Looney Tunes Moments

Steve Holt! received a
'bronc halter' from Curt for Christmas!

Have you ever had one of those Looney Tunes moments? You know, where you suddenly find your butt isn't exactly where you though you'd left it, such as planted deeply in the seat of your saddle? Instead you're finding hang time somewhere out there in space?

Yeah...well, I had that moment yesterday. And all that ran through my mind is, "That Coyote is really a crazy clown..." with images of him standing there in mid air with that "How did this happen?" look before he went crashing to the ground.

Thankfully, my butt found it's seat prior to my entering the earth's atmosphere. Another trip to club dirt was not on my itinerary, thank you very much.

So what happened? Well, lets just say that Steve Holt! is a great deal more athletic than mustangs past. He was feeling fresh, and I didn't put the typical 40 minute warm up on him, so when it came time to start working on some turns in the round pen, he showed me what he could really do! I'm going to have to be on my toes with this guy. Or at least a little more firmly planted in the saddle.

Steve Holt!, week 5

Steve Holt! had a terrific week, despite the rain and flooding in our region. While my stalls are on the downhill side of our property, and water does tend to drain into them, it could have been a lot worse as you know after seeing Duns video earlier in the week. While things got a bit damp and even soggy, the horses were drier inside than many horses in the northwest this past week.

On to our successes of week # 5!

1) Steve Holt! learned to stand tied for long periods of time. Long to us, at least. 20 minutes at the rail while I rode Sandy at the riding club was pretty darned good, I thought. He also stood pleasantly at the side of the trailer later in the week.

A couple days ago Darling and I had both geldings tied at the rail inside the arena when another woman came in with her two quarter horses. She tied the first one to the rail alongside Sandy, then left to get the second out of the trailer. Her little mare began pitching a major hissy fit, throwing herself around at the end of her rope and screaming wildly for her buddy. My two geldings stood there alongside her; Sandy preferring to ignore the scene next to him, and Steve Holt! leaning forward and craning his neck to see around Sandy, wondering what the commotion was all about. Darling looked at me and smiled. She didn't have to say it, I knew what was coming, "Better be careful with those mustangs; they're wild, you know."

2) I can now pick up all four feet easily, and even get the front feet between my knees like a farrier. Maybe I need to start trimming my own horses? I don't think my back would hold up, but at least I know my new boy will stand patiently for me if I were to try.

3) We went for a walk and crossed a deep creek (once on purpose, once not!) Water hazards will not be an issue for this guy. It's yet to be seen how he feels about mud. My other mustangs are worried about sinking and becoming fossil fuel.

4) Ponying around the tree farm is fun! Steve Holt! did a great job of listening to me, staying back behind Sandy's centerline, walking through knee deep water and not being bothered by seeing a hiker and his dog on the trail.

5) Steve Holt! now stands tied inside the trailer and can be hauled with another horse.

6) Although we're struggling with catching and haltering issues right now (a definite step back), Steve Holt! is taking the bit easier. I can get my right arm up over his head and pull both ears under the headstall from one side without having to do one, then cross over and do the other. He's also relaxing while I stand in front of him, dropping his head down so that his poll is only chest high, allowing me to rub the top of his head and his ears...a definite sign of trust. Or is it resignation???

7) We've begun to lope! And what a lope it is. So smooth...like floating on air.

8) Steve Holt!'s in hand work is coming along nicely. He's trotting around cones, although his stride is long and he's still breaking gait a bit when the circles get small. He's backing an L nicely and can sidepass down the length of the pole without mishap.

9) We rode in the big arena, if only a few minutes.

10) Saturday we hauled down to Curt's for our first riding lesson! The round pen, as you may recall, is fully enclosed with 8' walls. In order to see what was going on, Curt has to climb a big block of wood on the outside and hang over the the top of the wall...certainly a sight not common to Steve Holt!, but aside from some curious looks, he worked well. Curt said he looked great for ride 8. I asked what I should be working on, and he said he wouldn't change a thing... :)

And that, folks, is week number five recap. Five down...ten to go. I couldnt' be happier with where we're at.

Two Guys and a Girl

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Mustang Fever

Sandy, Steve Holt! and I went for a ride today. I saddled Sandy up in the yard, loaded him into the trailer, then went and grabbed Steve Holt!, pulled off his blanket, loaded him and down the road we went.

Three minutes later we were at our destination...the tree farm! I'd really wanted to pony him with a second rider on hand just in case there was trouble. You know...I really need to heed my own safety advice more often. Not that we had trouble. No, far from it! But why tempt fate?

Well, tempt it we did, and we came out the victors. Steve Holt! was the first out of the trailer; he waited patiently tied to the side while Sandy unloaded, and then he had to wait some more for me to get the bridle on Sandy. And all that waiting made him yawn. Once I had Sandy ready, I untied Steve Holt!, mounted up and turned Sandy towards the trailhead.

Sandy, if we've not discussed this, is as slow as a slug. In fact, I've seen the local banana slug population get mighty excited when they see him coming, lining up for races along the side of the trail. Today was no exception. Sandy sleepily turned himself towards the trail, but was rudely awakened by Steve Holt!'s enthusiastic long stride as the taller gelding stepped up alongside and then attempted to pass us by. Evidently he didn't realize that just because I was in a saddle didn't mean he could break the 'don't walk in front of me' rule. I gave Steve Holt! a reminder pop, while Sandy glared at the young whipper snapper in disgust. Never mind that there's just a year between them, Sandy believes that he's old enough to have a driver's license. Steve Holt! immediately stepped down at my request, but Sandy had taken to heart the challenge and the rest of the ride I found myself on a speed walker.

Our ride lasted just shy of an hour, circling the tree farm, heading up the logging road a bit, then back around the farm and up to a little trail before heading back to the trailer. A gentleman and his little dog were spotted at one point and I pulled Steve Holt! up alongside me while we waited for them to go past. He looked with curiosity at the two of them but wasn't worried at all when the dog barked a greeting. Once on the trail we found it quite wet...and deep...and long! Soggy for the most part, but 20' of trail was knee deep in water. Sandy does not like water, but since Steve Holt! was more than willing to wade through, he felt he needed to keep up appearances and trudged reluctantly ahead.


I hope Steve Holt! enjoyed his time outside of the arena today. Tomorrow we're finally able to haul down to Curt's for a lesson!