Bad Reputation, Under Saddle!

With the snow melting, it was time to get back to business with Bad Reputation. A few weeks ago, Darling climbed into the saddle for the first time and I led her a few steps around the pen, and we called it good. Yesterday, all saddled up, we asked the Cowboy before we headed out if he wanted to be there. Generally, he likes to tell me to wait for him before doing something stupid. A dyed in the wool quarter horse man, anything I do with a mustang would qualify as stupid.

Yes, he said, he wanted to be there before Darling climbed up, so off the three of us went.

Rep was feeling a little frisky after having nearly 2 weeks in her stall. She's a lucky lady in that her stall is 10x30, but she still had a tiny little head toss when the Cowboy sent her around at the end of the lead rope prior to Darling getting on. After messing with her from the ground some, he had Darling bounce in the stirrup; first on the left side, then the right. On both sides, he made sure she laid across the saddle and patted Rep on the opposite side. Then quick as a wink, Darling was up in the saddle and the Cowboy sent Rep around in a few circles at a trot, first to the left, then to the right, while Darling kept one hand on the horn and the other held the reins down on Reps neck.

And that was it. Quick, painless, and easy as pie.

Today, same routine. A few circles without a rider and the Cowboy slapping the reins around to see if he could get a reaction. He did...not much, though. Just a step back and a look to ask him what he was doing? Then Darling bounced in the stirrups, then up onto the filly's back. Trot, trot, trot, whoa, turn, trot, trot...whoa...unclip the snap and away she went on her own! The cowboy dictated the direction and set the pace. Darling sat light and relaxed in the saddle, this time two hands on the reins, listening to the Cowboy's directions, stopping, turning, going off at the trot, and then the Cowboy slapped the rope out there on Rep's behind and she picked up the pace to a lope! Was just a few strides, but it was enough, and she stayed quiet and relaxed and waited for whatever else was going to be asked of her. But that was about it. Another stop, another turn, and a whoa, good girl, time to dismount. Five minutes. That's enough for this baby girl. Just enough to put some basics onto her, so that she knows how to start and stop and turn left and right. Enough for her to know that she's safe. Good girl, Rep. Good training, Darling!

Rep...First Ride.

Darling drove down to the Cowboy's today so that she could help out with Rep. I had her saddled already and had lunged her for the first time in a big arena. There's a slight difference between a round pen, where walls hold a circle together, and an arena where a horse can drift. Rep walked a nice circle, but when asked to trot, she opted out of the program once she ran out of wall. It took some convincing, but with a little work she decided that she could, indeed, continue a circle even if a wall were not alongside her to help carry her around.

What I love about this girl is how she never gets upset. If she doesn't understand, she tries something that she 'gets', until you can explain what you're after. At that point, she does what you've shown her to do.

I'd turned Rep around from the ground before, but Darling hadn't, so when she arrived I put her to work while I snapped a few photos. Rep had no problem following the rein as Darling pulled it over the saddle. Darling stood on Rep's left side, pulling the right rein so that Rep had to turn her nose away from Darling. You can see the rein over Rep's back. As Rep turned, Darling stepped back a bit and allowed Rep's butt to swing around. Easy as pie!

After this we went to the round pen to see if she'd ground drive. Not a problem. Nothing different than being turned around, thought Rep, as she followed the direction of the reins. Everything was so quiet and nice, that Darling donned her helmet and up into the saddle she went. I led her in a nice, quiet circle, first right, then left. Darling then dismounted, gave Rep a treat, and we were done. A very nice morning, don't you think?

Rep moved to a new barn the other day where we'll start her under saddle. Once she's titled in a couple months, she moves to the Spokane region with her (soon to be) new owners.

Today she stood tied to the wall during lesson time, fully saddled, six horse trotting and loping past, giving them little to no heed. THEN the engine of the HydraBull revved up...and...and...and...

...nothing. She stood like a pro.

Untied her, led her over to where she could watch, leaned my hip into her ribs like it was a leg, had my arm drapped over the saddle and hand down on her opposite side, patting and moving like it may be another leg. She just stood and watched the goings on. I think I could have been sitting on top of her without her skipping a beat.

Bad Reputation. So much for living up to her name!

New Skills!

A couple months ago I decided it was time to saddle up Bad Reputation and see what she'd do.

She did exactly what she always does.

Nothing.

Not much phases this little horse, though she's a bit of a bugger for the farrier. Oh, sure, she'll stand for me...and of course she'll stand for Darling...but some guy with a rasp? No so much. But we can't have everything, now, can we?

Since the sun was shining today, I figured it was a good time to see if Max would handle things as well. Normally, when something new is thrown at her, she's a bit jumpy to start, but once she realizes what's going on, she'll settle down. Today, I threw her a saddle...and she stood there. She didn't care. She was like a little red Rep with tall white socks and a blaze. Boo! Nothing.

Rep wanted to make sure I'd done everything right, so she came to inspect the job. Yup...cinched up just snug enough for nothing to slip off. Both Max and I passed inspection!

Once the saddle was pulled off and put away, I returned with treats for the girls, Aurelio and Impulse. Impulse is still a little slow to pick it up, but now I can get my fingers down beneath her lips, which encourages her to take them a bit faster. I swear I've never seen a horse put so much thought into taking a cookie!

All in all, a very good afternoon.

Ah-HEMMM!!!

City Boy was holding his hand out at arm's length, his iphone screen showing me an image of a mustang family that looked remarkably like the last image I posted here on the Mustang Diaries. He was tapping his foot impatiently.

"Where have you been? How am I to know what you're up to if you're not posting?"

Yes, well, um...

I don't know what to tell you, except I've just gotten busy.

And then there's Facebook. I do tend to stop in there for a chat now and again, but even that has dwindled a bit as I spend more time outdoors with my ponies and friends. You know, flesh and blood, they yelp if you poke them with a sharp stick friends? Y'all are my friends, too, but no matter how hard I poke, the only thing that yelps is City Boy because he's not happy with my poking this screen here on my desk.

So...where were we?

Kitty is going well for me these days. I've worked buffalo the past couple of weeks! I have a confession...I peed my pants. (Is that what you wanted to read, City Boy?)

We took a little family trip over the weekend of the fourth. It's been years since the four of us went anywhere together. Our first stop was Lewiston, ID, along the snake river. We then traveled down into Oregon along the Nez Perce Trail. Beautiful, breathtaking, idyllic... And no wonder they were able to play keep away from the US Cavalry for so long!

Bronze sculptures line the street in Joseph, Oregon.

Our last night was spent in Astoria, Oregon, at the mouth of the Columbia River. We spent the night watching fireworks, made a quick stop in Seaside, then headed back home.

Darling jumps Steve Holt! on the beach

Oh, quit your whining! You didn't think I could hear you, did you? Well, here's a little wild pony update for ya!

Both of the girls have been for trailer rides, and nothing much phases them. Rep made it to the riding club where Darling attempted to make her into a trick pony. "Jump through the hoop, Rep!"

As for Mr. Holt!, I have someone coming to look at him tonight. Put on your positive energy caps, internet buddies! I need to find this boy a home.

Wild At Home

It was toe trimming time. Both Rep and Max came with ferociously long toes, and they were getting worse by the minute. With both of them (finally) picking up all four feet easily enough, I put a call in to Dave (Sandy's owner) to come see what he could do to help the little girls out.

Rep is typically so friendly, sweet and mellow...but she opted not to show that side. Nope. She wanted nothing to do with a pedicure, thank you very much. HEY! Did you hear me? That tickles. Stop. I'm going over here now, good bye. Can we say Bad Reputation???

Mind you, she was still very much easier than Steve Holt! on his first toe trim (and second and third and fourth and...) It was mainly her left front that she felt didn't need to be touched. But she finally worked the wiggles out and stood like a good girl.

Max, on the other hand... Well, Mighty Max is our sparkler girl. She's bright and shiny and has a bit of get up and go to her. However, she's also the one who, once she knows what you're expecting, does just what needs to be done. And so it was that Max was the shining star of the hour, even using the hoof jack on a couple of occasions.

So now both girls have pretty pedicures, and I'm sure it feels rather funny not having toes drag on the ground when you walk. In typical Max and Rep form, Max took off to try her new feet, while Rep stood placidly at the fence wondering when someone was going to come pet her.

Bad to the Bone!

Spring fever has struck! The girls were turned out this afternoon for a bit of play time. Look at them go!

Max and Tika take a brisk canter along the fence.



"Hey, what are you doing?"



Max lets 'er rip!



"Hey, are you taking pictures? Be sure to take mine!"



Tika takes the lead!



Bad Reputation finally gets into the act. Someone forgot to tell her it's fight or flight...she's a lover, not a flighter or a fighter!

How Many Days Till May Flowers?

I forgot to tell y'all that I have become employed as of last week...it's very hard work. I'm doing chores at a boarding facility and am responsible for 40 horses. Feed, turn out, clean...all the stuff I do anyway, but did I mention it was for 40 horses?!? And it doesn't matter if it's raining or not, they still expect me to show up to work. I know...can you believe it?

Tika in the Sunshine




The Mighty Maxine



Rep's not nearly as light on her feet
as Tika, but she's a love bug, so it doesn't matter!

It felt so good to have sunshine on our shoulders. Tika has taken to her role as 'step mom', letting the girls know she is in charge before allowing them to hang out and eat out of the same pile of hay or drink alongside her at the water tank.

Sadly, the sun only lasted a couple of days, and we're back to icy cold rain. And just in time for me to return to work. I bet I'm the only one who'd prefer to have rain on their day off than when they're at work. Or am I? All I know for sure is that after all of April's showers, May had better offer up some pretty terrific flowers!

Mustang Mauling

A woman was found mauled down by a pair of wild mustangs late yesterday afternoon. Apparently, she had been making an attempt to photograph the animals when they attacked. Images of the attack were captured on her digital camera.

Wild horse advocates warn that the general public is simply not aware of the dangers of befriending a mustang, that they are dangerous and can never be fully trusted. This is especially true if you are still carrying treats in your pocket intended for domestic horses.

The Girls

Indeed overdue! This was from last weekend, when the girls came up on the BLM trailer. They roamed the arena for a few minutes while Gary pulled his trailer out, and I backed mine in. And then, play time was over, and they climbed into the next trailer for the final leg in their journey.

These two girls have such different personalities! City Boy's little red filly is bright and energetic. She's got boundless energy in the round pen, and despite the fact that we end each session with scratches and rubs, we begin each day the same as we began the day before...flighty and rushed.

Turned out together, Rep stands quietly, while the red filly (City Boy...what is her name?) hides behind her. And yet, walk out with a scoop of grain and you'll be mauled. Rep allows you to rub all over her face in exchange for grain. Red filly, on the other hand, becomes frustrated, grabbing at the scoop while trying to keep you from touching her.

Both girls have had the lunge line on them and are moving both directions pretty easily. I got the red filly leading yesterday, though a big shakily. She has a strong sense of what she wants to do. No fear. She's more like a toddler who wants her own way. Right now, she's the challenge of the two, but I'm sure that will swing the opposite direction many times over the next few months.

The Lone Cowgirl

Okay, you simply must...I mean simply MUST...go check out my Facebook friend Shirley Morris' blog. MUST! She's got some really nifty neato stuff to talk about. Today's feature is caring for your vintage photographs. Totally cool!

So, in other news? The sun came out today. No, really. It did! And I went outside to play with my pony, Bad Reputation! Reppi (should I spell that with one or two p's? Repi? That doesn't even look or sound right...must do some thinking here on the name) isn't too keen on being my friend, I'm afraid. Oh, she's first in line when the chow comes, and I can rub all over her face while she's got her snout buried deep in the scoop. But no grain? No can pet. Well...that's her take on it, at least.

I did get the lead snapped on, no problem, while she was munching away. That led to some lunging, and turning and lunging the other way. She's weakest to her left, but circles to the right are pretty fluid. I did get to scratch on her, but she told me she didn't have to like it. That is, unless I scratched her cheek where the halter sits. That was okay...

She has got a rather pretty profile, doesn't she?

Day One

I've been keeping a secret.

Back in February, City Boy adopted a filly. A cute, flashy little sorrel with three very tall stockings and a white blaze. She's only a yearling, and he's a bit disappointed that he'll need to wait for her to grow up, but I assured him this was a good thing. After all, I need to put more effort into Tika, and if I had a two or three year old here, she'd get moved to the back burner again. And a yearling would give us time to truly get her ready for life as a saddle horse.

The BLM was offering free shipping within 400 miles to anyone who adopted from 'Appy-Palooza', so it was a no-brainer to make sure we signed the adoption papers then. Yes, it would be a long wait...delivery was at their convenience, and last year that meant 2 months...but it was worth not having to haul the trailer down there.

A person can get quite anxious in 2 months, you know that?

But the waiting is finally over, and the new arrival is here!

But wait...what's that behind her?

Seems I've been keeping two secrets.

I saw pictures of the roan filly back in July when a friend visited the corrals. I was able to pick her out of the group of other yearling fillies at the corrals in Feb, despite the fact that her tag number had been changed. I'd really liked her...would have been thrilled if City Boy and Darling had liked her as well, but they didn't, so I thought I'd not end up with her.

But she haunted me, and when you're haunted, there's not much you can do except embrace your haunting! After all, as I explained to City Boy, I needed another resale project. Steve Holt! is up for sale, and who next? Better get something to keep me busy. Well...busy once Miss Tika is going a little stronger.

The girls are settling in well. They were unloaded at a friend's place, into his arena. When the BLM truck pulled away, I backed my trailer up. The girls looked at it with curiosity, and with the help of a half dozen people who were on hand, we formed a human fence behind those wild butts, and they walked quietly up to the trailer and stepped right in.

I've named my filly already: Bad Reputation! Mustang lovers gasp...why??? Well, because they have one, that's why! And I intend to poke fun at myself for always sticking with these wild things, and in the process, if I'm lucky, she'll be a winner. Heck, it's day one, and I've already touched her!

City Boy's filly hasn't been named yet. She's a bit flightier than Rep, but I was still able to rub her with the long pole. And back at the corrals, she came up and sniffed our hands, so I know it won't be long before she comes around.

So off we are on another adventure. You coming along for the wild ride?