Grounded

Have a wicked head cold, so made some lemonade. Took our trusty little 16 month old pony gelding out for some play time. I've worked with him a total of 4 times, maybe 20 minutes each time. He's getting better about standing for grooming and gainng general patience about standing tied for no reason at all.

The the first session, I simply took him with me everywhere I went... between parked horse trailers, between fences and stacked bales, over massive logs, up onto patio slabs and driveway ledges, down into ditches and up the other side.

The second session, I took him into the arena with my Parelli stick.... don't run away and stop the eye rolls. In the right hands, the thing is a good tool for both desensitising and sensitising. I swung it and draped it over every square inch of his body, including his legs. Once he stood still for all that, I whapped the rope end on the ground, increasingly closer to him. We moved to the helicopter move once he stood still for that. We also explored various obstacles in the arena and introduced the idea of moving out on the line his own circle. Then I put him away for another couple of months.

The third time, we re-hashed what we'd done the time before, and he yawned at me. Literally. Alrighty. Down the road for a little walk and back. Then he was dallied to the horn on the saddle of his favourite buddy and our herd leader, Bill. Again over numerous obstacles through the yard. Oh, and I loaded him into the Sardine Can in 30 seconds, flat, with one ask. That was totally boring for him.

Cue the fourth session, today. Again, it's been something like 3 weeks since I've touched him. Today was tarp day. Scout became a pack pony. After carting our toddler around patiently (27lbs) on the lead line, I introduced him to our 20 foot brown tarp, wadding it up and piling it up on his back. Seriously, not one scoot from this little trooper. He carted that thing around like a pro.

How awesome!

Fall is THE Season!

Egads, it's been ages, it seems.

Been having some fun here & there, but for the most part, things have been limited to quiet arena rides. Have moved up to a simple leverage snaffle and see much more response from poor Maximost. He really is an incredible partner to have and I can't seem to help getting frustrated with the brick wall that remains wedged between our communication efforts. I'm thinking of backing right off this winter... bareback pad riding (think we've outgrown our latest saddle), oodles of groundwork via some guru I can dig (Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, maybe?)... see if I can find that connection I crave where thoughts become acts before you ask while riding. It may be beyond us, but I'll sure give it my all.

Ran into some local Fjord breeders and drummed up the courage to talk with them. I am SURE glad I did! They were amazing folks, with none of the distain I've learned to duck from when encountering breed purists. It's become reflexive to wince while I inform people of what kind of horse I have. I absolutely adore this creature for a multitude of reasons, the least of which is his funky, cartoon-character build. I can't wait to get a cartoon tattoo of him! Turns out, many of his temperament traits can, as I susptected, be traced to his stockier relations.

Anyhoo, some fun pics of the recent camping trip the hubby and I made:

The weather was right up our alley - cool enough that the only part of you sticking out of the sleeping bag (your nose, hopefully) was icy cold while the rest of you awoke in the coziest flannel nest of a sleeping bag! The days warmed up enough that for the most part, we had almost too many layers on. Not much water to be found on the trails this year, though we did manage to fjord (pardon the pun) one ankle-deep rapid. Actually, remembering the details, we fjorded while our scairt horses tumbled and plunged over the VAST 2 foot gap with the most strenuous of leaps. Pffft. Still chaps my ass that we had to dismount to end the impasse! Other than that one time, I did also have to do a lot of pulling my saddle back forward after any fun hill work. Good practice for the beast to stand still and calm on the trail while I flounder up there.

Big deamy sighs all week as the reel in my brain lives over moment after blissful moment. Yay for another fabulous fall vacation!

Mc Fatty

Ha! He's LOST weight! He'll never lose his 'brick' -like look thanks to his fjord lineage but the jiggling bits are receeding, thank god! I think that besides a couple of inches of height that his hip has filled out this past year.

A confo shot taken two months ago (yay! he's not downhill! please excuse the long front toes. I'm working on taking them back):

And the ultimate comparison photo, in the trailer with Bill about one month ago:

The lighting is bad, but when compared to the same shot from last year (lower left), I think you can really see a difference in Max's height. SO glad I've been waiting to get a western saddle fitted for him!!

Bath Time!!

Great way to have fun on the hottest of days and give the horses a small reprieve from itchy bugs and dried sweat. Been playing with my friend's product line, Ecolicious Equestrian (shameless plug). Love the citrus scent and a 20 min conditioner soak of the Maximus Dianna Ross mane and tail yeilded soft silk, days later!

He was less than impressed and sulked until I turned him back out. Five strides to the nearest dirt spot and he was down for a good, back-scratching roll.

Gorgeous Summer

Lots of fun this summer... not quantity of riding but most definitely quality. Canter work in the outdoor arena is building confidence and balance. He does a fabulous light little prance on his favourite lead.

Almost have the hubby convinced on a mud road ride. I want to get out and stretch his legs! ...the horse, not the hubby. We'll have to trailer 10 minutes from home but it's a much better option than riding rocky roads at the walk for over an hour.

Hay is pretty sexy this year!

A Mazing

Some great adventures over the last few days that I've finally got time to re-live.

Thursday and Friday nights I rode with a friend who was prepping for a weekend show, at the arena up the road. Never get enough time with this fantastic friend and had a blast. Max is really coming along. It has been almost an entire year and I finally feel like we are moving closer to that elusive seemless connection. I am asking for my space more, both on his back and on the ground.

Someone else with some kind of equine education climbed up on his back in recent days and I felt much better about the conversations we do have. What I manage to make seem easy is in fact quite difficult with this boy. Yahoo! Two riders were amazed at how much physical effort was required for the most simple tasks.

One particular session that really seemed to be a turning point for us was working on our canter departures and doward trasitions in our 110x120 outdoor arena. I think the lack of visual barriers (walls) helped him to feel more comfortable as, the next two rides - in the indoor - his confidence and balance was much improved.

This weekend held a first outting for Maximus. We attended a local horse show, a few miles from home. I have to say he blew my expectations out of the water. 100+ horses - no problem. Childrens Choo-Choo Train tooling around - no problem. Flags, tents and garbage debris flapping and floating around - no problem. Children zipping about, yodeling - no problem. He was phenomenal. Even stood around like a gentleman for 20 minutes to watch the show and allowed me to use all manner of obstacles to mount up from. - Really should punch more holes in that girth!! I might then be able to spring up from the ground... spring... hmmm. Whatever there is left exisiting of that, at this point in my life.

FINALLY!!

After more than a month of anticipating the arrival of our little alien, SHE'S here!!!!

True to horsey form, Mom waited until the wee hours to pull off her little surprise. We were quite ecstatic to peek out our kitchen window at 6 a.m. this morning (thanks! toddler) to espy Mom leading baby around the pasture. It was a little chilly before the clouds cleared way for the sun and I imagine she was trying to keep her shivering baby warm. Both have come through the ordeal well and Mom is proving to be properly concerned and protective, not letting us within 10 feet of them and equally keeping her filly away from the herd.

They are all excited, battles for heirarchy momentarily forgotten as they oggle and prance along their shared fenceline. Everyone seems to be on their best behaviour so far and their curiosity remains polite.

I'll have to go snag some better pictures, now that the sun is out and everyone's settled down a bit.