July 3

More Rambler updates. I worked with him yesterday and he did really well. I took him out of the round pen for a walk around the pasture, and at first he was fine. A little nervous, but fine. Then something really spooked him and he took off. Dragged the rope right out of my hands, gave me rope burns. Hurt like hell. Now I see why cowboys recommend wearing gloves when workin with youngsters! But Rambler was easy to catch, and good as gold - almost - after that. And he was better about me pickin up his back feet.

I worked him again this morning, briefly. I joined up with him, then praticed leading again, and stopping. He's got pretty good brakes, not wonderful but good. Better than he had. He backs well. So I decided to turn him out with the others. He's miserable in that pen all the time, and I felt bad for him. I took pics, which I'll post sometime this weekend. They ran and ran for a while, then settled down. Rambler ran into the fence once but when it shocked him he got right off. Sunshine hates him. Her and Junior have paired up, leaving Wiley and Rambler together. Only Rambler's not too sure he likes Wiley yet. Wiley will graze peacefully beside him, then suddenly run to him and attack. Its so funny to watch, but poor Rambler. And Sunshine doesn't like him gettin to close to her or Junior. And I couldn't take her fly mask off her tonight cause she kept runnin from me. Silly mare. I hope she calms down tomorrow, I'm supposed to go on a trail ride with my cousin.

This afternoon I went with my cousin to her boyfriend's house to barrel race. He competes, and she's getting into it a little, and she's been workin with her colt on it. I have never ridden a barrel racer before. I was nervous. They put me on a 25 year old who acted 4. He didn't do anything bad, but boy was he ready to GO! I held him back the whole time case I was scared. Next time I'm lettin him out! That was the most exhilerating thing I've done in forever. I was laughing and whoopin and hollerin the whole time. I'll post pics later, but they're funny to me. Everyone else who barrel races hunches all down in the saddle. Me, I look like I could be in an equitation class goin around the barrel. Its ingrained in me to sit up straight in a saddle, I can't sit any other way. So funny to see! ( :

July 1

Well, Rambler is certainly interesting. Sunday, I brushed him a while and worked on the knots in his mane, then I had to trim up his mane and cut him a bridle path. He didn't mind any of that at all. He's cool with pickin up his front feet, but doesn't understand when I ask for the back ones. He walks in circles around me. We're working on that. I got him going in the round pen, wanted to Join Up with him like I did Wiley in the beginning, Monty Roberts-style. It took him a while. BUT he did it! Wiley has always been very submissive, at the bottom of the totem pole, and he was very happy to let me be in charge of him.

Rambler is used to being near the top of that pole, and he challenges me a lot. He's not mean at all, I can just tell he's having trouble giving up his position.

Monday, he joined up in about 15 minutes, still a lot longer than Wiley ever did, but I know every horse is different, and I was patient (yay for me!). He was really good on the lead rope after that, very responsive.

Yesterday, he joined up in less than 10 minutes! He was really good with leading around the round pen, so I decided to push it a little and walk him just a few steps out of the round pen. The other horses were in the other pasture, so I wasn't worried about them. At first, Rambler was fine, then he realized he wasn't confined anymore. He didn't do anything really bad, I could just feel the energy building up in him, and I got a little worried. After all, I haven't quite got him compeltely controlled yet - I don't know how his brakes are in a pinch. So I turned him back around to the gate, and he did not want to go in there. But he followed me - reluctantly - into the round pen. Then he turned around and reared up. Not at me, though. He reared away from me, like he wanted to get the rope out of my hands. Somehow, I didn't loose my cool and got him calmed down. Then sent him back to work! It didn't take him long to apologize for his behavior, and he was good as gold when I tried again in a few minutes. But again I could feel the energy building in him, and got him back in the round pen before he got out of control.

Today I didn't work with him because I felt like crap. I think I have a touch of a stomach bug or something. Anyway, when I got home the round pen was all messed up. Looked like someone had picked it up and moved it about 10 feet, then made one end pointy. Paul said Rambler did it tryin to get out, but dang. That thing is HEAVY! And none of the horses are hurt, miracurously (I know that's spelled way wrong). He wants me to go ahead and turn Rabler out with the others, but I don't quite trust him enough yet. I'm not sure he'd let me catch him and work with him if he was loose all the time right now. But we're building our relationship...

I also walked/ran with Junior yesterday. He seems to be doing just fine. I may ride him - briefly - this weekend, see how he goes with weight on his back again. And yesterday I rode Sunshine around the neighborhood a bit. I tried to ride her down this path that leads to some hog houses, but there were herds of cows on either side of the path, and they were goin CRAZY! I got worried that they'd come through the fence, so I turned around.

June 28 - Rambler

First, I'll update on Junior. I've hand-walked/jogged him twice so far and he's still good. Yay! I may walk him again tonight, but I seriously doubt it; I'm very tired and I still have to work with Rambler.

Yep, we got a new horse yesterday! This is Paul's 4 year-old Mustang, Wiley's 1/2 brother. They remember each other, its so cute. They had to lassoe him yesterday to get the halter on him, and Paul's daddy brought him over here in a cattle trailer behind a tractor! haha. He's very calm, very loving, loves attention (and food!), but doesn't know anything. He leads, sort of. He's got a lot to learn, that's for sure! We got him yesterday before lunch but I didn't have time to do anything with him. I'm goin out there in a little while to see if he'll let me brush him. I think he's been brushed before, but I'm not sure.

Sunshine is actin like an absolute idiot now. She gets mad when the other 2 go over near Rambler, who's in the round pen for now (I have to be able to trust him enough to know I can catch him out in the pasture before I'll turn him loose). She kicks, bites, squeals, just acts silly. And she's ruined one of the panels in my round pen. And feeding time is such a pain. She HATES it cause Wiley eats in a pen next to Rambler's, and she runs all around and I waste SO much time tryin to get her away from Junior and Wiley and to her own feed pan. Hopefully this crap won't last much longer!

Anyway, here's Rambler. Ain't he cute?? I can't wait to see him in a few months when he's filled out more.

June 15

I'm so bad about updating this thing. Let's see....I've been busy as usual! I lost 2 riding lesson students due to financial troubles, but I've still got 2. And possibly a 3rd soon. Sunshine is still doing awesome with all the inexperienced rides. I've been able to get on her occasionally and either school her or give her a nice relaxing trail ride, so that's good. I haven't ridden Wiley at all yet this month. I just haven't had time, and when I have, its been raining. But this class will be done with next Tuesday so I'll have more time for riding. Which is good because we're moving Rambler (Paul's horse, Wiley's 1/2 brother) up here next week I guess. He's barely halter broke and he's 4 years old. Fun.

Junior had his hock injection on Friday (June 12 for my records). What a procedure! So technical. It was about 90 degrees outside, but we had to go into our barn so be as sterile as possible. It was closer to 100 degrees in there I bet. We were all sweating like pigs. Paul had to help us. Junior was so sedated that he was leaning on a 45 degree angle the whole time almost! Scarey. I was holding the twitch on his nose and had to hold his head up so he didn't either fall or try to kick the vet. He didn't feel the first injection, but he felt the last 2. It was pretty quick, though. He had to stay confined in a 12x12 pen until this morning, and he was kinda pissy about that, but he's okay.

I turned him back out with the others this morning and the first thing he did was roll in the dirt! Then he walked down to the end of the pasture to eat grass, just ignored the hay I put out. He's a funny guy. I'm so happy, though, that he did so well with everything. Now I have to give him a week before I can start working him again. So next week hopefully I'll be able to tell if this worked!

Memorial Day

Wow, I've had a busy - and productive - weekend. Days like these make me wish we were rich and I didn't have to have an actual job!

I rode Wiley this morning. He was GREAT. Paul was bushhogging the wood line right beside the arena, and Wiley wasn't too crazy about all the noise. AND the sprinkler was goin in the garden on the other side of the arena, and Wiley wasn't too crazy about that, either. But he didn't do anything about it. He just dealt with it. I was proud! We worked on the same stuff we've been at all week, then I decided to try the canter again. It wasn't working, so I stopped and got my crop. Bingo! He just needed a little encouragement, I guess.

He has an AWESOME canter! He got kinda crazy at it, though, so we've got some work to do. He just got excited, I think, and kind of forgot to listen to me tryin to steer him. But he wasn't unmanageable. I think he was proud of himself. lol. I was proud of US. And did I mention he has a great canter? ( :

May 23

Things are going well. I rode Sunshine on Tuesday, worked on getting her soft again. Its so hard to keep her soft in the mouth when so many beginners ride her and I don't ride her myself often. But she remembers. I try to ride her myself once or twice a week, keep her tuned up and keep her happy. I think its nice for her to be ridden by someone who doesn't bounce all around on her back sometimes! She's getting to be in such good shape, even though none of my students are cantering yet. When I ride her I usually canter her around the corn field after we work in the arena. Nothing's better than feeling your horse running under you, wind in your face. And on my own land!

Wiley has been doin really well, too. I rode him on Thursday and he was SO much better about slowing down. Usually he races around the arena but he's finally learned to listen to my seat and go slower. I started workin on him giving to the bit. I realize I should have already accomplished this, but remember this is my first time! He's so smart. I also tried to canter him again Thursday. He is totally clueless, though. I could see the wheels workin in his brain, but he just didn't know what I wanted. The only way I can think of is to teach him on the lunge first. But I hate lunging. I plan on working on that this coming week.

I rode him this morning and he was really good again. I did a lot of variations in speed at the trot, and he listened so well. I was proud.

I'm hoping tomorrow I can ride him and Paul can get some pics of us together. I have no idea what I look like on him in the english saddle. Maybe I can even persuade him to get a video so I can see him moving...! ( :

May 17

Wow, I can't believe I haven't updated this thing since the beginning of the month. Sorry. Okay, quick rundown...Junior was diagnosed with advanced degenerative joint disease in his right hock only, caused by an OCD lesion in there. Poor thing. Wait, did I already type all this? Feels like I did...anyway...I've started him on Cosequin daily, and he's gonna have a joint injection. We're tryin to figure out when. The vet called on Friday and wants to do it on Memorial Day but I've already got plans to go to Pepperwood (!) for the day. So I'll have to talk to her more tomorrow. Hopefully she'll just do it on a Saturday, that way I'll be able to watch him for most of the 2 days he'll have to be confined afterwards. But otherwise, he's fine. Doesn't act like his joint is fallin apart!

Wiley has been a mess lately. I haven't been ridin him because the last two times I tried it was awful. He was spooky and totally ignored everything I did. So I've been doin nothin but groundwork for weeks with him. Friday, I finally decided to ride him in the new english saddle. He was GREAT! We did groundwork first and he was fine. All I did was walk/trot, and not much of that, but it was nice to actually not feel like I was gonna die on him. lol.

I rode him again yesterday morning and he was great again. I pushed him a little harder, a little longer at the trot. I have to work on rating him. He likes to go his own speed, really really fast then barely moving. Its annoying. But I'll work on it. I'm just happy he's not tryin to kill me!!

Of course, now I'm about to start summer class, so I'll be dreadfully busy for the next 5 weeks. And then I think we're movin Paul's horse - Wiley's 1/2 brother - up here. And he is totally untrained. So that'll be a big project. But I can do it. ( :

I'm lookin forward to goin up to Pepperwood for the day! Crystal says I can ride some of the dressage horses. I'm skeptical, but hopeful. Hopefully I can learn somethin that day...if not, at least I'll be immersed in dressage for a few hours! No one around here even knows what dressage is.... *sigh*

Junior

Well, the vet came out today to do a lameness exam on Junior. First, she put the hoof testers on him. No problems there. Then, she did a flexion test. He was fine on both front legs and his left hind fetlock. His left hock was "a little positive" she said. And his right hind fetlock and hock were very positive. :(

After that I lunged him for her and she could easily see how lame he is in his right hind. Then she lunged him so I could see. Once she pointed out to me, it was SO obvious. I knew somethin was goin on back there, and you can feel it on his back, but I didn't know what I was lookin for exactly. I have zero experience with lameness until now. So she took x-rays of both hocks and his right fetlock (which was kind of difficult because I only have 2 outlets outside and one was inaccessible due to the flower bed (!) and the other was less than ideal because we had nothing to tie Junior to there and it took the 2 of us to work the film and machine!).

She's going to develop the films tomorrow morning and call me, but she suspects arthritis. Which really sucks. Junior is only 12 years old. She said no matter what, she wants him on Cosequin Optimize for at least 3 months. OMG do you know how expensive that stuff is?!? THEN, if the x-rays show arthritis, she's recommending Legend injections. I think she said one injection every 7-10 days for...several weeks I believe. Legend is insanely expensive, too. I'm getting depressed.

I'm glad we're thisclose to knowin what's wrong with Junior finally, but dang this is gonna be expensive. And of course, there's no guarantee that I'll even be able to ride him again, which really sucks. I asked the vet what if the x-rays are clean. She said she didn't know. She's pretty sure arthritis is the problem, and that's why he's been sore other places, cause he's so tense and holding himself in ways to protect his bad leg. Poor baby. :( At least if nothing else, he'll finally have some relief from his pain, even if I can't ever ride him again. But why does it have to be so darned expensive??!

wiley again

Well, today we went to the local tack shop. It was a real treat for me cause I hardly ever go to tacks shops any more. There is only one real one around here, and its a right good drive. I wanted to buy a new saddle for Wiley because the one I've been using is Paul's mother's and I need to give it back. Plus its not very comfortable, and Wiley is outgrowin it, and I want to ride him english, not western. I also wanted to get a new bridle for him because he is fast outgrowin his and I wanted one with a noseband.

So anyway, the tack store around here caters mainly to barrel racers and trail riders. Lots of barrel racers in this area. They just started stockin english stuff a few years ago, and most of the time its used stuff. Today they didn't have any new saddles. But that was fine with me, I don't mind used. I found a decent-lookin hunt seat saddle that looked like it would fit Wiley okay. (The shop owner is good about lettin you bring back stuff if it don't work out, so I wasn't worried.) I got it (and it came with stirrups and leathers), a brand-new bridle, and an almost-new (doesn't even look worn but it didn't have tags) girth for $100. Pretty good, eh? The saddle is in good condition. You can tell its used, like the flaps are scuffed up some but the billets are in good shape and it doesn't look awful or unsafe. I'm not planning on showing any time soon, at least not on Wiley, so it was fine for me.

Thankfully, it actually fits him pretty good. I'll have to ride in it to know for sure, but on the ground its good. The girth is almost too small so I'll have to get a bigger one soon, but for now we can deal. And the bridle fits perfect! Wiley looks so CUTE english! Now if I can just get him to act halfway decent...!

Tonight at feeding time I went out there with the buckets as usual. Sunshine and Junior went to their feed bowls as usual and waited for me. Wiley USUALLY goes to his bowl in the round pen (where he's been eatin at since I got him) but not tonight. He didn't act scared, he acted like he didn't know he was supposed to eat in there. He would NOT go in there. I finally gave up and fed the other two, but I had to guard Junior because he will let Wiley steal his food. Wiley wouldn't let me herd him in there, and wouldn't let me get near him so I said to heck with it and he just didn't get supper. He just got hay with everyone else. Later he was pawin at the round pen tryin to get to his food but I had locked the door. Maybe he'll learn to behave! Crazy colt. I wasn't too worried about him not eatin, though, since they were out in the ridin arena eatin grass for several hours today.

Well that's enough ramblin for tonight! ( :

never a dull moment

Well, as usual, a lot has been goin on. I now have 2 lesson kids - yeah! I had a woman stop by last Saturday and was interested for her son but I haven't heard from her again. People just don't want to pay the $$ around here. But 2's good. Sunshine is doin great for the kids. I'm so proud of her. I was NOT proud of her today when I gave her a bath - she acted ridiculous. I forgot how much she hates to be sprayed with water. She's gotta get over that. You'd think after all this time she'd be cool with it.

Junior has gotten worse. The new vet is comin out next Friday to do an exam on him. She said at her last visit (just to do shots) that she suspected his problem was in his hocks. After the farrier came out last Friday, I am leaning towards agreeing with her. Junior did not want to pick his feet up to put them on the stand to be rasped, but only the back feet, and it was worse on the right side. And we tested his back and it was really sore. :( But out in the pasture he's totally fine.

Wiley...oh Wiley. I've about had it with him lately. After that disastrous ride on Easter, I haven't tried to ride him. I went back to ground work. I did ground work with him several times, and he was doin really well. His ground manners are pretty awesome right now. BUT he's so scared of everything. I have tried and tried to despook him and he's just a wuss. Even out in the pasture he jumps at every little noise.

Anyway, since he'd been bein so good on the ground, yesterday I decided to ride him after some initial ground work. I got on him and walked around in the area that is as of this morning my new riding arena (!) and when we got close to the house, he freaked out. Nothing had changed since the night before when he was out there, it wasn't even really windy last night. So, tryin not to have a repeat of Easter, I got off him and walked him around, showed him that there was no monsters around, and did some more ground work with him. That's when he started showin his tail.

I wanted him to go in a circle around me, not really lunging since I just had the lead rope, just move away from me and be a big boy. He did fine one direction, but the other he just broke down. Would NOT go and when I pressured him, he reared up at me! He's NEVER done that before. I worked and worked with him for over an hour. He and I both were sweatin like crazy, and I was feelin light headed, but I finally got him to do it so I stopped for the night. While I was coolin him out I noticed his left eye was swollen almost shut. At first I thought maybe the end of the lead rope had popped him and hurt his eye, but I only popped his shoulder, not his head. Then I put two and two together and figured out that was why he didn't want to go that direction, cause he couldn't see out of that eye. I felt really bad until I remembered him rearin up at me. That is unacceptable, no matter how your eye is. I guess he didn't know another way to try to tellme, though.

Anyway, I called the vet and had to drive to her house (almost 30 minutes) to pick up some eye ointment and Banamine paste. I flushed his eye out with saline, put the ointment in there, and wouldn't you know this mornin its totally fine??! I'm still doin everything she said, just as a precautionary, but I think he's fine. I have no idea what it could have been, but I'm so glad it wasn't anything serious.

I'm gonna let him chill probably tomorrow, but Monday its back to work! I think tomorrow I'm gonna try to find him a saddle and bridle. I think I want to start ridin him english, but my saddle is too big for him.

Oh yes, this mornin Paul and I got up super early so we could get my riding arena fence up before he had to open Thornton Nursery at 7:30. We got it done except for the gate, which we finished tonight. I think it looks great. I'll post pics tomorrow if I remember. We put up one strand of white poly rope and 2 strands of white poly tape (we would have used all poly tape but we didn't think we'd have enough to go around 3 times, but it turned out that we did so we may decide to do that top strand over with tape). It looks very neat and tidy, and very visible, which is what I wanted. I'm happy with it. I've never had my own actual riding arena. And as a bonus I'm gonna use it as another turn-our for the horses. ( :