Today I went out about 6 pm as I had an appointment with a trainer, Travis Webster. Since the last two times I tried to load Sinwaan in a straight load trailer were unsuccessful (he would go in but back out too fast) I decided I needed some help. I had heard Travis charged by the hour and even brought his own 2 horse straight load to the property. We got right to it. Travis showed me how to use a dressage whip and tap the horse on the hip to teach forward motion and then use that to load them. Sinwaan did great. He was loading like a pro in no time. Then it was my turn to apply what Travis had showed me. I fumbled a little with the lead rope and whip and trying to hold it all and get him in but we did it and then once we had it down we did it trotting up and into the trailer as well. I am relieved to have that taken care of now. Well since that only took about 20 min Travis said we had time left and what else did I want to learn? He asked me about teaching a horse to sidle up to you to make mounting from a fence (or whatever) easier. That sounded interesting so I agreed. We took Sinwaan into the round pen and this time Travis showed me how to teach Sinwaan to sidestep over to me when asked by kissing at him, and then another tap on the hip with the whip. I was just blown away that it would be that easy to teach a horse to walk into a whip. By the end of our training session I was able to get him to throw his hip right over towards me and then sidestep over closer to where I was. I had a great experience and will definately use or reccommend Travis in the future.
After all that I was anxious to get out there and ride! I saddled up and noticed the time was 7:30 pm. Dale was not riding this evening as he is going out tomorrow morning instead. It was a bit of a challenge heading out between the road and the pasture as the water guns were all on down the fenceline and apparently Sinwaan had qualms about getting wet. WIth finesse and good timing we made it to the road crossing. We headed up Cache Hollow and noted two calves were out of the pasture again. We did a lot more trotting today and even had a truck come up from behind and pass us about 3/4 mi up. After the 1 mile mark and passing all the scary trash items we did some cantering and a lot more trotting. We made it up in record time. I would guess that all told we probably did about 3.8 mi today but I will have to take the truck up on Friday and find out for sure. We did some trotting coming down the mountain also, and for some reason I have noticed Sinwaan will be just fine (alert) going up the mountain, and coming down all sorts of things are out to get him and he is all over the road. One minute we are trotting in one lane and the next minute we are over in the other lane. But its not a big deal, he is at least pretty polite about his 'spooks.' We saw a lot of birds today, including a dead one in the road, and two bunny rabbits came out and hopped across the trail in front of us.
I do not know exactly what time we returned as I forgot to look, but I fed Sinwaan some grain and checked his feet and brushed his sweat marks, talked with Kittee a little bit and noticed I was in the truck heading home by 9 pm.
So I figure 3.8 mi in 1 hour. Not bad. At this rate I could probably do the 25 mi in 6 hrs, esp if it isn't all hills like what I am currently riding!
Sunday Dale and Kittee have plans to ride up to Tollgate, which is a 12.5 mi ride. They are talking about taking their truck/trailer up early that morning and then riding up, letting the horses rest and graze, and then trailering them back down. Sounds like a great way to start, I am looking forward to that.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
June 21 2007
Today I went out to the barn a little after 6 PM. I met some people who board a horse there who wanted to take a look at Ollokot. I was impressed with them and think they would be good for him if they choose to purchase him.
Dale was ready and patiently waiting for me today and I saddled up and we headed out about 7:30 PM. We decided to go up Cache Hollow Rd today since Sinwaan has his new shoes.
It was perfect weather, warm with just the right amount of nice breeze. The horses felt good and we did a lot of trotting up the hill. At the 1 mile point we kept going today and there were plenty of things for the horses to look sideways at. Dale's guess is that we probably went up about 2 miles today. Coming back we mainly walked. We saw two deer today, one heading up and another one when we were heading back down. Of course Sinwaan sees them before I do and stops and stares at them curiously. He had a few spooks today on the way home, nothing serious but it always gets my heartrate up a little. When we got back down to the bottom Sinwaan jumped again and now I could see three of the cows were loose this time. We pressed onward and the one calf climbed back through the fence even before we passed by.
What a wonderful way to end the week! We rode for "a whisky sour and a half" according to Dale, and he was right on exactly. At this rate it will take me 6 hr to go 16 mi. I think I could make much better time on a flat dirt trail vs this hilly gravel one we condition on.
Tomorrow we head out to San Diego for Matt's mom's wedding so I won't get the chance to ride again until probably Wednesday. Although on Wednesday I have a trainer coming out to give Sinwaan and I a lesson on how to load in a straight load. Should be fun, I am looking forward to learning some new things.
Dale was ready and patiently waiting for me today and I saddled up and we headed out about 7:30 PM. We decided to go up Cache Hollow Rd today since Sinwaan has his new shoes.
It was perfect weather, warm with just the right amount of nice breeze. The horses felt good and we did a lot of trotting up the hill. At the 1 mile point we kept going today and there were plenty of things for the horses to look sideways at. Dale's guess is that we probably went up about 2 miles today. Coming back we mainly walked. We saw two deer today, one heading up and another one when we were heading back down. Of course Sinwaan sees them before I do and stops and stares at them curiously. He had a few spooks today on the way home, nothing serious but it always gets my heartrate up a little. When we got back down to the bottom Sinwaan jumped again and now I could see three of the cows were loose this time. We pressed onward and the one calf climbed back through the fence even before we passed by.
What a wonderful way to end the week! We rode for "a whisky sour and a half" according to Dale, and he was right on exactly. At this rate it will take me 6 hr to go 16 mi. I think I could make much better time on a flat dirt trail vs this hilly gravel one we condition on.
Tomorrow we head out to San Diego for Matt's mom's wedding so I won't get the chance to ride again until probably Wednesday. Although on Wednesday I have a trainer coming out to give Sinwaan and I a lesson on how to load in a straight load. Should be fun, I am looking forward to learning some new things.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
New Shoes
Today Sinwaan got a new set of shoes courtesy of Matt Stephens. He put rims on the front and plates on the rear and will recheck again in 4 weeks to see how they are wearing. I plan to ride tomorrow back up Cache Hollow Rd and see how far we can get before we lose daylight.
Monday, June 18, 2007
June 18 2007
I went out to the barn today about 5:45 pm because when I got home from work Levi had just gone down for his nap and Matt expected him to sleep for a couple of hours. Plus, the weather today is supposed to be nicer than tomorrow. It was a gorgeous day. When I pulled up I saw a truck and trailer and someone working with a horse. I asked Kittee what was going on. She told me Travis the trainer was there to work on loading with Derby. I went ahead out and got Sinwaan (who was also watching the loading) and groomed and tacked him up. He had rolled in manure so had a nice green spot over his withers. YUK. We went out and rode in the arena for about an hour. Half of it was damp and I didn't want him to slip so when we cantered it was only in half of it. We did a lot of trotting also. I am holding up pretty well, even riding two days in a row.
When I was done with Sinwaan I left him tied to the hitching post at the barn and went down to talk with Travis. He charges $35/hr and just lives down the road so is available for lessons. I am thinking of having him come back out another time to help me with Sinwaan loading in a straight load.
I put Sinwaan back out to pasture with his fly mask and brought in Ollokot. He did well for me to groom and pick out his feet, and again after minor sidestepping stood still for his fly spray application. Progress! I decided to take him out to the round pen. Well once again this frusterated me because I don't know how to tell him what I want him to do. Eventually he went over and rolled and got my bright rainbow halter all dirty. If I have some extra time and money left I may have Travis show me how to work him.
I put a fly mask on him today as well and he handled that well after trying to eat it a few times. I also took Justice a carrot and put his fly mask on as well.
On the way out I got talking to Dale and we talked for quite awhile about all things horse. I got home about 8:45 pm.
When I was done with Sinwaan I left him tied to the hitching post at the barn and went down to talk with Travis. He charges $35/hr and just lives down the road so is available for lessons. I am thinking of having him come back out another time to help me with Sinwaan loading in a straight load.
I put Sinwaan back out to pasture with his fly mask and brought in Ollokot. He did well for me to groom and pick out his feet, and again after minor sidestepping stood still for his fly spray application. Progress! I decided to take him out to the round pen. Well once again this frusterated me because I don't know how to tell him what I want him to do. Eventually he went over and rolled and got my bright rainbow halter all dirty. If I have some extra time and money left I may have Travis show me how to work him.
I put a fly mask on him today as well and he handled that well after trying to eat it a few times. I also took Justice a carrot and put his fly mask on as well.
On the way out I got talking to Dale and we talked for quite awhile about all things horse. I got home about 8:45 pm.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
June 17 2007
Happy Fathers Day today! Matt and Levi and I went out to breakfast with gma KP and cousin Debbie. Then we came back to the house and changed into our horse attire while Matt, Levi and Matt's dad watched a F1 race on tv. Mom and Debbie and I headed out to the pasture about 11 am and thankfully it was not raining. Earlier in the morning it looked like it was threatening to spit upon us and while we were there it was really windy, but did not cause us any problems.
We got Sinwaan and Justice out of the pasture without any difficulty and groomed them and tacked up. I left Sinwaan in his halter and we led them both out to the arena. I helped mom mount up and Justice was better today about not walking off once she was on board. He was testing her constantly by stopping and trying to lower his head. I brought Sinwaan in and he tried to sidestep away from the mounting block a few times but finally Debbie was mounted up and I led her around at a walk so she could experience some riding time today as well. When she was done, I put the bridle on Sinwaan and rode him shortly but KP was getting a little frusterated with Justice so I traded her horses. Sinwaan was his usual lazy self (even with all the wind) and pulled a few stops on mother dear while I wrestled with Justice. I wish I knew better how to school him. I think if I could ride him more he would straighted up and be fine. I know he is good in crazy lighted night parades and he is pretty good on trail rides but the arena work sours him.
When mom was done riding we traded horses again and she stood and held Justice and gabbed with cousin Debbie and I rode Sinwaan around and did a lot of cantering today, it was exhilerating. Yesterday we had spent the day in Olympia with Matt's uncle Steve who is into training horses so I had been watching some horse training videos and one of the topics was getting your horse to change his lead while cantering. So I thought Sinwaan was on the wrong lead and I applied what I had seen in the video and I am not positive, but I think it worked. I will have to work more on that later. I did a lot of trotting as well, and some sidepassing and really enjoyed my ride today although it was over entirely too fast.
We walked the horses back to the barn and gave them their ration of grain and carrots and apples and put fly spray on them and turned them back out into the pasture. Then we got Ollokot out and brought him up to the barn. I groomed him quickly and brushed his mane and tail and picked out his feet. He anticipated and lifted the first fore hoof for me which was awesome, did great with his rear and then when I went to the other side he gave me a little trouble just by moving away but soon had that done and I am so relieved with how he has improved since the first few times I tried to pick out his feet. Then it was time to fly spray him. The wind worked in my favor today as the big water guns were on in the pastures and every so often the breeze would bring over some water droplets that felt a lot like the way I imagine the fly spray feels. So he was twirling around me to get away from it on the left side but once I went to his right side to spray he stood there and didn't move a muscle. What a good boy! He did so awesome. We gave him his grain and carrots and apples and took him back out to the pasture and that was the end.
Driving home mother got a phone call on her cell from Matt wondering where we were. I asked her the time and it was almost 2 pm. I could not believe how fast the time flew by today.
The weather was high 60s today and it was just gorgeous.
We got Sinwaan and Justice out of the pasture without any difficulty and groomed them and tacked up. I left Sinwaan in his halter and we led them both out to the arena. I helped mom mount up and Justice was better today about not walking off once she was on board. He was testing her constantly by stopping and trying to lower his head. I brought Sinwaan in and he tried to sidestep away from the mounting block a few times but finally Debbie was mounted up and I led her around at a walk so she could experience some riding time today as well. When she was done, I put the bridle on Sinwaan and rode him shortly but KP was getting a little frusterated with Justice so I traded her horses. Sinwaan was his usual lazy self (even with all the wind) and pulled a few stops on mother dear while I wrestled with Justice. I wish I knew better how to school him. I think if I could ride him more he would straighted up and be fine. I know he is good in crazy lighted night parades and he is pretty good on trail rides but the arena work sours him.
When mom was done riding we traded horses again and she stood and held Justice and gabbed with cousin Debbie and I rode Sinwaan around and did a lot of cantering today, it was exhilerating. Yesterday we had spent the day in Olympia with Matt's uncle Steve who is into training horses so I had been watching some horse training videos and one of the topics was getting your horse to change his lead while cantering. So I thought Sinwaan was on the wrong lead and I applied what I had seen in the video and I am not positive, but I think it worked. I will have to work more on that later. I did a lot of trotting as well, and some sidepassing and really enjoyed my ride today although it was over entirely too fast.
We walked the horses back to the barn and gave them their ration of grain and carrots and apples and put fly spray on them and turned them back out into the pasture. Then we got Ollokot out and brought him up to the barn. I groomed him quickly and brushed his mane and tail and picked out his feet. He anticipated and lifted the first fore hoof for me which was awesome, did great with his rear and then when I went to the other side he gave me a little trouble just by moving away but soon had that done and I am so relieved with how he has improved since the first few times I tried to pick out his feet. Then it was time to fly spray him. The wind worked in my favor today as the big water guns were on in the pastures and every so often the breeze would bring over some water droplets that felt a lot like the way I imagine the fly spray feels. So he was twirling around me to get away from it on the left side but once I went to his right side to spray he stood there and didn't move a muscle. What a good boy! He did so awesome. We gave him his grain and carrots and apples and took him back out to the pasture and that was the end.
Driving home mother got a phone call on her cell from Matt wondering where we were. I asked her the time and it was almost 2 pm. I could not believe how fast the time flew by today.
The weather was high 60s today and it was just gorgeous.
Friday, June 15, 2007
June 15 2007
I went out to see the horses today about 4 pm. If I have to miss watching Judge Judy on Friday afternoons, I can't think of a better way to spend it :)
It was feeling a bit warm about 2 pm but on the drive out to the barn the air was cool and there was a nice breeze. I had my jodphurs on and a tank top and didn't sweat too badly.
Sinwaan and Ollokot were hanging out at the gate when I arrived. Sinwaan was no trouble to halter and lead through. He and Ollokot seem to enjoy each others company.
I noticed some tack left out by the hitching post and after noting all the horses in the field assumed Dale and Kittee had already ridden for the day.
Since Sinwaan got a sore foot the last time I rode up the trail I had already decided to spend today in the arena. How boring. :)
Kittee came out while I was tacking up and said she had removed Sinwaans fly mask during one cloudy day so his face could have a rest and not get rubbed. She said he was really good for her and I was glad, and thanked her.
After tacking up, I led Sinwaan out through two empty pastures and then through the mares pasture to get to the arena. He went willing along and was feeling good. I locked ourselves in the arena and led him to the mounting block and he stood good as gold until I mounted up and asked him to WALK ON. He is such a good horse. I just love him to death, we are getting along so well. He is much different than Dee but I appreciate that, and him, for what he is.
We did some walking and trotting and I decided I was ready to ask for the canter today. I had a little trouble getting him to transition smoothly (he kind of powers himself into it) but once in the gait he was clean. I have found he is more responsive at a trot than at the walk (to my leg), it is easier to keep him moving when he is going a little faster.
He had a little spook today but again nothing major, just a little jump in place and then he is fine. No harm, no foul. I am starting to anticipate them.
We had a fine time today in the arena, doing our gaits and a little sidepassing again. A few woahs and standing still so I could get my water bottle out. He jumps when he hears the velcro but then all is well again. I ask him to back at least once also.
When I was done I got off, led him back through the arena gate and mare pasture and then once through that gate decided to try and get back on without the help of a mounting block. He is not THAT tall, but I have short legs. I found a low spot in the ground and walked him into that and told him to woah and he did just as I asked and stood and waited for me to hop aboard. That was not too much trouble and I was proud of myself :) hee hee
I rode him into an adjouning pasture and trotted from one end and back and then walked him through the final pasture, dismounted and called it a day. Untacked, groomed, gave him his grain and carrots. Applied flyspray and put on his fly mask.
When I turned him back out, Ollokot was at the gate so I intended to get him out and do the usual but I almost had the halter on him and then Sinwaan came back over and Ollokot got real nervous and I didn't want to take any chances getting smashed in between the gates so I just let him go and gave Sinwaan some more attention.
Then I went down to the other pasture where Justice had segregated himself and led him back up to the barn. I was feeling quite motivated today and decided to ride Justice too. After all, if mom is going to come out and ride Sunday I wanted to be sure he would behave. It has been awhile since he was ridden.
I switched bridles for him but I used the same saddle. He is a little fatter than Sinwaan. He pulled his usual tricks, stretching to try and eat weeds while I was grooming him. Well I did the same thing with him, walked him down to the arena and then led him to the mounting block.
It was NOT the same experience with Justice. He acted like the mounting block was a horse-eating monster. When he realized (quickly) that I was not going to give up and he better stand next to it he obliged but only long enough for me to put my foot on the top step and then he started walking away. Grrr. I made him back up back into position and tried again. This time I got on the top step and he swung his butt away. So I gave him a pop and made him walk clear around and line up again. I decided quickly that even if it was the only thing we did all day, he was going to stand there and stand still until I was on board and asked him to move. So it took a little while. Probably 10 attempts. Finally he stood and I hopped on, quickly, because by then he was walking away again. I got him stopped after about 8 steps and my right foot found the stirrup. Ok ready!
We did a lot of walking around because he was telling me he was not about to be obedient and I had to work hard for everything I got from him today. He wanted to walk on the inside of the arena, not the perimeter. When I would ask gently for a slight turn he would try and turn clear around. FINALLY I decided we could move up to a trot, as he has a very nice smooth trot that I enjoy. Well he transitioned well enough but then he started arching his neck and putting his head clear down and I was concerned that he would try to buck. The only thing that finally worked was to pull up with ONE rein and toggle them lightly, then his head would come up and he would try to walk. So I would push him back into a trot and he would go all kinds of directions and put his head down again. This horse knows all the tricks in the book, let me tell ya! It was pretty frusterating! He needs to be schooled! I came to the conclusion that if he acts like this on Sunday mom will be riding Sinwaan as he is better behaved!! THE IRONY!
I tried to ride Justice as long as I had ridden Sinwaan but since I don't actually have a watch it was my best guess. When I felt we finally had a good note, I dismounted and led him out of the arena, through the mare pasture and through the gate. I put him in the same low spot as I had Sinwaan but of course he wouldn't stand still. So we go through that again, this time it took considerably less time for him to stand still, I hopped on quickly and again he was off right away before I asked. We did the same pattern in the pasture as I had with Sinwaan, trot down and back one field and again he was trying to put his head down on me....geez....
Enough of that! I did my best to make him mind before ending our session. I untacked him and gave him grain and carrots, though he hardly deserved it today :-P I put flyspray on him and his flymask and no trouble there. Turned him out in the pasture and headed down the drive. I saw Dale so stopped and talked with him about 20 minutes then headed home.
Dispite everything I feel very good about today, very accomplished. Although now my back is starting to hurt and the husband wants to get up at 4 am to drive to Olympia for the day.
Signing out....
It was feeling a bit warm about 2 pm but on the drive out to the barn the air was cool and there was a nice breeze. I had my jodphurs on and a tank top and didn't sweat too badly.
Sinwaan and Ollokot were hanging out at the gate when I arrived. Sinwaan was no trouble to halter and lead through. He and Ollokot seem to enjoy each others company.
I noticed some tack left out by the hitching post and after noting all the horses in the field assumed Dale and Kittee had already ridden for the day.
Since Sinwaan got a sore foot the last time I rode up the trail I had already decided to spend today in the arena. How boring. :)
Kittee came out while I was tacking up and said she had removed Sinwaans fly mask during one cloudy day so his face could have a rest and not get rubbed. She said he was really good for her and I was glad, and thanked her.
After tacking up, I led Sinwaan out through two empty pastures and then through the mares pasture to get to the arena. He went willing along and was feeling good. I locked ourselves in the arena and led him to the mounting block and he stood good as gold until I mounted up and asked him to WALK ON. He is such a good horse. I just love him to death, we are getting along so well. He is much different than Dee but I appreciate that, and him, for what he is.
We did some walking and trotting and I decided I was ready to ask for the canter today. I had a little trouble getting him to transition smoothly (he kind of powers himself into it) but once in the gait he was clean. I have found he is more responsive at a trot than at the walk (to my leg), it is easier to keep him moving when he is going a little faster.
He had a little spook today but again nothing major, just a little jump in place and then he is fine. No harm, no foul. I am starting to anticipate them.
We had a fine time today in the arena, doing our gaits and a little sidepassing again. A few woahs and standing still so I could get my water bottle out. He jumps when he hears the velcro but then all is well again. I ask him to back at least once also.
When I was done I got off, led him back through the arena gate and mare pasture and then once through that gate decided to try and get back on without the help of a mounting block. He is not THAT tall, but I have short legs. I found a low spot in the ground and walked him into that and told him to woah and he did just as I asked and stood and waited for me to hop aboard. That was not too much trouble and I was proud of myself :) hee hee
I rode him into an adjouning pasture and trotted from one end and back and then walked him through the final pasture, dismounted and called it a day. Untacked, groomed, gave him his grain and carrots. Applied flyspray and put on his fly mask.
When I turned him back out, Ollokot was at the gate so I intended to get him out and do the usual but I almost had the halter on him and then Sinwaan came back over and Ollokot got real nervous and I didn't want to take any chances getting smashed in between the gates so I just let him go and gave Sinwaan some more attention.
Then I went down to the other pasture where Justice had segregated himself and led him back up to the barn. I was feeling quite motivated today and decided to ride Justice too. After all, if mom is going to come out and ride Sunday I wanted to be sure he would behave. It has been awhile since he was ridden.
I switched bridles for him but I used the same saddle. He is a little fatter than Sinwaan. He pulled his usual tricks, stretching to try and eat weeds while I was grooming him. Well I did the same thing with him, walked him down to the arena and then led him to the mounting block.
It was NOT the same experience with Justice. He acted like the mounting block was a horse-eating monster. When he realized (quickly) that I was not going to give up and he better stand next to it he obliged but only long enough for me to put my foot on the top step and then he started walking away. Grrr. I made him back up back into position and tried again. This time I got on the top step and he swung his butt away. So I gave him a pop and made him walk clear around and line up again. I decided quickly that even if it was the only thing we did all day, he was going to stand there and stand still until I was on board and asked him to move. So it took a little while. Probably 10 attempts. Finally he stood and I hopped on, quickly, because by then he was walking away again. I got him stopped after about 8 steps and my right foot found the stirrup. Ok ready!
We did a lot of walking around because he was telling me he was not about to be obedient and I had to work hard for everything I got from him today. He wanted to walk on the inside of the arena, not the perimeter. When I would ask gently for a slight turn he would try and turn clear around. FINALLY I decided we could move up to a trot, as he has a very nice smooth trot that I enjoy. Well he transitioned well enough but then he started arching his neck and putting his head clear down and I was concerned that he would try to buck. The only thing that finally worked was to pull up with ONE rein and toggle them lightly, then his head would come up and he would try to walk. So I would push him back into a trot and he would go all kinds of directions and put his head down again. This horse knows all the tricks in the book, let me tell ya! It was pretty frusterating! He needs to be schooled! I came to the conclusion that if he acts like this on Sunday mom will be riding Sinwaan as he is better behaved!! THE IRONY!
I tried to ride Justice as long as I had ridden Sinwaan but since I don't actually have a watch it was my best guess. When I felt we finally had a good note, I dismounted and led him out of the arena, through the mare pasture and through the gate. I put him in the same low spot as I had Sinwaan but of course he wouldn't stand still. So we go through that again, this time it took considerably less time for him to stand still, I hopped on quickly and again he was off right away before I asked. We did the same pattern in the pasture as I had with Sinwaan, trot down and back one field and again he was trying to put his head down on me....geez....
Enough of that! I did my best to make him mind before ending our session. I untacked him and gave him grain and carrots, though he hardly deserved it today :-P I put flyspray on him and his flymask and no trouble there. Turned him out in the pasture and headed down the drive. I saw Dale so stopped and talked with him about 20 minutes then headed home.
Dispite everything I feel very good about today, very accomplished. Although now my back is starting to hurt and the husband wants to get up at 4 am to drive to Olympia for the day.
Signing out....
Thursday, June 14, 2007
June 14 2007
Today the farrier returned my call and said he could come out to shoe Sinwaan for me on June 20th. I am discouraged that it is about a week away, and then he will be due for shoes again right before the Lakeview Ranch Ride. The timing could be better.
The plan is to go out and ride in the arena and pasture on Friday, then again Sunday. Maybe Sunday hit the trail again to see if we just had bad luck the other day.
The plan is to go out and ride in the arena and pasture on Friday, then again Sunday. Maybe Sunday hit the trail again to see if we just had bad luck the other day.
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