Sitting on Daisy!!

Last night for the second time I saw Daisy laying down. I went out to her and sat by her for a while and then I slowly went around to her back and got on her slowly. I was so proud and happy of her because she trusts me..It means so much. I didn't get to ride yesterday as I had wanted to but I did love on Daisy and I don't know if I will get to today if it rains..we shall see. I think that is one of the most special gifts a horse can give a human and that would be of trust and respect!! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Sunday's Ride and Lunging!!

Today I got to ride and lunge Daisy. I saddled her up and then lunged her. She did really good today with changing directions. She gets better each day and that I am so very happy about!! :) I figured if I saddle her that way she will be ready to go when I am ready to ride then :) She followed me without me even doing anything..that sure made me feel special and happy! Anyway I put the hackamore on her and off we went. She wanted to run but I made her trot the whole length of the field plus some and then let her run. I also got her to go nicely by the road (on the strip with her right side to the road which is the side she always spooks on) and she did pretty good. I think if we work on that a lot this winter by summer she will be doing great. We shall see. I rode her for quite a while with mostly trotting (she is doing really well with that) and then we headed back at a walk. I want to go on a long ride one of these days but it makes it hard with my work schedule and it getting dark early :) Hope you had a wonderful Sunday as well!!

Thanksgiving Day, Friday and Saturday!!

I didn't get to update since Thursday so I figured I would bring you guys up to date :) Thursday we went to my grandparents for lunch and then my sister, cousin and I spent the afternoon reading and talking. Then around 5 or so we ate supper. After supper I headed up to the Lebanon Valley Gym to play some vball with the youth. I got back around 11. Then Friday I had the children I babysit here at my house and in the evening I went to a sleepover with the youth girls (there were approx. 20 girls there) and we stayed up pretty late. I got home here today around 11:30 a.m. After I ate some lunch I went out to Daisy!

I groomed Daisy first then lunged her. I wanted her to do mostly trotting and do lots of direction changes. That is what we did and she did awesome. Since she did so well I stopped her and started walking away without really thinking about it and Daisy follows me. It was really awesome. Then I got her to move her hindquarters (I didn't even have to touch her which was awesome) and I also got her to move her forquarters. She did so well and she picks things up really fast so I went and put the lunge whip and line away and took her on a walk out thru the field. I got Daisy to trot nicely beside me which was really awesome. It was fun just hanging out with her and doing some groundwork!! Other than that I didn't do all that much with her! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

The Day Before Thanksgiving!

Good Evening. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I hope you all have a wonderful one!! I plan to. Hope to maybe get a ride in but probably won't be able too :D

Last night I went over to help my cousins a bit with Beauty. They wanted to know how to get Beauty to switch directions and I showed them that and how to teach her to move her hindquarters and forquarters. Boy is Beauty really looking nice and she really does good with lunging and by the time we were done with her (I started her and then I showed them how) on her changing directions she did awesome. Makes me feel good! I was just out by Daisy loving on her. She is doing just awesome!! :) Hope you all have a wonderful THANKSGIVING!!
I am thankful for so many things but a few things are my wonderful family, AWESOME FRIENDS, a God who answers prayers and of course a great horse!!
p.s. Here are some good Thanksgiving Quotes!!
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.

~J.A. Shedd

Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner

Monday's Ride!!

I got to ride today when I got home from work at 3:30. I went out and tacked Daisy up. I figured I would ride in the field and maybe a tad bit on the road to see how Daisy does. I had some trouble mounting her because she was acting dumb so that is something I need to work with her! I first headed out the field. She walked nicely which was a nice change ;) I then got her to trot. She fought me a bit at first but then she trotted. It took some work till she trotted nicely, fast but nice. I was pleased. We headed out on the road which isn't busy and I figure the reason she spooked a few times is because all the times we have ridden on the road it was at Sharon's and with another horse or two. But she did good and I asked her to trot a bit. Then we came back to the field lane and we trotted some more. She earned her canter by trotting so much so I asked her to go faster and she trotted then I told her she may canter and off she went  like lightning :D I let her run flat out then I turned her around and let her run again only this time it was a canter not a dead run..that girl loves to run..I know I say it a lot but it is true!! But the nice thing is since we worked on trotting when I ask her to go faster she first goes into a trot and then I ask her again and she goes into a canter. Before she would just go into a canter. That had me happy!! So I was very pleased with my girly today!!

Sunday's Ride!!

Tonight I rode Daisy again. I didn't ride as long as I wanted to but it was getting dark. I saddled her up and headed out the field again. I made her trot which didn't have her to happy because she wanted to go but trot she did! We trotted for a good bit and then once she did it good without acting crazy I let her canter for a bit then! She of course LOVED it :) I have a horse that LOVES to run which is good! Anyway since it was getting dark I headed back. Tomorrow if I get off of work early enough I plan to ride for a good deal longer. Part of the reason I didn't ride as long as I wanted to was because I wanted to prepare my Sunday School lesson for when I teach the youth class this coming Sunday! I had a mind block so I rode Daisy :) Hope you have a wonderful week!!

Saturday Night with Lebanon Valley Youth!

As you guys know I went with Muddy Creek Mennonite Church's youth but my mom was getting after me because they don't do that much so I prayed about it. I asked God that if he wanted me to change churches could he give me an open door to another youth group. Well Audrey from our church invited me to a Sunday evening youth thing and I was like Thanks God that is my door. So long story short I am planning on going with Lebanon Valley now (would be the same youth as our church).

Anyway last night we met at Lebanon Valley School Gym at 6. We loaded up into 3 vans and one van went to one lady and the other two vans went to another lady in the country. We gave the ladies money and a Thanksgiving Basket. Then we sang some songs for them and then came back to the school. Then we played vball till snack time then we played more vball till it was time to go home. SO MUCH FUN and I met some awesome people!! Hope you all had a great weekend too!!

Riding Daisy with the Saddle!!

Today I got to ride Daisy for the first time with the saddle since her sore. Anyway I lunged her first and boy is my little girl fast :) She can turn corners like nothing else when she is cantering :D Ask my mom she was like wow she is quick. After I lunged her I took her up to the barn and saddled her up. We have another cut back saddle pad and now I don't have to worry about her getting sore again :) I put my foot in the stirrup and she decided she could walk off. I brought her back and put my foot and weight on her and she didn't care so on I climbed. (I know she isn't sore because I have checked that every day till I knew she wasn't sore and she hasn't been for a while now). We headed out the field and she wanted to run so I asked her to canter. SHE IS SO FAST :) I had so much fun riding her. I got her to slow down a bit for me but overall she did really well. She LOVES to run and I mean LOVES. She doesn't even want to trot. I am thinking it is because of having so many weeks/days off from riding that she has a lot of energy :) I am hoping to ride her quite a bit..guess we shall see!! Have a wonderful and blessed weekend!!

Daisy Laying Down!!

Guess what talking this morning I looked out the window before heading out to pick up piles and give Daisy water and so on and I saw she was laying down so I hurreid out there. She saw me and didn't get up so I was like that is a good sign. I walked out there at a regular speed and the closer I got she didn't move. Then as i got closer she acted as though she was going to get up so I said "easy girl" and slowed down. I went up to her and just sat by her. I was so proud of her and so happy. That just made my day..she trusts me enough to let me by her when she is the most vulnerable. She amazes me more each day!! Horses are so awesome and I said Navajo was a horse of a liftime (he was and still is) but so is Daisy!! I didn't even see Navajo lay down till after I had him a few months and even then he didn't let me by him. I have Daisy only about 3 or more weeks here and she is letting me by her. But she is just special..I know it :)

Horse Therapy!!

Here is a poem for today:

Horse Therapy
I come home from work, I'm tired and I'm grumpy
Twelve hours of stress, No wonder I'm jumpy.
But there's no rest for me, there they stand at the gate
They whinny and neigh, asking why are you late?
I go up the drive and into the house
A frown for my kid, a scowl for my spouse.
They just smile in return, can see it's been a hard day
They know what I need and let me go on my way.
I change to my good clothes, Paddock boots, scuffed and worn,
Faded old t'shirt, jeans that are torn.
Then it's out to the barn, where I feed and I mutter
clean out some stalls and carry some water.
"Groom your horse everyday" I once read in a book
so I pull out some brushes and give each a look.
M'Lady always needs cleaning, Big Jane looks just fine,
I could work on Hawks mane, but I'd be wasting my time.
I put back the brushes and check all twelve feet
Pat 3 velvet noses and give each a treat.
Now walk back to the house, my steps aren't so snappy
I'm more tired than ever, BUT AT LEAST NOW I'M HAPPY.
Poem by D who is Classic Lady Jane's Mom here on HC!
Her number is: 189648
I didn't do anything but love on Daisy yesterday because
of the fact that it was raining the other day..Nothing much going on here otherwise!!

Monday's Ride!!

This evening I did get to ride (didn't start to rain yet). I figured I am not going to lunge Daisy since this morning's crazy lunge session she did well toward the end. I put her hackamore on and then got the bucket and put it by her. She moved a little but not near like Saturday. I got up on the bucket and placed my hands on her withers and her back and she didn't move. I hopped on and she stayed still. I was so very pleased. Such an improvement over Saturday. I was happy! Then we headed out the back field at a walk. We walked the whole way and I am not sure how long we rode for but she did very well. I was so very happy!! Hehe I said that already but it was such an improvement..I almost couldn't believe it. I think that if I wouldn't have lunged her this morning she would have not done near as well because of all the energy she had. I don't always lunge her but I just had the feeling she was going to do fine :) I think it will depend on how much energy she seems to have on a given day! Hope you have a blessed evening!

Monday Morning!!

Wow what a start to a week :D Ok here is how it goes. Daisy was following me around in her pasture so I let her follow me up to her barn to go get the manure fork and bucket (her barn isn't attatched to her pasture..it is in a little corral). Anyway we are almost back in her pasture and I had a hold of her and she jerks her head up and takes off (I was so surprised the halter went right out of my hand). Anyway off runs Daisy. She runs up into the orchard circles back around goes down past the barn by her pasture and then runs up around the one barn again and then comes back to her corral and stops. She puts her head down and eats grass like this was her plan all along. By that time I had my two sisters and my uncle all helping me :D I put her in her corral and cleaned up the manure piles. What a scare. I had no clue if she was going to stick around or run off (I don't know if I told you guys about the time she ran off at Sharon's..also a big scare) but she stuck around and that told me she likes it here (I knew it before but it just confirmed it.). Anyway since I figured Daisy has tons of extra energy I am going to lunge her. I lunged her both ways at a trot and canter. She did really good until the one side she decided to canter and pull really hard on the lunge line (she has done this a few times on that side so I usually don't let her canter until I know I have her attention at the trot (which I thought I had but I think it wouldn't have mattered either way..she was in the mood to run and get her way not matter what) but I have always shortened the lunge line when she tried to run off with me and the lunge line and got her under control). This time I was so tired from running to get her when she got loose (as mentioned before) I couldn't shorten the lunge line fast enough and pull her in a bit so I tripped and then she stopped. (I didn't try tripping..hehe) So I got my mom to help me after that and she held the lunge rope behind me (I had it also in my hand but my mom just held the extra so if Daisy decided to try that again I would have help to hold her (hehe). Well she didn't try it again and she did really good then. I lunged her till she turned her ears toward me and lowered her head. Then I stopped her and she followed me. What a morning. I am hoping to ride her tonight if it isn't raining. I probably will lunge her again tomorrow and see how she does with the pulling..I won't be tired out then so I don't think I will need my mom's help :D Gotta love these young horses with all this energy. I sure can't wait till I can ride her and get her energy under control that way!

Sunday!!

In the quiet light of the stable,you hear a muffled snort,the stamp of a hoof,a friendly nicker,gentle eyes inquire,"How was your day old friend?"and suddenly,all your troubles fade away. -Unknown

I just love this quote :) It is so true!! Anyway yesterday since I wasn't feeling so well I didn't do anything but love on Daisy..she probably enjoyed the day off...hehe! And it looks like we might get quite a bit of rain here this week so I guess we shall see how much I get to do with her. Daisy's sore is actually healing well. The proud flesh is pretty much gone and she isn't sore anymore (I press on the sore and she doesn't flinch or move at all). So I am happy. I am going to ride her bareback this week yet and we are going to see how she feels by next week and maybe then saddle her up. We shall see! I am not planning on rushing her. I hope you had a wonderful and blessed weekend!

Saturday's RIDE!!

I rode Daisy again this morning :) I got my bucket out and put it in the yard and brought Daisy over to get on her. Well right away I had a problem with her moving her but over so I couldn't get on her and I figured it out that it was because she is used to me always getting on her with stirrups and she can't really get away from that but she can get away from me when I try to get on bareback by moving her behind away from me. I was like this isn't going to work you are going to have to listen to me no matter what (see my cousin Melanie wanted to ride so I wanted to get on Daisy first and ride a bit before Melanie got on). It took quite a bit of doing but I got Daisy to stand nicely beside the bucket and I got on her. The first few times she walked/trotted off before I was on right (which I figured she would do so instead of swinging my leg over her I just kinda put my body over her first). Finally I got on her and then I rode her for a bit and she didn't want to turn and such but I worked with her a bit and she did real well so I went over to the bucket to let my cousin get on Daisy. Daisy gave us a bit of a run around again before standing by the bucket again but she did stand there again like she was supposed to!! Then the few times my cousin tried to get on Daisy moved before she (my cousin) could even get on so I got Daisy and got her to stand nicely again and then I got on her. She took off again before I was ready so I grabbed on her neck so I wouldn't fall off. Crazy horse. I figured out that this is something we are going to work on :D Then since I was on already I got my cousin to get on behind me with Daisy standing nicely then I got off and led my cousin around :) I think although it might not seem like we accomplished much I did get Daisy to stand nicely besdie the bucket a few times and that is good :)
My cousin wanted me to see me join up with Daisy so I lunged her and then stopped her and got Daisy to follow me. I think that is one of the things I love the most is having a horse that follows :) Overall today was already a successful day!

400th Post!! Friday's Ride and Lugning!!

Today I did ride Daisy for a bit :) Well first I lunged her to see how she was doing then I got on her. Her sore is not really sore anymore and is really healing up!! The proud flesh is pretty much gone now and I think the healing process will really speed up soon! Anyway I rode her bareback and just for a little but but enough to get her to listen to me. I rode just at a walk because I am not used to her enough here at home yet to ride any faster :) Each horse is different as far as their gaits and such!! :D Anyway then I lunged her and she did really good with that as well. She was testing me but I straightened her out and then she listened. I was very pleased. Once I was finished lunging her I turned my shoulder away from her to see if she would follow me and follow she did. It is so awesome. I don't think I will ever get over that :D Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

p.s. Can't believe I posted 400 messages :D Seems like a lot!!

Monday's Lunging and Groundwork!!

If you read my other blog that I sent out earlier then you will know I had some problems with Daisy pinning her ears. Well I figured I am going to work with her this evening if I get the chance. I got the chance :D Anyway I took her into the corral and blocked off her run in so she wouldn't go in there and the other area and then I free lunged her. It isn't really big enough to go faster than the trot but it works for what I wanted to do. Before I free lunged her I got her to move her forhand and hindquarters and she did very well. When I asked her to move her hindquarters she didn't even pin her ears..very good! Once I was done with that I free lunged her. Everytime I asked her to change directions she did so by turning to face me and going the other way. It took forever to get Beauty to do that exact thing..hehe and Daisy does it without thinking!! She pinned her ears (as a sign of agression..I am learning the difference between the agressive pinning and when she just had her ears back as though she is listening to me because I do know that when they are down flat that that is not good..and that is what she did..she would do it for a bit then stop but still not good..not sure what is up with that..she did it a few times when I was riding her..the one time was when I was with Sharon and we rode past other horses Daisy pinned her ears..it is a bad habit!) a few times but I took care of that. I think with a little work on that she won't do it after a while!! Anyway I watched her and she lowered her head and was flicking her ears in as she was paying attention to me. I stopped her and turned away from her and she followed me after a few times of doing this. I was so happy. I praiesed her and told her she is a good girl.

I then got a plastic tarp out. I have always wanted to do this with Navajo but never got around to it. I put it on the ground and as I was rolling it out Daisy comes over and sniffs it and puts her one hoof on it even before I was done undoing it. I was happy with that. She didn't even blow at it she was just curious. I got her to walk over it and stand on it and it didn't bother her one iota. I was so proud. Then after I had rolled it up and was doing a few other things in the corral there she was sniffing it and even tasted it once..LOL. She also stepped on it. I had to think that she is very curious but before she really gets scared about anything she first checks it out. I think that is so awesome!!

Sunday!!

On Sunday I didn't do much with Daisy but I did take her for a walk down the strip (that is the area where I do some of my riding..expecially if I am working on something with my horse) and I found out she is a little jumpy with the cars when here right side is facing the road. Not sure what is up with that but I was thinking that whenever we did ride on the road (which I have with her at Sharon's) her left side was facing the road so I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. Either way that is what I was working with her on. She did pretty well!! I am so happy with my girl. This week I am hoping to do more work with her on groundwork so we shall see! Hope you had a great weekend!!

Monday: Today I was doing some things around Daisy and I asked her to move her hindquarters away from me and she usually does it without any complaint. She got an attitude and pinned her ears. I wacked her good and hard for that then later when I was checking on her sore I asked her to move her behind again and she pinned her ears again which resulted in wacking her again. I asked her a few times and she finally  moved her behind without pinning her ears so I then praised her. Don't know what was up with that..the only thing I can say is that she is testing me now that I am doing groundwork and such with her. Crazy horse!! I love her a lot but she sure can be frustrating :D Tonight if I can I plan to work with her on moving her hindquarters while behaving at the same time :D

Groundwork with Daisy!!

Today was a nice day and since I still can't ride Daisy I lunged her again. She did really good and I got her to canter a few times. She tried to fight me a bit but she soon figured out that isn't going to work for her :D I slowed her down and then got her to stop. I went up in the barn and got two long boards and set them up straight across from each other and lunged Daisy over them. I want to get some PVC pipe but I don't know how soon I can :D I first walked her over them a few times and she didn't care one bit about them so I lunged her over them. She did really good! Then once I was done lunging her I got the lead rope and got her to move her hindquarters. Daisy did AWESOME with that. And I didn't even have to touch her..hehe I used the Clinton Anderson Method..hehe..hard to explain. I also got her to back up. I praised her for all the good work she did. I took her and tied her and then groomed her. I picked her hooves out and compared to the fight she gave the farrier, she did great!! I was so happy!! If tomorrow works out I plan to do the same thing!

Tuesday's Lunging!!

I lunged Daisy today again :) Tomorrow I plan to do something different most likely but we shall see. Anyway I got her to go left right away and she did good. Then I stopped her and she faced me and I got her to go right..it took some persuasion but she did it. It took a few times to get her to change directions without a problem and I was so happy!! I even got her to canter without acting dumb. It was a very successful lunging session :)

Lunging Daisy!

Well I figured since I can't really ride Daisy due to her still being sore (I thought it didn't bother her which it probably didn't the first time but the second time bothered her) I decided I am going to do groundwork and such with her. This morning I didn't have much time but I wanted to see how Daisy does on the lunge line (I lunged her one time in the round pen at Sharon but other than that never lunged her outside of a pen or with a lunge line) and she did ok going to the left (unusual) but resisted going right. It was a good thing to know but since I didn't have time to work with her really I just let her run around to the left a few times and stopped her (she faced me which is what I wanted).
Then later in the afternoon when I took the trash out I took it up to her and let her sniff it. She wasn't in the least bit frightened which was awesome. I rubbed it all over her and she didn't care one bit..I was very pleased!!
This evening then I had some time and I lunged her again. I started her out to the left and then I asked her to stop and turned her around (manually..hehe I hadn't gotten her to the point she did it by herself) and asked her to go right. She kept turning toward me so I just wacked her neck a few times till she got the picture that she has to go right. She went right but it took a bit to persuade her to go into a full circle to the right. I let her lunge to the right a bit then I asked for her to change to the left..without me touching her. It took a bit and some wacks to the neck but she did it. I was so happy..I let her lunge to the left a bit then I asked for a change to the right. She stopped like she always does when I ask her and faces me then I asked her to go right and SHE WENT. This didn't take more than 15 minutes which had me very happy. I thought it was a good start with her. I know that lunging is a good thing to earn respect with so that is my goal. So far I am so pleased. When I stopped her I went up to her and praised her for doing so well! I am very pleased!!