Saturday, November 20, 2010
Rescuing Fiona: Quick update...more later
Rescuing Fiona: Quick update...more later: "So, first for a quick update. Fiona is doing great, she's gaining weight and training with Don is going well. She leads MUCH better. The oth..."
Quick update...more later
So, first for a quick update. Fiona is doing great, she's gaining weight and training with Don is going well. She leads MUCH better. The other day Don was leading her and I was walking with them. One of the dogs that lives at the stable barked at us from about 30 feet away. We are not talking a little warning bark, this was a "get away or I am going to rip your head off bark".
Fiona ran forward around Don and turned to see what the noise was, then she stopped! She calmed right down and kept walking. She was a little jittery after that, spooked at a truck behind us, spooked at my car parked in an odd spot. These were minor scares though. Several months ago, that dog barking would have caused her to drag Don halfway across the property.
The first saddling with Don didn't go well. Fiona bucked and fell down on her knees. I didn't see it, but apparently it was a pretty bad blow up. She also bit Don's Palomino gelding. I felt awful about that. She's usually very good around other horses. During a drill team event at Red Mountain last month, an arabian and a palomino were trying to go after each other...maybe it's a cultural thing? :)
On of Don's recommendations to me was to ride a horse every time I am at the stable. So, I have done exactly that. On nights that I don't have lessons, I ride other people's horses. My latest riding companion is Cinnabar (Sinny for short). He is...get this...a 22 year old Polish Arabian and he is FULL OF IT! He is all the things Fiona is, but oddly not dangerous. He is pushy, he had a mind of his own. He is ALWAYS checking things around him, ears in the air. He doesn't hold still to get on or to get saddled. He is the perfect horse for me to practice on! He is easy to ride, it's like once you are on him he is a different horse. He does spook sometimes, but very slightly and it doesn't cause him to jump sideways or bolt.
I found this picture on the Wildhorse web site a while back. I can't believe how different Fiona looks now. I will have some more pictures to post in the next few days. She looks like she loaths being touched in this picture and now she LOVES being rubbed and scratched. More soon.....
Fiona ran forward around Don and turned to see what the noise was, then she stopped! She calmed right down and kept walking. She was a little jittery after that, spooked at a truck behind us, spooked at my car parked in an odd spot. These were minor scares though. Several months ago, that dog barking would have caused her to drag Don halfway across the property.
The first saddling with Don didn't go well. Fiona bucked and fell down on her knees. I didn't see it, but apparently it was a pretty bad blow up. She also bit Don's Palomino gelding. I felt awful about that. She's usually very good around other horses. During a drill team event at Red Mountain last month, an arabian and a palomino were trying to go after each other...maybe it's a cultural thing? :)
On of Don's recommendations to me was to ride a horse every time I am at the stable. So, I have done exactly that. On nights that I don't have lessons, I ride other people's horses. My latest riding companion is Cinnabar (Sinny for short). He is...get this...a 22 year old Polish Arabian and he is FULL OF IT! He is all the things Fiona is, but oddly not dangerous. He is pushy, he had a mind of his own. He is ALWAYS checking things around him, ears in the air. He doesn't hold still to get on or to get saddled. He is the perfect horse for me to practice on! He is easy to ride, it's like once you are on him he is a different horse. He does spook sometimes, but very slightly and it doesn't cause him to jump sideways or bolt.
 |
| Sam and Fiona at Wildhorse Ranch Rescue |
Monday, November 1, 2010
Back in the saddle again
So tonight was me first riding lesson since my gallblader surgery and I am SOOORE! Holy Moly! There is some muscle, tendon, ligament..something that runs from the top of your foot, up the front of your leg and around your hip to your butt cheek and mine is KILLING ME!
The ride itself was great, we trotted almost the entire lesson. We worked on diagonals and steering with your legs. It was tough, even the invincible lesson horse Snowbell (who Deb calls Snowbelly, I love that) a 25 year old Arabian mare was feeling the pain. She's a worker though, she was huffing and puffing and still trying to push the pace faster than I was asking for. Gotta love those Arabians for stamina.
After the lesson I took Fiona out in the roundpen and we just walked around together. She followed me pretty much everywhere. The only time she wandered was when Deb brought grain for the other horses and who could blame her, right?
I couldn't believe how hooked on she was. I think I am going to start putting some "obstacles" in the roundpen to build her confidence. She needs to start learning that not everything is going to kill her. She saw a grill the other day and did a full-on, legs out to the sides, cartoon scare. Next a woman slammed her trunk right next to her, and that sent her running behind me. I swear it's like she tries to hide behind me when she spooks. It does no good to point out that she outweighs me by 600 lbs., I have tried.
Don is going to start working with her next week. I am pretty excited about that.
The ride itself was great, we trotted almost the entire lesson. We worked on diagonals and steering with your legs. It was tough, even the invincible lesson horse Snowbell (who Deb calls Snowbelly, I love that) a 25 year old Arabian mare was feeling the pain. She's a worker though, she was huffing and puffing and still trying to push the pace faster than I was asking for. Gotta love those Arabians for stamina.
After the lesson I took Fiona out in the roundpen and we just walked around together. She followed me pretty much everywhere. The only time she wandered was when Deb brought grain for the other horses and who could blame her, right?
I couldn't believe how hooked on she was. I think I am going to start putting some "obstacles" in the roundpen to build her confidence. She needs to start learning that not everything is going to kill her. She saw a grill the other day and did a full-on, legs out to the sides, cartoon scare. Next a woman slammed her trunk right next to her, and that sent her running behind me. I swear it's like she tries to hide behind me when she spooks. It does no good to point out that she outweighs me by 600 lbs., I have tried.
Don is going to start working with her next week. I am pretty excited about that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)