July 30 and 31, 2010!

Abby n Navajo & Ruth Ann n Beauty

Abby and Navajo

Ruth Ann n Navajo

Ruth Ann n Beauty

Abby n Ruth Ann

Abby riding Navajo

more riding

Ruth Ann riding Navajo

Abby arrived on Thursday evening. She and her mom Terri met the horses and Abby and I talked about our horses. Then on Friday we went to Lancaster and shopped at Park City Center (a big mall). We made lots of memories and had fun. We went back to their hotel and got my vehicle and came back to the farm here. We took lots of pictures unlike the last time we met and I only had one =D Abby and I both rode Navajo and I must say I had lots of fun. Her and her mom came by this morning before they headed home to say goodbye. It was a wonderful three days and I am so glad I got to see her again!!

For more pics go here =)

Tuesday's Ride and Beauty's Training Session!!

Wow..I thought yesterday's training went well today went even better. First I groomed her and she stood quite well with that. I didn't pick her hooves because I wanted  to wait to do that till after I joined up with her. I decided to do the join up inside the pen and all the other things I had planned. I sent Beauty in a circle (didn't have the lunge line today) and she did quite well. I lunged her both ways with a few changes in directions. She is definitely getting the hang of what I want to do. Once I saw her turning her ears toward me and showing signs of wanting to be with me I stopped her and turned my back and ignored her. I have found she HATES to be ignored and LOVES to be with you. Well she came up to me. And in the one book I read about joining up it said it is extra special if you walk in a circle as though you are walking toward the horses but and they keep their face toward you. You do it both ways..That is what I did with Beauty and she did perfectly. I was so happy!!

Well since she did wonderful with the first exercise I then got out the flyspray bottle with water in it. Today it didn't take even half of the bottle of water (yesterday it took most of it). She did so well with not moving much when I sprayed her body that I started to spray her legs and stomache. She did wonderful. I was very pleased with the results. I know she is very smart and it doesn't take her long to figure things out =) I don't think we should have a problem with flyspray after a bit.

I was so pleased with how quickly she got done with the flyspray that I was like ok now we will work with your hooves. That went well as well. Her left back hoof she did not want to let me hold. She kept wanting to kick with it. She did that a few times and realized that I don't tolerate that so she let me hold it nicely. Then we went around and did it again. The second time around she did great and I was very pleased with her!Once we had done her hooves I got her to move her hindquarters and forquarters. We didn't do much with that but she did pretty well with that. Then I tied her up and went and got Navajo.

So I went and got Navajo and we rode down the strip. Before we went too far I stopped him which he did very well and moved his hindquarters both ways. We haven't done it for a while but he did great with it!! Then I did his forquarters as well. So off we went after we did those two things. We didn't trot till we turned the corner to head toward the road. I have decided that we will ride on the road quite a bit because Navajo seems to really enjoy that! So off down the road we went. We went a bit farther today than we ever have gone so far. I know I feel a lot more comfortable riding on the road than I did at one point!! We even cantered in the grass at one point. Since we turned onto another road after we were on Indiantown Rd for a bit we had a stop sign..and I am guessing since Navajo was a carrage horse at one time he knew what a stop sign meant because he stopped =) I was quite impressed and a bit surprised =D We turned and went a bit farther down Indiantown Rd then we turned back and headed home. We did quite a bit of trotting today and Navajo was really enjoying himself. Once we got back I tied him up and turned Beauty out and groomed Navajo!! Overall I worked Navajo about 40 min and Beauty an hour!! I am very happy with how far both horses have come since I have them. Navajo in the last year and Beauty in just the few days I have had her!!

Both horses get a break tomorrow evening as I will be at work and then Thursday Abby Bayle will be coming so I don't know if I will work with the horses then or not =) We shall see!

Beauty's First Training Session!!

Today was the first day I worked with Beauty. First I groomed her and got her to lift her feet. The first two feet were fine then when I went to her front foot again she tried to bite my behind. I smacked her for that and then lifted her foot up again and she didn't try to bite again. We are definitely going to have to work on her lifting her hooves because she doesn't do that so well. I first picked her hooves out then I went around again and lifted her hooves again. She did better the second time around than the first.

The first exercise for Beauty was I got her to back up and have her two eyes on me. It took a bit for her to stand still and look at me but she got it. Then since she could do that I lunged her a bit. I sent her both ways and she did good at changing directions and going. I was very pleased with that. I am not sure how long we worked with that but she did good. Then I stopped her and she gave me two eyes and I then turend my back. I wanted her to come to me. It took a bit till she figured out that I was ignoring her and then she came to me. I was really happy about that. She followed me around for a bit. I praised her. I also wanted to work with her on liking flyspray and the flyspray bottle. I put some water in a flyspray bottle so that she would get used to the sound and I wouldn't waste flyspray! I would spray it a bit and off she would go around me in a circle. As soon as she stopped running I would wait a bit to see if she would stay stopped then I quit spraying. It took quite a bit till she figured out that I would quit spraying if she stops running. At the very end I was able to spray her all over (all except her belly and her legs) without her moving. I was so pleased with the results. Then I praised her and tied her to the tree while I went riding. The whole session that  I worked Beauty was an hour and I feel we got somewhere. If she continues to make this sort of progress we should be good.

Then I went and got Navajo and hopped on. We went down the strip. He was acting a bit like he wanted to balk because he didn't want to leave Beauty but he went. He neighed a few times and while we were going down the strip I could hear Beauty neighing for him =D We went the whole way down the strip and then up the road a ways. Not the whole way to my aunt and uncles as it was getting dark. We did some trotting too. Then we headed back toward the strip. I got on the strip and trotted Navajo a bit again. We did some leg yeilds and surpentinens as well. Then I headed home. Before we got the whole way home I turned Navajo around and took him some of the way out the strip again (I do this so he don't turn barn sour..I had a problem with this for the longest time and just got over it this summer..that is of him wanting to run home). He trotted real good. Then off for home we went. I took him up to the barn took his bridle off and then put his halter on and tied him to the fence. I got Beauty and put her out and then got Navajo and tied him to the tree where Beauty was so I could groom him. I groomed Navajo good and then turned him out too! Overall I worked Beauty an hour and rode Navajo about half an hour but did a good grooming session as well! It was a great evening and it was fun and challenging as well!!

Beauty and Navajo!

Beauty arrived last night at 9 in the evening. I let Navajo meet her and then I turned him out while she stayed inside the pen by the barn. Then this morning I put them together and they seemed a bit warry of each other at first and then they started grooming each other. I ws like awesome no fighting..hehe then Beauty kicked Navajo (bruised his lip up a bit) and  off she went. So she is the dominate horse here which just shows I guess that Navajo won't pick a fight..my gentle giant! (Beauty fought with another horse earlier this week at the place she was previously staying when she got out of her pasture so they had to put her with the other horse and they fought then). Anyway I cleaned Navajo up a bit..he was bleeding from where Beauty kicked him (Beauty neighed for him and he responded..I told him he gets beat up and he misses her already =D) and put them back together while I got the manure cleaned up and a few other things from when I was working at my aunt and uncle's. I had a few piles of hay in with the horses because I saw that Miss Beauty was going to hog it all otherwise =D They did good being together. That I was happy about! Then when I put them seperatly to eat grass they were neighing at each other at first but they calmed down after a bit. It is so cute how Navajo just neighs for Beauty and she responds back =) They are both doing great!!  I had to work a bit to put flyspray on Beauty so that is one of the first things we will work at once she is settled =) Hope you enjoy the pictures!!

Tuesday and Wednesday's Rides and other things!

Well as you can see we now have a dog. Well I guess not really we..it is my sister Rose Mary's (in the first picture) dog Sasha!! She is a golden retriever and I think she is either 3 or 4! Anyway we got her today. I also got my liscence today..which you guys knew already..hehe! Tomorrow if all goes well Beauty will be coming and I am going to be at work. My mom will take some pictures for me of her arrival. I guess we shall see!

Anyway for today and yesterday's rides!

Yesterday I decided I am going to for something different ride on the road. I have ridden on the road before just never with Navajo not having shoes on. I always thought it bothered him but his hooves have gotten stronger since he is barefoot and when we rode on the road yesterday he had no problem in the least. We even trotted a bit. We went over to my aunt and uncle's place. They live just down around the corner from us..not far at all. I wanted to talk to my aunt so I figured I would ride Navajo over there. He did well and I enjoyed it so much I wanted to ride again today where we did yesterday!

So today we rode on the rode again! We went the exact same direction we just went a little farther than yesterday. Not far but a bit. A big milk truck went past us real slow (he knows Navajo can get a bit hyped about him from previous times of going past us when we are on the strip) and I thought that was real nice of him but Navajo never blinked an eye. I was really impressed! We rode till we got to the corner and then turned around. We stopped at my aunt's and said hi. Then we headed home again. Overall it was a wonderful ride and I was very impressed with Navajo's performance!! Friday if I get home decent time and it isn't to warm I will ride a bit farther..maybe depending on how things go with Beauty and such! We shall see!

Liscensed to DRIVE!!

Well I am now a liscensed driver..YIPPEE!! Got my liscence this morning..I was so happy I passed my driver's exam. All the parallel parking practice payed off!! Hehe!! And if all goes well Beauty will be arrive tomorrow evening! I am going to be at work =( But I am just glad she will be coming =) My mom will be taking photos for me (if she remembers) so I guess we shall see! Hope you all have a wonderful evening.

p.s. Will update on last evenings ride a bit later!

A Warm Day!!

I got to ride today. It has been a while or so it seems. Last time I rode would have been on Wednesday..Guess not to long ago =D Seems longer. I did groom Navajo and spend time loving on him over the weekend..no riding. Just to warm! Today was warm again but I decided I am riding anyway. There was a breeze going so not as warm as it was earlier today. Anyway I got on Navajo and we rode around the back of the hayshed over into the orchard. We did some trotting and I saw the hill. I haven't done hill work for a while (I always seem to ride down the strip and somtimes don't think about the hill). So we trotted up the hill once and then cantered up the hill. Navajo did good! We did more trotting than anything else but toward the end we did walk quite a bit. It was a short ride about 20 min but I wanted to ride and I felt it didn't have to be long because of how warm it was. I hosed Navajo down and he really liked that! Then we spent some time together while he ate grass. Then out to pasture he went again. Overall it was a fun ride. Hopefully tomorrow will be longer!


Some of you have asked what is up with Beauty. I don't know if I said anything but anyway. Not sure when she is coming due to the fact that the trailer she will be coming in needs to be fixed. So once that is fixed she will come. I hope soon but it will be in God's timing!

Youth Social!!

Wow did I come away blessed tonight!! It was so awesome. My grandparents dropped me off at the place where the social was tonight! We sat around a bit till supper then we ate supper. After supper we went and sang for a person that just was in the hospital. That was cool and I enjoyed doing that!! We got back to the place where the social was again and played v-ball till it got dark. It was SO MUCH FUN playing v-ball. Anyway after v-ball we sat in a circle and shared our favorite bible verse and why it means so much to us. Really neat!! Then we had root beer floats and chatted a bit. Since I was going home with one of the former youth leaders eft a bit early since they had children. The youth were most likely going to be there till before 11 sometime so I am home a bit early but I was just so happy to be able to go along and be there!!

A Birthday and an Anniversary!!

Today was a wonderful day!! I have had Navajo two years and also today is his birthday. I didn't do much this morning but then this evening he had a bath and after his bath we took some pictures (above) and also he got some apples and treats!! No ride just a day off and lots of loving!! We didn't do anything too special but it was just wonderful spending time together and I loved remembering how excited I was two years ago to be getting a horse =) It sure don't seem that long!! Time flew!!

Wednesday Evening!!

This morning I did some in hand walking as I said earlier and this evening I was actually surprised it stopped raining so I did get to ride! Since I was taking the trash out it gave me the idea of sacking Navajo out with the trash bags again. We have done this pretty much enough that he isn't terrified of the trash like he used to be. I desensitized him first and then I bridled him and got on him with the trash in hand. Then we walked over to the dumpter and while I was still on his back I got him to stand still and I opened the dumpter and put the trash in and then walked off. Before he was always jumpy and it didn't go to well this time it went pretty much perfect. I was so impressed!

So we headed down the strip. We walked the whole way. Since we have done really well with him going off my leg it is now time to work on our halt. We have done this on and off for a while now but we are going to work at perfecting it now. I don't know how long I will have him but I have decided that I am going to work with Navajo on things till he goes to his new home. I am not exactly sure when Beauty is coming because the trailer she is going to be coming in needs fixed =D Anyway back to our ride. Navajo and I did some trotting and cantering but more walking and halting then anything else. I also got him to move his hindquarters and he was being a bit stubborn about that but he did it for me =) I think we rode for about 45 min. Better than we have done in a long while!! Overall it was a wonderful ride and I had fun. When we got back I groomed him and loved on him a bit as well! Horses are such awesome therapy!! ♥

Tuesday and Wednesday!!

Yesterday I spent some time grooming Navajo and loving on him. I didn't ride because I just wanted to spend time with him =) He seemed to really enjoy it too! Today it is rainy but this morning before it started to rain I did some in hand work with him. I wanted to see how good he does at walking beside me again. I know he does it really well but I figure it never hurts to have a little refresher course now and then. He did quite well and even stopped better beside me than he has ever before. I was impressed! I am hoping to give him a bath sometime this week but if it keeps raining I don't know when that will happen. I am thankful for the rain though =)

Monday's Ride!!

It was a rainy day yesterday and I wasn't sure if I would get to ride. I did get to ride though. I rode down to my neighbors across the road to talk a bit. I am not sure how long we talked but it was a little while. It started to drip a bit while I was sitting there so I said I better head back before we get rain dumped on us. We didn't make it back in time. We both got soaked!! It wasn't a long ride but I am going to be reading more things from my dressage book because I believe Navajo and I have the him being in front of my leg down pat now. He is willing to go down the strip at whatever pace I set and that is something I have been wanting for a while and dressage is what helped me achieve it! So I guess we shall see what else I can teach him yet! He is a lot more willing and more willing to listen since we have worked on dressage..I must say I really like dressage =D Have a wonderful day!!

Rachel and Melanie (my cousin) riding Navajo!

Pretty explanatory but Rachel and Melanie (my cousin from NY) got to ride Navajo. Melanie first rode with the saddle then I took it off because I wanted to ride. I rode down the strip and did some cantering and trotting and the cool thing was I got him to do this awesome slow trot. It was so awesome!! I have gotten him to do it one or so other times =) Anyway when I got back Melanie said she wanted to ride bareback. She did and I was like hey I will let her ride by herself. She LOVED THAT!! Rachel also got to ride by herself a bit too. It was a pretty cool evening. It is interesting being able to *teach* others to ride in a way. No way I would like to do that for a living but it is still somewhat fun =D

Saturday Night's Youth Meeting!

Well as you all know I went to the Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour in the morning. I got home around 4:30 got a shower, took care of Navajo, grabbed a sandwich and out the door I went. I had to be at my friend Lori's house by 5:30 and we left home at 5. I got there on time and we left her house to go to the Cocolamus Youth Meetings which are an hour and a half away at 5:45 or a little after. We got up there a little after 7. We obviously had church and such and by 9 church let out. Church started at 7:30. We had a snack after church and hung around there till about 11. We then headed home and got back to Lori's at 12:30 and I got home here a little before 1. It was a FULL day but so much fun. I was so happy and felt so blessed by the end of the day. It was wonderful!!

Friday Night's Ride!

I did get to ride Friday evening. I went to put Navajo in because of the chance of rain (it did rain then). But before I put him in while he was still tied out I got up on him and sat there. Then while I was sitting there I had to think hey I should go for a ride. As long as I stay around the farm I will be good =D So that is what I did. We just walked and did some trotting. I also got him to move his hindquarters both ways. It was a short ride but it made me feel human again so to speak (you know that feeling you get when you haven't ridden in forever..hehe). It was a great ride and I am glad I did!!

Clinton Anderson's Walkabout Tour!

The truck parked out front!

Well as you guys know I went to the Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour on Saturday! I learned very much and it was so very interesting. I am going to be using a lot of the things I learned on Beauty when I get her. I think it will help her in the long run.

First up was Doc. Clinton uses "problem horses" from the area. Anyway I wasn't really paying attention *I was taking more pictures than paying attention at that point in time. I couldn't really hear what the owner was saying either* so I don't really know what this horses "problem" was.

Clinton got in the roundpen with the horse and he didn't really let the horse (Doc) get close to him. He said I don't want this horse in my personl space till he respects me. I thought that made sense. So he sent him around the round pen. His cues were point (in the direction you want the horse to go) cluck and then spank (first the ground then the horse if he needs that) This horse didn't need that. He uses the spanking as an incentive and eventually the horse went with just the point and cluck then just the point. Pretty impressive =D

Well here you can see him pointing and it was so that the horse would go into a canter.

Here he asked the horse to stop then using his finger, he *asks* the horse to come in by pulling on its imaginery lead rope (it made sense..If I am not making sense it is because I am not either remembering something right or skipping something). He used this to get the horse to turn directions. He wanted the horse to change directions toward him than toward the fence. He (Clinton) says two eyes are better than two heels. Anyway it took a bit for this horse to figure everything out but he got it eventually =)

Clinton's goal was to get the horse to WANT to be with him. Well what he said was he wants the horse to catch him not the other way around. The key was to ignore the horse. You know when you WANT to catch your horse they don't want you to but when you ignore them that is almost more than they can stand =D

One of the last things he did was he desensitized the horse to the rope. He talked a lot on sensitizing and desensitizing. It was all very very interesting and I enjoyed listening to him a lot. I know I didn't say or cover near everything he did but it would take forever to do so. I just covered what I pictures I put up =)

This was the next horse Belle!! I do know when she came in the areana (this next session was how to do all do the same things outside the areana as he did inside) she was a very jumpy horse. She wouldn't stand still as she is in the pictures she was constantly moving!! Not good.

First thing first was she needed to learn to respect his space. She wanted to be by him but as for the first horse she needed to learn respect first. So she would follow him but he would make motions with his elbows and that would keep her out of his space.

Now for the fun part. She was nervous whenever we as a crowd laughed or clapped. So what we did was we would clap till she showed one of the five signs of relaxing (lowering her head, licking her lips, sighing, cocking her foot, or blinking her eyes). Then when she would put her head up again we would clap again. It was so cool. It didn't take her long to figure it out!

Here she has her head down. She would put it up then down then up again and she was like wow I can get these guys to stop clapping =D

Here he was getting ready to send her off to lunge. It was interesting to watch and I know I learned a lot. It is all in your body launguage and such!

Here he was stepping in front of her because she wasn't changing directions like she should have been.

Then the owner came out and did some of the things that Clinton was doing. Again this was very intersting although I liked the second demonstration a ton better than the first!

It was a wonderful day. I learned a lot, laughed a lot and over just had fun. A great experience and if you ever have a chance to see some of his things in person it is an awesome experience!

My Trip to VA Beach!

Solomon (5) and I sitting at the outlook before the Chesepeke Bay Bridge and Tunnel!

A sign after the second tunnel by the pier that you could stop and look at the water!

This is the pier that we (Solomon, Timmy and I) walked out on. Quite warm that day (this was Wednesday).

We saw this barge going across the tunnel. It was SO awesome!!

The view looking over the bay =)

As you guys know I went with my aunt Julia and her three boys (Solomon (5) Timothy (2) and Josiah (7 weeks)) down to Virginia to one of her friend's funeral. I mainly went along to help with the driving and also to help with the children!! We left Tuesday evening around 7:30 and drove till at least 11:00. We stopped a few times and also one time to eat =) We got a hotel in Seaford Delaware and then left around 9 in the morning from there. We stopped at a Walmart to get some things so by 10 we were on the road. We drove for a little while and stopped for 45 min so Julia could nurse the baby. Then we got on the road again!! We stopped one more time to see one of Julia's friends. After that we drove till we needed gas. Then we switched drivers and Julia drove the rest of the way. After we got gas we went on the bridge/tunnel. Once we got off of there (we stopped at that outlook thing for about I would say an hour or so) and we headed to a friend's mom's house to clean up for the viewing.

We were at the viewing from six till 8 or so. Thne we headed to Nelson and Rose Mary's house to eat a very late supper and for the night. They were such nice people. We slept the night there and got breakfast then headed to the funeral. We were at the funeral and fellowship meal till 3. My aunt wanted to go to NC to see her parents so I found a way home with some people Julia knew and we left from the funeral. (Julia will be down at her parents till next week sometime). We (John Lee and Verna Stoltzfus and I) went to the beach then (pictures below) before we hit the road to drive home.

The beach from the sidewalk.

Me at the beach..the water felt good =D

THE BEACH..oh the beach was fun even if we weren't there long =)

After the beach we headed on the way home. We had six hours of driving. We stopped on time to use the restroom and get some food. Then we headed home again. We left down there probably around 3:30 or so and I got back to my aunt and uncles around 9. Once they dropped me off I went in and cleaned up a bit. Since my uncle was home by himself and is going to be taking a load of sheds on a long trip this next week I washed some clothing for him. My mom came and got me today. It was a wonderful and unexpected week for me. I sure missed my family and Navajo but I had so much FUN!!

liA Trip to Virginia with my Aunt!!

As you guys know I am working for my aunt and uncle. Anyway her one friend died that lives in Virgiania Beach and she wants to go to the viewing and funeral. Anyway I am going to go with her. We are leaving afternoon/evening sometime and driving some of the way. We will drive the rest of the way tomorrow and then get back Friday sometime. Anyway I won't have internet till Saturday and Saturday I am going to go to Harrisburg Farm Show Complex to watch the Clinton Anderson Downunder thing that I have tickets for and maybe in the evening I might go to a youth meeting. So I have a busy week. Just so you guys know =)

Since it was so warm today I didn't ride. I took some pictures and edited them awhile to see if it would cool down outside. It did around 8:30 of which I was kinda amazed. It is supposed to be a very warm week =(  I am going to be gone Tuesday and Wednesday so no riding then but I will be gone both those days from now on anyway since I will be working for my aunt and uncle. Now I have a job..part time =D Anyway I headed out and groomed Navajo and loved on him a bit. Now I am headed to bed =)

Some Pictures!

Here are some pictures I took Saturday =) Just some different ones a friend gave me ideas for. I want your comments on them to see what you think and which one you like best!!