It's 2016 already. That's crazy. Seems like it was 2013 just a few weeks ago. Where has the time gone? I've seen a few other bloggers do a post along these lines, and I liked the idea. So without further ado, here is a summary of 2015.
January:
My boss offers me a horse. I'm torn because I can't afford a horse (specifically board) at this point in time, but I want a horse so much. I do a lot of thinking and praying. I don't really think anything will come of it though.
February:
I still don't think I'll buy the horse, but I can't help paying a little special attention to him now and then. He is such a sweetie! He sneaks through the fences (cough Houdini cough) into the mare pasture but the mares bully him so that barely gets any food or water. You'd think he'd have he brains to stay with the geldings . . . but no.
March:
A few things work together for good and we're going to buy Gambler! I'm gonna have a horse! I can't believe it.
I start bringing Gambler into the barn after work to groom him. I quickly realize his ground manners are not good. He kicks when I pick out his feet and won't stand still in the ground ties for long. He is nervous so he crowds me for protection when I lead him from one place to another. It doesn't help when he escapes from the pasture again and must be confined to a stall until I can move him to the new barn.
I stop by everyday to let him run around in the indoor arena. This is when I discover his love for jumping the first time. While running around the indoor, Gambler jumps a pole laying on the ground by a foot or so.
April:
As of April 4th, 2015, Gambler is mine.
The day after, he mysteriously cuts open his eye in the stall. The vet wasn't happy to be dragged out to the barn on Easter Sunday.
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| Woozy horse. |
On April 8th, we moved him to the new barn. I found out two days later that he climbed/jumped over his stall door.
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| Yes, this door. |
Gambler and I connect almost instantly. I believe this is due to the time I spent with him at Galloping Hills. One of the first times I come out to see him, he is napping with his pasture mate. Rebel jumps up when we walk over to them, but Gambler continues to doze.
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| You can see the stitches on his eyelid here. |
May:
Gambler's training begins (re-begins). I've always wanted to train a horse at some point so I'm familiar with Parelli natural horsemanship methods. Teaching them to a young horse however, is much harder than I expected. I discover that while "Gamby" is quite spooky, he loves to play with new things like old grain bags.
I have to convince Gambler that a fly mask isn't going to hurt him. I put it on him backwards so that he can get used to the feeling of the ears. It creates a comical picture.
Right away, I teach Gambler to back away when I shake the rope or when I back up beside him. Because he has the tendency to crowd me, this is necessary for my safety. To this day it is the foundation I fall back on. Then I start to teach him to yield his forequarters and hindquarters. I try to longe him, but have a hard time teaching him to do it that Parelli way.
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| I honestly couldn't tell if this picture was of my mom or I . . . it's me. |
June:
In the beginning of June I visit family for two weeks during which I miss Gambler very much. When I get back, Gambler's training continues. We have a breakthrough with the circling game when I ask Gambler to move around a barrel. This is the month during which Gambler's dapples emerge.
Once he understands the cues to circle, training really begins. Gambler catches on quickly.
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| Introducing ground poles |
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| Playing around at liberty. |
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| First time with a bareback pad on (while I've had him). |
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| Walking over a little jump. |
July:
This is a rough month for both of us. I am overwhelmed and stressed by the future and life choices I need to make. I had the chiropractor come out to look at Gambler and he is a mess. So I have to spend a lot of time doing exercises for his back. He gets squirrely because I'm not working him as hard as usual and my confidence dive-bombs. Not a good combination. He becomes increasingly spooky as he mirrors my emotional state.
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| More jumping. Gambler was really spooky this day and scared me a lot, although this picture doesn't show it. |
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| Overjumping much? |
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| Trying to jump the barrel sideways . . . |
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| Much better. |
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| Disputing |
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| Introducing the close contact saddle. |
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| Another dispute. No, I am not hitting him in the face. I am blocking him with my hand while he tosses his head to get around me. |
August:
Gambler's training continues to slip until finally I have an epitome and renew my efforts.
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| "I can't circle, my shadow will eat me!" |
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| "Funny thing, I do know how to do this!" |
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| Gamby loves toys! |
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| Another dispute. |
August is the month Rebel passes away and we welcome Kezi to the barn.
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| Kezi calling to her friends the day she arrived at the barn. |
Even after Gambler re-learns (for the second time) the circling game, he barely trots and cantering is unheard of.
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| Good boy!!! No, I'm not sure why I sat down when he cantered . . . I guess it was an automatic release. Technically horses should be more afraid of a crouching predator though so . . . yeah I'm not sure what I was thinking. |
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| Introducing the western saddle. This saddle got the biggest reaction out of any of them. |
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| This was one of Gambler's spookiest days. It was nothing but crazy bolting spooks all day. |
September:
In September I use ground poles and jumps to improve Gambler's topline and teach him to carry himself in a more balanced manner. Jumping also gives Gambler an outlet for all his spooky energy.
I continue to work on Gambler's self-carriage by asking him to work for short periods of time on small circles. I also focus on consistency at the canter.
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| Asking Gambler to step under himself. |
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| Yay liberty! |
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| Cantering! Woo-hoo! |
The day after that picture is taken Gambler has his first bout with colic. I give him a week off afterwards, which in retrospect is overkill.
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| "I've only had a week off, but I'm pretty sure I don't know what a saddle is." |
October:
This month I try to make up for all the ground I've lost, but this proves to be increasingly difficult due to school and fewer hours of daylight.
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| More jumping. |
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| The beginning of mounting prep. |
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| Looking at this picture, I think Gambler should try his hand at a Gambler's Choice class sometime. |
November:
This month yields the same fruit (or lack thereof) as October. So much to do, yet so little time to do it.
December:
So here I am, at the end of December. I'm trying to get Gambler to stand perfectly for the farrier and let me sit on his back. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in the next year!
