Seriously. I don't know if I've ever loved monster pony more. Every day she gets better & better. Ugh, she is just SO AWESOME. Really, she is!
She has a nasty scrape down her back, a good 2 inches by 4 inches, RIGHT where her saddle goes. Needless to say we didn't get any riding in today, but it was a good opportunity to do some ground work with her. First of all, she's usually a PITA when we enter to round pen, because as I'm fidgeting trying to lock the gate, she's trying to run off and eat grass. Well, not today. Today I walked her in, threw her lead line over the fence (didn't tie her or anything) and she stood completely still while I locked the gate. WOW! Then I pulled off her halter and the minute I picked up the lunge whip, she took off right to the rail and started moving. Again, WOW! She usually shoves her head into the ground to root for grass and it takes me running after her with the whip to get her to take a step. Proud moment #2.
Yesterday April worked with her on reversing to the inside. Today she pulled a couple of her "What'll happen if I turn my butt to you" moves, and QUICKLY realized "BAD idea, she'll make me keep moving, and even FASTER!" So after about three failed attempts to reverse butt first, she started turning in and doing perfect reversals (Is that a word? It is now.)
Then I decided to play a little game with her I like to call "Stand over the delicious patch of green grass but DON'T eat it. Don't even THINK about eating it." I walked her to it, threw the lead rope around her neck, and just let her stand. And guess what? SHE STOOD! She didn't move. So I decided to walk further away. She's such an in your pocket pony & has little comprehension of personal space. So of course, she tried to follow me. I took her lead rope, backed her up, and had her stand again. THIS time when I moved away, she stayed put! I walked all over the roundpen and she stood still as a board. Then when I wanted her to move I called her over, and wouldn't you know it? She didn't move. LOL! Go figure. So I grabbed the leadline, called her name, and waved her to me with my hand. It took a few times of doing it with the leadline, but I eventually got her to understand it without using the leadline. In the end she was standing still, and WAITING to be called.
This may not seem like much to some horse owners, but considering three weeks ago I had an ultra disrespectful horse with no regards for personal space, this is an AMAZING feat. She is such a good girl, always aiming to please. I am so happy I could burst! lol
PLUS I oiled my saddle today & completely reorganized my tack locker. What a great feeling! :) There's nothing that makes me happier in the world then a great day at the barn.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Note to Self
I realize this is a blog, the intention of which is to be public. But it's late, I'm beyond exhausted, and my capacity for generating entertaining prose has all but burned itself alive... so mostly this is an entry to collect my thoughts and record how monster pony has progressed with training.
This week went okay, not as well as I would have liked but we really made progress toward the end. It had nothing to do with my trainer (Who is AMAZING if I haven't mentioned that already/enough) but monster pony's 'tude. She was being a snot and refusing to turn in to reverse. By the end however she was responding well and not turning her butt toward us. That being said as much as April has whacked her hiney, you'd think she'd have learned she can NOT not NOT not NOT NoOoOoOoTtTtT eat grass while lungeing... but nope. She continues to try. *sigh* I told April today she must be really stupid or really stubborn. I know she's not stupid... stubborn it is!
& that's all my weary brain can muster for this evening. Over & out.
This week went okay, not as well as I would have liked but we really made progress toward the end. It had nothing to do with my trainer (Who is AMAZING if I haven't mentioned that already/enough) but monster pony's 'tude. She was being a snot and refusing to turn in to reverse. By the end however she was responding well and not turning her butt toward us. That being said as much as April has whacked her hiney, you'd think she'd have learned she can NOT not NOT not NOT NoOoOoOoTtTtT eat grass while lungeing... but nope. She continues to try. *sigh* I told April today she must be really stupid or really stubborn. I know she's not stupid... stubborn it is!
& that's all my weary brain can muster for this evening. Over & out.
Monday, July 12, 2010
HALLELUJAH!
Cue the choirs of angels... since Hallelujah... Praise the Lord... monster pony has a trainer! And not just ANY trainer, the best trainer on the planet! Seriously. Quick, go take a potty break, then sit back & relax with your caffeinated beverage of choice, because this is going to be a long one, I've got a lot to share!
It all began with a craigslist ad. I had some very interesting responses... such as the 15 year old girl who trained an 18.5 hand "thurobred" stallion by herself. Yup, she did it folks... who WOULDN'T want her breaking their pony?! However, after sifting through the junk I found an awesome girl who was willing to barter with my broke @$$ & agreed to help me train Cheyenne in exchange for helping her work some of the other horses she trains. Let me interject here by saying, I was about willing to become resident sheath cleaner at a 400 horse barn in exchange for training, so... best deal ever? I think so! Honestly I was a bit skeptical at first, it seemed too good to be true. Until...
I went out to her barn & rode her horses. They were seriously the best behaved horses I have EVER ridden! They stood completely still to be tacked & even untied didn't move a muscle when she hosed them down. They knew to stand whenever you put them anywhere (including knee high grass) & won't move until being told to do so. You can literally ride them without using the reins, & she has trained horses to ride bridle- less. I was in awe how easy & well behaved her horses were, so I was confident she would be able to help fix Cheyenne's issues.
Let me briefly interrupt to give you my list of Cheyenne's "issues"...
1. RESPECT.
2. Personal space (see above)
3. Pushiness (see above, respect)
4. Backing up
5. Cantering under saddle
6. Being a snot (see respect)
7. Lungeing
As you can see... there are a number of areas I've fallen short on as a first time horse trainer. I've allowed her to walk all over me (without realizing it!) and as a result she has become pushy and bratty.
Within the first hour my trainer worked with her, she had her backing up (She has NEVER done this! She will literally CEMENT her feet to the ground to avoid backing!) respecting personal space, and CANTERING UNDER SADDLE! She has only been cantered twice before, both times only on the lunge line. April was literally on for about five minutes before she asked for the canter, and Cheyenne gave it to her - no issues! I am SO thrilled!
Today was our second session together. I went out to April's and worked with her personal horse, Rosie. She is a sweetheart, but just terrified of people. She was severely abused by her previous owner, then sent to slaughter, rescued, and ended up at April's. I lunged her and even RODE her walk/trot. It is so sad to me that she is so fearful of people... but I can't blame her after being BASHED in the head with a hammer *sigh* Why do some people suck so much? I can't believe April has only had her since January and she has come so far! She did really well, but you can just feel how tense and fearful she is under saddle. She was able to relax a few times and she felt like a totally different horse. Hopefully she will come around and trust completely soon. The fact that she went from charging people & being unable to be haltered to being ridden & respectful in 6 months makes me feel like I've done NOTHING with Cheyenne since I've owned her!
April worked on lungeing with Cheyenne today. She did pretty well, but pulled her "I'm going to kick out at you because I'm pissed & lazy" move on more then one occasion. She just fired some warning shots, no one was ACTUALLY kicked. Thank God! April worked with her a lot on responding to body language, and changing direction. I learned that when horses change direction by turning to the outside it's a sign of disrespect (since they're turning their butt toward you) so April got her to where she would stop and turn toward the inside to change direction. Cheyenne has always had issues lunging, ESPECIALLY changing direction. It was to the point I would literally have to grab her halter, TURN her the direction I want her to go manually, then get after her to go. I can't believe what April was able to get her to do in one session!
I am on cloud nine right now. After the first day April worked with her, I had Cheyenne stand to be groomed, tacked, and rinsed without tying her! At first she moved around a bit, but April taught me that if she's not listening and being respectful (i.e. if she's moving when she should be standing) you correct her by getting her to move her feet. So every time she'd fidget and move, I would turn her in a circle. I had never heard of this method of correction before, but it is a MIRACLE worker... especially for a lazy horse who HATES to move unless absolutely necessary, lol. I'll save the "Why moving a horses feet when they're misbehaving works" explanation for another post, but trust me, it does work!!
Phew! That seemed like a novel, just had a lot of updating to do! Can't wait to share more as we make progress. April thinks she can have her completely trained by December. WOW! She said she's really a smart horse, and easy to work with... so hopefully it won't be too difficult. I don't know how I lucked out finding such an awesome trainer, who was willing to work with my poor stundent self... but I did!!! & I couldn't be more thrilled!
It all began with a craigslist ad. I had some very interesting responses... such as the 15 year old girl who trained an 18.5 hand "thurobred" stallion by herself. Yup, she did it folks... who WOULDN'T want her breaking their pony?! However, after sifting through the junk I found an awesome girl who was willing to barter with my broke @$$ & agreed to help me train Cheyenne in exchange for helping her work some of the other horses she trains. Let me interject here by saying, I was about willing to become resident sheath cleaner at a 400 horse barn in exchange for training, so... best deal ever? I think so! Honestly I was a bit skeptical at first, it seemed too good to be true. Until...
I went out to her barn & rode her horses. They were seriously the best behaved horses I have EVER ridden! They stood completely still to be tacked & even untied didn't move a muscle when she hosed them down. They knew to stand whenever you put them anywhere (including knee high grass) & won't move until being told to do so. You can literally ride them without using the reins, & she has trained horses to ride bridle- less. I was in awe how easy & well behaved her horses were, so I was confident she would be able to help fix Cheyenne's issues.
Let me briefly interrupt to give you my list of Cheyenne's "issues"...
1. RESPECT.
2. Personal space (see above)
3. Pushiness (see above, respect)
4. Backing up
5. Cantering under saddle
6. Being a snot (see respect)
7. Lungeing
As you can see... there are a number of areas I've fallen short on as a first time horse trainer. I've allowed her to walk all over me (without realizing it!) and as a result she has become pushy and bratty.
Within the first hour my trainer worked with her, she had her backing up (She has NEVER done this! She will literally CEMENT her feet to the ground to avoid backing!) respecting personal space, and CANTERING UNDER SADDLE! She has only been cantered twice before, both times only on the lunge line. April was literally on for about five minutes before she asked for the canter, and Cheyenne gave it to her - no issues! I am SO thrilled!
Today was our second session together. I went out to April's and worked with her personal horse, Rosie. She is a sweetheart, but just terrified of people. She was severely abused by her previous owner, then sent to slaughter, rescued, and ended up at April's. I lunged her and even RODE her walk/trot. It is so sad to me that she is so fearful of people... but I can't blame her after being BASHED in the head with a hammer *sigh* Why do some people suck so much? I can't believe April has only had her since January and she has come so far! She did really well, but you can just feel how tense and fearful she is under saddle. She was able to relax a few times and she felt like a totally different horse. Hopefully she will come around and trust completely soon. The fact that she went from charging people & being unable to be haltered to being ridden & respectful in 6 months makes me feel like I've done NOTHING with Cheyenne since I've owned her!
April worked on lungeing with Cheyenne today. She did pretty well, but pulled her "I'm going to kick out at you because I'm pissed & lazy" move on more then one occasion. She just fired some warning shots, no one was ACTUALLY kicked. Thank God! April worked with her a lot on responding to body language, and changing direction. I learned that when horses change direction by turning to the outside it's a sign of disrespect (since they're turning their butt toward you) so April got her to where she would stop and turn toward the inside to change direction. Cheyenne has always had issues lunging, ESPECIALLY changing direction. It was to the point I would literally have to grab her halter, TURN her the direction I want her to go manually, then get after her to go. I can't believe what April was able to get her to do in one session!
I am on cloud nine right now. After the first day April worked with her, I had Cheyenne stand to be groomed, tacked, and rinsed without tying her! At first she moved around a bit, but April taught me that if she's not listening and being respectful (i.e. if she's moving when she should be standing) you correct her by getting her to move her feet. So every time she'd fidget and move, I would turn her in a circle. I had never heard of this method of correction before, but it is a MIRACLE worker... especially for a lazy horse who HATES to move unless absolutely necessary, lol. I'll save the "Why moving a horses feet when they're misbehaving works" explanation for another post, but trust me, it does work!!
Phew! That seemed like a novel, just had a lot of updating to do! Can't wait to share more as we make progress. April thinks she can have her completely trained by December. WOW! She said she's really a smart horse, and easy to work with... so hopefully it won't be too difficult. I don't know how I lucked out finding such an awesome trainer, who was willing to work with my poor stundent self... but I did!!! & I couldn't be more thrilled!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Ask for Help.
After my little incident with Cheyenne last week I've been a little leery. She has been surprisingly good (tried to rear once when I was walking her out, I smacked her right that second with the crop, and she hasn't tried again) but it kind of made me realize I don't have the experience to go this alone anymore. If I just want a horse I can walk around, who steers pretty well, normally doesn't spook, and sometimes will trot with a lot of coaxing... then she fits the bill. But I want a horse I can walk/trot/canter... who won't pitch a fit... and who will back... and who will be more responsive, so I need help. I knew it was a long shot but I posted an ad on craigslist offering my services around a barn (I'd do just about ANYTHING!) in exchange for someone training her. I would floored by the number of responses I got! I didn't expect ONE! People pouring out of the woodworks, some offering to help for nothing at all! Of course I was a bit skeptical but I think I found a girl who may really be able to help me. All she's asking in exchange is that I exercise her horses & she will come out & train Chey 2-3 times a week! SWEET DEAL! I'll be honest, I HATE riding other peoples horses. It makes me so nervous! But I think it will be good for me.. the last time I cantered on a horse was probably a year ago, since it's something Cheyenne & I can't do yet. It will be good to build my confidence up again, and help me to focus on myself, and not just controlling my horse. I'm nervous, but excited! The two girls at my barn also offered to ride her for me whenever they're short a horse (one girl owns a horse, and the other leases the same horse... so when they come out to ride together they need an extra). They're both AWESOME riders & one of them rode her today & said she did amazing! Yay! I'm so thrilled.
Moral of the story, ask for help! I'm amazed how many horse people legitimately care and are willing to help out of the goodness of their heart, not just for money. Hopefully this works out well, just had to share!
Moral of the story, ask for help! I'm amazed how many horse people legitimately care and are willing to help out of the goodness of their heart, not just for money. Hopefully this works out well, just had to share!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I guess really I should have emphasized the a there... no one really carries the /h/ sound out when they scream... but I digress.
I. AM. SO. UNHAPPY. WITH. MONSTERPONY.
I took Faith (my 5 year old sister) & my birthmom out to the barn yesterday. I wasn't planning on having Faith ride, but she kept bugging me & since my birthmom is very experienced with horses I figured it would be okay. I saddled her up & just left her in her halter & leadrope to lead her around. She was being a stubborn little booger, but just lazy... not spooky. I was leading her around the arena & my birthmom was walking next to Faith in case she needed to pull her off. Good thing she was because seemingly out of NOWHERE she reared up, my birth mom pulled Faith off (she wasn't hurt, neither of them were thank GOD!) & her hoof came right down onto my shoulder. Awesome. Luckily it really doesn't hurt near as bad as I thought it would, so that's good. I was angry but brushed it off as a one time thing. But even after Faith was off she did it AGAIN as I was leading her back to the barn. So into the round pen she went for a nice long workout. I was horrified by her behavior... I really didn't think it would be an issue. Ugh! I'm half terrified to go out again tomorrow & see what new bug she's got up her butt. I love her, but sometimes I think I got more pony than I bargained for! Eeeek!
I. AM. SO. UNHAPPY. WITH. MONSTERPONY.
I took Faith (my 5 year old sister) & my birthmom out to the barn yesterday. I wasn't planning on having Faith ride, but she kept bugging me & since my birthmom is very experienced with horses I figured it would be okay. I saddled her up & just left her in her halter & leadrope to lead her around. She was being a stubborn little booger, but just lazy... not spooky. I was leading her around the arena & my birthmom was walking next to Faith in case she needed to pull her off. Good thing she was because seemingly out of NOWHERE she reared up, my birth mom pulled Faith off (she wasn't hurt, neither of them were thank GOD!) & her hoof came right down onto my shoulder. Awesome. Luckily it really doesn't hurt near as bad as I thought it would, so that's good. I was angry but brushed it off as a one time thing. But even after Faith was off she did it AGAIN as I was leading her back to the barn. So into the round pen she went for a nice long workout. I was horrified by her behavior... I really didn't think it would be an issue. Ugh! I'm half terrified to go out again tomorrow & see what new bug she's got up her butt. I love her, but sometimes I think I got more pony than I bargained for! Eeeek!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Broken Pony
Don't you love those early morning phone calls... "Something's wrong with your horse."? It's only that much more exciting when the man who takes care of the horses speaks no English & tries to relay that information to the barn owner... who in turn tries to relay it to you. It was just a big jumbled mess... I had NO idea what was wrong. When I got out to the barn she was in cross ties & I couldn't see anything wrong with her leg. Quickly enough I realized it was probably the same stifle issue as before. Sure enough when I went to walk her out of the cross ties her back left leg was left dragging behind her. Thank God I had been witness to this before otherwise I would have had the same horrible panic attack I did when it first happened. Poor girls back leg was literally paralyzed she couldn't bear any weight & it dragged behind her & she hopped & hobbled around on 3 legs.
Last time we called the vet out & before she got there it corrected itself. She said it if happened again to back her up and it should unlock. Problem was I COULD NOT get her to back. Three of us tried, including Alamon who literally barrelled into her chest and pushed with all his strength. So after many unsuccessful attempts I called the vet who said he couldn't do anything, the only way to fix it is to back her out of it. He suggested I give her some bute to ease the discomfort & that she might weight bear & back if I did that. A friend of the barn owner suggested massaging the area with vetrolin to help loosen it up. Cheyenne LOVED that... not. It was pretty funny to see her hobble away from me as best she could on three legs... a little sad too. After an hour of massaging I gave up. I picked up some bute & made it back to the barn at 6 pm (mind you this had been going on since early in the morning.) I gave her some bute with dinner & as she was eating decided to try massaging again. I felt around the good and the bad stifle & found a little spot that seemed to pop in & out as I massaged. So I went with my gut & just applied pressure to see if it wouldn't pop whatever was out of place back into place. And wouldn't you know it, it worked!! I was so relieved & she seemed pretty thrilled (though a bit wobbly) to have the use of all 4 legs back.
I wish I had gotten video of how sad she looked on 3 legs. I couldn't find any videos of locked stifles online that even compared to the severity of hers. I hope this isn't a recurring issue. The first time is happened she was in a stall all night... but this time she was turned out so I'm not sure what triggered it. I certainly can't complain since I was able to fix it without having to have the vet out & now I know what to do if it happens again.
I gave her a day off since I'm sure if nothing else she was sore secondarily from accidentally putting weight on her bad leg incorrectly yesterday. She kept inverting her foot & putting weight on it since it was dragging behind. I lunged her lightly today & she did well... she was great one direction, better than she ever has been! She was a bit of a snot the other direction, but eventually complied. I'm going out to ride tomorrow, hope she's feeling up to it!
& If anyone is interested in learning more about locking stifles I found a handy little website here that gives the abbreviated version on the condition. http://www.equi-therapy.net/equi-therapy/horse-veterinary/sticky-stifle.shtml
Last time we called the vet out & before she got there it corrected itself. She said it if happened again to back her up and it should unlock. Problem was I COULD NOT get her to back. Three of us tried, including Alamon who literally barrelled into her chest and pushed with all his strength. So after many unsuccessful attempts I called the vet who said he couldn't do anything, the only way to fix it is to back her out of it. He suggested I give her some bute to ease the discomfort & that she might weight bear & back if I did that. A friend of the barn owner suggested massaging the area with vetrolin to help loosen it up. Cheyenne LOVED that... not. It was pretty funny to see her hobble away from me as best she could on three legs... a little sad too. After an hour of massaging I gave up. I picked up some bute & made it back to the barn at 6 pm (mind you this had been going on since early in the morning.) I gave her some bute with dinner & as she was eating decided to try massaging again. I felt around the good and the bad stifle & found a little spot that seemed to pop in & out as I massaged. So I went with my gut & just applied pressure to see if it wouldn't pop whatever was out of place back into place. And wouldn't you know it, it worked!! I was so relieved & she seemed pretty thrilled (though a bit wobbly) to have the use of all 4 legs back.
I wish I had gotten video of how sad she looked on 3 legs. I couldn't find any videos of locked stifles online that even compared to the severity of hers. I hope this isn't a recurring issue. The first time is happened she was in a stall all night... but this time she was turned out so I'm not sure what triggered it. I certainly can't complain since I was able to fix it without having to have the vet out & now I know what to do if it happens again.
I gave her a day off since I'm sure if nothing else she was sore secondarily from accidentally putting weight on her bad leg incorrectly yesterday. She kept inverting her foot & putting weight on it since it was dragging behind. I lunged her lightly today & she did well... she was great one direction, better than she ever has been! She was a bit of a snot the other direction, but eventually complied. I'm going out to ride tomorrow, hope she's feeling up to it!
& If anyone is interested in learning more about locking stifles I found a handy little website here that gives the abbreviated version on the condition. http://www.equi-therapy.net/equi-therapy/horse-veterinary/sticky-stifle.shtml
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Funny Story...
Well so far, so good. I was only able to make it out to the barn twice this week because of the thunderstorms, but Cheyenne is coming along nicely. She is still a bit testy in the round pen, but it takes much less time/energy to get her to concede and do what I'm asking. She didn't try to run through or jump the fence like she did the other day, so it's an improvement. She is also showing great progress with her stopping. She's responding well to voice cues so I'm trying to rely heavily on those with minimal cueing from the bit. Just a deep seat, a "whoa", and a teensy tinsy pull then release. She's much quicker to respond but we still have some work to do.
Cheyenne really impressed me with two things this week.
#1 Cheyenne has a new boyfriend, the stud colt. This handsome little gentleman is NOT mom approved, I'm still a bit in denial over the whole thing. She acts rather silly & whorish around him. Obviously they are separated but they do sniff each other through the window in the concrete stall wall dividing them. This week when I walked Cheyenne by his stall she kept right on walking & didn't stop & squirt. She was much more ladylike & made my life a LOT easier by not cementing her hooves to the ground in front of him.
#2 I had the farrier come out for Cheyenne Saturday. First off I was nervous because it has been MONTHS since I've actually held her for the farrier. Someone else had done it for me since the farrier came at the old barn while I was in class. Second this was a new farrier. I decided to use the farrier the rest of the girls at the barn use. Cheyenne did pretty well! She got a little stupid with her front feet, dancing around on her back feet a bit. She also tried to eat the farrier's ponytail, well not EAT... gum... lip at... play with it. She was a perfect angel for her back feet. Everyone was impressed with her behavior... but you know, can't ever please mom. ;) She's still working on it... but I am proud of her!!
So now back to the title of this entry... FUNNY STORY. I decided to ride Cheyenne bareback Saturday since it was 110 degrees outside (didn't want to deal with lugging around tack or making her miserable in the heat), we were only going to work on walk/stop, and I hadn't ridden her bareback at the new barn yet at all. So I was out with Ray's mom & Ray's leaser, and the barn owner was giving us a mini lesson. We were all standing under the tree in the arena when all of a sudden I realize I was quickly become closer to the ground. Cheyenne DROPPED straight to her knees to roll with me on her!!!! I lucked out because she literally dropped straight down & I stayed sitting on top of her, straddling her with two legs on the ground. She let me jump away before she proceeded to try & roll, thankfully! I hollered at her & flailed my arms so much she must've thought she was going to be killed... but I did NOT want her to think that was okay (even though, I admit it... it was REALLY funny!) She's been good about not tossing me, I don't want her to think this is a new way to get out of work. So I brought her right back over to the mounting block & worked her for a while... without resting breaks this time! lol She did do very well, and I didn't fall! Yay! Here's to hoping it was a one time event however.
Cheyenne really impressed me with two things this week.
#1 Cheyenne has a new boyfriend, the stud colt. This handsome little gentleman is NOT mom approved, I'm still a bit in denial over the whole thing. She acts rather silly & whorish around him. Obviously they are separated but they do sniff each other through the window in the concrete stall wall dividing them. This week when I walked Cheyenne by his stall she kept right on walking & didn't stop & squirt. She was much more ladylike & made my life a LOT easier by not cementing her hooves to the ground in front of him.
#2 I had the farrier come out for Cheyenne Saturday. First off I was nervous because it has been MONTHS since I've actually held her for the farrier. Someone else had done it for me since the farrier came at the old barn while I was in class. Second this was a new farrier. I decided to use the farrier the rest of the girls at the barn use. Cheyenne did pretty well! She got a little stupid with her front feet, dancing around on her back feet a bit. She also tried to eat the farrier's ponytail, well not EAT... gum... lip at... play with it. She was a perfect angel for her back feet. Everyone was impressed with her behavior... but you know, can't ever please mom. ;) She's still working on it... but I am proud of her!!
So now back to the title of this entry... FUNNY STORY. I decided to ride Cheyenne bareback Saturday since it was 110 degrees outside (didn't want to deal with lugging around tack or making her miserable in the heat), we were only going to work on walk/stop, and I hadn't ridden her bareback at the new barn yet at all. So I was out with Ray's mom & Ray's leaser, and the barn owner was giving us a mini lesson. We were all standing under the tree in the arena when all of a sudden I realize I was quickly become closer to the ground. Cheyenne DROPPED straight to her knees to roll with me on her!!!! I lucked out because she literally dropped straight down & I stayed sitting on top of her, straddling her with two legs on the ground. She let me jump away before she proceeded to try & roll, thankfully! I hollered at her & flailed my arms so much she must've thought she was going to be killed... but I did NOT want her to think that was okay (even though, I admit it... it was REALLY funny!) She's been good about not tossing me, I don't want her to think this is a new way to get out of work. So I brought her right back over to the mounting block & worked her for a while... without resting breaks this time! lol She did do very well, and I didn't fall! Yay! Here's to hoping it was a one time event however.
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