Finally Went to Another Show

Yesterday, we took both horses to a show at the same time, for the first time, thanks to the new truck!! We had a little trouble loading including giving up on Dude, but then giving it one more try with the rope trick which succeeeded. Dude reared up and acted like a total ass, but I just looked at him and said, "I'm not scared of you so quit it." And he did! He got in like a little lamb, the bluffer!! The reason I gave it one more try was that Dude didn't run away, but rather, kept hanging around the trailer as if to say, "I want to get in, but I don't know how." We had the divider in for the first time, so both horses were confused by it. It turns out the divider will be no good, as Dude broke it on the way home. )*&%^!!

The trip up was good. I felt pretty secure driving the new rig, but couldn't get about 50 mph (it wasn't the interstate, anyway). It was a beautiful afternoon and E and I both felt happy and free. On the road with our boys; what could be better? The show was at a "new" arena, one our club is having to use because of hurricane damage to the regular arena. It had a nice sand warm-up area which everyone enjoyed. There were cows pastured nearby which cuaght Dude's attention. I swear he's a cow horse of some kind. Dude was exceedingly difficult to saddle. He kept almost mashing me up against the trailer, but he would stop just short of actually smushing me. He dumped off the saddle about 15 times before I could get the girth done. Once I got the girth tight enough for the saddle to stay on, he acutally bucked and kicked! Luckily, I was out of range of the kick (around the back side of the trailer!). As I said to E, I can't beleive I actually got on him and rode after all of that, but with Matt right there, I felt like Dude would behave. He went with Matt to the warm-up area and behaved pretty well. Once, he tried to kick Matt, though when Matt was right behind him. I don't think the magnesium supplement is helping since he's never acted this way with Matt. But, I've never taken him to a show with Matt before, either.

We were late, so, I signed up for only 2 exhibitions, poles and barrels. Riding exhibition was the best choice I have made! I was pretty relaxed and didn't put much pressure on him. I must have been kind of nervous, though because I was halfway through winding between the poles at a trot when I remembered to use my legs to steer! He only paused once and not very badly, he mostly trotted a nice jog that I could sit. He and I both like that, I think.

When we did barrels, it had started to get dark and the lights were on, but he didn't startle at his shadow. He trotted smoothly around all three barrels and when we were heading home, he actually loped the nicest little lope! It was so much fun! Then, I unsaddled him and rubbed him down with the microfiber towel I got (its great). It was too chilly for hosing. He happily stayed tied, munching hay until E and Matt were finished.

Matt was so cute in the arena race. On the way back to the gate, I saw him kick it into a higher gear. It was the cutest thing. E said she felt it and couldn't believe he was running that fast. She wasn't really going fast at all, by the standards of the others, but she is still gettign her confidence.

One chick in Junioers (age 14 to ?) fell and smacked her head on the ground in poles, so I reinterated my insistance on E wearing her helmet. Even in the sand arena, you could see that the girl was almost knocked out. She stood up, put her hand to her head and sat down dizzily. Later, she walked out, but may have gotten a concussion.

Loading to come home, Matt was good and Dude was bad. I had to use the rope on Dude, but it was dark as pitch inside the trailer even with the inside light on. Once he got in, he was fine. Mr. Ken came along as I was getting the rope trick ready and said something funny, like "There seems t be some kind of situation here." He helped me by jumping in to free the rope when it caught on the door latch. He's really quick for an old guy.

I was really tired driving home, so we stopped at Mickey D's for supper (9:30 p.m.). The horses slept, although Dude had broken the divider and was hogging most of the trailer. Came home, unloaded, put them in their pen and crashed.

It was a great night and I'm glad we went. I need to keep up riding more frequently before the Amite show and I need to start out earlier since loading is back to being a challenge.

I talked to Ms. Dee about training for Dude. She does training and said she would not only "get after" Dude, but would get after me as well. Hee hee -- we'll see after I have saved up $500.00 for amonth of training. I'd rather she do it than Jeff, since I know she won't be overly harsh with Dude. I don't know Jeff that well, so I'm not saying he would be rough, I guess its just that he's male.

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!

Triumph in Saddling!!!!!

Today I saddled Dude tied to the tree in his rope halter. He moved toward me a little, but, we did a "dance" where I messed with him, going toward his girth and then stepping away several times and laughing like it was a game. He finally stood still and let me grab the girth from underneath. He moved around a little more for tightening, but not too badly. I just took my time and let him adjust to each step. Matt stood by, faithfully ... sleeping. Bridling was easy. He likes his new bridle (and carrots keep coming for these "new" accomplishments). We had a good ride, but Dude wouldn't pick up a canter following Matt. He, rather, beat me up with a blazing, bone jarring trot from hell. We had a good day, though.

New Bridle, Tied and Rode

I looked and looked for new bridles on eBay and finally just got a good headstall at the feed store today. The best one was latigo colored with brass buckles, but has ties so silver can be added later. Turns out I have 4 big "silver" tie on conchos that I got with my bead making stuff that are too big for necklaces and are going to be perfect on the new bridle for shows, yet removable for every day and cleaning.

When I got home and started fitting the new bridle, Dude was a butt, so I tied him to the tree with his rope halter. Then, I went out repeatedly for fittings and bridled him while he was tied! This is a major step forward! He stepped toward me once at first, but I pushed his butt over and he didn't try it again. Matt was in the pen where he had run to escape when I came out with the bridle. Dude ended up staying tied and getting bitted about 6 times! Then, I shortened my stirrups on the Western saddle and let Dude loose for saddling. I didn't want to push him too much in one day, but I foresee a day when I can saddle him tied. Thank goodness he respects the rope halter. Who knew? (Well, Jeff H., the local trainer, told me to get a rope halter at the last show, so he knew ... LOL). We had a nice little ride around the yard, doing steering, at walk and trot. then, I got my daughter to come home from her friend's and go with me on Matt around the block. I worked on a nice sitting jog on Dude. The weather really cooperated -- there's a thunder storm coming, so it really cooled off, but held off long enough. On the way home we passed my daughter's friend's house and she got off and I ponied Matt home! That's the first time I've tried that and it worked perfectly. Matt cooperated and did exactly what Dude did. I love my old, broke horses!

"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.

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!