Horseflies.

Went for a ride today!! Went out at 12:30 and everyone was already tacking up, A had her grandson with her with was fun! :) He's about two or three. Mom felt up to it so she got Spirit to the barn and tacked him up, J had to help her carry the saddle since she can't lift over 4 pounds until 6 weeks post surgery. I brought Red down with the help of Bay-Bay and tied him out front with Patches and Hercules. Lady, C's horse, was lame, we think she tripped and hurt herself, so he rode Hercules. He gave Hercules to R awhile back so it's nice for him to have the ability to ride him! Hercules is actually Lady's colt. The horse flies were HORRIBLE today..the bugs weren't that bad but the horse flies were everywhere. Red stood really well and did fantastic while I tacked him up. He was sleeping the majority of the time so I doubted that he'd be energetic today! :)) A helped me figure out the breast collar because I still can't tie it right. Gonna invest in some of the clips for it, lol!! Got him all tacked up and fly sprayed a fly to death. At the last minute I decided to try my splints again so I got those on. They actually didn't slip as bad today so I'll see....medicine boots are so far in my dreams but I can't afford them ATM, so the splints will have to do. They worked well today. He came back with no nicks or anything on his legs and was much less bugged by the flies on his legs.

I hopped on before anyone else just so I could do some work on his mounting. He tends to want to move when I mount but he's improving little by little. He did SO good with it today!!! Got off because of ANOTHER dang fly but I got back on without him fussing. The fly left a pretty good mark on him so I was surprised when he just calmed right down when I got back on.. We just kinda sat there until everyone else mounted. He didn't walk when I got on him, which is what I wanted, since the others were still working I needed him to be quiet and not be a distraction, which he did perfectly, yay! After that, we were off...I took the lead and cantered Red up farther. He's a follower, NOT a leader, so I wanted to test him a little just to see how he did. Hercules was having some issues..It's only his third or fourth time out of the round pen, so considering that, he did really well. He ended up staying down there for awhile, lol. C worked on him a lot though and went on a couple of the trails by himself and we met up a few times. Red wanted to stop a few times so a couple smacks on his butt took place, lol!

Hercules and Red. NOTE: I don't allow my horses to get up too close during rides, but Hurk literally came running and I was taking a between the ears shot, this kinda just happened. :)) Red was moved up front about a second later.

We went through all of the trails and rode for about an hour. It was really hot out in the pastures so we stuck to the trails where it was shady. Once we got to the rockier area Red just stopped and I had to pick up a little twig and use it as a crop, a tiny tap got him going again. The rocks don't feel good, even when your horse has amazing feet, so I took it really slow. Once he got to the big open, ten acres, he was ready to run. I tapped him on the butt and he worked into a canter, then, finally WE GALLOPED! Yes!! :D I am so excited. Almost a year later..we finally gallop. Yipee!! We stopped shortly though. ;) Spirit wanted to run with us and mom had to take him way out to the end of the pasture, so once she was gone I talked to A and G-her grandson-and took a break in the shade, after that we walked around the creek line and I galloped a few more times around the pasture, cantered around the fenceline. G kept getting hit by Patches tail, he was doubling with A and kept saying, "PATCHES, NOOO! Stop hitting me!" and "Mimi, she's HITTING me!!"

Just a note: He had on a helmet but we took it off during breaks and A held onto him the whole time. :) The helmet was a bit large on him, lol!!

After that, mom came back 'round.

 Another stupid fly stung him and made him bunny hop, I dismounted to kill it because it kept trying to sting me plus I thought the test would be good. He REFUSED to let me back on but after about three minutes I was back on and he did great again,
 
We headed back after another lap. We went the long way around, where you pass about three hills that the horses tend to want to run up. Patches and Spirit were pretty insistent on wanted to go up them, but Red just followed and didn't mind. It was getting breezy and I kind of think he enjoyed the breezy, slow walk.

Once we walked back, we saw C on Hurk up near the house, so we turned back around. Red acted like he wanted to go back in the barn but once he noticed he was being left behind, he trotted up the hill and said hello. :) We all walked to the barn and got J to take some pictures.. A has some better ones of all of us on her phone so I'll have more pictures later, when she posts them on FB.


Once we were done taking pictures I took Red in the barn and tied him at his stall, near the fan so he could cool off. Got the sweat scraper and got all that nasty junk off. :)) He got some lovin' from G too :) He LOVES kids. No wonder he was a lesson horse ;) Gave him some treats and let him hang out while I put my stuff away.

Ignore his twisted splint, G was looking at them and asked why he had "cowboy horse boots on" and one of the straps got undone.

Pretty sure everytime I see him, I love him more. Despite his random stubborness, he did so good. Every time we go on a ride mom ends up saying something like, "ya know, he is just a good horse." or something along those lines. :) :) He really is a good horse, through and through. He's sound, he has a wonderful personality. He RUNS now, and wants to. Before he literally only walked or he would just be horrible. I'm so happy that he's actually enjoying his job now.

Him doing this every time I come to the barn or leave and whinny at me, plus just being gorgeous, helps a lot too. ;)

Hoping to get another bareback ride in soon, too. Probably this week sometime unless we get in another long trail ride. I'm getting back in the motions now so I should be back to riding at least twice a week now, just praying that mom begins feeling better. She was in horrible pain yesterday and has been light headed today. :P :P Until then, I'm the main babysitter so I can't just leave her. I take what i can get at the moment, it's nice to have her back in the saddle!

ALSO: Red's skin is doing great again and his tail is hairy!! Wooho!!! I'm kinda excited for winter because I don't have to worry and he'll have a nice tail.

OH! we will be having the thoroughbred and owner probably moving to the barn soon!! She's owned him since he was 9, he's 22 now. She jumps and does Dressage. :) Vet will be out Wednesday around 4. Gotta get Coggins pulled and some vaccines done..

He has turned from the horse nobody wanted, to the horse everyone can't stop talking about.-Bailey G

 I am *in love* with this boy! Thanks for sending in your story, Bailey! :) I enjoyed it a lot!

This is my pretty boy Big D's Got it Good (Diego). He is a 9yr old Friesian sport horse. I meet him 3 years ago in need of a new jumping horse. The first ride, he barely knew how to turn. I don't know what I was thinking, but I agreed to lease him, training him, helping him. He had an eventful life of walking in circles once a week. And I later learned he had been abused before, tried to be trained by "cowboys" with harsh methods. And they sold her to a young girl saying he was finished. Well she used a curb, that being his first bit he did something, I don't know what,  to make her parents think he was dangerous enough to drop him off at a barn, saying he was "killer". I see nothing of that old horse he used to be. He turned out to be one heck of a jumper, clearing 3'5" with ease in the first few months of jumper training. We compete in dressage and show jumping, and next year 3-day eventing. Over the past 3 years we have both taught each other SO much, and has turned from the horse nobody wanted, to the horse everyone can't stop talking about.

Thank you!
     -Bailey G.

 

Remember, if you want YOUR story featured, shoot me an email at Superspecialninja@gmail.com! :)

"I had high hopes."-Karley

 Guest post by Karley-

Henry and I came together a little over a year and a half ago. I had just had a baby and he wasn't fast enough for the track. After a string of horses that didn't work out, I had high hopes that Henry was the one. He was bright eyed and I was getting my feel back after a c-section, ups and downs came but we are doing better then ever now. You can follow our journey at http://dondeestahenry.blogspot.com/

What is his/her registered and barn name?- House of Fortuny but we call him Henry

How old?- Just turned 7 :)

What breed?- OTTB

Lineage?- His dad is Atticus and mom is Mitzi. His great great grandpa is Secretariat

Discipline?- Hunters.. maybe some Eq when I can get my stuff together :)

What is one thing that your horse hates?- Natural Latices panels and plastic chairs on occasion lol

What is your favorite thing about your horse?- His heart, he's willing to try and give me all he has. And he had become SO affectionate and it cracks me up! I can't wait for our partnership to keep growing.

How would he/she introduce her/himself to a new herd of horses?- Henry likes to greet and play with everyone, "squealing means that you love me right?!"… I don't think he wouldn’t fair well out in a big herd cause he would get beat up!

Henry and Karley :)
 
 
 
 

 Thanks for sending in the story, Karley!!! Gotta love those cute OTTB's! :)

If you would like to send in your story, comment below and I'll get in touch with you through email or your blog. :)