A Hop, Skip, and a Jump

When you are an asshole, I get to do things back to you. Especially when I am the one that feeds you.

Soooo, Bacon and I have had a few interesting jump schools. They started out a bit tense, as usual for spring time, with me hanging on the last one or two strides to the fence because some fire breathing dragon decided to take matters into her own hooves.

Birthday ride!

I can't really blame her entirely. She sees the distances a little better than I do, and knows we are coming in too slow, so instead of taking the chip, she takes her most loved long spot. And I sit there and let it happen. For shame. And I know all of this is happening because I do not have the right canter (nor can I see a distance to save my life right now) but it is hard to let go when you know your horse might take ahold of the bit and CHAAARRRGGEE because, well, jumping is exciting.

Third jump school? 

But instead, I worked more on her listening to half halts. This is the year of half halts, instead of pulling matches. She is still trying to figure out what the hell I am doing up there and why I am trying to get her back and up and listening, but she is starting to figure these out. I can use less HALT NOW HO, and finesse it a little more. On Easter, it was my birthday, so I was determined to jump. Let's just say there was a lot of WHOA HO and stopping after the jump.

A little better knees.

She really really listened and waited for me mostly when we were trotting the cross rail. But when we cantered, we came in too underpowered, and she took charge. And so our game of half halts and listening began. I told her that we were not allowed to jump the oxer until she cantered the crossrail like a decent creature. We finally got it out of her, I pointed her over the oxer a couple of times and then aimed for the single barrel in the arena. We were a bit crooked over the barrel on a few occasions (and had to maneuver around rogue goats running in front of the jump) but nailed it a final time and I called it good.

Look at that drool!

Our next jump school was excellent. She warmed up really well and was soft and responsive, so out we went into our sad dirt pasture to work over the same jumps. I waited for my horse to drag me to the crossrail, and...she didn't. Calmly she went over. And again. And again. Well damn, that's cool. I aimed her at the slightly raised oxer, and she waited for me, I gave a few quiet half halts and BAM, nice distance. I tried to recreate that same ride, and we did it again. The third time, we came in under powered again, so she grabbed that long spot, but still listened to me. I was so pleased.

So instead of having a better release, I just throw my upper body down. Hmm.

I had set up a corner in the arena, so we went there to try it out. At first, I trotted her to it, telling my babysitter Robby that we would probably tap it. We most certainly did not! I felt her withers come way up, and we sailed over the exact spot I aimed her for. I cantered around to it again, and it went perfectly. We did it one more time for funsies, and she jumped it with a little less enthusiasm, but still great. I was beaming.

Redneck corner. Like a bad ass.

We have our first show of the year on Sunday, and I am almost crapping my pants. It is just a little schooling show, where we are set to do Novice test A and jump around 2'9" and possibly 3'. I feel a little more confident that we will make it around the course in less than NASCAR speeds. Not totally sure how dressage is going to go, as she has been extra sensitive and forward and harder for me to ride this year. But, we will go out there and do our best and enjoy our time with friends. And hopefully not stain our breeches brown!

The Little Things I Love

Hot damn Lucy goose!

I know we are all here because we love horses. At least I hope so. We think they are beautiful, strong, awesome companions and partners. They do all kinds of crap for us and we do all kinds of crap for them. Some may be great jumpers or brave trail blazers. But there are other things I love about them. Some things I just look at and sigh in content.

I love feeding time. I love giving my horse's delicious, nice, hay (even though I am allergic). I love to feed them their grain even more. Happy horses munching away is music to my ears.

I love watching them have a good roll. Some, like Lucy, can roll over and over and over. While ones like Vegas try their damndest to get over once.

Watching them graze and play in the pasture is another. Sometimes they look goofy. Sometimes they look majestic.

I love the ears forward, locked onto a jump feeling.

I love the feeling of them listening to your seat.

I apologize for the draw reins and lack of helmet. I know better now, thank goodness.

And I love feeling their warm breath and whiskers next to my ear.

Damnit. I love horses.

Let me see you stretch

So, part of Bacon and I's new routine includes stretches. Not for me so much, but for her. Every day (if I remember) I try to do stretches with her in hopes to treat her more like an athlete. I read a article recently that examined the effects of stretching and the effects of creating a round topline. They only did stretches (no other riding) and each of the horses showed improvement after a few of months. I like improvement. Give me some of that.

The stretches I have been doing are all of the stretches on the Evention video. Bacon has started to become accustomed to these now, though she still gives me confusing looks after making her reach to her hip for a carrot.

But I have also read info that is somewhat conflicting as far as stretching goes too. Another study showed that horses that were stretched 6 days a week had detrimental effects (lowered range of motion). These were focused on stretching of the limbs. Three days a week seemed best and increased range of motion in the joints (stifle, shoulder and hock were most significant), but did not increase stride length. So, hmmm.

In the first article, they were working on rounding and lateral stretches to strengthen the abdominal muscles in the horse. These were chin to chest, chin between knees, and chin between fetlocks, and chin to girth, chin to hip, chin to hind fetlock. These were done 5 times a day(!!) 5 days a week for 3 months. That's a lot of stretching.

So, my question is, do you stretch your horse? Have you seen any benefit from stretching? How often and what exercises do you do? Bacon's favorite stretch seems to be the last one in the evention video. I am hoping that I provide the correct stretches for her, and that they further improve her performance and comfort.

Shelter Pups Review

My grandma was totally and completely devastated when she lost her little chihuahua best friend, Dot. I didn't know how I could help her get over her loss but I had to try something. My grandma's birthday was also a couple of days later, so I needed a wonderful present. I went to searching for custom pet ideas, and came across a cool company called Shelter Pups.

I was immediately intrigued. They make custom stuffed dogs and cats made out of wool. The company is in the ol' USA and had great pricing compared to some of the other custom stuffies I had seen. Some of their proceeds go to shelters and rescues, and their turnaround time was also much faster than others at around two weeks. After browsing some of their examples, I knew I had to have one made of Dot.

Dot as a stuffie!

The process was really easy and cute. They are currently priced at $125 each and I thought that was a fair price. You start the process by submitting a few photos and explaining about your pet. Any unique markings? What is/was their personality like? After paying the $25 deposit fee, you are notified that they will get to making your pet as soon as possible, but it could be anywhere from 7-12 days. I was delighted to learn from an email that after 5 days, they had a finished product.

One of my favorite examples on their page.

When you go to view and "adopt" your new pet, it sends you to a page with their name and pictures displayed along side the new stuffie. They pose it and wrap it in blankets, just as Dot was when she was alive. If it is up to your standards, you make the rest of the payment and they ship it right away. It was awesome and I was so excited to see it in person and to see my grandma's reaction. I had it mailed to my grandma's house and was fortunate enough to be in Arizona with her when it arrived.

Look Emma, cats!

She gasped when she pulled Dot out of the box. It had her exact markings and look on her face. The nose was soft and lifelike and wool clean and well sculpted. All throughout my stay in Arizona, I would see my grandma holding her new little dog and looking at her. It brought me some relief to know that she had a little bit of joy come back into her life.

A happy grandma!

All in all, the process took 9 days. I couldn't have been happier with the final product and I loved the whole process. They made it easy and fun and I hope that some day, after I lose my pups, that I can have them created as well. They even have dogs and cats that people never paid for or wanted available for "adoption" at a cheaper price on their website. I encourage you to consider them if you are ever looking for this kind of item!

Straight out of the box and into grandma's heart.

Western Pessoa System

And what did we learn today, Bacon?

When Vegas had issues with a sticky front end a few years back, a trainer friend had me trailer her over to his place so he could show me a method to help move her forward and use her butt. I had been concussed at this point, so I was not allowed to ride, and given strict orders to keep up this new method I was about to learn daily for at least 2 weeks.

The trainer saddled up Vegas, tied a pair of long split reins to each side of her girth and wrapped a lariat around the base of the horn. He told me that she may not respond to well to it, but not to worry because he had never had a horse never figure it out. The lariat was then held around the back of her butt and he had attached a lounge line to her as well. He clucked to her and when she planted her feet, he gave a tug to that lariat sitting about a foot above her hocks.

Lariat just barely putting any pressure on the sensitive creature.

Off she went! She did better than I expected her to do, but still through in some bucks in protest of having something hanging out around her hind end. He just continued to urge her to go forward with the rope. Any time she tried to fight or slow or get sticky, a tug tug, and she tucked her butt under and pushed forward. The session didn't last long, but gave us a great start and gave me something to do while I sulked about not being able to ride.

We did our buttwork session every day for a month. When I got back on my horse, it was the most balanced, soft, and slow moving she had ever felt. She collected and held herself and it was magic. I was so surprised, but also excited. She was no longer sticky either. It was just so cool.

So western.

Part of western days with Bacon now includes this same method. It is pretty similar to the Pessoa system, though I have control of the hind end pressure and it is not connected to her mouth. Instead of split reins, I use side reins, still set at the longest point. We do a little bit of this style lunging in the beginning of our ride in hopes that I can have her using her hind end even more and stepping under herself more in the trot. Though her hip angle is pretty steep and sets her butt underneath her, her hocks are camped out, so I have noticed that it is harder for her to get that steep step under in the trot.

I have to be a little more careful with using the butt rope with her, as she is more sensitive, and if I increase the pressure too much, she is more likely to speed off and fall on the forehand. Most of the time, it just lingers above her hocks as a reminder that there is something there. If she doesn't immediately canter when I want her to, I give the rope a tug. If she ends up cross firing or counter cantering, I give it a tug. So far, it seems to be doing fairly well, though I have only used it a few times.

Reeling out the lariat and lunge as the horse increases the circle size.

Here are a few tips for those interested in trying this method themselves:
- I like the use of the lariat. It is stiff and tough, which makes it less likely for them to lean against.
-Be careful when doing this the first time. Often horses will get the rope stuck under their tail, and then clamp the tail down. Eventually this pisses them off even more, and bucking may occur
-Hell, bucking may occur anyways, because you have a rope around there ass. Keep it loose to start and work with what pressure works best for your horse. When in doubt, let them buck it out a little bit. Unless it gets a little too dangerous!
-USE GLOVES. You probably do anyways for lounging, but it is especially important when holding a lariat. You don't get any extra points for major rope burns.
-Like anything else with ponies, this takes some time. It is hard to finagle the lounge line and lariat and watch and work your horse. It takes time to have your horse develop from this.

You have to play a little bit too.

And there you have it. It may be a little rough or westerny for some tastes, but if done right, it is a very effective and kind way of teaching a horse to use their bum. Let me know if any of you give it a try!

It is always fun to have helpers too!

Oh Vegas

Nuzzles from yearling Vegas

Something that weighs on my mind a lot is the cost and maintenance of four horses. It has been doable for us and still is, but I feel like maybe it would be easier with one or two less. And that makes me so sad because I love them all so much. Bacon is not going anywhere, because we have a partnership that I cannot explain. Lucy was gifted to us, as she was one of Blake's relatives horses, and happened to have passed away while on a cattle drive with Lucy due to an aneurysm. Blake's great grandma asked if we could take her, and with Blake needing a horse more appropriately sized for him, it was a great option. Pandora has been Blake's little creature and great for any kids to come and ride. And that leaves Vegas.

Our very first show (my third, last one was 6 years before that). I was a little excited and nerdy looking.

There is a lot to love about Vegas. She is beautiful, sound, has competed and is a very easy horse to care for. She has great feet, and generally goes straight to work, after many a battle when she was a youngster. Why would we want to sell her?

Before I went to see her for the first time.

The first day she came home.

I feel like she is a great horse. A wonderful horse. She doesn't really care if she is in work or not, but I feel pretty bad when I see her mostly sitting around. I know she doesn't care, but I do. I poured a lot of sweat and tears into her and brought her up from a 9 month old after losing Booger. She never had that partnership that Booger and I had, or that Bacon and I have, but that's ok. But I wonder if someone else would.

One of our first rides.

It kills me to think about selling this friend of mine. We have quite the past, and we had some fun when we dabbled in all around schooling shows. We even won some stuff, including a bad ass neck ribbon. I was the first person to sit on her. I installed her buttons and did our training. I watched her grow up and mature. I am sad to think that I may never know what her ending will be. Will she be well fed and cared for? Will she be treated right? I have never sold a horse and that is one of my biggest worries.

Showing trail. We either did great or very poorly.

Kisses after winning all around reserve walk/trot champs

So, here I am. My stomach twists and turns daily while I think about selling my unicorn. I have this feeling that it is the right thing to do. No matter how much I hate it or how sad it makes me. I may be sobbing as I write this post. I don't even know how I would sell her, as I sob and explain to the possible buyer how great she is. But we could be 3 Mares. A little More Money. And possibly a happier pony.

Sigh.

Gone for 9 Years

How can you not love his knee high socks and sword blaze?

Back before I was crazy mare lady, I owned my first horse. A gelding named Booger (APHA Total Tenacity). I have mentioned him here and there on the blog, and quite frankly, I need to make him his own page so that people can view his sweet sword blazed face and laugh at my dorky 14 year old self.

One of his last pictures

It is hard to believe it has been 9 years since I last said goodbye to my handsome guy. He was so full of personality and willing to do whatever crazy plan I had set in store for him for that day. We play jousted with rings on posts, we tried polo (and got kicked out because he would body slam the other horses going for the ball), we trail rode through the sagebrush and chased rabbits as they would pop up on the trail. We even tried to jump a little bit and went to one horse show. He taught Blake that horses were, in fact, as cool as motorcycles.

3 year old Booger takes me for an adventure.

He was a great best friend when I had a rough day of bullying at school. He was there when my grandpa had to go through difficult surgeries. With his major wounds, he taught me how to care and medicate and hope and wish. He carried me away from thinking about my mom in prison or my dad out of work. He probably had the saltiest mane of all the horses at the barn thanks to my tears, but I don't think he cared.

Our hair matched.

9 years ago I got pulled into the office of my high school as soon as the bell rang. I learned that Booger had broken his leg and I desperately tried to get a hold of my dad so I could get excused from school to go see him. I swerved and stepped on the gas pedal, eyes hot with rolling tears. I met with the vet who gave me the saddest face and spilled out the grim news. Blake was called from his school and he was already there, arms wrapped around my stoic horse's neck. Booger dripped with sweat and placed some of his weight into my arms as I hugged him tight and told him I loved him and that it would be ok. His right front leg spun away independently from his knee the one time I looked down at it. His other leg was beginning to buckle and I was pulled away. He tried to follow me as I walked away, scared and confused. Sometimes I wish I would have stayed with him, but I don't know if my heart could have taken seeing him fall to the ground.

A dirty Blake in a Slipknot shirt kissing a pony. 

That day was one of the worst I had ever experienced. Blake stayed with me and cried with me. I am glad that I had him when I had no else with me in Idaho. He later went out and cut some of Boog's mane and tail for me. He told me he looked just like regular Booger, but tears filled his eyes again. I still have his mane and tail in my fireproof box, locked away with pictures of my grandpa. It still smells just like him. I am not sure what to do with it, but some day hope to have something made. I was so lucky to have him in my life, especially when I did, and I still smile when I think about his cute little face!

I miss you so much, my friend