Hello! It's been a while...lots of adventures with Starlette on the trails, but I had such fun yesterday, I thought I'd post....
Being a nice, warm, sunny day this Saturday, as usual, I planned on taking Starlette out on the trails. I had also discovered there was going to be an endurance ride, and since I was trying to figure out what both Starlette and I would be good at and have fun, too, I wanted to see what it was about, and possibly meet some people.
I arrive at the trails and it was a hub of activity. Besides the endurance ride, there was also the regular riders. Starlette was her usual excited self, but we have come such a long way from last fall, I had no concerns about riding her alone at all.
The club had marked off 10 mile, 15 mile, and 25 mile loop of trails, and I had an inspiration to follow the 10 miles trail, and see how we both would do. We had been adding trotting and cantering to our rides for the last few weeks, so I was not concerned about us making the ride as long as we did a lot of walking. I had all morning, and I figured it would only take us 2 hours or so. How hard could it be to follow some pink markers?
Off we went around the first few miles. We did fine, mostly walking, some trotting. As we were walking along, I heard a “clink” that was not normal, looked down, and there was my cell phone on the ground. I had forgotten to zip up my fanny pack! Now, I have not gotten off of Starlette on the trails yet...I ride in a dressage saddle, and she's almost 16 hands, so even with me being 5'7”, that's a long stretch. But I had no choice but to find out how she'd behave, and also if I could even get on her. I did find a broken tree, dismounted, got my cell phone, and lead Starlette over to the tree. She stood right next to it, and let me get on! I gave her lots of praise for that!
We continued on the trails, and and the markers crossed a road into the county park. We walked/trotted right along, through beautiful woods, along ridges, and down into valleys. We spooked a turkey, saw deer, and she only almost spook-almost-dumped me three times...once when we spooked a deer that was sleeping 3 feet away and bounded off – even startled me – and once when we were going through a knee-deep water and she saw the stop sign ahead – and once was just being silly spook. But now her spooks are not the spin/bolt spooks, but the drop shoulder, shudder and look spook with only a little spin.
The ride went along a dirt road, and right at the turn someone was having a birthday party...complete with a saw-horse with helium balloons pointing the way. I saw that and though for sure that we'd have a major issue going by it...and all Starlette did was stop and stare at the balloons for a few minutes, and look up the road at the party. We proceeded without incident – and I really let her know what a good girl she was!
Along this same road a few minutes later a group of six competitors on Arabs came trotting up behind us. They passed, and Starlette got worked up with letting them go ahead. I asked if I could ride with them for a while, and we went about a mile with them, trotting and cantering. Are those endurance riders every crazy! And super-fit! Starlette had a blast...her racing breeding showed and she was galloping and wanting to pass the leaders! We rode with them until they turned off for their 25 mile stretch. Starlette at that point didn't want to leave them, so she threw a fit...crow-hopping, spinning...and slammed herself into a tree that had a widow-maker hanging, which broke up and came crashing down all around us! We were very lucky those logs didn't come down on top of us, as they were very large and would have hurt! After that, Starlette decided to behave, and even when other groups of competitors passed us, she waited on the side and behaved herself.
At some point along the way, we either missed a turn, or the markers were not clear; we ended up looping around on a trail we had been on already and back to a road we had already gone down. Now, I am getting pretty tired and cranky, and while Starlette was still full of energy, I could tell she was finally getting tired. This was after about 2 ½ hours on the trail. I pull out my map of the area, and find out we are on the other side of the park! I decide to take the direct route back, and we trotted and cantered some, walked a lot more (I was getting worried about tiring out Starlette too much, or making her back sore, even though she was not showing any signs of either) and I swear we both gave a sigh of relief when we saw the parking lot and the trailer about an hour later.
So, we rode for about 4 hours, in the hottest part of the day, alone, more than 10 miles, and survived! I have a new respect for endurance riders – they are doing long distances, fast, and have to maintain their horses to pass the vet checks. I am seriously considering trying this next year with Starlette.
Starlette and I also deepened our partnership and built up our confidence – I really believe she trusts me to take care of her more now, and I am trusting her to take care of me, too!
Oh, and she has loaded on the trailer several times on her own!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Our First Spring Ride Alone 2010
I'm back...just been incredibly busy, with my family, and teaching Starlette to load...redux! But that is another blog for another day. Spring is here, and another trail ride adventure with my mare!
It turned out to be such a beautiful day today that I just wanted to trail ride.
I had not taken Starlette out on her own since last year. She was very good once we got past the scary logs and the stream - that took about 10 mins of snorting and circling. We took a trail, and even passed group of about 6 horses, and Starlette didn't even try to follow them.
We moved along nicely, she checking out everything, and me with my legs on her sides lightly. We were both relaxing, enjoying the view, when we rounded a corner and came face to face with a deer! Starlette planted and snorted, the deer planted and snorted, and within 2 seconds, both the deer and Starlette (and I) rocked back, spun and bolted in the opposite direction!
I only lost one stirrup, and managed to right myself by grabbing Starlette's mane. Starlette was in a full-out terrifed gallop. I didn't try to stop her until I was balanced again, sans stirrup, then I gently pulled on the reins, said "Whoa"...which she ignored, she was so scared. I then said "Whoa" louder, pulled the reins more, and she cocked her ear back but kept on going. I finally yelled "WHOA" , reinforced it hard with my reins, and she planted her feet and stopped.
She stood there, trembling and breathing heavy between snorts. I let her catch her breath, praised her for stopping, and we headed back towards ground zero. She was so sure there was a deer behind every leaf and twig, but we made it past, and after about 10 minutes, she calmed down a lot. We ended up taking the another trail that meandered along a creek back, and she managed to calm down, although she did startle at creaking trees and bird chirps.
Once we got close to the trailers, I decided to quit for the day, as we both had enough. It is a lot harder to ride her on the trails alone than over the small jumps I have set up! I did walk her around the campgrounds for about 15 minutes, and believe me, walking next to her was a lot easier than riding her spooks. Watching her in action from from ground made me realize that she has been a good riding teacher to me! Not too long ago, I would probably have come off on her "rock back, spin, and gallop" spook and bolt!
It turned out to be such a beautiful day today that I just wanted to trail ride.
I had not taken Starlette out on her own since last year. She was very good once we got past the scary logs and the stream - that took about 10 mins of snorting and circling. We took a trail, and even passed group of about 6 horses, and Starlette didn't even try to follow them.
We moved along nicely, she checking out everything, and me with my legs on her sides lightly. We were both relaxing, enjoying the view, when we rounded a corner and came face to face with a deer! Starlette planted and snorted, the deer planted and snorted, and within 2 seconds, both the deer and Starlette (and I) rocked back, spun and bolted in the opposite direction!
I only lost one stirrup, and managed to right myself by grabbing Starlette's mane. Starlette was in a full-out terrifed gallop. I didn't try to stop her until I was balanced again, sans stirrup, then I gently pulled on the reins, said "Whoa"...which she ignored, she was so scared. I then said "Whoa" louder, pulled the reins more, and she cocked her ear back but kept on going. I finally yelled "WHOA" , reinforced it hard with my reins, and she planted her feet and stopped.
She stood there, trembling and breathing heavy between snorts. I let her catch her breath, praised her for stopping, and we headed back towards ground zero. She was so sure there was a deer behind every leaf and twig, but we made it past, and after about 10 minutes, she calmed down a lot. We ended up taking the another trail that meandered along a creek back, and she managed to calm down, although she did startle at creaking trees and bird chirps.
Once we got close to the trailers, I decided to quit for the day, as we both had enough. It is a lot harder to ride her on the trails alone than over the small jumps I have set up! I did walk her around the campgrounds for about 15 minutes, and believe me, walking next to her was a lot easier than riding her spooks. Watching her in action from from ground made me realize that she has been a good riding teacher to me! Not too long ago, I would probably have come off on her "rock back, spin, and gallop" spook and bolt!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
SKUNKED!
Not me. Chance. Yup.
I was out in the pasture playing with Starlette while it was getting dark, when she suddenly looked over by the barn. I looked to see Chance running for a black fuzzy kitty. Then I think "Sh*t, we don't have any of those!" I yelled, "Chance, No!!" but too late. Black fuzzy kitty got him full in the face.
Damn that stinks! And he *has* to be inside tonight, too cold. So sent DH off to Chow Hound to get something, anything! Chance had to stay in the barn until he came back...he got a direct hit.
I get on the internet...
I see the solution we all know...tomato juice. Don't have any.
I see 1 qt. peroxide (which I only have a little of) mixed with 1/4" baking soda, and a little shampoo, let sit for 10 mins, will do it. So he gets the 10 min. partial dose.
I then see that apple cider vinegar will also do it. So he gets that all over his face/neck too. By now his coat is spiking because it freezes where the wet it (I am careful not to go to the skin).
Oh, I did discover you lose your sense of smell to skunk...when I ran into the house to get help, my husband yelped that I stunk! Chance had barely brushed against me going into the stall, and that's all it took.
DH comes back with Nature's Miracle, and I start the rinse all the stuff I put on Chance off, dry, and NM him. I am now waiting for him to dry again for a second dose.
I think the house smells like skunk, but my smeller is gone. I have had dogs all my life, and this is the first skunked one. And knowing Chance, I have no doubt he'll chase the kitty again!
I was out in the pasture playing with Starlette while it was getting dark, when she suddenly looked over by the barn. I looked to see Chance running for a black fuzzy kitty. Then I think "Sh*t, we don't have any of those!" I yelled, "Chance, No!!" but too late. Black fuzzy kitty got him full in the face.
Damn that stinks! And he *has* to be inside tonight, too cold. So sent DH off to Chow Hound to get something, anything! Chance had to stay in the barn until he came back...he got a direct hit.
I get on the internet...
I see the solution we all know...tomato juice. Don't have any.
I see 1 qt. peroxide (which I only have a little of) mixed with 1/4" baking soda, and a little shampoo, let sit for 10 mins, will do it. So he gets the 10 min. partial dose.
I then see that apple cider vinegar will also do it. So he gets that all over his face/neck too. By now his coat is spiking because it freezes where the wet it (I am careful not to go to the skin).
Oh, I did discover you lose your sense of smell to skunk...when I ran into the house to get help, my husband yelped that I stunk! Chance had barely brushed against me going into the stall, and that's all it took.
DH comes back with Nature's Miracle, and I start the rinse all the stuff I put on Chance off, dry, and NM him. I am now waiting for him to dry again for a second dose.
I think the house smells like skunk, but my smeller is gone. I have had dogs all my life, and this is the first skunked one. And knowing Chance, I have no doubt he'll chase the kitty again!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year! Action Horse Shots!
This is my favorite picture yet! I've been wanting to catch her kicking for the sky, and finally I did it!
This is her getting ready to buck. I know how that feels under saddle! 
She was sold to me as "nonathletic" and "just a trail horse" but I knew better! Sure, she can't do Western Pleasure, but just look at that trot extension! Not a bad collected trot, either. Remember these are all taken in nasty snow with melting ice underneath.
Her canter is nice, too. I like the first shot; I think it shows that she is underneath herself pretty nicely. And her belly isn't really that big in the second shot, but it's such a classic picture!
Now for mini-Cooper's turn...
Isn't he adorable? I must admit I got stuck on him for his cuteness, but appreciate him more and more for his horsey-ness . I suspect there is more to Cooper than meets the eye...as you may or may not know, he's a rescue from Chance's Miniature Horse Rescue that I fostered for a while and he ended up staying. He has an unknown history, but has several health issues. He knows how to lunge, set himself up for halter/show, and I suspect, and will find out this summer, he knows how to drive.
Fun Videos:
Starlette-Tude!
Starlette-Tude.wmv
Mini-Cooper-Tude
I have no idea why he does this, always has! As you can tell, it cracks me up! You must turn up the volume!
Mini-Cooper-Tude.wmv
And to introduce our newest family member...I was also fostering him, planned on letting him move on, but he fit in so well here...already trained, listens well, loves to go out with me to the barn *off leash* and stays with me, doesn't eat grandbabies, cats, or horses...well, he ain't much to look at, but he's got the biggest heart! Meet Chance!
And he adores me so much he even tolerates my stupid human impulses....
Happy New Year All!
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