Monday, January 5, 2009

Someone Make It STOP...

No sooner am I thinking maybe, just maybe we're heading out of the storm, than it blows back in. Darling had a friend come over and spend the night this weekend. When I left the house to bring her home, it had just begun to snow. 15 minutes later when I returned, the ground was white...again...

The roads were, in my estimation, a bit too icy to travel this weekend so Steve Holt! and I stayed home. On Saturday I led him to the round pen and it was, as I'd suspected, hard packed and slick. As such, I didn't spend anytime warming him up. Being brilliant like that, I then decided to go ahead and climb on his back. Now tell me, does this make sense to you? Too slick to lunge, but not to slick to climb on? Some days my thought process amazes even me. However, up and down I went, three times, and on the third time I asked him to walk once around. Because he has no whoa, we made an extra lap before coming to a stop. That was good enough, I decided, as neither one of us appeared to be real comfortable on slick footing. Not to mention, I need to get that whoa button working.

Sunday's training was nothing more than going for a walk. We went behind the barn and crossed the creek for the first time...running water a foot deep is not an issue, happily. We walked through the neighbor's field and out to the road where he was mildly on edge, but whether it was the new place, sights, sounds or just the howling wind, I did not know. I led him 20 feet down the road, then back into the snow packed field which hadn't had any horses, people or even dogs in it since the snow began. It was just white, crisp and deep. Steve Holt! decided it was perfect for a snow bath and dropped down to roll. First one side, getting up to shake, then a moment later the other side. This time shaking took all four feet into the air and he lept sideways, finding himself at the end of his rope. He threw me a dirty look and tried again to jump and play, but again found himself with a mother not allowing any fun. He's a good boy, and minded his manners as we finished walking home.

Darling and I walked down to the neighbor's arena both days so that she could ride Sandy. Snow melt has made a mess in there, so only half is usable. Half is enough, though, to learn to lope. The lighting is poor, as always in this particular arena, but you can see a happy girl on 'her' mustang. The wind was blowing and the arena door was slapping around; you can see Sandy spook at one point but Darling just sat and rode through it. I was very pleased with them both; she kept him relaxed and he decided there really wasn't much to get upset over.



8 comments:

froglander said...

Good boy Sandy :) Looks like you guys had a good time. I will cross my fingers for you that the snow melts fast! I am house-sitting in west Mount Vernon this week and it's soggy, but no snow so hopefully the warmer weather will work its way up to you.

Rising Rainbow said...

Our snow turned to rain around midnight. I hope that yours did the same. I am just as sick of this white stuff as you, believe me.

It's a good thing Darling has a white helmet so I could keep track of her in that video. She and Sandy are becoming a great team.

stormyranch said...

Oh Boy! It looks like your in for quite a rain storm tomorrow. I hope you survive that. Do you live by running streams? I hope it doesn't flood to bad up there!

Tracey said...

Kristi, thank you for the crossed fingers...it worked!

MiKael, did you get a thaw there? And yeah, that's a dark arena. Can barely find our way around it, lol...

Lisa, we didn't get any rain, but to be honest I'm hoping we do so that Curt's parking lot clears up and I can go down for a lesson or two. Yes, we do live on a creek, but it's not one prone to flooding, thankfully. Makes an awesome training tool, though!

Rising Rainbow said...

Tracey, well, I guess you could call it a thaw but there is still some snow here. It is taking its own sweet time going away.

The arena I used to ride in was that kind of dark but it sure beat no arena at all.

Cave BlackFyre said...

WOW, I missed a lot in the past 12 days Tracey! SH! is really making wonderful progress!

AND.... drum roll... I now have a camera of my own that is a GOOD one plus takes incredible video... SO.... I need to come shoot some footage of you and SH! soon!

PS, sorry, I still love this white stuff, lolol

Anonymous said...

It has been so fun to catch up on your blog. The progress you are making with your pony is inspiring. I think it's great that you can throw the lead rope over his shoulder to trailer him. Big Step.

Shirley said...

Darling sure looks at home on Sandy. She has a wonderful seat.