Stuff I've Bought #12

Have you ever had that feeling where you wish you didn't know as much as you did? Just so you could save your mind from all the stress? I feel like this a lot, especially about this saddle fitting deal. Good lord, there is so much to it that you could drive yourself insane! Anyways, getting off topic. I was trying another saddle out the other day and although the saddle yet again rubbed her back, her sides were rubbed as well, from the cinch!! I really wanted to punch that cinch in the face for adding to my already aggravated mood on this whole thing. So, I went into the tack shop and they had exactly what I needed and at a great price, only $20 for a $60 cinch! I love used horse items! The cinch is a Charmayne James Barrel Cinch and it solved that rubbing problem completely, so all things are good (at least with that).

Field Riding Fiends!

Yesterday Cappie and I went out on a field ride. It was beautiful, hot weather and Ava and I enjoyed every bit of it. Cappie was good company too and his horse and Ava got along great. Here are some pictures from the ride.

Ava and The Ranch

Me and The Ranch

Ava and Poco eating dinner

Cappie failing at picture taking, haha!

Deworming Day and a Little More

It is that time of year again. After working Babe I argued with her on how she has to have the dewormer. She wouldn't have any of it until finally she stopped the head bobbing for a few milliseconds and I squirt it in. Poco on the other hand was a pure angel! I would show it to her, let her smell it and she was chill, even when it was pressed into her mouth!

Today it was rainy and cloudy so we worked inside. I totally forgot but they were having a cutting lesson today but my BO was nice and let me join in. So, we worked on our cutting techniques. Ava benefits from this but she does get a little antsy towards the end.

We also decided where we are going to move to. It isn't 100% but unless something better comes along then it will be. We decided to move back to RS. After much conversing it sounds like it would be the best decision (at least for the time being.) They have what we need, they are hosting lots of shows which would be great for us to participate in, and one of the boarders at The Ranch will be moving there as well. So, although it won't be perfect it will do just fine.

Out on the Hill

A few days ago I took Ava on a field/trail ride. The barn was filled with people and the day was gorgeous so I told Ava it was a perfect day to go out and explore. I first worked her a little inside then went out to the outdoor arena and practiced a little reining pattern. We would do circles on both leads then I would run her straight down the arena and did a mini sliding stop then we would rollback and go off again. She did wonderfully, I think practicing that with her really helps her focus. We then set off to the field. We walked and trotted and spooked only once, it was more like she stopped dead in her tracks! Although you could tell she was a little nervous I know that she enjoyed herself, I tried to be a good leader for her. I always think that if she is misbehaving or nervous I'm not being a good enough leader for her. Or they are just really good, haha!

Overlooking the ranch

Decisions Decisions!

The new barn hunt isn't going as great as I had hoped but the places that we've found look quite promising.

Right now I have three to consider.

The first one is RS, the place we moved from. The pros are: it has everything we need; great care, indoor and outdoor arena, round pen, and trails etc, and it has job opportunities as well. The cons are: it can get really windy out there, a lot of the people are kind of judgy and snotty, and it always seems to be busy.

The second one is a high end cutting barn barn. From the pictures that I have seen it looks great! The pros are: indoor arena, great facility, well known trainer, etc. The cons are: it gets windy, it is more expensive than any of the barns we've stayed at, the horses would have a smaller pen than any of the other places, and no trails within riding distance. I will know more about it soon after we have taken a tour.

The third one is more of a private place. I took lessons out there when I first started riding. The pros are: it is really quiet, we would at most times have the place to ourselves, the horses would have a really large pen (right about the size at The Ranch or bigger), they have what we need (a lit outdoor arena, roundpen, and lots of trails), it is closer to home, and the weather seems pretty decent. The cons are: no indoor for winter, it is quite rocky, since there aren't many boarders around I don't feel as safe, and our opportunities for different things would be minimized to almost none.

Reading back on these it makes it seem like RS would be a fair choice, besides having to deal with those kind of people again. We'll just have to see.

Ava after a ride in our "almost" saddle

I trimmed Ava's feet the other day, and it was hard work! I think she feels much better though, she was being kind of a butt beforehand.

My BO also had a saddle for me to try out that he was considering selling. It was an old bull-dogging saddle and when I placed it on Ava's back it seemed to have also meshed onto her back. I was so happy, I was going to try it a couple more times then buy. Although, sadly the next day after riding in it my BO tells me, as he's laughing, that he sold my saddle. First I thought he was joking but no... I was so pissed off at him and now leaving won't be as hard as before... Anyways, I did my best not to let it ruin my time down there, every minute needs to be savored.

It's Hot and Cold

Well over the weekend I went to the hospital with my mom and visited my grandfather for a few days. Overall it wasn't bad, besides feeling anxious and panicky I had a good time and even got a dress and shoes for a junior prom my friend invited me to! My grandfather seemed to have improved since the last I saw him. We were surprised when the doctor said he could come home today! We've been waiting to hear that for such a long time now!

Yesterday I got a ride in, a quick one but a wonderful one. A cutting class was going on inside the barn so I warmed up Ava and then rode her outside (because the weather has been so lovely lately!), in the field next to the outdoor arena. We walked, trotted, and even cantered!! I've never cantered Ava out in the open like that before, it was such a great moment.

Today I talked to my BO about some different places to move and he actually had a good suggestion. I drove out to the place he told me about and although it may not have been The Ranch, it looked good. It had a round pen, lit outdoor arena, lots of trails, and a nice pasture for the girls to run around in. So, I think we may get a tour of it, doesn't hurt! After having a little chat I went on another ride. I wanted to ride outside but Ava was being a little squirrely so we stayed in. It was a fine ride, I didn't lunge her before getting on so she started out kind of speed racer like. Afterwards my BO said that he had two saddles that I could try if I wanted. One was an old bull-dogging saddle and the other was an australian saddle. The bull-dogging saddle looked too old and "man-like" for my taste but I may give it a try just for the heck of it. The australian saddle on the other hand looked quite promising! So, I stuck it in the tack room and will try it out the next time I ride! Kind of exciting, not trying to get my hopes up but you never know, it could be the one!

Another Heartbreak...

Before getting out to the barn yesterday I returned the saddle... The more I looked at it it looked like it had a twisted tree... (boo) Which made me really sad/agitated/depressed because I would've bought that saddle if it didn't...

It was quite windy at The Ranch yesterday, windy and cold! I wanted to take Ava to the outdoor arena so we could have our privacy but instead I took her inside and worked with her in there. I worked on all the games with her and couldn't believe how well she behaved while lunging. I did not move from my spot and asked her to trot, she trotted until I brought her in. Very happy, even more so because the barn and wind was making her nervous. That was all I did with her, I didn't want her to get sweaty with all that wind outside!

In other news, I have another depressing thing to tell you all... I have to move barns (I only found out last night!)... I guess the lease is about to run out and my BO will not be renewing it (I feel bad for him because I know that he loves that place), so in turn all the boarders have to leave, like within two months at the most, more like that end of the month... Although I may complain a lot about being down there that has literally been my favorite place I've ever boarded, Ava would never be at the stage she is at if we didn't move down there. So, I am heartbroken (again...) and now I have to find a place pretty quickly. Just thought I'd update you all and thank you for all the wonderful comments you have sent me, they always lift my spirits.

Flag Fun and a Sunny Day

Thursday was a pretty good ride. My BO let me work the flag all on my own and although it was kind of difficult working the remote and controlling a green horse it ended up being fun. Ava even started to watch it! I know that Ava could be good at cutting, she could be good at almost anything! But I think I mainly just want her to be a trail horse and my friend. Ever since Wolfie passed relationships have become much more important to me. That includes Ava, I don't want to remember myself working her to death, I want to remember what a great bond we had and all the trail riding adventures we went on. That is also why I have been starting on Parelli (we are almost finished with Level 1!), they are known for creating a bond with your horse.

Anyways, the ride ended up being okay. The only thing was that the saddle pinched the inside of my calves so bad that I am now left with huge bruise marks. The way I can solve this is to wear different pants, my jeans kept riding up and revealed my skin which made it pinch me... That was annoying and on top of that there was a slight rub mark on Ava's back (I'm thinking the saddle may be a bit wide, so I'll add another pad to see if it helps).

The next day was much more chill. I took Ava to the outdoor arena (I had to walk all the way around because there were some cows blocking the way, such a long walk!) and started working on The Seven Games. She is basically a master at all of them but we still need to practice the figure-8 and a few other things as well. She did good and then after we were finished I walked her around the equipment barn and then down the driveway. On our way back I had her stand on the bridge, she was getting snorty because of some people doing yard work but in the end I got her to stop at a good point. It was gorgeous yesterday, I was basically sweating with my jacket on, I loved it!

Poco attack!

Picture, after it snowed again

That cute horsey in the middle is my girls pasture mate, Sugar.