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
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