Falling into Autumn

Or we've possibly we've already fallen. The weather has been so sketchy lately that it's hard to tell what season it is!

Since the last post we have only ridden one other time but plan on many more due to clever time planning! Our last ride was amazing. We lunged in the mini arena and practiced her vertical flexion. She has retained so much training it is impecable, love that horse! After I got on she was smooth as butter and didn't try anything silly.

I also have other plans in the progress but will keep them on the down low before they are official. Don't want to jinx it!!

Amazing Ride and Ripped Pants

Hallelujah!!! A ride, we finally got to ride!!!

It was in the afternoon which isn't usual, I'm always down there in the evenings. It must've thrown Ava off quite a bit. The weather was perfect and it was really quiet around the ranch, more than usual.

We started in the round pen, perfect. We moved to the mini arena next to it, almost perfect. Then we cat tracked all the way over to the big arena, again, almost perfect. When we got to the big arena we of course had some mishaps but by god she did amazing for her first ride in months! I didn't ask her for much, just the very basics. Walk, trot, canter. We were both sweating by the end, but in a good way. After we finished we walked back through the alfalfa field and then took a nice little bath.

During the whole time of riding I had a major hole in the crotch of my riding jeans. I can literally fit my face in it. It happened right as I was about to get on and then rrriiiippp! I just went with it but they really need to be patched now or I will have to get new ones; don't know if patching will work though. I found these jeans at the thrift store and have been the best riding jeans I've ever owned. Now they will have to retire... They served me well.

I've also been saving quite a bit of money up lately thanks to summer work. There were two main things I was thinking of working towards. The main one is a trip to Europe (I've never been anywhere out of the USA besides Mexico when I was like 1 years old), I would really love to experience a new culture and see the world. Has anyone been there and if so do you recommend any places? The other thing I have been wanting to work towards is a nice saddle. I love my current saddle but technically it is only temporary until I get something better (otherwise I wouldn't have anything to ride in). It is a little small (I whack my tailbone on the cantle if Ava does something weird) and I would like it to have a horn as well. If you guys have any suggestions on saddles that you've liked, let me know!

One more thing! In the near future I will be hosting a giveaway!! Not sure when; maybe when I get a certain amount of followers or when I hit 200 posts. Not sure yet. But I would love some suggestions on what to giveaway.

Hey ma, let's go!

BIG arena!

Too Alike...

Ever hear that quote where "opposites attract?" But in reality it comes down to the things we have in common that keeps us together. Well... It isn't quite like that for Ava and I. At least for the most part.

We all know that Ava and I have had some major ups and downs. Ups being able to ride every single time I arrive at the barn to possibly selling her. And I have finally came to the conclusion that maybe we just weren't right for each other because we are too alike. The more I learn about horses, their personalities, and how we can sometimes feel a special bond to one another has made me realize that. I've never felt an amazing bond between Ava and I, not even a blimp. My aunt's horse Poco feels to have more connection with me than Ava. Maybe it was the way I brought her up or maybe it truly just isn't meant to be.

Besides us both loving to go on walks (which is about the only thing that our personalities can relax with) almost everything else is a fight unless I work it out of her. She likes to have her way, I like to have my way. She doesn't like taking orders, I don't like taking orders. Working is of course no fun to the both of us but we both love having a job and something to do. Some of these things are hard to work around because Ava won't do anything about it. It has to be me.

While we were at The Ranch it became fairly easy to work with her. Mainly because I would work her really hard and she would basically just succumb to anything I asked. She was never happy with it though. Now that we are at Sunset Ranch things have drastically changed, for the better. I've learned (from the amazing Mark Rashid) that I need to take myself less seriously, stop micromanaging, forgive and forget, and sometimes just take a break and relax with one another. This has helped so much. That and not having time to ride, it has made me appreciate the little things instead of always looking for perfection and the big picture.

We (especially myself) are starting to have a mutual understanding for one another and it feels so good. Things have changed a lot, some for the better.

Sunsets and Soon to be School!

Work. All that has been going on lately is work. The job can be fun but it is definitely starting to wear on me. I'll be glad to start school up again. Upside though is that I'm rolling in the major G's!

As for school I am currently working on my application for an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) program. Crossing my fingers I'll be able to get all the references out in time, otherwise it is ready to go! A few weeks ago my grandfather, my uncle, cousin, and I were out at the golf course about to play a few holes. I was driving one of the golf carts with my grandfather next to me when he suddenly started having a seizure. In that moment I knew that this was what I was supposed to be doing, helping people in need. Luckily the cart wasn't moving and I was able to quickly take ahold of him so he didn't fall out. My grandfather ended up being okay, we called an ambulance and he was released from the hospital a few hours later. Through the whole debacle I remained calm and knew what to do. So, I'm really excited to see how the program goes, I mean, if I get accepted!

In other non-horsey news I got a second piercing! I absolutely love it too! Another amazing thing was that it caused almost no pain, it mainly felt like some one was just squeezing my ear really tight. The lady said it will take around six weeks to heal and I cannot wait to start changing it up!

As for miss Ava I have mainly just been checking on her and giving them some grain in the evening. I am trying really hard to at least take her on some walks (preferably with her saddle on) so she can still stay somewhat up to date on desensitization. She does great though, rarely will she spook and when she does it is very minor. Unlike at The Ranch, she was quite sensitive to things and would spook easily. I hope to ride soon, work is slowly coming to the end of its season so I can't wait to get a lot of rides in before the darn winter comes. Having a horse is so hard sometimes! But boy... I absolutely cannot get over them!

I think I came up with a name for the new place. I'm going to refer to it as Sunset Ranch because it has the most beautiful sunsets.

How Sunset Ranch earned it's name

Cute face <3

NOSE!

Monchy on foods

Night night girls

Horsey hide and seek, do you see the horsey?

The video doesn't have great quality but it is just of Ava and I fooling around in the pasture. Enjoy!

My double ear pierce, looooooove it!