Tuesday's Lunging!!

Tonight I lunged Daisy instead of riding her because she has been a bit moody lately so I decided to put her to work (I lunged her yesterday too and that took care of the moody part..hehe). At first she wasn't listening to well but toward the end she did very well. She even cantered to the right without much trouble with pulling. I was so happy and then once I was done lunging her we joined up again..that was really awesome!! Hope you have a wonderful week!!

Christmas Ride!!

I got to ride today for a whole hour and a half :) I headed down the road to the one church then I turned around from there and headed up Sunnyside road which takes you too Hackman road (there is one road in between there but not sure of the name). Then I headed up Hackman Rd which takes me to Schoeneck Rd (our road) which is pretty busy. I did a lot of walking with her but she did really really good..I was so happy with her and how she did!! I don't really have much to write about but I must say I didn't lunge her before but I did get my mom to take some pictures :)

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love. ~Lucinda Franks

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from Ruth Ann n Daisy!!

Christmas Eve!!

Tonight I groomed Daisy and spent time putting ribbons in her mane! Then I took these pictures. I have one to put on here for tomorrow!!! I hopped on her when she was in her corral bareback without a halter or anything on her. She did pretty good. I used a lead rope and got her to stop and turn for me :) I hope to ride tomorrow but I shall have to see!! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve!!

Gingerbread cookies!!

Today I made gingerbread cookies in the shapes of gingerbread men, stars, reindeer, and hollys :) They taste quite great as well!!

Mistake!!

Sorry..today is Thursday :) My blog said Friday's ride. I am all mixed up due to working my Friday's job on Thursday ;) Sorry!

Thursday's Riding and Manger Scene!!

Tonight I rode Daisy. I got my western headstall from statlinetack today so I fit it to Daisy and hopped on. I didn't take her blanket off but just rode her like that. I just walked her at first then we cantered some. She did really good and didn't try any funny stuff either. She shied at a black plastic tarp that she wasn't used to it being at that particular spot and we were cantering and she side stepped and off I came. I didn't get hurt at all so I just hopped on her right away again :) Then we cantered a bit more and then I got her to trot a bit for me. It again wasn't a long ride but enough for me. I am meeting my goal of riding every day this week (didn't yesterday because I mixed cookies instead :D I plan to bake those tomorrow) but yesterday I did groom her and spend time with her! Check out the photo I got via e-mail..I believe you will like it!! Hope you all have a wonderful day and a Merry Christmas!!

Cantering Daisy Bareback in the Field and Christmas Caroling!!

Wow..my week of not working sure is nice and I am having fun while I am at it too!! Yesterday it was soon time to head out the door to go Christmas caroling with Sharon on Horseback but I wanted to ride Daisy first. SO I hopped on her bareback and started to just ride her around here. I knew she was going to act dumb but I didn't lunge her despite that..I figure she can learn to act decent without lunging all the time although I know that does help a lot. Anyway I got on her and walked her around which she does really great at..now we just need to work on the trot and canter :) I asked her for a canter and she started off a little weird then she did some bucking. The first time I didn't do anything because it surprised me the second time I wacked her for that. I know lunging probably would take care of that but I still want to her to learn that even if I don't lunge her that does not mean she may act that way...I want her to learn it just in case something should happen that I wouldn't have a choice to lunge first that I will have a dependable horse to ride. Well after I wacked her for bucking she didn't buck :D Then we cantered and I decided I am going to be brave and head out to the field. My reason for staying away from the field pretty much was that I know she loves to run full speed and I didn't know if she would get it in her head to run full speed or not. Well she didn't and she cantered very nice for me. I was so happy. It was a wonderful ride over all. Not to long but short and sweet sure can be better sometimes!!

Then after I was done riding out the door I headed for Andrea's house! I borrowed our friend Cheri's horse Autumn to ride that night while Andrea rode her horse Sweet Pea. We headed over to Sharon's house to meet the other 10 riders and the wagon pulled by two draft horses. After everyone was ready we headed up to Fairmount homes to sing. First we tied our horses outdoors and went inside to sing then we went around the outside and sang at the cottages. WOW it was SO MUCH FUN!! After we sang for a while we headed back to Sharon's for a treat and some warm drinks. Sweet Pea had broke loose up at Fairmount and also got loose at Sharon's so we left her there at Sharon's and Andrea and I rode double back to her house :) It was so much fun doing that..Overall it was a wonderful and fun evening despite being frozen :D I would do it all over again though :D

Riding Bareback!

Last night I did get to ride. I convinced Rose Mary (my sister) to go outside and walk her one dog while I ride Daisy bareback. I put her hackamore on and hopped on (and she didn't move either..remember the one Saturday I had to fight to get on her..no more!!) We headed out the field lane at a walk and DAISY DIDN'T ONCE TRY TO GO FASTER THAN THE PACE IS SET. I was so proud of her because for one it was windy and cold and I hadn't lunged her. Normally I would but I didn't. We cantered one time on the way back and then we rode around here for a bit and I cantered twice here too..FUN FUN FUN!! It wasn't a long ride by any stretch but I think it was one of the best ones we had..she listened so well.

Visiting Navajo!!

Well as you can see I went to see Navajo today. Oh it was SO GOOD to see him again!! He is doing good and Duke and him seem to get along well too! Enjoy the photos!!

Friday's Ride!!

Tonight I got to ride Daisy. I decided I need to ride her on the road in order to get her used to it and also I would like to ride her down to the farrier down close to Sharon's as he is cheaper than the farrier I was using (and also then maybe I can go on a trail ride with my friend's as well). Anyway first I lunged Daisy and tonight she did the best she ever did and then I saddled her up with the western saddle and I put my helmet on. First I rode her in the field at a flat out run..what fun!! Then on the road we went. We just walked for the first bit then we did some cantering. WOW what fun..we did a lot of cantering and she did awesome. She only shied a few times..the first time at a big bus and then the second time she didn't move at all off the path just jumped in place a bit :) I was so proud of her. I think the reason we did so much better today was because we know each other a ton better and we are more confident and trust each other more as well!! Anyway it was totally awesome!! Hope you have an awesome weekend!

Daisy's New Blanket and her Pink Halter!

I got Daisy's blanket today :) She looks quite nice in it and it fits her well too! I wore her pink halter on her so you guys could see some more pics of her in it!! Enjoy!!

p.s. I haven't edited pictures in a long time so I am having fun using Picnik.com again :D

Some Pictures!!

Well here are some pictures of what has been going on around here lately :D Daisy got a new halter given to her by my dear friend and the other halter is her leather one. I edited them for Christmas ;) and the last picture is one of all our Rhode Island Red Chickens :)

Cantering Daisy Bareback!!

 I love this picture!!



Yesterday I actually did get to ride. I would have updated yesterday but I had a youth thing in the evening. Anyway I lunged Daisy first (which I did get some pictures and will add them) and got my mom to take pictures while I was doing that. She got some good ones. Daisy settled down and on I got, bareback again. My intentions when I got on at first were just to walk till I was ready to trot. I wasn't scared or nervous really but it still had me a bit jittery :D Anyway Daisy finally settled down to a walk..she was acting like a nut and not wanting to walk nicely for me but she did. Once she did I was like ok we can trot now. Ok now you got to understand. Daisy can trot like nothing else..she could trot all day and not really wear down (maybe not quite but it isn't difficult and it is really smooth). I ask her to trot and she trots yes but not smoothly which I know she can do because I have done it on her with the saddle and bareback (last time). She made me quite upset because she was trotting in such a way that I kept sliding all over the place because she had no rhythme. Anyway I was like ok lets try this again. We did that numerous times and then she just went into a canter without me asking her to. Once she did I was fine and I was like this is fun. Then the next time we did it I asked her for it and off we went. WHAT FUN! I would have gotten pics but my mom went to the store before I had finished lunging Daisy. Anyway that is yesterdays ride!!

p.s. no riding today as it is raining and tomorrow it is supposed to be really cold so we shall have to see!
Oh and the last pictures are the first time I rode her with the English saddle. I never got around to posting them before!

Riding Daisy Bareback!!

Tonight I rode Daisy :) I lunged her first and she was acting like a nut (wanting to change directions whenever she wanted to..found out we don't do that). I lunged her for a while and by the time we were done she was changing directions without me even doing more than stepping in front of her!! I was so happy!! Then I hopped on her bareback. Ok I did this like two or three times but never faster than a walk (I am getting my confidence slowly but surely..this is how it worked when I hopped on Curly bareback for the first time..didn't ride him full speed then either). Once I felt comfortable going at a walk (at first she wanted to act dumb which I was a tad amazed I stayed on but I did) but she soon figured out if she walks it will be more fun for her. After we had walked like I said till I was comfortable then I asked her for a nice trot and trot she did. I was so happy and proud of us!! I can't wait to try it again. I must say this quote: Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway. -John Wayne
I wasn't terrified but I was nervous and not at ease until I had been on her for a bit. But I must say it felt good to overcome my nerves and feel comfortable!!

Remembering Petite Fleur!

Normally I don't say much about Horsechannel but we had two deaths in the last two days on HC and so I am asking for all of those out there who have a horse to please pray for these who lost their horses. It is not an easy thing!! (See attached file of Petite Fleur)

A horse loves freedom, and the weariest old work horse will roll on the ground or break into a lumbering gallop when he is turned loose into the open. -Gerald Raferty

A horse gallops with its lungs, perseveres with its heart, and wins with its character. ~ Tessio
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I have some sad news..Paula's horse Petite Fleur #107376 (the french mare) died at 11:30 AM on December 8th 2010 western European time. She was suffering because of tumors in her overies (some of you may have known this)! We shall all miss her as she was a wonderful companion and sweet mare!! Please keep Paula in your thoughts and prayers as she is going thru this hard time!! Please also think of Frances (her horse's name is Fancy Walk n That Way #153665 and her brother as TIRNANOG #164100 (Frances's brother's horse) died December 7 2010. Thank you Ruth Ann

Sunday's Ride!!

Today I got to ride again. It seems Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are the only days I really get to ride out of the week :D Anyway. I lunged Daisy first because she had been in her stall all last night and so far today because of it being very windy and cold. She did really good with lunging. I know I say it a lot but she seems to get better every time! Before I had lunged her I had saddled and bridled her up. Once I lunged her I got on her and off we went. I headed out the into the field first and we did some trotting and some cantering. Twice she tried to run faster than I wanted her to so I made her turn and slow down. She is quite the horse. I have a feeling we will get farther with our training once summer and warmer weather come because then she won't be so frisky from the cold weather :) Then I brought her back to the farm and I got her to trot around in a circle really nice in the big yard out back here. We trotted both ways. I figured this way she will listen to me and I will be able to work on my posting and keeping my legs under myself the way they belong :D Once we were done with that I cleaned out her hooves and put her blanket on and turned her out :)

Saturday's Birthday Ride and Youth Night!!

Today I finally got to ride Daisy again. The only different thing was I rode her in the english saddle (which btw from everything looks like we won't be needing a high withers pad...got my mom to look down the middle of her back and not touching there and neither is it on her withers..so I believe we are good!! :). I saddled her up and got on her and she didn't move which was good. I should have lunged her first but I didn't (still getting used to that idea). Anyway she tried to run with me which I wasn't ready for yet and she bucked once (I pulled her head up for that and wacked her and she didn't do it again). It got to the point I was like fine you asked to be lunged so lunge we shall. So I lunged her till she showed me she was listening to me. Then I got on and had a good horsey just like I figured she would be. We did a lot of trotting and boy was that nice. That is all we did till I felt confident enought to canter and she did really well with that too. I got my mom to take a few photos and I believe I need to lower my stirrups a little (they were high because I wasn't sure how low/high they should be quite and also keep an eye on where my legs belong :D). Seems every time I ride in a new saddle on a horse or am riding a new saddle on a a horse I haven't had very long or known very long I have to relearn how to ride (not really but I think this makes sense to those of you who are horse people). What I mean is I have to learn the horses gait and such because every horse is different in that aspect. Anyway overall it went awesome.

Then around 5:30 I headed out the door for the youth vball game (ok in case you didn't notice our youth does a lot of vball). WOW what an evening. Not to many people were there and apparently they played last evening so some people left around 10. Those of us who were left played quite the interesting game before 11. Oh what fun!! I just love the youth!!