05/15/11 Romeo Goes Adventuring

Romeo and I saddled up Western. I grabbed my HM Troxel helmet, sunglasses, cell phone, and off we went. I gave him a good trot down the dirt road, past CRNG's house, and a few more, solid trot. Met up with some vehicle traffic, which bothered the motorists more than it did Mo. He kept up in his trot, and with a little work, finally relaxed some. On the way back past the house, I saw the trailer door was open. Stopped at the house long enough to lock the trailer door. Off we go again!

Romeo and I rode to the mailboxes, turned left, rode first corner, halted. Here, we flushed out a doe, who was seriously startled. On our way to first corner, he went right by the stinky roadkill and didn't even blow at it. At first corner, we flexed and backed a little. From first corner to second corner, he hesitated hard at a culvert pipe across the road. I didn't let him look away from it, but didn't force him to it, either. From about 6ft away, he looked at it hard, realized it wasn't going to do anything, then lowered his head sighing. Ah! I pushed him on, and he walked right by. He was then startled by another neighbor I call "Mafia Man". (There's a story I ought to share.. anybody interested?) Mafia Man and I exchanged our hello's. Romeo, however, gave that "Momma he's scary" heavy blowing spooked sigh. I laughed, and quietly told Romeo, "I know dude. I hear you."

We got to second corner, and paused again. More flexing, a little backing. Off we went, up the hill. Passed a second culvert pipe, with less wait time before we could walk by. At culvert pipe #3, I rode on the asphalt. I wasn't sure what the ditch by the pipe was like, and didn't feel like battling pipe and mud.

Got past pipe #3, and rode at a brisk trot up the hillside. Got 2/3 of the way to corner four. That is my next goal - to get up the hill to corner four. Next after corner four, is a road "Y" split. Between Four and the split, we'll encounter a donkey, cows, calves, and who knows what else. The fellows that own that stretch of property always seem to be up to something.

*truth be told, there's all kinds of pasture all around the back road to home. I'm hoping to run into a cowboy or two, find me a key or a lock combination and a few phone numbers. I'd love to use the road as the warmup, and go on long rides down their turn rows.*

When I measured it in my truck this morning, it was a mile one way. GO Romeo! When we got back home, he wasn't even sweaty, just damp under his saddle pad. About an hour's ride, and we went farther than we ever have. FuN!!

4/27 Mo Wandering with Peat

You know, Peat, Repeat, Peat, Repeat? Yeah, that'un...

Saddled Romeo, and after hand walking long enough to make sure the cinch was tight, I hopped on. He almost immediately started to walk off.. mental note.. That needs fixin'. I won't tolerate taking off instantly. Wait Wait Wait for me to be ready to go Homework assignment #1: Mount and dismount without moving until the MoMonster learns to wait..

When we did walk off, I didn't let him get far before he started to just nearly break to a trot. Halt, flex right was good. Rather than flex left, he turned left and started to walk off again. grr.. MuttermutterMutter.. Stop it ! I let him spin there a minute until he figured out halt and flex was much easier. Homework assignment #2: Flex means Flex, not walk off, not spin, not move, just flex your little neck, and HALT!

Postponing my original plan to get halfway to the mailboxes and wander up the little 4-wheeler trail, we walked the other way by CRNG's house. Mo took a long hard look at his front yard, and can't say I blame him. He didn't tense up or spook, but with all the weird clearing patterns and gardening accessories in CRNG's yard, he gave it a hard look. Yeah man, I know.. Ain't nothin' natural about his yard. Flex right, good. Flex left, not good. Again, see Homework #2.

Halfway after CRNG's yard and the next driveway, we halted again, with better Flex left. Recognizing now also that a verbal "whoa" meant stop now, and both reins gently meant bend poll, lower head, rather than stick head up & back ugly, Mo realized quickly this wasn't a lazyday walk, but a job... Then I was able to turn around and get us back on original plan.

Headed back past the house, through the front yard, around the front tree, halt, flex flex... All much better. So I walked him towards the mailboxes. We pointed up into the large power line overhead clearing. Thank you big electric company for clearing that huge right-of-way, it made for a fun walk. The ground isn't perfectly level, and the irregular grass, weeds, and chopped up rose hedge made for some creative foot placements. Mo had to be careful where his hooves landed, and it made for good mind work. I focused on where I wanted him to go, he concentrated on where his hooves landed. Homework Assignment #3: Harley could benefit from this on what would otherwise be a goof-off day. Send him walking in the r-o-w, but let HIM decide where his hooves go. Only send him walking, and let him figure out the rest.

Romeo paused before proceeding up the street to watch the neighbor boys playing basketball, hollering and screaming joyfully. He wasn't sure what to make of it for the first fifteen seconds, but once one of the boys spoke loudly in Human English, he let out a heavy sigh, satisfied he knew what was making all the noise. We worked our way through the sharp bend, as he trudge through a rather deep pile of oak leaves.

Once back on the road, I pushed him on up the 4-wheeler path. We didn't get far before I glanced at my watch. Oop. We've been wandering around for nearly 25 minutes. My plan was to keep the ride at a half hour or so, leaving time to get back home and sort out any boogers from the ride. We halted, stood there a minute, flex left good, flex right good, give to both, and a few steps backing up. I turned him around, turn on the haunches (good), and let him take us home.

When we arrived home, we found Harley munching grass near his stall, totally unaffected by our departure or arrival. Fantastic! This leaves neither horse buddy-sour, and neither upset by the other leaving home. Absolutely awesome, exactly how I want them.

We've got our homework to sort out, but it's easily enough taken care of. I'm not yet back to bareback/halter to the mailbox, but we're in no rush. The general point of the ride was to test him out without another horse around, outside of the arena, testing his general respect and manners. He passes, with a few glitches that are repairable.

4-19 Last of Six Straight

Harley gave a good spook when I picked up the longe line attempting to wrap it up and get it out of tripping way. He ran a galloping goofy circle .. Okay. he ran for about five minutes, even after I put it down. Silly boy! Just relax.. I won't whap you with it, it was getting under my feet, and I didn't want to trip. After he relaxed, I skipped the neck stretcher, put the reins on, and hopped on.

Flex left? Light as a feather
Flex right? Light as a feather
Both reins? Held for about two seconds, light

FANTASTIC! I tested his walk/halt/walk/halt a few times, which again was a quick halt without the wigglies. Then, we took a walk right past the arena gate, into the pasture. Harley hesitated, almost unsure he was really getting to do more than arena work. C'Mon baby.. we can do this.

We walked around trees, up and down the little paths he's made through the grass. Through short grass, through tall grass. Under trees (I actually got to duck my head for a couple of them), down the hill to the pond area, and back up again. I laughed heading up the little hill, as I leaned forward ever so slightly, and Harley sensing that, stopped quick. No reins, no verbal, just a solid stop when I leaned. Silly boy.. it's okay.. keep walking!

Every so often, I'd halt him, flex left, right, both, and keep walking. Realizing I might be teaching him to flex voluntarily every time he halts, I stopped a few times and walked on without the flexing. I even asked him to back up a couple times.

Brave, I walked him back to the pond. There's still some water in there, though it's half what it should be (need. rain. now!). I got Harley to stand right up beside the pond, but he was hesitant to put his feet in. I flexed him left and right a few times, then pushed with my legs. He wiggled his bum, tried to avoid the pond, but I kept him facing first at it. Finally, he took a step towards it, and I released all pressure. He stood, front hooves near the muddy edge. I squeezed again, and he put front feet in the water. I let him walk the edge of the pond, all four hooves splashed. Lots of praise, and a solid standing break with back to the pond. We reversed, and with a little urging, got the same answer. Harley had muddy wet hooves, and I was delightfully satisfied. It's not "all in", but it's the attempt, and I'll reward that.

Total work and ride? About 45 minutes. I think we're solid at the halt working on suppleness. It's time to step it up! A day off today (Wednesday), and we're back to the longe line for a refresher Thursday. Friday brings the delivery of my "homework", and the next assignment. =) I can't wait!

10-15-10 Ransom Explores

First, I was going to lunge Ransom in side reins, only.
Then, I considered riding him hunt seat, on flat, and over poles.
Thirdly, I debated working him in a hard dressage ride, and trying a shoulder-in, or flying change.

Finally, I gave up every single one of those ideas. The weather was fabulous, and those all sounded like "Work"! I grabbed Ransom, cleaned quickly, tacked up dressage, twisted wire loose ring snaffle bit, added helmet, gloves, and a prayer.

And offs we went. Ransom and I explored the road away from home, all the way to where the co-op power lines cross over the street. I'd seen this before, and ridden just a few feet down it with Romeo. However, my curiosity was raging. Ransom had walked peacefully and slowly away from home, more calm than normal. Perhaps he sensed my ease and relaxation, and chose to agree with me.

Down the grassy lane cleared by the power company earlier this year, he didn't even flick an ear at the bunnies and squirrels. It wasn't long down the lane though, before I found a barking dog. oops! That's a neighbor's back yard. My bad.. U Turn Ransom! Down another grassy lane, more dog woof. Oops! Another neighbor's back yard. Okay Ransom, U turn one more time. We landed back on the dirt road, and headed for home.

As we approached home, my interest in stopping was non-existent. C'mOn Ransom, let's head towards the mailboxes, see how far we get today. We made it just a little bit farther than last time, before I could feel his tension. No sense in an argument, I insisted on about five walk steps ahead before turning us back towards home.

Total ride, all at a walk, 20 minutes. Either due to humidity, or a very forward walk, Ransom and I both broke a sweat, him more than me. We're quickly approaching "too much winter coat for a sweat happy pony", and I hear clippers running in the back of my mind.

08/24/10 The Teaser Solution

*laugh* I assume some of the readership looked at the list, and thought all kinds of things.

Feed Sack.
A simple, shaking, rattling Feed Sack. :)
Is that a riot, or what? R shook the feed sack, with Romeo standing at a distance. His head popped up, and he wanted NOTHING to do with it. So I let him walk over to sniff it, which usually works. No-go. I had R walk away from us, rattling it, and we chased it. Then, I turned Mo around, and let the "shaking sack" chase us. I allowed Mo to rest, and the sniff the sack again. Success! He touched it with his nose, realized it wasn't going to harm him, and issue over.

We followed R's truck down the road - Flashy lights, blinkers, rough rocks bouncing around, no spooks. R turned back to home, and we "chased the truck" to the house. There, he honked a few times, with no Mo reaction. Finally, I handed him the bag. He shook the bag, honked the horn, and moved the truck around a little bit. No reaction.

Mo and I played silly spooks for probably 25 minutes, if not more. I explained to R what we were doing, why, and how. He was a good help, and a great sport, noticing that as soon as Mo would calm even a little, he'd "up the ante", increasing the spook intensity. Mo's an easy teach...

07/30/10 What Ransom Loves

Nothing makes my pony giddy more than a trail ride. Now, fences may do that, but I've jumped so few, and been so focused on my body position, I haven't watched his body language much. I'd need someone observing to comment there.

Friday, after work, which was less than pleasurable, I grabbed Ransom for a quick ride. Western saddle, baucher bit, I'm sure we looked quite the pair. I quickly mounted up, walked him towards the barn. He took a 180-turn, and headed straight down the road.

A few times, he tried breaking to the trot, head bouncing, ears flipping every which way, and generally springie in his steps. Never have I had a bouncing 10-walk like that in the arena, though some day I hope to. He certainly was stepping out, on light contact, looking every which way, and expressing to me a wild amount of happiness.

We walked around for about 25 minutes. Anytime we'd head towards the house, he'd poke along slow. Heading towards the house the first time, he tried walking down every driveway, making me tug him with reins & legs to stay on the road.

It's the funniest thing! Ransom LOVES to go for an adventure walk, even if it's just down the road. I've got to start doing this more often, as stress breaks from the dressage work. He hates coming back home...

Sometimes, so do I...

7/13/10 Hooves Made for Walking

First up, thanks for the "boosts" about the behavior encountered last Sunday. I appreciate knowing it wasn't just me thinking it was rude, and that's completely acceptable behavior in the horse show world.

Last night, I surveyed the ground, the grass, and the mosquito population before grabbing my saddle. I tacked Ransom up Western, with his twisted wire bit, and headed into the pasture. We walked and walked, and jogged, and pranced, and giggled through the pasture.

He was silly. In the arena, in his dressage "circle" he's been practicing in, he was slow, and behaving like a worker-bee. In the rest of the arena, and the majority of the pasture, he was nearly giddy. Ears flinging all about, a walk so vigorous he was serious ground-covering. (muttermumble. It'd be a 10-free walk, but OF course I can't get that in the show ring) When we wandered into some higher grass, either due to tickly high grass, or mosquitoes, Ransom was insistent he be in trot. I collected him, considering if I made it "work", he'd rather walk. Instead, he arched his neck, rounded his back, and pranced in this little jiggy trot. *giggle*

Ransom seemed to seriously enjoy the "work". I did put him through all three gaits long enough to remind him that work is still work on his dressage "circle". With the exception of some arguing, he did have a few nice transitions, and some nice work at trot. Into canter was a little beyond yuckie, but I wasn't expecting much.

Total "ride work" about 10 minutes. Total walking nutty around the pasture? About 25 minutes. Fun overall. Once I get the arena mowed back short, and find fairies to shred the pasture, we'll be way back in business as normal. And I think it's about time to get those ground poles and cavaletti back in-service.

6/11/10 Alternate Plans

According to the “master schedule” Jen created for us, Ransom and I were scheduled to take a walk down the road. A plain jane trail ride of sorts. Nothing phenomenal, no hard work, just a loose rein dirt road walking exploration.
To prepare for rides like these, I usually ask Ransom to walk and halt in the side yard. This to make sure his mind is on me, and not on running down the road. I hopped on, let him walk loose a little, and asked for a halt. Head popped up, back strung out, and he leaned hard on my hands. Of course, he catches me on a day I’m not wearing my spurs, and I’m not wearing gloves.
More walk/halt in the yard it is. Repeat repeat repeat, argue, repeat. At one point, I was simply asking him to drop his head and stand still in the yard. No doing. Side pass, walk forward, back up, prance, repeat. It was horrid. Thankfully I had my helmet on, because he took a few hops in complete argument there a while.
We spent 30minutes in the yard, on walk/halt. I tossed in a tiny bit of trot, to see if he was hurting. Short strided & ugly, but not “off” that I could tell. Generally a huge grouch. Best I can guess, he’d worked so hard on Thursday, he wanted NOTHING to do with being good on Friday as well.

Rides Since Then

I have had one moderately decent dressage ride on Ransom since 5-20. And the rest? It absolutely, completely, no doubt about it, poured rain with heavy storms on 5-21 and 5-22. I estimate about 10”of rain or more at my house between Friday & Saturday.

As a result, there was a puddly, muddy arena. Then, there were and still are, mosquitoes. Some things are bigger in Texas, and these blood sucking bugs are no exception.

I’ve been confined to trail rides down the road mostly. Those started out as a good idea, but then I realized I treated more of my property with bug killers than my neighbors did.

The one dressage ride was good, but short. I got about 20 minutes of decent ride in, taking advantage of Ransom’s new hocks with a really nice set at sitting trot. I felt my butt tuck underneath me, and I was able to push him forward without holding on with my legs. Really nice. I thought I’d reward the good brief work with a walk down the road. We both ended up coated in mosquitoes & frustrated.

The walks out the road have been mostly uneventful. Ransom spooked at a flatbed trailer/truck combo. Romeo jumped sideways at some barking dogs. Both have been quiet around traffic, other quieter dogs, which has been nice.

I’m eager for the bugs to ease up, to get back in the tack, and get back settled in my hunt saddle on Ransom. I miss my stirrup-free airplane arms.

5/18/10 Polar Opposites OR What You Can Do in the Puddles

I’m torn between the two titles for the entry from last night. I got home after work, changed shoes only, to some nice rubber boots, and sploshed through the puddles back to Ransom.
He’s terrific. Never before has a horse walked up to me from across the pasture and dropped his head into a halter as often as he does. With the days he’s had off due to puddly stormy weather, he walked with great eagerness to me, and dropped his head straightaway into his halter. Love that!
I saddled him up western, in his twisted wire bit. Snapped on my helmet, tightened the girth, and got to walking. Since my side yard is nearly underwater all over, I walked him through it, testing a few things. What kind of mood was he in, and, if faced with a puddle across the road, would he go through it. Well, his belly got splashed with water he was so eager through the puddles.
Down the road we went. I walked away from the mailboxes first, eager to see just how far my courage would take us. He almost broke to trot, but was settled with a few half halts. I love that about him – he never tried to turn back to home, never weaved around the road, but settled in just on the edge of the gravel, and tromped happily. We didn’t see any deer, but encountered a few bunny rabbits and a few territorial dogs. One would yap her little head off when his toes hit her grass, but if he got his toes back on the gravel road, she’d hush. Funny! We walked five driveways down, which I believe left only one more at the dead end. We made it all the way to the last pond on the right, halted, and turned back to home.
Ransom slowed to a crawl. He poked tail the whole way back to the house. I realized it hadn’t been but a 15minute ride at this point, and it didn’t seem fair to quit just yet. Back up the road, towards the mailboxes. And again, how far would my courage take us? Would I see the neighbor’s goats splashing in his hideous pasture, and chicken out for home? Or would the incoming traffic send us trotting back to the trailer?
We made it! All the way to the road’s end, made a 180 turn, and headed for home. No goats to fear, just one silly car-chasing terrier cross that thought she could conquer Ransom, until he started walking towards her. Ransom pinned his ears at her, dropped his head, and I *swear* he was trying to cut her like a cow! It was hysterical. That dog was running from him, barking all the while, and Ransom stayed right along with her. So funny!
As we completed our journey, Ransom carried me safely straight back to the trailer, as if he knew he’d gone as far as he was going to, the adventure had come to a close. He let out a huge heavy sigh on the way back as we crossed into my property, as if satisfied with himself. My horse isn’t eager to get back to the barn, he’s eager to get going away from home. The polar opposite of a “barn sour” horse. How fabulous!

5/10/10 Romeo Exploring

With the trail ride coming this weekend, I had to start exploring away from home again. Ransom was none to happy with this decision, working himself up a sweat running fence line looking for us, but it needed doing.

Romeo and I went farther down the road away from home and found some cut down power line grass paths. I think they are power line clears, and doubling as little 4wheeler trails for some neighbor kids. I went a little ways off the road down the paths, then chickened out & turned back for home. Didn’t want the neighbors who own the property fussing and/or shooting at me, and sure didn’t want to match up with a 4wheeler & frighten Romeo. Maybe the next time those neighbors drive real slowly by my house snooping I’ll take advantage & ask permission to be out there.

We came back towards home, then went towards the mailboxes. I got distracted by a phone call and, knowing the last house by the boxes had their goats out, I was in no way going to tackle Romeo, goats, barking dogs, traffic, paved road, and my phone call all at once. I turned just before the goat pasture, and headed for home.

On the way back, a lady in a strange car slowed down as she approached me, so I turned towards her, and dropped the reins. Romeo took advantage and dropped his head to grab a bite of grass, and the reins flung forward. I managed to grab them right before they were over his ears. Giggling, I looked up, to see the UnID lady looking at me sadly, shaking her head “no no”, and drove on by.

Later, same UnID lady stops on the dirt road right in front of my house, then pulls up in front of the house, and proceeds to get out of her vehicle. I got a bit nervous, but knew I had Mo, and could easily hop on bareback & make it chase for her – house was locked, truck was locked, so not much to gain there.

UnID lady speaks – “Hi, I’m ___. I work with the Census Bureau, is this ###?”
“Ooops, nope. That’s WAY down the road, sorry. I filled all my paperwork out quite a while ago.” She then let me know “it was hard to know for sure, since I didn’t put #s on my house.” I ignored her remarks, and told her to have a nice day.

Total ride time, about 35 minutes. Too short, but light easy work. I expect tonight, I’ll turn the pressure up & work it good on Ransom. I owe him a light-day goofing off, but I also feel a bareback ride coming in the not too distant future. Mrs. Mom inspires me…

Quick Recap and Some Thoughts

I've had a few dressage rides on Ransom, and a handful of Western romps on Romeo.

And my arena got larger - MUCH larger. It's something like 187' long, and about 80-85' wide. It's incredible. I don't have all the rail fence up yet, but that's coming soon.

Thus, the flat rides. I'm not confident enough to jump without a fence. Just not. Besides that, I need more hours on the flat, airplane arms and the like, to find my new balance.

Then one day last week, I grabbed Ransom, western saddle, and down the roads we went. I spent about a half hour in the tack, at the walk, rumbling down the road, both directions, and in the pasture a while.

And I thought, and reflected. I need more rides where I'm not concentrating on something new all the time. I'm not striving to be the next best rider on the circuit. I'm not busting tail to the best biggest blue ribbons out there. I want to have fun! And all the concentrating, well, just ain't fun.

So here's the plan...
*More dressage! More Training Level, flat concentrated dressage. Find some schooling shows, and get them on my calendar, committed to them, with intents on seeing higher scores than last year.

*At least ONCE every two weeks, I WILL just walk around the pasture, up & down the road. I'll aim to go farther down the road towards the mailboxes every time, but I will NOT concentrate on my equitation, I will goof off, 100% totally.

*No more than two rides a week hunter. I will still concentrate on it, but not so much, and not so intensely. Yes, I got a wider arena for fences & cavalettis without fear of running into the rail.

*Once a month minimum lesson at BRM. To work on position, and technical details, but not weekly, and maybe not even every other week. Again, I want to get better, but I'm not in a super hurry to do it.

To this end, I'm scheduling May 15th to attend a trail ride with Romeo that I was invited to. More details on that as I know them. It's not super far from home, and I was invited by another attendee at the HorseMaster taping. Cheap, easy fun, with a horse that's good at those trail and large group events. Awesome deal!

2/4/10 Trail Riding

After lunch, after packing, after settling Ransom back in his stall, R and I asked barn-master D if we could enjoy the same trail ride a few other cast members had played on.

Her BF, M, pulled two horses out of stalls in the main barn. He asked us, "Who is the less experienced rider?" R volunteered. M said, "This is your horse. This is LittleMan. He's super gentle. When I broke him, he never bucked - he just laid down. He's a wuss!" My horse was named Gypsy.

We took them up to the ownerbarn, and got a nice Western ranch saddle on LittleMan. I talked to M a bit about saddling Gypsy, then ran to my trailer to pull out my dressage saddle and helmet. Whee! I watched intently as the two horses were being prepared, waiting on M to pick a horse of his own and join us as a guide. But it didn't happen that way.

M got us saddled & aboard, and after a little maneuvering, R and I were both ready to go. M said, "Head that way (pointing) behind the barn, stay to the right of the pond, and then all trails lead back to the arena & the front pasture. Have fun!"

Then I realized - it's just us! The barn staff isn't guiding, isn't babysitting, they're trusting us. Someone saw enough of my riding to not only trust me in a dressage saddle on their horse, but trusts me enough to go out alone with an inexperienced rider on their trails! Talk about a self-esteem booster. Whew! Whee!

We sloshed through the mud, we found cross-country jumps (Breathe D, we didn't hop over anything... I think Gypsy wondered why I stood on that hill looking at them so intently though), we went off the trail here & there to avoid some mud, but when we approached the creek, I found us another way. It was beyond fun. Super relaxing! At one point, I turned around to check on LittleMan & R, and found his rope reins over the saddle horn, and R looked so incredibly relaxed. Just awesome...

1/23/10 Gotta Start Somewhere, Pt 2

Well, I can now trail ride up & down the road from home. That's one decent milestone. But, I couldn't end my weekend of taking chances there. Oh No!

I chunked my plans for a haircut today, and decided even though it needed done, I needed some down time at home. And, no, that wasn't a day of sitting stationary. I had to get my ride in first.

A little after noon, I grabbed Ransom. I spent extra time grooming, primping, and pampering. He was yawing at me, obviously enjoying himself. Saddled dressage, he wasn't real pleased when I led him to the arena. Poor guy, he really wanted more of that light-duty trail walking thing.

I lunged him for a warmup, and then I set up a few ground poles. On a 20m circle (or so), I set up a pole every 90degrees. Sort of a cross pattern. I lunged him at the trot over the pole pattern until I had it just the right size to keep him over them, and still on the circle. Afterwards, before I bitted him and hopped on, I walked the steps off in the middle of the poles, and found them to all be 6.5 steps away from each other. Neat! An even circle!

I rode walk and trot over the poles in the circle. I snuck in some spiral in and outs, too. A circle outside the poles, then over on the far side, over in the middle, over on the near side, big circle inside the poles, little circle inside the poles, and reverse back out. I found Ransom's bending to be quite nice on the spirals, both directions.

So, I want to be on TV. I want to jump my horse. Geez, I hadn't cantered over even a ground pole. Time to start, huh?

I had one pole on the near circle, far edge of it. I rode the circle, cantered around the outside of the pole, and then decided to just go for it! What's the worst that'd happen, yeah?

I was right! Cool! Ransom canters over the ground pole, but not by accident. He lifts his front end up just a little, totally aware the pole is there. If it's too far away, he'll stretch a stride out to cover it. If it's close, he'll make a short stride. He also adjusted a few times a stride or two in front of it, making a nice even stride over it. We did this both leads a few times each. A pretty neat feeling.

Then I dumped the stirrups again for some work outside of the pole pattern on sitting to rising trot. I'm still having sit trot with stirrup problems. Without them, we're going along pretty good. With 'em, yeah, not so much. Things to work on.

When we got done with the arena work, I gathered up all his stuff, opened the gate, and hand walked him up to the barn. There, I flipped another bucket upside down, dropped all our extras, and took my hot, huffing & puffing pony, down the road. We went the same distance as Thursday, but without the yapping dogs. I walked him back home, halted him at the house, where he was still hot, huffin, and puffin.

So up the road a ways. Again, no car chasing doggies barking at us. We didn't get quite as far up the road, when I halted him, stood a second to check his breathing, and he turned back towards home. Hoping he was cooling down, I let him take me home, "on the buckle". I realized part way through the walk out I was indeed "on the buckle". A warm glowing satisfactory moment, seeing Ransom on that long of a rein, almost on contact, reaching and relaxing.

I got all his tack off, and hosed him. Clipped pony dries fast! He cooled down pretty quickly. With the warmer weather here, I was even happier I decided to clip him. With that fuzzy coat he did have, he would've gotten hotter faster, and been even rougher to cool out. Glad I clipped!

Total work today? About an hour, including the walk outs.

Tomorrow? Well, if we get "babysitting company", maybe we'll set that jump back up, and maybe I'll work up the nerve to canter to And from. Gotta Start Somewhere!

1/21/10 Gotta Start Somewhere, Pt 1

I got home after work, scrambled to the barn, and gathered up Ransom. "It's gonna be a dressage day!" Well, that was the plan.

The weather, well, was perfect. Sunshiney, gentle breeze, and it was too hard to pass up. Ransom was glancing down the road while I was saddling.

I got my half chaps on, helmet attached, even my gloves. Ransom was all dressed & ready. I flipped a bucket upside down, and hopped on. *Note, I saddle up at the trailer, in my side yard.*

See, I figured, if I'm going to be on HorseMaster, if I'm going to try to learn how to jump, if I'm going to start riding Training Level at unfenced arenas this season, I better learn how to ride outside of my own yard. Ransom's a "been there, done that", and I ought to get over my fears.

So to get over those fears, we've got to start somewhere! I checked the girth just before mounting, and we were good to go. I muttered to Ransom, "This isn't the day to spook, goof off, or test my security. Go easy on me."

He tip toed down the road away from home. And I do mean tip-toed. Itsie bitsie steps, for the first few hundred yards. I was just about to relax, when a neighbor and their yapping dog startled us. Well, me, at least.

I said to the neighbor, "He's 20, I've had him a bit over a year, and this is the first time we've come down the road. I have NO CLUE what he's going to do about that dog. Heads up!" Ransom and the dog stood facing each other a bit, dog barking nervously. Finally, I decided, "Enough's enough", and I urged Ransom forward. The dog darted into the trees, still barking a fit, and Ransom was unshaken. I relaxed my grip on the reins, when I saw my knuckles were white. Ransom and I made it down the road, oh, about three driveways.

Thinking that was good enough, I started walking him home. As we approached the yard, the Monster decided we needed more, and he tugged me away from the house, only this time up the dirt road (towards the mailboxes). We disagreed about this choice just a bit, him tugging away from home, me tugging towards. I decided t'was easier to agree, and his forward stepping walk showed he was enjoying himself. Romeo nickered at us as we meandered back away from home again.

We made it up the road, around the first curve, but not quite to the second driveway, when another neighbor in their car approached from behind. With said neighbor comes a not so horse friendly (or car friendly, for that matter) dog of larger stature and slightly less mental capability. Okay, so the dog chases cars and horses. I was not amused. When it became apparent the dog was going to pursue us, I headed back towards home.

Ransom and I had ridden away from the house up & down the road, for about 20 minutes. I walked him back to the arena, much against his better judgment. I laughed at him hard when he stopped at the slightly muddy patch before the arena. He did NOT want to go to the arena. His disposition sunned back up when I let him trot & canter big on light contact. That and a little more walking, and we went back to the trailer. (I never closed the arena gate, but simply left it open. So I didn't dismount at all during this ride.)

Total ride? About 35 minutes. Experience? Ransom trail rides, in his own little way. Give him rein, he'll stretch long and low, and relax more than I could've figured he would. A pretty neat time.

11/23/09 Mailbox

Okay, so I've been MIA for a while. First, I wanted to give Ransom a break. Then, I went to the concert. Then, it POURED rain at my house, puddling almost the entire property.

So, with things finally dried out enough to get to the trailer door, I grabbed a brush, and Romeo's link bit, and walked to the pasture.

Brushed off the dirt, well, where my bottom would go. Took of his cribbing collar, put the bit on, and hopped on with great apologies. See, I'd had a stressful day at work, and I felt kinda bad even asking him to do anything. The day was bad enough that I worked late, got home about a half hour before dark began. That left no time for a saddle, and no time for a proper grooming. I just needed my hiney-time.

We walked around the house just a minute or three, to see what kind of goober mood he'd be in. Acting like he'd been doing this for years without a day off, Romeo rumbled straight down the road, head down, ears alert in every which direction. He went up the trail on the sharp corner of the road, the one where I always worry we'll run into a deer, dog, or 4-wheeler. When we got to the straightaway again, I leaned, squeezed, and prayed.

We trotted for a little bit, along the side of the road, until a neighbor's car approached. They slowed to a crawl, so I did them the courtesy of coming to walk. Walked past them, then quickly picked up trot again. When I ran out of "side of the road" to be on, and the gravelly dirt road was our only choice, we went back to walk as we approached the mailbox.

Suddenly, something got Romeo's attention. What's that! Oh My Goodness! It's a big purple & blue MONSTER! A horse-eating monster! No silly man! It's just the neighbor lady exercise walking down the road! She's headed this way, so you better get used to it.

I got us to the mailbox, and she passed us. She said to me, "Well, that sure looks like a fun relaxing way to go get the mail! You're getting fresh air, too! What a good idea!" And, it hit me...

I was on my horse
Bareback
In barely enough bit to stop him if I'd needed to
On the road
Away from home
Side passing to the mailbox to grab the mail & stuff it in my coat pocket
And I was enjoying myself

What a far cry from my previously terrified rides, where it was all I could do to walk in a western saddle with a death grip on the horn, praying nothing bad would happen & send my butt catapulting to the gravel road.

Romeo and I alternated walk & trot the whole way back home. He was relaxed, and I let him go all the way to the buckle, trotting along in the dusk. It was approaching dark(er) when we got home. And I didn't care. I've accomplished another goal - walk,trot,bareback,away from home. We're well on our way, now...

11/12/09 MailCall!

Unrelated to Ransom's training me, and his development... But incredibly related to my ever-growing confidence...

Romeo and I rode bareback to the mailbox in the evening. I knew R was coming over to fix some trailer lights, check my brakes, and generally just hang out a while... So I had his arrival in the back of my mind... "If I do go splat, he'll be here sooner rather than later to claim me and retrieve my red pony."

It was fun! Nothing beyond a walk, but we contended with a little traffic, neighbor's mini horse whinnying at us, and I had to dismount at the mailbox due to traffic and the box being too low to reach. I moved Romeo to a small ditch and got a running start to hop back on him. If he were too much taller, that wouldn't be do-able.

A nice stress reliever after a long work day.

10/13/09 Romeo

The rains came Tuesday, and brought even more puddles to the pasture and the arena. I chose to give Ransom the day off. Now, I could've really sucked it up, put on his surcingle, and worked him on the line in side reins. There was enough room to do that carefully. But I didn't want to chance a slip, a slide, or an injury.

So I grabbed Romeo, saddled him Western, French link bit, and offs we went. "To the mailbox, my trusty pal!" I could see dark clouds, and heard booming thunder. Knowing I needed to get the mail & get on home, I got him on the first clear part of the road, and picked up trot. clop clop clop clop ... cool sounds hooves make on the roadside.

We encountered...
One slow-driving neighbor coming towards us.
One fast-driving neighbor towards us, who never even slowed down to pass. grrrr
Goats in the pasture
Horses nickering & calling out
A moderately sized killer chihuahua barking his little head off at us, running circles around us
Another car on the paved road, who slowed just enough to wave at us
Mud puddles and soft hoof-eating dirt

When we arrived at the mail, I leaned over, told Romeo, "Now's a good time to NOT move!" I had to lean pretty far over, as my mail lady LOVES to stuff everything way to the back of the box, just out of reach. Gathered up the mail, stuffed it under my saddle horn, gave Romeo an atta-boy pat, and headed for home. That stupid yappy little dog followed us a while longer, running circles around, yappy yappy yappy. YUCK!

On the way home, another car-driving neighbor was behind us, and just as soon as I realized it, I got out of her way off to the side, and she carefully zipped by.

With walk and trot, the mailbox, the spooks, it tooks us about 25 minutes to go fetch the mail. A cool ride! He wasn't the least bit tired when we got home, even better!

10/05/09 Romeo On the Road

I drove right on by the mailbox on the way home. Romeo had a previous terrored fear of the mailbox, and the weather was keen today for checking if we had conquered that.

(And a good plan too, as parts of the arena are still puddled - should be better tonight for a good solid Ransom lunging.)

Saddled him up Western, french link bit, and offs we went. He very confidently walked at a steady pace across the front yard towards the mailboxes. I could almost feel his body language saying, "Yup, Mom's determined. I've got a job to do, I can feel the way she's sitting on me, and where she's looking. Follow her eyes, follow her eyes." I started him out in a steady trot where I knew it would be quiet & not distracting. He swished right through all the tall grasses, peeking here & there to make sure we were safe, ears pointed straight out forward, listening for the slightest sounds.

We got all the way to the mailbox, had a little "brain fart" with the darker pavement again (giggle, fixed with me dismounting & stepping on it). I was able to walk him towards the mailbox from both left & right, opening it and sticking my hand inside. No mail, however, so that made the trip fun.

Started back towards the house, and snapped a couple quick pictures, because I could. *grins*

Here's what the road looks like heading back to my house (which is just past the trees on the left - can you see it?).

Romeo's looking towards the neighbor's under-water-puddle pasture, taking a hard look at the light-colored pony calling out to him. That was the extent of his reaction, with three of their horses in pasture, all staring and calling out, both to and from the mailboxes. Good Boy!

Now we're checking out the neighbor's kids out playing ball. This was just after going through one muddy ditch that was a puddle yesterday. He carefully picked his way through the few feet of yuck, then peered off to the right to make sure those kids didn't need him for anything before taking me home.

Probably one of the funniest parts of the ride was the mole. Heading to the boxes, right before the neighbor's pasture, there was a mole crossing the road. Romeo gave it a look, recognized it, and kept on going, head down. That mole, however, was none to happy about us being on "the other side of the road" with him. He looked up at us, mouth wide open, making an awful hissing noise, eyes about as big as his head. Can you imagine looking up and seeing hooves coming towards you?! Yikes!

We rode for about a half hour, wandering past the house, navigating a few more puddles for practice, leaving hoofprints down the road in both directions. I paid attention to the prints - I saw hoof edge imprints, and frog imprints. Pretty cool! On the way home, I looked at his out-going tracks - he was tracking up at the walk, though it never even felt like it. Just a wandering, meandering, peaceful ride.

10/4/09 So Here it is Sunday

And church was over. I went on home, grabbed a snack I called "lunch", and changed clothes.
Jeans that were too long, teeshirt, and my rubber boots. There were (and still are) puddles all over my place. This was the perfect time to fetch my little trail-horse, and get in the goof-off session we were so needing.

Saddled him up Western, then grabbed his french link bit, figuring if I needed any emergency stops, he'd be a little less unhappy with a loose ring bit.

We took off down the road to the right, and as I approached the mailboxes, I said to him, "Well, buddy, where do you want to go? Left or right?" He meandered towards the right, so we kept on walking. This is the farthest I've gone to the right away from home down the paved road on my own. We rode past two pastures of horses, one "spooky spot", and as we approached a cow pasture with a whirring windmill well, Romeo's ears perked up. He paused, pooped, took about another four feet work of walking steps, and paused again. I looked at my watch. 40 minutes already?! Seriously?! Goodness,, I need to get him back home, or we'll both be too tired to cross the water-ditches getting home.

He went through the water ditches, through muddy puddles (depth unknown to him until he realized he was in it over his ankles), passed other horses, a few yarping dogs, over the gravel road, on the asphalt (after being reminded on foot that black asphalt hole-patch does NOT eat ponies LOL), through some tree-limb cluttered pathways, and for nearly an hour. No hard warmup, just a brief lunge at trot to tighten up the saddle girth. One spooky spot that was almost nothing (caught me off guard in fact).

When I got all his tack off, I turned him loose with cookies & praise. Later I remembered we had walked on a lot of gravel, barefoot. I grabbed my hoofpick and went a pickin'. Imagine my surprsie when I found his frogs longer than the rest of his hoof. The shoe-nails from his last shoe job have led to hoof wall being all tore up & chipped. As it turns out, there was only one ittie bittie rock to remove, which I took care of. I was a bit surprised to see that, on each step he took, his frog hit first. I ran my brain on wondering if there was something I should do for him. Should I call Mr Dale to come fix? Should I switch him & Ransom, move dirt around in Ransom's stall, wrap Romeo's hooves & let him stand in the driest spots I have? Should I grab my two hoof boots & force those on? So, I did the next best thing. I called Mrs. Mom, in a bit of a panic. Um, I know it's Sunday afternoon, but can you help me?! I'm a little bit worried I just put Romeo through a mess and might've hurt him. She quickly reassured me that, if he hadn't been taking lame steps, despite the terrain we worked over, he was fine. No need to call Mr Dale out, nothing needs doing at all.

So I will keep a watchful eye on him for a few days, try to find a decently dry spot to work on a brief lunge before supper every day and watch for signs of sore feets. He's a steady boy, and I'd hate for him to be uncomfortable. Otherwise, talk about super hooves! That hard work, on frogs and heels, and he was incredibly sound the entire ride. Good Boy!