A Day of Rest

This is the banner that hangs in our front yard beside our driveway. I don't know if anyone will be interested enough to stop but just maybe.

Today was a day of rest for Sierra and me. It was 90 and we worked really hard all week. Bob fixed a small pasture for her with alot of grass and she could see the house and the other horses and she was contented all day. She came in willingly about 6. I went out and told her to come and she did. Put the halter and lead on her and just lead her in. Her supper was waiting. I will have to get up early to work with her early because triple digets are forcast. 22 days to go.

Bob took Katie and her dad for a little ride this morning. They left here at 7 and went down to Riverside State Park for a couple of hours. Katie rode Dixie. She did good with her. Dixie had been ridden by no one else but me since I got her and Katie is a timid rider. Bob rode Katie's horse Abby for her first real trail ride. She did great. Only one little episode over a big green sign but nothing major.

After they got home Bob took Tyler and I to breakfast and we have had quite a lazy day since.

Sassy Sierra

This was not a good day. She was more naughty today than any other day since I have had her. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. She did her trotting just fine, side passed the best she ever has BUUT then I took her to the arena to walk over the big poles and to practice backing. No no not today mom. She begrudgingly got thru the first two barrels, tried to bite me again, and when we came to the second barrell she said "out of here" and jerked out of my hand and went tearing around the arena snorting and bucking. When she slowed down I said come and surprisingly she did. That was the good thing. Then we had a repeat and this time she would not come so it was my idea to keep running, and bucking and running some more. I finally caught her and we tried again. Got around one barrel and thought, that is enough but no treats.

My hand is sore and my body is tired from chasing her. Remember I am 70 years old. The arena is very soft and deep. Soooooooo tomorrow we will try again. That is our big thing to work on.

But this evening when we were bbqing and sitting on the deck we heard a loud crash in the barn and our son and grandson went to check on her. They hollared loud for us and she was cast in her stall. Could not get close enough with her thrashing to get a rope on her to pull her on over. Scared me so bad. Finally she herself over and stood up. A little shaken but OK. She did get a treat then.

Katie came out and I gave her a lesson on her horse Abby. Mostly it was how to manage the horse without being scared. Abby can be really silly sometimes and Katie is a timid rider. She is a good rider but has gotten dumped off Abby and worries about getting hurt again. Abby is pulling her chain. I am trading lessons for yard work. Katie keeps telling me I need to do this and that in the yard so I told her we could barter. She, her dad and Bob are going for a ride in the morning. Tyler and I are going out to eat. We are one horse short to ride and 2 horses short in the trailer. So grandma is taking grandson out for breakfast.

No pictures today. I could not make it work for some reason and thats OK. Not so good pictures today anyway. Hope for better times tomorrow.

Forgot how to back

Here is my sunburnt face. The MHF wanted a head shot of me. This is what I had. It is what I look like sunburn and all.

I worked with Sierra twice today and she forgot how to back up. We were practicing backing around the barrels in a cloverleaf pattern and lo and behold she forgot how. We worked a long time on that. Never got it good but at least backed up.

When we trotted together she thought she was going to run and buck. Not so much I told her. It is the hardest thing we do for me. My 70 year old knees don't want to do that. I wish I had a clue what kind of an obstacle course they were going to throw at us. She walks over poles - everything from old telephone poles cut in half lengthwise, white plastic pipe and fence posts besides poles. We are working on the backing, she crosses the bridge, does a turn in a square, loads in a trailer and I can pick up all four feet just fine. I can wrap her up in a tarp and she walks over it. She gives me a lip roll when I ask for a kiss and puts her front feet up on the box. So I guess I am just stressing over what I don't know about and won't until we get there.

Not so hot today but a blistering weekend is predicted. Bob is going on a ride with friends Sunday AM but I won't be able to go. Not enough trailer space. Tyler and I will go out to breakfast.

Till tomorrow. Remember I still need sponsors.

Clipper Day

Today was the first day that I have used the electric clippers on Sierra. I had done her bridle path with the scissors but today got out the clippers. She just stood there. I did her bridle path and started on the whiskers but the blades are dull and I put them away before I upset her. I did go buy a new set of blades this afternoon so will finish tomorrow and perhaps do her feet also. I don't think there is much that bothers her.

We did some playing with the tarp today. It still doesn't seem to bother her in the least. We walked over the poles, turned in the square and put her front feet on the box. She almost yawns at the obstacles. She still isn't too secure with the sidepass. She doesn't like doing it. That is the one big thing we will be working on the next 24 days.

Oh my did I say 24 days. That is when we leave. My insides are shaking at the thought.

Greatfulness

Thank you so much to those who have put money in my paypal account. You just don't know how good it feels to have friends you didn't know you had be so supportive. God bless you each one.

We worked hard today but did not accomplish anything new. We worked on come after whoa. On the lunge line she does well but no so much without it. She wanders around and then looks back at me like oh are you there. I did turn her out in the arena and let her run and buck. She did that very well. Tomorrow is another day.

We went to our BCH meeting this evening. It was our annual picnic in the park. Nice but I am tired. Someone brought a keylime pie and I could have just eaten that. Oh was it good.

A good day

I went into Spokane this morning and ordered my banner. Thanks to my friend Kim. I will pick it up Thursday. Then off to the dollar store to get a few things I thought might come in handy in Reno. When I finished there I went to see my daughter Christyn and had her braid my hair. She is sweet to do that for me. Had to go get some beet pulp on my way home. When I got home I laid down and took a nap. Gosh, I seemed ambitious huh?

Sierra and I had a good workout today. Not 3/4 like usual but one really good one. She thought she was really smart stepping up onto the box. but then, she follows me up onto the front porch and the deck so why not up on a box.

I have been worrying about her being ready to be judged in conditioning. So what do you all think. I don't think the pictures turned out the places I wanted them but don't know how to fix it. Oh well they are there.

A windy day

Three work outs with Sierra today. She did not like the wind and blowing dust too much. She will not go free and walk with me, back etc. She just wandered away. We will be working on that. She is gaining some muscle and weight. And getting dapples. Bob picked up her feet this evening and held them about as long as he will when he trims them next week. Her side pass is getting better every day. And she trots with me readily. Those are things I really wanted to get done besides the obstacles. I wish I knew what kind of obstacles they have used in the past. I have barrels, walk overs, trot overs, back thru's , a tarp, she loads and picks up feet. Just perfecting things I guess.

Pictures again tomorrow.