Lopin' in the snow

We had a busy day today; it was nice and sunny and warm, so I mucked out the mare shelter, and a little later went for another lead/ride on Sassy with Ted along, only this time he didn't take the leadrope, just had his hand on it if necessary. She went along really well, the usual coltish business of looking twice at everything but no jumping around this time. After that, I took Beamer out into the pasture to lope some circles, which I thought I would share with you in this video,(come for a ride with me!) also to show off how nicely he stops on just the word Whoa.

It's a little tricky trying to video and ride at the same time, but I think that you will get the general feeling of the ride!
After that, we hauled in a load of round bales and some more bedding straw. It was a little tricky getting the truck and trailer in to the feed pen as the entrance is on a slope, and I really wish I would have taken a video on the creative driving my husband did! Well done, Ted! So now we have enough hay to last till the grass comes in.

Tomorrow morning Peppy will be leaving for the "land of the living skies"- Saskatchewan! He is going to a good home, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get photos and updates on him from time to time as he grows up and goes to work. I'm sure we'll all miss my beautiful little boy blue!

It's a good thing that I have Sassy to work and Beamer to ride, and I look forward to seeing what Peppy's full sibling will be like. It is due to enter the world around the end of April. I'll go visit after (she) is born- I'm thinking filly for some reason- and take lots of pictures. I should be able to bring her home the end of August. That'll be good company for Coyote Belle's baby at weaning time!

Gimme some love!

Quotes from Al Grandchamp

( Al Grandchamp, May, 1998)

A few years ago, Al Grandchamp gave me a little Syllabus that he wrote, entitled "Syllabus for the Advanced Horsemanship Class". There are excercises described in a step by step fashion, and diagrams to follow as well. At the end, he has a number of quotes; some from other famous horsemen and some from himself. Let me share some of them with you:


Jean Froissard-(French horseman)-To judge a situation rapidly, one must learn to observe, and to be able to observe one must not talk a great deal.

Ed Connell-(California reinsman)- The main point for any rider to remember is for him to come alive on the horse while he is up there working him. Go with him!

General L'Haute-Calm, forward, straight. This triad is the catechism of riding which every rider must keep constantly in mind.

Henry D. Chamberlain-(U.S. Army)- Sensitiveness of the hand is cultivated by conscious effort.

Wilhelm Meuseler- (Germany)- In a quarrel with a horse the more intelligent man is always wrong, or else he would not let it come to a quarrel.

Alois Podhajsky-(Spanish Riding School)- When anyone thinks he has found out something new, he may be sure that some old riding master has had the same experience and that it has been temporarily forgotten.

Henry Wynmalen-(England)- Nothing shakes a horse's confidence more than being held tightly.

And from Al Grandchamp, the following quotes:

The 5 Bs: Be ready. Be relaxed. Be alert. Be poised. Be confidant.

Expect the unexpected and be prepared for it.

Teach one thing at a time and put the components together.

Adapt to fit the horse and the condition.

A basic rule: It is wise not to rush a horse into something he is not ready or willing to try.

The 3 Ps: Prepare. Position. Propulsion.

Preposition the horse for the desired maneuver before asking him to do it.

It is better not to fight old habits. Just start new ones.

Skill is mastered by repeated effort and attention to results.

Always be willing to learn by accepting suggestions and criticisms.

No matter how difficult the training problem, never become discouraged. There is always a solution.

Quotes from"True Unity"

One of my favorite horse books is "True Unity-Tom Dorrance talks about horses". Here are some quotes:

A lot of people get along pretty well with their horses until they go to training those horses.

The horse may not be doing the thing that is the right thing for what the rider is asking him, but as far as the horse is concerned, he is doing the right thing.

Before you ever start to reach to ask your horse to do something you should have in mind what you are asking and where you are trying to direct.

The thing you are trying to help the horse do is to use his own mind. You are trying to present something and then let him figure out how to get there.

When the horse gets to yeilding in the back quarters, the front end will be easy.

Sometimes a horse would like to do the training; he gets to calling the shots.

You think, and that horse feels something going on in your body and he is ready to go. It may not be that way for quite a while and it may never get to be, but that is what you have in mind.