Back in the Saddle Again... and Out.

Nope. No falling off. Just some bareback puttering around in the yard. Ecstatic to hop on both my dunderhead and the hubby's push-button gelding. SO much easier to ride that horse!!

Maximus has been treated to two tune-up rides by the hubby. He's so fantastic about riding outside the box, challenging the psyche of the horse as well as the physical... and not necessarily because he's looking to push bottons or train. Just because he enjoys going for a RIDE. This entire effort on the cowboy's behalf was triggered by Maximost taking a friend for a couple of un-called-for rowdy rides. I'll tell you, that boy follows the hubby around like a puppy dog once the ride is over! He LOVES it just as much, the brat.

I'm ready to finally start some good riding, myself. Did quite a bit of sitting trot today without a hitch or twitch. Dismounting is still interesting... did I mention that I've since broken three toes in my left foot? Giddy up. Finally start feeling well enough to tussle with the boys a little and wind up taking out my foot.

The (tentative) plan is to ride Cadilac Bill for a few rides then get back into the groove with Max once I get my core strength back. But I just may huck that out the window and load Max on the trailer. Bill for the trail and Max for the arena. I plan to take things back a notch with Max, working on transitions up, down, up, down, up, down until we're both speaking the same language. Patrick (hubby) describes Max's efforts like driving a standard without a clutch. Very apt description. I'm also going to finally nail down neck reining. There is NO reason for us to have NOT mastered that yet.

Don't know how much riding I can fit into my current schedule, but I'm game to get as much as I can in.

Also discovered Zumba. Shake it, ladies!!!

Down and OUT

Had a slight whoopsie on the 23rd... I think the bloody cat barreled INTO Maximus' front legs, without him or myself catching a glimpse of it. Other riders in our group did see a long-tailed black blur and every horse jumped a mile. Only Max pulled the ol' Whirl n' Buck before I could even process that we were off our intended path. He deposited my stunned self directly onto the cement-like gravel road we'd only just a blink before been walking beside and continued his bucking antics around the then snoozing group, of course coming to settle back in the very grassy ditch we left to munch. I'd much rather have been left behind in said bed o' grasses, bristles and thistles, thank you very much.

The meeting of rock against rock (that'd be me against the road) resulted in a very minor concussion (where was that helmet I'd only just pledged to wear every ride??), a brutally tenderised hip and thigh, a very broken rib and some surface and sub-surface road rash. Oddly enough, with exception to being taken out of commission for everything fun and interesting, it's the chafing scabs and bruising that is irritating me the most, lol. So typical. Other than snapping in frustration at every little thing (sorry, Hubby), I'm quite relieved to sustain injury to a solid bone rather than a joint. Two months til I can climb back on. Bummer.

Now, if only I could stop laughing at the toddler's antics...

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!