We Made It (Hurricane Gustav)

Photos: Doh! I put "chocks" behind the trailer wheels, but guess what? Wrong direction. The hurricane winds pushed it about 8 feet into the front of my little truck. Luckily the hitch went sort of under the front bumper, but stopped short of doing any damage to the hitch or visible damage to the little truck. I ran all around on the day before the storm trying to figure out exactly where to put the cars and trailers, guessing the wind would come from the South, but it came from the east. Funny, but I put the chocks on the little trailer going the other way. I must have been a little off my nut that day. The pics of the house show one tree in my yard that uprooted, but caught on another tree instead of falling on the fence. I think it would have missed the house even if it had fallen. It pulled the meter box almost off the house, but, we found out today, the meter is still functional! Tin got bent up on the horses's run-in shed. In the pic of the horses you can see the tree that uprooted and fell on the neighbor's trailer. Luckily, they were okay.

The day of the storm itself was pretty scary. We got 120 mph wind gusts and they got twisty at one point. That's when the trees started coming down. The neighborhood had lots of downed trees The trees missed the house and the horses. We were out of electricity for 7 days. I never did get a generator, although lots of the neighbors had them. The heat wasn't too bad for the first few days as the skies remained overcast. I took advantage of the full dark nights to "shower" outdoors with the hose and use the horse trailer for a towel rack. I spent the evenings sitting on my front porch listening to the radio. It was kind of fun like camping.

After a day of looking around like disaster victims and picking up fallen limbs, we got back to riding. When I let Matt and Dude out of the back for the first time, they ran to the front fence as if to say, "Let's go somewhere!" We rode every other day during our "Hurricane Holiday" as work and school were cancelled. Our regular trail behind the house was filled with new and interesting obstacles (fallen trees), but was passable for a decent distance. We finally reached a huge tree blocking the entire path to E.D. Road. The 4 wheeler riders will probably cut it before long. When Matty took off cantering, Dude did it too and he has the smoothest rocky horse canter. Dude and I worked a lot on his slow jog, which he does nicely. He only cantered the one time, though and he can move out at a trot that keeps up with Matt at a canter! Coming back from the trail, we saw that the power line workers were here with bucket trucks. Dude got almost underneath it before he saw it and startled a little.

One morning I was saddling both horses and decided to put my western saddle on Matt (since Miss Sunshine was snoozing while I was sweating). She woke up in time to come out and watch me ride Matt, practicing my cantering. I worked on sidepassing and shoulder-in with Matt. He's so lovely. When I get on Matt, I feel so secure and comfortable. Matt really likes to GO, too. He wanted to canter a lot, but is very controllable. I had saddled Dude and left him tied to his tree while I worked Matt. Dude stood nicely and waited his turn. I saddled Dude tied to the tree all 4 times. He still moves his feet around and acts afraid, but tolerates it. Bitting was excellent every time! He now stands pretty well after I mount, although he lets me know he is ready to go out the gate and hit the trail! I tried out my new felt pad with my western saddle on Dude (it came in the mail the day before the Hurricane hit). Dude seemed to like it, although it needs to be broken in better. It kicks up in the back. Oh, I'd love to try a rear cinch on Dude (not).

Two shows were canceled because of the Hurricane so the next one is not until September 20. We got a lot of good, muscle building and aerobic work done this past week though, so if we keep it up we'll be in good shape for the next show!

My new truck was hit at the feed store and was very useful for transporting limbs and sticks to the burn pile. My little truck would have gotten stuck back there!

Training Day

We practiced staying tied to a tree, today. Poor tree got some bark bitten off, but not too violently, more out of boredom. He also tried to untie it repeatedly and to rub it off his head. Ha ha on you Dude, rope halter. He didn't try to violently pull, but he got the slack out of the rope and reached the grass once. I went and tied him back up. I had Matt cross tied nearby for comfort. After about 10 minutes, when he was being "good", I let him loose.

Today, we fought about the bit, some. I put the (Western) bridle on 3 times and took it off twice before I left it on to start saddling. After the first time, he ran off and acted like a wild thing, but he came back to me (for carrots -- I cheated a little). It got a little easier to get the bit in each time. Saddling was about the same as usual, except I put it on and took it off an extra time before I left it on. I was feeling patient despite the sweltering heat -- it was overcast and humid today, so not burning hot.

I had set up my 2 cones and the trash can in places in the yard to do a varying pattern around. No problem about mounting. I tied Matt to the trailer so he would be nearby. I walked different patterns and then made Dude trot, which he did not want to do. He really resented me making him work those tight turns. It was all at a sitting trot, because I needed to regain some coordination at using my legs. I had the long Western reins on so I mostly used my legs and seat for the "patterns." Dude shook his head and lurched to the side a couple of times. I popped his neck with my hand, fussed at him and made him keep working. I made him do things he didn't want to do. His halts were excellent - he stopped on a dime on "ho" because he is so fat and lazy (like his rider). I made him back up, too as he is so good at it. He tried to balk at one spot and I popped him with my hand and made him go forward. I jerked the reins a little hard (for me, not mouth damaging hard)when he wouldn't turn. I.e., we're working on respect and getting some. I'm shooting for being able to tie, tack and steer at the upcoming show.

When I untied Matt from the trailer he went nuts and acted like a total jackass! I wouldn't let go of the lead rope, though. He flopped out like a trout and then longed himself around me countless times before I could finally pull him in and get him to whoa. I don't know what was going on with him, but I put a loop on his nose and played lead line around with him making him whoa and back up for awhile before I let him go. The "boys" were really trying me today, but I made them behave and work. I'm tired. Bed soon!

Bit Problems

Pics 1 and 2 = Dude today in the western bit. Pic 3 is from week before last and is just too cute because Dude wants to come inside the back door. "I can has inside please?"

Wow, what a fight we had getting the bit on this morning. The show is cancelled due to arena conditions (too wet), so, I decided we better start getting us in shape for the next round of shows with some jogging around. Dude's topline is sad looking from standing around getting fat for weeks. I just wanted to tak up and do about 30 minutes of jogging around. It took about an hour to get tacked up! I couldn't get the English bridle on because of the noseband. Dude kept nodding and nodding and avoiding the bit. He really pissed me off, but good. So I came in, cooled off and got the western one I had put together with Ella's old show bit. It was easier to put on with the curb chain undone. The only thing I can say is persistance and patience pays off, eventually, with Dude. He did better saddling than usual. I turn around and ignore him when he's moving around, then reward him with carrots when he stands still. He's learning he has to stand still for the carrot. Mounting was no problem. My daughter finally got up and wandered outside. She said she'd go if she could ride bareback which was fine. We went around the subdivision block twice, alternately jogging and walking. I couldn't beleive they didn't balk when we passed the house and kept going.

Nothing feels better than after a ride when the horses are washed and I've showered and had something to eat. I'm off to nap and be glad I don't have to go to the show. Its too bad because I had everything packed up last night including having the drinks iced down and ice chest loaded! I had to unload everything this morning before it got hot.