School for the Both of Us!

Well, I just got done with my first week of school! And you know what? It was great! My teacher's were better than I had expected and I even have some old classmates in there too, it was great seeing them and seeing them helped me relax a little more. I think this will be a great semester!

A couple days ago Ava had a breakthrough moment. We were riding in the arena alone, no one else was there, we had the whole place to ourselves. I just stuck to our usual routine but kept on the cautious side, I didn't want to get hurt when no one was around. Anyways, I got her loping nicely and started to practice simple lead changes. But when I was about to ask her to change leads again I decided to try and ask her for a flying lead change, I didn't expect her to do it I just wanted to try for the heck of it. Well, guess what? She did it! Ava did a flying lead change!!! I truly couldn't believe it when it happening, I almost started crying, it was an amazing moment. I am so proud of her. Also, it wasn't just out of luck, I asked her to do it a few times and she did it again and again! Pretty awesome.

Today Ava and I had a lesson and it was a blast! She worked hard and had great results in the end. All we did was work on drifting, counter flexing, and hardcore rollbacks with a few 360's. Ava started out a little agitated but she eventually got over it and learned that she needed to listen. Overall a great lesson and I can actually see improvement!

Not Tomorrow but the Next Day

School starts on Monday, you most likely already know that, I've only been talking about it for like the past few weeks! I've got everything ready except for my mind. It will be hard for me to get back on that kind of schedule, I get so used to summer! Anyways, I'm nervous, anxious, excited, and kind of depressed, I wish it was the beginning of summer again.

Not much up with Ava. Same old same old. She's doing good on her training, she had her feet done and is feeling really get up and go again but at least I know she is more comfortable. It's neat though, even when she is feeling good I don't feel too nervous to get on her anymore, hard work can pay off!

I'll update more soon, just didn't want to leave everyone in the cold.

New Boots!

Well, they are new boots to me! My aunt had some western riding boots that she has had for a while but didn't wear them much because they were too big. So, when she came over she said that I could have them! I was really excited because I was actually looking for a new pair of boots too and now I don't have to pay a ton of money for them, so that is great. They are Ariat's, they kind of look like a FatBaby but I'm not 100% sure. They fit great and are basically new, can't wait to ride in them.

School starts in 10 days... This semester I'll be taking English 2, Pilates, and Spanish 1. It'll be a lot of work especially having to work Babe five days a week and medicating Wolfie three times a day but at least I'll be that much closer to a degree. I still don't really know what I want my degree to be, possibly something in Biology or Animal Science or even be like Oprah, have my own show and help people. It can get really stressful having to decide!

Summer's Almost Over?!

I just realized that in a week and six days I will be starting school... My wonderful school free summer will be over. It is really bumming me out, sometimes it is hard to put a smile on my face knowing that I will be busy with schoolwork for the next four months. Not only that but almost everyone I know will be going back to school too, which means I won't be seeing them anymore. I hate it, I wish summer could be forever.

My girl has been doing good with her training for the past few days. She can almost get the correct lead every time and her pace for trotting and cantering is getting quite a bit better. She isn't as out of control as in the beginning. She also stands nicely in the cross ties. I had to go and untack a horse that had the saddle I was going to use and Ava stood there like a champ, no pawing, nothin'! Even with a ton of stuff going on, I was really happy. When I start school back up I plan to make a post of our achievements so I can see how far we've come and be able to look back on it.

After we were done with our session I took her out for a bath. My BO's older son came out there with one of the lady's grandson and was talking to me basically the whole time/teasing me the whole time. It was quite entertaining. Even though he can tease the crap out of me sometimes, I'm actually going to really miss it. We have fun "torturing" each other. He and his brother start school, I think, on the same day I do and I don't think they will get down to The Ranch much or at all. I still have to ask but I can't see it happening. The barn will be so different without them, who is going to tease me for the whole winter! Maybe they can do it on the weekends...

Silent Saturday #4

We'll Ride Through Smoke

So smokey here in the mountains! Especially down at the barn, you could see the haze while looking outside the barn door. It didn't smell smokey but definitely looked it... There is a fire that started far away but is getting closer and has burned over 90,000 acres of land! Kind of scary, I hope they can get control of it soon. It was also broiling hot out in the sun, so glad we have an indoor!

Ava got a good workout today, a tiring but good workout. Of course we started in the round pen and by the time I was tacking up she was dripping with sweat. If she isn't sweating then I'm not doing something right. I tried her new bridle and it looked gorgeous on her! Such a good investment. When we started to ride she was a little nervous because my BO was training that same horse that kept freaking out and making a lot of noise. Today wasn't much different for that horse, still crazy and making noise. But Ava actually got over it a lot better today. After my BO was done with the horse, I started cantering. A couple circles around the arena each way and then worked on simple lead changes, she is getting really good at them!! I hope one day she can do flying lead changes, that would literally be a dream come true.

I rode her until she was listening and just too tired to fight, she's really progressing, or so I think. I told my BO that I thought she was improving and he agreed, which was unbelievable for him to say. He rarely says stuff like that and he also said thank you! Haha! I don't know what has gotten into him, he must be having a good week or something. Anyways, when I was finished riding and untacked I was off to give Ava her well deserved bath, she was so sweaty! But as I tried to turn on the hose no water would come out, the pump had been turned off for some reason. I felt SO bad for Babe, she really needed a bath. She was hot, sweaty, and tired. But there was nothing I could do, so hopefully I can get out there tomorrow and just give her a quick rinse (Friday is one of her two days off.) We'll see.

Poor girl, she looks beat...

The Beautiful Weaver!!

My bridle arrived today!! It got here earlier than expected too, I checked the tracking and it said it was already in town, so happy! I love horse.com, they are very efficient and of course have great prices. This bridle was everything that I hoped and I can't wait to try it out on the pony tomorrow. I have been wanting a nice bridle for almost forever and finally I have one, it is awesome. Hopefully I will never have to buy another one any time soon. Maybe the next thing can be a saddle!

Fresh out of the box!

Shiny silver!!!

All ready to go, just needs the reins.

Yesterday was Ava's day back to work, she had FOUR days off! I was so nervous going to work her after her big holiday, I totally thought she was going to be a crazy horse, but she wasn't. She worked hard and remembered almost everything I've taught her. Then after, one of the other boarders took Ava and I around the barn for a little trail ride, it was good for her to get out. It was a nice day, busy, just the way I like it.

Today worked some more. She was a little spooky because my BO was training a horse in the roundpen with a noisy bag which also freaked the other horse out too, so it kind of made Ava a little nervous. She ended up doing well though, she started to ignore the noise and the horse and started paying more attention to me. It ended up being progressive and it made me happy.

Oh yes, one more thing. I have started tying Ava in the cross-ties and she actually stands much better in them, don't know why but she seems MUCH more comfortable in the cross-ties rather than on the post, kind of weird but fine with me because cross-ties are definitely my preference.

Where the Cattle Roam

Breezy and hot was today's forecast.

It is my brother's birthday and I am trying to write this all up before our party guests get here.

I had to see Ava early today because there was much to do at the house. Seeing her early was actually a better time than going later. More of the other boarders were out there and it made me feel less self-conscious. I think I will try and do that more often.

Well, I started out by roundpenning Ava and she totally wore herself out because after we were done I saw that she was actually dripping with sweat and she would actually stand tied. We then saddled up and I worked on rollbacks, 360's, leads, and a little bit of breaking at the poll (she has a real hard time with it.) She did great, I bet she was just really tired and didn't want to fight with me but that worked out just fine!

We finished our working ride and then went outside to cool off. I'm trying to stay consistent with the things we do (not too consistent though), Ava likes consistency and hopefully if I stay consistent with her she will give me more good consistent rides. Anyways, on our way back from our very short cool off ride I saw my BO's older son riding towards me. We stopped and chatted for a bit. While we were chatting I somehow mentioned that I wanted to go out and ride in the fields, not hinting or anything! And then he said he has a few minutes before he has get back to work and if I wanted to he could take me out there. I was like, heck yeah! So, for the first time I went riding out into the beautiful cow fields with Babe. She did so good too (only one tiny spook when a sprinkler got her), having the other horse there helped a lot. I'm so glad we got to do that and I'm glad he asked! It was really nice going on a trail ride, chatting, and just enjoying the view. It ended up being a really nice day.

After we rode and Ava got bathed and put away, I had a smile on my face the whole way home.

Sorry for no pictures, I will hopefully get some soon!

Tiredness, Tack, and Agitation

This has been a very long long week, well two weeks to be exact and it won't be until next week that everything will be back to normal (hopefully at least.) I had been babysitting/nannying A LOT for these past weeks and it is starting to wear me down. Don't get me wrong, I love the kids, I've known their whole lives (literally!) and out of all the kids I have babysat for they are the best. It's just getting to that point where I need a break. I'm mentally and physically very tired. And it doesn't help having to ride your super athletic horse five days a week and give medication to your sick ferret three times a day. I'm just physically and mentally tired. But I am making money and that is a great thing. So, I thought I would buy myself something nice and what I mean by "something nice" is a horse item! I bought myself this nice Weaver headstall off of horse.com. This headstall is perfect for everyday riding but has enough bling for the show ring, which is perfect for me. I'm really excited, I don't have many "nice" horsey items so this will be great. It should be here next week.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is my brother's 17th birthday! 17! So, we'll have some cake and presents then the next day we're going out of town for a few days. He wanted to go walk around in the city for some reason, haha! It should be nice to get out of our little town for a bit.

I worked and rode Babe yesterday and will do it again today. I hoping I can get in some hours tomorrow as well, maybe I'll go really early before my brother wakes up. Ava had two days off of being worked and it showed. She wasn't controlling herself very well and practically wore herself out cantering on the lunge. Fine for me though, I didn't want her freaking out with me on her back. We did walk, trot, and canter, rollbacks, 360's, and just warming up to where we were again.

I wasn't in a great mood when I went down there, I didn't want to see my BO but he's always there so I just had to deal with it. His son's were there too. His youngest kind of annoys the crap out of me, he is very much a country boy and doesn't seem to care much for horses at all. I know this because when Ava was pawing while being tied he called her a stupid horse. Ava is not stupid or instead, horses are not stupid, they are brilliant, talented, and amazing. How many prey animals do you know that can be saddled up, be ridden, and be asked to do things that are all very unnatural to them?! Not many... So, that kind of ticked me off when he said that, I think he was mainly trying to get my attention but I just ignored it... His older son on the other hand was actually pleasant. He would still tease me but just enough where it could make me smile and not annoy me (I think he could tell I wasn't happy), and since I wasn't in a great mood it actually made me feel a little better. When he's down there it almost makes it tolerable to deal with his dad and brother. He's going to be the thing I miss the most when I leave, him and the beautiful facility.