Ahhh! But it Turned Out Alright!

Today is my day to do stalls, and as always, it takes me extra long because I cant help but talk to my girls and scratch and provide cookies as I go. Mo has been super enthusiastic lately, she watches my truck drive in and power walks over to the fence [because she is close already] It is really sweet!

When I finally finished up what I was supposed to do, I rescued my saddle and extras from Reggie [truck] and brought them over to the barn and wrangled me up some ponies... both came in willingly and happily. I stuffed some food in front of Indy and borrowed Mo to get in some clipping prep play that I meant to do last week! She was pretty skeptical in the beginning, but it was no time before she was pushing the massager around with her nose and being all curious. She let me rub her withers and shoulder, but was pretty introverted about it, so after she relaxed and licked I stopped and we went back into the barn to saddle up. Also because Indy was causing a bit of a ruckus, and I really didnt want her to attempt her infamous jump-out-of-the-stall routine.

I tried our two-thick-shim idea with the saddle, and it was perfect. But I am getting ahead of myself. As I was playing with Mo I was trying to figure out if I could be brave enough to suck up the cold long enough to play with both of my girlies today. Being the not very winter inclined person that I am, I decided that probably wouldnt happen, so I came up with a super fun alternative. Given our little stand together and not eat each other session the other day, I thought we could try ponying! Ride Mo and pony Indy so she can get out and get confident to, without having to go alone!

My plan was going perfectly, I had Mo saddled, Indy waiting patiently a little ways away and I mounted... and then I realized I forgot my carrot stick, which I thought might be pretty crucial to keeping dearling Indy out of Mo's personal space. So I jumped down, "ground tied" Mo .. which she is usually a super star at, led Indy with me back into the barn to grab and came back to find Mo wandering away. *sigh*

I quickly put Indy away in the barn and went after my escapee. She had just a halter with finesse reins clipped on, and she had cleverly slipped them all the way over to one side, so as she was curious-ing her way away from me, with her big nose on the ground, she was stepping on the rein, at which times she would stop, back her foot off [look irritated] and keep walking... and walking... and walking!! ACK!

Annnd then she started trotting. Poop. Off down the laneway goes my pony. Time for reinforcements. I grabbed dearheart the second, apologized for the lack in prep and jumped on in hot pursuit of my escapist. We trotted off down the slippery lane, happy to find Mo had stopped not to far down the corner. We slowed down and I tried the catching game with her via Indy, stopping every time she looked and backing up and such, but Mo just snickered and took off again. Still stopping every now and again to address stepping on her reins... By this point Im just shaking my head, and starting to freak out a little inside that she will get hit by a car on the road.

We get out to the road after a merry chase down the laneway [Mo took off in a happy go lucky canter] were she stopped, looked around and went "OH BOY! The neighbours yard has no hoofprints!" *facepalm* So Mo walks over down the neighbours lane [across the street] Every time we got close enough, Mo would go just out of reach so I couldnt grab the reins or her halter, or basically anything I could use to get her attention. Smarty pants.

I almost had her on the laneway, because I could use the garage as a barrier so she could only go in a certain direction, but somehow she got around and plundered her way through the snow around the side of the house [sorry people who live there] and off to the other neighbours... [sorry other people who live there] and then she tramped through the ditch and back onto the road. She was heading back to the laneway, thankfully, but I was worried she might try to dart past it to... and that was when the car turned the corner, just as we were passing the lane, and she WAS trying to squirt past. Indy played cutting pony rather well in that moment and pushed Mo onto the laneway.

Off she went. Galloping down the laneway. *sigh* Galloping on the ice. Indy wanted to take off in hot pursuit, but I was only really open to letting her klutzy highness canter. We caught up with Mo at the corner, where she had stopped to try and dig out some grass and were able to herd her from there into the barn - I had given up trying to catch her at this point, just glad to be back on our own property! Once I got her in the barn poor Mo knew she was in trouble!

She backed her butt all the way to the end of the barn and looked at me with her " Im super cute and you arent mad... yes?" face. Ill be honest and say I was a little mad, but with that face, its hard to stay that way. Mostly I was just incredibly relieved that she wasnt dead on a road smacked by a car somewhere. We are only on concession away from a pretty major road around here, high speeds and lots of volume. Not good!

With Mo finally caught, we returned to our orignal programming, complete with stick on the first shot this time.  And so our actual real planned adventure began. Indy was a little bit more focused on eating Mo in the begining, but I was able to step up and keep her focused on what I was askng her instead, and she gave up that idea pretty quick and just followed along like the super rock star she is!

We walked and trotted once we got to the road, and they were both excellent. Indy was very respectful, and Mo was very good at paying attention to me and not the stick I was waving around to help Indy figure out where to be. YEY friendly game! We went up the road further than I have with either of them alone, so it really seemed to boost both of their confidences that they had moral support of another pony, not just me. I thought that was pretty interesting.

I think I will do this more often, and when Indy gets better and more reliable at her laterals I can pony Mo from her. I found out while trying to get to Mo that while yes, when focused and prepared she is pretty on the ball with little lateral things, she was not so on the ball when not so prepared.  So when I know I can ask her anytime anywhere to do anything...then I know she will be ready to be the leader and not the follower.

 - funny side note - watching Shanghai Noon on tv, and Mo is definately like the indian pony that Jackie Chan gets... the follow you into the bar type of horse, makes me giggle -

Such were my adventures today.. its was almost warm, butnotreally, and it was sunny. That was good. I was starting to forget what that yellow orb in the sky was! All we have seen lately are low and heavy grey clouds!

:-)
S

Little Bits

It was actually finally sunny today, so after work I was brave and went out to visit my wonderful fuffly friends.

Mo met me at the gate, and Indy was around to, which was nice. I went out to visit and say my hellos and slip my savvy string around Mo's neck. Today was one of those silly winter days where it feels like its been ever since I actually sat on a horse, so I just needed to sit on my pony. Either, I wasnt being picky, but Mo already had the string on.

I hopped up onto the water trough to use it as a mounting block, and Mo came over and then changed her mind and walked five steps away. A little sad, but not terribly surprised, I happily watched my other pony go "Oh boy, free human!" and mosey on over. The best part was that as she got closer she started coming in sideways to meet up with me on the mounting block. I layed on her and loved on her, but the way I was precariously perched on the edge of the water trough and the packed snow making her taller, I couldnt get the right angle to swing up. To tall!

When I jumped down, Mo came right back over and I was able to line things up right and squirm my way onto her back. Armed with my savvy string and carrot stick we moseyed on out into the  pasture. We didnt do to much, just some follow the trail on the path the ponies have dug in the snow, walking and trotting. I really just needed to feel my horsey and see her for more than just a quick hello and maybe a good grooming. I know I just rode last week, but it already feels like forever ago. January is like that.

When we got back to the gate in the ring, Indy was there waiting so I decided to perform an experiment. Indy and Mo hate each other with something bordering on passion, so I thought why not see if I can step up the leadership and work towards being able to play with the two together, and one from the other. Mo and I moseyed up to Indy and, as I thought, she pins her ears, but all four stay on the ground.  I protected our space [Mine and Mo's] with the stick and then *poof* ears up! How interesting... !

So we played with that, until the two of my girlies were standing an inch apart, side on, and HAPPILY. We did a few little stick to me forwards and backwards things and then Mo and I walked away. Leaving things on a good note! We wandered for a few more minutes before I jumped off and fetched some cookies for my rockstars. How I adore them!

:-)
S

It Was a Good Day Today

It really was. Not a super fantastic great day, but it was a solid check in the Good box. Nothing extra ordinary happened. I went over to do my day of stalls this morning but I kept getting distracted by ponies... as is wont to happen fairly often. Mo actually watched me come in the laneway and then met me at the gate, which was adorable. Indy was in an attention grabbing mood to, so that was nice.

As it was warm out [hahahah sure, yea right, it was +1 C] I actually left the barn door open and was serenaded by the gate clanging as Roxy kept trying to reasure me that she would indeed fit through the space between the chained-closed gates. By the time I finished the first two stalls - one of which belongs to Indy - my princess was not so patiently waiting at the gate, so I got her some hay [she's dropping weight :-( ] and let her in to munch. She seemed pretty content to eat, even though being in the barn is not usually her favorite thing. Mo loves to be the only one inside, she gloats and carries on, Indy just wants to be outside again. Funny horses.

I finished all the stalls in a round about way and then went to see Mo, who was at the side gate again when I dumped the last load. Yesterday we played with backing out the gate because it is a tight squeeze with no turn around room due to the tractor being parked right there. When I went to just say hello and hug her, she obviously wanted to come in, so I tried to engineer a repeat of yesterday, but with the added challenge of being at liberty. Things didnt really fly so well and indy started making noise, so I just told Mo try-again-next-time and went to stuff some more food in front of m'dear noisebox.

Interestingly, when I popped my head back outside, Mo was still there and looking like she would please like to try again, so I offered her another chance. Lo and behold, she backed right out and pretty much all the way into the barn on her own. I will admit it was a little bit of an assumption on her part, but still pretty cool! I will have to work on that a little, change things up so its not always a super back up with no draw.

Mo got to hang out in her stall munching while I took out Indy. I shined her up and detangled her fair share of hair. Someone has been munching on it lately, so its all ugly and uneven now... she looks goofy. When it grows a bit I will even it out with the rest of her mane.... Poor girl.

After grooming her I grabbed the snazzy little gadget I aquired from the dollar store yesterday - one of those noisey three legged massager things. PERFECT clipping practice! I had intended to do this with Mo, but Indy was there, so I did it with her instead. I let her sniff it, then turned it on and walked away. She was a little skeptical of the noise at first, but her curiosity peaked pretty fast. It wasnt long before she was trying to get closer and closer and finally putting her nose on it, while it was on. Cool stuff. This is very similar to what we did in Ocala last year, so I am glad it stuck.

We progressed fairly quickly to rubbing her body and legs. She was a little concerned over her back at first but relaxed on the second try. She didnt do anything extreme, just flexed her back away from the vibration. The only thing the she actually moved her feet for was when I tried under her jaw. That was my fault. I saw after that I had blown through some thresholds under her neck and chest area, so I went back and worked with those and quit when she was ok with that and licking and chewing. We will tackle the jawline another time, she did awesome and I wanted a good note to end on since my fingers were losing circulation..!

In the barn I saddled her up with our new toy and off we went. I was VERY happy to see her blowing out and stretching in the walk. Indy RARELY if at all stretches and blows during a ride, and certainly not at the very beginning. That was a treat. We walked down the laneyway doing little transitions, freestyle, and little isolations of her fore quarters and hind quarters. I was a little miffed to find that they were softer and more precise than Mo's! How that happened, I really dont know... will have to see to that though! It was a lovely feeling though, the speed that she offered in the turn on the haunches was really fun to ride. I can see why people like to ride spins.

Another really nice part of the ride was the incredible light soft flowy sideways she offered. Sideways under saddle is usually really sticky for Indy, so that was a treat. I think the biggest thing for me to see today was the walk/trot transition. *Usually* going up into the trot, her head comes up and her ears get snarky - just a bit. Not today. Nope. Head stayed low, ears stayed happy. How interesting.

We didnt canter because the laneway was a little slippery, and we didnt make it to the road because we hit a big threshold that I didnt want to explode through, but we had a great time. It was nice to be able to hang out with my ponies two days in a row. Even if all I did with Mo was hug her and say hello [which is all I did]

I dont do well in the cold... Yes, it was nice out compared to standard fare around here, but it still wasnt summer, and I got cold and numb fingers, so after getting off of Indy I opted to go drop off Richard.

Like I said, it was a good day

:-)
S

Finally!

Well I am home again, begrudingly. I went yesterday to visit Mo and Indy to re-aqquaint myself with my fluffy friends. Indy was prety much indifferent to me showing up, she perked her ears and said hello but then moseyed on her way. Mo, on the other hand delighted me entirely. She was in the far corner of what used to be Candy's paddock and didnt notice me until I called her name. What followed was utterly adorable and totally made me squee. Her head shot up, she looked around to see where I was and then GALLOPED her lazy bum allll the way over to me. *squee* You know when your heart does that extra little thump-thump when something really touches you? Thats what happened to me. I just couldnt believe her reaction. I loves my Mo!

I dawdled around with her outside a little, playing some tag and what not before taking the round about route into the barn so I could open the door and let Mo in. Indy, the ever present oppurtunist, weasled her way in as well. Mo and I hung out a bit, played with trying to kneel [its still a bow] and then she went back out. Indy just got some cookies and then went out.

Today was actually a great day. I thought it was raining when I woke up and heard the water dripping from the ... words escape me.. the piping that runs the length of the house and then drains down one tube *right* by my window? Anyways, usually that means it raining, and it was supposed to be, according to the radio weather man. The only plus of the whole forecast was that they were calling for above zero temperatures! I woke up planning my day centred around indoor activites - watching Parelli dvds! Finally got my Savvy Club dvd after all! When I finally dragged myself out of bed and went up to check the actual weather, I was pleasantly surprised! All that dripping I had heard was not the called-for rain at all... it was SNOWMELT! WHOO!!

It wasnt exactly sunshiny, but it was warmish, and not raining. Bonus. I had some things to do this morning - like go to the dollar store, trying to find a ketchup squeeze bottle to make  putting molasses on the bit super simple... alas, no luck on that front, but I did find a snazzy massager to practice clipping with! When I finally got over to the barn, I realized I had forgotten said massager, but all was well, because what  I hadnt forgotten was my Fluidity Saddle!!! Thats right! After goodness knows how long, I finally got to try out my loverly saddle!

Mo was out with the herd in the middle of the pasture along the treeline, but once more, to my infinate delight, she cantered and trotted her way over to me when I called. LOVE IT! Mo is a rock star and a half!  In the barn I brushed her all up, detangled a weeks worth of tangles in her many many hairs... I swear they get thicker when I am not looking... !

After she got all gorgeous we went out to play on the 45' line because it doesnt get so heavy when snow laden. I didnt use the whole thing, but we played with circles and me being NEUTRAL. I have gotten in the habit lately of playing with tranistions on the circle, and not really giving an allow... This last week really reitterated the importance of neutral and an effective allow, so I wanted to play with that a little bit. At first Mo was everywhere, but on the circle. She was going sideways, stopping, turning, going, pulling, trying everything basically, except going forwards on the circle. I just had to laugh because the look on her face was "What about this? No.. how about this??" She is such a goofball.

When she finally got it, I found out my maintain gait is pretty good! Especially for climbing through snow and avoiding frozen-to-the-ground barrels. She was even asking some questions about the barrels, putting feet on them and such. We played with some moving circles and change of direction [can we say rusty?] until everyting was flowy and nice. Driving from zone 3, we headed back to the barn. After an interesting gate adeventure, we made it and I started playing with shimming.

My first thought when I put the saddle on Mo was actually "uh oh, might need a super-wide!" but once I got things shimmed, I think it was good. More playing required either way. Mo always ends up more beefy than I imagine... I started with a three shim wedge, made from two thicks and one thin, but when we went to play with that things were slipping forwards and sideways, so obviously the stability was being compromised, so I put it down to one thick shim, and then hopped on to try it out. Throughout the ride I pretty much decided to add one more shoulder shim, but it wasnt disastrous, just not perfect.

Being that its winter, and this is Canadia, I didnt really have to many rideable areas as options. The ring would have been ok, but the deep snow would have made it harder for Mo to move and she would have wanted to stay on the few paths the horses have created. That left the laneway and the road. Off we went, with Teddy [dog] as our leader!

Teddy trotted happily off down the laneway and me and Mo came after at a more sedate walk. Mo was looking around, happy and stretching. She is usually pretty stretchy, so I am not sure if I put that down to the saddle exclusively yet or not. We picked up the trot and played with some transitions a bit, Mo was pretty go-ey for her! She didnt really want to slow down, which is good because sometimes she is hard to motivate, but I'd also like her to pay attention to me! We did a whole bunch of isolations, fore quarters and hind quarters and a little sideways to. She is getting really good at those, almost at spin in slow motion... almost! She is getting much better at staying straight to, and not just spinning like a top.

As we progressed down the laneway something really fun happened. We were trotting, and then I asked Mo to walk.. but she didnt. In an "ok, lets see what she offers" kind of moment, to not make her feel wrong, I just kept my energy low and waited... what I got was the most lovely, slow, wonderful jog/trot ever. With a little more suspension it could have been passage! How cool is that? I've never been offered that before! It was wonderful! I also tried some canter transitions, but Mo wasnt super confident with the footing [snowy/icy a bit] so I didnt push her.

Once we made it to the road we played with a lot of transitions, sideways at a trot and I *think* we even got a little shoulder in! To make things more interesting for me [extrovert] and Mo, I used the lines on the road as transition points, or as a weave to go through - which I decided we should have to go through sideways, at a trot. Mo was a complete rockstar, she was right on! I have never had her so light and willing to go from side to side! By the end she was a little hover craft.... MY little hover craft! It was so neat! It got to where I was accidentally shifting my weight and she would go "sideways? yes?" and step over a step or two before I could apologize and get back to centre. I will really have to work on ME now!

As I was playing some people on skidoos were coming so I did the savvy thing and jumped off. I had no idea what Mo's reaction would be, since I am sure the last time she saw a skidoo up close was at least two years ago! All for nought though, she calmly watched them pass [slowly, thankfully, they were polite skidoo-ers] and licked and chewed after they were gone. She didnt even move one foot! Isnt she great? I hopped back on and we proceded home, I didnt really want to over-do it on her first ride out since... a really long time ago? I cant even remember the last time I really rode.. ack!

Either way, it was a super awesome ride, Mo was and is a super mega rock star. LOVE my saddle. It was warm. I saw sun for ten minutes. Good times!

:-)
S

Not So Warm Actually!

AHH! So Florida feels a little to much like home weather! It has been COLD!!!!! Below zero cold!!!! All kinds of pipes have been freezing and bursting over at the Center!

Even though the weather hasnt been overly cooperative, the course was AMAZING. Unbelievably in-depth and wonderfully educational. And the best part.... I GOT MY 2*!!! WHOOT! I am officially a 2* Instructor now! How amazing is that!? I am super excited.

Re-connecting with all my Florida friends, both from my externship and a few from my six weeks was so refreshing. And because of that, there are a few things that have presented themselves as oppurtunities on the horizon that could be great for me... will update more about those as I figure them out.

Tomorrow I leave here for my birth-home. Back to blasted Canadia. I dont even miss it a little bit. I miss my ponies, but I want so much to play with them in not-snow, its ridiculous. Seeing all the green pastures and actual... ground.. here has been incredibly hard knowing that my horses are home in snow and not here to have fun with me. Poop.

Oh well.... The future is bright. I like the way it looks.

:-)
S