Ride!

I did get to ride today finally after not riding Monday because of canning and then on Tuesday because I stayed at my cousins house and then went to sister's day. Then I came home and was so tired from being up late..lol. So I didn't ride Navajo because I was just too tired!!

I was not planning on riding but then I decided too! We just rode for a little not long at all. It was more of a fun kind of ride more than anything. I want to ride tomorrow again because they cut some corn in the field out back!! YEAH!! I am so looking forward to a nice canter and trotting and all that. I think we shall have fun!

Today was chilly and cold but when I rode this morning it was just right! I hope it is the same tomorrow. I got all the washing done and the house is all cleaned up. I am so happy. Well I have e-mails to answer and other things to do so I am going to go! Have a good rest of the week!

Sunday's Ride!

Yippee! I got to ride. It is windy and a bit chilly but decided to ride anyway. It went very very well and I am so proud of Navajo!!! I decided to ask him to move his hindquarters only twice and he responded almost immediately both times. I didn't ask for it again! Then we trotted and cantered just a little. I rode on the road too! I am going to teach him that when I use my heel it means to move off of my leg when i use my calf it means to speed up! I thought of that the other day and Used it a bit today and He did good. It took a little for him to pick it up but once Navajo figured out what I wanted he listened really good. Now I have to make sure I cue him right!! I think we are getting somewhere in our training! Also he is doing good of not walking off when I sit on him. He is definitely a better horse than when I first got him!!

So far I am doing a really good job on either Riding Or working with Navajo every day but tomorrow I probably won't get the chance to because we are going to can mixed fruit (cocktail)!! So I probably won't be on or get to ride. Have a good evening.

Saturday's Ride!!

This afternoon I got to ride!!! Navajo did very good. We did some trotting but we did a lot of working on him moving his hindquarters! He got quicker and quicker at moving them as we went. Then I turned him around to trot back a little and He took off at a canter. I stopped him and turned him around and got him to go back. Then we did some cantering and trotting. I told him it is rude and not nice at all to run off with me like that just because he thinks he is finished working!! So we did some more work with just trotting and cantering. He did very good. I got back and decided to lunge him a bit and see if he would obey! Nope I got him to do it for a little bit which was a good. I got Rose Mary to help out and he did good. I still cannot figure out why he doesn't want to lunge. Oh well I will figure it out! Have a good weekend. Very chilly here!

Friday's Riding!

I got to ride this morning and it was just a short ride but it was more for fun than for anything else. I can hardly wait till they cut the corn down so then I can ride in the field. We will also have more places to go:) Tomorrow afternoon I hope to ride for a longer length of time but we will have to see! Sorry this is short!! Have a great weekend.

Thursday's Groundwork!

Ok I have made a goal of either working with Navajo or riding Navajo EVERYDAY! Or at least 6 times a week. So I am going to try my best.

Today I did groundwork. He didn't want to lunge (I mean he didn't move his feet just stood still) so I decided to see if I could teach him to trot in hand! He did well. It is good exercise for me..lol.. I also did some with him moving his fore quarters and hindquarters from the ground and since He did it with me on him He did excellant with it on the ground! So it was a very useful training session and I think we both learned something from it!! Have a great and wonderful day!

Wednesday's Ride!

So far I am doing well on Riding everyday!! We will see how long it lasts!

Well I rode this morning instead of this evening because I just figured it would work better if I developed a habit of riding in the mornings because that is how I will do it during the winter. We worked a bit on moving his hindquarters and it is going very good but it will probalby need a lot of work before he gets it down completely. Tomorrow we will probably work on something else so he doesn't get bored. We trotted pretty much and I that is good for him. Other than that I don't really have any updates!! Well Have a good rest of the day!

♥ This Morning's Ride ♥

Good Morning Everyone! For the first time I think anyway I am writing a blog in the morning. Usually I do it in the evening or wait till evening but today I did get to ride this morning!

Dad went away so I got to ride. I was reading over my driver's test manual thingy (the book that you read before you take your knowledge test) before I went out to Navajo. Anyway, I went out and got him and groomed him first. Then I hopped up on him. HE STOOD STILL!!! Usually he starts walking right away and HE DIDN'T! I praised him and told him he did a good job.

Then we started off. A little ways from the barn I told him to stop and he obeyed immediately. I told him to keep going again and he listened to all my leg and rein cues. I was so proud of him. We got down to the corner and I got him to trot a bit. Then I worked on him moving his hindquarters away from me while still ON him. I did that last week (Wednesday) for the first time so this is only the second time. It took a bit for him to figure out what I wanted him to do BUT HE GOT IT!!! I told him to do it again and he did it RIGHT away. I was so happy and proud of him. Then we trotted a bit more and I stopped him and told him to move his hindquarters again. It took him a bit to do it but he did it. I praised him and rode him a while.

Then on the way back when we were soon at the barn I asked him to move his hindquarters again and Navajo didn't do it right away but he did it. I rode a bit farther and got off of him and did some bending exercises. Did good on those and then I took him back to the barn and rinsed him off. Did wonderful with the whole ride and did better than I ever expected. I am so proud. Soon I think we will be able to sidepass and if I can judge by how far we have come with moving the hindquarters and forequarters on him I think it shouldn't take long! Not possitive but I know we can do it!! He is a more responsive horse than when I first got him. Well I got to go! Have a good day!

Another Show!

A donkey you could pet!
Angora Rabbits wool put on a spool!

Rachel petting an alpaca!

A lady in the civil war camp!

People eating and relaxing!

Inside of one of the tents

guy just sitting by the swords

food roasting over a fire.

Yesterday was awesome. It was on the cooler side so we wore our jackets the whole day till we loaded our tractors then we got warm. But it was an awesome show. the cool thing about it was it wasn't just tractors and stuff. it also had a civil war reenactment camp. it was so cool. they also had percheron horses pulling a wagon. they were very beautiful. i also got some horse stuff there. just some signs that you can hang up. a lady made rachel a corn husk doll! and they had some rabbits that they made yarn out of their hair. the rabbit was sitting on her lap and she just pulled the hair out of the rabbit. the rabbit was shedding and she said that is what the rabbit was used for. i read about it in the paper (lancaster farming a farm paper) and it is very interesting. once the rabbits get to old they are good to eat so they kill it and sell or eat the meat. they also had alpacas there and had things made out of the hair. very neat. i was impressed and want to go again. there were many other things there. they had a lady dipping candles over a fire. i can't think of much else right now but it was awesome especially if you like history but i think it is interesting to others too!

♥ Family Pictures ♥

Navajo and Ruth Ann
Ruth Ann

Rose Mary

All us girls and Navajo

Navajo and Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann Rachel and Navajo

Rachel

Rose Mary and Rachel

Ruth ann, Rachel, Rose Mary

Rachel

whole family

All us girls and dad

Mom and Dad

Dad

Left to Right. I am standing Rose Mary on the tractor. Mom standing. Dad on the tractor and Rachel on the pedal tractor!

It was a really nice day to take pictures! the photographer is my cousin Verneda! This is our big barn and nice background for pics. Enjoy!

♥ RIDING ♥

Ok so I got to ride tonight:) Navajo and I did some serpentines at a walk and trot! We did a little of cantering but at the very end. After we did some serpentines I got him to move his front end and do backing and halting! He did everything immediately of which I was so happy and proud of him! I wanted to see if I could get him to move his hindquarters when I was on him and HE DID IT!!!!!! I was so proud of him and I got him to do it like 2 times each on each side! I was so proud of him. As soon as he figured out how to move his hindquarters we headed home after I let him stand there to give him a break for figuring out what I wanted him to do! Tomorrow we will do it again tomorrow if I get to ride. We hope to take pictures but if it is too cool or raining we aren't going to! When we got back I groomed him and just loved him up! well gotta go! Have a good evening!

New Pictures of Navajo Taken 9/16

Tomorrow if it doesn't rain we will take family pictures and I will have tons to post. So sorry I haven't updated for a bit but I was away and I haven't ridden in a week because as I said I was either away or it was raining. Navajo did have a bath last night which probably was the last one of this year! So now he is clean and you see the benefit of the bath! I hope to ride tonight. Enjoy the pictures!

Labor Day's Ride!!

I am doing pretty well with my resolution to ride every day! So far I did yesterday and tonight! My parents are going to leave on Wednesday and come back either Friday, Saturday or Sunday to go to a show two hours away and they haven't decided if I may stay home or not. Most likely. Then that means I get lots of riding time and reading or whatever I want. I might have two of my favorite cousins come over and hang out and ride and just have some girl time:)

Anyway finally for tonight's ride! I rode Navajo just with reins and his halter. He did very good. We worked on circles a lot because he wasn't paying attention but we perfected the circle with just my leg and rein. We are getting better:) Then I got off of him and got him to lower his head and also got him to move his head as far to each side as He could. Did so well! I had a great Labor Day and I hope the rest of you do to;) Have a good evening and great rest of the week!

More Sayings

A horse is the most honest creature in the world - if she's doing something wrong, it's probably because you told her to!

My horse is very polite, he always lets me go over the jumps first.

You can tell a gelding, you can ask a mare, but you must discuss it with a stallion.

You know that you've been around horses to long when you have visitors coming over and you clean the stable.

Great riders are not great because of their talent; they are great because of their passion.

You know you love your horse when your mouth waters at the sight of a wagon-full of hay.

A basketball game can change a mood for the week, but a horse can change the course of a lifetime.

A love for a fad may last only a day, but a love for a horse is never ending.

Horseperson's Glossary
Auction: A popular social gathering where you can change your horse from a liability to an asset. Colic: Gastrointestinal result of eating at horse show food stands.
Colt: What your mare gives you when you want a filly.
Endurance ride: End result when your horse spooks and runs away with you.
Feed: Expensive substance used to manufacture manure.
Fence: Decorative structure built to provide your horse something to chew on.
Grooming: Fine art of removing dirt from your horse's body and applying it to your own.
Hock: Financial condition of all horse owners.
Longeing: Popular training method in which a horse exercises his owner by spinning him in circles until dizzy
Pinto: Green coat pattern found on a freshly washed gray horse left unattended in the stall for 10 minutes.
Rasp: Abrasive metal tool used to remove excess skin from knuckles.
Stall: What your rig does at rush hour in an unfamiliar city on the way to a horse show.

It's just half halts, pirouettes, flying changes, and extended trots. Relax, what could be easier?

Most of these are unknow!

Sunday's Ride

Ok I did get to ride tonigh! We tacked up and rode out. We did a lot of cantering and trotting and he did pretty good. I did some serpentines and circles to make sure Navajo's attention was on me and it was. Then toward the end he decided to run off:( TWO TIMES!! Well he didn't get the chance to, because I used the one rein stop on him both times. I turned him around and both times he acted as though he was going to balk but all I needed to do was back him up a bit and then he went forward. Slowly but he went forward. Then the third time he didn't run off with me of which I was very proud of him. We headed back and he didn't try to run off with me.

I asked my neighbor when he is going to cut the corn and he said 3 or 4 weeks. So I only have to wait that long till I can have a good long canter and gallop across the field:) Oh how I love autum and spring but funny enough that is about the only reason because i have a nice place to run him at!!! Well I need to head to bed but everyone have a great Labor Day and a good week at school or work or whatever you do:)

More Horse Quotes

I just couldn't stop myself from posting more. I love these things! I think I am addicted. LOL. anyway Enjoy!

If you don't know where your'e going, the horse will decide for you.

In tug-of-war, the dumber animal always wins.

My new horse was sold to me as a real gentleman to ride. He is, when we have to go over a fence he insists on ladies first!!!

Silence takes on a new quality when the only sound is that of regular and smooth hoof beats.... - Bertrand Leclair

We dominate a horse by mind over matter. We could never do it by brute strength. - Monica Dickens

You don't have to go to the stables and ride EVERY day, just the ones that end in "y"

Definition of a horse: A beast that bites at one end; kicks at the other; and is slippery in the middle.

A pair of boots and chaps do not make you a rider.

When the Lord maketh a horse to lie down in green pastures, you better get out of the way.

Even the greenest horse has something to teach the wisest rider.

Riding is really pretty easy. All you have to do is sit straight, look up, carry your hands, put your heels down, squeeze in your leg, keep your chin up, your butt back, and LOOK GOOD DOING IT!!!!!!!!!!!

♥ Horse Quotes ♥

ok i think this is the last of them:) hope you enjoyed them so far!

All I need to know in life I leaned from my horse - Vol. 1
1 When in doubt, run far, far away.
2 You can never have too many treats.
3 Passing gas in public is nothing to be ashamed of.
4 New shoes are an absolute necessity every 6 weeks.
5 Ignore cues, they're just another prompt to do more work.
6 Everyone loves a good, wet, slobbery kiss.
7 Never run when you can jog.
8 Never jog when you can walk.
9 And never walk when you can stand still.
10 Heaven is eating at least 10 hours a day...and then sleeping the rest.

All I need to know in life I learned from my horse - Vol. 2
1 Eat plenty of roughage.
2 Great legs and a nice rear will get you anywhere in life. Big, brown eyes help too.
3 When you want your way, stomp hard on the nearest foot.
4 In times of crises, take a poop.
5 Act dumb when faced with a task you don't want to do.
6 Follow the herd, that way you can't be singled out to take the blame.
7 A swift kick in the butt will get anyone's attention.
8 Love those who love you back, especially if they have something good to eat.

All I need to know in life I learned from my horse - Vol. 3
1 Leather and chains can make anyone look studly.
2 Cold bathes are a form of cruel and unusual punishment.
3 You've got horse sense. Use it!
4 If god meant you to be incased in metal, He would've made you a Sherman Tank.
5 If someone's constantly on your back, lie down and play dead, or run like heck.
6 Happiness is a warm, fuzzy blanket and someone to share it with.
7 Who needs nuclear power when you've got natural gas?
-Unknown; I just loved these:) had to laugh!!

Why go over this jump when there is a perfectly good path around it?
- Unknown

ok i got some or most of these from: http://www.horses.co.uk/horses/quotes_141-150.html Enjoy!

♥ Horse Quotes 2 ♥

ok here are some more quotes/sayings. Enjoy!

Lessons From Your Horse:
When you're tense, let me teach you that there are lions in the woods, and we need to leave. NOW!!
When you're short tempered, let me teach you how to slog around the pasture for an hour before you catch me.
When you're short-sighted, let me teach you to figure out where, exactly, in 40 acres I'm hiding.
When you're quick to react, let me teach you that herbivores kick much faster than omnivores.
When you're worried, let me entertain you with my mystery lameness.
When you feel superior, let me teach you that mostly, you're the maid service.
When you're self-absorbed, let me teach you to pay attention!! (I told you about those lions in the woods...)
When you're arrogent, let me teach you what 1,200 pounds of yahoo-let's-go! speed event horse can do when suitably inspired.
When you're lonely, let me be your companion. Let's do lunch. Also breakfast, dinner, and snacks.
When you're tired, don't forget the 600 pounds of grain that need to be unloaded.
When you're feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of "veterinary services, additional."
-Unknown but this one i had to laugh at!

In training horses, one trains himself - Antoine De Pluvinet

Horses comment on a car -"150 horsepower, big deal. I'd be impressed if it ran on hay."
-Unknown :)

Jumping is just dressage with speed bumps!
-Unknown

Riding a Shire is like a moving sofa!!! - Unknown

Be wary of the horse with a sense of humour. - Pam Brown

Do not underestimate a horse's pride, or he will dent yours! - Unknown

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. -Unknown

When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have. - Sir Winston Churchill

ok I think I have one more blog. Hope you guys enjoyed this and please either comment or e-mail me in what you think of this!

♥ Horse Quotes ♥

Ok, I know I did a few of these before but I found a website full of these:) Also I got a book that has pretty many in and anyone who gets e-mails from me will see the quotes under my signiture.

Grooming: the process by which the dirt on the horse is transferred to the groom.
-Unknown

The love for a horse is just as complicated as the love for another human being...If you never love a horse, you will never understand.
-Unknown

A horse is like a best friend. They`re always there to nuzzle you and make your life a better place.
-Unknown

A stubborn horse walks behind you, an impatient horse walks in front of you, but a noble companion walks beside you.
-Unknown

There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle; one is a sense of humour and the other is patience.
- John Lyons

One reason why birds and horses are happy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.
- Dale Carnegie, How To Win Friends and Influence People

Care, and not fine stables, makes a good horse.
- Danish Proverb

Every time you ride, your either teaching or un-teaching your horse.
- Gordon Wright

You cannot train a horse with shouts and expect it to obey a whisper.
- Dagobert D. Runes

How do you catch a loose horse?Make a noise like a carrot.
- British Cavalry joke

It excites me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower.....even in this space age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton, and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder, and challenge.
- Marguret Henry

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink," is an old saying that is not exacly true, because anybody that's ever been around horses would know if the horse didn't want to go to water then it wouldn't!!

Ok I have some more I am going to put on here but will put it in the next post. Some of these are funny and some of them have a lot of truth to them!

New Pictures Again!

Tonight I have new pictures of Navajo again. I also uploaded them to HC:)

This morning I did some groundwork with Navajo and all I did was work on him moving his shoulders over. I figured I am first going to get him really good at moving his shoulders and hindquarters over and then we will work at sidepassing!

I then folded yesterday's wash and read dishes away. Nothing to exciting. I also put all the jars of tomatoes that we did yesterday i washed them and read them away. Now we are all done with tomatoes and just need to do some fruit and jelly! This afternoon I cleaned the house. I washed up the kitchen floor and dusted and vaccumed the rooms. Also cleaned the bathroom my least favorite job:(

I then made supper. We had stuffed peppers and potatoes. The stuffed peppers were easy to make and fun too! I washed the supper dishes and then got ready to ride.

I went out and cleaned out Navajo's hooves and bridled him up and rode him. We did a lot of walking and some trotting. We did serpentines (sp) and stopping and backing. We had a lot of variety. No cantering just trotting and walking. But we had fun and Navajo was responding very well. Then I took some pics of him and came in here and am now putting them on the computer! Well I have other things I want/need to do before I head to bed so Enjoy reading about my day and the pictures!! Have a great evening!