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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Lessons once again!

I have finally found my spot back on the lesson block!
There are a few lot of things, I need to work on.
I found out that Sissy Izzy is now giving lessons.

It has been so long since I hauled Libby in the trailer, 
I am not at all comfortable doing it anymore. 
So if I did not have to haul, I could still take lessons.

There is a reason for everything....
I needed to take some lessons on Izzy,
because the last few times I rode her,
we went head to head on who was going to be boss.

 No one knows the lump I had in my throat.
It was all bitter sweet.
I miss her presence in my pasture.
I miss her personality!
But she has a good home here.
She is loved.
She is being trained.
She has a purpose in life.
 She loves trail rides.
Her curiosity is such a benefit for her.
 She is still beautiful.
She is learning English riding,
and my instructor told me she is just as
beautiful in English gear.
I will have to get some pictures of her all decked out in English.

(Oh My! She sure will steal the stage when she learns all those dressage movements!)
 Liquid beauty!
(Yes, in the photo below, she is play boss mare again!)
 I had three lessons on her.
But I needed to bring Libby.
 Libby is my girl now.
She has filled the void that Izzy never did.
 Yes, it was good while it lasted.
Maybe I will take a lesson here an there on Izzy,
but for now, I will take Libby
because we need to do so much more bonding,
and Libby has the patience of Jobe with me.
Just to show you the patience Libby has:
Today, my instructor told me that her bit on her bridle was to loose.
The chin strap was also to loose....
But Libby perservered with my riding in this loose set up!
 Once she adjusted it, 
it was amazing at how much better Libby responded!
Yes, for everything I have done wrong due to ignorance,
Libby has had a world of patience with me!
(It just puts a lump in my throat!)

But...Moving on....

I need to get over a very huge FEAR that has griped me!
It has to do with hauling Libby.
It stems from,
Libby pulling back in the trailer, 
(Once, Only ONCE she did it)
and if I was a second slower unhooking her,
we would of had a huge wreck in the trailer.

Plus, no one is home at the time I have to load and un-load her.
Then I quit taking lessons over a year ago,

I had 101 excuses.....
Weather.
Time frame.
Too hot.
To windy.
Plus some excuses I can't even remember now.
This has resulted in not hauling Libby for over a year.

The fear grew....
And it has taken over my body, heart, soul, and stomache!

Last week, I wanted to take Libby to my lesson so bad,
but I just couldn't.
I buckled down to the fear!

So for my lesson last week,
I had therapy,
talking with my instructor about my fear,
how to conquer it,
and how she will help me work thru it.

Then I mucked a couple of stalls. 
I was shaking so bad, and this helped me a lot!
It was very good therapy!

Today....
I hauled Libby.
My stomache was complaining very loudly.
I white knuckled the steering wheel.
By the time I got to my lesson, 
I was shaking so bad!

We worked on trailer loading, and Libby's patience in the trailer.

She did really good at school!
Finally understood she did not need to dart out soon as the gate was opened.
Then saddled her up and a couple times around the arena and lesson over.

I still had to get her unloaded at home.
BY MYSELF.

Libby was very good....

UNTIL...
WE GOT HOME!
THEN....
she was a snot!

Kept whinning in the trailer, and stomping her feet!
I just stood and waited it out....
She calmed down,
We unloaded 
One
Step
At
Time!

Once I have her un-hooked
I am totally fine.
It is just between the time of 
releasing the divider,
and un-hooking her.....
that 
TERRIFIES ME!

(If I thought I could BACK her onto the trailer and face her to the rear I would.
That way her head is right at the release of the divider.) 

But.....
with my instructors wonderful help,
WILL
WORK 
THRU 
THIS!

Now...
Seven days till my nerves wrack me again.
(Maybe I will take St. John's Wort ALL WEEK LONG!)
HUmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.........

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Buddy Has EARNED his keep!

Eldest Grandson called and wanted to know if he could come out and play with the donkeys and Libby...

Ok.....

So he shows up, and delightfully announces he wants to 
R.I.D.E.
BUDDY!

"Really?"
"Yep."

So we "I" go round up Buddy. 

Lately, every time I go to put a halter on Buddy, he walks off.
So I have doing the "chase" around 
Which consists of a good pop on the but with the lead rope,
and run him off.
Buddy is getting better and each time the "chase" is not as far nor as long.
I think he is getting the hint.
Today, he did not run near as far. 
I think donkeys are a bit more lazier than horses...
(Good for me....)

After we arrived in the round pen, with an entrarage
of on lookers:

Libby: "Oh Goody Goody, I get a free meal!"
Star: "Lets see how many ways there is to get into the cookie tub."
Saidee: "I wanna play too!"
(Oh yes, Saidee...another blog post forthcoming.)

I showed Cody that to brush your donkey before riding was
a relaxing, and meditation time to bond with him.

Then I showed him how to clean his feet.

All the while, blue T-Shirt was over grandsons nose,
because: "Ewwwwe! They stink!"

For the first time ever, Cody did a really good job, and Buddy helped by standing very good.


Then it was time to desensitize,
by jumping up and down along side,
and then hopping onto Buddy's back and lay across.
Buddy stood stellar still.
When Buddy gave me the look, of 
"I am ready to move on now. This is quite boring!"

I told Cody it was time to hop on.

Then I asked Cody to show me how he would
get off Buddy quickly if needed.

(OH HOW I WISH I was as agile as that kid!)

I worked with Cody to get Buddy to move,
and how to get him to move when Buddy decided to
glue his feet to the ground.

(We will have more lessons on this.)

I eventually un-hooked the lead rope
and Cody was then maneuvering Buddy all over by himself.

Buddy was an absolutely wonderful 
student/teacher today.

I am not a teacher by any means, but I am trying to pass on
SOME of the knowledge I have learned thru my lessons with my 
wonderful riding instructor.
Lessons I am still learning.......


The following video, cracked my up!
Cody's legs were getting tired as you saw at the end of 
the first video.

Then this happened:
 
Yes, Buddy has earned his keep.

Of course Libby, earned hers too.
He just had to ride both:



Gotta love,
KIDS
HORSES
and
DONKEY'S!


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Love Valley, NC! What dreams are made of!

I,
DID NOT
repeat
DID NOT
drop off the face of the earth!

Summers are always a busy time of year.
I have a lot to blog about too.
But for now
I have got to post about this
Because....

Well,
BECAUSE THIS IS MY DREAM!

Horse and Man is one of my favorite blogs
and my days are not complete
until I have read her great wisdom of the day.

Oh My Gosh!

What is so weird is that two days ago,
A friend and I were talking and we both feel we were born in the wrong century!

I told her if I EVER win the lottery I would buy up a bunch of property
and I would make a western town.
No vehicles allowed.

Then along comes this blog on Horseandman!


My friend told me that she always thought she would of been:


And wouldn't you know....


IS ~ FOR ~ SALE!

So I went to the realators website:


To find said Saloon that is for sale
Located at:
181 Henry Martin Trl Trail

Love Valley, NC 28625
County: Iredell

and has 5400-6400 square footage of

'horse luvin'
'bar swingin'
'food slingin'
'happy camper'

'western atmosphere'
of
BUSINESS SPACE!

I FOUND IT!
(but the link does not work so you will have to search by city, and just type in Love Valley, NC)
Oh my stomache has the butterflys!
My mind can't think clearly!
Breathing is rapid!
I think I am going to pass out!!!!!

I believe that if we liquidated everything,
we could pull it off,

AND MOVE!

It is ONLY:
2599 Miles and 42 hours from where we live.

You would NOT have to ask me TWICE!