Harold Time!

Had to get a pic of his silly lazy lip

Had some free time on Saturday so I got to go out and see my long lost horsey! The needy one (my ten month old) was down for a nap so I didn't feel too bad leaving the husband to chill on the couch with my oldest.

I probably would have took her with me except I was sure I was going to have to traipse all through the pasture to find him. So I told her she could come out when sissy woke up. She was still not convinced I wasn't leaving her for far more interesting things for far too long and proceeded to have a melt down. I sort of did feel bad about leaving the husband at that point! Sorry darlin! Lol.

So I walk my little self out there and low and behold THERE THEY ARE! Right up by the gate. And my horse even came up to greet me and stood stock still for me to halter him. Wow, what a treat.

I thought about cleaning him up before working with him but they always stand better for all that after they have some of the wiggly's out so I just went on and reviewed all we had learned from a few weeks ago. Well, almost three weeks ago now that I look.

He did great! Back up is still slow, alas, so working on that. I tried a little of the marching back (hold the stick like a ski pole and march with high legs and arms up and down towards the horse.) I would smack him with the whip in between his legs to get some energy but that mainly made him go sideways on me. We did some hindquarter yield, good on the left side, not as good on the right, which translated to our work later, which I will mention. Then I did some forequarter yielding. He did great! Hardly any forward motion, and I didn't have to put my stick down this time either.

Sleepy Harold is sleepy

So then I decided to go for it and see how he did with lunging for respect. I was a little nervous because I've def not mastered it myself, and it all happens so fast. But he did great! I got a nice small trot circle out of him and a decent disengage. But then the father in law showed up and started griping about his grass getting torn up and I had to move to the round pen, sigh.

So then he got worried about being away from his mates and neighed a bit and threw a little leap kick fit which I was not amused by -_-. I kept working with him tho and he settled down. He definitely is weak disengaging on his right (bad) side. So he kept getting too close to me and I'd have to back him up. In the beginning he kept thinking I wanted him to go back out trotting but finally got it. I also went back and did some more yielding his hindquarters to the right and then went back to lunging which helped a tad.

I decided to stop a bit and do some lateral flexing. I figured he would have gotten his antsyness out and be ready to settle. Nope! He was flexing but still more interested in his buddies. So around we went with some more lunging and a lot of changes of direction. He was getting good at almost doing a rollback when I told him to move off. Def had some hustle! The second time we stopped he was ready ;).

So I got him where I thought he was focusing a bit better and then decided to take my first bareback ride on him! No idea if he has been rode bareback before but he didn't give a care! I tied his lead to the other side of his halter and sidled him up next to the fence. I wasn't real optimistic he was going to stand there but I wanted to try! The first time he moved off but after I poked him back over and climbed onto the fence the second time he did great! Let me clamber on and didn't move until I asked, good man!

I'm so glad his top line has filled in because his backbone would have been murder! I was wishing for a nice long mane like Daisy had instead of the scraggly thing he has, to hold onto!

After I had enough fun Chloe wanted a turn so I led her around while her papa held on to her. She had a ball!

Well thats about all! I led him back to the pasture and tied him up to give him a quick brush down. He tried to be silly there and move around a bit wanting to find his buddies who had deserted him but I gave him a few pokes in the side and moved him back where he was a few times and he then stood like a gentleman.

After I threw him back into the pasture he trotted around a bit trying to find Chatterbox and Stormy but was unsuccessful getting back into the big pasture where they were, lol. He kept staring out towards where they were across the cow pasture that adjoins but apparently forgot how to get out there. I imagine he finally figured it out, though ;).

I checked out his hooves, which are all barefoot, and they look pretty good. He has worn the edges down real smooth and I don't see any cracks etc. So I will probably wait until my farrier recovers from her broke arm instead of trying to find another one.

Here is a short video of us riding!



Harold Bareback from Britnieann on Vimeo.

Until later!

Settling Cisco In

Rocking some boots with the fur

Fun, fun day with my Cisco boy Sunday! Came home from church and ate a little lunch, let little girl take her nap, then we hoofed it over to the grandparents! Thats little Chlo on the right, how much cuter can you get?? Not much, friends.

Cisco and Stormy were chilling right by the front of the house so I grabbed a lead rope, a step stool for Chloe, and a chair to set my bucket of grooming tools on. I sat Chloe on the chair and told her to stay put while I got the monster out. Then I parked Cisco in front of her chair and set up her step stool (its a mini sort of scaffold thing the FIL got for Christmas, pretty neat!) right next to him. I thought he might give it the hairy eyeball, but he barely sniffed it. I plopped Chlo up there and a brushing we went! She likes the mane brush so she did that while I used the soft brush. Her interest waned pretty quick though so I put her down and she spent most of her time playing with the cowboy magic bottle and spraying anything in reach down, lol.

My little helper

We had to be back at church for a singing that night, so I just planned on grooming him. After I gave him a good rub down I tackled his chestnuts. They were pretty long and gross looking. As I tried to peel on them they came off in puzzle pieces, instead of a long strip! Weird! So that took awhile, but he was so good and just stood there. I know some horses pick their feet up a lot when you do that. Really the whole time we were messing with him he just stood there with a foot cocked and head down, sweet guy.

After I got his chestnuts looking good I braided his mane over, hopefully it will start deciding to stay on the right side! Some of it does, but most of it hangs out on the other side. As I was doing that I noticed he has a lot of crest up there that flops around, I'm hoping as he loses some weight that will go down too. He is definitely an easy keeper. Also, looking at the picture I probably should have braided it quite a bit tighter up top, oh well, I will have to redo it in a few days anywho!

So after that I worked on his backing with a wiggle of the lead rope and then some lateral flexion. He remembered a little of it, but still wanted to lean on me a bit. Then he thought he was supposed to be moving so we had to work through that. By the time I was done he was doing pretty good. And I started looking at that big fluffy back, oh yeah, gotta jump on! I had the little BIL bring me another lead rope and stood him next to the mini scaffold and hopped up! He didn't even bat an eye, although he did move right off, lol, how embarrassing if I had slid off right then! But I manged to gather myself and just let him walk on. Um, anyone else out there rode a gaited horse bareback?? HARD. They move so lateral that I was sliding off every other stride! Thank goodness for those braids, lol, I grabbed one and got my bearings a little. We were also traveling in a pretty much constant circle, so that didn't help.

Maybe its just him, I don't know, but he does have a very long and low ambling stride. Aside from that I had a great time! He just strode along with his big head hanging, except when we went by the patch of green grass, lol, then he thought he needed to stop for a snack. Our woahs weren't the best in the halter, but not surprising.

After I had my fun I jumped off and did some more flexion with him. Then I decided it would be fun to try to teach him to park out. I had loaded up my pocket with cracked corn so every time I stepped forward when I tapped his fetlock I gave him a bite. He was VERY happy about that! He even started watching my pocket, lol, he knew where it was! Well that didn't go too well, he would move his front foot but his back would usually come up too. Then he was so excited about the grain he would get frustrated and try to paw. So I got a few good moves and left it at and tossed him back in with his girlfriend, who definitely missed him, lol.

So good time by all!! Stay tuned for more, hopefully I will get a real ride in soon.

Small Update!

Yes, I'm still alive and well! Not much horsey things going on since the beginning of the year. I've pretty much retired Daisy girl. She is nearly 23 now and really would rather not have to do anything but eat!

Chloe and I went out and visited her this afternoon. She is looking good going into winter. I'll have to make sure I blanket her on the cold wet/snowy nights though, she isn't as hearty as she was. I wish she would grow more of a winter coat!

She of course didn't make it easy on me and be available up at the gate. No, I had to walk through 3 pastures to get her fuzzy butt! And of course I carried my 2 year old daughter through nearly all of them to and back because she was "huffing tired" lol! She is so funny.

I had a pocket full of corn so gave her some after I caught her, hopefully she will remember that!
So we finally made it to the house and got her brushed. I also got her nasty mane snarl all smooth and fixed, though it seemed like I pulled out half her mane in the process! Doesn't look like it though. I guess its like me when I take a shower I feel like I lose a half a head of hair down the drain sometimes!

I found Chloe a low bucket to stand on and she was a great helper. Then she found the cowboy magik and had to spray that all over Daisy (and my leg -_-). She even got Daisys nose which I'm sure she appreciated, lol.

I had so much fun sharing with her the parts of Daisy's body, what a hoof pick is for, don't walk behind a horse, etc. She loved feeding Daisy the rest of the little corn I had gotten. Daisy was so careful not to use her teeth too.
After that her papa came up and gave me a leg up and then lifted Chloe up. He gave us a little pony ride in the yard, fun fun! Chloe wasn't real sure about being so high, but with time I think she will be fine! Or maybe she just needs a pony! ;)

After Chloe decided she was done I tooled around on Daisy a bit longer. I was thrilled she still remembers her lateral flexing! She was such a good girl. I haven't rode her since March probaby.

And in other exciting news! The father in law has been on the hunt for a horse for a while. He's only found one worth looking at and didn't like him enough to buy. But! I found him a gelding about an hour from us we will probably check out tomorrow. I'm so excited, love horse shopping! He is a big scutter at 16.2, chestnut reg QH out of a great grandson of Obvious Conclusion. Does english, western, jumping (woot!) and trails. 11 years old. Pretty guy! I'm on my phone or I'd put his ad link up for you.

 I can't really put photos where I want them on my phone so the first two are obviously the horse for sale, Red Man. And Daisy and Chloe and I the next! (And a bonus cute one of Chloe in her 'stang from today , lol.

I will keep yall updated on the test ride!

Bareback It!

(WARNING: Loonnngg post!)

<--wow do I look like a 16 year old or what?? Argh, yes I really am turning 25 in October -_-')

Had some fun with Ms Daisy Monday! I drug out my dr cooks bitless bridle that I bought years ago, last week. I had it all torn apart so it took me a few days to track all the pieces down, still had to substitute a crown piece from another bridle, but all is good! I bought it for my QH mare, Doll, who I sold before I got married, a long time ago. She didn't like bits and she did really well in it. (even took her to a dressage lesson once and the instructor there who rode her liked it) I also broke out my moms 2 year old SSH (spotted saddle horse) gelding with it. (who is now 8 and a very good sweet boy)

So! I decided to give it a try on Daisy, since she still chews and such on the bit, and I haven't been able to have her teeth checked, so I don't want to cause her discomfort if I don't have to. So I pedaled my bike over to the in laws, got my CAYOOOTT purple bareback pad, (which I've had for YEARS, since my very first horse Blackie Dan when I was like eight! yes, I put a purple pad on a gelding lol) and pedaled on out to the pasture with that on one handle bar, and my bridle hanging off the other, ahas. Also had my camera hanging off of one hip, and my cell phone off the other. I was READY! ;)

Got there and they were conveniently near the gate where I wanted to ride, so I dumped my stuff on the gate and went to fetch Daisy. Of course Rusty went over there and knocked off my pad and started pawing at it -_-. The nosiest horse I've ever seen.

The Troublemaker is seen here.

Took me a bit to get the bridle adjusted right, but Daisy just stood there dozing like a good girl. She wasn't real thrilled with how tight the noseband is supposed to be. If she wanted to open her mouth she'd turn her head sideways and be like, argh, I can't get my mouth open! But wasn't annoyed enough to really care.

That's what she's doing here:

Doesn't she look coot in her pad, haha, makes her look FAT. Which she isn't exactly in 'shape' either, lol.

Anyway, got her all suited up and then I start looking around for a place to get on. I was going to use the gate, but there was nowhere for me to set up my camera where I could see myself while riding. I found two small boards and stacked one on another and put my camera on that. Wasn't happy about it being on the ground but there was no where else to put it. So I only had 10 minutes of video left on my memory card and didn't want to waste time going over to the gate, getting on, yada yada. But also couldn't find anything to help me get on over near where I had put it on the ground. SO! I thought, lets see if I can just hop up. I see people do it on youtube ALL the time! Can't be THAT hard right?? Hah! (actually what I was really thinking is, I'm NEVER going to get up here!)

So I push record on my camera and start hopping up and down and JUMP. All I suceeded in doing was pulling the pad all the way over on her side and having her look at me wide eyed. I wasn't detered though! Tried a couple more times (after tightening the girth) and got closer to actually getting up. So I go over and stop the video and decide to practice a bit. I got to where I thought it wouldn't take too long to get up and restarted my video. And the very next time I tried I DID IT!!! YES!! It wasn't easy though, let me tell you! I got up on my belly/chest pretty far with my jump but still not far enough to get my leg up. So I grabbed her mane with my left hand and PULLED and after a few seconds I pulled myself far enough that I could get my leg over and I was UP! I was sooo proud of myself, haha. I told all my family that I saw that evening about it, haha.

The video of me getting up is really quite amusing to listen to, all my grunts and then a breathless I DID IT. And thats not the only funny part on it! After I got up I walked around maybe for a MINUTE and Rusty went over there near my camera (apparently RIGHT after I left it, because I don't remember seeing him near us while I was trying to get up) and KNOCKS IT OVER. &%*^&*%!! So you can hear me going, now what am I going to do! So then I called my younger bro in law (he's 15) and he came out and took over videoing and taking pics for me. He did a much better job then the ground, lol. He's such a sweety. He gets bored at home, they homeschool so he doesn't get out a whole lot. And he got a ride out of helping! I'll have pics and vid of him on Daisy later in the post.

So anyway! She did okay in the bitless, but she was a bit confused with how the cross over straps work. So I got a few back ups instead of turns. And whenever I would just sit there and try and flex her both ways she would just lean on it and fall asleep, that GOT ANNOYING! If I woke her up a bit she would listen better, but still not real responsive. She did respond well to stopping and backing up in it though. And did keep her head down etc, which she always does. If only her BACK end would stay down! That tail of hers, I swear, it would make any saddlebred rider VERY proud. No need for a tail setter with her!! I bet she has the strongest tail head muscles of any horse I know.

I found a magic button. Let me tell you about it. When I was neck reining her, if while I was pushing her over with my outside leg, I put my inside leg behind the girth and applied pressure she would turn like a DREAM. I don't know why that works but I used it and it served me well! lol, had to keep reminding myself, and it still suprised me each time it actually worked, lol! I have a feeling this is backward though. Aren't you supposed to use your inside leg at the girth as support and your outside leg behind the girth to control the haunches?? O me. What an idiot I sound like! But it kind of felt like I was pushing her hindquarters out so she would put them on the turn, if that makes any sense, which is why I think it worked...who knows! The pic above is me doing it. I know I'm using huge hand movements to rein her but she isn't real good at it yet for subtle movements.

Anyway did some trotting, her feet were soo long and one of her shoes was pretty loose. I about lost my balance a few times but after a bit I got the hang of it and felt pretty comfy. One video we go over through some brushy sticky stuff and she did some weird trot steps and you can see where I lost it again, lol, but that's what mane is for! That pad I have is sooo comfy, makes it much easier to be bareback. And I feel like the horse likes it better when your seat bones aren't poking them. My husband says mine are quite bony, lol.

Speaking of him, he was NOT happy to hear I went out there by myself originally. Oops. I told how much trouble I went to ransacking the house to find a cell phone holder so I could have it on me (found a really neat one he never used that fits it PERFECT, incidentally!) And all he could say is "yeah a lot of good that would have done if you had fallen on your head". Husbands.

You'll also see me about get knocked off again from that SAME stupid branch. It really needs to go. Doesn't she have a HUGE butt?? (trotting pic) I can just imagine how big it would be if she was in consistent work, man. And that's all I need, something to make MY butt look smaller. :roll eyes:
And check out THIS picture. Man, wow, egads, holy moly, etc! Does my mare really have THAT bad of a set of post legs?? eek!

And a posed picture of course! Can't do without one, or two, lol, of those. Can't you just FEEL how happy Daisy is to be in the shade standing still! ;)

So! I guess that's about all I have to say about my ride, like I haven't said enough. I get so lengthy when I start these things! And picture heavy, but I can't help myself!!! The picture up top is one of my favs of us, aren't we cute! I think Daisy looks fantastic in that one. Who could tell she is nearing 20 years old?? I'm really thinking about breeding her again next spring...but it does worry me about how old she is already. She would be 20 when she has the foal. But she looks so much younger then she is.

I think if I really get serious about it (and I'd have to have the money to get a really nice stud, probably ship semen, ugh what a headache. I don't foresee us having the money so this is probably all moot anyway). I will definitely take her to the vet and have him check her over first, ask his opinion. I think she could do it. It's just such a shame to have such a nice mare and not breed her to something even nicer. I know I already have a foal out of her, and I know I could buy one cheaper, we have enough foals in the world, etc, yada yada. And I know she has her faults, but if I picked the right one, WOW. What I'd want is a modern pleasure stallion, with good foundation lines back there still, minimal TB blood up close. Something that has been going strong in the last century that will hold out. Such as the Chip horses, Vested Pine, Invitation horses, Hotrodder, Good Bar etc. I even found a nice guy who is a son of Zippo Pine Bar. Neat.

And definitely something not as chunky as her, GREAT mover, pretty head and neck (which will just make give her foal have an even prettier head and neck, since she has nice ones already). And preferably one with a good show record. Or at least lots of winning, good looking babies.
I just told my husband my plans and he says "thats all we need, another horse" lol, phooey on him! We were just looking in our local advertising paper, looks like decent hay is 3$ on average at the moment. Not bad, could be lots worse. How bout in yalls neck of the woods? We need to get some bought now so we don't have to buy it all at once later.

WOW, write a book why don't I! And totally off topic. So sorry!! Anyway all that to say I'm basically dreaming and I highly doubt it will happen. I feel bad putting a pregnancy on her that late in life, although she is a great mama and really foals easily and non eventfully pregnancy to foaling. I couldn't believe how easy and well it all went, and I LOVED being able to be there for it. One of the neatest things ever.

So! Here are some vids, the first is the funny one of me grunting and Rusty knocking the camera over. Then two of me riding. Then one of the little BIL riding :) (although not little at all, he's taller then all his family except for his dad lol, he sure makes Daisy look short!)

Thanks for reading, have a great end of the week all!

Annoying Horse



More Barebackin It!