Tuesday's Lunging!!

Yesterday I rode Daisy down to my neighbors in the morning to take care of her dogs and then in the afternoon I lunged her then. It had been a bit since I lunged her but boy did she act like she had never ever done it before in her life. She tugged and pulled and all sorts of nasty stuff when going to the right but the nice and amazing thing was she was a different horse going to the left. I mean she did everything I asked perfectly. Well I couldn't hold her so I got my sister to stand behind me and if I needed her strength to help me hold Daisy she held on :D It worked..we lunged Daisy that way but I didn't feel like we really got much of anywhere. I mean she was listening better at a trot but still pulled like crazy at the canter. So we ended on a good note and I went in and read a book that my friend Andrea let me borrow on lunging. I read how to bit a horse when lunging and what to do when they want to pull. Well we tried this around 6 or so in the evening (had lunged her around 2 or 3 in the afternoon..I don't usually lunge twice in a day but anyway) and I did exactly the like the book said and she lunged PERFECTLY to the RIGHT without pulling or anything. I mean it was almost like she was going to left only it was the right side and she was doing it perfectly. I was so happy!! I didn't even have to do it long..not more 5 minutes. We quit and I loved on her and then gave her her hay :) I was just so pleased! I am off to work today but tomorrow I hope to ride her. I have some ideas on what to do with her in the bit and bitless bridles..we shall see what all adventures the next few weeks will bring :D

Friday's Ride!!

I did get to ride Daisy yesterday evening..I saddled her up in the western saddle and the bitless bridle. I had to adjust a few things that I had gotten Sharon to help me fix so that took a bit longer. Before I headed down to my neighbor's for her to show me how to take care of her dogs this next week while they are gone I wanted to ride Daisy a bit having adjusted the bitless bridle from the last time I rode her. I knew that Daisy had no respect for the bit at a canter and it is the same way with the bitless bridle I found out...it is something I want to work on with her (well I didn't know what to do when I was riding her yesterday but I haven't given up and I want to try a few things that I found out that should get her to respect the bitless bridle). Anyway before I went down to the neighbor I rode her out the field at a canter and headed back at a canter. I pulled back on the reins because I didn't want her going flat out but she didn't slow down like I wanted her to..so I see sawed and that helped a tad. But I wasn't satisfied because she didn't respond the way she should have (I also have a feeling she might need to get used to it as well but regardless she knows pulling back means stop). I did it one more time and she didn't stop at all when I told her to. I was like well I am going to ride down to my neighbors first and then do a tad more riding to give her more of a chance to prove herself. After my neighbors I went out their field and then onto the road..I wanted to see if she did differently on the road but nope she didn't..she didn't slow down like I asked (this was always at the canter...like I said I have a few things I want to work on and see if they work) and since she wasn't responding I went into the field and went in a cirlce and did a one rein stop..that stopped her. We went home then and I talked to Sharon to see what she would all say and she gave me some tips...so when I ride her again (not sure if I will today or not) we will ride in the bitless around here first and try a few things then change into the hackamore and go for a ride. Hope you are having a nice and warm weekend!!

Tuesday!!

This morning I lunged Daisy because the farrier was coming. She did ok..definitely worse than the last time I had lunged her but it had been a little bit. I am seeing some different things I should do. One day of the week at least I should lunge her before I ride and then ride. Not every day but I have a few things in mind I want to do...one day lunge before I ride, then another day work on a few things I want to teach her while I ride and another is to maybe look into starting ground driving. These are just a few things that have been running thru my head. Anyway she did ok and I didn't lunge her for terribly long but I hopped on her a bit with the English bridle (no saddle) and worked on her responding to the bit nicely. She did well with that. Overall I rode her for probably 15 minutes. Then I put her out to the pasture till the farrier came.
Then when the farrier came I went and got Daisy. I figured we would just use the regular lead rope once and see how good she stands. Well she didn't stand at all so we got the stud chain out and that made it go a ton better. She hopped around a bit but she did a ton better than the last time. I was so pleased!!
Sharon had lent me her bitless bridle that we had gotten made..I tried that tonight on Daisy using the bitless bridle and english saddle. It worked quite well and I think I want to try it on the road yet and in the western saddle to really get a good opinion. I was pleased though how it worked. Here is somewhat what our bridle looks like: http://www.bitlessbridle.com/  http://www.bitlessbridle.com/cat/Users+Manual.html (better explanation)..ours is a little different but it has the same idea. I am so happy!! I can't wait to play with it a little more and try a few things to see if that makes it work better!! Daisy seemed to like it and she did awesome!! We trotted around the barn and even cantered in the field some. She is just doing really well for me! We even trotted up our hill in the orchard and walked down it. She didn't really like walking down the hill so much but she did it for me :) Hope you have a good evening!!

Riding at Sharon and Riding Daisy!!

Today was so awesome. I went to work at 7:45 and worked till 11:45 am then headed out and went to Sharon. Got to Sharon and helped saddle up the horses and we left her place around 12:45 or right around there anyway. I was riding Curly with a bareback pad same as I had Sunday. He is more of a bony horse than either Navajo or Daisy are so it can make you sore!! :D We went up to Woodcrest and rode the trail and also ate lunch up there. Yummy :D Then rode back to her place and got back around 3:30 or so. Then I left and came home.

Once I got home I talked a bit to my family but then headed out to ride Daisy. Saddled her up and headed out. I talked to my neighbor about taking care of her dogs for her at the end of this month for about 15 min or so then again we headed out. We went a different way again but Daisy did awesome and she didn't spook much. I should say that today was quite nice and warm in the 70s or more!! Awesome! I worked on Daisy's trot and she did really well then I worked on her listening to my seat telling her to go instead of voice commands and a tap on her side. Wow she caught on fast. It was so awesome pushing my seat forward for the trot then posting for a while then pushing my seat front again and getting her to canter. It was so much fun. We rode for about an hour overall. Once we got back here on the farm I got Daisy to trot around the barn both ways really well then we quit. I unsaddled her and since she was nice and sweaty I hosed her down. That she really appreciated! Overall it has been an awesome day so far! Hope you enjoy your weekend!

Thursday's Ride!

I rode Daisy again this evening. I saddled up western and we headed out across our neighbors field. We ran across that and then walked for a bit then cantered up the field lane to the road where we trotted then walked. We waited at the stop sign and cantered across the road. I decided just of the fun of it to stop in at my aunts and chat for a while and I did. Not sure how long I chatted but it was a while. Daisy stood nice and still the whole time..I was very pleased. Then we left there and went onto the other field lane (ours) and full out ran some of it. Then I cantered home and here at home we did some trotting and walking to cool down. I was very happy with how good she did with the trotting. I got her to do it both ways around the barn then I walked her to cool her off. I am so happy!! Tomorrow I am going riding with Sharon again because my friend Lillian's birthday was today and she invited some of us girls to go riding for her bday tomorrow even though her bday is today. Don't know if I will ride Daisy but we shall see!! Have an awesome weekend!

Tea Party!!

Today we had a tea party at my aunt's house (where I work). My cousins and I (the ones that own Beauty) planned it and invited everyone and got everything together and my aunt let us use the house!! Not near everyone showed up but we had fun with the people that did. The reason we had done this was as a thank you kinda for our mom's and other aunts for all they do! The first picture was of the tea and the second picture is the table. We had ham and cheese sandwiches with a poppey seed sauce, a veggie tray with dip,  and crackers with dip for our main course. Then for dessert they had a choice of lemon merange pie, chocolate covered strawberries, or chocolate cake with whipped cream, cherries and drizled chocolate on top and of course tea. I know my cousins and I had fun planning it and decorating the kitchen...We would definitely do it all over again!!

Tuesday's Ride and Sunday's Ride at Sharon!!

Tonight was the first time I got to ride on the road in the evening!! I tacked Daisy up in the western saddle and bridle and headed out (I groomed her good before we left). We went the same way as yesterday all except we did went opposite than last time. We did a lot of cantering but I did get her to trot very nicely for a good distance. I was very pleased!! We cantered some more then on the last stretch home I got her to walk. We went in the field (ours) and we did a full out gallop toward home. Then when we got home I walked her around to cool her down and let Rose Mary ride. While Rose Mary was riding I walked beside Daisy (Rose Mary didn't have her hands on the reins) and at first I had my hands on the reins but then I was like hey I am going to see how well Daisy follows me and listens to me from the ground. Well she listened very well. We just walked at first then I asked Rose Mary if she is comfortable with trotting and she said sure..I started jogging and Daisy trotted right beside me and I mean she was like right at my side. Then I switched to the off side (right side) and we did the same thing. She trotted so nicely from the ground and I wasn't touching her at all. I was so happy!! I had never done this before so it was excellant for the first time!! I was so pleased!! I got her to trot one more time then I stopped her and told Rose Mary to get off because she did so wonderful. I am so happy with my girl.

Ok you are wondering about the picture of the lamb...well I went riding at Sharon's on Sunday afternoon. I rode Curly again..We rode for about 2 or so hours. We went up to Woodcrest with a dating couple..It was a lot of fun and Curly did well!! I enjoyed my time of riding a different horse again..Then we came back and I got to hold this little lamb. He is SO CUTE!!!! Small and fuzzy too :D I had gotten to Sharon a little after 2 and we got back from riding around 5 or so..Then my family came for homemade icecream around 7!! It was a very fun Sunday!! Hope you have a great rest of the week!!

Profile Your Horse!

Name: Daisy


Name she would choose for herself: Prancing Beauty

Most endearing trait: Her sweet and gentle side :) She can be such a sweetheart when she wants to be :D

Best part of the ride: RUNNING!! She and I both love to run..I have told her often that she would make a good race horse..LOL.

What makes her stop and stare: Anything unusual or something she hasn't seen before

If she was going to spook this would do it: Usually nothing but at the moment she absolutely HATES when vehicles are coming strait at her on her right side :D It is kinda funny to see!

She has an odd fascination with: Anything she can put in her mouth..she has been known to try to eat paper :D (Long story short my sister was walking past with some newspaper in her hand and Daisy reaches over and takes the top one off as though to say I will take that thank you :D)

I got this idea from this link: http://www.horsechannel.com/life-with-horses-blog/2011/0302-know-your-horse.aspx

Saturday's Ride!!

I did get to ride yesterday!! I groomed Daisy really good before I saddled up in the western saddle. Then we headed out down our road...and all of a sudden we were in the field running away from something :D Not sure what spooked her but I turned her around and we went right back where we had come from. She did fine and we kept going. We did a lot of cantering but we did a lot of walking as well. It ended up being about a 45 minute ride overall. Well we went in a big square around our place and that is the farthest that I have ever taken Daisy by ourselves so I am wondering if it was the new and strange places, her never really being ridden on the road by herself till I got her, and the wind that accounted to her spooking so much :D The one time a truck came behind us and she double spooked. First away from the truck toward a white marker along the road and then she spooks (in place this time) from that white marker. Another time she stops dead still because of either the cows or the bridge :D But overall she did really well and she really got to run which made her so happy. I did get her to trot a few times but I figured she hasn't really been ridden much this past winter so running is not going to hurt her..there are plenty of times ahead to work on the things we need to/want to work on..and there is no rush either!!
I am soon going to be heading out to go riding at Sharon's on one of her horses. Miss Daisy gets to be lazy and eat hay :D I love my dear sweet girl though! Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!!

Tuesday's Ride!!

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day!! Not sure how warm it was but I was out some of the day without a coat or jacket on..just wonderful. Daisy really was enjoying herself and was laying in the sun for a while today (twice). She was quite dirty too..She doesn't really like mud to much but she was actually muddy..the worst I have ever seen her..Silly horse!!

I also got to ride which was great!! I rode bareback in the hackamore. I rode along the strip and we just walked but she did wonderful. She was a little hyper going down but coming back she kept cowhopping to the side whenever a car came to us (her right side would have been facing the road..I figured out she doesn't mind cars coming at her on the left side nor coming behind her but have it coming at her from the right and she is not happy :D). We will work on it! We did canter a little bit and she really enjoyed it!! I am so pleased with her! Hoping to ride more this week!!

Saturday's Ride!

I did get to ride Saturday..it was windy but I decided I am riding no matter what :D I saddled her up in the english saddle and the western hackamore (because I am realizing I need to teach Daisy to really respect the bit so we are going to work on that). First she was acting dumb about me mounting up but I got on (I got off her later and then got on again without her moving so not sure what he problem was..she usually does really well with that). We warmed up a bit and then I got her to trot around the barn...She trotted nice and steady and did really good with that. I was so happy with her!! Then as a reward we cantered out the field and full out ran on the way home..she sure would make a good race horse..LOL. Then we cooled off by walking around the barn. I was so pleased with how she did!! No riding today as it is very rainy but I loved on Daisy and spent some time with her! Hope you have a wonderful rest of the weekend!!

Finally A RIDE!!

This evening I rode Daisy. I had decided after our last lunging session after she had finally done so well with trotting and cantering that we achieved what I wanted..maybe not to the extent I think we can do it to but I figured we worked on lunging now for a while we can start riding as it is not near as cold as it was and it is staying light longer. I put the hackamore on her and brought her over to the bucket and she stood very nicely for me!! I got on and she backed up but I got her to stop and then off we went. She went at a nice walk and didn't try to speed up. I was so pleased. We cantered twice or so and I stayed nice and straight and she did great too. Then I was talking to my uncle which was good because then Daisy had to stand still..it was great because she stood nicely!! Then I took her back to the barn and put her blanket on again and gave her her hay!! Hope to do some more serious riding this weekend :D We shall see!!

Tuesday's Lunging!!

Today I lunged Daisy again. At first she was acting all frisky and didn't want to trot she just wanted to canter to the left. I was like ok fine don't listen to me canter then. Canter she did (she listened to me though and cantered really smooth and didn't pull at all). Then I got her to turn to the right and canter that way and she cantered but kept pulling. I slowed her down and got her to trot to the left really nicely..I mean it couldn't have been better. I did it to the right too and wow I think she did the best she ever did for that side..she did just as well for the right as she does for the left..a definite improvement..now the canter just needs work. Then I was like ok time to work on the canter to the right now. At first she kept pulling and the minute that I got her to canter one circle consistantly without pulling I turned her and stopped her. It didn't take near as long and it was very successful. I am planning (unless it is too muddy) that next time I can I am going to ride instead of lunge her (either Thursday or Friday). She has done so well and I am so proud of her. I still have the lunge line over her nose but I want her to be good at this before I take it off so I don't undo what all I did. Hope you have an awesome rest of the week!