I found this on Pleasurehorse.com and thought it was too good not to share:
Why do I like horses?
I think I must be mad. My mother wasn't horsey - And neither was my dad.
But the madness hit me early - and it hit me like a curse.
And I've never gotten better. In fact I've gotten worse.
I hardly read a paper - but I know who's sold their horse.
And I wouldn't watch the news - Unless Mr. Ed was on, of course.
One eye's always on the heavens - but my washing waves in vain
As I rush to get the horses in - in case it's gonna rain.
I spend up every cent I've got - on horsey stuff for sure.
I buy saddles, bridles, fancy boots - and then I buy some more.
I can't sew on a button - I don't even try.
But I can back a truck and trailer - in the twinkling of an eye.
It's jeans and boots that I live in night and day
And that smell of sweaty horses just doesn't wash away.
I ache from long forgotten falls.
My knees have got no skin.
My toes have gone a funny shape - from being stomped on again and again.
But late at night, when all is still - and I've gone to give them hay, I touch their velvet softness and my worries float away.
They give a gentle nicker and they nuzzle through my hair And I know it's where my heart is - more here than anywhere.
~ Author Unknown
I've been slacking off from posting and from seeing Lucas this week. Crappy weather combined with year end (working in the accounting department has its downsides) has kept me at home recovering and staying warm. Lucky me, this is only the first year end, although my deadlines got tightened, this is only a warm up to April!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Ground work
Don't know if you've noticed yet or not but I'm a big believer in ground work. Today we went out and did some showmanship set ups, and working with cones (and my ability to to figure out when to stop in relation to them!). Our trot to halt transitions were not so hot. I need to loosen up my upper body so that he can see me moving more... I don't think my stiffness is helping his reading my body language. Then I got the whip out (as a hand extension) and did some turn on the forehand and then some side passing while on the ground. He was reasonably good he tyred kicking, and biting me but gave up after a bit of a fight and went along with it. Its nothing he doesn't know how to do, I wonder what goes on in his brain sometimes that makes him think that striking out is ok when you are frustrated.
Leg is fantastic!! He had another good turnout in the indoor we're hoping by the weekend that we might be able to turn him out outside for a bit. I'm going to start driving him soon to start working up both our fitness levels so we'll be ready to ride by the end of the month.
I was noticing tonight that Lucas has really adapted to what I can and cannot do. I cant hold my hand flat to feed him treats so he eats them out of my fingers, and is very care full to only pick the treats with his lips. He also picks his legs up funny (because I cannot wrap my hand around his leg) and holds them up on his own so I can use both hands to pick out his feet. He is also very good to lead (even when not working working on showmanship) and is very good about haltering and bridling.
Leg is fantastic!! He had another good turnout in the indoor we're hoping by the weekend that we might be able to turn him out outside for a bit. I'm going to start driving him soon to start working up both our fitness levels so we'll be ready to ride by the end of the month.
I was noticing tonight that Lucas has really adapted to what I can and cannot do. I cant hold my hand flat to feed him treats so he eats them out of my fingers, and is very care full to only pick the treats with his lips. He also picks his legs up funny (because I cannot wrap my hand around his leg) and holds them up on his own so I can use both hands to pick out his feet. He is also very good to lead (even when not working working on showmanship) and is very good about haltering and bridling.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Lucas got to play
Lucas finally got to play with a buddy today for the first time since he got hurt! One of the kids had just finished riding when I got to the barn today (who's horse used to go out with Lucas) and I asked her if we could 'borrow' him for a bit so with the BO blessings we turned him out with Lucas in the indoor. By this time Lucas had already had his turnout time in the indoor earlier, and this gelding had been worked decently hard so we thought there would be less chance of them running too much.
Well it kinda worked. Lucas was doing donuts around the younger gelding, biting him and rearing at him trying to get him to play! And they didn't do too much it was actually better when the other gelding gave in and ran a bit because then Lucas wasn't bucking and rearing, he would just trot after him. They played for about 5 minutes then groomed each other for 10. I think Lucas was missing the horsey interaction.
And there was no difference between the front legs when they were done. No extra heat or swelling even quite a bit later. Hopefully were on the upswing!
Well it kinda worked. Lucas was doing donuts around the younger gelding, biting him and rearing at him trying to get him to play! And they didn't do too much it was actually better when the other gelding gave in and ran a bit because then Lucas wasn't bucking and rearing, he would just trot after him. They played for about 5 minutes then groomed each other for 10. I think Lucas was missing the horsey interaction.
And there was no difference between the front legs when they were done. No extra heat or swelling even quite a bit later. Hopefully were on the upswing!
Goals for 2011
So and I quote goals for 2010,
"And for next year;
1) To a great show season with Lucas :) I hope I can continue to ride for a few more years but when that time comes, he should be able to learn how to drive so that we can show in harness.
2) To good friends, and fun at all the shows.
3) I hope that my job continues to go well, and that I might get a raise soon ;)
4) to good National lists for the Apps :)
umm yeah so thats it! All I can say is that I hope the new decade turns out alot better health wise for me than the last one. And now Im off to the barn, to ride the year out in style :) "
Well we did have a great show season, the first show was a bit of a write off but we both improved as the summer went on. I love showing with my friends on the AQHA circuit. Some of my best friends I have met though quarter horses, and friends that have stuck though me thick, thin, and sickness and health.
The job is ok. The better I feel the more I want to just go clean stalls and work horses. Its high stress and low paying.
We did end up on the national list for the Apps, reserve in the open 2yo mares, and earning her open and amature superiors in Halter (and about 10 points away from her youth one as well) She got hurt in June, and was sound by the end of the summer but the owners have brought her gradually back into work and hope to show her under saddle for the summer.
Goals for 2011:
1) If we get to shows this summer I want to enter the ring as confident and as happy as I entered the show ring at the last show! None of this worrying about what everyone is thinking about, no one else's opinions matter EXCEPT the judge!
2) To win a showmanship class at an open show. Lucas is broke enough and talented enough, its just me holding him back! There is lots of local competition so it should be tough enough to keep me working all year.
3) Hope that the RA stopes progressing and that the new drugs continue to improve my symptoms.
4) Go for a ride 'outside' of the ring this summer. Maybe just a walk on the lawn with the kids, but we both (me and Lucas that is) need to get more comfortable without fences all around us.
5) To put Lucas back into a 'normal' snaffle at some point this year. No twisted wires, no curbs, no ports. This will be a chalange but its time for us to try it, if we ever want to try dressage it is the one thing that we NEED to do.
6) Either teach Lucas to ground drive, or refersh his memory. Its possible that he was ground driven before, but I think thats somthing that were going to start working on soon.
So this should do for now, I may amend this at some point but we'll see how the year progresses!
"And for next year;
1) To a great show season with Lucas :) I hope I can continue to ride for a few more years but when that time comes, he should be able to learn how to drive so that we can show in harness.
2) To good friends, and fun at all the shows.
3) I hope that my job continues to go well, and that I might get a raise soon ;)
4) to good National lists for the Apps :)
umm yeah so thats it! All I can say is that I hope the new decade turns out alot better health wise for me than the last one. And now Im off to the barn, to ride the year out in style :) "
Well we did have a great show season, the first show was a bit of a write off but we both improved as the summer went on. I love showing with my friends on the AQHA circuit. Some of my best friends I have met though quarter horses, and friends that have stuck though me thick, thin, and sickness and health.
The job is ok. The better I feel the more I want to just go clean stalls and work horses. Its high stress and low paying.
We did end up on the national list for the Apps, reserve in the open 2yo mares, and earning her open and amature superiors in Halter (and about 10 points away from her youth one as well) She got hurt in June, and was sound by the end of the summer but the owners have brought her gradually back into work and hope to show her under saddle for the summer.
Goals for 2011:
1) If we get to shows this summer I want to enter the ring as confident and as happy as I entered the show ring at the last show! None of this worrying about what everyone is thinking about, no one else's opinions matter EXCEPT the judge!
2) To win a showmanship class at an open show. Lucas is broke enough and talented enough, its just me holding him back! There is lots of local competition so it should be tough enough to keep me working all year.
3) Hope that the RA stopes progressing and that the new drugs continue to improve my symptoms.
4) Go for a ride 'outside' of the ring this summer. Maybe just a walk on the lawn with the kids, but we both (me and Lucas that is) need to get more comfortable without fences all around us.
5) To put Lucas back into a 'normal' snaffle at some point this year. No twisted wires, no curbs, no ports. This will be a chalange but its time for us to try it, if we ever want to try dressage it is the one thing that we NEED to do.
6) Either teach Lucas to ground drive, or refersh his memory. Its possible that he was ground driven before, but I think thats somthing that were going to start working on soon.
So this should do for now, I may amend this at some point but we'll see how the year progresses!
Pictures!
This is the real reason we have so many problems with Lucas front feet, he really toes in on the front.
And then 2 photos, the top one is from yesterday (with my android so less quality) and the second one is from last year Jan 9th
If anything it shows how much more I can trust him now and how he's listening to me for guidence. I basicly told him 'whoa' and ran around to get the photo where the one from last year I was still having to Lunge him with a chain over his nose.
And last but not least!
Once I got a profile shot, Lucas followed me around because he wanted a picture of his 'good side' on the blog :)
And then 2 photos, the top one is from yesterday (with my android so less quality) and the second one is from last year Jan 9th
If anything it shows how much more I can trust him now and how he's listening to me for guidence. I basicly told him 'whoa' and ran around to get the photo where the one from last year I was still having to Lunge him with a chain over his nose.
And last but not least!
Once I got a profile shot, Lucas followed me around because he wanted a picture of his 'good side' on the blog :)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
I love 'show' horses some days.
As I mentioned yesterday, Lucas got a bath. Being the pampered show pony that he is, he has yet to have a roll in the indoor :) It does amaze me somedays that he thinks he should stay clean and the silly little stuff that must go on in his mind. It took him 3 months outdoors without snow for him to finaly have a good roll outside. He would wait untill I gave him free time in the indoor to do it, because he didnt want to get dirty. It comes in really handy at the shows, he loves the clean shavings.
We did our half hour of walking today, then I took some pictures of him all clean and shiny. When our wireless internet is back up I will post them. I tried to get some video but it is just too dark in the indoor. I also made him play with the ball a bit and was able to bounce it off every leg. So hes not scared of it... Were still discussing what to do with him for turnout. Hes not really happy by himself and its now going to be too mucky outside again for him to go out. Were looking at options for an inside turn out buddy but we dont want him to run too much. The only real option is Tanker, who Lucas loves to the point of obsession. They wouldnt run around too much... but he might try to mount her.... sigh.... please geld your geldings early!
We did our half hour of walking today, then I took some pictures of him all clean and shiny. When our wireless internet is back up I will post them. I tried to get some video but it is just too dark in the indoor. I also made him play with the ball a bit and was able to bounce it off every leg. So hes not scared of it... Were still discussing what to do with him for turnout. Hes not really happy by himself and its now going to be too mucky outside again for him to go out. Were looking at options for an inside turn out buddy but we dont want him to run too much. The only real option is Tanker, who Lucas loves to the point of obsession. They wouldnt run around too much... but he might try to mount her.... sigh.... please geld your geldings early!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
maybe im wrong
Well today was bath day at the barn. It was really warm out so although nice for bathing it means that there is less of a chance of lucas going outside. Lucas was feeling really well in the indoor, playing and showing off all of his dressage moves! I'm glad he's feeling better! I make the dession not to press on him then he shows off! Ill try and get some video tomorrow. My iv has triggered an awful head cold so I'm grounded anyways!
Happy new years everyone!
Happy new years everyone!
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