Going Really Well!

Cassie is doing really well! Once again, 'real life' has taken over and my time with her has been limited. But each time we do play together, the better she is! (this picture was taken a few weeks ago, I just never posted it)

The good news about my busy life is that its prevented me from doing a lot of riding. Sounds like a bad thing, but really, my back needed the time off. It could do without all the hours in the office chair... but I can only accomplish so much! LOL Also, my mom has been in town, which means I've been much more mobile...lots of shopping! I'm feeling loads better.

So, after my trip to Monroe this afternoon, I decided I'd dedicate my evening to Cassie. She had a good grooming session, some longeing- which she was really, really good for. I am always in awe when I watch her move- she's got this really big trot- it seems so effortless for her- and it is so beautiful. I'm usually drooling by the time I bring her back from the circle.

Then we had a little 'conversation' about the spray bottle of show sheen on the tail. She decided quite early on to say '"no, I do not want to do this todaytoday, thanks." and so we had a good opportunity to work on something! I love those moments, they are so much fun! I can remember a time when I would get really frustrated and annoyed. Not anymore! By the end Miss Cassie was accepting the spray bottle on her tail. We did go through quite a bit of Show Sheen though, LOL.

Really, we didn't do much- really just hung out and played with stuff like the spray bottle. She's a really good girl, and realize I need to dedicate more time to her. She could definitely use more exercise- in both body/ mind / spirit. Couldn't we all?! LOL

Hopefully I'll have some new pictures by the end of the week, woo hoo!

Here she is! Its been a few months since I last saddled her. First time was with a bareback pad, the second was with an english saddle.

Today was the big scary western saddle. Ooooo.

She did well saddling up. I put her on the longe line, wishing i had a roundpen to really make her move.

She was buckish on the line- but she was rewarded every time she stopped bucking and was relaxed.

Hopefully I'll have time to do it again tomorrow- I want to get her to move out, but i dont have a bunch of space, and the pony was in the way :)

I'll get it all sorted out and we'll play again. Hopefully we'll get more photos when we dp!

Signing off-

Ally, Cassie, & Gang.

mini update

mini update

Cassie: doing very, very well. Her weight is up, which is a good thing, she needed a few extra pounds. I've been working with her on the ground, and she's doing really well. still a little 'sticky' with moving her front feet- but she's getting better about it. the best improvement i've seen in her is that she's not taking my requests so personally. she'll actually try it without all the attitude, LOL.

I noticed today while grooming her that she was LOVING it. she will still go 'missing' when she's scared- she basically goes way internal- stops blinking, breathing, moving. but she's not doing that- not very often anyway.

Faith: leg is healing. i'm getting better at wrapping her leg. she's doing a better job of staying still while i wrap.

Frank: super good boy! he gave 2 toddlers pony rides today & his first ever beginner lesson. he was fantastic.

Uhm...what happened?

How the heck has it been so long since my last post? REALLY bad! Shame on me...and shame on all of you who should've been nagging me for an update, LOL!!

Ally update: hurt my back, and i'm much, much slower these days. All my lofty goals of training horses this summer basically got lost. Thankfully, the trainer who took on Frank was able to continue- and how he's as push button as they come- and oh so much fun! I only dare riding for about 10 minutes at a time...but boy those 10 minutes are fun!!

Faith- she's doing well. She just recently moved to a new barn- with much bigger pastures and arena/ places to play- which she needs if she is ever going to get that hind end in shape. the other arena was just too small and was an injury waiting to happen to her. She's reminded me not to slack on the 'mental' exercises- which she needs in order to be OK with life around her. Just this afternoon, we were in the round pen- a short spell- 10 minutes. That was uneventful- until we decided to leave. For some reason, oblivious to me, Faith decided that she wanted to RUN through the gate. I haven't seen that behavior in ages from her- but it made me realize how much I'm slacking with the Parelli stuff. OY. So, back into the pen we go, play a few yielding games, and then we play the 'back out of the gate game'...and then 'squeeze game' through the gate...a few times each, mixing it up, until we were cool with the gate. then we played games from the point of the gate to the post where she'd find her dinner.

I couldnt believe how oblivious she was to my presence- it took A LOT of work to get her paying attention, and for her to use her brain...prior to, she was on autopilot and more focused on the horizon. YIKES. [insert rolley-eye emoticon]

Cassie, my CBER horse, has been off all summer- well, the past 2 months. Before i did myself in, i had her up to accepting the saddle, she wore a bridle, and she could longe- sort of. I even experimented with putting my weight on her back, from the mounting block. She was going so well!

I've been tossing it back and forth in my head, and finally, I came to the decision to find training for Miss Cassie. As much as i hate to admit it to myself- my body just isn't up to it. To add to that, my 'real job' is getting much more intense. So when I ask myself if i can dedicate the time and physical strength to train...it looks pretty grim.

I asked Juliane to put Cassie on the waitlist at Serenity Training. With my trainer going back home to Europe, Juliane is about the only other person I'd trust to work with Cassie. I know she's got the 'stuff' to work with Cassie. Cassie will be in very good, competent hands.

So, as we wait for a spot to open up, I am working with Cassie on the ground- gently & patiently. Foot placement, and thinking exercises- as much as i can do with little risk to reinjuring myself. It really irritates me that I can't do more. It makes me sad, because I wanted to be the first one to ever ride her. Heck, I am having a hard time scooping poop...nevermind training :( ARGH!!!!!!!!!

Now that i have internet access at home, (yes, yes, before the year 2007...only took 3 years for me to break down and do it, LOL)... i want to plan on updating this more.

TTFN,

Ally & the Equine Gang

Finally...the saddle pad picture

Downloaded, uploaded... right loaded left loaded...whatever. i did a bunch of these and voila, i FINALLY got my pictures off my camera. the real issue was remembering to bring in the dang contraption, along with the necessary cords and software.

So here she is, in all her spectacularness- wearing a saddle pad!!! Way to go Cassie!!!

This was a few weeks ago, while still at the old place. We had been working with extreme friendly game stuff- meaning slapping sticks and strings and tarps all around her. She still isn't too keen on a rope being tossed OVER her, but that'll change as we work on it more. But once she was semi successful, i moved to something else, which was my $1 garage sale saddle pad. I figured I wouldnt be too bummed if it got ruined.

As you can see, she was ground tied, and pretty calm about the whole thing. Very brave girl.

I had a most wonderful weekend with my other pony kids. The weather was great, the horses were happy. I got to spend a lot of quiet time with them, and i did manage to do a little grooming, barn cleaning, and a few games.

The horses love the sunny weather, they laid down to soak up as much of it as they could- it was very cute!

The other horse kids...

Brief Hiatus in visitin Cassie/ Zanaella. She just moved to new property, and while they are getting set up, I am respecting their space.

Of course this means I have *some* extra time to devote to Frank and Faith, pictured here, for a Christmas picture. What that means, really, is that I get to shovel poop and mix feeds, clean water buckets, move manure piles...LOL Yesterday, for about 10 minutes, I got to play with Frank. We played the 'put your nose on something' game. At first he was like 'what on earth are we doing?' but after about the second object, he got it. From there, all i had to do was send him, and he followed my focus right to the object I was thinking. It was lots of fun.

I chose to play with Frank because he WANTED to play yesterday. Faith wanted to watch. Frank watched part of the lesson I was giving, and waiting anxiously for the rider to dismount and untack so he could wear the saddle. To give her a break, i got my own halter out, and he followed me, ready to 'do' something.

Still too messy/ mushy for me to be riding unfit, green horses in the arena. One slip and we're in trouble. I'd rather not take the chance right now. Even our ground games are walk only, and have to do with following feel and giving to pressure. Like yesterday, I started to porcupine Frank's leg w/ a leadrope, have him follow the feel. He's really smart and got it after 2 tries.

I don't know if I mentioned, but Frank is moving! To a smallish boarding barn, where there are some horses to play with, and lots of excitement. Access to trails, instructors, and a playground. Frank is the kind of horse who needs a lot of stimulation, so i figure this move will be excellent for him. He's young and he's a 'mover and a shaker' out to see the world. heck if i get in the way!

That'll open space up for me to move Cassie/ Zanaella up to Maple Valley- which will be good for me- and her as we'll have more time together.

So there's a little update. Horses all seem healthy *knock on wood* and happy. Much happier now since the sun has decided to come out to play for a few days!

-Ally

Sooo Sorry!

Ok...I know life gets busy, but i really have no excuse for not updating my own dang blog.

I'll have to keep this short and sweet.

Cassie is doing well. She's adopted...cuz I adopted her!!! WOOHOO! That all went down last week, and I couldn't be happier about it. I had been on the fence, really wanting her to get to a nice home- but one that wanted her just was not popping up.

In the meantime, we really buckled down on working with stuff like saddle pads, ropes, halters- you know, the scary horse eating monsters that live at the barn just to torture horses.

Cassie is making piece with these, and is really trusting my judgement. So i figured now is just not the time to find her an adoptive home. she's showing so much potential, and i really want to be the one who sees her through. i want her to be my riding buddy. really, i need her as much as she needs me.

I have pictures i need to post of her conquering the saddle pad monster, but i have to figure out how to download them from my spankin' new camera.

Also, Cassie has moved, along with the barn...20 acre haven in McKenna. She is still with her QH friend. Eventually she'll move to Maple Valley to be closer to me, but that is still at least a month out.

I'll try to update more often, but i can't promise anything, apparently....

-Ally