This morning, I had the day off work, so I figured if I fell off and hurt something, I'd have almost 24 hours to recooperate before I had to go back to work.
I've been contemplating getting on her bareback for a while. It would be easy if I could ride her bareback, because I could ride her around in the pasture to work her a little bit. It would get her ridden more often. I'm just too dern lazy to drag my saddle out there and put it on her to ride.
Anyway, after I fed her this morning and led her out to the pasture to turn her out, I climbed up on the fence and got her close to it. I stood up on the fence in prep to get on her and she raised her head and moved perpendicular to the fence. I figured she'd do that. I got off the fence, and led her back over parallel. Stood up again, rubbing her all along, and she was fine. Apparently rubbing her is what she needs? LOL.
So then, I layed over her back, moving all over so she'd feel my weight moving directly on her back. She was fine. So, I stood back up on the fence, put my leg over her back, rubbed her and lowered myself on to her back. She stood there and kept trying to turn around and bite my boot. I sat there and made her stand, then she shifted her weight back and forth. Then I asked her to take a step to the side and walk off, and she did great! She just kept walking. I was so proud of her.
Now, I know she'll be alright bareback, so hopefully, she'll be getting ridden more often now! YAY!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Tari's first few rides
So, I've taken Tari to the barn where Sundance is boarded to ride in the arena a few times.
She does great. She doesn't care about other horses coming near her. She doesn't try to follow another horse, she doesn't look at all the surroundings like I'd expected her to do for the first time in a new place. She just doesn't care about much going on around her. YAY!
I'm trying to teach her to stay on the rail because I want to do walk/jog with her at CCWHA next year. I think what I'm finding most frustrating about an unbroke horse is that they don't know how to walk in a straight line. Oh well, she'll get there. For now, its making me appreciate how much of an 'easy' ride Sundance is.
A few weeks ago, I trailered her for the first time to Pokomoke Arena. Its one of the pens we show at with CCWHA. It was freezing cold, and dark. It was the 1st time she'd been loaded on the trailer since she was brought to the farm I got her from. She was great getting on the trailer, and she was great being saddled. She wasn't afraid of all the stuff I figured she would be. Other horses, the arena lights, shadows. She took everything so well. I was very proud of her. She is showing a lot of promise. I think she's gonna be a horse that nothing phases!
Last Sunday (12/7) I had to give a riding lesson at 3 o'clock. Sandy wanted to come ride with Bettis, so before the lesson I went and got Tari and brought her to the barn. I tied her to the trailer during the lesson. She was great, the other horses in the pastures were running around and she didn't pay much attention. She whinnied a few times, but that was about it. She's gonna have to learn how to stand at a trailer sometime if I'm gonna take her to CCWHA next year. So, anyway, after my lessonw as over, I saddled her up and took her on her first trail ride. We walked around a huge open field. Through the woods, through puddles, up and down hills, she was great. Again, with the exception of not knowing how to walk a straight line.
She does great. She doesn't care about other horses coming near her. She doesn't try to follow another horse, she doesn't look at all the surroundings like I'd expected her to do for the first time in a new place. She just doesn't care about much going on around her. YAY!
I'm trying to teach her to stay on the rail because I want to do walk/jog with her at CCWHA next year. I think what I'm finding most frustrating about an unbroke horse is that they don't know how to walk in a straight line. Oh well, she'll get there. For now, its making me appreciate how much of an 'easy' ride Sundance is.
A few weeks ago, I trailered her for the first time to Pokomoke Arena. Its one of the pens we show at with CCWHA. It was freezing cold, and dark. It was the 1st time she'd been loaded on the trailer since she was brought to the farm I got her from. She was great getting on the trailer, and she was great being saddled. She wasn't afraid of all the stuff I figured she would be. Other horses, the arena lights, shadows. She took everything so well. I was very proud of her. She is showing a lot of promise. I think she's gonna be a horse that nothing phases!
Last Sunday (12/7) I had to give a riding lesson at 3 o'clock. Sandy wanted to come ride with Bettis, so before the lesson I went and got Tari and brought her to the barn. I tied her to the trailer during the lesson. She was great, the other horses in the pastures were running around and she didn't pay much attention. She whinnied a few times, but that was about it. She's gonna have to learn how to stand at a trailer sometime if I'm gonna take her to CCWHA next year. So, anyway, after my lessonw as over, I saddled her up and took her on her first trail ride. We walked around a huge open field. Through the woods, through puddles, up and down hills, she was great. Again, with the exception of not knowing how to walk a straight line.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Getting Started...
Ok, I decided to start a blog about Tari - documenting her progress.
She is my 2 year old QH mare. She is my first registered horse, and my dream. I've always wanted to own a registered quarter horse, but never did I imagine I would do it before I was 20.
Anyway - this is my first experience with blogging, so it may be rough at first. I'm trying.
I'll start with what we've done so far.
When I first got her, the first day I just looked at this wild eyed filly staring at me, and I wondered if I was ready for what I'd just gotten myself into. Eventually, I saw her sweet side, and I realized she was gonna help me out. In the beginning of course, I brushed her, picked her feet, and attempted to teach her to lunge. She figured it out pretty quick, so then I decided to try to saddle her. THAT was fun! She was fine with me bringing the pad and saddle near her. She wouldn't shy away from it, most of the time. But once I cinched it up, and she moved and felt it go with her, and realized it wasn't something she could get out from under, she freaked. The way she hollered, and screamed and bucked and snorted, you'da thought something was killing her. As bad as she was bucking and thrashing about, she quickly settled down, and I asked her to lunge. She was great. She lunged just like there was nothing up there.
For about two or three weeks, all I did was saddle her and lunge her with the saddle getting the feel of it on her back. Then, when I knew she had all the buck out of her, from just pure reaction to the saddle being there, I taught her to drive. I drove her all over the place. I asked her to stop and back and turn and go forward. She went everywhere saddled and driving.
Then, eventually, when she got really good about saddling driving, and lunging I put my foot in the stirrup. Then I started to bounce on the ground. Then I climbed up. I rubbed her belly. I rubbed her butt. Then I swung my leg over. Never once has this horse bucked or reared with me on her back.
Once she was confident with me sitting on her, I asked her to walk off. She did with ease. She is a very smart girl.
I think now I may be over confident in her. I've loaded her on the trailer to bring her to her new home, taken her to other arenas to ride.
A few days ago I took her to where my other barrel horse, Sundance is, and my friend Sandy and I took her out on her first trail ride. Am I stupid? Did I really just take a two year old on a trail ride in the middle of December, that has only been under saddle maybe two months? Had someone on her back a total of less than 15 times? I did. What was I thinking?
She is my 2 year old QH mare. She is my first registered horse, and my dream. I've always wanted to own a registered quarter horse, but never did I imagine I would do it before I was 20.
Anyway - this is my first experience with blogging, so it may be rough at first. I'm trying.
I'll start with what we've done so far.
When I first got her, the first day I just looked at this wild eyed filly staring at me, and I wondered if I was ready for what I'd just gotten myself into. Eventually, I saw her sweet side, and I realized she was gonna help me out. In the beginning of course, I brushed her, picked her feet, and attempted to teach her to lunge. She figured it out pretty quick, so then I decided to try to saddle her. THAT was fun! She was fine with me bringing the pad and saddle near her. She wouldn't shy away from it, most of the time. But once I cinched it up, and she moved and felt it go with her, and realized it wasn't something she could get out from under, she freaked. The way she hollered, and screamed and bucked and snorted, you'da thought something was killing her. As bad as she was bucking and thrashing about, she quickly settled down, and I asked her to lunge. She was great. She lunged just like there was nothing up there.
For about two or three weeks, all I did was saddle her and lunge her with the saddle getting the feel of it on her back. Then, when I knew she had all the buck out of her, from just pure reaction to the saddle being there, I taught her to drive. I drove her all over the place. I asked her to stop and back and turn and go forward. She went everywhere saddled and driving.
Then, eventually, when she got really good about saddling driving, and lunging I put my foot in the stirrup. Then I started to bounce on the ground. Then I climbed up. I rubbed her belly. I rubbed her butt. Then I swung my leg over. Never once has this horse bucked or reared with me on her back.
Once she was confident with me sitting on her, I asked her to walk off. She did with ease. She is a very smart girl.
I think now I may be over confident in her. I've loaded her on the trailer to bring her to her new home, taken her to other arenas to ride.
A few days ago I took her to where my other barrel horse, Sundance is, and my friend Sandy and I took her out on her first trail ride. Am I stupid? Did I really just take a two year old on a trail ride in the middle of December, that has only been under saddle maybe two months? Had someone on her back a total of less than 15 times? I did. What was I thinking?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
