Doodles and another EMM video

Wild Horse Adoption

April 25, 2009

Black Raven Stables

Arlington, WA

With Steve Holt! on hold, my focus has shifted to spiffing Sandy up a bit. We were to do a demo at a local Expo put on by the local dressage club, but Sandy has been laid off for so long that I'm not thinking it's going to work. Not that Darling hasn't been riding, but what I'm after is a bit more demanding. Plus he's needing his feet done and I'm not thinking I can get the farrier out quite that soon. So alas, a missed opportunity to show off some 'Stang talent. However, there is an Introduction to Cattle clinic coming up in another week; I'm thinking I'll steal Sandy away from Darling and use him. That's more his speed than the stuff I'd planned to show off at the Expo with Steve Holt!.


To help keep me occupied, along with playing a bit with Sandy again I've decided there's no better time than the present to start riding Dude...or Doodles, as I've begun to call him. There's something about his quietness that spooks me. I'm not sure what or why, but he's very watchful when I climb onto his back and since we know how high that little guy can kick up his heels, I'm just a bit on the watchful side as well! While Darling was riding Sandy yesterday afternoon, I saddled up Doodles and stepped up into the stirrup, first on the left, then the right, just to reacquaint him with the up and down motion of a rider. He was fine, so over his back my leg went. Again, fine.

This boy can flex and would make Clinton Anderson proud. Pick up the left rein and the nose comes straight back to your leg. Pick up the right and the same thing. Makes forward motion a bit trickier when their nostril is buried inside your boot, of course, but eventually we did manage to turn a couple of tight circles, and then a forward step or two finally took place. Five minutes of bending, 30 seconds of forward motion and that was it. Better to climb off once the positive connection has been made and live to ride another day than to press one's luck. Darling did get video but I'm not sure where her camera is at the moment and the darned kid went off to school (where is she when I need her??? What is so important about Algebraic equations, anyway?) But eventually it will make it here for you to see.

In the meantime, why not take a look at Jasmine Ison's finals ride on her gelding, Weston. Pretty horse, nice quiet ride and a lovely young trainer (just 18, if I recall!)

Boys Will Be Boys

You buy them new clothes and tell the to play nice...and what do they do?

Photos by Darling

Snort.
What are you lookin' at?

Next Year's Suit

Or at least that's what Darling is calling it. A big box came in the mail yesterday and inside were the two new blankets I'd ordered for Dude Lee and Sandy. They truly are not big enough to be wearing a 75", but since the 72" was just a bit snug I ordered these in hopes they wouldn't be swimmingly big on them. While I was away, Darling hauled her's out of the box and went to find her horse.

Steve Holt! and I had hauled down to Curt's for our mid week, lets get used to the commotion ride. Not a lesson on Wednesdays, just a hang out and ride afternoon. With all the racket of cutting horses and hydra bull, it's a good learning experience. Yesterday when I showed up, the arena looked different. Curt had drug it...there was no track down the center for the hydra bull to do its thing. I'd only just climbed into the saddle when Curt came along and shut the big arena door. Steve Holt! wasn't too sure what was going on, but I did...BUFFALO!

Today they would work the buffalo, and Steve Holt! would get to witness the action.

While Steve Holt! was mildly curious about that horned critter, he was not nervous in the least, and as Curt and Winona worked their horses, he stood with his head hanging, totally relaxed. We stuck around for about an hour, then headed back home. Driving up the road I got a crazy idea. Because of the action in the arena, I hadn't bothered to unsaddle Steve Holt! before leaving...so why not take him for a little trail ride?

I pulled into the tree farm parking lot and the two of us headed out. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it sure wasn't what I got. This was Steve Holt!'s first experience being ridden outdoors; aside from being able to hear him taking deep breaths in the crisp air, he was a vision of experienced trail horse with not so much as an ounce of tension. It was a lovely first outing.

All in all, ride 23 was pretty nice. Hard to fathom just 8 weeks ago he was completely wild. Harder still to think that we've only got 7 to go.

Company Comes A Callin'

"Sunny Siesta"

Normally I don't work a horse more than 5-6 days in a row. After all, even God rested on the seventh day, and like us, our horses can use a break to refresh. However...Steve Holt! did not get to rest on the seventh day.

We were to have visitors today, Tuesday, and so I rode him Sunday and was going to give him Monday off. But Sunday afternoon I received a call saying there'd been a change in plans, and could they come on Monday instead? Would that mess Steve Holt! up? Being the gracious guy he is, Steve Holt! welcomed his guests with kind eyes and willing attitude.

At first we just hung out in the round pen while his guests asked questions about his training so far, and just how wild is wild? And they took photos...lots and lots of photos. Steve Holt! was totally relaxed, dropping his head and searching for treats. He let me rub all over his face, leaning on me and loving all the attention. I then pulled out the halter, not sure what to expect, but aside from lifting it a bit higher than I'd like, he didn't pull his head away and to the uneducated onlooker there was nothing much out of place.

We left the round pen and walked over the bridge. I told them he'd stepped up and over it just as easily the first time I'd asked him to. We then walked into the lower pasture where the sheep were. This, I said, was his first venture out there. They followed, continuing to ask questions and photographing his every move. Then they photographed the sheep...because, after all, sheep are cute and hard to resist!

With their visit roughly an hour long, I asked, "Would you like to go to the arena and see him being ridden?" An enthusiastic yes was the answer, so we piled into the truck and up we went to the riding club. Although Steve Holt! has been loping for a couple weeks now in the arena, I opted not to do that this time for two reasons: First, it was really his day off, and second, I didn't think it'd be good to run over the reporter and photographer. But I did ask for a lot of bending, flexing, and slowing down at the trot. Steve Holt! seemed to know he was the star, dropping his head and moving slower than he ever has as he circled around his guests, looking very much like an old broke pony. This horse never ceases to amaze me. I gave him some extra treats for working overtime and today he's getting a well deserved day off.

"Do boot heels taste anything like apple treats?"

Upon returning home, Lynda, the reporter from the Seattle Times, looked out towards the round pen and asked if Darling was okay. I smiled. "Yeah...they're just taking a nap." Dude was taking his afternoon siesta and Darling was curled up with him. They make such a cute couple! While we'd been away, she put together a video of her day with him. Watch. Enjoy.

Last Year's Swim Suit

On Sunday Lady of Chaos came along with her husband and daughter, Kissy, to look at Jet. They decided they liked her (well...who wouldn't?) and left me with a down payment and a size 72 sheet for one of the geldings. Both Dude and Sandy were getting a wee but muddy from their mid day naps out in the wet clay and I was thrilled that LOC had an extra. Being as the sheet was blue, Darling immediately snagged it for her red pony.

"He looks like a woman in last year's swim suit!!"

"Come on, mom...do I have to wear this???"

Indeed, Dude Lee Do Right has not missed many meals, and Darling's observation was quite astute. The sheet was amply filled out, to say the least, and Dude didn't look too happy about squeezing into a size too small. His belly was bulging and his hiney was hanging out the back. This boy may not be overly tall, but he's making up for it in his tank-like physique. And so the sheet was removed and placed onto Sandy...where it became apparent that he, too, hasn't been late to the dinner table of late. Still, it was a better fit than Dude, so he's still got it on in an effort to help reduce dried clay on his long winter coat.

Dude is just about as happy with a saddle as he was his blanket!

I have Steve Holt! a couple of days off, which turned out to be a mistake. When I went out on Tuesday he was back to week one and didn't want me to catch him. He was easy enough to get the blanket off, but when it came time to put something around his neck or on his head, he began his mad dash around the pen in an effort to find a way out. Thankfully, this time I had all gates secure!

I stood in the center of his pen, keeping my back to him as he circled around, trying not to put any additional pressure on him. He was on high alert, though, and crashed from one end to the other, not caring if I was looking or not. After a few minutes I went for my long rope and tossed it across his back, which to his mind meant he was captured. From then on out it was business as usual.

What I should have done is spent at least one of those days doing nothing but haltering and unhaltering, and maybe taking him out to graze. I'm really struggling with this face thing of his. I've run my fingers up inside his mouth in search of teeth or sharp edges that might be interfering with his bit, but the bottom line is he's always had a thing about touching his head. This is the kind of horse who, if you didn't know he came from the wild like this, you'd suspect someone had been smacking him upside the head. Working with mustangs has sure changed how I look at domestic horses with issues...they're not always man made, even though we'd like to blame the former owner for behavior problems. Some horses just are super reactive or protective and it takes time to get over it. And some...well...some just never do. Hopefully this is something Steve Holt! will get over, because he's too dang tall to reach his head when he lifts it up.

Despite our head games, Steve Holt! is working under saddle well. I'm beginning to wonder, though, if his trot may not be part of my neck/shoulder/head pain as it increases with each slam of the hoof to the ground. It's odd, really, how a trot that looks so lofty and full of air can slam you so hard. Or perhaps it's just in my heightened state of pain that I notice it more?

Darling; Wild Horse Tamer

The day should have progressed as such:

Get up, feed horses and sheep. Have breakfast. Sneak in a quick ride on Sandy, head off to my massage. Feed horses in the evening, then haul Steve Holt! up to the riding club for an evening work out.

The day did not progress as such.

I received an email from my mom in AZ telling me that Grandpa Wayne had slipped on the ice and crawled to the lawn to get up. Grandma and Wayne's driveway is paved, you see, and Grandpa Wayne had not told Grandma he was heading out to get the mail. So she was unaware that anything was amiss until he made it back into the house...bleeding. He'd conked his elbow pretty good and there was a fair amount of blood.

Grandma, it seems, had been suffering from a bit of vertigo. Although if you ask her it may be something else. But whatever the official name, she'd been dizzy and not feeling well for the past few days and was unsure about driving him off to the ER. Since none of her kids was on hand to help get them to the hospital, I called her Monday morning to see if she'd like a ride.

Wayne's on a blood thinner and bleeds pretty easily, so Grandma was quite concerned about the amount of blood on her husband's bandage, but as it turned out they said it was pretty normal for that type of injury. They carted him off, however, for an X-ray to be sure he hadn't fractured it. His hip was bruised but would heal, they said. And as it turned out, his elbow wasn't damaged beyond the nasty looking scrape and bruising.

Sara, my massage therapist, was kind enough to move my appointment back a couple of hours and after dropping Grandma and Wayne back at their home, I was able to lay back and enjoy the pain as Sara rubbed about on all the knots and kinks in my back and neck. I actually fell asleep at one point. Hope I didn't snore!

Upon returning home Darling presented me with her day via you tube. Just think...three more years and she'll be old enough to do the Extreme Mustang Makeover!

Hello Down There!

Bits? I dun need no stinkin' bits!

Beautiful day for a ride, it was. Instead I hopped into my truck and drove south. A quick stop to visit with Curt to invite him along with me. "Where to?" I told him I was headed down to Black Raven to take a closer look at the facilities for an upcoming adoption, plus I wanted to talk to Ken a bit.

"Shoulda gone yesterday. His wife Dee Dee started a colt. Would've been good for you to watch."

Yes, it probably would have, but yesterday Darling and I were mounted up and on a ride at the Pilchuck Tree Farm. Three hours and an estimated 400 horses in attendance. Yeah...that is a lot of horses! The tree farm is huge, though, and I'd figured only 200. Only, lol... Well, both Jet and Sandy handled themselves really well for being such beginners and never having seen so many other horses at once. Jet got a little startled once when she rounded a switch back and realized 20 horses were following along behind. She'd thought it was just Sandy.

Anyway, that's why I'd missed day one of the Ken McNabb colt starting. And I didn't stick around this afternoon, either, just wanted to get a feel for the layout for the adoption and chat with Ken a few minutes about possibly helping us get our new US Wild Horse and Burro Association off the ground.

When I got home, the sun was still shining and I'd pretty much run out of emails and websites online to avoid what I knew I really ought to be doing. Working Dude. So out I went and saddled the boy up, working him a few minutes from the ground inside the round pen while Darling hopped up on Sandy and took her first bareback ride out in the pasture. Dude was laid back and not caring about anything else going on, so I began bouncing up and down in the stirrups, both from the left and right side.

"You gonna get on?"
"Maybe."
"I'll call Dad for you."

Gotta love cell phones. A couple minutes later City Boy was there at the end of the lead rope. He'd never been an anchor before for me, but as it turned out he did a pretty decent job. He stood at Dude's head waiting as I bounced up and swung my leg over, then climbed back down to the ground. Third time up and City Boy decided we needed to walk. We didn't go far, just five or six steps and I got off and unsaddled.

A completely uneventful first time, just the way I like it.

With Sandy on Hold...

...Jet has found herself under saddle a bit more frequently than she'd like.

This past week the sun has been out and it's been too pretty to just hang out at the round pen, so I've been saddling Jet up and heading up the trail. This was working well until I got it in my mind to travel to Ogallala one day.

Really, I had no clue where Ogallala might be until I mentioned it to others who were quite taken aback that I could ask such a thing. Seems I missed out on a lot by not watching Lonesome Dove...Be that as it may, the likelihood of actually making it 1450 miles to Nebraska (which, for those of you who are as clueless as me, is where Ogallala is...) was pretty slim. Jet wasn't really certain she wanted to go to Ogallala. Her nerves were getting the better of her, but she trudged along fairly well for the most part. Through big trees, tall ferns and even over a scary wood bridge.

But eventually she was done. And I mean done! We started up the face of the mountain (still in the trees) and as it became narrower, she became grouchier and touchier than she'd ever been. Upon finding a place with room to head back for home, she gladly threw her body around and raced down the hill at a break-neck trot. Had me worried, she did, as there was little reasoning with her once those nerves took over. I must admit I lost a bit of horsemanship with her that day and when we got to the bottom in one piece I decided to head her straight back up that hill, at least the lower level. She, however, had other ideas and a small battle ensued where she reared and I hung on, then turned her back again and encountered yet another protest. But she met with my heels and took off briskly up the lower portion of the hill, and this time when we turned around it was to walk down.

She was thankful for the hitching post we found down below as it offered her an opportunity to stand and catch her breath as I took her picture and answered my cell phone to chat with someone who's interested in adopting a horse. I must admit I nearly sold them Miss Alpo at that moment, but instead talked about Joe. When I climbed back on Jet, she was still edgy and nervous about our long ride in unfamiliar territory, which made for an interesting ride home.

The following day I opted to head up the old familiar trail, but again she decided to challenge me. This time there was nothing nervous in it, just a three year old tantrum at the top of a steep hill, which I so did not need. More loss of horsemanship skills as I behaved like I've not behaved with a horse since I was 12. I dismounted this time as we weren't in a location which offered me much choice; I gave her a good smack with the end of the reins and stomped up the rest of the hill of foot, fuming with each thud of the boots, and when I climbed back on board she was forced to put it into high gear straight away.

By the time we made it back down to the foot of the hill she and I were back on good terms. However, I noticed the next morning that she had some galling from the cinch which undoubtedly contributed to her cranky behavior the past two rides.

So now I've got two horses on bed rest. Sandy's eye is healing up, but his pupil is still quite dilated which makes it impossible to head out on these sunny days. I've had him out on a couple of short (very short) evening jaunts of five or ten minutes just so he can start tuning up again for when he's ready. Jet will have to wait until I can afford a sheepskin cinch, as both the string cinch and felt have irritated her sensitive skin.

Hey, Dude...wanna go for a ride?

Ol' Broke Pony

For the past couple of months Dude has been on stand by as I've headed up into the hills with Jet or Sandy. He's stood in his paddock as I've pulled out other mustangs and halter broken them for their new owners. And he waited around while Darling and I went to the fair without him. In that time he's gone from being unsure about people getting into his personal space to what we like to call a pocket pony. He follows around like a big pest and you need to watch your toes or you may find him standing on them in an effort to get your attention. Dude is a people horse.

With the fair over and the excess horses moving out, it's time for me to shift my attention to Dude's training so that he'll be ready in the spring for Darling to begin riding. On Monday I drug my trusty rope out into the round pen with him, did a bit of lunging and then wrapped the rope around his belly to see what he thought about the pressure.

Dude...no problemo!

The pressure didn't bother him. He let me reach my arm under his belly without getting at all goosey about it and wasn't bothered by the feel of the rope cinching up. The saddle pad slipped up without any issue. So out came the old, beat up, made in Mexico saddle that has taken a licking and kept on ticking.

Up and down, up and down, I tossed it over his back. Three times, then leading him around while I carried it in my arms. Then three times more, and back to leading. Never up there long enough for him to think about it. At first he thought me a bit looney to be putting that up there, but by the third set of up and downs, he was no longer caring, so I led him in a small circle. No cinch to hold it in place, just the weight of something up there.

Dude, you gotta be kidding me! Piece of cake, man!

The following morning (without my camera girl present) I once again tossed the saddle onto Dude's back. This time I added the cinch, and other than a few unsure steps backwards as I began to tighten it, he didn't offer up any objections. I lunged him at a walk and trot both directions, and the feel of the girth beneath his belly didn't appear to give him any grief. At this rate it won't be long before this little guy's an old broke pony!

Who's Who's Horse?

Otterkat left a comment recently about being confuddled around here regarding who's horse was who's. As in, at one time Darling and I talked about trading Firecracker for Jet, and Jet would belong to Darling. Otterkat also recalled that it was Darling who'd decided that Quiet Storm was too small and she needed a taller horse.

Congratulations, Otter, for paying attention! Gold star to you, girl!

Quiet Storm learns to carry a bit

Yes, Darling had decided to pass QS along, but it was impulse shopping while in Burns that spurred her into that decision. For a solid month afterwards she moped and cried about selling her best friend. She'd break out in tears walking through the mall and climb out of bed in the mornings and come sit in my lap and shed more tears. I had a lot of wet shoulders. That little horse meant a lot to her, and they were best friends. She hadn't known that QS was going to be at the adoption, I'd not told her in advance. Perhaps I should have, just to get her heart prepared.

Thing is...I'm finding my heart being wrenched around now, too, since she's come back into our lives. There's something terribly special about that little horse and I'm struggling just as much as Darling.

Darling's boy, Dude Lee Doright

As for Jet...Darling enjoys her immensely, especially now that she's able to be ridden a bit more, but a few days after the 'trade' she said she didn't really know if it's what she wanted to do. Then she picked out Dude while we were in Pasco last month, so that is her true horse.

City Boy enjoys Jet, too, and has staked a claim. Of course, we told him it was his horse when we drove into the driveway with her last year. What a super gift, eh? Not all wives and daughters would have been so considerate! So of course she belongs to him...he's just gracious enough to let me ride.

Jet Storm

Will Work For Treats

Put a piece of chocolate in front of me and I'll do just about anything you want. Within reason, of course.

Firecracker, it would seem, has the same set of standards I do, although not for chocolate. No, FC, the ever elusive Kiger, loves packer pellets. So much so that she now stands at the gate when she sees me coming.

With dry days and Sandy's training load now lighter, I've got time to work all five horses, and Firecracker was disappointed to be in the line up. That is until she discovered apple flavored treats. We don't really do a whole lot when it comes to a work load; she gets haltered and handled and led, then turned loose again. Just the wee little things to help build trust. A few days ago she went for her first walk outside. We crossed the creek and walked through the field behind us, then she was turned out for about 20 minutes down with the sheep. Long rope dragging behind, naturally, so catching was made easier. And that would be class for Firecracker, complete with treats. Don't you wish school had been that simple when you were a kid?

Meanwhile, back in the paddock, Cricket is now sporting a halter. It wasn't easy; I had to use my trusty, long rope to get it on as he's still not sure I ought to touch his face. He doesn't mind his neck, shoulders and chest, but the face is different. Still, he's not inclined to panic and bolt, which is nice.

Most of my energy last week had gone into Cricket and getting him used to me being in his space. With the halter in place, Darling instructed me to, "Start working with my horse." Her horse? Not yet, not officially, but is sure is looking like she and Dude are going to be a pair. Dude is a bit more interested in things around him than Cricket, but he's a bit on the shy side as well. I tossed the rope over his neck and let him get used to it dangling around his legs. He wasn't fond of the feel at first, but settled right down.

Sunday found me working on getting a lead rope on Dude's halter. I used the long rope and managed to fashion one of my oh~so~stylish halters out of it (like I did with FC back in Feb) over the top of the web halter he had on. That gave me a bit more control over his body and eventually he settled down enough for me to slip my hand and the lead rope up to the halter ring.

Later in the day, both Dude and Cricket learned to lead. Dude was simple, just getting him to turn had him moving all four feet and figuring out what was being asked. Cricket, on the other hand, I'm certain knew what was being asked but refused to cooperate. He decided to plant those back feet and nothing was going to budge him. He stretched like Gumby with those front legs, but the hind end never saw forward motion. So out came my handy garden rake of encouragement. With a few taps on the hind end, Cricket decided forward motion was better than no motion, and while it wasn't pretty we did managed to take a few forward steps.

When the evening was through I brought a handful of treats into the paddock. Sandy is housed in the first stall and mauled me as I walked to the new boys. Dude was quite interested in what Sandy was getting and put his nose on my hand and took a good sniff. He seemed not to know how to eat the solid treat, so I stuffed it between his lips and eventually he let it between his teeth. Sure was funny to watch him chomping it down and curling his lip! But he liked it well enough to try a second. Cricket didn't take nearly as much encouragement to try his treat.

I suspect by the end of this week I'll have a whole herd of horses willing to work for treats! At least, that's the plan...

Cricket, Dude, and a busy day!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have several horses you need to work in one day? I know I've wondered what it would be like, and now I know...it's time consuming!

This morning began with Cricket and Dude. Cricket is halterless, and since I may have an adopter for him (yes, already!) I really want to concentrate on gentling him down. Yesterday I brought my rope out and began tossing it over his back and letting it dangle down on his legs. He didn't mind, so I got it up around his neck and gradually worked myself into a position where I could also loop it over his nose, just like I had with Firecracker, and fashioned a halter.

Although having it touch his head wasn't an issue, he didn't quite get the whole giving to pressure and turning, so after a few tries I gave up on that. He never panicked, but he was obviously frustrated and not figuring it out. Today I left the rope hanging and brought in a long alder sapling with which to rub and scratch his body with. At first he wasn't sure about it, but after 10 minutes he was letting me stand an arms reach from him and was thoroughly enjoying being rubbed under his neck and on his chest. One small step and I'd be able to reach him with my hand...should I try?

Cricket is a sweet boy!

I tried, got my hand on him and walked away quickly and quietly before he had an opportunity to react.

Later in the day I went back and this time I asked for more. A brief touch, then a little rub, but he made me reach out with the sapling first. I'd scratch with the alder, then rub with my hand, then step away and approach again. And it wasn't long before he was enjoying my hand rubbing under his mane and down on his chest. He let me step away and approach without first touching him with the little tree and even began to wiggle his lip and reach towards me. Tomorrow I'll work at getting my hands on his face so that hopefully the halter can be put on and off by the end of the week.

Dude is another story. He's curious, but nervous about things touching him. The rope brought an immediate reaction as he darted out from under it with a snort. He didn't like it bouncing on his body or over his tail. He actually reminds me of Jet, but with less confidence. She also doesn't like things like the rope (or my hands) touching her body, but she's very curious about things and approached us right away. Dude is also curious, but the only one he's approached and sniffed at this point is Darling.

Dude wants to be loved, but is a bit shy.

Since I had the alder in with Cricket, I also used it with Dude. Again, he jumped and shot out from under it, but eventually he came to realize it wouldn't bite as it rested on his back. I tried to rub it on his chest and neck, but he'd have none of that. He seems to by hypersensitive when it comes to touch, but he still perks up his ears and is inquisitive when he sees me.

Sandy has found his snort. Evidently it's been here waiting for him at Carpenter Creek. Darling and I walked down to the sheep and led Sandy along with us. We crossed the creek and Sandy snorted, then splashed and checked to see if there was a bottom before crossing. I rode him yesterday in the round pen, then a little later I used Firecracker as a cow and made him move her around the field a bit.

Jet was ridden today; it was the first time she's been in a snaffle bit and she did great! We even trotted a little, something she was reluctant to do last summer as she thought maybe I'd fall off. I must say I've gained a lot of confidence after spending the last three months with Sandy and the other green horses at Curt's place, and today on Jet things just fell into place.

Firecracker also found herself trotting in circles as I worked her from the ground in the round pen. I need to get her where she's easier to catch and halter. Her one big advancement today was taking a treat from my fingers! Sounds so simple, doesn't it? And yet she hates to let her lips touch my skin. I fed her those packer pellet treats, though, so it was like offering a carrot and she was careful to hold her lips back and take the treat gingerly in her teeth. The one time her lips brushed my fingers she jumped back like she's just received and electric shock!

And that was my day. That, and being eaten by mosquitos.