Another Rambling Post

 I've now had Gambler for eight months. He has come a long way from the awkward four-year-old who had been sitting in the pasture. I've built a relationship with him that I have never had with another horse. But we still have a long way to go. Even though I know the general goals that I am working towards, sometimes I get out there with him and I cannot think of anything to do. So I'm going to write down some things I need to work on. I hope that writing them down will help me remember.

So what do I need to focus on with Gambler? I need to gain control of his feet on the ground. Not just in circles (which is boring and detrimental to his joints) but in lines, shapes, figures. I need to work on yields in a way he thinks is fun. I'm going to try using yields to turn. He might like that. I really want Gambler to learn to side-pass and spin from the ground. It will help a lot when trying to teach him from the saddle if he already knows how to move. We've started on it a little, but he doesn't enjoy them. The last time I asked for a side-pass I got a rear.

I think if I keep myself in a high-energy, playful mood when I am with Gambler he will feed off of it and enjoy himself more. For instance, I want to try running with him when I ask for an upward transition, or seeing if he will “cut” me like a cow. If he learns to enjoy imitating my body language, I can teach him to carry himself through example, like a mother teaches her foal. I should also wrap him and do the exercises/stretches the chiropractor gave me in July, which help with self-carriage.

The feet are priority right now, as well as the cinchiness/mounting issue. The whole mounting thing . . .I have mixed feelings. Part of me says to take it slow. The other part of me says Gambler is only acting up because he's bored and if I just jump up there and show him it's not so bad he'll progress faster. Maybe I'm moving too slowly for him. But if he can't hold still to be mounted, how is he going act when being ridden?

I also need to work on leading from the right . . .ugh I've been so lazy with that, it's not okay. Gambler is less comfortable with me on his right side, and I've only made it worse by not addressing the issue. Another thing I've been lazy about is teaching him to trot next to me. I think the problem has been that when he gets ahead of me I stop. I need to keep going when he gets ahead, and maybe turn to the inside or something like that that redirects his motion, instead of stopping it. I need to lead him at the trot for several minutes. It would be good exercise for both of us.

I think using two lines while I longe him will prepare him for ground driving. He needs to learn that all pressure on his halter doesn't mean back up though. I've done the exercise where you wrap the rope around him and ask him to unravel himself, but for some reason he never has figured it out. If I don't give him the answer by yielding his forequarters in the right direction he just backs up rapidly. My theory is he needs consistency. I'll try to do that exercise every time I see him. Along those lines I need to regularly practice lateral flexion.

Well that's not all of it, because you can never run out of things to improve, but it's a start. A lot of things things rely heavily on good footing/weather conditions, so I'll have to see what happens. The weather today was insane. First, it thunderstormed. Then it thundersleeted. Then it thundersnowed. Then the sun came out and melted everything. Finally, it started snowing again. Who knows what else will happen today. I can't say that I mind. I think the bipolar weather makes life that much more interesting. 

November Rain

It is one of those days. One of those days when I just want to hang out with my horse. It has been a long day. A long weekend actually. I was telling one of my fellow students this morning that the week is like my weekend. I'm so busy Friday through Sunday that I don't have time to reflect on everything that has happened until Monday. 

Right now the rain is falling as it has since about nine o'clock this morning. It is supposed to rain tomorrow too. I hope it doesn't, but I know now that even if it does, Gambler and I can still play with the saddle and the bridle and the cross ties and the bridle etc. etc. etc. I am so thankful for the weather this November. I've heard rumors of a mild winter for months, but now I'm starting to believe it. It's halfway through November and it only snowed once. And that was in October. Snow isn't so bad for playing or working with horses (as long as it is fluffy and not too deep), but the cold makes life much harder for the rider. 

I forgot to mention that yesterday we took out the measuring tape again. Apparently Gambler hasn't gotten any taller, but he has bulked up quite a bit. He isn't as fat as he was in September, but he is a little pudgy. It's probably a good thing going into winter. I'm glad he is a little bigger, but I would love it if he grew a couple inches. I know it isn't likely, but I'm holding on hope!

It's All a Matter of Time

I have to apologize for the lack of photo or video content. The camera is out of batteries, and last time we were in town I totally forgot. One of these days I'll have some good pictures. Until then, I'll do my best to entertain you with my words.

It's November. There will probably be snow on the ground by the end of the month. It is supposed to be a mild winter, so I hope that there isn't much snow or ice, but in the end no one knows what is going to happen. Needless to say, I'm a little nervous. I made my goal of putting the "first ride" (first sit is more like it) on Gambler before snowfall, but can I put a sound foundation of saddle training on him before the weather stops us in our tracks?

I knew that time was going to be an issue. Starting a green horse can take anything from a few months to a couple years depending on the horse. And that is in an ideal situation. I only get to see Gambler four times a week on average. Now that the sun goes down at five, I only have an hour or so of daylight on week days. I was ranting about it to my mom yesterday. She reminded me that it's not about how fast you train a horse, it's about how well you train him. I agree wholeheartedly. The thing that frustrates me is I think Gambler is ready. I think I could have put the first ride on him several weeks ago, but I'm holding him back. I just haven't found the time.

Nevertheless, I don't regret keeping Gambler so far from home. The barn he is at right now is the very best place he could be. He is kept in a large pasture that he shares with only one other horse, so he always has food. He is brought inside two times a day for grain, so any injuries are caught within twenty-four hours. I know that he is safe and in good hands, and I know that he is happy. I wouldn't dream of keeping him anywhere else.

Winter is Coming!

The cold weather is here. A few days ago, it snowed for the first time this season. Freezing winds, fluffy flakes of snow, and a sugar-like white power were everywhere you turned your eyes. It was beautiful, but frigid and inconvenient to horse-related activities. I love winter in some ways. After all, without winter there would be no autumn, which is my favorite season.

Since then the snow melted away, but it left the low temperatures behind. Now it is cold and gloomy and wet. Burrrr! Believe it or not, there is a point to this wintry rant. Winter is coming. This means I have less time with Gambler. Although I am an idealist who hopes this winter will be as mild as rumors suggest, the conditions will probably get worse from here. Most people set horse activities aside for the winter, because it is nearly impossible to get anything done in the conditions. Ice, snow, wind, cold, none of these are conducive to riding horses. There are exceptions. The moderately deep, fluffy snow (that only appears in the coldest temps) is a similar texture to the sand that fills arenas, making it ideal for riding. Of course you still have to cope with the cold. 

I have no idea what this winter has in store for Gambler and me. Maybe it will be mild and I'll find a lot of time to ride and play with him. Maybe it will be cold and icy and we'll spend four to five months in the cross-ties. Either way, I am determined not to let the frozen weather get between my horse and me. It's time to bring out the hats, hand-warmers, thick winter socks, and invest in some flannel-lined jeans. I'm tempted to buy some winter riding gloves too. 

But what is a horse person to do when conditions drive him away from the barn and into the warm security of his home? Read books, lots of books. Ironically, I'm writing this from the library . . . ;) But I'm completely serious. Find a warm blanket (fleece and flannel are my favorites); a cup of warm apple cider, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate; and a book. Better yet, read a blog. Either way, reading is an enjoyable way to continue building your horsey knowledge while locked away at home. Even if you live in a warmer place where the storms of winter don't barricade you away, reading is never a waste of time. Here are a few suggestions. 

**Again, I will have you know none of these people are paying me to suggest their books/blogs**

Books: 

*Hope Rising by Kim Meeder and A Bridge Called Hope by Kim Meeder - Both of these books are full of true stories from Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch; a ranch that rescues horses and teaches them to trust, while using their stories to prove to humans that there is hope. It is a beautiful witness to God's love for His people and His creatures. 

*The Phantom Stallion Series by Terri Farely - This series is aimed at teens and pre-teens (I read them as a ten-year-old) but they are beautifully written must-reads for every horse-crazy girl. 

Blogs:
*Simply Horse Crazy (Mare) - This blogger has temporarily (I hope!) set her blog aside to pursue a career, but she left her blog up as a testimony to her first horse and their story. It is full of wonderful thoughts and insights. I suggest reading the entire blog start to finish as I did. She reminds me a lot of myself.

* Beautiful Mustang (Linda) - I haven't read very much of this blog yet due to my OCD-like need to read blogs from the very beginning. I'm still back in 2008, but from what I have read I admire her story and writing style. Someday I hope to gentle a mustang, so I appreciate everything her blog stands for.

How do you fulfill your horsey passion in the winter?