Thursday's Ride!!

I went on a ride first of all with Daisy with Sharon and a rider. Daisy was behaving ok..not as well as she could have been. At first she wanted to be right up behind the rider's horse (Sundance) and I got tired of that so I made Daisy stay back behind everyone and that sure didn't make her happy!! But by the end of the ride she was listening and had her head long and low. We got back and we took Misty and her baby Patience for a very short ride (15 min). That was tons of fun. Once we got back Lillian and I got on Daisy and Curly bareback and took them for a very short just walking ride..That was lots of fun as well!! We came back and I groomed Daisy then headed home! I won't see her till either Monday or Wednesday now.

I am leaving tomorrow to go on Mini tour with Joyful Hearts Chorus. We are going to VA and won't get back till late Sunday night. Please pray for us as we sing in the different churches and as we travel!! Thanks!!

Wednesday's Ride and Rodeo Practice!!

Yesterday I rode Daisy first on a ride with Sharon and three other people. I rode Daisy in the saddle for a change because someone else was using the stirrups. Daisy did really good but she was fighting me for some reason. She had done awesome on Saturday and on Monday (had her head down nice and she looked like a western pleasure horse at a walk) but then last night she was acting nuts :D Well she settled down but not as much as I wanted her to. We got back to the barn and I left her saddled because I was going to ride her again. I got on Sundance with the stirrups and did the poles and jumping with her!! She did awesome. Then I got on Speedy and did the poles with him and it took me a bit to get him to do exactly how I wanted him to do them but once he did them he did them right!! By that time it was raining so I unsaddled Daisy and hosed her off. She dried for a bit and then it stopped raining so we went for another light ride. Daisy did tons better and her head was long and low like it should have been the first time around. I was so pleased. She slowed down again and was listening to me!! Looked nice and collected too! Today it is kinda stormy so probably no riding but I plan to groom her and love on her a bit!! :)

New Look!!

I blacked out the stuff behind Daisy :)

Here is the new header and new pics beside each new blog post (beside the title of each of the blogs)

I would love to know what you all think!! Is the name of the blog visiable in the header at the top there?

Pole Bending, Jumping, Daisy and Curly!

Last night some of us practiced for the rodeo. I was helping even though I am not going to be in the rodeo (I have a youth thing that weekend)!! I had saddled up Daisy in the stirrups again (I haven't one time yet ridden in the saddle there at Sharon's..hehe) and we went out to the meadow where the barrels, poles, jumps and other stuff is set up. Lillian was riding Curly again! Well we waited in line to do the poles (there were some other girls there besides just Sharon, Lillian and I). When it was Daisy and I's turn I just went thru the poles at a walk to let Daisy figure out what I wanted. The second time thru we went at a trot and it didn't go to well but I knew Daisy needed to figure out what I want exactly. We went thru them a couple times and the last time she really did good..we just trotted but wow she turned really nice..I was really impressed. After I had ridden Daisy thru the poles that last time she did so well I came back and Lillian was sitting on Curly. I asked her if she wanted me to take him thru the poles. He has done this before last year so he knew what we wanted :D She of course said yes so I took him thru. She had taken him thru a couple of times before and he did ok..He did ok the first couple of times but I was used to riding my small quick horse Daisy :D and so I cut it to close with Curly then. Then I came back and I am not sure what all of a sudden made him decide to rear but rear he did. Now this was not the Sunshine rear this is Mr Curly and his halfhearted rear. I couldn't figure out what his issue was because he hasn't tested me since I put him in his place here. Well we went thru the poles one more time and he did ok but not great at all...well I was sitting on him and Sharon comes over and I had looked down at the saddle and I was like hey I bet I know why he was acting dumb. His saddle was against his withers. So we put another pad on and we were set to go. He didn't act dumb with me again. Poor guy was hurting. Somebody else had saddled him up but I think it wasn't their fault...anyway I took him thru the poles again and we didn't knock any over and he did really good. I got off him and got on Daisy and Lillian got on Curly :) Then I jumped Daisy over the poles..that she really seems to like!! I am happy with that...Then we ended on a good note and I took her in the barn and brushed her and loved on her a bit. I helped Sharon with the chores and then I headed for home!! It was an enjoyable end to the day!!
I am planning to go to Sharon's Wednesday and Thursday..Friday I need to get ready to leave for Mini Tour with the chorus. We are going to VA this time around. It is just for the weekend. We will be back Sunday night sometime. I am so excited..I plan to take my camera along and I will let you guys all know how it goes. We have had 3 programs so far and they have been going well :) Hope you all have a great week!!

Thursday's Ride, Misty, Friday's Ride, and Saturday's Misc!!

I figured instead of making a couple different posts I would just put my whole time at Sharon all in one lump :D Well here we go!
Thursday's Ride:
  Thursday I got to Sharon's around 5:30. I usually get there earlier but I worked later which was fine. Brian (the one who used to usually ride Sunshine) was there as well. Some of you know of the big problem I had with her Monday. Well Bernell worked with her and she did better for him but she still acted like a brat and Earl Dean and Sharon talked it over and they decided instead of knowingly endangering their friends with Sunshine they are going to sell her instead. They have had her since November and since then they have worked her slowly and done a lot of trail riding with her and she has improved on the trails but she still can be very flighty if she is having a bad day. What she needs is one consistant person to work with her (which if the neighbor guy buys her that is what she will get) and she will turn out better I think. I didn't give up on her I just don't see the need to risk myself on her. Anyway Brian was there and he rode Lightning, Sharon rode Bean and I rode Daisy. We rode our usual route on the trails and Daisy and I would run ahead when we were running usually. At the one spot Brian and I were racing Lightning and Curly and they really enjoyed that. Bean and Daisy have a lot of the same personality and if Daisy is like Bean when she gets to be his age She will still be fiesty :D Well we got back and then Brian left and Lillian came. Lillian saddled Curly and I got on Misy (the one with Patience) and Sharon rode Bean again. We wanted to give Misty some exercise and see how she does going away from her baby. She had been out in the yard on a lead rope for an hour or more almost every day since the baby has been born so she has had exercise but we wanted to see how she did with riding. We rode out and cantered one time but walked all the rest...Well Sharon was worried about her tieing up and she actually did then. (Sharon said she never had any of her horses tie up this bad before (she hasn't ever had any of her mares tie up...and she always has taken them out at about two weeks after the baby has been born..the vet said it depends no the horse) and she has always done this way with her mares after they have babies...anyway). So Sharon gave her some stuff to help relieve the muscle cramps and all that but that didn't help so she called the vet and he came out aroudn 12 am or so...We ended up staying up all night with Misty and almost lost her. She is doing better now thankfully but that was not a fun night at all.

Friday's Groundwork:
   Which brings me to Friday..We stayed out in the barn all night then and went into the house and slept from about 5 till 7 and then the vet came again and did some more stuff to Misty (won't go into detail). We went in and ate some breakfast food for lunch. After lunch we slept (well I did) for an hour and a half. After that we were just doing odds and ends. Around 2 or so Andrea came and she practiced in the meadow for the rodeo and I just groomed Daisy and took her out to the meadow and jumped her over the jumps and took her thru the tires..She enjoyed that a lot!! This was all on the ground..I didn't ride her at all. Then I took some pics of Andrea and also of Daisy!! That was Friday then.

Saturday's Misc:
   Saturday then it was raining when we got up..I went out and fit a halter to Daisy so I could go to Becky (a harness shop) and get a green halter for daisy (lime green). Sharon needed to go to the farm store anyway so we made a trip there...we came back and I put Daisy's halter on and we did a few things around there and then we ate some lunch. After lunch we did some barn work. We moved some gates around and made some stalls and unloaded sawdust. Just barnwork that needed done. We worked till around 7 then Sharon and I took a Lazy ride on Bean and Daisy. That was just plain fun. Then we came back and I came home. Not sure when I am going again but hopefully Monday or Wednesday!! :) Hope you have an awesome week!!

Wednesday's Ride!!

I got to see Miss Daisy again last night ;) When Cheryl and I got there (I took my older friend Cherly along) Sharon, Andrea and Lillian were all waiting for us. We discussed what we wanted to do, either ride on the trails around there (only an hour or so) or ride up to Woodcrest and ride the trails there (there and back = 3 hrs). The end vote was ride up to Woodcrest. So that is what we did. We went up there, ate some supper, rode around on the trails and then headed home. There was a log in the middle of the path and we could have walked over it but Daisy and I jumped it as did Curly and Lillian and Andrea and Lightning. So awesome :D We also galloped twice..Daisy really loved that..she is learning to collect in the hackamore when we ride and that is good :) Then after we got back Daisy and I and Andrea and Lightning did some jumping in the meadow. Daisy and I jumped the tires and Andrea and Lightning jumped the jump :D The tires are there so we can teach them to stick their hooves in them as we walk over them. I did that with Daisy too after I had jumped her. She did awesome. Then I hosed her off and put her in the main ring. After that we kinda did whatever till about 9 or so and then Lillian reminded me she wanted me to help her join up with Diamond her almost year old colt. I was like ok. I showed her what to do with him and then I let her take over. It took a bit but she joined up with him. He followed her and everything and she hadn't been able to do that before..it was SO AWESOME TO WATCH and be a part of. I was so happy!!




Oh Sunshine is going to be sold to most likely the neighbor boy (well he isn't really a boy but anyway :D). What she really needs is just one person to handle her and one person to do everything with her. Some horses are just that way..they do better when just one person handles them. So that is what Sharon has decided. I am not sad really. I am going to be helping with the babies and such so I will have plenty to keep me busy besides Daisy :) Hope you have a great Easter Weekend. I am spending the night at Sharon's both tonigth and tomorrow night and will be home again Sat night :D Have a good day!!

Riding My Girl Daisy and Dumb Sunshine!

Sorry about saying Dumb Sunshine but she is no miss :D Anyway first I got to Sharon and we ate supper then Lillian and I went out, brushed the horses we were riding and then saddled up Daisy and Curly (I rode Daisy with the bareback pad again). We went on about an hour or so ride and Daisy did excellant. I have decided since Daisy does fine with the bit when it is just her and I then I am just going to ride with the hackamore in groups because that is what she does so good with! When we got back I took Daisy's hackamore off and put her in with the other horses and then lunged Sunshine. She did totally awesome with the lunging although she got stubborn a few times but we worked thru that. Then she joined up with me and I was throwing the lunge whip all over her to desentize her to it.

I saddled her up and took her into the pasture. We walked thru the poles and she did fine with that so I did some cantering around the pasture and such. When her left side was to the fence she didn't walk or canter as nicely but when her right was to the fence she did fine. We worked on that a bit and then went thru the poles again at a walk. Sharon on Bean and Lillian on Curly came in and Lillian and Sharon took their horses thru the poles. Well Curly was acting dumb so Sharon asked if I would take Curly thru once and see how he does for me. So I tied Sunshine and got on Curly. Boy is he fun to ride. I kicked him into a canter and we went up past the poles then wove thru them and then wove thru them again and then cantered back thru the cones. SO MUCH FUN. He needed constant encouragement but he did it. I did it with him a few times and wow such fun! Then Sharon asked me to take Sunshine thru again and see how she does. We went faster this time thru and she didn't turn so nice when I asked her to turn right..Sunshine and I went thru a few times and she did ok. Well Sharon wanted to try the one bit and she did really awesome with it at first (I mean we went thru the poles one time perfectly) but then I was just riding her around not even in the poles (I was trying to turn her the way she didn't want to go) and up she rears..well I go flying off and landed on the ground. That made me mad and I got on her again and we walked around a bit again. I don't know what made her mad the second time she reared but she got mad and reared again..This time she fell overbackwards but I landed to the side..I did get on her again then after that. I told Sharon Sunshine's problem is that as soon as we put something in her mouth or on her head that is actually strong enough to control her and that she has to listen to then she gets mad. Sharon was never keen on Sunshine but they are keeping her for the one guy that comes but he doesn't ride her when she acts like this. I told Sharon if Bernell (he is a very experienced rider and can talk to most any horse :) can get Sunshine used to working in the meadow and not rearing and all this then I am willing to finish her off but I am not riding her if she acts like this (not in the meadow anyway..that is where a lot of the issue is..it isn't the poles themselves..notice she only reared after we put something different in her mouth..she is used to a bit because Bernell had ridden her in a bit). We took her in the barn after the I got on her after the second time of falling off of her (I rode her around a little and such. IT was kinda funny because after I flew off the second time after she got so mad and such then she was calm as ever..And I had lunged her good before even getting on her the first time. She is quite broke and a good horse..I mean she does perfect on the trails and anything and such but this is how she acted at first on the trails..I fear anything new that you put her up to, she does this). Anyway I tied her and then she was acting dumb and not sure what she did but she was not behaving so I lunged her a bit and then stopped her and took her bridle off to put her halter on so I could unsaddle her...well she decided she isn't having any of this and walks off so I lunged her a bit more (we were in the main ring and so I was free lunging her). I stopped her and then she was ok with me putting her halter on. I told Sharon that if (I said this before) Bernell gets her to the point I can feel safe riding her without getting dumped then I will but I just don't feel she is safe. I don't think that it is because she can't and doesn't want to do the poles and such it is just that she thinks she can get stubborn and act dumb and can get away with it. This is the fight they had with her when they trail rode her and look at her now on the trails..very good!! So I think if Bernell can get her to act decent she will be a great horse :) We shall see I guess! I don't feel she is worth the risk of getting hurt or worse!! Not everyone is going to agree with what all I said but it isn't just my opinion..it was everyone's there that saw this all happen. I don't know if I would have done anything differently or not but I doubt it. Anyway I am going on Wednesday again and going to ride Miss Daisy :) Can't wait!! Really love my girl!

Miss Sunshine and Riding Daisy!

I don't know if I talked about getting ready for a rodeo (local one around here) or not but I am getting Sunshine ready for it. Well at least getting her used to doing the games and they will so do her good. Anyway a few of the other girls came over and were practicing so since I am not taking Daisy to the rodeo because I have other plans that day (youth group :) I am training Sunshine and practicing with her. Well the first thing and only thing we did was pole bending. Andrea with Sweet Pea went first and then I with Sunshine went second. Sunshine did very well the first time thru and I was happy. Then a few more people did it and it was our turn again. We ran up the one side and started bending thru the poles. Well needless to say she got stubborn and decided I don't want to do this. So she backs up, rears then kinda while she is rearing she spins and then comes down and rears again. Second time rearing she throws her head back and knocks me a good one on my chin. I felt stunned a bit and once she came down I just sat there with my head rattling :D I got off and led her to the others and then got on and rode her thru the poles again just at a walk (we had been doing them kinda at a walk trot before). She did fine then. I felt weird (well my head did) and so I just rode her over and tied her and went to talk to Sharon. I told her what happened and said I would ride her again but I just don't trust her and with the way my head was feeling I didn't trust myself to get on her again if she acted dumb. So Bernell got on her and rode her and wore her out some..so did Earl Dean. I told Sharon I will ride her agian but next time she will be lunged first and then taken thru this stuff. I had never given it a thought because we didn't have to lunge her first before rides anymore so it never occured to me to do it before doing the games. Hey we live and learn I guess. Next time I am also using a tie down so if she does throw her head like that again my face won't be in danger. My chin is just a tad sore, my lip hurts and my jaw on my left side hurts when I open my mouth to wide..hehe. Never got hit so hard in my life. Anyway so much for that. I rode Lightning then while Bernell and Earl Dean took turns with Sunshine. He did pretty good thru the poles. He is fun and easy to ride compared to Sunshine!

Well at 6:30 then I got Daisy saddled up in the bareback pad and stirrups and in her hackamore instead of the bit because I didn't feel like fighting with her. She respects the hackamore because that is what she was trained with. Anyway she did so awesome. Before supper (this was before any of the stuff with Sunshine and riding Daisy) we had put Daisy in with the ponies without her hobbles on (we had rigged something up so she couldn't kick the ponies..that really helped her) and SHE WAS A PERFECT ANGEL. We think that her problem when she first came was so many new things all at one time and so that made her react the way she did. We put Sunshine in there too and Sunshine didn't kick and neither did Daisy. I want to call Sharon this morning and see how things were overnight. Daisy and Sunshine might turn out to be friends. Daisy kept going up to her and acting like she wanted to be. So I guess we shall see. I am just so pleased with my girl. She is such an awsome sweet horse :) Hope you have an awsome weekend!!

Thursday's Ride!!

On Thursday night some of the ponies and babies and also one of my friend's horses needed to go to the farrier. The ponies and babies we trailered to the farrier and then Sharon, Stacey (she owns Venus and Girly), Andrea (she owns Sweet Pea), and I (riding Daisy) all rode over there. This is the second time using the curb bit and she did lots better. She stayed behind the horses like she was supposed to and cantered very nicely. I was so happy. I discussed it with Sharon last night and we have determined Daisy just doesn't like the bit at all and with work she could get used to it using a lighter bit. Not exactly sure which bit we are going to use but Sharon has quite a few so we might get one similar to the Tom Thumb but not quite like it. We shall see. Overall I am very pleased with how Daisy is coming along! We will get this bit thing figured out ;) Thanks to all you guys who have given me input and advice. I really do appreciate it!!

Wednesday's Ride!

Last night I got my first driving lesson. Driving a horse that is. I drove Bean and boy what fun is he to drive. Sharon was in charge of the brake for this first time but I was ok with that. I am not sure exactly how long we were gone but it wasn't more than an hour. Then we tacked up and rode out. I was on Daisy (of course), Sharon was on Bean (all her horses can ride and drive), and Lillian rode Curly with the saddle. I had Daisy in a Tom Thumb bit and she had responded well to that when I was riding around the house there but then when we were cantering and such and I wanted her to stay behind one of the horses she didn't behave (not near like she would have if she would have had the hackamore on). She did perfect beside the horses or in front but if she was behind the lead horse she had an issue. I kept working with her and working with her but it just wasn't working. She was practically going right up Beans behind. So we went back and got a curb bit and she respected that a ton more for some reason. I had steady light pressure on her (almost exactly like having the hackamore on which is what she respects the best) and I didn't have to do much and she listened. So we rode in that and that really worked. If you give her an inch she takes a mile...she had me frustrated but we worked thru it. I got her to canter nicely and with plenty of space to spare behind Bean with that bit and I was impressed. I didn't really want to go to a sharper bit but if that is what it takes to get her to respect it so we can move to a lighter bit then I am willing to do that!! We got back and I hosed her off :) Then instead of putting her with the ponies like she has been with ever since Sunday I put her in a corral by herself then this morning put her with the ponies again...She actually missed the ponies :) I am going again tonight to work with her :) Hope you have a good day!!

Tuesday!!

I didn't do anything with Daisy really today but I did stop in to see her for a little while this morning before going to a scrapbooking day with my mom. I loved on her a bit and was petting her face when I realized that hse hadn't put her head down like she normally does (usually picky about her face). Well I figured it out that she also didn't kick when I pick her hooves out..Roundpenning sure works. She is such an awesome horse. Then I went with Sharon to the vet to pick some stuff up for the foal and then we came back and I went to the scrapbooking day :) I got all my pics in my books!! Going to work with her tomorrow again!! Have a good evening!!

Saturday's Ride!!

I rode Daisy yesterday afternoon with my friend Andrea. She rode Bean and I rode Daisy. I used the stirrups (which is like a bareback pad but just a tad different..here is a picture that gives you an idea what it looks like: http://www.enasco.com/product/C27575N ) which is what we call it..as it doesn't have the pad attatched to it like the one in the link but we have a pad under it just like this one has. Anyway we started out by walking with Daisy behind Bean. When we got to where we can canter we did...Daisy really wanted to go but I held her back at first but then I let her go. I was riding with the hackamore..that is one of the things I want to work on while she is here at Sharon's is to get her used to the different bits that she respects them :) We rode for about an hour or more and we did more walking than not but it was a lot of fun!! I really enjoyed myself and I can't wait to do more riding!! I probably won't go to Sharon's again till either Tuesday or Wednesday. Enjoy your weekend!!

Friday's RoundPenning!!

As you all know I moved Daisy to Sharon Thursday night. I stayed overnight at Sharon's and then went to work Friday morning. Then after work I went back to Sharon's again to work with Daisy. It had rained most of the day and was still raining so I knew that meant no riding but I figured well this is the perfect time to roundpen Daisy. I moved some horses to the other area in the barn so that the main ring (which doubles as a round pen as well) would be empty. I then went and got Daisy and took her blanket off. I got the whip and free lunged her. I got her to just do some trotting at first but then I asked her to canter by saying CANTER and if she didn't canter then the whip got cracked. But she did awesome. I wanted to look at the time but had forgotten so I don't know how long I roundpenned her but it wasn't long at all. I worked with her for a little while and then toward the end I saw her lower her head and start licking and chewing. I don't ever remember her licking and chewing to that extent (if ever when lunging her on the lunge line). Anyway since she had her ear towards me, had her head lowered and was licking and chewing I slowed her down and turned away. She hesitated a bit before she started coming toward me. I didn't ask her to come or anything she just came. I didn't reach out to her either and she touches my sleeve. I was so proud of my Daisy girl :) As soon as I felt her touch me I turned around and gave her a hug and I praised her!! It was just so awesome!!

Well since we had come that far I was like awesome so I was just walking around and she was following me. I then wanted to see if she would pull on the lunge line if I lunged her with one. I did and nope no pulling..She listened very well!! I was so proud. I unclipped her from the lunge line (and I lunged her with just her halter and nothing severe at alll..that had me happy) and she just followed me and followed me. It was so specail!! Then I got my bridle with the snaffle bit on it and hopped on her bareback and did some trotting around there in the ring both ways. She responded well to that also. Then my friend Lillian brought her horse Diamond into the ring and showed me all the little tricks he can do..it was awesome. But the most awesome thing was Daisy listened to me even though she was curious about Diamond (I don't know if you guys remember her pinning her ears at other horses and such when she had been there at Sharon when I first got her..so I was keeping her away just so nothing like that would happen...I really believe her having the baby on her for 6 to 9 months without being with any other horses during that time has made her be aggressive around other horses for some reason). Lillian and I decided we wanted to see how Daisy and Diamond would get along. Daisy could have cared less about Diamond after I got off of her. She followed me around and I had to go out of the ring before she would go over and even say hi. It was kinda cute.

Well she did well with Diamond so we were like we want to see how she does with all the ponies, Diamond and Sundance (the horses she would be with..right now she is stalled by herself because she just fights everyone :( Well she didn't seem to mind anyone but then right before we were going to put everyone away Daisy goes and kicks at Sundance. I call Daisy over and hold her while Lillian and the ponies owners put the others away. Then we put her with the other big horses (Lightning (he puts horses in their places), Beauty, Speedy, and Sundance) in with her and Lightning put her in her place. She got a few scratches on her from that and I kinda pittied her but she went after the other horses by kicking them. I was like hey you kick them and then you want to be part of them how do you figure that works? Anyway we decided to wait to actually put her with the ponies for good when we can watch and make sure nobody (horses) gets hurt..so we will either do that Tuesday or Wednesday!! So I loved on her and put some stuff on her cuts and then put her out in her paddock by herself!!

Sharon's Horses!!

 Bean (gelding)

Speedy (gelding)

 Lightning (gelding) and Beauty (mare)

 Sundance (mare)

Curly :)

 Sunshine (palomino mare you have heard about finally got a picture :D)

Ponies: Girly and Venus

Wade, the other pony

 Diamond

 Misty and her foal Patience (filly)

Patsy

 Snuggles!

I figured I would take the time and take pics of all of Sharon's horses and the ponies so you know who I am talking about :D Enjoy!!

Wonderful News!!!

I am so excited!!!!! Well as some of you knew I was planning on getting fencing..that got canceled because of some reasons that I won't go into detail with!! But what I am so excited about is I AM GOING TO BE HELPING TRAIN SOME PONIES and also MISS SUNSHINE (you know the palimino I have talked about) AND I get to have Daisy at Sharon's this whole time. Not sure on the time length yet but I can't wait regardless. I sure am going to miss having Daisy here 24/7 but it is for just a short while and she will be in training there anyway. I will be sure to get some pictures of the three ponies (Venus, Girly and Wade), Miss Sunshine, and of course Daisy. My plans are to train her to drive, lay down, possibly jump and of course groundwork :) We shall see what all happens..I am just so excited. She is leaving tonight and I am staying there at Sharon's house tonight. Anyway have a good evening!!
p.s. I am planning on breeding Daisy as well :) This has been thought about quite a bit so we shall have to see!

Tuesday's Lunging and Riding!

Today I did get to actually do some stuff with Daisy again. I first lunged her then rode her. I was so happy because lunging went PERFECT compared to last week. I hadn't said much last week about what I did with bitting her when I lunged her. Well here is what I did (same thing as I did last week when I said I had read something out of the book my friend Andrea borrowed me) : On a fully-trained horse, a bridle may be used in lieu of a cavesson. However, it is possible to injure a horse's mouth if the line is incorrectly attached or misused. Some sensitive horses may react badly to the attachment of the line to the bit, and some classical dressage masters considered this method to be crude. The bit used is a snaffle bit. Bit shanks of any kind are dangerous; the line can tangle in them, causing injury to the horse's mouth. The reins should be kept out of the way, either by removing them, or by twisting them once or twice over the neck and then running the throatlatch of the bridle under the reins before buckling it. The correct method is to run the longe line through the inside bit ring, over the poll, and attach it to the outside bit ring. This method of attaching the line requires it to be changed each time the horse changes direction. This method has a slight gag effect, raising the bit up and applying pressure on the corners of the mouth and placing pressure on the poll, but puts less lateral pressure on the bit. It is best for horses that pull, or when the trainer is longeing a rider, to ensure maximum control of the horse. If the longe line is attached just to the inside bit ring, the outside ring can slide through the mouth when the line is pulled and damage the horse's mouth. If the line is run through the inside bit ring, under the chin, and attached to the outside bit ring, the bit can pinch the horse's jaw, and it alters the action of the bit to put pressure on the roof of the horse's mouth. When a method of attachment causes more pain than control, the horse often resists the pressure and will not perform properly. The only change I made was I had the halter underneath. (I copy and pasted this from wikipedia under the Use of a Bridle Alone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longeing ). This worked the best than anything else I tried and she responds very well to it. She doesn't pull at all and I worked her at the trot and the canter and I must say it is the best she has ever done even better than with the chain over her nose. She bends with the circle like she should and everything. I normally wouldn't do something like this but this is the only thing that really worked!! I worked her at both the trot and canter and we didn't work long at all! I was so pleased!!

Since she did so awesome I stopped her and praised her. Then I put the reins on (had taken them off the bridle with the snaffle bit on to lunge her) and rode her around the barn. She did really well once she settled down and listened to me. We didn't ride long at all but I was pleased with how well she did overall! Hope you have a great rest of the week!

Monday's Groundwork!!

Since I haven't posted any pictures for a long time I decided today is the best as any. These pics are taken with my phone so they aren't the best quality :D The first one is one of the kittens in our two litters of cats :) It is kinda fun having kittens around!

I haven't worked with Daisy for a bit although last week I did ride her down to my neighbors on Monday and Tuesday when I was taking care of her dogs..And the last time I would have really worked with her was when I lunged her on Tuesday. Well today I figured it is a nice day (it was nice and warm) so why not groom her and spend some time working with her since I don't have much time to really ride Monday's (chorus practice..one more time after tonight then Monday nights I can ride :D..then I will have Sunday nights occupied with programs ;) I first groomed her (the second picture is right after I groomed her) and she really enjoyed that! She is really shedding which makes me happy because I can now see her summer slickness showing thru!! I then and hosed her legs off because they were muddy. Once I had done that I worked on groundwork with her.

I have been working with Daisy on walking nicely beside me and moving her behind around. So that is the first thing I did was ask her to walk nicely beside me. At first she was a bit frisky but she settled down and listened to me. We did just walking at first and then I stopped her and got her to move her behind around..She did really well with that. Since she did so good with that I asked her to trot and trot she did. That is something we have to work on with turning but otherwise it went well. Then just for the fun of it I decided to teach her to shake..I tapped on her left (which now that I think about it should be her right leg but we can change that) leg with the whip and got her to lift her leg up. I only had to ask her like 3 times and she got what I wanted. I was impressed. I also got her to bend her neck for me. That we need to work on a bit but hey she is learning. I am very pleased with the progress we made. Hoping to work with her more tomorrow!

My Weekend!!

Had a good time at the youth thing Saturday night (we split into 6 groups of about 5 or so people and the youth leaders gave us 20 bucks each and then we were to think of someone (or do it for a random person) who looks like they might need help. One group went to Walmart and bought toys for two handicap boys, another group went and bought groceries and took it to a random house, another group went to a house (someone they knew) and asked for a list and went and bought some stuff for them, and our group took the principle of Lebanon Valley School and his family of six children out for ice cream! I can't remember what the other groups did but it was a ton of fun..we talked about it after we got back and we all pretty much agreed overall that we would so do it again.

Then Sunday afternoon I took a bunch of my friends to Sharon to go trailriding :) They all had fun and I had fun sharing my love of horses and riding with them!! Overall I had an awesome weekend!! <3