Cardinals + Superbowl = Possible????
I must be in some strange alternate universe. The Arizona Cardinals are now going to the Superbowl.
Of course it was just barely. They dominated the first half and then just kind of lost it in the second until the last minute,b ut that's okay. They're going to the Superbowl.
... I sure hope the world doesn't end soon, I have plans.
Anyway!
Friday was rather lazy for the first half. At least I don't remember doing much of note. Around 10.00 I went out and pestered Cinnamon Strudel for a bit. I brushed her up, was dismayed to find sap on her (but it really is no surprise) so used some dirt to reduce the tackiness and finished brushing her out and tacked her up. It was the first time I've put an "adult" saddle on her. Previously it's been this little leather 13 1/2" kid's saddle with just a main girth. This time I put my own saddle on her, which has a back cinch in addition to the main girth. When I asked her to move off in the roundpen she wasn't terribly happy as the cinch sucked up on her belly a little and she hunched slightly and did this almost rocking horse-type movement as she bounced back and forth between her hind and forelegs as she moved forward. Nothing terribly dramatic, but slightly amusing.
Chris says he just wants her to explode (preferably with someone NOT on her) and he'd feel much better. He's not quite convinced that she can go through the complete starting under saddle (breaking) process without some sort of wonderful explosion that gets it out of her system. We'll see what happens, I think her explosion occurred when we (I) taught her how to lead when she was a not-so-giant foal (could never really call her "little" she was pretty much born big). Rearing up, flipping over backwards, and the like. I think that was her explosion.
Getting back to what I had started saying, I worked her in the round pen, walk, trot, and canter. She was a bit stinky about changing directions, which I focused in on until she was doing it nicely again. Once we were working nicely together again I put the halter back on her and worked on flexing her in both directions and then got the mounting block and worked on flexing and standing still as I climbed up on it. From there I flexed her, stepped in the stirrup, stepped down, repeat with weight, repeat again, and finally I stood up in the stirrup and leaned over. Scratched her shoulder, patted her haunch, flapped the stirrup, pulled on the back cinch and she stood quite well. My only complaint is her attempt to play with the stirrup.
I did it several times on both sides. The right side was a bit comical, my body isn't used to mounting on that side so the same muscles and ligaments don't quite stretch the same, even with a mounting block. I think I did it from the ground once or twice too, but I can't remember.
Mom arrived as I was hosing off Cinnamon and as I put her back Mom got out Dakota and started cleaning and tacking up. We had planned on a trail ride with us plus two. Mom's two friends arrived after we had tacked up all four horses, but they did bring burritos, which made it okay.
The ride started with Melanie on Hershey (Mom's newer horse, a Rocky Mountain Horse mare), her sister Amy on Kash, Mom on Dakota, and I was on Panda. We rode out for a while and when we decided to turn around Melanie and Amy swapped horses. As we headed back Kash was being a bit stinky, he was pretty much jigging all over the place and Dakota started acting up a bit, swinging her butt towards Kash and being a bit marish. We figure that Dakota must have been in heat and Kash was partially reacting to that.
Fast-foward to the last, maybe two minutes of the ride. We reached the point where all of the trails break off from in front of the parking lot for people, the equestrian parking lot is about 50 yards off through a little bit of desert and brush. The other three went off and Panda wasn't wanting to wait for my cue to walk so I made her stand. Everyone else disappeared in the brush and Panda got a little more nervous. I kept bending her and asking her to stand until she stood for a moment and I asked her forward. She did pretty well until we got to this little wash dip. She wanted to pick up a trot and I was determined that she not. As she picked it up I bent her head around, but this was in the middle of a rather small dip that was a bit like a ditch. I think she tried jumping it as I spun her back around, but the result was that she jumped into a gallop to catch up with everyone.
My thoughts? "Well crap, Panda, you're not supposed to do that. Should I bail? No, my seat's okay and that would be a mess. Panda, I'm really disappointed, this is annoying." I shouted something along the lines of "watch out!" a few times and finally bent her around just before the trail head when she spooked a little at a sign, which was just enough for me to get the leverage to do it and bring back my presence of mind to do more than just be annoyed.
I apologized profusely to my fellow trail mates and to the poor lady who was just ahead of them, ready to go through the gap in the fence. Mom noted that had she not known better she would have thought I did it on purpose because I looked "in control." She also mentioned I had a rather determined look on my face, I was quite annoyed.
The other three went and untacked their horses and I got Panda moving in the parking lot (gravel and dirt). I asked her to trot and canter in both directions a few times, making sure she was listening and thinking. I then walked her back to the trail head and about 20' or so past the entry before getting off. Panda was quite content to walk after her little work-out.
Of course I committed my favorite mistake once again. I didn't say "Whoa." And I know Panda has good breaks. It's just that when a horse goobers on me my first reaction is annoyance. Now I do know that when Panda goobers it is out of fear or nervousness, she doesn't do it to be a jerk, she just doesn't know and doesn't have the confidence. It doesn't make it less annoying, though.
So Panda need to work on being alone more, just going out by herself and not stressing about being left behind. Of course the funny thing is if she's in the lead of a group she could hardly care less how far behind they are, it's just the thought of being left behind herself that worries her.
Saturday was quite busy. I had three lessons and after that I went with Natalie to go look at a horse. The horse was a complete dud, though. He was advertised as a "Schoolmaster" in Second-Level dressage and sounded quite good for $2500. We got there and he was at LEAST 100 lbs under weight, probably closer to 200. He had dirt and manure caked in his coat and looked in pretty sad shape overall. Even with a winter coat I could count his ribs and I could just about cup my hand around his point of hip. The lady got on him and walked around, trotted a little (with a lot of effort), and from my standing, needed a bit of help and wasn't a very confident or comfortable rider. I asked Natalie if she wanted to try him first or have me get on. I mounted up and got him walking. I asked for his face and he gave easily enough, but when it came to moving off my leg? Not much luck. I could hardly get him beyond a sluggish walk and when I asked for the trot he wouldn't round up at all. It didn't help that he was completely dead to my leg and when I did get him trotting his head popped up and he hollowed out horribly. If I attempted to round him up at that point he'd loose his momentum because, well, he was dead to the leg. The lady said she usually used spurs and asked if I wanted a whip or something. I declined, with my short ride I had enough information for a decision on my end at least. I rode him a little longer than I needed to, mostly because I was trying to get a good response out of him. I did get one half-descent walk-trot transition, but even though he moved forward sooner, he still inverted horribly and popped his shoulder, which, of course, he wouldn't move off of.
The woman asked for my opinion, and I asked if she was sure she wanted it, and she said yes. I told her he was horribly underweight, and wasn't worth what she was asking for him. Maybe when she got him he was worth that much, or if he was in shape and at least half-descent on the cues, but as it stood he wasn't worth it. She asked what they could do to put more weight on him, and I suggested that they give him the Alfalfa that they have been, plus as much Bermuda as the horse will eat and probably some grain ontop of that. In the lady's defense they originally had their two horses together and the TB just wasn't getting his share when they were together. So I think it is a case of just not knowing. Of course I didn't mention to her that the horse was terribly splay-footed in the front.
The lady did ask for my info for lessons and such, which I gave to her. It was unfortunate that I forgot my wallet so I didn't have any business cards on me. I just wrote it down on a piece of paper.
Arrived home in time to appreciate the massive amount of cars parked along both Riggs and Hawes Rd. as people went to the grand opening of the Equestrian park. I was planning on going, but I was pretty much done for the day when I got home.
Sunday was church, recommend interviews, and the football games. I also teased Panda and noted that she is now out of heat (she was in Friday and possibly Tuesday). Granted it didn't help that Kash was more interested in biting/nipping her than just licking and nuzzling (jerk).
And today! Today I am pretty much free until 1.00. I'm going to ride Panda up to the Equestrian park and work her in the arena for a bit and ride her back. Then I'd like to work the boy a bit along with the Strudel horse.
I need to call on a Halfinger Gelding in Phoenix and confirm a time to go look at him. This one isn't for Natalie, but the siblings who are looking for some "Chewy-Type" horses. He sounds really good too, a little on the young side (coming 7), but if he's as good as he sounds he should be worth it. He was used as a kid's Hunter/Jumper mount.
And that's about it for my rambling.
... and I start school again tomorrow.
Of course it was just barely. They dominated the first half and then just kind of lost it in the second until the last minute,b ut that's okay. They're going to the Superbowl.
... I sure hope the world doesn't end soon, I have plans.
Anyway!
Friday was rather lazy for the first half. At least I don't remember doing much of note. Around 10.00 I went out and pestered Cinnamon Strudel for a bit. I brushed her up, was dismayed to find sap on her (but it really is no surprise) so used some dirt to reduce the tackiness and finished brushing her out and tacked her up. It was the first time I've put an "adult" saddle on her. Previously it's been this little leather 13 1/2" kid's saddle with just a main girth. This time I put my own saddle on her, which has a back cinch in addition to the main girth. When I asked her to move off in the roundpen she wasn't terribly happy as the cinch sucked up on her belly a little and she hunched slightly and did this almost rocking horse-type movement as she bounced back and forth between her hind and forelegs as she moved forward. Nothing terribly dramatic, but slightly amusing.
Chris says he just wants her to explode (preferably with someone NOT on her) and he'd feel much better. He's not quite convinced that she can go through the complete starting under saddle (breaking) process without some sort of wonderful explosion that gets it out of her system. We'll see what happens, I think her explosion occurred when we (I) taught her how to lead when she was a not-so-giant foal (could never really call her "little" she was pretty much born big). Rearing up, flipping over backwards, and the like. I think that was her explosion.
Getting back to what I had started saying, I worked her in the round pen, walk, trot, and canter. She was a bit stinky about changing directions, which I focused in on until she was doing it nicely again. Once we were working nicely together again I put the halter back on her and worked on flexing her in both directions and then got the mounting block and worked on flexing and standing still as I climbed up on it. From there I flexed her, stepped in the stirrup, stepped down, repeat with weight, repeat again, and finally I stood up in the stirrup and leaned over. Scratched her shoulder, patted her haunch, flapped the stirrup, pulled on the back cinch and she stood quite well. My only complaint is her attempt to play with the stirrup.
I did it several times on both sides. The right side was a bit comical, my body isn't used to mounting on that side so the same muscles and ligaments don't quite stretch the same, even with a mounting block. I think I did it from the ground once or twice too, but I can't remember.
Mom arrived as I was hosing off Cinnamon and as I put her back Mom got out Dakota and started cleaning and tacking up. We had planned on a trail ride with us plus two. Mom's two friends arrived after we had tacked up all four horses, but they did bring burritos, which made it okay.
The ride started with Melanie on Hershey (Mom's newer horse, a Rocky Mountain Horse mare), her sister Amy on Kash, Mom on Dakota, and I was on Panda. We rode out for a while and when we decided to turn around Melanie and Amy swapped horses. As we headed back Kash was being a bit stinky, he was pretty much jigging all over the place and Dakota started acting up a bit, swinging her butt towards Kash and being a bit marish. We figure that Dakota must have been in heat and Kash was partially reacting to that.
Fast-foward to the last, maybe two minutes of the ride. We reached the point where all of the trails break off from in front of the parking lot for people, the equestrian parking lot is about 50 yards off through a little bit of desert and brush. The other three went off and Panda wasn't wanting to wait for my cue to walk so I made her stand. Everyone else disappeared in the brush and Panda got a little more nervous. I kept bending her and asking her to stand until she stood for a moment and I asked her forward. She did pretty well until we got to this little wash dip. She wanted to pick up a trot and I was determined that she not. As she picked it up I bent her head around, but this was in the middle of a rather small dip that was a bit like a ditch. I think she tried jumping it as I spun her back around, but the result was that she jumped into a gallop to catch up with everyone.
My thoughts? "Well crap, Panda, you're not supposed to do that. Should I bail? No, my seat's okay and that would be a mess. Panda, I'm really disappointed, this is annoying." I shouted something along the lines of "watch out!" a few times and finally bent her around just before the trail head when she spooked a little at a sign, which was just enough for me to get the leverage to do it and bring back my presence of mind to do more than just be annoyed.
I apologized profusely to my fellow trail mates and to the poor lady who was just ahead of them, ready to go through the gap in the fence. Mom noted that had she not known better she would have thought I did it on purpose because I looked "in control." She also mentioned I had a rather determined look on my face, I was quite annoyed.
The other three went and untacked their horses and I got Panda moving in the parking lot (gravel and dirt). I asked her to trot and canter in both directions a few times, making sure she was listening and thinking. I then walked her back to the trail head and about 20' or so past the entry before getting off. Panda was quite content to walk after her little work-out.
Of course I committed my favorite mistake once again. I didn't say "Whoa." And I know Panda has good breaks. It's just that when a horse goobers on me my first reaction is annoyance. Now I do know that when Panda goobers it is out of fear or nervousness, she doesn't do it to be a jerk, she just doesn't know and doesn't have the confidence. It doesn't make it less annoying, though.
So Panda need to work on being alone more, just going out by herself and not stressing about being left behind. Of course the funny thing is if she's in the lead of a group she could hardly care less how far behind they are, it's just the thought of being left behind herself that worries her.
Saturday was quite busy. I had three lessons and after that I went with Natalie to go look at a horse. The horse was a complete dud, though. He was advertised as a "Schoolmaster" in Second-Level dressage and sounded quite good for $2500. We got there and he was at LEAST 100 lbs under weight, probably closer to 200. He had dirt and manure caked in his coat and looked in pretty sad shape overall. Even with a winter coat I could count his ribs and I could just about cup my hand around his point of hip. The lady got on him and walked around, trotted a little (with a lot of effort), and from my standing, needed a bit of help and wasn't a very confident or comfortable rider. I asked Natalie if she wanted to try him first or have me get on. I mounted up and got him walking. I asked for his face and he gave easily enough, but when it came to moving off my leg? Not much luck. I could hardly get him beyond a sluggish walk and when I asked for the trot he wouldn't round up at all. It didn't help that he was completely dead to my leg and when I did get him trotting his head popped up and he hollowed out horribly. If I attempted to round him up at that point he'd loose his momentum because, well, he was dead to the leg. The lady said she usually used spurs and asked if I wanted a whip or something. I declined, with my short ride I had enough information for a decision on my end at least. I rode him a little longer than I needed to, mostly because I was trying to get a good response out of him. I did get one half-descent walk-trot transition, but even though he moved forward sooner, he still inverted horribly and popped his shoulder, which, of course, he wouldn't move off of.
The woman asked for my opinion, and I asked if she was sure she wanted it, and she said yes. I told her he was horribly underweight, and wasn't worth what she was asking for him. Maybe when she got him he was worth that much, or if he was in shape and at least half-descent on the cues, but as it stood he wasn't worth it. She asked what they could do to put more weight on him, and I suggested that they give him the Alfalfa that they have been, plus as much Bermuda as the horse will eat and probably some grain ontop of that. In the lady's defense they originally had their two horses together and the TB just wasn't getting his share when they were together. So I think it is a case of just not knowing. Of course I didn't mention to her that the horse was terribly splay-footed in the front.
The lady did ask for my info for lessons and such, which I gave to her. It was unfortunate that I forgot my wallet so I didn't have any business cards on me. I just wrote it down on a piece of paper.
Arrived home in time to appreciate the massive amount of cars parked along both Riggs and Hawes Rd. as people went to the grand opening of the Equestrian park. I was planning on going, but I was pretty much done for the day when I got home.
Sunday was church, recommend interviews, and the football games. I also teased Panda and noted that she is now out of heat (she was in Friday and possibly Tuesday). Granted it didn't help that Kash was more interested in biting/nipping her than just licking and nuzzling (jerk).
And today! Today I am pretty much free until 1.00. I'm going to ride Panda up to the Equestrian park and work her in the arena for a bit and ride her back. Then I'd like to work the boy a bit along with the Strudel horse.
I need to call on a Halfinger Gelding in Phoenix and confirm a time to go look at him. This one isn't for Natalie, but the siblings who are looking for some "Chewy-Type" horses. He sounds really good too, a little on the young side (coming 7), but if he's as good as he sounds he should be worth it. He was used as a kid's Hunter/Jumper mount.
And that's about it for my rambling.
... and I start school again tomorrow.