100 days of training

100 Days of Training

Opal still has some winter fluff to lose.

Days 98/99:

These days were spent working on ground manners with Opal.  I'm not sure if it was the wind, or spring fever, but her manners got left in her pasture.  Hey, we all have off days, right?  We practiced standing at the tie pole and not dancing around.  It didn't take long for the lights to come on upstairs.  Opal still has a lot of coat to shed, most of the barn seems to be ready for warmer weather with their summer coats, but both Opal and Ehawee are still fluffy to some degree.  Daily grooming just helps build a stronger bond, so I don't mind.

 Opal wants to report that there were not nearly enough carrots in my pockets while she had to stand at the tie pole.  She leads a 'tough' life.

100 training sessions later:

With the weather improving (I say that as a big storm is starting to roll in...sigh) Greg, owner of the mustang Amigo, and I decided to roll the dice on a very windy day and hit the trail for the first time this year.  Aside from the wind, it was a lovely day for a ride.  Not to mention a much needed one for me to decompress - sewer line had to be replaced and it took nearly 5 weeks to get it done, yeah, that wasn't stressful at all.  Anyways, we decided to try Round Valley for our ride.  We chose wisely.  Since the trail is tucked against the hills, there was little to no wind.  The creek was even flowing and full of tadpoles!  Opal just wanted to play in the water, but Amigo took some working with, but in the end, even he was walking and playing in the water.

 

Loaded and ready to hit the road.

We started off walking our horses in hand, Opal had never been on this trail and while it wasn't very windy, there are lots of big oak trees around with the potential to loose branches.  We also encountered some cattle which Opal seemed interested in.  Once I knew she was on with the cattle, I found a rock and mounted up to ride her back to the trailer.  We got lots of play time in the water and she even trotted a bit on the trail with ease.  Truth be told, while she was well mannered in hand as we walked the trail, she was much better when I was up in the saddle.  She was happy to just plow along the trail.  It was a perfect first outing for the season.

While it was breezy, it was warm.  Opal's mane was braided to help keep her cool.

CMC Horsemanship is live

CMC Horsemanship is live

Part of March was 'lost' in the construction of my training website.  It's up and running now and I'm very excited about this chapter in my life.  I love working with horses and their owners to help them reach their goals together as a team.  Stop on by! 

cmchorsemanship.com

Where did March go?

Where did March go?

Lots of fluff coming off.

Days 96/97(I'm going to stop counting at day 100):

 

I was out of town visiting family for a few days, then we got rain...and even more rain.  I know we need it, but its been cutting into my horsey time.  Oh well.

 

Opal is loosing all of her winter fluff.  Finally!  I thought I might have to shave her down if she didn't start soon.  We worked on ground tying today, because she seemed to have totally forgotten how to in the last week.  The three mares (Opal, Ehawee, and Satin who is owned by Sarah and is in the pasture with my girls) got turned out into the arena today to run and play.  There was a huge puddle in it, and they eventually took to playing in it.  Satin and Ehawee romped and ran, while Opal stood by me as I took pictures.  She could not be bothered by their shananagains.  

 

 

Having fun in the arena.

Left: Opal started the water play, and Satin decided to show her how it was done.  
As you can see as you go from left to right, Opal didn't want to deal with these shenanigans.

 She also didn't want to deal with those shenanigans either.

Both Opal and Ehawee have been getting lounged as well a few times a week.  They don't always want to listen and often want to talk to the other boys at the ranch if they are out....Mares!

 

 

 Ehawee jumping barrels.

 

 

Opal working in the round pen. 

Challenge Finished.

Challenge Finished. 

 On top of the hill for our 30th challenge ride.

Day 90/91/92/93/94/95:

Phew!  Its been a busy week and a half, time kept getting away from me and my postings.  However, I should be back on track this week.  Most of my last few rides and sessions have been with both mares.  Working on them walking together, gearing them up to have Opal pony Ehawee.  Most rides were shorter as to keep them happy with each other in close quarters.  They seem to be catching on quickly.  The results was a nice little ride around the arena.

 Ponying in the arena.

 

Opal and I also finished our 12 week riding challenge this week with 30 rides and 55 horsemanship hours!  This has really taught me something about her.  She's not an arena horse.  in fact, she really doesn't like it all that much.  She listens, but given the chance she will walk right into the center of the ring and stop.  No glitzy western pleasure classes for us.  She's also not the fastest mover, while I can get her to move out, it takes a lot of work, so I guess no serious gymkhana for us either.  

I am fine with not doing either of those.  I think she's going to be a great trail and trail trial horse.  I can't wait to discover exactly what lights her up. 

The mares both had their feet done this week as well.  Opal only had an attitude on her last leg, which is a good improvement.  Ehawee's hoof is all better and there's only the slightest bit of the cut on her hoof from her injury January 2013.  I'm so glad she pulled through that.

With the weather being warmer, and Opal just now starting to shed, I braided her mane today and hosed off her legs to help keep her cool.  It was VERY sunny and 75 out today (YAY!  No more winter!)

 First time with a braid and lots of fluff coming off.

Opal also gave one of my students Sarah a ride today.  The two of them had a nice ride.  Even if Opal didn't want to ride the rail and would have preferred socializing with her friend Mustang Sancho, owned by Mairalaina Batoog.

 Sarah riding Opal.

Ehawee is still working with Linda on ground work, and the two of them have started to work on lounging!  Ehawee goes through the motions, but Linda is thrilled with the slightest improvement in her personal performance and is a wonderful student.  Ehawee also gives rides a few days a week to her loving kid, my Daughter.  She loves her pony.  We're practicing our riding skills for a lead line class in a few weekends.  

 Riding Ehawee.

12 week challenge 

DONE!

Total hours: 55

Rides: 30

10 rides to go!

10 rides to go!

Giving loves from the fence.

Day 87/88/89:

Well, we got hit with a lot of rain over several days.  Don't get me wrong, we need it, it just kills my riding time and resurrects stall mucking time.  I love the rain, just not the mess it makes.  However, when life gives you lemons, throw one back and say 'Fine!  I'll do my OWN thing!'

 Much needed rain brings not so much needed mud.

 

Big puddles in the arena, avoid riding or training tool?  As long as the footing is ok (I always walk the arena after a rain) I say use it to your advantage.  The other option is to run a hose for hours during the summer, and that's wasteful, and we're in a drought.  Opal and I have had a few rides over the week and a half, but I managed to shoot a video of her ride today.  We hit ride #20 for our challenge, only 10 more to go!  Most of our rides are spent working to keep her on the rail in the direction I'm wanting her to go and not the way she want to go.  She also listens well to my Daughter when she rides.  

12 week challenge 

Total hours: 45

Rides: 20

Ehawee is coming around nicely and is due to have her feet trimmed this month, which will remove the last little chip from her injury last January.  My Daughter loves her pony.