I wake up in the mornings and edge my way to my kitchen (after the bathroom of course). I usually let the dogs out the back door, talk to the chickens, and rummage for old leftovers that I can give to the chickens. I, being the new crazy mom that I am, have put the ultrasound pictures to little Lucy on my fridge. Somehow it fit on there next to all the garbage we already have on our fridge, but it works haha
Now, I realized this morning that I am turning into that parent. I'm terrified to be honest. I felt her last night kicking me from the outside and I couldn't help but just be amazed.
I'm going to go curl up with my iced tea now and be amazed that I am now "that guy"
Go me.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Well, it's confirmed, there is a baby in there
This is so not horse related although I'll give a tiny Memphis update when I'm done.
I saw my little baby on Monday!!!! And despite my own intuition about it being a boy, its a GIRL! I'm beyond excited about having a girl, more so I think than I would have been if it had been a boy. Funny, as my barn owner was the only one to suggest that it was a girl; everyone else was sure that it was a boy. Even better was she looks perfect on the scans! Little toes, little fingers, hehe tiny arms and legs, and of course a tiny nose! Who can resist such a thing?!
Oh lord, what have I become! I always said I'd never be "that" parent, but are you reading what I just posted?! I'm head over heels for this little person in me! I think somebody replaced my anti-kid genes and put some kid friendly ones in there. That is the only explanation. The only one.
I hope she likes horses hah
Memphis is doing well. I like his new food and I can tell a difference in handling him. He isn't constantly in a state of OMG anymore. (I have no idea how else to describe it) He is also patient to be stand tied. So I am pleased. :) I was out Tuesday to see him but didn't do anything with him. He walked up in the field and was content to just stand next to me the entire time I was out there, which is a first. Not sure what that was about, unless he likes to work.
I think my riding days are over till the baby comes. :( I'm starting to feel top heavy and so I think that I will take this time to perfect some gaits on the lunge line and maybe teach him a few stupid tricks or something. I also couldn't live with myself if something happened to the baby because I just HAD to ride. Memphis will be there when I get done cooking the baby. :)
I saw my little baby on Monday!!!! And despite my own intuition about it being a boy, its a GIRL! I'm beyond excited about having a girl, more so I think than I would have been if it had been a boy. Funny, as my barn owner was the only one to suggest that it was a girl; everyone else was sure that it was a boy. Even better was she looks perfect on the scans! Little toes, little fingers, hehe tiny arms and legs, and of course a tiny nose! Who can resist such a thing?!
Oh lord, what have I become! I always said I'd never be "that" parent, but are you reading what I just posted?! I'm head over heels for this little person in me! I think somebody replaced my anti-kid genes and put some kid friendly ones in there. That is the only explanation. The only one.
I hope she likes horses hah
Memphis is doing well. I like his new food and I can tell a difference in handling him. He isn't constantly in a state of OMG anymore. (I have no idea how else to describe it) He is also patient to be stand tied. So I am pleased. :) I was out Tuesday to see him but didn't do anything with him. He walked up in the field and was content to just stand next to me the entire time I was out there, which is a first. Not sure what that was about, unless he likes to work.
I think my riding days are over till the baby comes. :( I'm starting to feel top heavy and so I think that I will take this time to perfect some gaits on the lunge line and maybe teach him a few stupid tricks or something. I also couldn't live with myself if something happened to the baby because I just HAD to ride. Memphis will be there when I get done cooking the baby. :)
Friday, October 7, 2011
Day 2 of saddling work
Yesterday went back out to work on the saddling thing again. We did everything all over again, starting with basic ground work, then some lunging, and then saddling again.
Now, I am not sure if he put blanket together with RUN because once I got it close to him he was ready to take off, so after a few goes I figured out it was just a game to my big idiot and I don't take kindly to these types of games.
That's find Memphis, you get to work harder in a smaller circle. This was short and to the point. It was also ugly. Thankfully, I had enough brains to remember to stay at his shoulder, correctly hold the lunge line, and keep a calm head. I never got mad or frustrated with him. I just happily walked around in a circle.
A few times he did rear up or jump back like it was a stick of fire or something just like Sunday, but nowhere near as dramatic. Took a total of 10 minutes. The saddle pad went on, all pressure was released, he took a breather and everything was right in the world.
Again, he saddled just find after this and I'm very positive that he would have let me mount up. I did not though, because some kids showed up to ride in the arena and they were using flags on their horses (getting them used to it) and the risk of him flipping out and me getting hurt. My balance isn't exactly 100% right now.
So Sunday is supposed to be nice and I'm gonna do it all over again then. I actually think I'm gonna work on woah on the lunge a little more since my cute little bugger thinks he has his own ideas about it.
Overall, I'm super happy about him and super impressed with him. I love my idiot :D
Now, I am not sure if he put blanket together with RUN because once I got it close to him he was ready to take off, so after a few goes I figured out it was just a game to my big idiot and I don't take kindly to these types of games.
That's find Memphis, you get to work harder in a smaller circle. This was short and to the point. It was also ugly. Thankfully, I had enough brains to remember to stay at his shoulder, correctly hold the lunge line, and keep a calm head. I never got mad or frustrated with him. I just happily walked around in a circle.
A few times he did rear up or jump back like it was a stick of fire or something just like Sunday, but nowhere near as dramatic. Took a total of 10 minutes. The saddle pad went on, all pressure was released, he took a breather and everything was right in the world.
Again, he saddled just find after this and I'm very positive that he would have let me mount up. I did not though, because some kids showed up to ride in the arena and they were using flags on their horses (getting them used to it) and the risk of him flipping out and me getting hurt. My balance isn't exactly 100% right now.
So Sunday is supposed to be nice and I'm gonna do it all over again then. I actually think I'm gonna work on woah on the lunge a little more since my cute little bugger thinks he has his own ideas about it.
Overall, I'm super happy about him and super impressed with him. I love my idiot :D
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Day one of issues from the ground: saddling
So, I know I've mentioned this before but I just now got around to working this one out with Memphis. This one required time and patience. Lots of time and lots and lots of patience. Since it took so much time, I only worked on saddling. I'll be back out on Weds to work ont he mounting.
I showed up at the barn and gathered all my materials:
Memphis
Lunge line
Lunge whip
Saddle
Saddle pad
Bridle
Riding crop
Mounting block
I started with just basic groundwork just to make sure he knew it was time to work. Just a halter, lead rope, and the riding crop on my wrist for back up to commands. We worked on walking next to me, woah, back, and moving away from pressure on the sides. I then switched over to some basic lunging, making sure he followed me asking for him to go forward in each direction and backing up the forward command. Then I made sure he remembered Woah.
Now the fun part! I grabbed the pad and we started to REALLY work. I held the lunge line in my left hand and the pad in my right. I lifted the pad up and the second he moved away, I dropped the pad, and he was immediately sent out to work. He had to move his feet, no walking, I wanted a rack, runwalk, or canter.
We did this over and over. Pad tries to go on, he moves, he gets worked. Pad tries to go on, he moves, he gets worked. He started to REALLY sweat so I decided to work him a little closer than keep sending him out. This was his funny AH HA moment. I worked him in a tight circle with pretty much me at his shoulder, his head slightly turned towards me and the pad in my right hand. I would lift, he would move and I would lift, he would move and we would go around and a around.
This was NOT pretty. The first few times the pad touched him and he would rear back acting like it was a cattle prod or something. THen the pad was allowed to start touching him and then I could stick it on and I release all aids and relaxed. I moved off his shoulder some, dropped the lunge line to give his head freedom, and waited.
I removed and replaced the pad about 5 times, turned it around on his back, and slid it all over and he didn't move at all. So we moved towards the saddle going on his back.
HOT DOG! The big horse didn't flinch at all for the saddle going on. Let me cinch him up and let me walk him around. I took it off and redid it and he still stood like he'd done it ten billion times before.
Even better? I walked him over to the mounting block, stood up on it, and put some weight in the saddle: HE DIDN'T MOVE AT ALL!!!!
I stopped it here. He did what I asked him to do. When he allowed me to saddle him all the work for him stopped. He didn't have to do anything more. I'm going to redo this on Weds with the hopes of getting into the saddle and him not moving around. If so, I have no issues sending him out to work.
And that was working with my big dumb horse today :) I'll update on Thursday or Friday!
I showed up at the barn and gathered all my materials:
Memphis
Lunge line
Lunge whip
Saddle
Saddle pad
Bridle
Riding crop
Mounting block
I started with just basic groundwork just to make sure he knew it was time to work. Just a halter, lead rope, and the riding crop on my wrist for back up to commands. We worked on walking next to me, woah, back, and moving away from pressure on the sides. I then switched over to some basic lunging, making sure he followed me asking for him to go forward in each direction and backing up the forward command. Then I made sure he remembered Woah.
Now the fun part! I grabbed the pad and we started to REALLY work. I held the lunge line in my left hand and the pad in my right. I lifted the pad up and the second he moved away, I dropped the pad, and he was immediately sent out to work. He had to move his feet, no walking, I wanted a rack, runwalk, or canter.
We did this over and over. Pad tries to go on, he moves, he gets worked. Pad tries to go on, he moves, he gets worked. He started to REALLY sweat so I decided to work him a little closer than keep sending him out. This was his funny AH HA moment. I worked him in a tight circle with pretty much me at his shoulder, his head slightly turned towards me and the pad in my right hand. I would lift, he would move and I would lift, he would move and we would go around and a around.
This was NOT pretty. The first few times the pad touched him and he would rear back acting like it was a cattle prod or something. THen the pad was allowed to start touching him and then I could stick it on and I release all aids and relaxed. I moved off his shoulder some, dropped the lunge line to give his head freedom, and waited.
I removed and replaced the pad about 5 times, turned it around on his back, and slid it all over and he didn't move at all. So we moved towards the saddle going on his back.
HOT DOG! The big horse didn't flinch at all for the saddle going on. Let me cinch him up and let me walk him around. I took it off and redid it and he still stood like he'd done it ten billion times before.
Even better? I walked him over to the mounting block, stood up on it, and put some weight in the saddle: HE DIDN'T MOVE AT ALL!!!!
I stopped it here. He did what I asked him to do. When he allowed me to saddle him all the work for him stopped. He didn't have to do anything more. I'm going to redo this on Weds with the hopes of getting into the saddle and him not moving around. If so, I have no issues sending him out to work.
And that was working with my big dumb horse today :) I'll update on Thursday or Friday!
Monday, September 19, 2011
I went against all advice and rode..
So yesterday I was going to try the new pinchless bit I got and see how he moves in it. I have come to find out a lot of new things about Memphis that we had previously worked through:
1.) Wants to move when mounting. We had worked on this and he was standing like a champ before I got pregnant.
2.) Not trying to get away from the saddle when saddling. Again, worked on this one too and had it all figured out.
3.) Not moving once mounted. I had him standing like a champ after mounting a few months ago.
And he had developed a new habit:
1.) Trying to bite me while under saddle.
The biting thing is brand spanking new. Never had him do this before. He only did it when we were riding on the road to get to the forest. I couldn't figure out what he was doing at first and thought something was bothering him. After ruling everything out, I can only come to the conclusion he was trying to bite. Jerk. I started hitting him with my foot if I could reach, hitting him in with the lead rope, or just plain smacking him. Problem is, I didn't catch it in the begining and so it kinda developed into something a little nastier than I wanted. I'll have to work that out whenever I do get back into riding hardcore.
Other than that, he did like the bit and did move well in it. I think some of his problem is he doesn't want to do what I say. He did shake his head a little but nowhere near like he was in the other bits. He also didn't have any sores on his mouth when we were done. Good boy.
My worry with him though, is he has a BIG motor. A couple times when we stopped to wait for the others to catch up I noticed he was breathing super fast. And when we moved out again he would go right back into the fast as all get out flat walk/run walk with a few racks thrown in there.I held him back the entire ride since I didn't want him to injure himself by wanting to flat out go the entire time.
Now, I will say that his calling in life is trails. This horse turned into a totally different horse on the trails. No more trying to bite me, his ears perked forward, very ready to just go down the trail, and responsive to *most* things. I might look into endurance riding with him once I can ride again, something I think he would do very very well at.
I know he is going to be sore today, but he's got until almost April off. Then we will work through a whole crapton of issues that I had already worked through. Mounting being a large one. I will admit I got frustrated with him and the mounting thing. I chalk that up to the pregnancy thing.
Other than that, he is a good boy. He just has some attitude under saddle that will need to be addressed.
1.) Wants to move when mounting. We had worked on this and he was standing like a champ before I got pregnant.
2.) Not trying to get away from the saddle when saddling. Again, worked on this one too and had it all figured out.
3.) Not moving once mounted. I had him standing like a champ after mounting a few months ago.
And he had developed a new habit:
1.) Trying to bite me while under saddle.
The biting thing is brand spanking new. Never had him do this before. He only did it when we were riding on the road to get to the forest. I couldn't figure out what he was doing at first and thought something was bothering him. After ruling everything out, I can only come to the conclusion he was trying to bite. Jerk. I started hitting him with my foot if I could reach, hitting him in with the lead rope, or just plain smacking him. Problem is, I didn't catch it in the begining and so it kinda developed into something a little nastier than I wanted. I'll have to work that out whenever I do get back into riding hardcore.
Other than that, he did like the bit and did move well in it. I think some of his problem is he doesn't want to do what I say. He did shake his head a little but nowhere near like he was in the other bits. He also didn't have any sores on his mouth when we were done. Good boy.
My worry with him though, is he has a BIG motor. A couple times when we stopped to wait for the others to catch up I noticed he was breathing super fast. And when we moved out again he would go right back into the fast as all get out flat walk/run walk with a few racks thrown in there.I held him back the entire ride since I didn't want him to injure himself by wanting to flat out go the entire time.
Now, I will say that his calling in life is trails. This horse turned into a totally different horse on the trails. No more trying to bite me, his ears perked forward, very ready to just go down the trail, and responsive to *most* things. I might look into endurance riding with him once I can ride again, something I think he would do very very well at.
I know he is going to be sore today, but he's got until almost April off. Then we will work through a whole crapton of issues that I had already worked through. Mounting being a large one. I will admit I got frustrated with him and the mounting thing. I chalk that up to the pregnancy thing.
Other than that, he is a good boy. He just has some attitude under saddle that will need to be addressed.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Somebody needs to work with their horse
Not saying any names or pointing any fingers...... but I'm pretty sure the name starts with the letter R and pretty sure the finger is towards me. ;)
Went out and did groundwork with Memphis. Get this, I was working on his responding to pressure exercises; something I have not done in about 2 months. So I place my hand on his shoulder, apply mild pressure, and ask "over". He flipped his head around and tried to bite me! WTF?! This is not the horse that I like to brag about! He got popped in the mouth since I saw it right as it was happening so he didn't even have a second to think about it, he just got corrected. Then I tried it again and he moved his hindquarters over just like he should and has been taught to do.
I guess this all boils down to more groundwork with this guy. It's that reminder that says "HEY WORK WITH YOUR HORSE ON A REGULAR BASIS". I will be the first to admit he has gotten off really easy lately. Big idiot.
The new bits shipped out yesterday. I'd expect they'd be here by the end of the week since they shipped from OH. I'm also getting his teeth done tomm to eliminate that issue from the equation.
Oh and onto feed again, since Tribute NEVER responded to my email to them about the Kalm N Ez food question I had, I will answer it myself here by posting the feed tag. This way if anyone stumbles here looking for the same info, you can find whats in this food.
Just click on the picture and it will get bigger.
I've also been working my butt off lately trying to pay for the increased costs this month. Phew. I work this Sat, all of next weekend, and the Sat after that. This will cover the bits, his feed, and part of his board. So everything isn't hitting us out of our budget budget. I am selling off a few things too to help. Then I'd only have to work 1 day a month to make his feed costs and 2 extra days a month to cut his board in half from our budget. (I have two jobs, my full time and a part time for the horse stuff) Ah horses.
Went out and did groundwork with Memphis. Get this, I was working on his responding to pressure exercises; something I have not done in about 2 months. So I place my hand on his shoulder, apply mild pressure, and ask "over". He flipped his head around and tried to bite me! WTF?! This is not the horse that I like to brag about! He got popped in the mouth since I saw it right as it was happening so he didn't even have a second to think about it, he just got corrected. Then I tried it again and he moved his hindquarters over just like he should and has been taught to do.
I guess this all boils down to more groundwork with this guy. It's that reminder that says "HEY WORK WITH YOUR HORSE ON A REGULAR BASIS". I will be the first to admit he has gotten off really easy lately. Big idiot.
The new bits shipped out yesterday. I'd expect they'd be here by the end of the week since they shipped from OH. I'm also getting his teeth done tomm to eliminate that issue from the equation.
Oh and onto feed again, since Tribute NEVER responded to my email to them about the Kalm N Ez food question I had, I will answer it myself here by posting the feed tag. This way if anyone stumbles here looking for the same info, you can find whats in this food.
Just click on the picture and it will get bigger.
I've also been working my butt off lately trying to pay for the increased costs this month. Phew. I work this Sat, all of next weekend, and the Sat after that. This will cover the bits, his feed, and part of his board. So everything isn't hitting us out of our budget budget. I am selling off a few things too to help. Then I'd only have to work 1 day a month to make his feed costs and 2 extra days a month to cut his board in half from our budget. (I have two jobs, my full time and a part time for the horse stuff) Ah horses.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Bits
Alrighty then, since yesterday I found that the barn owner had used a Tom Thumb on Memphis. I despise Tom Thumbs. Very ineffective aid to a horse and she said he just shook his head whenever pressure was applied to the bit. I would too if I had no idea what to do when you asked me something since the aid was not clear.
He has not liked the Jr. Cowhorse I've had him in as of late either. This one has to do with pinching, since it does pinch his lips. Soooooo, since you know I can't ride right now, how about I get really into my horse and start researching things haha It makes total sense!
I bought two new bits today. If they work out well for him I'm selling both of my other bits and just keeping my O-ring and these two. I'll sell the Jr. Cowhorse and my Curb with a Roller. I bought the Robart Pinchless "Snaffle" with a roller aaaannnddd bought a short shanked "snaffle". The short shank is for whomever leases him, the roller snaffle is for me - the shanks are LONG and I don't want a child using that bit. Children seem to pull on mouths quite a bit and I do not want them pulling on his mouth with a long shanked bit, that's asking for trouble.
Anywho, I do plan on hopping up on him when these come in just to see how well they work. He's going to love me haha... I'm fat, well not fat, but have gained weight. He's a stout horse... should be able to do it. The guy I bought him from was heavier than me.
Anyway, the barn owner ended up riding him for the trail ride on Saturday. The mom couldn't ride since there would be no 4-H leader if she rode, so the barn owner had to ride. Memphis was the last horse out haha She also rode him at the back of the pack. Memphis HATES the back, she said he did an uncomfortable gait the entire time. She did say he was very comfortable once everybody started cantering and Memphis settled into a nice gait. I can only imagine it was a rack, since he LOVES to do that when others canter. Silly horse.
Oh well, that's all I got at the moment.
He has not liked the Jr. Cowhorse I've had him in as of late either. This one has to do with pinching, since it does pinch his lips. Soooooo, since you know I can't ride right now, how about I get really into my horse and start researching things haha It makes total sense!
I bought two new bits today. If they work out well for him I'm selling both of my other bits and just keeping my O-ring and these two. I'll sell the Jr. Cowhorse and my Curb with a Roller. I bought the Robart Pinchless "Snaffle" with a roller aaaannnddd bought a short shanked "snaffle". The short shank is for whomever leases him, the roller snaffle is for me - the shanks are LONG and I don't want a child using that bit. Children seem to pull on mouths quite a bit and I do not want them pulling on his mouth with a long shanked bit, that's asking for trouble.
Anywho, I do plan on hopping up on him when these come in just to see how well they work. He's going to love me haha... I'm fat, well not fat, but have gained weight. He's a stout horse... should be able to do it. The guy I bought him from was heavier than me.
Anyway, the barn owner ended up riding him for the trail ride on Saturday. The mom couldn't ride since there would be no 4-H leader if she rode, so the barn owner had to ride. Memphis was the last horse out haha She also rode him at the back of the pack. Memphis HATES the back, she said he did an uncomfortable gait the entire time. She did say he was very comfortable once everybody started cantering and Memphis settled into a nice gait. I can only imagine it was a rack, since he LOVES to do that when others canter. Silly horse.
Oh well, that's all I got at the moment.
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