Feako Pico

OK, TC was our first freaky horse, but he acted more like Cramer as he tried to lean away from everything new (or old in a new month) with his head high and his forelock looking like a bad hair day.  But Freako Pico has been continuing the legacy.  Pico is VERY sensitive to electric fencing - especially the white tape kind.  He wants to give all electric tape fencing a quarter-mile buffer zone.  So, our latest pasture configuration has electric overhead (it buzzes a little) from the barn to fence post and the barn opens away from the pasture and holds hay covered with a flapping tarp.  The last few months Pico lounges through the gate and whirls to face the offending tarp.  So, last week, I tried to give him a break and took him around the other side of the barn through the other tape gate.  I threw the tape away from the barn to lead him through but he jumped to my left side and stepped square on the tape in the mud and zapped his feet.  So now either side is a scary entrance - two times a day - every day......

Last night as Ivy and I went to get the horses up for the night, we got Splash and Sunny on lead-lines and left the gate WIDE open for Pico to follow us out and up to the barn.  We got Splash and Sunny settled and Pico was still pacing in front of the gate like it was closed.  He WOULD NOT come to the gate to get a halter on.  It was dark and raining.  So, in my crocs and socks, I stepped into the pasture to halter the duffus - up to my ankles into a mud pit.  YUCK!  FREAKO PICO!

The rain predicted for Fri/Sat came in Sat and settled in for the weekend.   The girls joined Laurie and me for the 11 o'clock and then Kathy joined us for lunch at Graham's. A news flash.  Splash was a slug.  After good warm-up, we worked on leg yields in and out of the circle and then went on to canter work.  Splash took the correct leads but that was it.  Every canter depart, Splash had outside bend and when I tried to correct the bend, we lost the canter.  We ended the lesson with an equitation pattern.  Transitions - BAD.  Frustrating.  And the show is next weekend.  And I will be in Kansas most of the week.  HELP!  The girls and Laurie had good rides.  And Lunch was lovely.  Kathy B didn't ride because Call was off - they will see the Vet next week.

The girls took Sunny and Pico to the 4-H Fun Practice Show on Sunday evening.  They worked on patterns and Trail (Alaina and Sunny) and jumping (Ivy and Pico).  It was nice to have the dry indoor arena to work with.  The 4-H District Horse show will be May 8 at the Claremore Expo and it will be here before we know it.

Meanwhile, I have missed the last 2 rides at Rita's and will miss out this week too.  But, next weekend, we will have the St. Jude Trail ride so that will have to count.  YaYa!

Spring is Sprung

Finally, beautiful weather for the weekend!  Wisteria, blooming trees, and tiny flowers in the grass - Green is beautiful.  And, it was Patty's birthday on Friday so Nancy E and I met Patty for a birthday lunch and had a lovely time.

The girls had a 4-H show on Sunday so I joined their lesson at 2 so that the 'boys' could have some pasture time on Sat. morning.  Alaina rode Sunny English for the first time since working with Dawn and I worked Splash withOUT the German Neck Stretcher.  All three of us practiced equitation and both Ivy and Alaina did better than Splash and me - Splash made all the transitions look heavy but did take correct leads.  Ivy concentrated on jumping and made good progress.  After the lesson, we trimmed, bathed and banded so that Sunday morning wouldn't be a frenzy. 

The show was 4-H only, so, for an all-day event it was fairly low-key.  Ivy showed Splash in halter and showmanship and they placed 4th in halter - then she switched to Pico and rode English, Western and speed but no Trail.  Pico was a really GOOD boy all day long and they won all three English classes and performed well in the others (although that Dressage canter doesn't cut it in the speed classes). This was the first show with straight bars this year so I was very proud.  Alaina and Sunny had a great day too although their placings weren't as high.  They concentrate on Western and Trail and the competition is very stiff with more competitors and very nice horses.  But, they placed 2nd in horsemanship and 3rd in Trail - they skipped the speed stuff.  Both girs had a fun day but still had energy to play with twins next door, fish (Ivy), and ride/show-off on Diez (Alaina).  I sat on the couch.

This evening, Kathy B, Marsha C, and Rita G and I went to the 'Taste of Home' cooking show and drooled over recipes to try after our YaYa sista's at future rides.  mmmmmmm - cooking......  The weather is good this week until Friday and YaYas will ride at Rita's on Thursday but I will be working at the food bank in Tulsa.  Have fun girls!  yaya!

It's NOT Raining

But the wind sure can blow in OK.

YaYa's gathered at Rita's on April Fool's Eve for the first ride of the year - we usually have our first ride on New Year's Day and then ride regularly, but.....  7 riders braved the gale and residual mud and had a fun ride, but even Splash was a little nervous.  Judy, Leila, Kathy, Nancy, Rita, Christiana, and I rode the trails then Tammy and Marsha joined in for esprit ride to socialize.

Friday riding plans were foiled by mega rain in the morning.  My freshly disked arena soaked up the water.....

Kathy/Call and I/Splash joined Patty for the party lesson on Sat. - Carol J joined in a bit at first on her beautiful appy filly (what a mover).  Splash was moving out a little better but was like riding a snake.  We worked on STRAIGHT at the walk and then trot and Splash tried his best to drop his shoulder and slop sideways either direction every 3 strides.  We progressed and things got a little better at the trot.  Kathy took Call out of the lesson before any canter work because she seems to have a sore shoulder.  Splash and I worked on canter departs (promptness) and Splash took leads correctly. Then we did simple changes and transitions from circle to straight-line and Splash worked fairly well.  The main excitement was when he stumbled in the corner by K and I lost both stirrups and my seat but somehow didn't fall off (always a plus).  We continued work after I calmed my heart rate.

Lunch at Graham's and then the girls had their lesson at 2.  Sunny and Alaina had a great lesson with good trot work and steady (if a little fast) canter work. Ivy and Pico looked lovely at both canter and trot - very consistent.  Ivy jumped Pico to end the lesson and managed several straight bars at the canter (eventually).  Progress.

Meanwhile, I groomed, saddled, and lounged Sister in preparation for another ride.  Sister was pretty excited and seemed to rev up as we lounged.  Pam and Jack were also lounging so maybe Sister was distracted.  We mounted uneventfully and moved off at the walk.  Canter is still not something I feel comfortable asking for, but Sister did a couple of canter steps when we leg yielded into a corner.  Overall, she felt choppier than last week although I was more confident with my aids - so it seemed to be a wash with 1 step forward - 1 step back.  But Backing was much better this week, so maybe we ended ahead? 

The wind was back on Sunday but the temp was perfect and the sun was shining.  Kale was home so we tried a little ride just for fun.  The arena footing was like working in cake - not wet exactly (except in spots) but heavy and soft from the disking.  Splash broke a sweat at the walk.  We finished with a trail ride out front and back.  It was fun to see Kale back in a saddle.

Sister learns to leg yield - sometimes

Spring flowers are coming up everywhere but it still feels a bit chilly today.  We have 6 or 8 kinds of daffodils as well as grape hyacinths, lily-of-the-valley, forsythia and a plum tree in bloom.  A week ago we were under snow.

Sat. morning the girls and I took Pico, Sunny, and Splash to Patty's for the party lesson (me/Splash, Kathy/Call, and Christina/Jetter), lunch, and the girls' lesson.  The wind was howling with 40ish mph gusts so the covered arena was rather musical.  Splash and Jetter handled the noise fairly well as did Call after a pretty energetic lounging session.  After the usual warm-up exercises, we worked on leg yields to weave the cones.  Believe it or not, Splash was moving out fairly well (perhaps all the wind noise bothered him a little).  During canter work, we focused on changing the bend from outside to inside without loosing the canter.   Not to bad and we had fun without falling off.

After lunch, the girls started their lesson in the outdoor arena (Pico is not good with arena/wind noise).  Alaina and Sunny were fairly successful with "slow" but not so much with give to the bit. Ivy and Pico had some lovely movement and transitions but, also, not so much give to the bit.  Hmmmmm.

While the girls were riding, I brushed and saddled Sister, then, lounged her with the German neck stretcher and a stretchy lounge line attached through the bit to the girth. This configuration really helped Sister work on inside bend while lounging and she worked fairly well in both directions.

Sister thinks that her sides are a no-touch zone.  So, Patty has been working on leg yield, leg yield, let yield.  Sister is getting the picture.  And, Patty says she has not followed through with her threats to cow-kick or buck.  So...

Gathering courage in both hands, I decided to try and ride Sister a bit.  I used my dressage saddle and a western snaffle bit.  I was worrying about to much leg (with the dressage saddle rather than a western saddle) and about bit pressure. 

After removing the lounging gear, I mounted uneventfully.  Then moved off at a walk.  We walked around without any problem and then I tried a little trot.  Sister MOVED OUT!  I panicked and stopped.  Patty and I discussed the seat/leg pressure needed when riding a horse that MOVES versus a horse who's mission to STAND STILL.  We tried again, and little by little, I relaxed and Sister responded better.  We joined Ivy and Alaina and did a little arena work.  I leg yeilded into corners and circled when we went to fast.  We finished with a bit of backing.

I didn't FALL OFF.  YAYA!

The St. Jude Trail ride schedule for Sunday afternoon was postponed because trailer parking was to muddy.  But, it was cold and cloudy most of the day and the wind was out of the north.  Late afternoon the sun came out and the girls played in the arena with Pico and Diez.  Poor Pico has a little rain-rot on his front pastern and he broke it open on a little jump - we will keep an eye and medicine on it and try to keep him de-mudded enough to clear it up.

Rumor has it that the YaYa's will ride again at Rita's on Thursday afternoon.  I will try to escape work and join in.  I can hardly wait!

YaYa!  Yeah!

How to Ride During the Late Winter Storm

Well, Oklahoma Weather is at it again.  The girls were off for spring break this past week and we had several horsey activities before winter returned. 

On Monday, I got off a bit early and we loaded Sister, Pico and Splash and went to Patty's.  I lounged Sister and she was so responsive that I ALMOST got the nerve to ride.  But Patty wasn't there to help if I needed it so, since... Retreat is the better part of valor, I saddled Splash and worked him instead.  Ivy rode Pico bareback (she had an ankle injury and didn't want to put on boots) and Alaina took a spin on Jetter.  Alaina loves Jetter since he reminds her of Dezzie-Doo.  We left Sister in Patty's capable hands.

Tuesday, Alaina and I visited Dream Maker to pick up Sunny and get another ride in.  It was a beautiful aftenoon and several other riders were enjoying the day and the DRY outdoor arena.  Splash and I worked a bit and Alaina got a brief lesson from Dawn D before we headed home.  Shannean F was working her baby Dakota and Sandy T was looking fabulous on Sissy.

Ruthie wanted a chance to ride Pico before the Lily Pond show so she and Jean came out Friday morning.  I worked Splash and walked around on Pico, Alaina rode Sunny and Diez, Ivy worked Pico and had a quick ride on Splash, and Ruthie rode Pico and played around on Diez.  Very fun. 

Then the Lily Pond dressage and FFA shows were cancelled.

THEN, while we were working the Ranch Rodeo Consessions Friday evening, the weather turned.  Rain pounded all night and turned to snow on Saterday morning.  We tried to change the plans from Sat. party lesson into a lunch date, but the snow came down so hard, the roads deteriorated mid-day.  I had an adventure after a run to Walmart, when on my way home, I watched a little SUV go into the ditch near the RR tracks on King Rd.  Cars aread of me couldn't make the hill and backed out, more cars turned around in the church parking lot but I wasn't sure going the long way would help me out (the walk home would be a lot longer if needed).  Then, just when I thought I would give the hill a try, a big truck with mega tires, came over the hill and immediately hit the ditch.  I guess he was trying to get out of the ditch, but he plowed along flinging mud and snow util he almost hit the SUV.  Once he stopped, I tried the hill.  Didn't make it the first time but stayed out of the ditch.  It took me 3 more tries to get up the hill and then I crept home.  Very dumb to go out, but who knew.  The roads were so warm that the slush that caused me so much trouble was gone in a couple of hours.  Kale was visiting and got snowed in with his boring family (last time he visited at Xmas, he got snowed in too). 

But it is STILL snowing and blowing hard.  Maybe a Honda is not a 4-wheel drive vehicle?

So, here is what we all need to maintain our own riding fitness.  The Riding Simulator  This won't help our horses learn anything new but would look good in our living room.  YaYa

New Friends

TC reports that life is cushy at the Urban spread - way more grass in the pasture than at our place and Moe is nice too.  Ivy pestered me all week to visit TC - we finally made a trip Sunday afternoon and managed to time our visit for the 2 hour break in the Urban's Sunday plans of church and soccer.  Ivy and I arrived just as Lisele was ready to ride Moe so we saddled TC and the girls did a turn or two around the pond.  Lisele's cousin from San Antonio took a little lead line ride as well.  TC got his West Nile vacine while we were there too.  The only problem was when the cow pushed Ava's stroller over and narrowly missed stepping on the baby.  BAD COW!

After traveling to Kansas again last week for the dreaded EPA inspection, I made it home Thursday evening with a very sore throat.  So bad that I visited the doc on Friday and he diagnosed strep and a possible absess.  Antibiotics to the rescue but I was still under the weather for the party lesson and let Ivy and Kathy B ride without me.  Alaina rode Diez bareback and I took a brief spin on Splash near the end of the lesson.  Ivy and Pico look VERY good 25 percent of the time.  They are making progress.  Splash behaved pretty well and took correct leads both directions - and since we only rode about 10 minutes, he didn't get much of a chance to misbehave.

Alaina had a lesson on Sunny with Dawn D on Friday afternoon and they are really looking good too.  I plan to pick Sunny up from Dawn's on Tuesday afternoon so Alaina will have to maintain Sunny's progress at the Wild O Ranch.  After a week and antibiotics, Sister is better so I will take her to Patty's tomorrow afternoon for a little of Patty's magic medicine.   The girls are on Spring Break so should have a little time to work their horses while they are off.  We plan on the party lesson at Patty's on Sat. to get ready for the Lily Pond dressage show on Sunday.  Luckily, we sprang forward this weekend, so afternoon riding season is coming soon.  Yaya!

Orban's to Urban's

The weather was lovely this weekend and we had several horsey adventures.  On Friday, Kathy B and I fought our way through construction traffic at every turn to get to Stillwater to retrieve Sister.  Sister has been hanging with Krystal and is making progress toward becoming a saddle horse.  After we arrived at the barn, Krystal ran Sister through her paces and then I tried a quick ride.  Krystal can canter and roll back and is even making progress in backing.  I just walked and trotted and, although the arena was rough, was pretty pleased.  Next stop for Sister is Patty's for some more work where I can ride regularly.  Unfortunately, Sister picked up a cough so we started her on some Tucaprine to clear that up before she goes to Inola.

Saturday, Ivy, Alaina and I took TC to south Owasso to try out the Urban ranch for TC and visa versa.  John and Charessa have 2 non-horsey boys and 3 girls.  The oldest girl is 9 - Lisle has a paint horse called Moe (Mow).  Hope (7?) loves TC and wants to ride-ride-ride.  The youngest, Ava, is 6 with downs syndrome and may enjoy TC in future.  You may remember that TC has a partial paralysis of the left larynx and can no longer do canter work or much trot (depending on allergies).  As of yesterday, TC and Mow were getting along great.  Ivy is heartbroken about TC living somewhere else but she knows that the Urban's will be good to him.  And she is planning many trips to the Urban ranch to visit.

Horse Haiku

Roan horse kind'a goosey

TC was Ivy's first love

Beautiful blaze face.

Laurie Hedlund presented Dressage 101 at the Horse of Course on Sunday afternoon.  Yummy snacks and very interesting review of rules (recent changes) for recognized shows.  Although I do not plan to show more than schooling shows, learning about the rules is helpful for a show volunteer.  Interesting tidbits:  the allowable whip length has been increased, all riders may wear safety helmets at all levels with out penalty, and if unintentionally dismounted during a test, you may continue to ride if you remount immediately and if your horse has not left the arena.

Inspired, I went home and worked Splash a little in our - finally dry - arena.  YaYa!