Riding Bareback and a Trash Bag!!

I did get to ride Curly tonight a bit when the rain stopped for a while. I groomed him first as he is like Navajo and rolls (well he first stands in the rain to get wet and then rolls which you all know means a dirtier horse). He looks quite nice or did when I last saw him =) I put his hackamore on and went over to the manure pit wall to get on him (He is very tall). We did a lot of walking at first and he did real good. I had ridden him Sunday when Rose Mary took her dog for a walk that way in case anything would happen she would be there to help. He did good then too. Anyway I decided I want to try to canter him. He did canter and did it for me without acting dumb. We did some more walking and then I asked him for a canter. I could tell right away the way he put his head down and such that he was going to try to buck. He did get one half hearted buck in and I pulled his head up and smacked him for it..He didn't try anything again. Guess we shall see. That is why he is here for because he has a bucking problem. Anyway I cantered him one more time after that to show to him that I don't tolerat bucking and he didn't do anything so I got off and praiesed him. That was his reward. Then I took him down and took his hackamore off. I had a bag of trash that I was going to use to get him desensitized to it first. He didn't really care that I was dragging this trash bag all over him and only moved away from it a few times!! SInce he did so good I took him over to the dumpster let him sniff it then I put the bag in. Eventually I want to do it from his back but that will take a bit =) I am so happy I got to ride him a bit today!! Have a great evening!!

Curly and the Umbrella!!

Since it is a rainy day out there are bound to be umbrellas out..right =D Anyway I went out to Curly this afternoon with an umbrella and he was like what in the world is this?!?! So I see he is pretty scared of it so I close it up which I think mystified him =D I let him sniff the closed umbrella and just by the way he kept sniffing it and not getting over the fact it was so small is what caused me to think that he didn't get what happened to the huge umbrella. Once he was ok with it I ran it all over him and he did good with that. Then I led him outside (he was in his barn) and opened up the umbrella. He got curious enough to sniff the open umbrella and bump it with his nose a few times. He bumped it enough that the wind caught it and blew it up to the fence. This scared Curly so off he ran!! I just laughed at him and went and got the umbrella and opened it up again and urged him up to it. He sniffed it again with a few snorts and then he decided to bite it. I was like ok he is fine with it so I went up and held the umbrella with me under it. He sniffed it and seemed fine with it. I figured I am not going to do more with it becuase he did so well. But it made me think I am going to get him used to bags of trash with my eventual goal (if he is here that long) is to put the trash in the dumpster with me on his back. I like thinking up things like that. So I guess we shall see!

Wednesday's Ride!

Last night I did ride Beauty again. She did really well up until the time I decided since we are on a field lane it would be a good time to work with neck reining =) Her right side is her worst side for anything I am noticing so that is the side we had to fight with..anyway. I asked her to turn right and she decided she had had enough of this (I had been doing it for a little bit before and she was doing pretty good but she was just getting the hang of it and she decided she is tired of it and she is not going to do what I want..just like she did with the round penning!) so she turned the opposite way (left) and went in a circle and she realized that wasn't getting me to stop telling her what to do so she figured fine she won't let me go where I want I will just stand still. She stopped and decided I am not stepping one step forward. I popped her with the crop on her behind a few times and then she went forward but she still fought (sp). When she finally did as I asked I gave her a reward by giving her a little break and didn't ask her to neck rein unless I needed to turn a certain way. Then when we got back to Sharon's house I asked her to turn right again and this time she really was like I am not doing this. Sharon and I both said we have to work with this here and now and it won't hurt her any to know that just cause we come back to the barn doesn't mean that we just go into the barn and we don't have to work sometimes. Anyway I got her turned and she walked for a bit till I asked her to turn past the barn (Sharon's driveway goes off the road in her lane a bit then goes in a circle around her house and in front of the barn so it makes it nice for something like this) and she didn't go and walked eveywhere but turning right. Then when we got close to her stall (which is outside more of a run in) she decided she is not going one step forward and I told her to go and she didn't so I popped the whip and that didn't help. She got mad enough she reared. I stayed on and once she was on the ground again I told her to turn..She did go but it took quite a bit of telling her to do it. She is one stubborn horse!! So we did a few more circles around the barn and she was doing better and I told her to turn right again (her left side she did really good with and we didn't have much of a problem at all) and she kept walking straight and she tried to walk into the fence. She tried to walk as close to the fence as possible to scrape my leg up but I still made her turn. We did a few more rounds and I could tell the more we did it the easier she was doing it without thinking much. We did one full round around the house and she didn't think one bit about turning so we stopped on a good note. She is quite the handful I must say! I was thinking wow she is doing so great you know but I had to think the other night (Tuesday) that she is doing so good wonder if she is going to act dumb again one of these days and yesterday was her day. Makes me wonder how she will do Friday. Anyway that was my day with Beauty. She is one stubborn spoiled brat..You wouldn't know it till you tell her she has to do something and she might not mind it for a while but then she decides she doesn't want to do it then then the stubborn spoiled brat appears =D

Beauty - Mother to Be!!

Today the vet came to see if Beauty took and SHE IS PREGNANT =) She is due August 15 2011. I am so excited and happy about it!! Worked with her on neck reining in the pasture today..She did really good with that!!

Sixth Ride on Beauty!!

Yesterday my aunt (that owns Beauty) and 6 of her children and my mom and Rose Mary and Rachel all went riding at Sharon's. My aunt brought her miniture horse along for one of her smaller boys to ride and I rode Beauty (my two cousins Rosie and Sarah are going to come and ride Beauty in the next week or so). We rode at a walk on the trail ride because some of them rode double with the smaller children but when we got back those who wanted to canter could in the pasture. I believe everyone had fun. I guess when Rosie and Sarah come they will be seeing if they want me to work with Beauty more and put more miles on her or if they are satisfied with how her training is now and take her home. I am so happy with how far we came already but if they decide they are happy with how far she is now I will be sad to see her go home (I guess you would call it bittersweet beacause it will be a happy and sad moment). I wasn't sure how long it would take to train Beauty so I guess we shall see if she comes back in the spring or not. Either way I can ride Beauty when she is at home which has me happy and also I can ride at Sharon's so whatever happens I will still be able to ride =)

Beach!!

Yesterday we went to the Beach! It was my aunt Julia, her friend Cheryl, and my two cousins Rosie (Maryrose) and Sarah and I. Josiah (Julia's 4 month old) came along as well. We left my cousins house at like 8:30 or so and got down there around 11. Not exactly sure on the time but it was later than we planned =D Once we had everything on the beach we got changed and headed for the water. We spent a good two hours in the water. The day is hard to describe because of the fact that it was like 7 hours spent on the beach and we did lots of things. We took a few pictures and I have a few attached. Enjoy!

Moonlight Ride!!

Wow the Moonlight Ride is something I think I am not going to forget. There were about 10 people on the ride and some brought their own horses. Anyway we headed out about 7:30 I am guessing because it got dark soon after we were on the ride. We did more walking today than we did any time I rode but it was because we did a lot of our riding in the dark. I didn't mind at all because the moon was very nice and bright and it wasn't cloudy either. We walked over the covered bridge and I really liked the sound of all the horses crossing over =) We walked for a while longer till we got to the field where Sharon and I cantered Wednesday night and we cantered there. Beauty had no objections to being at the back of the group and she cantered very well despite the fact there were lots of other horses. We soon came to the creek (Wednesday night we had crossed over the creek (it has a little bridge that is low enough that the water still goes over it a bit) and Beauty didn't want to go at first but she did go when Sharon came back with Bean and walked in front of Beauty again) and Beauty followed the other horses like she had crossed this creek every day in her life but I figured she had seen it last night and it didn't bother her when we were crossing it so I wasn't to surprised!! We did some more cantering but it was dark enough that we did walking the rest of the way. I really enjoyed myself and Beauty did so well. I know each time I ride her I can see a bit more improvement! That really makes me happy. My cousins are going to be coming to ride Sharon's horses on Saturday and I will be riding Beauty (most likely) so they can see how she acts and how she has improved =)

I am off to the beach for the day!! I am so excited..hehe!

Wednesday's Riding!!

I did ride last night again on Beauy and Sharon and I went the whole loop (what it consists of is some some wooded trails, roads, cornfields, thru a covered bridge and over a creek (it has like a concrete bridge but water still flows over it)) with Beauty and Bean. Beauty did great. She didn't mind the covered bridge and once we had walked for a little while we cantered thru this one field. It went great. I think we cantered 4 or 5 times and trotted along the one road. Beauty does really good at the trot (and the canter) and she seems to really enjoy it too. The way we rode last night is the way we are going tonight on the Moonlight Ride. I am so excited. I know next week when I work with Beauty we are going to work on neck reining and pefecting the stop but overall she is doing wonderfully!! I will try to update about the moonlight ride either tonight or Saturday (tomorrow I am going to the BEACH and will get pics and such from that as well).

Walking, Trotting and Cantering Beauty!!

This evening I got to ride Beauty!! We left Sharon's at 6:30 or a bit after. We walked till about 7:30 (we went on some trails and in the field..we went in a big circle) and then we got to this one field and Sharon asked if I was getting used to Beauty's trot (since Beauty didn't know about keeping up we had to work on that. If we fell behind I would trot her to catch up but we worked on Beauty walking fast so that she would stay caught up and not lag behind) and I said yeah and I also said I wasn't scared of cantering her because ridng Beauty doesn't/didn't scare me. So Sharon took off and I asked Beauty to trot. She trotted and then once we had trotted a bit I asked her to go a bit faster and she CANTERED for the first time with a rider on her back as far as I know and boy is it smooth. Now her trot is another thing...it is more bouncy but once she evens it out a bit it got smoother and I enjoyed trotting and cantering her. Then we slowed to a walk again and walked for a bit. We turned into a different field and started trotting and we trotted for a good ways. It was LOTS of fun and I must say I am so proud of how far Beauty has become..Sure she is still a spoiled brat but a better behaved spoiled brat =D She has more respect for humans and seems to really enjoy trotting and just everything to do with riding. I am just so happy!!

Monday's on Curly!!

I got to ride today after not riding all weekend =) I had ridden Friday on Ebony but we rode for like 15 minutes to a half an hour..not long at all since it was getting dark. Then Saturday morning we changed Ebony for Curly so he is back again. I missed him. He reminds me a lot of Navajo in some of the ways he acts =) It is nice! I also took some pics of Curly and my mom took some pics of me and Curly together =) I gave him a bath so he looks extra clean!

Anyway I rode Curly down our road and then turned not at Indiantown Rd but at Hackman Rd. We did some cantering but I think it was an equal amount of walking as well. I had never went this way on horse before but it was fun. We went in a square. Once I was back on our field lane I rode in the field over to our neighbors and rode thru their field and back their field lane. I had never actually been back there so I didn't know what was all back there but it was really nice. Then on the way home I stopped at my neighbors and talked to my neighbor a bit. It was a wonderful and fun ride. Curly didn't act up at all which pleased me!! Tomorrow I am going to go and train Beauty..I am so excited!!

Walking, Lunging and Riding Beauty!

It was a rainy evening yesterday so I knew we wouldn't go on a trail ride with Beauty. I got to Sharon's and she said I could do some round penning with Beauty awhile because they had to take their truck to get fixed. I said ok and went and got Beauty. I first worked on some leading with her and also teaching her what WHOA means. She did quite well and since she did so good I was like now I am going to lunge you. Her turns were AMAZING!! I am getting the hang of what I need to do and I believe Beauty is as well! It is so confusing when you are lunging a horse because Beauty turns the one way no problem and the other way it takes a few tries to get her to do it. Now I got it when she is going clockwise she doesn't like turning and going counterclockwise. But when she is going counterclockwise she turns no problem to go clockwise. But she turned BOTH WAYS but it still needs work but I thought she did WONDERFUL. Then I tacked her up and lunged her a bit more with the tack on. Sharon got back just as I was about to climb on Beauty. I got Beauty to walk when I tapped her sides with my heels. She did so great and I am very happy!! I believe I will be going again on Monday. I am so happy with our progress!

Another Ride!!

I rode once again last evening. Ebony and I just hung around here because it was almost dark so I didn't want to go anywhere on the road. I rode for about a half an hour but I got one good gallop in there along the field lane. She really likes to go =D I can tell improvement in her the more I ride her. That really has me happy with her. If I am allowed I plan to go to work with Beauty tonight. If not I will work with her tomorrow evening anyway!!

Riding Ebony!!

I rode Ebony for about 45 minutes. We went a different way and it was lots of fun =) I enjoy riding her quite a bit..anyway at first she kept wanting to go off the road but I got her to listen to me. Each time I ride her the better she gets. I guess she is figuring out I don't put up with nonsense =D Sorry my updates on my rides on the other horses aren't quite as exciting as my updates on Beauty! Hehe.
p.s. I forgot to write last night but when we got back from riding Beauty I wanted to check her hooves and you guys know how she tried to kick me when I picked her hooves. Last night I asked her for her hooves and she DIDN'T MOVE A MUSCLE. I was so very happy. Beauty is proof groundwork is very effective =) She improves every time I got to Sharon's. I know Sharon has taught me a lot and Beauty and I are both better for it =)

Riding Beauty for the FIRST TIME!!

I figured I was going to Sharon today (Tuesday) and not yesterday (Monday) but it just so happened she thought I was coming yesterday so she planned something for today =D So I was at her place yesterday. I got there and she showed me the pony she wants me to ride (most likely..we shall see) because the pony knows everything about riding and all that but he just does not respect the children that have him. Then we got Beauty out and lunged her in the round pen. She did really good with turning today. The one side she just does not like to turn and the other side she does no problem but no fight today and she wasn't mean or nasty about it either. Good sign. Sharon was like she just needs work with changing directions when lunging but she is getting it. Then since the main ring was empty from lunging Beauty I turned Beauty out and then Sharon lunged the little pony (who btw is very cute..all black with a little white on his nose and some by his whithers and white socks..will have to try to get a pic of him). After she was done with him she hosed him off and put him in his stall (not sure of his name =D). Then I got Beauty out and saddled her. She did really good with that again. Then I got on her and Sharon and I rode thru the cornfield and on a field lane and went in a big circle and came back to the barn. It went VERY VERY well. Beauty would stop and Sharon and her horse would keep going and I would say Kum (which is dutch for come) and tap Beauty with my heels and she would go. I was very happy. Not sure how long we rode but it wasn't very long (all at a walk) we came back and I praiesed Beauty and then turned her out. I hung out at Sharon's for a little while. She was showing me some tricks her one horse can do..lay down..sit...and say yes and no..really really cool.

Next Thursday a group of riders (some of the same ones that went to Blue Marsh) are going on a moonlight ride as it is the full moon/harvest moon. Depending on how Beauty progresses I most likely will take her. There is going to be another horse like her in the group so that will make it nice!! Guess we shall see! I am really lookin forward to that!

Visiting Navajo!!

I had some extra time yesterday so I stopped by Navajo's new home. He was dirty (as usual) but he recognized me. That made me so happy. I gave him a hug and petted him and spent some time loving on him. He had a miniture horse as his friend and they seem to get along quite well. It was awesome seeing him again and the neat thing is I can tell he is loved =) Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Friday's Work Session with Beauty!!

Well I had told you guys I was hoping to ride Beauty today. My one friend asked me if I know what to do when a horse turns their behind to you when turning and I had to think that I honestly wouldn't know what to do and that Miss Beauty does the same thing. So that made me think and I talked to Sharon and said before I get on Beauty I want to work with her on that. So that is what we did today. Beauty may be smart but she has a stubborn streak a mile long. I got in the round pen with her and told her to go in a circle for me. Then I asked her to change directions. At first she kept turning her behind toward me which was not acceptable and I got her to change directions facing me (which was somewhat good but she pinned her ears..just a bit but enough to see she did it). I didn't know to watch her ears but Sharon said watch her ears because she pins them (not a good sign). So we did changing directions a few more times and Beauty got slightly better at it but now Sharon said stick to one corner and don't let her go where she pleases till she decideds to change directions. I was so tired from going after her (between telling her to stop and change directions and then her turning her but and running off it takes a lot of energy with Beauty) and I told Sharon I can't go anymore. Sharon asked if I wanted her to work with Beauty and I said sure so we switched places and I went outside the pen. Sharon came in and did the same things I was doing with Beauty and she got her to turn nicely the one way but the other way she absolutely refused to do it. I am not kidding this horse knew better but just was testing Sharon (I was watching and I saw the minute Beauty started testing Sharon). She would turn around almost like she should but then would turn her but and go back to that corner (a bit hard to explain but anyway). If it wouldn't have been Beauty rebelling Sharon it would have almost been half funny. But this smart horse was doing it on purpose because she had done it a few times without testing us. So frustrating. But Sharon got her to turn like she was supposed to without a problem and Sharon rewarded her by taking the pressure off. She got out of the round pen and told me to get Beauty and turn her out because that is her reward. It took a while to get her to do what we wanted but boy once she does it she means it =) So next week when I go again we probably will work with her on that again and if we don't have another battle (yes I call it battle because it is a battle of wills (who is more stubborn =D) we will saddle her up again and hopefully ride her. I wanted to ride her but I knew this needed to be addressed first!

Once we were done with Beauty Sharon asked if I wanted to go for a ride. I said sure. We put reflectors on the horses (Curly and Speedy (me on Curly) and off we went. We rode for about an hour or more and it was lots of fun. Curly tried to buck me but he got told that is not the way we do things around here. He is so funny. It was like 9 or so by the time I left there. I am so tired but this evening was lots of fun!! Hope you have a great weekend!!!!!

Thursday's Ride!!

I got to ride again this evening. I had to think that I get to either ride or work with a horse every evening and I am really liking that =) Anyway I headed down Schoeneck Rd and turned left instead of righ like we did on Tuesday. I had never gone that way on a horse before but have driven in a vehicle that way plenty of times. Ebony did really well with walking on the road and not in the ditch/grass like she did on Tuesday. I was happy with that. She did try a few times but each time I got her back on the road. We cantered and walked the whole way around (we went in a circle) and it took about an hour. Tomorrow I think we will saddle Beauty up and I will ride her for the first time. If Monday is any sign of how tomorrow will go I don't think we will have a problem. Guess we shall see. =)

Wednesday's Training Session!

Tonight I got to Sharon's around 5:30 and I hung out with her for a while till she had to go away. We were discussing some things. After they left I took the three horses that were in the main ring into a big stall and I got Beauty out and lunged her for a bit. She did great and is learning how to turn quite well!! Also doing well with stopping of which I am happy. I lunged her for about 20 minutes I think then I went over to her and told her she did a good job. Led her out of the main ring and tied her. Put the other horses back in the main ring. Once I did that I groomed her a bit. Then I led Beauty around at a walk. She did GREAT and I am so proud of her. She did really good with the trot way better than she ever did. She is doing a ton better with respecting my space when we walk and trot or anything. That makes me really happy! I also did some work with her stopping and also learning what Whoa means. Overall it went wonderful! I am so proud of her attitude change and how she is doing!! Looking forward to Friday as I believe we will do some riding with her. =)

Tuesday's Ride!!

Today was lots of fun. I got some more things on our website which is awesome (it is finally up and running and I am putting parts on there to sell) =) Anyway then this evening I decided to ride Ebony around the block. I didn't know how long it would take but figured it wouldn't take more than an hour. At first Ebony didn't want to walk in a straight line which was frustrating. She either wanted to walk in the middle of the road or in the ditch and I wanted her to walk nicely on the side of the road. She eventually got it but it took a bit =) We did a lot of walking but also a fair amount of cantering. It took us about a half an hour to walk around but I didn't head home right away when I saw what time it was so I walked for about another 10 minutes then headed home. Overall I rode for about 45 minutes. Eventually I want to ride her for an hour and we will go more than just around here =) I am so excited for tomorrow. Sharon won't be there when I get there so I am going to lunge Beauty and work on some round penning (no saddle work). Guess we shall see how she does but I think her attitude changed quite a bit since that first lunging session =) That to me is big progress =)

Saddling Beauty!!

I am so tired but I had lots of fun today! I got some very good bargains at the Horse Auction today. A breaststrap ($5 a good price as some are $20), bucking set ($7 also a good price sometimes $20), a saddle stand for $10, a leadrope for $5, and a hackamore for Beauty for $15. I was so pleased with the deals I got. We went into the sale barn and watched some horses sell. They had some really flashy paints which was cool. Anyway then we (Sharon, "Little" Andrea (really not little but there are two Andrea's so that is how we tell them apart) and me)) headed back to Sharon's. Andrea left and then Sharon and I went in and grabbed some lunch. We then headed out and did some things outside. We got Beauty out and worked with her in the round pen a bit. We lunged her and she did really really well. She remembered last time! I know she is a smart horse and is not dumb in the least!! Anyway we then got the saddle ready to put on her. We put it on her and tightened the girth a little bit but not enough to worry Beauty. Lunged her again and no bucking. Then we tightened the girth so that it would be ready for a rider. Lunged her again and still no bucking (wonderful). Then we put the hackamore on her and that didn't faze her either. I lunged her a bit with that then I led her around with the hackamore. A girl was there and she asked if she could hop on her for the first time. I said sure I don't care. Well she hopped on and her dad led her around at first but then they trotted her a bit and eventually Beauty would go without anyone holding onto the hackamore. Really really great. Then we ended on a good note and hosed her off (She is doing really good with that too). I dewormed her and turned her out! I am so pleased with her progress. She didn't put up a fight in the least to the new things we introduced to her and that made me happy. She didn't mind the rider on her back and I can hardly wait to get on her myself and work with her!! Guess we shall see! I am seeing progress and that had me happy!!

Sunday's Ride!!

Tonight I rode Ebony again =) I first gave Rachel and Rose Mary a ride then I headed out. At first we did a lot of walking then I asked her for a canter. I am learning that she doesn't like to go away from home faster than a walk but headed home she likes to go at a canter. I am going to work with her on that. Also we need to work on her walking in a straight line. I do know that since Sharnon's horses are used to going in a group the horses follow each other but when they go by themselves there true character comes out. Or at least that is how it seems to me =) I don't know if I will ride Ebony tomorrow or not but I am going with Sharon to New Holland Horse Auction. They have vendors there and I am hoping to get a breast strap and a bucking strap for my western saddle. Then we probably will go on a trail ride then work with Beauty. Guess we will see!!

First Ride on Ebony!

I rode Ebony for the first time today. It was quite windy but I wanted to ride anyway =) I saddled her up and headed up back to go out the back cornfield. We warmed up first and then headed off into a canter! She has a nice smooth canter (Curly's isn't as smooth) and I enjoyed riding her. We did some cantering then I went over to see if my aunt was home. I had stopped there yesterday with Curly but I didn't see her. Anyway I talked to my aunt a bit and then I took off and rode a bit more. We didn't ride for more than a half an hour but tomorrow if things work out I plan to ride Ebony around the block. I am not sure exactly how long she will be here but I will most likely be getting Curly back as he needs some work =D Well hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!!

Riding Curly!!

I rode Curly tonight for the first time. We started out at a walk till we were warmed up. They have started putting the corn up so we have some places in the corn field we can ride. The wagons that they use to haul the silage to the silos were in the field and Curly didn't want to walk past them but I got him to go by without a fuss! Then off we went at a canter. We cantered for most of the time with some walking put in (he is in good shape so I wasn't worried about him). I stopped him when we were headed away from the pony at the neighbors and he was fine but didn't want to stand still. So I kept telling him to stop. He didn't like standing still so I kept asking for it. He half heartedly tried to rear but I told him in no uncertain terms that he may not he do that. I rode him for about half an hour then came back and hosed him off. He left tonight to go back to Sharon's tonight (she came and picked him up) because Sharon was really interested in breeding Beauty and I talked to my cousins to see if they were interested and they were so that is why he is going home. I have Ebony one of Sharon's other horses here till Curly comes back (most likely anyway) because Curly needs some work =D Guess we shall see! I will get some pics of Ebony this weekend!

attatched pic is of me and curly after our ride!!

Curly!!

Some of you guys have wondered but I have gotten up at 6 or so each morning and taken care of Curly and a few other things and then headed out the door to work. I got home each evening a bit after 7 and by the time I have Curly in and such it is dark so I have not had a chance to ride him yet. I hope to ride tomorrow evening but we shall see. He is an awesome horse as far as on the ground and when I rode him last Tuesday he did fine for me then so I am looking forward to riding. Hope you have a fine evening!!

Thursday's Free Lunging and Pics!!

Wow tonight went really well..by the end that is. I got to Sharon's place a bit before 5 and we moved some of the horses around then we put Beauty in the round pen. I got in there with her by myself at first. I got her to get going and at first she did ok but then she started to test me and go to a corner and turn her behind toward me to turn. Sharon was standing by the small gate giving me advice (which was fine). After a bit of this Sharon asks if it is ok if she comes in to show me how she would do it. I said sure. When Beauty wouldn't listen we would crack the whip and if she didn't go then we would hit her (with the whip) and I didn't really hit her hard enough because I was just making her mad (Sharon called them love taps). We would only get after her if she went into the corner, turned her behind toward us when turning or came into the the middle (our space). Beauty would go into a corner when we asked her to turn and sometimes she decided to turn on her own and instead of turning with her face toward us she turned with her behind toward us (which is not good..you want two eyes instead of two heels). Well anyway Sharon comes in and Beauty starts testing her out. This goes on for a while and Beauty was getting more mad because Sharon was actually telling her what to do! Sharon and I both think this is one of the first times Beauty was ever told what to do and had no choice about it. If she did the right thing she was left alone if she did the wrong thing we got after her about it (Sharon said she had two other horses that did this and now you would nver know) Well Beauty wanted out of the round pen (there is a big gate and a small gate and the small gate is the one that led into the barn and the big gate led out into the other pens) instead of giving in. Well she ends up going thru the little gate (didn't break it) and takes off down the road. I go and get her and bring her back. Then I put her in the round pen, get in with her and lunge her again. This time she doesn't act as bad and she went around the circle without going into the corner. Since she was starting to give in I let her go around the circle one full time and then I asked her to turn around and then I let her go around the circle three times without acting up and she did. You could tell that she was more obediant and willing to listen because she was licking her lips and flicking her ears at me. She was definitely concentrating more on what I wanted her to do than what she wanted. I was very very happy with her. Since she was very warm and sweated we took her to the cross ties and sprayed her down (which was the plan all along). She didn't give as much of a fuss as we thought she would and by the time we were done with that she did good. I let her in the cross ties for about an hour so she could dry off and get used to them.

I think the lunging went well. I like free lunging because I think you can earn a horses respect real quick because you are able to control them with body language and without touching them. That to me is awesome. I think Monday we will give her a refresher course on the lunging and see how she does and then depending on that we will maybe put the saddle on her.

About the pics the first one is of Curly..I didn't get any of him here yet as I was working yesterday and today and then going to Sharon's so no time to take pics. Tomorrow I hope to ride Curly and also get some pics of me on him!

Then the next two are of Riley (the boy that has Navajo) and Navajo. I got some e-mails from Riley's mom and Navajo is doing great..That I am glad to hear!!

The next three are of Beauty and her pasture mates. She was in the pasture till tonight. Sharon's one horse has arthirites so he needed to be in the pasture so she is in one of the other areas. But she had a sheep and a goat as pasture mates in the pasture =) Enjoy the photos!! I want to get some of Beauty running but she didn't do it the other night. We shall see!!

Wednesday's Work Session!!

I got to Sharon's house after work around 5:30 or so this afternoon. I didn't work with her right away but we worked on her walking nicely beside me. At first she was forward and didn't walk so well beside me but by the time I was done she was walking nice and relaxed beside me. Also was doing really well with turning left or right. I was very very pleased with how it went. It was the best work session I had with her yet. Maybe the only better one was the time she joined up with me. Tomorrow we are going to free lunge her and soon probably put the saddle on her and lunge her with that! We shall see! So that was my day today (well a short run of it anyway). I will try to get pics of Curly tomorrow. I have pics of Navajo in his new home and also of Beauty and will try to post those soon as well!