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.

We Need Shoes!

The farrier should have come Friday, but he couldn't make it. Monday? No, he had car trouble. Now, he's sick. I can't ride Dude or even longe him -- I saw sky between his shoe and his hoof. Last time his shoes were loose, one twisted and I was afraid the nails would stick him in his frog. I'm so frustrated. I was just getting into a rhythm. Plus, I need him shod (well) before the show on Saturday. I thought it was going to be too wet for the show, but T. S. Fay has dried up and the sun's been out pretty strong all day, today. If this keeps up, we may be able to have the show on Saturday.

I'm looking at trucks! I have a line on a '99 V8 Dodge P/U for $3,500!

"Lather, Rinse, Repeat"

Wow, Dude is getting as sway backed as Matty! I hope his topline improves with this latest round of conditioning. Anyway...
Tied Dude to the tree with the rope halter again last night. I watched him through the window. No drama, but slow, determined escape attempts. He slowly pulled on the rope in each direction, testing the pressure. He fooled with the knot and flipped the rope around with his nose. He never got away, though, or even reached the grass. Plus, Matty was roaming around loose, eating grass. After about 1/2 hour, I went out and started picking his hooves. On the back right he stepped toward me again! That is so totally unacceptable! I pushed him over by poking him in the hip several times until he knew I meant business. Then, he offered up the foot the next time I reached for it.

I let him loose. I bridled and saddled (about per usual) and rode around some, doing walk, trot, halt and back, transitions. He was "bad" once, backing up out of the front gate corridor. So, I made him go in a tight circle and then go back in there. He startled a little at his shadow as it got dark, but continued on bravely. Dude will go almost completely off leg cues at the walk. I'm a little less coordinated in cuing him at the trot. I cued him to do some impressive spins. His power steering is excellent in this Western bridle and bit! I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but Dude "has" to do 4 full body snorts the first time you trot him every single time. It really makes his back go up, so I think its a good stretch for him. I'm enjoying getting him ready for the show not this Saturday, but the next.

It is So Hot

Its hot and wet. And not in a good way. We get a T-storm about every afternoon, so it is staying very wet by the gate. The path to the run-in is sunken and water stands in it. All the sand I put there has gone to mysterious depths. Its pea gravel next, I promise. I am watching carefully for thrush. Here's a link to a page with healthy hooves. Dude's and Matt's frogs look like #4 on that page; kinda black and peely, but not smelly or gooey.

http://www.thehorseshoof.com/gallery_healthy.html

I want to clean out the run-in and start again with pea gravel - at least a yard of it. I'll have to do a little bit every day to avoid heat stroke.

There's a "show" Saturday. We're only going to the timed events, but I'm determined to take Dude and run him in some "exhibitions" (untimed, schooling runs). Can't wait to see if he bucks... again. My trick to beat the heat is to get up real early, load the truck up and bathe the horses. Then, I stay inside until time to load the horses at about 3:00 p.m.

Matt gets ready for a Little Show

This is my daughter and Matt practicing for tomorrow's schooling show. How do you like our homemade jump? It is 16 inches!! My daughter hasn't ridden much in about 8 weeks because she broke her arm (rollerskting, not riding!). She's just getting her confidence back so she'll probably just enter trotting the X's tomorrow. Don't they say you should enter the class a step lower than you've been practicing? That will help rebuild her confidence. I can't wait to see this new barn and meet some English riding people. I love my local western club friends, but they just don't get it why we like to jump. One time and they'd be hooked on it, I'm sure.