New Pony, New lessons!

Meet the New Pony Leroy!
AKA Rhythm of the Range

Not sure this was the BEST time in my life to buy a horse, but the stars aligned and he is mine.

I'll give more dirt about him in the next post, but for now just know he is a GREAT inspiration to take the steps needed to get horse property.

Nothing more annoying then being at home without time to go to the barn!

Gotta get better at this!

Petey has been coming along wonderfully. Nailing his leads, working on slowing his jog, and soon the lope. He's still responding a bit better to neck reining then direct reining, but I'm ok with that now. Also getting good at pivots, which is partially due to his getting better at showmanship!

Chubbs is doing better in rowel spurs then ball I found. The rowel really make him respond and lift, where the ball he doesn't care if you keep it on him all the time. Still trying to find the right shanked snaffle to try him in, hopefully that will help with the "lag" in neck reining we've been having.

Next show will be Chubbs going again on September 12th!

Long time no update!

July was a fun month. First I cut my ankle and was laid up for a week, then Petey got a cut on his hock, that swelled up, but he still stayed sound on. Along that time I caught a nasty cold, and now here in August we are just starting to get back on track!

Being a hot rainy weekend, and the luck I've been having with my truck, I decided I WASN'T going to get ready for the Sunday Farmington show, and in the morning see how things go.

My truck made it to the barn, yeah! Then it hooked up fine to the trailer and the blinkers worked (but I don't think my headlight lights worked, and have no clue about the brake lights) hauled the trailer to the front of the barn. I hadn't clipped, bathed or even ridden Chubbs the night before, but loaded him up, and decided to see what happened.

We made it to the fair grounds (yeah!) and he was quiet as a mouse. Stood great. It was a quick moving show (which I liked) so we only rode for the 2 classes before ours. Our first upset came when a loud paint pony went trotting by (my lord did that freak us out) but he didn't nicker, squeal, or attempt to kick any other horses. Did find out I don't have a hole punch in the trailer, and my show headstall is too small for his head!

Our class was our first time in the ring, announcer, stands, bystanders no phasing, but we were VERY looky. We only sped up when passed twice, both times at the jog. Moved well on and off the rail, but our backing needs work, along with headset if we are getting picky. Didn't place, but didn't expect too.

I only stayed for one class as making it to the show was half the headache, so I wanted a head start before others from my barn started driving home, just in case. We made it home fine though!

So all in all I'm a happy camper. For our first show, and his first show in 8+ years, I don't think I could of asked for too much more with out pushing my luck! Not sure if we are going to take off work for the show there this Friday, but providing my truck is still on my side, we are definitely going to go on Sunday.

Another good day!

Petey is REALLY getting his leads now. Couldn' t be happier!

HE also must of kicked Chubbs in the chest, as he's got a large swollen spot, so he's on light duty till then. I'll still be riding him, but only at the walk/jog, and more for "clicking" then training.

2 Days in one post!

With the hot weather I HAVE to get up early if I'm going to ride. Not so easy if the BF is keeping you up till midnight!

Wed I got up a little early so only had time to ride one. I chose Chubbs due to the time restraints and not wanting to end Petey on a bad note if I didn't have the time. It worked out well though, we were able to ride during a lesson, while a mare in heat was being longed. He rode past the gelding fine, no indication he was going to give any kind of problem. The mare he was curious about, but then flattened his ears when she went ripping past. If that was all he was going to do I was happy.

Today I rode him again, while the same mare was riding, and he was fine. If she went past him he didn't care. He did loose some focus though, so we are going to have to keep working on that cue.

Petey was fabulous. I swear I like this horse more and more each ride. I hadn't done a thing with him in quite a while, not even run around turnout, so I was a little worried how he'd be. But I didn't longe, hopped on, and no problems! He was a little forward, he would start trotting, took the wrong lead, was brought back down, and then TOOK THE RIGHT LEAD! I was SO happy. we then went back to a walk, and I signaled for the trot, and then the lope, got the wrong lead, and he on his own, picked up the correct one.

I'll tell you this guy has an AMAZING lope. Its deep, and you just lightly rock in the saddle. No fussing with him to do it, that's just his groove.

Needless to say I was a very happy rider today!

Darn the hot weather!

With the heat and humidity we've been having I'll admit I've been lazy. I've been giving them time to play in the outdoor but not riding this past week. I DID hop on today.

Rode Chubbs in the indoor, same ole, same ole packer. Little lookie at the doorway, but we are working on that.

Rode Petey in the indoor as well. There was lots of farming going on outside, and since I wasn't longing, I figured indoor would be a little less temptation to be naughty. He's going into the lope transitions are getting MUCH faster. His right lead is still taking quite a while, but hopefully we found a cure for that. Tomorrows riding will tell!

The week is off to a good start!

Tuesday and Wednesday the guys got to go play in the outdoor, they rolled in the wet sand and ran around to "get out the weather".

Wednesday after our turnout session, I hopped on Petey in the indoor. I figure by now he's probably had a "good" 30 days on him, and I can't think of many horses with that small amount of riding that would be able to be ridden without longing. He's trot to lope cue response is getting faster and faster, and he's getting less obnoxious about veering into other horses.

Today both were ridden outside, without longing, and without turnout time before hand. Chubbs is moving great, and at this point he's riding is all about getting in sync with commands. Petey had a hard time with this right lead, but once he got the leads he moved out nicely, and didn't break down a gait as quickly.

Definitely one of those rides you can only smile about!