Riding Different Horses

 

I had a busy week so I didn't get to ride till this weekend. I rode Daisy bareback and bridleless a little bit on Friday evening. I mostly did some walking, turning and backing but we did canter a bit. I didn't have much time to work with her on Friday as I had planned because I was helping here at home with the garden and some other odds and ends. I had fun planting our garden though. It is always fun working with my family!! I did get to love on both horses a bit and say Happy Birthday to Freedom. It is hard to believe (I know I keep saying that) that two years ago he was just a little baby!!

 

Friday evening I ate supper and spent the evening at Sharon's. My cousin's were there and then just Sarah and Maryrose and I stayed the night. Since Sarah and Maryrose had plans to go to garage sales around 7 this morning, Sharon and I decided we would go for a ride since we were going to be up anyway. We ate breakfast around 6 and then Sharon and I headed out. I rode Sugarfoot (Freedom's half brother. He is a year older than Freedom). I had ridden him last Saturday and he had behaved decently then. This morning he decided to spook at everything. I had fun working him through the things he was scared with. Really makes me look forward to working with Freedom under saddle. I haven't worked him much lately but I have done some more thinking and I plan to maybe just stick to groundwork and light driving over summer and then come this fall and winter (when he is 2 1/2) start some light riding and next spring do a bit more. We shall see how all things go. After I left Sharon, I came home and rode Daisy.

I was really impressed with how she did today. I brought her down here to the farm again. I came home right over lunch. She listened quite well on the way here. Once here, I tied her till after I had eaten my lunch. Then I decided to work her a bit in the field out behind the hay shed before heading back up to the barn. I didn't run her because she was giving me a hard time about walking. She knows how to be light on the bit but she is a horse that likes to test you to no end. Well I just worked her through it by stopping, backing, turning circles, making her weave and anything to keep her feet moving. I had to laugh at her because I could tell she was not happy that I wasn't allowing her to go as fast as she would have liked but in the end she accepted what I said. On the way home, she walked very nicely without me having to remind her to behave. I am hoping to ride her more this next week because I am not so busy but we shall have to see how it goes. Hope you have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

President's Day, Riding, Driving, and Laying Horses Down

Today was quite the day. I had off from work because of it being President's Day. I needed to get the back tires on my truck changed, so I went to the tire place and got that done first thing this morning. I grabbed a late breakfast because I figured I would be spending most of the rest of the day at the barn. Walter and I both got to the barn around quarter of 12. We did some cleaning in the barn first. I was planning to drive Freedom and Walter asked if he could go along. I said sure. We walked out the driveway behind the cart since the driveway is a bit slippery yet from the snow. Freedom did really well with driving but he did have a few times of spooking. I was pleased though with how he listened to me despite being a bit scared of things. I drove him longer than I ever had, but he wasn't tired or worn out after driving him. Freedom did really well and I was pleased with the outcome.


When we got back, we decided to lay down Walter's pony, Tokyo. He laid down very nicely and since I wanted to see how Prince would do, I laid him down. Prince was quite stubborn about the whole thing but he did give up and lay down :) We had talked about driving Tokyo at some point, but never had the time. Today we had the time, so we drove Tokyo. We line drove him, saw what he thought about the cart, and then drove him in the cart. Tokyo is so much like Freedom (an older and smaller version). He took it all in a stride and could have cared less about the cart or about the whole idea of driving. He really enjoyed it! :)


Once we finished driving Tokyo, we made a run for some more hay and some shavings. By the time we got back from that, we got some supper. After supper, Sharon came to bring the harness I bought for Daisy, and to figure out if we were going to trade out the harness I have for Freedom for one she had. We just did some switching on the harness so that the one I have for Freedom will fit him better since he has grown so much. We fit Daisy's harness to her and what I like about her harness is once Freedom gets bigger it will fit him too. She also brought the cart my cousin, Sarah, bought and it is big enough to drive Daisy in. So, I am really hoping to start line driving Daisy this week again and then see about driving her in the cart, on Monday. She has been driven single but wow, it has been a good year if not two years since the last time. We shall see how it goes!! :)


Sarah got to the barn around 6:30. Sharon left after helping us get everything figured out with the harnesses and cart. Sarah, Walter, and I then went for a ride. Walter rode Harley, Sarah rode Mischa, and I rode Daisy. It was a fun and relaxing ride. :)


Overall it was a full but fun day. I am so thankful for the people God has brought into my life. They may be different and not like me, but they each have taught me something about myself, as well a more about how to love each and every person, no matter how different they are from me! :) I know God will continue to teach me how to relate to those He brings into my life!!


Tomorrow I plan to work (if the snow doesn't make travel impossible) and maybe line driving Daisy in the evening. Hope you have a great rest of the week.

Trip to Washington State

We flew out from Philadelphia Pa to Seattle WA.

Seattle with the Space Needle

Space Needle

Some scenery on the way to my friend's house 

 more scenery (love this photo)

 Deception Pass Bridge from Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island where my friend lives

 A boat in LaConnor

 

Rainbow Bridge also in LaConnor

 My friend and I

 

 View of LaConnor

 Mussels

 Empty Fishing Crates

 

 My sister Rose Mary and I

 

 Admiralty Head Lighthouse close to Fort Casey

 

 View from the Lighthouse

 Dugualla Bay...this is one of my favorite photos

 Bowman Bay

 Dock at Bowman Bay

 same dock

 On top of the dock

 

Rosario Beach

 

My sister Rose Mary and I flew out of Philly on August 26th around 7:30 (Monday) morning. Our arrival to Seattle approximately 5 hrs and 40 some minutes later at 10:30ish Seattle WA time. We met up with our friend Lisa and headed the two hours north of Seattle to Oak Harbor WA on Whidbey Island. So we spent the week doing some sight-seeing, getting to know the area, and spending time with a dear friend and of course her family. I did some things that I have always wanted to do, one of them was riding on the beach!!

 

riding my friend Lisa's horse Aly on the beach

I'm on Aly, Lisa's on Julio her other horse

We also picked blackberries (some of which we brought home, I plan to eventually make some of them into blackberry jam which is AMAZING) which was quite the experience ;) Nettles and all :D Although I think the most fun thing for me was just hanging out with a wonderful and dear friend as well as traveling with my sister all on our lonesome, something we haven't done before! :) Overall we had an amazing trip and definitely would go back!! We flew home on Saturday, August 31st. It was short but fun!!

Bareback and Bridleless

Yesterday (Wednesday) I rode Daisy in the evening. She was running around the yard, for the fun of it I guess. I had gotten her out like I always do and then she took off toward the back and was running around the meadow where the other horses were. It took me a bit to get her but I caught her. I laid her down, praised her, and then asked her to get up. I then took her to the arena and hopped on her bareback. I had a rope around her neck and using that as reinforcement when she didn't respond to leg and seat aids. I must say though she did amazing!! I rode her for probably 15 or so minutes and we did some walking and some cantering. She responded really well to all my cues, stopping and starting, turning and everything when I told her to. I was really happy with how it went!! I want to ride her some more like that and get some photos ;) Hopefully this weekend.

Today I rode with my cousin at Sharon's place. I rode Goldfire, palomino QH (I think). Enjoyed riding her ;) Then this evening then I rode Daisy again only I didn't ride as long and I rode in the meadow with Freedom. Daisy did pretty well but not as well as in the arena which didn't surprise me to much. Once I had ridden her I worked with Freedom a bit ;) I got him to back up and respect my space. He did really well. I am pleased with how both my horses did for me!

Riding Daisy with Rose Mary and Dolly

This evening my sister Rose Mary went riding with me. She rode Dolly and I rode Daisy. Dolly is a Standardbred mare...she is older but she is quite the awesome horse :) We rode for about 40 minutes. I rode Daisy with the natural ride saddle and the snaffle bit. Daisy did really well with walking as I told her. We trotted for a bit too. I was impressed with how she did. On the way back she wanted to walk faster but I got her to listen to me despite that. She is doing better with the snaffle bit and I am happy about that! I didn't work with Freedom since Rose Mary was along but hope to work with him tomorrow. :)

Riding Daisy and Meeting Harley

 Alyson and her new horse Harley (he is a QH/Morgan)

 

 

 

 

 

Freedom

 

This evening Alyson and I went for a ride together. She rode Harley and I rode Daisy. It went really well..Harley did great for it being his first ride here. We rode for about an hour..it was fun riding together with someone else from the barn. So looking forward to this summer!!

 

Harley came on Friday evening and Jess was sold yesterday. We had put Daisy and Harley together on Saturday all day and then today all day in the arena. They seem to do well together :) Then this evening we put them out in the big pasture (the one where Daisy and Freedom had been all winter). I am seperating Freedom and Daisy for a bit. Freedom is going to be with Prince in the meadow across from Harley and Daisy, in the meadow where Daisy, Freedom, and Prince have been for the last month or so. Overnight Freedom will be by himself as Prince is in overnight and then during the day him and Prince will be together.

More Pictures!

 

 

Above pictures are taken by Andrea when we were down by Blue Marsh :)

 

 

The kitten pictures I took today :)

Blue Marsh and a Purple Flower!

Daisy before heading out

 our group

Riley (on Lightning), Trevor (on Speedy), Chris (on Goldfire), Josh (on Red Lightning) 

Ruth Ann (on Daisy), Sharon (on Bean), and Andrea (on Sweet Pea)

Our group

 

These are some of the pictures I took at Blue Marsh

 

 

Purple flower from this morning..it is a rainy Friday here. I didn't ride Daisy yesterday and this evening I might ride..we shall see. Alyson is getting another horse today and tomorrow Jess is most likely getting sold. :) Alyson wanted another horse that she can just hop on and ride and not end up being more of a project which is more or less what Jess is. She will make someone a great project horse!

Blue Marsh Ride!

Today Daisy and I went with 6 other people up to Blue Marsh for an all day ride. It was Sharon, Andrea, Josh, Chris, Riley, Trevor and I who all went. They picked me up at my barn around 7 and we headed to Blue Marsh. We started on our ride at 8:30 and rode till lunch around 12. We headed on our way again around 1:30 in the afternoon and got back to the trailer around 5 or so. It was a great fun day!! :) :) We had great weather, lots of fun and I got sunburnt :D I plan to post pictures within the next few days! Daisy did well even though she was barefoot. We shall see how she is in the morning. I settled her in for the night and now I am off to get a shower and head to bed!

Thursday-Sunday!

Thursday evening I rode Jess. Alyson was there so I was showing her how well Jess was doing. I trotted Jess first in the arena then I worked her then got her to canter. As I was going around the first corner she lets out a buck. I corrected her for that and for the rest of the time she behaved herself quite marvelously :) After I had ridden her for a bit I asked Alyson if she wants to ride Jess. She did and so I hopped off and Alyson got on. Jess was being a bit of a mess with not wanting to walk for Alyson but she did then. Once Jess did what Alyson asked Alyson got off. We praised Jess for doing so well. I am very pleased with the progress I have made so far with her.
 

Friday and Saturday I didn't do more than love on the horses, maybe groom them a bit and put them in and out. My aunt Barb http://thepetersheims.wordpress.com/ passed away Thursday morning and we had the viewing on Friday and funeral Saturday. Now it is just the children since their father pssed away about a year and a half ago. Pray for them as they continue on with their lives.

 

Sunday morning (this morning) the youth had a sunrise service so I got up early, fed the horses and Rose Mary and I headed to that. After the sunrise service we went to church, came home, ate lunch at my grandparents place (Dad's side) then I took a long nap. This evening then I just loved on the horses. Plan to do more work with them this week. We shall see!

Monday!

This evening I didn't do much. I just worked with Jess in the roundpen and I got her to canter a bit. She wanted to argue with me a bit on things I know she does know already :) I just worked her thru it and got her to go both ways quite well. I want to continue working her in the roundpen with the cantering and then move it to the saddle eventually, once she has the general idea what I want :) She does quite well. Since I didn't have much time I just loved on Daisy and Freedom. Hoping to do more with them tomorrow.

Here is a blog I started: http://www.justabitofinspiration.blogspot.com/ Check it out and let me know your thoughts :)

 

Friday-Sunday!

Friday and Saturday: I rode at Sharon Friday evening and then her and Earl Dean came to pick up Curly Saturday morning. We went for a ride first and then they took Curly home. Sharon had brougt Bean for her to ride and I rode Curly. I laid Freedom down in the afternoon then. I want to work more with the horses this week. We shall see how that all turns out! :)

Sunday: No riding today. Have been fighting a bad headache since Thursday. Going to just love on the horses and then come home and read or listen to a story :)

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday!

Sunday: Rose Mary and I went riding. She rode Magic and I rode Curly. We rode for about 40 minutes or so. I would have ridden Daisy but Curly needed ridden and what I want to work Daisy with next is some fine tuning work in the arena. So I didn't ride her. Hoping that if it isn't raining to much this week that I can get more groundwork in with Jess as well as riding on Daisy and maybe Curly too. We shall see!

Monday: I worked with Jess on laying down again. Since we laid her down a lot on Saturday she fought a big with it this time but she did lay down nicely for me in the end. I had gotten off work late, so no riding or working with Daisy.

Tuesday: I rode Jess. I worked her in the arena and she did really good. Mainly worked on trotting and such but I did get her to canter a little bit. Hoping to work her later this week a bit more. Didn't work with Daisy but I did groom her.

Wednesday: It was a snowy evening and so no riding, just throwing everyone hay.

Thursday: I did ride Daisy tonight. Didn't work with Jess but plan to tomorrow and hopefully Saturday. First I worked her in the snaffle..I cantered her a bit to get rid of some energy and then just on some trotting. I have been thinking about it for a while and decided I am going to see what she thinks of the double wire snaffle. She does great in it for driving and so I thought I might see what she thinks of it for some riding. My plans are to eventually move to the curb and since I have done different things with the snaffle but she doesn't seem to like it nor respect it much I decided to go a different route. At least for now. So I got the curb out and put it on her and she seems to like it. Rode her up and down the driveway with it. Took her in the barn again and put the double wire snaffle on and she doesn't like it as much as the curb. We shall see what I end up doing but I want to do some research and go from there. :) She did great overall though and I want to see about working her tomorrow and Saturday.

Groundwork with Daisy and Jess and Riding Curly!

Today I worked with Daisy, Freedom, Jess AND Curly. When I got to the barn I decided to work with Jess first. The ground was softer than it has been for a while so I roundpenned her. She responded quite well, better than she had on Monday evening. I worked her until she lowered her head, was chewing and flicking her ear toward me. I also got her to turn both ways too. I stopped her and turned away once I thought she would be ready to join up. She did come to me and touch me after a bit. Didn't do so much with the following but I thought it was an improvement, because on Monday she hadn't really wanted anything to do with me as far as even touching me or following. I led her into the barn where I got her to back up and move her hindquarters. She did well with all that, so I put her back in her stall to eat her supper.

Before I worked with any of the other horses I cleaned all the stalls, except Nessa's cause I wasn't sure how Sara would feel if I did her stall. Prince and Thunderhead (steer) weren't to sure about me being in there stalls cleaning them while they were in them but they let me do them. I cleaned Jess's while she was tied outside.

I decided since I wasn't planning to ride Daisy I am going to just ride Curly first and then work with my horses. Rode Curly for 20 minutes, came back and got Daisy out of the meadow. Brought Freedom in as well. I tied Freedom, then took Daisy out to the round pen. Sara was there working with Nessa and she was in the areana. That was a bit of a distraction for Daisy but Daisy settled down and listened to me. :) I worked her both directions, getting her to turn and change directions. Toward the end she kept making the circle smaller which is what I like to see when I plan to join up but I wanted to work her a bit more and she was like no I want to come to you, NOW. I got her to back up and move her but out and such a few times then I allowed her to come and join up with me. I opened the gates to the areana (you walk thru the roundpen to get to the areana...it is technically part of the areana but you just close two gates to make the round pen) and left them open so Sara could come thru when she was done with Nessa. I laid Daisy down and hopped on her. Daisy does so awesome with the laying down..so pleased with how she has responded to that. Sara and I talked for a while then we went into the barn. I took Daisy out to the meadow and was working with Freedom a bit on backing up and such. Then I took him out to the meadow too. I spent about 15 or so minutes with Daisy. Overall I spent two hours at the barn. I was so pleased I got to work with all the horses like I did and spend time with them. We shall see how much I get to work with them tomorrow!

Thursday and Friday!!

No riding on Thursday but Friday I did get to groom the horses and do stuff with everyone! In the morning I baked a cake and some cookies with my sister Rachel, did some odds and ends around the house till we ate a late lunch. After lunch I went up to the barn to meet Alyson (the boarder that was there before me..she owns Jess). Alyson had wondered if I would like to train Jess and I said sure. We discussed everything related to that and then we talked for two hours about everything horses and everything in between :)

Jess

 

After meeting with Alyson, I came home and by that time my mom was home (she had been in AL since last Saturday with We Care Prison Ministry). My family and I went out to eat. When we got back my sister Rose Mary and I went back to the barn. We cleaned out Prince's stall (stripped it..it was a mess..hehe) and then while she groomed Prince aka Mateo, I groomed Freedom. She put Prince away and got Curly and I put Freedom out again and got Daisy. We groomed them and then put them out. We swept the barn floor and fed the horses. When we got in the truck we saw it was 2 hours after we went up. I could not believe it! Time just flies when you are spending time with horses as well as hanging out with people you like being with!! :)