Christmas Parade

What a day this way.  Started out with going to the barn and bathing Bailey, working with her and then loading the tack for parade.  Finally left barn at 12:00 and arrived downtown Fort Worth at 12:30 pm.  We were the first to get there and had the parking lot to all ourselves. 

Everyone showed up in large trailers with weekend packages and motorhomes.  The party started around 1:30  We ate good food and talked a little, then we started the work of putting all the costume on the horse.
We each was given a container with their costume in it.
First saddle pad, then table cloth, next red rump cover, then saddle, attach breast collar.  Now start with garland around the breat collar and add net lights over the rump.  These were secured by the tiny red ribbons on the material.  Then move up to the breast collar and add the lights.  After these lights are on you added lights to the mane.  (all of these are power pack with solar connectors)  Lucky one of the husbands gave me a hand and secured the lights for me on the saddle.
 Add a touch of bells around each ankle then put red socks on front legs.
Last but not least, the antler ears on the bridle.

Now it is almost 2 hours later and we are ready to mount.  Bailey is doing very well with all of this and just kept eating.  However, she did try to eat the breast collar decoration.

Nowing really bothered her at all.  She just stood there and kept eating her hay.

Now it is time to ride.  She is wanting to move her feet and I just let her walk all around the parking lot.  Doesn't want to go to far.  When the group starts out, she is willing to follow and doesn't want to lose her friends.

We stand in line for about 20 minutes and then it is off on the street.  She settled right down and followed the leader.  She walked out a little more than some, but we stayed in place and watched all of the spectators and waved to them all.  Bailey's biggest concern was the manhole covers in the street.  She was sure we would fall into one of them and disappear.  There were a lot of people, noise, lights on the side lines, wands and colored neck bands, people cheering and whisling.  She was a real troupper.  I was very proud of my girl and new she could do it. 

Returning back to the staging area, we had to take the lights off in the dark.  This was really a chore.  Finally able to return all of the costume to the bag and return to the group.  We stayed a little longer and then pulled out of towndown around 8:30pm  arrving back home at 9:30

Long and wonderful day

Lesson

Monday night was a great lesson.  Jeryln taught me how to keep Bailey out and going on the cirlce without changing gate.  If she starts to change gate or stop, I bring her in very quickly and send her out with a hard sent.  She has to do 4 laps with me at the relaxed position.
It took Bailey a long time to realize that she had to stay out there and do the correct gate.  There was more canter than trot. 

We worked on getting her foot in front of the small barrel.  I have to ask for eat foot with the stick.  Keep the barrels in place with dirt or wood so they don't move out in front of her.

Learned to ride with Carrot Stick, hold like a sword and come in from nuetral at a 45 degree angle.  This is important for her to understand that it is direction ( the driving game).Nuetral can be either on the shoulder or down at the side.  When asking for a turn, first look, turn belly button towards the turn, foot and then stick.
Always use this pattern and she will go into the turn without even moving the stick.

Backing up with the stick, Tap on her front and  then drop the rein , after she back rub her.  She was doing it very easily.  (Super Mare)

Let your seat drop down and let the breath out for her to stop.  This also worked very nicely. 

Lots to work on.  Loved the lesson.

Jeryln rode her in small circle to get her to canter, I think she was out of gas and it was very hard for her to do.  I think that the long lines would have been better.  But she learns to use her rearend when cantering and sets her self for an easy transion.  We have to build on this.

Getting ready for Friday Parade

Went to the barn today (Wednesday) and she was sore from so much cantering (I think)  gave her bute and washed her tail, clean and oiled my saddle.  Got lights on cowboy hat and getting more things in order for the parade.  Must make a list of all the things I need to bring that day. 

Must go and make some banana pudding for Thanksgiving. 

Savvy

Weekend Rides

Friday night was fun.  Raining cats and dogs outside the arena and Bailey and I having fun.
The weather was not helping me make up my mind to go to the barn late Friday night.  But, finally I decided to go around 7:30 pm.  We did some great work going over the small barrels sideways.  She was really doing a great job and we were both very proud of our work.  Worn a little bareback,  but because she was not out all day on Friday there was a little more horse than usual and I had to stop the trotting.  There was some good work accomplished.

Saturday I went to the barn and helped Jo work with Doc and really noticed that he was getting much  better at the games.

Farrier came and Bailey was a little toot.  Didn't want her feet done and was trying to bite me.  Kenny was very good with her and finally we did managed.  She is going to wear a size 2.5 in the Easy Boot Glove.  Kenny helped me fit her and it looks good.

Jeryln called and gave me the phone number of Deb Abbock.  They have an opening for The Fort Worth Parade of lights this Friday.  There is an extra costume and all we have to do it be able to wear bells, and a skirt over her rear end.

I am so excited to be able to go with these girls and learn the ropes.  Finally, something to do with Bailey.

Sunday night I went to the barn and put bells on Bailey and she was very good about them.  Lights didn't bother her either.  I then got the western saddle out and we got the breast collar on and bells and rode around the arena.  She is good with all of this.  Put lights on the Carrot Stick and plastic bag, nothing she is a Super Star. 

Got a black cowboy hat to wear and we will be set to go.

Tonight I was trying to get Bailey to go to the end of the arena where there is water standing and walk through it.  She was not doing it.  Kept going sideway around it.  Finally, I decided to just sit tight and wait for her to figure it out.  We waited not too long and I asked her again and she went through it.  This was so  much better thanb getting her upset to go through it.  Patience is what I need to work the program.

Four more days until the parade.

Bailey

Bailey and I had a very nice session last night.  We did a lot of circling on line moving around the arena. Sides ways around obstacle.  Backing up between to barrels, figure 8 and little weave.

Then I got on her and we did some sideways and then went around the barrels and stick to the rail.

Worked on the whoa.   Decided to go around the arean and find different point to go to and stop.  When she stopped we rested and I pet her.  We did this for a little while and she got really good at reading my body for the whoa.

Tonight a lesson with Jeryln.

Ride is getting som much better

Saturday I went to the barn and there were so many new people there with all of the new horses.  I finally waited until they brougt Bailey up and then put her in the round pen.  Of course, shew was upset and I had to feed her.  Then we did some work with the ball and change of direction.  This worked out nicely.  We did around the pen sideways and off to ride.  After putting some shims in the front of the pad, we rode out into the woods.  Bailey wanted to trot so we did.  Then back into the arena and more trot.  I love the feel of this saddle.  Bailey and I were really going nicely.  I was so excited.  Fun to be back riding (really riding again)

Sunday

Went down to Janet's and we took Magic over to Jan's to play in her round pen.  It was really very nice. We played some games, and then Janet long lined him and I got on him for the second time.  He really isn't too small for me.  I may end up keeping him.  (God help me to find the way to pay for all of this).

Quality time on Saturday

Today we played in the round pen, she was going on the lunge and then I let her off, we played change directionsa and stop.  It was pretty good.  She would then come in an get a pet.  She never would come in on her own.  I had to ask her in.  I guess the send was too big and she was not confident with me then. 

Used the Western air pad and it was good, we did a lot of trotting, follow the rail, sideways three steps, back up, stop.   Used the cones in the arena to go around.  She was doing very well tonight.

Upset with the barn management, Ramon was leaving Bailey in the field and getting all the rest of the horses and she was getting very upset and running the field.  He thought this was pretty funny.  I was not happy when I came in and saw her running

THE CROWD WENT WILD

We did more ground work this time.  I got her going over  the barrels and turning and waiting.  Sideways over the small barrel   again.  Put the barrels in the arena for a weave pattern.  Rode her bareback and we did the weave, squeeze throught the barrels. backup, halt and then sideways along the wall. 

Finished off with trotted bare back several length and the finale was doing the length of the arean trotting.


AND THE CROWD WENT WILD........

New Saddle

I was able to purchase a 20" seat Duett Companion Trail Saddle from a lady on Ebay.  She didn't get any bids on it and I emailed her and asked if she would consider taking less of the saddle and she did.

The saddle arrived on Friday afternoon.  I took it to the barn and loved it.  This saddle reminds me of the old Albion Original Comfort I bought is 1993.  It has the wide twist and really fits me good.  It is a 34cm wide tree, but I think Bailey will do find in it.  I was good on my balance point and it was very confortable.

Will no more with longer rides in it.  Saddles can really be hard to fit and find.  The price was half of a new one and this one is like brand new.  Will take pictures of it and post.

Friday Night Event

Making myself Interesting to Bailey

Went to the barn and set out 5 poles in a circle.

Then added to muck buckets (upside down) 13 feet apart

Got Bailey (she came to me at the gate. )
I let her eat grass on the way to the arena.
Did the Friendly game and brushed her.  (all untied)  She was perfect

Then out we went to the arena, showed her the poles, and she thought " no big deal".

Did the Yo Yo game, then worked on Porcippine game and driving game and of course Hind your Hindy

Sent her out on cirlce game ( she kept changing directions and I would bring her in and send her out again.

Figure 8 was not so good.  I should have practice this when we were both getting it so well.  (It is my timing)

Did sideways game over the muck bucket.   All the time I was giving her a treat or a rub for the good work.

Tied her rope around her halter and go on bareback.  (she bit my hand when I tried to get on)  How Interesting?????  I did get on the left side.

We did some mirroring, passenger, sideways and then went to the water at the end of the arena.  Not so good in the dark.  put she did go in it and then did sideways around it. 

This was it for tonight.  I always find that going to the barn is what I need to just relax.  Isn't that funny, I work harder there then anywhere.

Wednesday Night Ride

WOW is all I can say.

We started with grooming and eating pears.  She loves the pears I get off Janet's trees.
Then I did a little friendly game with the CS and let  her smell the ball.
Hind your Hindy
Put your Nose on the Ball, Driving game to the ball,
Getting her use to the ball on the ground, kicking it away from her.
Placing the ball in zone 1 for her to touch and the going on back to zone 2-3-4
Rolling the ball over her back and touching the legs (lightly)  still have issues there.

Circle game
Sidways game along the arena wall.  I Got a little strong and she climbed the wall (28" and then couldn't figure out how to get down)  I moved her and she figured it out.  More sideways down the arena.

Sideways over the ground pole

Send through the water at the end of the arena (she went right through)
Let her stop to eat grass

Backed her into the round pen.   Let her eat grass
repeated the back into round pen  Let her eat grass

Walked in the ditch and eat grass

backed up a hill into a gate
This was a little more challenging for her.  We stood there and had to move one foot at a time.  She tried to bite me and I gave  her the look.  She looked behind her and slowly took a step up and went took the rest of the gate slowly and waited.   FANTASKIC   she got to eat grass.

Went into the arena again and we touched the ball with nose and I put the sidepull on her and went to the side of the arena that I mount.  This time going on the left side.  She moved away and I had to re position her to the wall again.  She let me mount on the left side (bareback) and then we walked around the arena stick to the rail.  I walked her right through the water at the end of the arean and let her eat grass.

Then we did passenger lesson and I mirrored her moves all around the arena and  had her go back so I could get off on the left side.   Remounted after a few minutes and we were down.

What a horse.

Sunday Afternoon Trail Ride at Six 0 Ranch

I went to the barn and got all of my tack, stopped at the pasture and loaded Bailey into the trailer. We are off to meet Janet and Pandy for a ride on the trails.

We arrive at the trails and park in a wonderful green field, Bailey is busy eating and really not paying any attention to anything.

I groom her and let her eat her hay, saddle up and play some games. She is doing great on the line and is listening to me, so I get the bridle and we go to the mounting block. She is such a good girl and waits for me to mount. We wait a few seconds and the do the lateral fexion and move off.

She is very calm and easy going. Pandy is a little antsy, and Bailey does watch and listen to Pandy. The spook a little over different things and then just settle down for the ride. Rock are hard on Bailey's feet. We get to one of the little revenens and I am nervous about going down, but decide to take a little less incline and go on down. Bailey does better than I do. (Will have to look at the tape again on going down hills)

We go up some trails and it is just lovely in the woods and we are talking and walking on the trails. Sometimes Bailey leads and other time Pandy leads. There are some mud puddles, Bailey jumps the first one and I take her back to redo the water again, she finally just walks into it. He hit a couple more of the water crossings and she is really not wanting to cross, but finds that there is good water to drink, and we stop for her to drink.

Almost back and Pandy spooks at some birds and Bailey goes to much energy to spook on those birds. (I think she is tired))

Then the trail turns near the house that is being torn down and we have two horses that don't want to move forward. I get Bailey over and around all of the different things, house, three oil tanks, green dumpster, and then over to the concrete road and creek. She is taking some coaching to get this far, but finally is through all of it. Meanwhile, Janet is having a war with Pandy about some green netting hanging on a fence.

When Bailey and I get back to the trailes, she is really acting quite round up, and we have to ride around circles in the pasture and wait for her to settle down. Finally she stops in front of the hay bag on Jane't trailer and I get off. 2 1/2 hours later (legs really hurting

Friday Night Ride

Wow

Bailey was super tonight. First we did some games, yo yo, hind your hiney, sideways, circle, change direction and then saddled up (took the bit nicely) and rope out into the woods. Walked over tarp, went around trees, I was using the stick to guide her around and keep direction.

Can in the arena and trotted some. The we played stick to the rail. She did it very nicely.

This was a very nice ride and I was done by 7:30.

Wednesday Lesson

It was raining so hard that the field and driveway was nothing but water rivers and lots of puddles to walk in.

Jeryln and I took Bailey out to the water and practiced the crossings. First is to find the sticky feet (threshold) and then ask forward one foot at a time. Stop and release for each foot. Get her to stand in the middle without going forward to get her hind legs out.

She was doing great, and we even backed her out of the water and then forward. Sent her through each puddle. She was a Super Star.

Because she has issues with her hind legs, Jeryln desensitized her legs with using a big soft lead rope and went up and down her legs. She was pretty reactive to the right hind, but not as much on the left.

We then took her into the arena and worked with the barrel and having her touch it was nose, front feet and then the back. Again she had troubles with the back legs.

Jeryln then started the friendly game with a muck bucket. Starting in zone 1 and the up on the shoulder, over the withers and down on the rear end and rubbing it all over her. Finally passing the bucket over and under her to me. Then I did the same thing on the other side. She will need me to do this with the ball and get it to bounce off her and at her legs.

We put the bridle on her and adjusted the bit (1 wrinkle) and she was very cool with this. It was harder to take it off then but in. I have to remember to use my thumb to get her to accept the bit. always put the off ear in the brindle first.

Saddle was next and there was a spot right in the middle that had no contact. So she slid a piece of the yoga pad under the beginning of the knee roll to the strip bar and it make a big difference in how I was sitting in the saddle. I then rode around much more balanced on the balanced point. I even trotted her much easier.

It was a wonderful lesson. In spite of the monsoon

Tuesday's nightmare

I was working with Bailey on the sideways game over a muck bucket and she was really having the issue with back feet and legs touching the bucket. She kept going over it and getting all upset. She was asking questions, but needed to stop because of the touching on her back legs.

I then took her over to the other end of the arena and did the circling game. She did canter and went both ways. I need to make her go when I am not looking. Take the pressure off.

Then Candy (paint old horse) pushed though the gate into the barn, walked down the isle and went out the side gate with the Arab following him. They went out into the woods for the night. I was so upset with them run off like that. I had to get the sides of the barn secure so they wouldn't be running were they would get hurt and then opened the gates from the woods and let it stay open for the night.

These guys are really a pain in the butt.

Saturday and Sunday

When I show up at the barn on Saturday, they greet me with the news that Bailey has broken her gate and ran down the path, over the concrete bridge and out onto the street. Seems that they were taking all of the mares to the pasture and left her halter down there, so Ramon past her up and went for another horse in the back pasture. She was not happy and broke her gate (held together with rust old clips), but she did act out.

I worked with Little Doc and we had a great session, he was listening and doing squeeze game, yo yo and friendly quiet well. I lunged him and had him go sideways a little for me. We went down and went over the concrete bridge (slowly, but over we went) He was right behind me all the way. LOL

Then I went and got Bailey, she was quiet and I did notice that she is not allowed on the hay bale until Ginger is done eating. So she is hungry to say the least. I didn't have time to do the 7 games (which I should have), I put the saddle on her and bit. This is the first time I have rode her in the bit and she was really tossing her head and eating everything on the trail. I felt the saddle was not right, and the ride was not fun at all. Then I had to leave the barn because people were coming to see the puppies.

Saturday later
Just as I got home, the people text ed and said they were not coming. I was very upset with having to leave the barn early.

Sunday

I went to the barn around 1:00 and set up some jumps for Bailey and we did the games and she was very responsive. Doesn't like me to put the saddle on and tries to bite with the girthing. I do take the time to girth, but she is starting swinging her head towards me. I don't put the riser pad on under the saddle and it is a little better, but still not right on her. We go out into the woods and she is again trying to eat everything. I ride out into the field and she is calling to her horse friends in the field, she is a little antsy. we go back in the arena and I do some more point to point and shorten my stirrup and then out to the round pen to trot. My posting is so off. She keeps stopping and I have some real bumpy moments. After trying that for awhile, I decided to go off the property. AS we walk down the path, I tell her not to even hesitate at the concrete bridge, because we both know she can run right over it. We go over the bridge with confidence and out the drive. I come upon a 4 foot wide 3 " deep mud muddle and we are going to go through it. The mare says "I don't think so" Now this is the mare that walks through a creek everyday to eat hay and back to go into the barn.

I tried to get her through with the pick a focus point and squeeze. Nothing,
Tried the go button, nothing. Finally got off and unhooked my reins and started hitting the go button on the ground. Nothing. If she moved, it was into pressure. I was very upset and then I made the statement "It is not about the puddle" and looked at her face and she was not frighten at all, head down, eyes blinking, chewing and all. I finally started tapping the should and for every foot forward, I stopped tapping. We finally (45 minutes later) got through the first time. We did repeat it several times in just a few taps. Mare was asking Why do I have to do this for you. She was testing my leadership all the way.

My pictures

OKay, Here is the start

Just a little back history to start. Bailey is a three year old draft cross. She is LBI and is very smart. I have noticed that she wants to please, ask questions and is very sweet.

June 6, 2009 we started our journey together. After picking her up and taking her back to Janet's farm, the next day we decided to ride her bareback. So we each got on her and lead each other around. She was find with that and everything went well. Janet then put three weeks of training on her and she could, walk, trot and Canter under saddle. She could open gates and go sideways. I would come and walk her around each weekend. July 1st she was moved to the boarding stable near my house and our real journey began.

I stared the 7 games with her and she was very easy to teach. We had Jeryln come over and give a mini clinic and Bailey was doing the squeeze came (very tight) with out any trouble. Next we did some poles and little jumps. Bailey can jump nicely and seems to like it.

All was going well and then she came down with Sinis Sinus and was coughing and sick for several weeks. It took to kinds of medicine to find out what was the problem. So I really didn't do very much with her during that time.

We had some problems of her standing still as I got on her and Janet suggested that I take her to the corner of the arena and face her into the corner so she couldn't move off. Once, I showed Bailey this is how I wanted to mount (bareback) she would easily get in the right position so I could get on. And then learned to go back on the other side so I could step up on a support side and step off. (very smart girl)

Most of my walking around was bareback in the arena. I did take her into the woods and we did some circling game on line and then I would get on and go weaving in and out of the trees. She was very easy to bend and happy to move around them.

In the arena, I had problems making her go and had to use the reins tapping her on each side to make her go. Finally there was some video on why LBI don't like circles and I should just do point to point with her. This changed a lot of things. She would go forward if I focused on a point across the arena and down the arena.

What we were doing was just getting our relationship together. It worked, we bonded very close and she would do a lot for me.

In August, I decided to set a goal on doing a "Ride for the Cure" in the Grasslands with Bailey, none of my friends wanted to get the sponsorship money up, so I was to ride the ride alone. Thinking about this I asked Jeryly about someone that was savvy to ride with, she knew of someone and hooked me up with three other people to ride with.

Now, we had to get Bailey out on the trails. First Janet and I took her down the yard and across the concrete bridge on the property. She was not sure, but did go over it easy enough. I was in a golf cart and riding ahead of them. She went out the gate and down the berm like a pro. (Following a golf cart is what they do to get to the pasture very day, so it was like a safety net. We were going down the road and Bailey was trotting after the cart. Such Fun

Our First trip off the property was to Chris's barn. It has nice Little trails, open field and a covered arena. She was very sensible there, I did games with her in the arena and then rode her with Janet and another horse thought he trails, around the field. She looked at stuff, but was relaxed and very cool about all of the new stuff. Had problems with the heat and got sick, had to wait and cool myself off before I could help Bailey. She took a bath in the cross ties and had a fan on her. I was still pretty weak, but got her loaded and home okay. Bailey was a star.

Then a couple of weeks later, off the Benbrook Lake trails. We decided to walk them to the creek and send them up the other side (Janet was there with Pandy her 6 year old warmblood) Bailey was doing great, but I was a little nervous so I kept walking her and Janet was riding. Then Janet said just get on her and see what you have, there was a picnic table there and she stood right next to it. I got on and she was find. Off we went down the trails. Pandy did some spook and Bailey jumped behind her, very manageable. Then we came upon two white chairs and and a table in the field. While we were letting the girls look at it, out from behind flew a big Hawk. He had another jump in place spook and all was well. The weather was not helping it was 95 degrees and it was not a shady trail. We were out there about hour and half and decided to come back. There were some ditches (erosion) form the rain and I could not get Bailey to go through them, she kept jumping over to the other side on the bank. I took her back several time and she gave it a try and I let it be. She was so good on her first ride.

Next outing was on Labor Day and I took her over to Jan's place to do a Playday and we played in the round pen and did cones, (pedestal was not for her at this time), jumping or going over the barrels was also trouble, so I split them up and she went easily through them. We had a shower curtain cut into strips and hung on the gate of the round pen, she walked right through, no problem. Had to help Jan's horse go through, has he was very frighten. I didn't push him and waited it out and he went through several times for me. Very brave guy. After playing in the round pen and all we then saddled up and rode, (once again the heat was getting to me) and I had to drink more fluids, but we were going to ride there. I got on Bailey with a two step mounting block she was standing very still, (never had a mounting block before) and we walked around the obstacles and then she lead up into the field. Once again she was a Super Star. I am so proud of her.

Then the rains came and we had nothing but rain and more rain. All I could do was walk around in the arena and do our back up, sideways and more 7 games.

Had a lesson with Jeryln and we learned out to disengage the hind in and a good figure 8 and some more bareback riding. I am always so amazed how quickly this mare picks up stuff. We are now going out into the woods and getting on the Pedestal and walking around the trees.

Time for the "Ride for the Cure" and it is 44 degrees and raining all week. I have a sinus infection and can't make the ride. I was so disappointed that the timing was just off.

I took Bailey to Janet's on Thursday night to have her ridden and see if we could play with her a little. Saturday it was cold, but we decided to ride around the field and do some bank and water crossing with the girls. First I did the 7 games and we went over all the ob scales in Janet's ring, I did a circling game and she was really forward. I got on her and she really wasn 't the normal horse I had in the 90 degree weather. She was more horse and very antsy. He went following Janet and Pandy into the woods and she didn't listen to me and went through the Mesquite trees and got a thorn on her back and I had to do a one rein stop to make her listen, she did calm down a little and then we went to the bridge crossing over a little stream of water and she didn't want to cross. I was not doing it right I needed to focus on the point across and I was looking down. I didn't push her through her threshold, but we kept going away and coming back. She finally did cross and we did more up and down work. She was getting more antsy as we were going back and I wanted her to go sideways. But finally settled down again.

Here was my big mistake, knowing she was not really with me, I asked Janet to ride her at a trot and canter. I got off (Bailey now thinks that the ride is over) and then Janet gets on and ask for a trot several lengths down the arena and then into a canter, She Bucked up several strides and I could see Janet going up and the reins everywhere. Glad it was her and not me. She got her calmed down and made her do some walk and halt transitions and then into the trot and finally the canter once again. She was find. But not the usual Bailey.

Next day wasn't any better, she was antsy again and I went out to circle her and she was really being right brained and not at all with me. I had to really get her attention and finally stopped. She was not going to be a good girl so I called it a day and we then loaded and went home.

Monday and Wednesday at home, the same sweet girl I knew. Shew was just having a bad mare day. LOL