans (heeheehee!)

More good news is that Sydney at Bitless Horse is having a giveaway- pop on over and enter.

And I'm challenging everyone to post good news this week- there must be something good going on, even in those snow-bound places!

Building a foaling pen

Since Coyote Belle is about a month away from foaling, today I decided to set up her foaling pen. I cleaned a section of the run in shelter- of course, I had help!

Want us to empty that for you?

On three now, lift!

Little rascals! I got the corral panels set up and bedded it in straw. I'll be putting Belle in at night from now on. I put her in to feed her grain; I think Chickory was jealous.

Speaking of Chickory, yesterday I brought her out and saddled her up then toook her around the yard to eat fresh grass.

She doesn't mind the saddle, no buck, just jumps a little when I slap the stirrups around; normal coltishness.

I've got some other news I'm just bustin' to tell you, but it'll have to wait till later!