I finally got enough courage up to ride bridleless.
The second I got on I had to convince myself that I really wanted to do it. I hopped on Peanut who has never gone bridleless. Peanut is generally a very hard horse to stop with a bridle and can be spooky when it's windy..and of course today was the most windy day we've had in a long time....
Peanut was amazing though he was very excited and a little bit confused about it at first but he caught on so fast within a few minutes we were walking and trotting both ways and doing circles and STOPPING!
He stopped without a fuss within a few strides.
I figured having worked for Tommie I would have gotten this courage up a bit sooner but it's funny how things work. I'm glad I finally did it and I think listening to one of Lizzy Traband's demos really sunk in with me. She was very certain that if the horse has done it's lateral work under saddle then going bridleless wont be a big deal, most of the audience didn't believe her and were very skeptical but she's very right. Thanks Lizzy!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Can-Am
The Can-Am went super! I worked for Tommie for the last time (well for now anyways who knows what the future is going to be like I might end up going back to train with him again). The big show at the end of each night went very great we had great audiences and on Saturday the place was just packed!
I have so much more respect for Tommie then I ever did. He really is a truly amazing performer. When something goes wrong in his act the audience never has to know, he's so quick to change the act to make it look like everything is still on track. Most of the time when he improvises the act becomes even better! If I ever have the guts to put together an act like his I hope I'm at least half as good!
Back at home things are going really great we're working on getting Dolly back into lessons and so far Peanut has been taking on the work load. We'll have Eddy back in a week or so and Zeus and Akasha will join the lessons when their training is up to par and we have saddles to fit everyone (always the biggest challenge). Sometimes I wish I was western so I could just buy a general saddle and stuff a huge saddle pad under it and never have to worry about fit.
Another note..I've totally gotten into horse "bling" I never thought I'd say this but sparkles and diamonds really make my horses butt look bigger! I love it! Peanut has a brow band with metal squares all along it, very flashy. Akasha as one with little crystals in it. Zeus has a bridle with braided brow and nose band, with white padding underneath. It is going to look awesome on him. Next step is getting the gang out to some shows!
I have so much more respect for Tommie then I ever did. He really is a truly amazing performer. When something goes wrong in his act the audience never has to know, he's so quick to change the act to make it look like everything is still on track. Most of the time when he improvises the act becomes even better! If I ever have the guts to put together an act like his I hope I'm at least half as good!
Back at home things are going really great we're working on getting Dolly back into lessons and so far Peanut has been taking on the work load. We'll have Eddy back in a week or so and Zeus and Akasha will join the lessons when their training is up to par and we have saddles to fit everyone (always the biggest challenge). Sometimes I wish I was western so I could just buy a general saddle and stuff a huge saddle pad under it and never have to worry about fit.
Another note..I've totally gotten into horse "bling" I never thought I'd say this but sparkles and diamonds really make my horses butt look bigger! I love it! Peanut has a brow band with metal squares all along it, very flashy. Akasha as one with little crystals in it. Zeus has a bridle with braided brow and nose band, with white padding underneath. It is going to look awesome on him. Next step is getting the gang out to some shows!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Zeus Is Here!!
My new horse has arrived!! Zeus has settled into the shed run in and seems to be very happy. Rudy realized there was someone new right away and barked at him for a good 5 minutes, no doubt to fill him in on the rules of how this place is run (ha!). The other horses didn't even notice him and were too busy waiting for their hay at the other end of the field. I'm sure they'll find him soon though! I just hope we don't find Akasha in his pen tomorrow morning, knowing her she will find a way through the electric and under the wooden posts and into the other pen. She's crafty!
I'm dying to ride him already but I think we'll have to wait for a saddle that fits, he's got a fairly broad back a lot like Little Kay's so maybe he'll fit into Eddy's saddle but for now we'll have to wait and see.
I'm dying to ride him already but I think we'll have to wait for a saddle that fits, he's got a fairly broad back a lot like Little Kay's so maybe he'll fit into Eddy's saddle but for now we'll have to wait and see.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
It's March!!
Which means warm weather may be on the way! I'm very excited for when we can actually ride and for when lessons can start up again. I'm very busy organizing horse camps and a horse club. There is a lot of planning to go into these two big projects, as well as cleaning up in the barn. I'm working on putting in a class room for the club meetings and for big theory lessons or discussions.
Today I had a driving lesson in preparation for tomorrow which is my final driving test, this is great. If I pass this my car insurance will start to go down and it will just feel good to have my full licence.
I still have my two saddles for sale if anyone is interested, one is a HDR and the other is a Lancer. Both are in good shape but the HDR is basically new. I know the industry is bad right now but these saddles are of good quality and should have been snatched up a long time ago!
Today I am going to work with the horses. I haven't decided what we'll do yet as the ring is still covered in ice. Today is warmer so hopefully some of it will melt but for today I might take Peanut around the race track, I think he'd behave for that but I'd have really liked to do a bit of ring work before hitting the wide open spaces. Akasha loves going on walks but would rather gallop the whole way so she'll have to just wait for the ring to be safe before she gets to go anywhere. Dolly is the same way only she is just barn sour, I don't worry about her though she's happy in the ring so that's where she can stay.
If anyone is looking to watch some cute videos check out panzita0 on youtube. I've got two very cute videos. One of Eddy being ridden a few weeks ago and another of the girls misbehaving on the lunge line because they are super hyper from lack of work!
Well I'm out for now.
Jenni
Today I had a driving lesson in preparation for tomorrow which is my final driving test, this is great. If I pass this my car insurance will start to go down and it will just feel good to have my full licence.
I still have my two saddles for sale if anyone is interested, one is a HDR and the other is a Lancer. Both are in good shape but the HDR is basically new. I know the industry is bad right now but these saddles are of good quality and should have been snatched up a long time ago!
Today I am going to work with the horses. I haven't decided what we'll do yet as the ring is still covered in ice. Today is warmer so hopefully some of it will melt but for today I might take Peanut around the race track, I think he'd behave for that but I'd have really liked to do a bit of ring work before hitting the wide open spaces. Akasha loves going on walks but would rather gallop the whole way so she'll have to just wait for the ring to be safe before she gets to go anywhere. Dolly is the same way only she is just barn sour, I don't worry about her though she's happy in the ring so that's where she can stay.
If anyone is looking to watch some cute videos check out panzita0 on youtube. I've got two very cute videos. One of Eddy being ridden a few weeks ago and another of the girls misbehaving on the lunge line because they are super hyper from lack of work!
Well I'm out for now.
Jenni
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Auction Report
Me and my boyfriend Kyle headed down to an auction today with a few of my rabbits. They didn't do so well, we got a few dollars for them but ended up buying one back as he is worth a lot more. We did however invest in two very small baby dairy goats.
These poor animals are taken away from their mothers after the first few days; just like dairy calfs, so the mothers can be milked. Alike male dairy calfs, male dairy goats are often raised for meat. So this is strickly a business investment which should provide a bit of profit when the time comes to sell these little boys.
However, in the mean time, like everything else on our farm....they have been named and cuddled and pampered to death already! My little boy is named Bongo, he is a bit bigger than Kyle's who is named Q-Tip. Both are super vocal and friendly.
The auction did hold something for the horsie people. Well no, that's a lie.. They had 3 ponies. All were "fugly" and nothing went for more than a hundred bucks. First one was a broke to ride and drive shetland pony, a bit sassy but pretty cute and calm. She went for a very low $85. The second one was a 2 year old probably mixed bred pony or horse who never matured, he didn't get a bid...well one man offered $5 as a joke but the auctioneer wouldn't take it. The last horse was a mini stallion. He was pure black with a cute mane and tail, but he wasn't friendly and he had a long back. He went for $55, very cheap.
These poor animals are taken away from their mothers after the first few days; just like dairy calfs, so the mothers can be milked. Alike male dairy calfs, male dairy goats are often raised for meat. So this is strickly a business investment which should provide a bit of profit when the time comes to sell these little boys.
However, in the mean time, like everything else on our farm....they have been named and cuddled and pampered to death already! My little boy is named Bongo, he is a bit bigger than Kyle's who is named Q-Tip. Both are super vocal and friendly.
The auction did hold something for the horsie people. Well no, that's a lie.. They had 3 ponies. All were "fugly" and nothing went for more than a hundred bucks. First one was a broke to ride and drive shetland pony, a bit sassy but pretty cute and calm. She went for a very low $85. The second one was a 2 year old probably mixed bred pony or horse who never matured, he didn't get a bid...well one man offered $5 as a joke but the auctioneer wouldn't take it. The last horse was a mini stallion. He was pure black with a cute mane and tail, but he wasn't friendly and he had a long back. He went for $55, very cheap.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Only 3 Types of Riders
I've come to the conclusion..there are only three different types of riders. Ones who have an indoor, ones who don't.. tehe just joking.
There are three though that I have noticed so here it goes.
1st type of rider is a very observent rider, they notice everything often before the horse does. This type of rider is good at making a horse nervous. This rider is looking for things the horse is going to spook at and often finds things the horse would have otherwise walked right by if the rider had just been confident. Horses can read your body language so well they KNOW if your looking at something thinking "oh that looks scary bet the horse is going to spook" and then tada they spook!
2nd type of rider is the very opposite. They don't notice a thing! They're the ones with the really deep western saddles (sorry) who take trail rides at a leisurely walk and come off because they were day dreaming when a deer was spotted. Whoops!
3rd type of rider is the balanced rider the one who sees everything but has the confidence to know it isn't going to scare their horses (reguardless of what horse they're on). Perhaps it's just a mind set that makes them better riders, but these riders are able to get their horses through anything simply because everything isn't a big deal. They don't create the problem but they're also on their toes for when a problem arises.
There are three though that I have noticed so here it goes.
1st type of rider is a very observent rider, they notice everything often before the horse does. This type of rider is good at making a horse nervous. This rider is looking for things the horse is going to spook at and often finds things the horse would have otherwise walked right by if the rider had just been confident. Horses can read your body language so well they KNOW if your looking at something thinking "oh that looks scary bet the horse is going to spook" and then tada they spook!
2nd type of rider is the very opposite. They don't notice a thing! They're the ones with the really deep western saddles (sorry) who take trail rides at a leisurely walk and come off because they were day dreaming when a deer was spotted. Whoops!
3rd type of rider is the balanced rider the one who sees everything but has the confidence to know it isn't going to scare their horses (reguardless of what horse they're on). Perhaps it's just a mind set that makes them better riders, but these riders are able to get their horses through anything simply because everything isn't a big deal. They don't create the problem but they're also on their toes for when a problem arises.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Todays Going To Be A Good Day!
I have five minutes before I have to leave for The Beer Store which is great I haven't worked for more than 3 months and I miss it!
I also just listened to my 10 last downloaded songs which just cheers me up. I'm weird like that. I download songs and listen to them for about a million times and it always cheers me up.
Have a good day! I know I will!
I also just listened to my 10 last downloaded songs which just cheers me up. I'm weird like that. I download songs and listen to them for about a million times and it always cheers me up.
Have a good day! I know I will!
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