I Got a Point in Reining

The scores came out for the show this weekend. I had not been listening to the scores at the show since I broke the pattern, but I thought I heard my name. When the updated points came out yesterday I found the judge had placed me (last) and given me a point. Sweet! It seems she placed everyone in the class so we got points. Reining is not counting toward year end points this year because we have just added it at our club, but it is nice that they keep score anyway. I might win a feed bucket or a fly mask at the banquet. Those feed buckets and scoops and all come in handy!

LHSA 7/25/09

We had our local show at a big arena about an hour away. It was great to have the indoor arena in this HEAT. The warmup arena was in the sun, though and I could tell Matt was not doing so well, so I put him away and got Queenie ready for reining. LOL. This was the first time I have loped her since we parted ways the other day. We did fine. She loped calmly in both directions. My plan was to just get her out there for reining and keep her calm. It was pattern number 1, so we loped down to the far end. She went a reasonable speed, However, to lope back to the gate we came in was a different story - barrel horse! She won't circle or spin to the left. End of story. I had to stop and just calm her down. We started the left circle at the trot on purpose. She wouldn't finish the circle. What's with the left side business? I guess I will have to teach her to go left. We finally got the lope going again and may have changed leads. I only tried for one circle each way and went around and did my stop. I gestured "Ta-da" to "demonstrate completion of the pattern." The announcer was laughing when she announced the next number. I went by and saw her later, she's the club president, also. She said the lady judge thoroughly enjoyed my "free style reining" and said now she had seen it all. LOL. It was good to put another arena ride on Queenie and good for me to go through it all with her. She is really a sweet horse, just confused at times and apparently very stiff to the left.

Matt and I had the best. day. ever. in timed events. First we ran a great quad pattern, I almost cued him too soon for the first pole, but other than that it was perfect. I LOVE my new saddle. I have to remember to not touch the reins until I'm ready to turn the first pole as he takes an movement as his cue to turn. I have to trust him to slow down enough and to make the turn. The new saddle is so comfortable and it feels like I've never really ridden before because it is so good. It fits Matt, great, too. On Queenie, it kicks up at the back, but on Matt it sets just right. Stake race went just as successfully. Wow, did he turn that far stake fast and close. Pole bending was not the greatest. It never is. He slowed too much, but picked back up his lope weaving the poles, but we knocked over the end pole. Coming back he broke stride again, but ran home fairly well. It was good for us, as we only knocked down one pole. Novice barrels – we got 22.5 seconds! A record for us. He really slowed down after the first barrel and it took me a seeming eternity to get up the tail of the reins and spank him. I forgot the gaming reins so I had my split reins, which was handy for spanking with. I was full on turning and spanking going from barrel 2 to barrel 3. This is a far cry from hanging onto the horn with both hands a few weeks back. LOL. I wish I had a pic of my face turning barrel 3. I was shocked how fast and close to the barrel we were. I've got to stop looking at the barrel!

For barrels in my age group my luck did not hold. I remembered not to cue in any way and we came around barrel 1 well, but we hit barrel 2 and knocked it over. It was a real metal one and I had forgotten my shin guards so, "Ouch." I knew we were screwed, so I didn't really push it the rest of the way. We still turned barrel 3 pretty sharp. What a guy. I limped to the truck and put ice on my leg. I discovered some delicious cold fried chicken in the ice chest which I had packed and had a thigh and an ice cold diet coke while I iced my leg. I felt fine after that. Unsaddled and washed Matty and started packing up.

We had camped in an aisle as the arena owners weren't there to enforce stall purchase. Our club is small enough that there was plenty of room for every one to tie up in the aisles. I had my new saddle stand, folding chairs and even my box fan in the aisle.

E had some good rides on Queenie as well, loping and looking pretty. She will come along, although I watched and Queen Trick Taker will not turn left very well with E, either. And when Queen does not want to do something she "skitters" to the right. She doesn't take well to harsh correction, either. You have to calm down and show her what you want, I guess. She learns really fast, so I will make her walk circles to the left, getting smaller and smaller and working on flexibility. She trotted over poles pretty well at home the other day, so I have faith she will make a trail class horse and all-around solid citizen in the not too distant future.

I got compliments on the black saddle on Matty. I'm going to keep going with the black tack motif for him. Maybe with royal blue trim where trim is needed like on the blanket.

Don't Blame the Horse Till You Know the Whole Story

I fell off Queenie day before yesterday. It didn't hurt. Turns out she had lost a shoe and stumbled, throwing me off balance and then she jumpy-jumped out of fear. All was pretty calm and I got back on and rode home. But, I don't bounce like I used to. All my fault. I knew she was due for shoes - had already called the farrier! I just got in a hurry and didn't check or even pick her feet. I completely forgot about it. Haste makes waste. I caught myself with my left arm and its a little sore, but no harm done. I'm kind of glad because the last time I fell it was catastrophic, so it was good to have a little slide off with no harm done to take away the fear. Oh, and I also blame the Hereford Textan with its SLICK seat. I've gotten spoiled by my suede seats.

So, while its important to punish right away when the situation warrants it, I'm glad I didn't because it was not so much a bucking off as a pain, fear, startled by bad riding thing which I realized once I looked at her manicure-needing hoof.

I could tell she was a little puzzled. "Why you fall off, Granmaw? My foot hurts." Poor girl. And I learn every day. Don't wait to call the farrier unless you wish to court disaster.

Clinic and Show 7/11/09 and 7/12/09

Here's the pics:

Clinic and Show 7/11/09 and 7/12/09

The clinic was good, but no real cows there. There was a mechanical cow - which was a stuffed flying cow on the string who flew back and forth through the air. Matt got used to him after watching for quite awhile. At one point, the flying cow fell off his clothespins and everybody laughed and told the girl cutting it that she had killed it.

 

In trail class Matt and I had to jump a log over and over. All my bits are black and blue. Got finished using Matt at about 1:00 and put him away with water and a fan on him.

 

Got out Queenie. Lord, she wears me out. 15 minutes warming her up in the arena and I was done for. The heat had set in, too. We trotted forever in pleasure class; learning what an extended trot is for 45 minutes in extreme heat got to me.

Pretty soon, I put her up, got a chair and parked it by the rail to watch the rest of the class. I walked down and checked out the working cow horse clinic. No cows! They were mirroring each other.

 

I forgot how much I hate school, plus, heat exhaustion, plus the kids were whining to go to the hotel and swim. So we did. The lady at the front desk of the hotel asked me if I had a hard trip. I hated to tell her that I only arrive at check-in with dirt on my face and smelling like hell when I've been riding all morning. LOL.

 

The kids went to the pool. I showered and then slept on crisp white sheets on 4 fluffy feather pillows with the AC on full blast. I thought, "There is a God and he does love me!"

 

Arrived next morning fresh as a daisy! I got Ella to warm up the horses for me while I got stuff together - wearing my shorts and tank top! When they called my class I couldn't get in the bathroom, so I changed in Matt's stall!

Hope it is understood in showing like in the theatre, when costume changes necessitate semi-public nudity! I had on a major exercise bra that might as well be a tank top, anyway! In the theatre it is understood that you just look the other way if somebody is dressing backstage. That's why its such a big deal to get your own dressing room. I guess sports is the same way - with locker rooms.

 

Well, didn't I look spiffy! Black starched jeans, black starched long sleeve shirt with red decorations, dark oil boots, black saddle on Matt, red colors in blanket. Straw hat, contacts in, eye liner, lipstick, big smile. The show secretary did a double-take as she had seen me on arrival looking haggard! In 15 minutes, I was a soggy mess, but I tried.

 

I got in line for trail and did that on Matt. Not good. All we did right was the lope, the trot over poles, the raincoat. We had one refusal on the @#$%@ing log after all those practice jumps! There are lots of things to practice since its too hot now to go out for long rides - like sidepassing!

 

Cutting. OMG, super bad. The sun was behind the myriad little black calves. To Matt, they must have looked like a squirming black hole. I had even recruited cute cowboy holders among those waiting.

 

Matt. would. not. go. near. the. cows.

 

I tried about 5 times, but I didn't want to get in a fight with him and scatter the herd. He kept whirling around and trying to leave. Sad. I smiled and waved out after 5 or 6 tries to approach the herd. My cowboy friends were sad for me.

 

Matt was glad to get back to his stall. &*&^%%^%^#%$#%$-hole. Not his fault, but I did take him to team sorting and he was fine, there. Oh well.

 

Lesson: I have got to get around more cows!!!!!!! Idea: Rent part of cow pasture from man I know and put own cows there with his 2. He won't let me cut his because his wife says they are for beef and I will make them skinny.

 

RU Ready for some Queenie!

 

Despite her a.m. warm up, after 1 1/2 days in a stall, Queenie was ready to pour it on. I loped her some and she had a tiny bit of control. The best thing I learned in pleasure clinic was to just one-rein stop her when she goes too fast, rather than circle. Which is what Mugwump said all along, but I absorb more when I am actually riding.

Reining on Queenie for the first time was interesting at best, hair raising at worst. She was tossing her head and skittering to the side like she does when she is being stubborn. She forgot everything she and I had worked on when she went into the arena. I tried not to be nervous, but right before we went in I got a little thrill of fear thru me and I saw ears twitch when she felt that. She is sooo sensitive. She is so much like Dude. It started badly and got worse – sloppy spins, wop-sided circles that became a figure 8, fairly good run-downs and stops, head tossing all the while. Sheesh! I almost came off on the run around the end of the arena when she finally turned – because she turned alright. I felt air under my butt and it was out to one side. I still don't know how I didn't come off except the sheer force of momentum jerked me forward and back into the saddle. It happened so fast I was thinking "Almost fell off back there while I was doing the run down. LOL.

 

The funny part is we went right into pleasure about 20 minutes later after that and she was lovely. She gave me a soft jog and good transitions up to extended trot and lope, good stop, sloppy reverse. The sign said lope and I couldn't see the next one. When I could see it, it said "Extended lope." Uh oh. Any more extended and we would miss the barn entirely going back in. LOL. Decent down transition, stop and back. WTF? It was my best class of the day! I guess the big arena freaked her out and the little pen was better.

 

Done with Queenie, unsaddled, hosed and put her in her stall where she kicked and cried the rest of the afternoon whenever Matt was gone.

 

So, we finally get to WCH on Matt. The event I've been dreaming of since I first saw a video about it. The reason I dragged over to team sorting by myself on my free night. Etc. There's a little pattern first, jog, extended trot, lope, etc. Matt didn't go from one cone to the other. Straight arrow Matt went wonky on me. He was jigging. He wanted to run. We've been doing pattern no. 2 too many times in a row at shows. I'm not even finished when I see they've put the cow out. We headed for the cow and Matt caught sight of it and tried to get the hell out of Dodge again.

 

I kept heading him back to it. Bless the little cow, he bellowed and then took off running toward the opposite end, so I got Matty chasing him. That worked good to get Matty closer. I rounded him up from the far end and brought him back to box him where he came in and then forgot what I was doing and ran him down to the other end. I tried to box him and he got away from me again. So essentially, we chased him up and down the arena about 4 times and then I gave up. Here are some stills from the grainy movie E took with her camera.

Making Matty go up to the cow

 

 

Run, Forrest!

 

 

Whoo Hoo me and cow in same frame

Bye Bye, Cow

Clinic and Show Prep

I'm finally getting to go to a clinic with actual (and mechanical) cows! I'm so excited. Since its been so hot, I am taking Queenie (7 yr old mare) as well as Matt (23 year old gelding). Yesterday afternoon, it was surprisingly cool, so I took Matt out for an easy workout, planning to take Queenie this a.m. Matt was good. I figured out one reason he used to balk at the gate to the big pasture was because, duh, its a gate, which he associates with barrel running. Yesterday he went through the gate after one pop with the rein tails and started loping. LOL. "It not a barrels, Matty, silly."

I think I know the answer to this quandary, because it makes the most sense. Has Matt slowed down, or I have I gotten better at riding his lope? I'm staying with him completely and not banging his poor old back at all. I don't even reach for the horn with him anymore. Good old Matty has taught the umpteenth hundred person to lope. I wonder how many more? My grandchildren, I can only hope! Anyway, it wouldn't make sense that he has slowed down, so it must be me. I can't wait to run barrels on him again next time. But not this weekend.

This morning, we had a roundup, but more on that later. This morning I actually got my daughter to get out of bed and come ride. I saddled Queenie for her and she started going around the yard. I figured to take Matty along for a walk. Poor Matty, He just went last night. But we only walked. One tiny lope at this place that is nice and flat. It was hot. I would have died without my hat.

E couldn't get Queenie to lope in the yard. I tried to explain that once the death trot has begun the transition to the lope is much harder and get her to slow down first. I got on and showoed her. Queenie was being fractious this morning. My daughter got her to lope in the yard and then we went for the hot walk. There was deep mud, so it was a workout for them, just walking through that.

Of course Dude has to enter the picture. When we got back I got my daughter to wash and put Matt away while I changed the stirrups to take Queenie back out. Somehow, at the gate, Dude escaped. Matt followed. I tried to chase Dude down with Queenie and to herd him back. He evaded and ran farther away - just onto Mr. Bob's nice grass lot, but still, not coming home. So much for the roundup. I headed back to get a bucket of feed. Meanwhile, my daughter got Matt and brought him back and dude followed. Then, I went out and gave Queenie a couple or 3 good lopes. She is slowing down, too. I can stay with her pretty well, but I hold the horn. We worked on transitions. She will do okay in WP, I hope. She does best with "Ho" and then pull for her stop. She pulls her back legs under and snorts when she stops fast. Its so cute. I hope I get a good clean stop on her in reining.

I don't know what she will do with a cows. She has probably worked cows before, as she seems to have a good western foundation, but she is a teeny bit skittish around new things, so if a cow runs at her she may freak. We "fishtailed" once coming around the lake in a slick spot and I stayed on, so I think I can sit whatever she hands out - I hope.

I haven't ridden anybody in the Hereford Tex Tan. I guess I will try it on Matty around the yard and see if I like it. I have the little Royal King for Queenie and my behind fits in it pretty good. We rode in our synthetics today.

I'm getting excited about riding Dude again one day. Because of my improvement, I think I will be able to handle him. We will see.

Training for the Show Next Week

I had a great weekend of training. Two nice rides were all I could get in, but I learned a lot about Queenie. Also, Matt worked so well! Saturday morning, I got up at 5:30 and drank coffee for an hour. Then I saddled Queenie. I used the Royal King leather saddle to keep breaking it in and because I think it fits her the best. We went to the big field with the lakes – my Gosh, it was a beautiful morning! There were ducks swimming around and the light shimmered on the water like diamonds. We trotted, then loped a little. She kicked out at first, but settled in. I took her to the far side of the second lake where there is a straight strip of good ground. I sat down, got hold of the horn, let the reins out and kissed for the canter. She flew. Her back end comes way under her when she moves and with that short back, it is a completely different sensation from riding Matt. She likes running and, except for the whine of air through my air flow helmet, it was all but silent as this was a nothing for her to run and run. We ran up and down that strip a few times. She was stopping okay and not tossing her head. It was not until I had been back for hours that I realized it had not even occurred to me to put a tie down on her. I had her in the curb with the broken mouthpiece that Matty runs barrels in. I wanted to get her used to something besides the gag since a gag would not be allowed at the Stock Horse show. Last time I took her to the LHSA show, I tried her in the d-ring snaffle and it didn't work so well. This (the black and stainless fancy curb) is better. She is neck reining now as if she had been doing it all along. I don't know whether she learns that fast, or if she had forgotten and now it is coming back to her, but I only worked with her on neck reining about 3 times and now she has it. She really gets under herself when she stops. I think she will make a reiner in the long run! She also was really moving in her spins in the field. She was crossing over in front and really hopping over with her fronts. It was so different from the way Matt does then that I was surprised. Her spins were far from elegant, but surprisingly good. On the way back, we were walking along and when she caught sight of the deep hole next to the culvert bridge she started about 2 steps to one side. In contrast, I pointed the hole out to Matty later and he breezed on past it like "Yeah, so what?" After I brought Queenie back and washed her down, I saddled Matt and took him around the block and then into the field. He balked for a second and then, when I swatted him, he took off and loped half way down the side of the first lake. I just let him go as fast as he wanted and stop when he wanted. He was feeling good and I enjoyed letting him run. I'm so comfortable loping Matty, now. It's a blast. We worked on walk, trot, halt, back up, etc., took another run on the other side of the second lake and then I brought him back at as slow a walk as I could get him to do. He was still hot as a bugger when I brought him in. I hosed and hosed and walked and walked him and he got okay. His big veins stand out all over his neck and chest when he's hot. He enjoyed his shower immensely; even letting me wet his face without a fuss.

This morning I got a much later start, didn't start until about 9:00 a.m. It was probably 80 by then. I worked Queenie in the back pen. Walk, trot, extended trot, walk, lope; for the pleasure class in which she is entered. She did so well. And after running around the pen fast about 3 times, the combination of the heat and settling in had her doing a nice controlled lope. Aiming her at the fence and asking for the "Ho" about 10 feet out helped with hthe stop. She steered well and did not toss her head. I worked her on the fence a little, doing rollbacks. I know Miss Dee taught her that during her month of training. Before this morning, I was thinking I would have to send Queenie back to Miss Dee to put a rate on her lope, but she settled in and worked great this morning; rating and steering great. I think the tie down had begun to aggravate her so its best without it now. I am beginning to think that if I can work her a few more times this week, Queenie may actually be able to compete in the reining class at the show. She's entered in reining because Matty just can't do that much loping without his breathing getting bad. However, today she spun fine to the right, but would not spin to the left for anything. I had to tow-hand her and kick her hip over. I gave her a chance to do it right after than and she still wouldn't. She started fussing and hopping to the side (like a little "Dude" action). I started to get mad, but then I just stopped riding for a minute, calmed down and regrouped. She still begrudged me, but performed sullenly. I made her do some other work, which she did pretty willingly, before we went back to the "shady reward spot" in the middle of my pen. I don't know what that was about, but I'll put her back in the Royal King saddle next time and see if it helps. By the way, my new barrel saddle came in the mail yesterday. It is 16 and my behind actually fits in it. I LOVE it and rode it on both horses this morning. I noticed the new barrel saddle has a worn spot in the fleece on the left wither hollow. I felt it, and there doesn't seem to be anything sharp or protruding under there, but that's the only difference in her from Saturday.

My plan for the Stock Horse show is to save Matty for the cow work ; cutting and working cow horse. The reining part of WCH has a very abbreviated pattern, so he should be able to do it. Depending on the side of the arena, the running of the cow may not be too bad. I tuned up Matty's show trot and show lope in case I switch him to the pleasure class and Queenie to the cow work. Because it was nearing noon when I worked him, it was probably getting up on the 90's. We took it very slow and he showed me his show jog and his show lope. I don't know if I could get him to go that slow any other time, but it worked today! LOL. I spent a lot of time working on cues and halts with him and rewarding him in the shade spot. He cooled out a lot better in the pen. When I take Matty away alone, he pulls for home at a working walk that just doesn't cool him out. He has improved from piaffing all the way home, frequently breaking into a trot, when I first started riding him.

Long story made longer. I feel so lucky and blessed to have two well trained and intelligent horses to ork with for the upcoming show. Can't wait to see what Queen does with cows. I would think she has seen them before – she used to live on the levee and may have been worked on cows a little. This week – its get ready for the show.

Will ride Queenie in the RK and Matt in the new American (its cordoba with a black leather top). I don't know if I'll even ride the Textan; the weather is just too hot to fool with that giant thing right now.

Finally, Photos of the Refurbished Hereford TexTan

Mr. Eddie and Miss Mary Pauratore gave me this saddle. I had it refurbished by Ethan Lee. I just picked it up from Ethan's this morning. Its a beaut!

More Thoughts on Dude

Because Badges said she was going back to read through the chronicle, here, I went back and looked at the beginning. I have changed my mind about dude. I no longer think that he "acts out without regard to his own safety." I think he always regards his own safety. I've watched him be careful many times. Except for the time we trapped him in the trailer, he has not hurt himself. In fact, the times he has threatened to smash me into the trailer, he stopped just short of actually mashing me. He whirled his butt around like he was going to smush me, but left me exactly 1 foot of room between his butt and the trailer. After I ran around the back of the trailer he kicked out. The time he ran off with me holding the lead rope, he was just trying to make me let go. He didn't try to run over me. He was surprised I held on as long as I did. I have looked at his tongue, no cuts. He is not "head shy." Rather, he just won't give you his head if he doesn't feel like it.

So, I've learned he's not abused after all, or if he was, he's over it. He is spoiled, pure and simple. And smart. And now... we come to Jesus. I've gotten my confidence working with Matt and the mare. Dude just needs a firm hand and I'm about to give it to him. Hee hee.