Team Penning again

Last Sunday we went team penning again. What fun we had. We were Barbara, Laura, Alice and I. Brian and John tagged along too. We did so much better in our time and I remember one of the times I did was 54 secs. Usually not to exceed 130 secs.

 

That was good considering that some of these cows are stubborn. They know to go hide in the center of the herd. But it was a good day.

 

 

Making Progress forward.

So we are making huge progress forward. Annie now transitions to canter with no objection and will remain in this gait for a longer period. I think she is starting to like it. Sometimes I ask for the trot, and then extend the trot and maybe she gets this as a cue to canter but I feel like she gives a few canter steps. I then have to half halt her to keep her at the trot. She responds well to the half halts now. I have not tried these at the canter yet as I am still in training myself. I concentrate more on my seat then the speed.

Last weekend we had a great work out. We worked on making good 20 meter circles. I placed some cones out so I could visualize my circle and it helped quite a bit. I event went as far as putting a bar down so Annie would have to skip over while rounding her back. Trying to teach her to collect a bit more. I feel being more able to sit the trot when she is slow and collected. It event feels like dressage.

I am so ready for trail riding season. It is too muddy out right now that it is unthinkable to go in the woods at this time of year. Too dangerous for the legs of the horses. Could be icy and muddy. In the meantime Annie is getting fat. We are still working on the drill team practice. We have a date of presentation coming up. This was a great winter project. Thanks Heather for putting this together.

Annie and I have finally bonded. She is aware of who I am and she is such a puppy dog kind of a horse. She looks at you with those pretty eyes and says :”please mommy, no work today!”… lol LOVE IT!

Mo

On your knees

OK last weekend was BEAUTIFUL. I spent both Saturday and Sunday at the barn with Annie. We did ground work to recap on a few things. There are still a few things to work on more because she is not easily affected. She would stand there without reacting or budging to my almost forceful attempts. She can be so lazy sometimes.

Sunday Carol, Barbara and I went for a short trail ride around the property. It was so nice. Vegas was a bit nervous at first but then warmed up. Vegas is a young horse. Talking about age, the vet came Saturday for shots and coggins certification for another horse and we took advantage of it and did Annie's at the same time. He inspected her teeth (he is also an equine dentist), and noted that she appeared to be barely 10 yrs of age. Not 12 as I thought. Last year when I had a different vet examined her, he made the same remark. So I have a younger mare than I thought...It is hard to tell how old they are especially if they have no papers.

We worked on canter also. Saturday and Sunday both A's on the canter. Sunday was a bit crowded in the arena so we went into the round pen. The round pen needs to be enlarged by a couple of panels. I feared that she would trip and she did. Not only she would lean on her front inside shoulder but she landed on her knees and skidded to a stop. The new and improve reining stop! Forward knee stop! Well I stayed on her back and then slowly dismounted to inspect her face (it hit the pen gates) and checked her knees for cuts and heat. They seemed fine. We just walked for a while so we could both catch our breath.

When she seemed to have forgotten about it, I mounted again and we trotted and cantered a couple of turns around the arena. I was happy with the outcome so we called it a day.