My Weekend!!

Well as some of you know our family was at a tractor show this past week (Fri and Sat.). I think the show went pretty well. It wasn't a big show and so I don't have any pictures. It was fun because I met another horse person there who I am going to keep in contact with or at least try to anyway =D I also got to finish a big book and start the book The Shack (for more info check out: http://www.theshackbook.com/ ) and wow is it a very good book. I haven't finished it yet but I am going to reread it! =) And get one of my own..I got the one I am reading at the library. Also I was taking care of the neighbor's dogs (pictured above). She had some puppies right now so I took some pics of them. If you want to see more go to my Photography blogspot. Then as you already know I am going to be at my aunts this next week so I won't be updating till next week sometime. But I might just get some pictures of the children and such and post them on here. If I can take the camera along that is =D Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day!

Monday and Thursday's Groundwork!

Well I did get to work with Navajo Monday and today and both sessions were pretty much the same so I will summerize them here =) Well I mainly worked on walking him in hand with some trotting mixed in. Though what we mostly worked on was stopping and turning. He has a bit of a problem stopping when he wants to be done (weather on the ground or in teh saddle) so I figured a good place to work at that is from the ground. That went ok..Whenever he acted like he didn't want to listen I just asked him to back up. He got better at backing toward the end =D I also got him to move his forquarters as well. That went well. Other than that it was nothing to big just some little things.

I did give him a bath Wednesday evening and that felt good to him =) I have been so busy this week that I haven't done much with him and next week I won't be home at all from Tuesday to Saturday evening because I will be helping my aunt Julia. She has three children: Solomon (4), Timothy (1 yr 1/2), Josiah ( 1 1/2 weeks old) and Timothy had down syndrome. So I will be helping with housework and whatever needs done =) So we shall see! That is what is going on here for now! So if you don't here from me next week that is why! Have a wonderful weekend and a great Memorial Day!!

A Lesson and a Ride!

Rachel and I both got to ride today. Taking a dear friend's (Thanks Lisa) suggestion I have decided I am going to start giving Rachel riding lessons. I wasn't sure how it was going to go but decided to try it. It went very well. Navajo, ever being able to adapt to one rider to the next, did wonderfully. I was not really surprised =) Rachel did quite well. Ok so most of you know she is 5 turning in August. Well we started off with me leading her around on Navajo in a circle. I had Navajo in the bridle so that she could get the idea of holding the reins in her hands. I got Navajo to follow me around (which he does anyway) with Rachel riding. We walked around the top of the barn hill behind the bank barn and down the banks and did turns and such to get Rachel to figure out how to turn him and such. They both did wonderfully with that.

Then I decided ok want her to feel like she is riding on her own so I went into the barn and got her to walk around in circles out front. The reason I went into the barn is because I need to figure something out so he listens on her and doesn't follow me around =D She did well with that. Navajo kept wanting to stop but I told Rachel jsut to kick him to tell him to go. He did. So then I said ok now it is my turn to ride =)

I hopped on Navajo and headed toward the strip. I didn't need to worry about warming up because he had been going at a constant walk for at least a good half hour to 45 minutes (I didn't wear my watch so I am not sure exactly how long of a ride Rachel had =). So we headed down the strip. He didn't want to go at first but he went. We walked most of the way down and I asked for a trot and then we turned the corner and I asked for a canter =) We did a lot of trotting and cantering down along the road on the strip. Once I figured we had enough I headed toward home. Most of the way home I turned him around to head a little ways down the strip. He didn't like this but after some balking he did go =) We just went to the second telephone pole down then I turned him around. I got home and I groomed him good. I also praised him for doing so well with Rachel then adapting to me and doing good for me too! I am so pleased! I did ride bareback though. My plan had been to ride with the saddle and do groundwork but then my plan changed when I decided to start giving Rachel riding lessons. So I guess we shall see how things progress from here.

A Drink for a Rainy Day!

Chai Tea Latte

2 c water

2 Lipton Tea Bags

1 cinnamon stick

1 whole clove

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

2 1/2 c milk

1/3 c sugar

Cool Whip

ground cinnamon

Combine water, tea, cinnamon stick, clove and ginger; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in milk and return to a boil for 1 minute. Strain and discard nonliquid ingredients. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon. Yield: 4 servings.

I had this today and it is very good!! I enjoy hot drinks and this is one I really like =) If you try it let me know because I want others input!

Monday's Groundwork!!

Yesterday I didn't get to ride because it rained so instead I did groundwork. I walked Navajo around the big yard (it was after dark) and I was seeing how well he walked beside me. He did real good with that. I also worked a bit on him turning with me. We did ok with that but that is going to need work =) Then I stopped him and got him to back up. He actually backed up quite well!! Then for a reward we walked in a straight line for a bit. Then I stopped him and I got him to move his forquarters. He is so much better with that than he was at one point =) Then I praised him and I walked him a bit again. Then I stopped him and moved his hindquarters. That went ok but not as well as the forquarters. That was ok. We then headed toward the barn. I put him away for the night because it was to be rainy overnight too. I actually believe it is to be rainy till tomorrow! I guess we will see if we are able to do more groundwork and such over the time it is rainy. Have a wonderful day!

Sunday's Ride!!

I did get to ride today =) I rode down the strip and Navajo acted like he was lame but just to make sure I turned him around and HAHA he walked fine..He just didn't want to go. So I went down the strip the whole way and we did some trotting. I also did some cantering and I got him to do surpentines at a trot but also at a canter. A bit more difficult but quite fun!! I got him to move his hindquarters to the right first then walked some of the way home. Then turned around and got him to move his hindquarters to the left. He did good. Then I came home and we had company. I gave Rose Mary's friend a ride for about a half hour or so so that made up an hour ride (I rode for a half hour) =D FUN FUN!! So it was a wonderful day ended with a great ride =)

Meeing HorseChannel Friends!!

L to R: Lisa, Paula, Me!

Well as you can see I got to meet Lisa from OH (Zans Fancy Superstal on HC) and Paula from France (Petite Fleur on HC) both from HC..I had already met Abby frome NY (Maybel on HC) as some of you know and this was also an awesome meeting. I LOVED meeting both of these wonderful ladies and I so hope I can meet some more of my HC friends in the future. It was awesome meeting them. I feel like something with in me changes. Don't know what it is but something =)! I feel like I have known some of my HC friends all my life. God has definitely been good to me! ) I want to thank God for making it possible to meet these wonderful women and I ask him that I may meet some more of my HC people in the future. That is why I love the word someday..It holds so much possiblily and promise! =)

Thursday's Ride!

Well I finally got to ride again. I haven't been able to ride since Monday for various reasons. Tuesday I was with my family and we went out for supper. Then last evening we had rain so no riding then either. But I rode today and I rode bareback for 40 minutes (got interrupted to help dad). Navajo and I headed down the strip. My uncle's big John Deere was right where we usually go down so we had to go around it. Navajo wasn't to sure about this at all =D He stopped and I asked him to go forward then stopped again. Then I told him to go forward again. He went. I got him to go up to the tractor and he sniffed it and we stood there for a bit so he could sniff it and deem it ok to go past. He did and so down the strip we headed. He was acting funny again. He likes to act as though he can hardly go away from home but believe me the minute we are headed home we are off like lightning =D Anyway we went the whole way down to the strip and we did a lot of trotting and some cantering. I am going to see if I can teach him to go from a walk to a canter instead of a trot to a canter. I have done it pretty much that we would go from a trot to a canter but I was reading that a horse can learn to expect that so I am going to teach him to go from a walk to a canter. Hehe sorry if that is confusing. He did well with that because we worked on that a bit today.

He also did well with stopping. Navajo is getting better with that. I am very pleased with him. We also did some backing up. He didn't want to do that but he did it for me.

We did some surpentines at a walk and then I was like for something different lets do it at a trot. We did and it was a bit of a challenge. I think we are going to do that more often =D We were down along the bottom of the strip for about 30 or so minutes then we headed back. I headed up behind the steer barn and we did some cantering back there. That was lots of fun. Cantering is so much fun. Then I got off and I got him to back up the hill a bit then we headed back to the barn. I groomed him and loved on him. It was not the most eventful ride ever but I think it was fun and profitable!

p.s. I am not sure why I am not able to achieve my hour goal but I am going to keep working at it =)

Monday's Ride!!

Picture of Navajom, our kittens and their Mother

Today I rode Navajo bareback. Since he got his hooves trimmed this morning I decided to take it a bit easy and just walk and maybe trot a bit. Nothing big or anything. We walked down the strip and he balked a little but he did go. We went halfway down and I asked him to stop with my seat and closed hands. He stopped pretty much immediately. But that was going away from hom but still good! Then we turned around and we headed toward home. I didn't go the whole way home but turned around and headed out. Navajo didn't like this too well but he went. Then we turned home and I took him to the big yard. There I walked him around and around because he didn't want to head down the strip. So we did some backing and I got him to move his hindquarters and such. He eventually decided he would rather go forward than do this in his opinion mundane stuff =D We did go down the strip a good ways. I was pretty happy about that although it didn't go as well as expected. Then I headed back to the big yard asked for a stop then got off. Then I got him to do some of the things we did on his back from the ground. I got him to back up, move his hindquarters both ways and move his forquarters both ways. I also did some in hand work by getting him to walk beside me. Navajo is definitely improving in that area!! I gave Rachel a ride then I groomed him and loved on him. Over all it was probably a half an hour to 45 min ride/work session but I didn't do to much with him. I think it went pretty well!!

New Arrivals..sort of =)

Fancy, Lily and Mother cat!
I love this one of the mom cat and the two kittens =)

Fancy to the left and Lily to the right.

I believe (above) this photo is my very favorite of the two.

Here are our kittens =) They were born about 6 or so weeks ago but the mother hid them VERY well! So she brought them down to the house and made sure my mom saw her and the kittens. I snapped some pictures of them and then later got some pics of them and their mom on Navajo. The mother didn't want to stay on so well but I believe I got some good photos of her and them. Their names are Lily (my kitten) and Fancy (Rachel named her and Rose Mary and her clame Fancy). We are pretty sure they are girls but they are kinda small to tell so I guess we shall see. Enjoy the photos!

p.s. we have some trouble telling them apart but Lily is just a shade lighter than Fancy!

Redone Livingroom!!

Above: Before
Same area but after

Before

After

Before

After

After

Ok here are the photos I promised to show you of our livingroom before and after it was done. The quality and lighting of the photos don't do the room justice =) I think it looks tons better in living color =D Anyway Enjoy and I hope you get an idea what it looks like now and how how it did before.

Windy Ride!

Today I rode bareback =) I rode for about 45 minutes. My hour goal hasn't been working yet but I figure I will work up from 45 minutes. We shall see.

It was quite windy so Navajo did quite a bit of balking. It wasn't a cold wind mind you just a strong warm wind. First we rode up back then out front so we could head down the strip. He kept balking to go down the strip so I just walked back and forth in the big yard. Finally after 15 minutes of persuading him I got him to go down the strip. I sang Patience is a virtue to myself so I wouldn't get impatient. And you know it worked. He eventually went down the strip. We went down the whole way and when we turned the corner I asked for a trot. He trotted for me. Then we turned around and trotted back to the corner. So I don't keep saying that I will just say this we were down there the whole time. So we trotted and cantered back and forth along the bottom there. He spooked a few times and I almost lost my seat about 3 times. Didn't fall off but was close =D

I got him to move his hindquarters as well. I also got Navajo to stop by closing my hands and pulling my stomache in and pushing my seat forward. He stopped for me. I was happy about that. The stopping needs some work but I think we should be able to pefect it a bit more by summer's end. Overall it was a good ride. This is the condenced version of the ride, by the way =) Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Wallpaper and Snoring!

Just learned something new about my horse: He snores when he sleeps laying flat out (sounds do cute) and when he stands up he stretches himself. =) ♥

Anyway, The living room is done. Mom is shampooing the carpet now so we will move the furniture back in tomorrow. That is the plan anyway. I didn't ride at all today because my day was spent doing other things. First thing this morning I was down at my mom's mom cleaning then we got hom around 1. Then we went to the wallpaper place and got wallpaper =) Came home hung the wallpaper and just got finished a bit ago. Did a few other things in between such as eat supper and mow yard. But I am sure glad to be done. I will probably post before and after pictures tomorrow. I did get to spend some time with Navajo this evening hence the reason that I found out those things about him. He is so cute and I love him so much!! Well I am tired so I am signing off. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

A few Pics!!

Here are some pictures taken over the last two days..Thought you might enjoy seeing these. He had a bath Tuesday so he is nice and clean =D

Thursday's Ride!!

Today I rode bareback for about 45 minutes to an hour. I also took some pictures yesterday and today and I am hoping to edit them sometime soon. Maybe today. I was quite busy otherwise though. We are redoing our living room (needs it bad) and we painted the trim and ceiling today. Also fixed some of the plaster. HOPEFULLY tomorrow we will wallpaper it then shampoo it on Fri/Sat. That is the plan anyway. But tomorrow my mom and I are going to go to my grandma's to clean first thing in the morning though. Oh and once the living room is done I will send before and after pics.

Anyway about the ride! I headed down the strip. At first Navajo acted as though he wanted to balk but I didn't let him. So we got to the top of the strip and I asked for a trot. Off he went. It was a pleasant surprise because he usually doesn't trot down the strip. This time we went the whole way down at a trot. I turned the corner and then trotted to the edge of the field turned around and trotted part of the way back home. But turned around, and trotted (amazingly..usually he balks) and turned the corner to go back to the edge of the field. Then at the edge of the field I gave him the cue to stop. He did. That was pretty cool as well. I got him to move his hindquarters a few times as well. We are getting better at that. We were down there for a while but today we did a lot of trotting and pretty much cantering as well. What I did a lot this time was I would trot along the bottom part of the field then turn the corner as though I was heading home and then trot back around the corner out toward the edge of the field again. Navajo did so well and I had SO MUCH FUN cantering.

Finally I cantered him toward home (the whole way pretty well) then turned him around again. He kept balking but eventually I got him to go again then EVEN TROTTED HIM OUT TOWARD THE CORNER. I was so happy. I had a smile on the whole way home (we walked). Then I got off and loved on him and groomed him.
p.s. I hope this made sense!

Wednesday's Ride!!

I rode with the saddle this evening! I wasn't sure I was going to go down the strip but I did. First though I went behind the steer barn and rode there for a little. Then we headed out front. I headed toward the strip. Navajo balked a bit but he did go eventually. We walked most of the way down and then trotted the whole way back. It is so awesome I feel like I am doing quite well at holding my hands in the right position and also with the posting! Then once we were the whole way back I did some trotting and cantering in the big yard. Navajo did pretty good. I even got him to move his hindquarters a few times. Then I headed up to the barn to put the saddle away. I met up with my aunt Barb and we talked for a while. I love talking to her!! =) So I didn't ride bareback like I was planning but I was fine with that. Tomorrow I hope to ride longer tomorrow. We shall see!

Tuesday!

I didn't ride yesterday! I just groomed Navajo and loved on him. We had canned 100 some cans of string beans (we are still cooking them. Each batch takes three hours!!! That is what the recipe book says :O) Anyway I didn't get photos of Navajo either but hope to soon..Sorry this is shorter than normal but I am so busy right now!

Monday's Ride!

Today I got to ride. I didn't ride all weekend long because I had my cousins here but I had SO MUCH FUN!!! =) Anyway I rode down the strip 3 times. The first two times I rode right after each other. First I rode down then trotted back then down again. I stopped him down at the bottom. He did good with stopping. We then cantered back to the big yard. I walked around the big yard a bit. Navajo balked a bit because he didn't want to head down the strip again but he went. I WAS SO HAPPY. I couldn't believe he did it again!! But I was happy he did. We cantered back. Then when we were in the big yard I got off and walked him around a bit. I had groomed him before the ride because he was QUITE MUDDY =D So since he was dirty I washed his mane and tail and then gave him a full bath. Does he ever look nice. I hope to take pictures tomorrow or sometime this week. We shall see on that=) Hope you had a wonderful weekend.