10/16/13

Fun Times.

A stubborn horse walks behind you, an impatient horse walks in front of you, but a noble companion walks beside you.
Author Unknown 

I didn't really expect to be able to go to the barn yesterday  but somehow got a trip in just as the horses were eating. Only stayed for about 45 minutes but it was enough. Walked in, Red paused his eating for a second, looked at me, then continued. Let him finish his food and I walked him out to the ties. Brushed him out, fly sprayed, picked his hooves when I noticed he was limping-got a huge ball of, yep, manure, out of his hoof and he was perfect. Horse life is fabulous....from him foundering awhile back, the rings around his hooves are finally going down and growing out. Yippee for no rings, soon, at least. I attempted to get an updated conformation photo but with everyone running around, he refused to stand square. These are my two attempts:
 
 

Compared to what he looked like around this time last year, I'm pleased. He doesn't even look the same.
Before
 Apparently, I felt brave, so I hooked his lead rope on the other side of the halter and got Jeff to give me a leg-up. He was sleepy and stubborn as he always is when I ride bareback and near the barn. I only rode for like, maybe five minutes, because I wanted the trip to be about groundwork more than riding and work-work, so I pretty much cuddled on top of him.....he's spoiled.
Someone said that it looked like I was eating his ear. LOL.
 After that I hopped off and did some of the much-needed groundwork. I took him for a walk, got him to follow on command and he cantered after me when I ran.This stuff makes me happy. Got him to back along with me when I walked backwards-without a lead, woot!!-and worked on his stopping. He did good. 

 
 

 Did a lot of hand-walking and hanging out. This trip was in no way work centered, although we did get some stuff done. He needed to be brushed out really bad, plus I got some of his really long fetlock hairs trimmed up.

 
 

No riding Saturday. Celebrating three birthdays. Possibly no riding Sunday depending on said birthday plans but gotta get in the saddle sometime soon so we shall see. 

Oh, Spirit's good, too. Gave him a new treat that he's never eaten and he spit it on my shirt. Typical Appy-tude. And Cowboy got his hooves trimmed the other day. Did great as always. The jerk can be perfect for C, our farrier, but hates me. Typical guy.

8 comments:

  1. Wow! Red looks so different than when you first got him. I just thought of something, too. His registered name is Cash's Steppin' Up. Is he by any chance related to Big Chex to Cash(I think that's what his name is).

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    1. He's changed quite a bit! :) I actually don't know! I haven't had a chance-or the money, lol-to order his papers yet but I'll hopefully be doing it this month if the government decides to stop being stupid so we get normal paychecks again. I'll let everyone know everything about his bloodlines then. I was told that he had some racehorses back there by the AQHA but I doubt he has a bunch of amazing and famous horses in his bloodlines since he was bred on a smaller ranch to be a rodeo/cattle horse.

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  2. Groundwork is super important. Good thing to work on!

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    1. Yes!! A horse with horrible ground manners isn't a horse I want to have!

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  3. Hope you had fun at all the bdays!

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    1. We shall see if I can keep from going insane with all of the kids around. ;)

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  4. Red looks so gorgeous!!

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