I'm Still Here!

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted. Wow, a lot has happened ! Lucky for Facebook...I can backtrack my comments and not have to rely so much on my memory!
Did a lot of trail riding in July/August/September.  Starlette is great, has turned into a wonderful, albet hot, trail horse. I've gotten very good at sticking on her...loose hips work almost every time!

I ended up taking in a horse to help someone I knew who broke her leg; Daisy had her own blog. She is a rearer, but very smart, and I learned a lot about handling this type of horse. I had her for a month until I broke my arm – with the help of dear Starlette!

To make it brief - seemed like such a big deal at the time -  I had taken her to an obstacle clinic, and we were working on a hula hoop ground obstacle Starlette spooked at something, jumped forward, knocked me over with her shoulder, and the best I can figure is I pulled her over me by the bridle with my weight and she couldn't help but step on me. I had two bruises on my left leg and the ulma /elbow broken bone into three pieces my left arm. I ended up with a plate & 5 screws. They were just removed in February. I had a really cool cast that allowed me almost full use of my arm while broken!. All healed now, and just happy to get back on track. Even though I was healed, I didn't feel the process was complete until the plate was removed.

The day before, I took in another miniature horse foster – a 21 year old stallion (now ex) named Rocket. He was a 2 on the H. scale. Here he is when I got him in September.

That's my fat mini-Cooper in the background trying to figure out how a mini can be so skinny!

Here he is in November...amazing what food will do, huh?  Can't wait to see him in the spring..he's put on even more weight!  I”ll post new pics as soon as I clip him this spring.


Oh, I was back riding in October....can't keep a horse person...dismounted !

My grandson turned one. Ain't he a cute equestrian?

And I got a new horse....for Christmas! I've been looking for a second riding horse so I can drag...er bring...my husband riding with me, and I was given a wonderful 7 year old appendix quarter horse gelding named Friday.

 He is green broke, but very smart and calm. He does have nasty cracks in his feet, but my farrier says the are correctable. Yeah! I will post pics of those before and after two trims soon.

Starlette likes him...

And I got a surprise boarder...she normally boards her horse over the winter at places, and she ended up here. Her horse may be here longer than normal as she has surgery due in the spring. Her horse is in her 20's, a retired broodmare...and her owner wants me to help start her under saddle. This could be fun..but I may want some help with the first backing!  And I can use all the financial help I can get !

All winter it snowed so much I've just been riding hit or miss. But that's winter in Michigan, and I look forward to spring...and I promise to be more faithful with my blogging!   I will end with this picture of Starlette so fit after all those miles of riding...we'll be back there again soon!
 

Why Starlette Got the Day Off ...or...Another Adventure On the Trails!

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!

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!

Here's the Big Stinker!

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!

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!

Peace

Tonight was so beautiful, so serene. Almost full moon shining down on glistening snow. Air crisp and clear. I played with both my horses, then took my dog for a walk through the moonlite pastures. While my dog ran around, sniffing rabbit trails and following scents only he could smell, I stood, looked up at the moon, and let peace flow into me.

Young Horsaii

It's been a while...been very busy.  Just that time of year! Hope all are well!

I have been wanting to do this post for a while.  On Mugwump Chronicles last January (Wow!  A year almost!) Janet posted about being Horsaii...you can go Horsaii Here to read it and all the wonderful responses.

What I wanted was to see if anyone had pictures of when they were young and Horsaii.  Here is my photo:

I still remember my stuffed horse that I slept with...I can't find it anymore, and can only assume my mom threw it out.  Okay, I am almost 53, so that would have been a long time ago!  Poor hairless, earless, beloved creature!  I keep my eyes open for plastic horses like those in my lap...thought it would be fun to find someday.  I remember endless hours with them.  Didn't matter to me that they were not real; I made them real in my mind.

Then there was my first true love...I was told I could get a horse when I was 18, and that year I went to a riding stable that got horses to use up before they went to slaughter, and Applejack stepped off the trailer.  I was *in love*!  He was an aged barrel horse,  probably navicular, lame only once that I remember after a parade on asphalt. We had a lot of adventures together, and he was a great horse for me.

Damn I was thin then!!! Do you think I can get there again? 

Wasn't Applejack built!  Nothing fancy, but he really was a powerhouse!  One of our favorite things to do was chase herds of deer across the fields!  I had him for years before I gave him to someone.  My only regret was that I did not keep him (too much emotional trama at the time) I could never find out what happened to him.

Rest in Peace, wonderful horse!!! May your fields always be green!

The Weekend of Firsts

The Weekend of Firsts....first, the most important....


                              Meet Oliver, my first grandchild!

                 Pretty hard to top, huh!  Won't try!  Isn't he the best?

He was born Friday, November 6th at 11:47am , 8lbs 13oz, 21" long.   They say there is nothing like being a grandparent, and they are right!

Starlette had some firsts, too.  First time leading a trail ride!  She was a little looky, but she's a watcher-mare and is supposed to be.  The horses we were with didn't have the long stride that she has, so we ended up going first.  She was so good, kept everyone safe, and I kept letting her know it!  Her second first was leading everyone down  a hill to a creek that people water their horses as...since she was lead mare, she went right down and put her feet into it (horses are not allowed to go through the creek as the bed is unstable).  Then today, there was this huge series of large puddles...maybe 20 feet round or more...and I decided to just let her splash in one and then go around. She walked right up to it...and went through!  It was over her knees deep, but she acted like she had done it many times before.  Her last first was at the watering creek....she actually took a drink!  That was a relief in itself as I don't like her not getting enough water on warm days on the trails.

And one for listening to your horse...we rode a lot today.  There was even this 1 1/2 mile sand road we cantered/hand galloped on.  I took advantage and asked Starlette for collected canter, regular canter, and fast canter/hand gallop.  We turned off the trail, and Starlette started bucking, which of course, I stopped her from doing.  She kept trying the rest of the ride. When we got back to the trailer, and after I tied her, she started bucking again..in series of two at a time.  We all though it was because she was in heat.  Got lots of suggestions, from raspberry leaves to marbles in the uterus.  However, when I washed her down at home later, I found she was very ouchy in her rear muscles, and was trying to tell me that! She had gotten a really good workout, and was sore.  She got some Absorbine on her back and rear, and some Devil's Claw in her food to help. 

Did I say she's a great horse communicator if you listen?

If you would just stop and think about why I do something, you would understand me better!

Another First...Trail Riding Alone!

I got brave and decided it was time for us to hit the trails alone.   I could not find others to ride with this weekend, and wanted to get past depending on anyone to go ride.  So even though it was only her fourth time on trails, it was time!

I think Starlette spooked - in place, only tried to circle back twice at the beginning. - at *everything*.   We first walked down past campsites to Ant Hill Trail, (named for it’s very large anthills)  and do you know that picnic tables, water pumps, and outhouses *may eat horses*? Silly mare!

Then we went onto Ant Hill Trail and spooked up a herd of deer, that spooked her! She was really scared, but stood in one place when they took off after one initial leap forward. Of course, they followed the trail, so we kept spooking them. I think that worked out well, as Starlette finally got used to them and just watched.  By the end of the ride, she got much better at spooking - stopped the "gotta be ready to flee" dropping down of shoulders, and just stood and trembled.

So, what may eat horses at Silver Creek, not a total list:

Picnic Tables, Water Pumps, Outhouses, Mud, Deer, Downed Tree Limbs, Tree Limbs Wacking Horse Sides, Squirrels, Vehicles, Houses Beyond Treeline, Kids Playing In Houses Beyond Treelines, Shotguns Going Off, White Trail Markers, Green Trail Markers, Leaves On Ground, Leaves On Trees, Leaves Rustling In Trees, Chipmunks, Pine Trees, Ant Hills, Giant Tree Mushrooms, Sand, Horse Trailers, More Horse Trailers, Grills, The Other Outhouse....

I'm sure I forgot some....

My back aches from holding myself loose and relaxed, yet centered and balanced in case she bolted.  I felt myself tense up a few times, but made my hips relax so that Starlette would not pick up on it.  She was very brave for the fourth time on the trails...and alone!  I only had to push her forward a few times...and one was returning to our trailer crossing the parking lot...she was *shocked* at all the trailers and horses there!

I was just glad that we did not have to pass any horses going in the opposite direction – I do not know if Starlette would insist on following them, or listen to me.

Of course, I think she wanted to stay...took me 5 minutes to load at home and 25 to load at Silver Creek!  All in all, we had a nice ride, and I saw her confidence build by the end of the ride, so we are going back again tomorrow! 

For fun: Picture from last week's ride at Silver Creek taken by one of the other riders:

At the Trailer

 

                Taken Looking Back At me...Check Out Starlette's Glowing Eyes!

If the Saddle Fits....

Sorry for taking a while to post...I've been very busy with my trailer refurbishing (blog to follow), but I just got fixated on saddle fit...not that I was not concerned before, but I suddenly became aware of how subtle changes can make a big diffenence.

When I got Starlette, she was a 6 year old, not matured or filled out yet.  Heck, she was only about 15.1 hands, and now she's pretty darn close to 16!  The western barrel saddle I bought to ride in fit her well...my biggest concern was her high withers, and that saddle never came near them.  I then switched to my english saddle.  Starlette had always been prone to buck at a canter, was hard to get into a canter (mostly my fault, bad signals), and as I became more knowledgeable, I wondered if a different saddle would help.  I also felt that riding in my english saddle would make me a better rider as I had much less to depend on for balance, etc.

She became much better with my english saddle; I had bought a riser pad because it was too close to her withers.  With the pad, I could get one finger in, which at the time I thought was enough.  She also did not act up with it...she stopped all bucking (thankfully!) when I asked her to canter.

These last two months when I started trail riding, I again wanted to be sure she was as comfortable as possible, since we were no longer on level pasture.  After my first two rides, I decided to pull out my western saddle and see how she did.  She had not had it on for almost 2 years. 

My first warning something was not right was that she pinned her ears and swished her tail in a complete circle (did you know a horse could do that?).  I ignored her and rode her around for about 20 minutes. I liked how I felt so snug in the saddle, but wasn't sure about how Starlette felt.

The next day I again put it on..same reaction, only worse.  I started having my doubts, but rode her for about 30 minutes...about 20 minutes in, she pinned her ears, and pranced in one spot, refusing to move out.  I made her obey, then quit.  Pulled the saddle off, and it had rubbed the skin off bloody around the girth area

I posted the saddle on Craigs List and sold it a few days later.

I freaked out when I found white hairs around her withers from the pinching of the western saddle.

So I became fixated these last few weeks on saddle fit.  I learned a lot!  I found out my english saddle was bridging, too wide, and that I had been sold a back riser pad, not a front!  I promptly cut out the extra bumps in the back of the pad, which fixed my wither problem  and the width...I now have 3 fingers without me in the saddle, and 2 with me!  I also moved the saddle back barely an inch, and no more bridging!

I then moved onto pads and girths.  I have two pads...a nice thin one, and a white fluffy one. I also have two girths...one that is fluffy, and one that is a synthetic material, more like a fabric than leather.  I found with my fluffy pad/fluffy girth, I lost 2 fingers again.  I put the thin pad and non-fluffy girth, and have my 3/2 fingers.

The final test was riding.  I first rode with the thin pad/non-fluffy girth.  Well, my gal sashayed all over the place!  I never felt her move so freely except when I was bareback riding her, and even not then, as she was really feeling my every move!   Her hips rocked, her shoulders reached out, and she moved with forward with gusto!   I actually had to hold her in at a canter!  I could not believe the difference!

The next day I tried the fluffy pad/fluffy girth.  Again, no matter what I did, I could not get my 3/2 fingers.  I decided to ride just to see what she did.  Back to the same old thing.  I had to work to get her to move forward.  After about 10 minutes, I changed back to the thin/non-fluffy combo...and she hustled her butt all over the place!  She reached forward, was underneath herself, and had big movement!  I had my 2 fingers at a hand gallop with me leaning a bit forward.

I am still amazed at the difference that just a simple thing like a pad/girth change can make in the fit of a saddle.  I have learned quite a bit, and will always make sure that Starlette is comfortable. I always wondered why she moved so nicely when I lunged her, and yet when I rode, she was so tight.

Starlette also got ridden bareback for about two weeks until she was healed.  Pics of her jogging and posting trot - I do not recommend bareback, by the way!  My husband was the photographer and did not quite know what I wanted, and did not get any bareback canter pictures.   Do not laugh at my fat ass!  I am on a diet, and have already lost a few pounds!  How come cameras and riding make you look fatter?  And why does it take such a picture to encourage you to lose some weight?  I am posting two-fold..now I am committed to losing weight, and also so that people can see what a pretty girl I have!








Western Jog

Sitting to a Posting Trot
Yeah, Like I'd Post Bareback!






And finally...a contest.  Name the look on Starlette's face...she's just been loaded in the trailer.  For those who are wondering...I use a rope halter under her leather one to control her. She ignores the leather halter, but the rope halter demands respect!  I then tie her with the leather halter as I don't want to put any pressure on her head while trailering. And yes, I know the rope halter is low...it slipped during her shenanagans!

Is that a "look" or what?

They *Do* Get Your Intent!

Very neat thing happened today, showing how our horses can pick up on our intent and respond.

I normally put Cooper out with Starlette in the evenings -  they love each other, and I do not worry about her hurting him, or I would never put them together. Since day one they have been bonded, and even when in full heat, Starlette does not squeal or stamp her feet at him, which is even weirder considering this is just his second year as a gelding, and she does that to other horses.   What is even funnier is her grooming his back and him grooming her leg...and I will get a video of that some day!  But I digress.

Cooper has been naughty lately coming in at night.  He usually lets me walk up to him and catch him, but the last two weeks he's been running from me to graze more.  Well tonight,  he not only ran from me, but all the way back into the big pasture.  Would not let me catch him at all.   I know it's because I have not been giving him the attention he normally gets and is acting out a bit.   I decided to do some free-lounge training with him, and grabbed my lounge whip, walked back to the pasture, and closed the gate so he could not run back to the barn.  Now, Starlette is still out and following him around, and I decided to see what she would do -  she needed the extra exercise, anyway, if she started cantering around, so I left her in the pasture with us.

I get Cooper galloping around and around, and wait for Starlette to also start up.  As I am turning, I don't see her (it is getting dark and I am focused intently on Cooper). Cooper makes the full circuit, and I see Starlette - grazing!  I really expected her to start galloping around, too, but she seemed to know this was about Cooper.  Every time around, he'd gallop right past her, and she never even picked her head up.

We were out for 15 minutes before Cooper decided he had enough and settled down.  By then he was huffing and puffing, and I told him to walk, which he did, around the pasture.  It's about 1/2 and acre, plus or minus, so I had to walk around with him.  Well, Starlette walked too, right behind me.  I wish I had been videoing it...Cooper walking, me walking about 10 feet from him at his shoulder in lounge position, and Starlette behind me about 5 feet.

I just think it's really interesting that Starlette, who has been free-lounged before when being naughty, knew who was the one who was getting worked.  She really picked up on my intent, and did not react at all to what was going on...just observed and waited for us to be done.

These horses continue to amaze me!

A Night At Dawg's

In my other life, I am a car nut.   My husband's first passion is cars, and even though I have always loved and been fascinated by them, he really showed and taught me that there was so much more than a shiny paint job and loud motor, and fed my love and admiration for cars and the people who build them.

In this state - Michigan, the birthplace of the automobile - during the summer, you can just about find a gathering every night of the week after work. People hop in their old cars, their new cars, their race cars, their import cars, their muscle cars, new, refinshed, or orignal, stock or modified, and just hang out together. It's virtually a walk through history, across generations and likes and dislikes. People just coming together to be with other like people, to admire the Great American Dream.

That said, and since this is geared  - sorry, couldn't resist - towards my car friends, I shall stop talking and have you enjoy the photos that I took one night this summer at a place called Dawg's Dog House, where people started meeting at 7 and went well past midnight, as you can tell by the darkening pictures. Just a warning...there are a lot - 71- and ends appropriately with a hearse!

Enjoy!  A Night At Dawgs 2009

Second Trail Ride

Still haven’t figured out how to post a comment on my own site - even my techno-geek son can’t figure out what’s up. Must have a corrupted code or something. And it’s too beautiful out to sit in and play with it. But thanks all for the comments!

And Mugs, my mare is very clear on what she wants/needs. Asks nicely, then shouts if I don't listen. A very clear horse communicator!

Which leads to thoughts about listening to your horse. I see so many people just force their horse to do something, and I do understand that they must listen to us, but we also need to be aware of what they are trying to tell us, too. Like Starlette last week - her back clearly was sore at the end of the ride. She was ouchy the rest of the week. The trainer I got her from would have spurred her on and not listened, until Starlette bucked to communicate. She’s already shown me that if her saddle doesn’t fit, she will resist, and then buck. That’s her way. I try to always be aware of any behavior out-of-the norm for her and then try to figure out why. I have found we have almost no incidents when I take the time to listen.

Some horses will continue on and do what we tell them no matter what. One woman was horrified to find large welts on her horse’s back after the four-hour ride…she paid decent money to get a custom-made and fitted saddle, and assumed it was fitting fine, only to find it was not. That dear horse just kept going. In hindsight, she said he didn’t to load that morning, which was not his normal way. Was that his way of saying something was wrong?

In today’s rush-rush-hurry-hurry lifestyle, we obviously need to slow down and listen. Particularly to our horses. Have any of you had an Aha moment of what your horse was trying to communicate to you?



Second Trail Ride

It was a beautiful morning. I let Starlette out for a few hours before we had to leave since the ride was not supposed to start until 11:30. About 9:30, got her, went to load. She resisted a little, but it only took half-an-hour this time! Yeah!

Arrived at the trailhead on time, and only one trailer was there from the group. Another group was there with mules (Oh, I love their bray!!! And their ears! Maybe I can get one for a husband-ride. Their personalities would match!), but the other 15 or so riders had not shown up. I connect with the other rider who was waiting, and he told me that the other part of the group ran into (cough, cough,) loading problems and would be an hour late.

So we waited. Starlette was good for a while, and then started digging. I swear she could be a dog! She had a nice pit made by the time the others showed up. Once the others started unloading, she really got excited. By the time everyone was ready, she was totally wet with sweat. Running in rivulets down her sides and fetlocks.

Did I mention she was also in heat? Super sensitive and hyped up. Took about four tries (I lost count) to get her to stand still long enough for me to mount. Then she danced around, did not know where to go…it ended up there were eighteen riders that day!

My biggest concern at that point was to keep her from kicking – she is learning that, no matter what, she is not allowed to side up to a horse and kick! She doesn’t try when they are behind her, only if they go to pass.

We finally hit the trails, and I ended up spending the first 20 minutes or so just unwinding Starlette. She finally relaxed into a nice, long, reaching walk. I think she was still a little stiff from the Sunday before, but so was I. It was going to be an easy ride as there were just too many horses and riders of different levels to do anything difficult.

We reached our first descent, the horse ahead got to the bottom, and we started down. We were about three-quarters of the way down, and suddenly there was all this noise behind us, and rocks and sand bouncing all around. I was about to turn and look when Starlette leaped ahead (luckily I held on!) and half-spun. The horse behind us must have not waited until we were all the way down, and then slipped and slid down the incline – and I don’t know how close they got, but from the sound they were right behind us. No wonder Starlette jumped! She did not want any horse sliding into her!

Settled her down again, and we continued on. She was so good, going where I asked. The trail went up and down, along swamps and valleys. All the horses seemed settled, content, and quiet, with only minor incidents.

We then came to a stream at the bottom of a gully. The trail went down, across what was probably a three-foot wide stream, then up again. As we approached, I noticed someone who had been up front on an Arab was off to the right side about 5 feet or so from the trail, but I was more focused on Starlette and her reactions to the stream, and she did not like crossing water in the past.

She was so good – took one look and leaped across it. However, at the same moment, the Arab decided to rear on the rider - and all I saw was feet and belly!

The Arab’s rider got him under control, but Starlette took personal insult to what he did, and kept trying to swing over to kick him. She was really pissed, and didn’t care what I was telling her. The Arab’s rider told me to let her kick him, but since I was teaching her trail manners, I was not even going to let her get close.

We passed after a small battle, but she knew that horse was behind us, and fought me the rest of the way back to the parking area. At first I couldn’t figure out what was going on, but then I realized what she was trying to tell me – that the horse who insulted her was behind us and she wanted to teach him some manners.

We finally got back to the lot, and she did calm down the last 10 minutes are so. She got on the trailer pretty well – I’ve been using a rope halter under her leather one because that has more bite when she pulls back, but tying her with the leather one, and I forgot to put it on, so she pulled back a few times until someone put their hand on her butt and kissed – she scooted right in with that!

Again, had a great time, and Starlette just gets better with the trailer. I want to ride alone, but I think I need a few more group rides under my belt before I try it!

Our First Trail Ride

Been meaning to get this blogspot going before this. Had plans on my birthday to start it, which is in February, and now it’s September. Where does the time go?

Since Sunday was Starlette’s first trail ride, I decided that it would be a good place to start this blog. It was the beginning of new things for us.

For those who don’t know, Starlette is a now 9-year-old Appendix Quarter horse that I got about 3 years ago, started but green broke. After a year, I was tired of riding her around the pasture, so I found a two-horse ramp load trailer in 2008. Having read about loading, I thought she would just hop on after just thinking about it for a while.

Ha!

She battled me all last summer trying to get her to load. I found out she previously had a loading problem with it from someone who knew of her past, and I had never been told. She reared, she kicked, and she refused. She ran around the sides of the trailer and pulled me with her. She broke a halter and ran away in the pasture. While I know there are worse out there, I was really concerned with her behavior.

I tried all the techniques I read online from trying to feed her in the trailer - did not work - to lunging her outside the trailer and trying to lead her in, which totally freaked her out. I realized later she had been hit with a whip by previous trainers trying to get her to load. I tried pulling her in and releasing the pressure when she moved forward. She reacted to the pulling by rearing in the trailer, hitting her head on the top, and flying out backwards. I tried forcing her in with a buggy whip. I growled. She reared and kicked. When I finally got her to go in, I tried the backing out/driving in over and over. She was difficult to get in, and rushed backing out. When she hurt herself by gashing her leg on the side of the trailer, I quit for the year. I had won – I could get her in and out - but it was not pleasant or safe, and not my idea of getting a horse to load.

While the trailer sat in my yard, and my husband reminded me of the money we spent on it, I ignored it to make other progress with Starlette. We worked on collection and started lead changes. We worked on cantering without bucking. I worked on centered riding, getting a better seat and balance. I met my goal of riding her bareback at a canter. We started small jumps. All this didn’t come easily, but we bonded and made great leaps forward. But something was missing. Both of us were bored.

So I started eyeing my trailer again. I wanted her to load, but needed better advice. Over the past year or so, I had discovered Mugwumpchronicles - a sensible, experienced trainer who has a talent of getting to the heart of a horse problem and helping people solve it, while not asking for anything in return. I believe she truly does it for the love of horses and their people.

Her advice was simple - get her on, take her somewhere, then get her off. No more hysterics. No more drama. Use a long cotton line, run it through the front, tap her on the pasterns with a lunge whip. Pressure and release. Don’t plan on going anywhere. Don’t give up. Have patience.

Just do it.

(I apologize, Janet, for shortening your wonderful advice for the sake of the blog!)

I knew that I could not trail ride Starlette by myself – I was unfamiliar with the trails around here, and I know how wired she gets, and didn’t want to risk getting hurt by myself. I got lucky and found Michigan Horse Chat one day. This is a nice group of people who simply go trail riding and are willing to have anyone come along.

Things were falling in place.

The ride was last Sunday. I needed to at least get Starlette on the trailer once before the ride. My plan – take several hours if needed, gently yet firmly get her on the trailer, drive around the block, get home, unload her, and be done.

Took me one and a half hours to get her loaded. I did lose my patience at one point, but I remembered Janet’s advice, and relaxed. Starlette got past her stubborn spot (which I am finding is in her nature to resist then give in), loaded, and off we went. She did get lots of apples in the trailer, but none after she unloaded. I was happy. It took a long time, but I would just plan that into my timing on Sunday.

Sunday morning. Got Starlette loaded, took 45 minutes. In hindsight, I should have let her graze for a while in the pasture before I tried to load. I should not have had coffee! She had a huge fit going from stall to trailer. Rearing. Kicking. I also am positive she picked up on my excitement – I was really eager to go on the ride. I got pissed. She got pissed. I took a deep breath, relaxed. I threatened her with staying in her stall all day if she didn’t get on. She sighed and with very little encouragement, walked on.

After a 45-minute drive, we pulled into the horse camping/trail area at Yankee Springs Recreation Center – 5,000 acres of preserved land. I opened the escape door of the trailer and Starlette nickered at me. Then she realized that there are horses all around. She got excited, started neighing. I unload her, tie her up with a hay bag, and she is good – grabs a mouthful of hay, looks around, dances around, grabs another mouthful of hay. But she behaves...doesn’t try to break away, settles down. I sigh in relief. That part was easy.

Saddling goes very well. Everyone else is getting ready at the same time, and we all mount up together. Then the fun starts! Starlette is so excited by all the other horses around that she cannot stand still. We ended up side passing across the parking area in all directions. She was all snorty and blowing, and dancing around. Quarter Horse brain gone, Thoroughbred brain in (with apologies to TB people, but that's how I think of it!) I think the others took pity on me, and we moved out very quickly.

She shied and stared at every rock and stick and poop pile for the first 30 minutes - but she when right past them when I asked her to. We were third horse in line – there were seven of us – and whenever the horses ahead of us went down a gully or around a bend, she panicked and I would have to hold her in at a walk, and we ended up jigging. She was quite a handful at first, even kicking sideways at the other riders who tried to pass her, but as the ride went on, she relaxed and started to settle down. And behave. My Prima Donna Diva was starting to have fun!

We crossed a road. We went down steep hills. We went up steep hills. We went over logs. We cantered around and through a sand dune. We worked on galloping along a sand road instead of just cantering (too much WP training!). We worked on tucking her hindquarters underneath her going downhill. I two-pointed going up hills so she could figure out how to travel. She started to learn how to pick her way on a trail.

After an hour, our group took a bypass to avoid a fallen tree on the trail and got lost. In the woods. Of a 5,000 acre preserve. Okay, only part of it, but a big part of it. For two hours. Yup. Starlette learned to bushwhack. Over large logs, and fallen trees on hillsides. Sharp turns with logs underneath. Cutting through forest understory. Up hills, down hills. Good footing, bad footing. Finally, our leader found the way out, and we all laughed about it, teasing her that from now on we stay on marked trails.

We were not home yet – we still had to ride out another hour. Poor Starlette was exhausted. We took the last position – all the other horses were conditioned trail horses, and I had not intended for Starlette to start her first ride this long. She was so tired her smooth-as-glass trot was choppy and hard to ride. Her back (as was mine!) was sore and tired – which she reminded me of when I sat back to far by pinning her ears. I had to ride with my weight a little forward and off her back. However, she lost her need to be with the other horses. I would let her slow down, and then she would trot to catch up to the others after they were out of sight, but that was more for me than her – I was tired and wanted to go home, too, and didn't want to get lost again! When we started we had planned on about two hours, and it was now four hours later.

Hmm...anyone hear the theme song for Gilligan's Island with a twist?

We finally made it back to the trailers, and Starlette saw there were more horses, and even being as exhausted as she was, she still got excited and danced around. I wonder if I have an endurance horse?

We unsaddled, the horses ate some hay, we all relaxed, peed (people and horses alike), and started to load up. I was anticipating a hard time with Starlette – she was eating hay and dancing around with excitement seeing the new horses going by. I went into the trailer to put hay in for her, and she saw me in there, and started pulling on the tie, neighing – obviously upset that I was inside and she wasn’t. I untied her, led her up to the trailer, and tried to send her in, and she just kept watching the other horses. So I ran the lunge line through the inside of the trailer, stepped inside, called her, and she looked at me and walked in.

I made sure she got a lot of apples for that one!

I am so proud of her – she was wonderful. I expected her to be excited, but she did everything I asked on the trail, and only hesitated at the beginning of the ride. The other riders – experienced trail riders – also said she did great.

I really love my horse!

Oh, and we are going back again Friday!