Well, it's been a while since I last posted. I have been mainly posting things on the forum so I feel talked out by the time that I usually post on here.
Things have been going ok with Dixie. I'm having a lot of problems with her within the last two days though. She has been shouldering out pretty bad and then she threw a fit when I took her in the pasture the other day. I won't go into details as it would a be a very long post but it included her have two bucking episodes, a little hop type rear thing, and just being a brat in general. Then yesterday I almost fell off twice and she shouldered out really really bad. It's just a little bit upsetting right now but I'm sure we'll get it figured out. I made sure to leave every ride on a good note and with her acting right but still.
I posted a bulletin on myspace the other night that will give you insight on what else is currently going on:
Front Shoes and Trimming = $75 approx.
Teeth Floating = $100 approx.
West Nile and Rabies Vaccination = $30 approx.
New Fly Sheet and Mask = $80 approx.
Having a sweet mare come up to the gate when I call her name and then put her soft velvetly nose on my cheek after I've been gone for two weeks because of my wisdom teeth surgery and dry socket experience = Priceless
Also, it looks like I'll probably be going on a trail ride with Dixie next week. It's my birthday on Wednesday and Sherri said that we'll definitely have to go then, unless of course something comes up. I'm so excited!
I will be leasing a horse this summer that I have been working with. She is a project horse. I will be blogging about how she is progressing and our experiences together this summer, as well as some other things thrown in.
Me and Dixie
Dixie's Story
Dixie is a 10 year old Bay Roan grade Quarter Horse mare. She was a trail horse before her previous owners purchased her. Her previous owners did not do anything with her for four years and then stopped paying board on her and their other horse that they did barely anything with. The BO(Barn Owner) gave them a notice that they could pay the board or the horses will be sent to auction. There was no word back so they went to auction. The BO came back with both horses. The BO is my mentor(at my internship) and her husband.
After they made sure Dixie was safe for me to ride, they had me start working with her. I was extremely fustrated at first and I really dreaded riding her. I never thought that she would do what we were trying to get her to do. Then, she proved me wrong. One day, she did a perfect organized canter. I finally saw what she could be. That same day, I told my mentor that if I had the money that I would buy her, she said that she would give her to me for $5oo. I wanted to start out with a lease and she agreed. We're going to see how everything goes. Hopefully, it goes for the best.
After they made sure Dixie was safe for me to ride, they had me start working with her. I was extremely fustrated at first and I really dreaded riding her. I never thought that she would do what we were trying to get her to do. Then, she proved me wrong. One day, she did a perfect organized canter. I finally saw what she could be. That same day, I told my mentor that if I had the money that I would buy her, she said that she would give her to me for $5oo. I wanted to start out with a lease and she agreed. We're going to see how everything goes. Hopefully, it goes for the best.
What I Want to Accomplish With Dixie
- Get the Front Pasture Problem Figured Out
- Get Her Over Her Hopping Thing - Just started doing this again - UPDATED 07/23: She hasn't done any hopping in a while.
- Desensitize Her to Fly Spray - UPDATE 11/24: She's still not ok with the spray on her body but I've got a Fly Spray mitt that she doesn't mind at all, it works out just fine for me.
- More Confident on the Trail Alone or With a Group - UPDATE 11/24: She did great on my birthday trail ride and a 3-day trail ride in October. She is also still fine with going out alone at the barn and will easily go away from the other horses of the group.
- Start Teaching Her How to Sidepass - UPDATE 11/24: She will sidepass across the arena at a walk and trot.
- Better Backup and Whoa - UPDATE 11/24: She backs up using her hind end now and will whoa better on command. I actually got her stopped in the corn field after running!
- Get Her Going in a Loose Rein - UPDATE 11/24: She does well on a loose rein, she just doesn't respond fully to my seat or with my legs so she does need adjustments with the reins still.
- Get Her Going in a Straight Line w/o Rein Contact - UPDATE: She does this pretty well now that we've found out that she does very well in a loose rein without much contact.
- Teach Her How to Lunge and Apply Side-Reins - UPDATE 11/24: She lungs fairly well and will do so with side reins at the trot, she's a bit confused at the canter.
- Responding to My Seat Better - UPDATED 07/23: We've been working on downward transitions with the seat and she has gotten pretty good at this with the walk, trot, and woah.
- Start Teaching Her Collection at the Walk and Trot - UPDATE 11/24: She has started to come into collection by herself, the more we're getting collected at the backup and the more she gives the bit, the better collected she becomes.
- Standstill While Mounting and Cinching Up - UPDATE 11/24: She has unfortunely gotten worst at this, I am working with backing her up every time she won't standstill...somedays it works, and sometimes it doesn't.
- Work More on Ground Poles - UPDATE: She doesn't shy away from them anymore and she even goes over a smal calvetti without hitting it. Yay!
- Soft and Supple to the Bit - UPDATE 11/24: She is getting better and better at this! When I went on my corn field trail ride yesterday, she would actually give to the bit in the woods whenever I applied contact. This is a huge improvement!
- Start on Neck Reining - UPDATE: She does know some neck reining, enough to guide her around the arena.
- Relaxed, Controlled Canter - UPDATE: She pretty much has this down now. She just needs better steering :p
TV Shows
- Bones
- Burn Notice
- Chuck
- Desperate Housewives
- Eli Stone
- Friday Night Lights
- Fringe
- Gilmore Girls
- Gossip Girl
- Grey's Anatomy
- Heroes
- Life
- Life on Mars
- Mad Men
- McLeod's Daughters
- Medium
- My Boys
- My Own Worst Enemy
- Private Practice
- Psych
- Samantha Who?
- Saving Grace
- Supernatural
- Veronica Mars
- Wildfire
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