A Little Flirty Day

Was a quick trip to the Cowboy's this morning, but I managed to squeeze in a little bit of Flirt time.  She had fun running and playing for a few minutes, then stopped and stood with me.  I lunged her a wee bit, then decided to introduce her to the mounting block.

Mounting blocks are curious things, you know.  They pop up out of the ground for no apparent reason (at least in the mind of an inexperienced horse), and they're obviously something that needs exploring, licking, and maybe a bit of pawing at.  Flirt circled it a couple of times, but it didn't hold her interest for long.  I led her alongside of it, and she sidestepped just a bit.  Still, she was close enough that I could step up onto it and be above her, rubbing her back and neck.  She didn't care much.

I turned her around so I was on the other side and repeated the process.  Again, no reaction outside of being totally bored.  So I leaned against her a bit, draping my arm over her back, patting her on the opposite side.  She looked out the door at the end of the arena, caring not what I was up to. 

I've a strong hankering to just climb on, but tell myself daily to be patient.  Make sure all the bases are covered before getting onto that back of hers.  But oh...it's so inviting!

Another Show for Oz!

Oz and I hauled out to his second halter show, and the boy once again turned a few heads!  This time we competed against seven other horses, and Oz took second.  Not bad for a range bred wild mustang!

Saddle training is moving along, though slower than I'd like.  We seem to only manage 2-3 days a week at best.  Daring has been doing most of the riding, with me at the end of the lungeline.  Oz is a big boy, and very powerful.  Though he's never offered to buck or be stupid, there's always that feeling of 'what if' when you're on him.  He's a smart colt and mentally ready for a lot more work.  Only problem is, he's not quite figured out the word WHOA.  Until he learns how to apply the brakes, we'll all just need to muddle along.

Meanwhile, Flirt is totally Sensational!

She is back down at the Cowboy's barn where I hope to really put in some serious time saddling her up and preparing her for her first ride.  There are still times when her wild side emerges, like today when there was a small child at the other end of the arena, and when a new horse walked through the barn.  She goes on full alert, drawing herself up tall with tightened muscles.

I'd just finished lunging her and had put the saddle on her back when the distraction came about this afternoon.  Not really what you want for a third time saddling and the first time in a new location, especially when you're not very consistent with the process.  But she didn't get goofy or anything, so I just worked her like nothing was going on at the other end of that arena.  She even loped for the first time while saddled and did splendidly.

Flirt's hives have broken off, but until her new summer coat arrives, and the winter one disappears, we're left with these goofy spots.

As long as I've got you here...how about a quick shot of what's going on down at the Cowboy's place?  

The Cowboy is now a Shepherd as well!  A couple months ago he purchased some sheep, and the ewes are beginning to lamb.  Aren't they adorable?

My niece and a new ewe lamb

Ribbons and a Hump Day

Recently, in the middle of a cold snap, Darling and I decided to haul south to a horse show.  We left from our place in the dark, with the temperature a frigid 21 degrees.  We drove toward down and watched as the number got smaller, and smaller, until we were at the Cowboy's place, and it was a mere 17 degrees.

Shivering and shaking, we rushed through barn chores, then loaded up Doxee and Oz and continued south toward the horse show. The temp was now only 14 degrees.  Brrrr!!!

Oz and I entered three classes; Stock Type Halter and two showmanship classes.  With the weather as chilly as it was, there weren't a lot of people, but you know what?

My goofy mustang gelding still beat out a couple AQHA and APHA horses in halter!

Meanwhile, Miss Flirt has been making strides.  She's quite content to wear her heavy blanket, and she doesn't fuss a bit when I hoist the entire thing over her head and slide it on, rather than unbuckling the front.  She's an easy catch out in the pasture, too, as you can see here when I had nearly 1000 lbs of horseflesh galloping toward me. 

But what really, really made my day was when I hauled her to the riding club today.  Typically there's not a lot of action there on a weekday, but when I pulled in I found four horses in the arena.  This was just the second time Flirt had been there, and I really wasn't sure about her reaction to seeing the other horses.  Would she be laid back and easy going?  Or would her blood be pumping with excitement?  Would she walk nicely alongside me?  Or was I going to have a prancing, dancing maniac at my side?

With the rope in one hand, I led Flirt from the trailer to the arena and stepped from the pavement onto the dirt.  As Flirt stepped inside the building with me, going from light to dark, she suddenly gave a start!  She went from relaxed demeanor to full alert, noticing that she was not alone.  But a pat on the neck was all she needed to turn her attention back to me.  We walked the rest of the way into the building, through the gate, past the horses and to the round pen in the corner.

Flirt watched with interest as the other horses came and went.  Most everyone was finished, so there was just one rider left, and Flirt was most concerned with him.  But it wasn't much, really, just head up and stopping to stare.  

It wasn't long before Flirt was working as though it was just she and I in that arena.  And when the others left us alone?  No silly shenanigans.  I was very pleased.

But something did happen, and I don't know, really, when or how or what or where.  I left the arena with a different horse, though.  One who thought twice about loading (she's never refused before), but learned that sometimes we do what we don't want to.  There was more trust, more bond, more friendship than there had been before.

We'd tackled something together today.  It was the first time I'd entered the trailer with her tied in it.  She also stood tied at the rail inside the arena after everyone left.  We worked in a crowd of horses, then alone.  It was different.  Today was different, and in a very good way.  Today was hump day.