I stumbled across a website this morning that has me hankering to try some Ranch Horse Versatility. They've got their own association and you don't need to be a registered quarter horse to compete. You get to drag logs and cross bridges and open gates, cut cows, and have a pleasure class that doesn't include rolling a peanut around with your nose. It's called the American Ranch Horse Association, and I think I'm interested in getting a chapter started up here in WA. Any competition that allows for different breeds to be shown against each other with only their ability in mind is one I'm happy to be part of. Of course, the bulk of them are still quarter horses, but they're not circle trotters, right??? And I don't see a single mustang listed, so you know I really need to join!
Sandy and a buddy wait in the corrals to be loaded.
Sandy's day yesterday consisted of being groomed with the rubber curry comb and letting me put a halter on him. Unlike each day up until this point, he never once tried to avoid me walking up to him. He's still worried, he still does his lopsided Spanish Walk, but the no flight when approached is a welcome change. And to be honest, I'm thrilled that we got the halter on and he let both of my hands up alongside his face at the same time to do the buckle. That was a big step for Firecracker as well, and it took her longer. Of course, she was dealing the the whole poll injury, so we'll cut her some slack.
Other than a few random trips out just to be friendly, I left Sandy alone yesterday. I'm trying to muck out Firecracker's side of the paddock, and it's not going so well. With the addition of gravel in Jet and Sandy's paddocks, it's left a low spot where the water collects on FC's side of things, and collect it has. It's about three inches deep, 8 feet long and three feet wide. It's not muddy, it's just wet; the rain water just has no where to drain as the ground is too hard beneath the compact gravel and clay to go anywhere. It's a regular little cement pond, just like the Beverly Hillbillies had. Around the edge of the pond, the clay has begun to work it's way up and combine with the manure that got pelted by heavy rains, making a real mess of things as the water collects. Thankfully Firecracker can be turned out into the pasture or I'd be in a world of hurt. She and Jet spend more time out than in, meaning things should be a wee bit easier come dry weather to clean than if they were cooped up. At least that's what I keep telling myself!
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Other than a few random trips out just to be friendly, I left Sandy alone yesterday. I'm trying to muck out Firecracker's side of the paddock, and it's not going so well. With the addition of gravel in Jet and Sandy's paddocks, it's left a low spot where the water collects on FC's side of things, and collect it has. It's about three inches deep, 8 feet long and three feet wide. It's not muddy, it's just wet; the rain water just has no where to drain as the ground is too hard beneath the compact gravel and clay to go anywhere. It's a regular little cement pond, just like the Beverly Hillbillies had. Around the edge of the pond, the clay has begun to work it's way up and combine with the manure that got pelted by heavy rains, making a real mess of things as the water collects. Thankfully Firecracker can be turned out into the pasture or I'd be in a world of hurt. She and Jet spend more time out than in, meaning things should be a wee bit easier come dry weather to clean than if they were cooped up. At least that's what I keep telling myself!
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4 comments:
Ranch Horse Versatility sounds very interesting. And, of course, if they don't have a mustang, you need to show them what those horses can do. I wouldn't expect anything less.
You should probably sign up with your Arabs, too :)
Yay, your back! And it looks like you have been for a while....I'm just not visiting everyone every day any more. It is way to time consuming.
Looks like you are doing well with her. I am so happy for you and so proud of you (even though I don't know you) and not the slightest bit jealous. Well maybe I am a tiny bit.
Congratulations.
Oh, and the Ranch Horse deal. Fantastic idea! I remember when I first heard about it, it made so much more sense to me than normal breed specific competitions.
Oooh, Mikael should enter her Arabians. Show that silly lady with the silly blog (that I never actually read but everyone was talking about it) what your "crazy" arabians are really made of.
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