Lucy, the Bull, and Beamer's Blue Moon

Lucy's fourth time working the HydraBull.  She's coming along pretty nicely, so the Cowboy stepped it up a notch here.  Lucy wasn't terribly sure about it being so close, but all in all handled it pretty well.  She's definitely got the moves.  I'm not sure how long Lucy will be with me, but for now I'm really enjoying her.  At some point over the summer, once she's fattened up a bit and has some more training miles on her, she'll be up for sale (keep that in mind all you roan mustang lovers!)

A few years ago some of you may recall Darling competing in the Youth and Yearling program, where you take a wild mustang yearling and gentle it for an in hand competition.  One of those yearlings was a bay filly she named Beamer's Blue Moon (she wonders now why she called a bay horse blue?)  She's pictured here with Tika, who was more than happy to play mamma to this sweet little girl.

Beamer has recently come back into our lives, as her owner was unable to keep her any longer.  She's now four years old and lightly started under saddle.  This spunky little mare is testing her boundaries just a little, but deep down she's still the same sweetie who was here before.  She's a tiny little sprite, only 13.2 or 13.3, but this girl packs a powerful punch!  From Murderer's Creek, she's got a lot of athletic ability.  She can stop and turn well enough to make you think you've got a cowhorse on your hands.

Yesterday a friend asked if I wanted to go for a nice trail ride, and with Oz and Lucy at the Cowboy's, Beamer was the only one at my disposal.  Well...sure, why not?  Most of our rides were only 20 minutes in length, and always in the arena (flat, easy footing.)  And over the past 2 weeks, I've spent far more time with my other three projects than with the little bay, so I wasn't sure if she'd be up for much.  I needn't have been concerned.  A 40 minute climb up the hill had her no more out of breath than a 20 minute arena workout.  Sweating, yes, but no huffing and puffing.  And her feet are amazing!  Barefoot over rocks without so much as a short step.

Beamer and Tika seemed to take back up right where they left off.  Flirt wasn't so sure she wanted a BAY colored horse on the place, so she was a bit aggressive with the new girl when she first arrived.  After having them separate for a couple of weeks, though, I turned them all back out together and Flirt found that just because she's 4" taller doesn't mean she's boss.  Beamer pinned her ears and snaked after my red dun baby, showing some teeth and making it known that she wasn't to be pushed around.

Now that order has come to the trio, they frolic and play and race around like wild ponies should.  Beamer won't be with us for long.  Like Lucy, she'll get some saddle time, some manners, and then be available for sale to someone who'll appreciate our little bay dynamo!

A Good Day in the Saddle

Twas a fabulous day of riding for this Desperate Horsewife!  But before I tell you about it, I need to introduce you to someone.

Meet Lucy.  She's a four year old strawberry roan mare from Warm Springs HMA.  For those of you who've been around here awhile, you'll remember Jet, the tall black mare that we had; she was also from Warm Springs.  

I first met Lucy when she was a two year old at the Wild Horse Corrals in Oregon.  She was a very striking young mare who'd foaled out a very cute red dun filly.  Yes, two years old and having babies...such is life in the world of wild!  Lucy would stay at the corrals until spring of her three year old year, when she was adopted by a gal in Southern Oregon.

Last fall, Lucy's adopter decided that the mare didn't quite meet her needs, and she started looking for a new home.  She asked if I would take Lucy here.  I'd just committed to taking Flirt, but...well...okay.  Twist my arm!  Besides, a friend of mine had really liked Lucy at the corrals and she was thinking it may be that Lucy would make her a nice trail horse.

Flash forward, and my friend has had rotator cuff surgery and isn't sure she can ride anything other than a dead broke horse right now.  She asked if I'd take Lucy for a couple of weeks for a refresher course (Lucy had been ridden out on the trails before being sent up to us.)  Of course I was more than happy to do that for my friend.  

Sometimes life surprises us.  Lucy is one of those surprises.  She's got just enough 'feel good' in her to not really make her suitable for plunking down a trail without a care...at least not right now.  What she has got, bless her long backed soul, is a solid, get your butt underneath you stop and a pretty decent turn around.  And you know what that means, don't you???

I brought Lucy down to the Cowboy's so he could meet her.  I asked if he'd take a look and tell me what he thought.  I think he didn't think much, but he humored me.  "Take her home and ride her, get her a little better broke.  You need to have a little better control of her rib cage before we try to work you."

Okay.  I can do that.  And we did.  We worked 5 out of 6 days, stopping, backing, turning.  I'd do leg yields around the round pen, stopping and turning and going the other way.  Always in my mind was 'keep her eye on the cow', a phrase I'd heard often enough while working Kitty.  I pretended the round pen rail was the cow and kept Lucy's body supple and her nose toward our imaginary adversary.

This morning I hauled Lucy back to the Cowboy's arena.  I saddled and warmed her up.  He'd gone into the house, and I figured he didn't think we'd be ready to work.  But I was.  And so was Lucy.  Or at least I hoped so!  I tied up her reins on the saddle horn, leaving her in the arena while I went and knocked on the door.  I was back in the saddle by the time he reached the arena.

Lucy and I began by doing some dry work along the wall, trotting down the rail, stopping, 'loading up' (which is what we call rocking back over the hocks), and turning.  The Cowboy gave pointers, calling to me to 'get her ribcage', and after a few turns, he asked if I wanted to work the bull.  

Hello?  YES!!!

And we did.  Lucy was a gem.  She didn't really know that she was supposed to read the bull and do it on her own; none of them really does to start.  But she tracked it well, keeping up with it, stopping and turning and moving that rib cage.  When we were done, the Cowboy was wearing a smile.

"That surprise you a bit?"

I paused, then replied, "A little."

"A little?  Surprised me a whole lot!"  His smile was genuine as he climbed out of his bull.  "I didn't expect that.  You did a good job."  And when he left the arena, the Cowboy wasn't the only one wearing a smile.

Cascade Horse Fair

Do you recognize him? How about the horse?

This would be Ken McNabb and his horse, Stormy. Ken is a friend of Curt...and Stormy was purchased from Curt. Ken will be here at the Cascade Horse Fair in October. So will Curt. I'm not so sure about Stormy.

It's count down time, to be sure. October 29-30 at the Northwest WA Fairgrounds in Lynden, WA is where the event is being hosted, same as last year. Vendors, demonstrations, clinicians. And, of course...the famous HydraBull cutting competition!

This is the second year we'll be doing our Rail to Trail event, where horses compete in Ranch Horse Pleasure, Trail and Reining. Top ten advance to the free style where anything (well...nearly) goes!

It's gonna be a lot of fun. But I need your help in spreading the word! We'll be having drawings for free bags of grain all weekend along with many other goodies and treats for both spectators and competitors. Help me out! Share this post either in your blog or on facebook, and I'll put you in the drawing for an 8x10 photo of 'The Old Man'! Drawing to be held on Thursday...so post and let me know so I can get your name in the drawing!

Giving Lip and Lotsa Bull

About a week ago, friend McDebbie delivered a couple of horses here for Darling and I to start working. One of these was Primera, that adorable filly we had with us at the fair this past summer. Primera had only been saddled up once or twice since that time, so it was almost like starting over...but of course since it wasn't a huge issue the first time, it wasn't anything to write home about this time, either. We're looking forward to seeing how this girl progresses!

Meanwhile, down at Curt's, Tika has decided to start giving a little lip in objection to being tied and left to stand at the rail. This is not her favorite exercise, but certainly one she needs to figure out.

Of course, considering the happenings and goings on, she did quite well to only stand and make faces. Out behind the arena the tractor was busy loading manure from the compost bin into the dump truck, and inside the arena, raging back and forth directly behind her, was the bull.

Given all the extra noise and distraction, I opted not to climb aboard. Good enough just to stand and absorb all that was happening. She's a lovely observer, isn't she?

Tika's Training Update

Tika had been working well in the round pen. I always began the same way...lunging, followed by a bit of ground driving. On this particular afternoon, we'd done our round pen work in the morning and I decided that it wouldn't hurt to go to the arena for a bit more work.

Silly me...first time in ground driving in this arena, and I didn't follow my same pattern, but started straight off with driving. Didn't work so well.

After a bit of head tossing and uncertainty, I went back to the basics, which I ought to have done to begin with. Lunging without a wall to hold her together, Tika can still get a little jittery, but she's got such a good mind in terms of really trying to understand what's being asked of her. Once the jitters were worked out, we went back to driving.

She still struggles with turns to the right; it's always been her difficult side. Her head shakes a bit more when asked to turn that direction, as you can see. I've found another hole that happens mostly on the right side as well. She doesn't want to be led from that side, especially if it requires being between the wall and a person. I'm not certain Curt will attempt to lead her; he's more of a lunging kind of guy, but I'll be working on her claustrophobic issue over the next couple of days anyway. No reason not to work out any potential kinks, eh?

Yesterday after working Tika in the round pen, we went to the arena and watched part of a lesson. This was Tika's first time seeing the bull in action. The rumbling and movement startled her at first and she took a small jump back, but after that? Well, she was tense, yes, and her eyes were larger than their normal largeness, with white showing around the edges. She pushed me with her muzzle a couple of times, never taking her eyes off the bull, looking for reassurance. I'm so glad she's down there where she can see that in action and get used. Someday, it will be her and I going nose to nose with the hydrabull!

What's That Bright Thing In the Sky?

It's been such a wet, dark and dreary spring that I'd almost forgotten what sunshine looked like. There is a saying here in the northwest that summer doesn't begin until the fifth of July. Looks like this year, it's the sixth, as temps move from the 50's to the 80's almost overnight!

I gotta share this with you...Cowgirl Candy! She's one of the Cascade Horse Fair sponsors. Cute stuff and loads of bling...like this headstall!

Okay, so I'm down at the cutting a couple weekends ago and Curt says, "We got an idea for your event."

"Great," I say...full of curiosity.

"How about a Hydra Bull cutting? We'll have a novice class, and an open class. Get a few bulls there, they draw their driver and cut their bull from the 'herd', just like a real cutting."

Got a mental image of this? I'm so in...

Mah Baby's Got Cow!

Just another day in a dusty arena...chasing some fiberglass bull back and forth in the dark!

Thanks to Darling, who is finally out of school, I was able to get some still shots of Sandy as he dropped himself down to get after the cow. I know...y'all are looking and going, "Huh?", but to me? It's nearly pee your pants exciting. (I know...dork. Yes, I am.)

The End...

Six Boring Minutes

Pony Girl requested a video of me riding the big red mare. Yesterday I was down for a lesson and since there was a bit of time on the camera before the battery ran out of juice, I did just that.

On Tuesday when I went down to ride her, she was pretty excited. Moreso than she'd been the past couple of rides, and since time was limited for me I simply walked and stopped and walked and stopped. Okay...so I threw in a little jog in a figure 8, but since she immediately went to crow hopping and wanting to lope, it was back to the walk.

I wasn't sure what to expect from her yesterday, but since there weren't horses tied to the wall waiting their turn at the bull (which had been running outdoors the previous ride), she was a much quieter horse.

So I give you six and a half minutes of boredom. Wasn't boring while I was on, but if you can make it through this without falling asleep, then kudos to you! I did keep in a little bit of her pulling and pushing so you can see us working at simply standing and relaxing. Take note of how massive this mare is when she's coming toward the camera...I swear my hips hurt when I sit on her! And maybe I ought to have dropped the stirrups on Curt's saddle before riding? May have felt a little better!

Of course, I have to share Sandy's latest accomplishments, too! We picked the pace back up a bit, so I'm needing to get him to think about stopping a bit faster at his ends, but that stuff in the middle? When he's nose to nose with the hydra bull? That's my boy! Far more exciting than the big red mare...

Crazy Weather

If you live in the northwest, you're undoubtedly wondering what the heck is going on with this weather! Beautiful and sunny one moment, hailing golf balls the next, snow falling on the hills and rainbows forming during showers. And then there's the wind...

The view from my computer

This does not stop the activity here, however! Wishing I'd had my video camera with me the other day when Tika was showing off to a couple of Arabs at the riding club. She was snorting and blowing and absolutely floating...or was it flying?...around the round pen! This girl is a total Diva.

Red is now allowing me to touch the right side of his body. He's not thrilled about it, but no longer trying to drag me through the mud (which he doesn't do, because I'm a wimp and let go of the rope before getting that mudnure facial.) I was even able to let fingers slip up to his poll and onto his cheeks. And he sniffed me...of course on accident. He would never admit to actually moving his nose over to my arm on purpose.

Sandy and I have been working on our cutting skills on a regular basis, and I'm seeing the fruits of our labor beginning to bud. Would like to see his head down a bit lower...cutters like low heads. But will we ever make it to a show? Probably not. So I'll take what I can get on this boy, learn all I can, and maybe by summer Tika will be ready???

Curt got the better of me when he turned the bull around the opposite direction. I thought we were done! Way to confuse me...so easily done. I'm going to have to keep a sharper eye on that sneaky devil...

Someone Please Pass the Velcro

Back in the day...you, know, when I was younger...I had a velcro butt. And that was before Velcro was even born. Or super glue, for that matter. I stuck like glue onto the back of a horse. Even went sailing over 3' plus jumps out in the trees (I knew they were, because I measured so I could have bragging rights!) But now? Today? Oh dear...where did that seat of mine go?

I am, however, determined to get it back, so after a brief ride in the arena, Sandy and I pulled off the saddle and headed for the round pen where I learned once again how to balance on a horse. Darling was, of course, on hand to offer all sorts of remarks on my skills...and she didn't hold anything back, either! "Gee, you look like Mommy Long Legs" she said with a giggle. And then went on with her instructive criticism, which I'd share with you except as a mother it is my duty to tune out my children, and I did just that. So I really have no clue what she said...shhh...don't tell her!

Along with bareback shenanigans, Sandy and I are back down at Curt's where we're continuing our lessons on the bull. Curt loaned me a new bit; a short shank, twisted wire with a dog bone in the middle doosie and I have no clue what it's called, but it worked really well. He'd been blowing past his stop at the end, but this bit gave just enough leverage and our ends looked much better. Once he had the stop down, his turns got prettier, too!

Hydra Bull!

Just a short clip of our last lesson chasing that danged ol' bull around!

Darling & I are headed east of the Cascades for the weekend. If you live near Spokane, stop in at Valley Mission Park in Spokane on Sunday for Mustang Days! No...neither Sandy or Steve Holt! will be there, but I'll be judging the show and Darling will be, undoubtedly, bored to tears (unless someone comes and asks her for her autograph, that is!)

We had a lovely, if somewhat damp, ride yesterday with Paint & Pony. Got some video and I'll try to get that up for you once we return home. For now, have a great weekend, and don't forget to pop on over to Mustang U! Nearly 1000 visitors since we started blogging 2 1/2 weeks ago, thanks to all of you! And the filly has a new name, so you surely will want to go find out what it is!

Later, gators!

Steve Holt! vs. Hydra Bull!

Bull Session!

Hey, baby, what's your number?

Have we talked freeze brands before? Each mustang, once they're gathered, has a freezebrand placed on the left side of their neck to help identify them. The first symbol is that of the breed registry, which in this case is the US government. The next two symbols are stacked on top of each other and give the horse's age. In Steve Holt!'s case, this number is incorrect; he should be listed as born in '06, but his two year teeth weren't coming in and due to his size, he got labeled a year older. We now know that he's roughly 2 1/2 to 3, or an 'o6 model. The next two symbols identify which state he's from, and the last four correlate with the neck tag he wore while at the corrals. Those last six, the state and his neck tag, are his own personal numbers that won't be duplicated.

Earlier this week Steve Holt! made a trip to the vet for his health certificate and his brand needed to be recorded, so the vet hauled out the clippers and shaved his neck. He stood so nice! His numbers are nice and bright and pretty, don't you think?

While we were there, Steve Holt! also had a chiropractic session. I've never had one done on a horse and wasn't sure if this would help him or not, but since he's struggling so much with the cross overs and lateral movement to the left, I felt I needed to give it a try. Dr. Johnson got some movement in his atlas as well as down near his withers and again in the rib cage on the right side. Steve Holt! was quite sensitive to the pressure being applied in the loin area on his left side and we never did get far as he refused to stay put. Whether there's something there that's the root of our problem we do not know.

Our visit was Tuesday, Steve Holt!'s typical day off, and she instructed me not to ride that day and to be aware of any issues with soreness in the coming days. I hauled down to Curt's Weds afternoon, knowing it would be an easy ride with all the others there working the bull. I figured a few laps around, working at keeping our speed a bit slower and more consistent would be the extent of it. Curt was pleased with the progress, saying we were looking much better than we had on our last visit.

Steve Holt! and I hung out in a corner while Curt worked a couple of the customers on the bull. He moves the bull up and down his 'track', a smoothed out area in the center of the arena, while one horse is on one side and the other horse on the other side of him. He's sort of alike a hydra bull sandwich! The horses get a short workout, a breather while he works another horse (or two), and then they go back for a few more minutes. As the first two horses walked away, Curt turned off the bull but sat there and talked to a couple other folks. I saw my opportunity and walked quietly over and pointed Steve Holt!'s nose towards the bull. Curt looked up and smiled.

"Wanna work it?"

Hello...what do you think? Of course I want to work it! Am I not always pleading and begging? You don't need to ask me twice!

"Yes."

He turned back to one of his customers and resumed his conversation. We stood waiting.

"Well? You wanna work it?"

Okay, so evidently Curt felt the need to ask twice.

"Um...yes."

Curt looked to the others in the arena, saying, "This could be one helluva wreck, so you'd better move back," and he started up the bull.

Wreck??? I hardly think so! We had a blast! Steve Holt! had no clue what we were supposed to be doing, and I let him get a bit long (ahead of the bull) a couple of times, but he did a good job and got a lot of smiles from the onlookers as we trotted back and forth. Steve Holt! is so easy to bend around my leg that it wasn't at all difficult to keep his nose tipped towards the bull. I don't know if he had as much fun as everyone else did, but we're going to go back and do it again!

Heartbreak...

Poor Quiet Storm just can't catch a break. About a month ago I received a call from her new owner, sobbing, in tears, telling me she'd have to give up the mustangs. She'd just been through heart surgery and the bills were coming in. I asked if I could buy her a couple months time, would that help? Yes...she said.

And so the word went out, and a few extra bales brought in. And she was overjoyed. But she's still struggling to get things straightened out with the hospital, trying to get a payment plan that will work, and tonight I heard from her daughter saying that her mom had decided she just can't take any more charity and has decided she needs to give the horses up.

Which means that our dear little girl is again in need of a home. If anyone here is in the northwest and would like more information on this now 4 year old sweet as can be little mare please let me know.

Also available is Mist (Firecracker). For those of you who've not been at the Diaries for long, she's a 5 year old Kiger mare. Debbie has been on her, although I don't know how many rides.

Should anyone want to help contribute to their care until we can rehome them, I'd be much obliged! You can paypal mustangdiaries@gmail.com where an account has been set up especially for them.

*************

Yesterday Lynda the reporter and Alan the photographer were back. We met them at Curt's place so they could watch while I took a lesson, plus Jay had promised to meet us there to give Steve Holt! his first trim. Darling had her camera, but when I asked if she got video of Steve Holt!'s ride, she said..."Um...No." What?! Sigh...what will I do with that kid?

Curt had offered to let Lynda ride one of the cutting horses, and Darling did get that recorded. She also got Steve Holt! being introduced to a pedicure.

What's the Rush?

I was talking to another trainer recently when she commented on how she's afraid some horses are missing a lot of the basics. We'd both read this comment last year on a non-mustang blog...that is to say, she didn't read any of the mustang blogs to the best of our knowledge. And we assured her that in 90 days time you can teach a horse a whole lot of basics...and then some.

But it appears with each new round of competitions, the trainers are on earlier and earlier...and they've got their eyes set on the prize.

Something Jay said to me while leading me about on Sandy...one of those sweet little pony rides a mere couple weeks before the competition in Sacramento...is that there was no reason to rush with this horse. He wasn't headed to a futurity. His future did not depend on the win. His future depended on getting all the right building blocks in place so that he could one day pack a kid around on his back, and do it safely.

No one but God knew just how that one would play out...none of us thought there'd be a kid trotting about practicing her "Look, ma, no hands" routine before the end of the year was out. Not with the personality Sandy handed us during those first few months. But once he realized none of it was a threat, those building blocks were rock solid.

Jays words are still at the forefront of my mind. Steve Holt! is nowhere near as far along as some of the horses out there. Heck...some are doing flying changes already! And they may very well have all those basics into place by the time they get to Albany. Steve Holt! isn't ready to do flying changes. He's barely ready to do simple ones. But as slow as we look compared to many, I know I'm laying that foundation. My goal is to have a steady, solid horse, both physically and mentally. Sandy was a great teacher of 'wait and see'.

Here's a quick clip of Steve Holt!'s recent ride and first arena lope down with Curt, followed by a clip of a customer working her horse on the Hydra Bull:

Steve Holt!, week 6

Steve Holt! had a lovely week. We spent a lot of time going over the things we've already learned. A lot of in hand work, more round pen work, and some big arena time. Our whoa is coming together. Not stop on a dime yet...no where near that. But he's changing gears when he hears the word. Now we just need to work on getting the actual stop rather than a slow down. I did find that he's got a stop button, however. While he's walking along, if I reach back and pat his rump, he immediately believes it's time to whoa. Kinda funny. Maybe I can work that into his freestyle... Look! If you fall off backwards over his butt, he'll stop! Yeah...I can see it all now...

Here's how our week shaped up:

1) The whoa is progressing. He's understanding that it means come to a stop, but he's not aware of just how quickly that stop should be there.

2) He's grasping the concept of backing while I'm on him.

3) Steve Holt! is responding nicely to my request for small circles.

4) He's beginning to realize that legs mean something other than go, as I can move him either away from the rail, or back to it, with a little added leg pressure.

5) We hauled to a new arena where there were a lot of horses moving around us. He was a bit excited at first, but settled down and got to work.

6) We've been riding in the big arena. He's listening well enough to trot circles. Because the riding club arena is 160x180, it's a bit large for me to have felt comfortable breaking into a lope until he gets a bit more power steering...or until someone is on the end of a lungeline to help him with the whole circle concept. Or until we've loped in a smaller arena.

7) He's no longer kicking up his heels when asked to lope in the round pen. He does, however, pin his ears and try to cut across the center rather than just pick it up nicely at the rail.

8) We went for a lesson again yesterday. It was ride 14. We loped! Not that loping alone is big (well, of course it is, but you know...), but we did it in the arena not the round pen. And whats more...

9) ...we did it with another horse working in there with us. Steve Holt! has seen other horses on the outside of the round pen, but this is the first time he's had someone passing him, or had to pass them. Aside from some ear pinning and nose lifting, he did fine.

10) And what's more...after we were done we were sent to the corner while Curt fired up the Hydra Bull. Steve Holt! was nervous, which meant his feet were moving, but after a couple of minutes of watching the other horse work he began to settle in.

Sandy and the Bull

There's nothing better than a photograph of yourself to send you straight to the kitchen in search of foods that are not good for you. The chips were stale, so I decided to eat the Rolo's for a pre breakfast teaser.

Sandy and I hauled down to Curt's for a lesson. I had Darling come along because we've been working outside in the sunshine, and I knew she could get some good shots. But the track which the bull sticks to had been turned up, and Curt had us inside. So I'll blame the fact that you can't tell that I've lost ten pounds, that I'm leaning forward, and that my toes are definitely not up on the poor lighting. Sound good to you?

You have no idea just how hard it is to get this wild horse to work on a warm day! I'm pooped. Sandy worked up a sweat, too.

Curt sent us home with dry work assignment...dry work is when you haven't got the cow. And he says it's time for Sandy to grow up...which means putting some spurs on my heels. Sandy's a bit sluggish and isn't wanting to move off my legs, so spurs were always in the plans. I rode with them yesterday and it was amazing the difference one little poke in the rib cage makes!

It'll be a couple of weeks before I can get down there for another lesson, and hopefully by then we can correct some of the flaws we've got now. Toes up, heels down. Sit in the center of my saddle and slouch like an old cowboy. Lose 10 more pounds...

The Cowpony

I cornered Curt. He was hurting...his shoulder was giving him problems. But I was NOT going to back down or lay off. Nosireebob! I wanted to work that bull! Having more stamina than the old man, I got my way, and out came the hydrabull!

Sandy trailed it beautifully, keeping pace with it rather nicely for his first time. Curt said he'd expected that he'd be afraid of it, but he wasn't. He trotted around on the inside of the circle, keeping his nose tipped out towards the bull as he kept an eye on it. He didn't understand the stop and turn stuff; we mostly just did circles. But a couple of times he had to turn and came nose to nose with the bull. His ears were forward and he wasn't too sure what this was all about as that thing came within breathing distance of him, but he never tried to shoot in a different direction. All in all, I was right proud of my boy.

That was last week. I drove back down again today for lesson number two. This time, Sandy began to figure out the stopping thing. The bull stops, the Sandy stops. He only got it on his own a couple of times, but that's a couple of times more than a lot of horses do on their second lesson, and Curt was pleased. Me, too! Sandy, however, just wanted to finish up so he could go eat grass.

I'd love to have photos for you, but again...who's going to take them? Me? Sandy? The Hydra Bull??? Darling may have to come along next week to satisfy your curiosity!

It'll be so Boring...

"...there won't be anything to post about on your blog."

That's what Jay was saying as he led me around the arena early yesterday morning. He was walking and talking and taking care of my nerves as his hand was slowly slipping under Sandy's chin to unsnap the lunge line. Two other people were standing at what Jay described as the 50 yard line, a teensy little wall that was to serve as a visual barrier to Sandy so that he'd think the arena was only half the size it was.

And then he was gone. Sandy was beneath me, walking in circles and wondering why we weren't moving out a bit faster. I did figure 8's and stopped and had him rock backwards a step or two, then turned and walked the other way. And after a few minutes Jay's voice came from that 50 yard line and suggested perhaps we try a trot? So we did, and it all went smoothly and nothing bad happened. Our first successful arena ride...solo...was under our belt! Not that I was wearing a belt; under the cinch, maybe?



Today was another day. The hydra bull was working and three horses were warming up. Jay was riding JoJo and I was leading Sandy with a great deal more commotion than he's seen to date. He was fine, stood quietly while the horses took their turns at the bull. He even watched the bull a bit, and I had a wee little nag inside saying that I'd have to get him following that thing before too long.

With lessons finished and Jay putting JoJo away, I brought Sandy into the center and lunged him. He was quiet, relaxed, and not feeling at all fresh. Jay came out to finish warming him up as I went for my helmet. Helmet on, I climbed on board and had a few minutes of leading and lunging before Jay eased the line off and stepped away.

Curt and a couple of the others had left for a quick lunch, and when they returned they found me riding at a trot, serpentining my way back and forth across the arena, stopping and backing. A few eyes were widened and I heard "That was nice!" from someone when I dropped my reins and said "Whoa"; Sandy had came to a soft, light on the forehand stop. I then asked for the back up and he collected himself up nicer than ever and took four very willing steps backwards just to show off a little to his audience.

And despite what Jay said, I still had plenty to post about!

BIG B, little b...what begins with B?

Bruises

Bulls

and Buffalo

B...b...B!

Isn't it pretty? The black stage has left me, the scarlet stage now reins. And actually, it's not as red this morning as it was yesterday. It still hurts, but no longer feels like someone is jabbing me with a hot poker when I walk.



Yesterday went well. Sandy worked nicely through several distractions, including the hydra bull. I began lunging him a couple hours before Jay showed up, and we had the blessing of another horse warming up while we were out there. While I lunged Sandy in the center, she rode Buddy around the rail, giving us the benefit of someone loping up behind him and passing as well as feeling the pressure of someone coming head on. He worked great and wasn't stressed in the least.

By the time Jay got there, the fun was about to begin. We've not been inside the arena while the bull has worked before, just outside. I was fairly confident that he'd be fine, but you can never tell about horses. Sometimes being on the inside without the security of a fence between you and the 'scary' object, things can become dicey. Not so for Sandy...at least not yesterday. He stood facing me, cocking an ear back and looking out of the corner of his eye to keep an eye on things, but fully relaxed. When the second horse began to work, Jay took over at the lunge line and had Sandy working within 5-10 feet of the bull passing while I took on the all important roll of photographer.

By the time the third horse was being worked on the bull, I was in the saddle and working comfortably. The safety net of the lunge line was still there what with all the other activity, but Jay never had to step in or give additional pressure. Sandy is struggling with turning to the right; he pushes his nose out and resists, but other than that he worked very well.

And finally, the long awaited buffalo have arrived! Curt has been waiting on these guys for several months. I think there are six of them, and two have white faces. Freaky looking, if you ask me, but if you were to ask Sandy he'd just say they were cows. Once they settle in and Curt feels a bit better, they'll be worked just like cattle by the cutting horses.