Saturday, February 9, 2008

After chores and a short nap, we went outside to prepare for the long journey to the barn. The temp had dropped and the wind picked up. Pixie obediently (yes, obediently) jumped into the truck but Wy stood ten feet away and refused. I decided to leave them home thinking I won't spend as much time at the barn - ya, right!

It was quite windy, a few times the visibility was very low, almost white-out but I made it.

I got my staging done and wandered down for Josie. She came running today. Oh, how I love her! I was a little worried she would be rowdy with all the wind and blowing snow but she was a little lady. I must say I will be very glad when I can bath her. I love the smell of horse and horse sweat but you know, too much of a good thing . . .

I watched while one gal's horse bucked crazily on the lunge line, waiting for them to settle down before I went in. I am making a little progress with Josie standing at the mounting. With my new weight gain and chaps it is very hard to mount from the ground. I could feel that she really wanted to bust loose but she kept her head. She shook her head a few times at the trot and I knew it was just a matter of time before she might blow. One of the other horses got set off by the other kicking up dirt against the wall and I thought oh, no this could be it, as his horse went bucking down the long side. But Josie managed to keep her head. We did some trot work but I opted out for canter today. We can canter another day. The S was riding a student's horse - one that had bucked her student off three months ago. She very nicely let me know she was going to canter and sure enough that horse kept bucking and bucking, would try to slow down but the trainer had to keep her going until she decided to slow. This took several attempts. I decided it was a good time to let Josie just stand and rest. Finally, they all finished and left the arena. I did a little more work, got some excellent side pass steps and back up. What a champ!

I dismounted, gave her some lovin' and then took her bridle off and let her rip around. She bucked and bucked and bucked. I had never seen her really move out as I have only had her in the round pen. Yup! She is definitely a quarter horse. She can really pick them up and lay them down. Go-Baby-Go! Man! Are we going to have some fun this summer.

I finally put a Cowboy Magic in her robust mane and tail. I wasn't too worried about any hair loss. She actually doesn't tangle too bad. She almost looks like she has dreds in her tail but they come out pretty well. I do need to give her a bit of bang to make it all look more healthy. Her little punk area is growing out and may start to lay down one of these days. It is so black compared to the rest of her forelock which has grays and a reddish brown. She is my cute little punkin that's for sure. We made it out of the barn without her peeing. She is getting better about that. The snow has helped clean up her icky, sticky hind legs. I bought some dry shampoo from K and it seemed to work pretty well. I will have to try it on the pups when they roll and get gross - that will be the true test.

Tomorrow will be a lay low day as the temps are to drop into the unbearables again.