Saturday

Having company is tiring but its been great today. Nikki and her husband Carmen and their boys are here, one of their older boys, his wife and baby were here, our daughter Christyn and her partner Wendy were here and all three of Chrissy's kids and their cat were here all day. We BBQ'd and had a great day.

I did manage to work in a good workout with Sierra first thing this morning. She was receptive to everything we tried. I just keep trying to think of things to add so we can may an impression on the judges. This evening I got another excellent workout with her. It was rather impressed with her actually. We did the trotting over the poles for 15 minutes and then I said whoa. She said what, I think I will wander around. I got a hold of her halter. She gave me that look only Sierra has and I walked forward with my hand under her chin a ways but no rope. She walked, trotted and backed with no rope, just my hand in front of her. Several laps of the round pen and then we did figure eights and stopped and set up square. I bounced the big green ball all around her and off her back and hip and under her. She just stood there. I walked her some more free and then tried the side pass and to the left she did wonderful. Then to the right not so good, I had to take ahold of her halter. But all in all WONDERFUL. We leave one month from today.

The other mustangs all got the day off to rest and recoup. I promise to put the pictures on tomorrow.

Till then

Its late

Its very late and I am very tired. We got home this afternoon from our week of camping on Craig Mountain at Larabie Corralls. It was sooooooooooooo fun. We rode and rode and rode and lazed around and got sunburned. I will add some pictures tomorrow. It is only about 30 miles out of Lewiston, Idaho and well worth the drive. Our mustangs thought we were nutty some of the time but went anywhere we asked. Our daughter Nikki thought we were taking her on "A Man from Snowy River" ride some of the time but she survived.

Was glad to see Sierra. She was antsy to get outside. I just let her out to eat and then put her in. I just didn't have it in me to work with her tonight. Tomorrow, Sierra, tomorrow. I think I have the music picked for Reno if per chance we make it into the top five. I think it will be Will You Remember Me, I will remember you. I don't know if that is the name or not but that is the just of the song.

Tomorrow -

Getting ready to go camping

It has been a VERY long day. Bob started at 10 this morning to do something with the pressure tank on our well and after discovering some leaks, they just finished and came in. It is midnight. They meaning our grandson Tyler and Bob. We are supposed to leave in the morning for Craig Mountain with our horses for 4 days of camping and riding. I don't think we will get out of here too early.

Today Sierra and I trotted together at a nice trot. That is a first. I had my stick in hand but did not touch her with it. It has been a struggle to get her to trot. I had this aha moment when I was lunging her on the line and shortened up the line and started trotting with her. I trotted closer and closer until we were side by side. We stopped and started many times and then went outside the round pen. Was so proud of her. That is something that I had not gotten her to do at all.

Another big step today was she took a treat out of my hand and ate it. We use packer pellets for treats and she had never taken one. But today she did. I was proud of her.

I think I have found my music for the freestyle if I would happen to get into the top 5. I am not expecting to but have to be prepared. Can't remember who its by but the song is "I will remember you." It will probably make me cry because she and I are so bonded but I promised Bob I would let her go.

I will be gone a few days - see you all later.

Saturday, July 5th.

A nice day. Sierra followed me up on the deck today. Silly filly - went right over to the fountain and took a drink. Laughed myself silly. She is also developing magic lips and got out of her stall again today. Just eats around in the yard. She gets so upset to be put in a pen but eats in the back yard and does not go anywhere else. I do leave her halter and a drag rope on her but when she lets herself out, she has neither. Tyler caught her tonight and then put a small chain around the post so she can't get out.
We are still working on the side pass, want it nice and smooth but we sure are not there yet AND she still won't trot with me. She is too lazy I guess. Bob said he would help me some tomorrow get her going. I wears me out trying to pull her a long. When I use the stick to make her trot I would have to be able to run a 3 minute mile to keep up with her. One month and 7 days until we leave.
I wish I knew how to add my list of sponsors. Anyway, so far they are Kim Marboe, Katie Hewes, Nikki Edgerton and Lorysue Enterprises. Thank you each of you. My paypal account should be up and running this week.

Happy Fourth of July

I can't get my picture to download today. I get so irritated with my computer.

We went this evening into Spokane for the fireworks and it was beautiful as always. We walked around for a while and then found us a spot and just relaxed for a while. A fun evening for Bob and I and Tyler.

Sierra did her trotting this morning and we worked on side passing. That is not coming as easy as some of the other things. Both ends don't work at the same time. We worked on whoa too. She only seems to think that works when we are leading or she is free lunging in the round pen. I want her to know it means anytime. Tomorrow is another day.

July 3

The picture is when Sierra followed me up onto the front porch and played with my poodle Skeeter thru the bottom of the door.

Another hot day and I just did not have it in me to do too much with Sierra today. I did put her in the round pen for her half an hour of trotting. She did not object. I have 5 poles in there about 5 strides apart and she rarely clicks them. When she does I speed her up a little and tell her to pick up her feet. We practiced whoa mostly. Some days it is excellent but some days not so much. 6 weeks to get it all down. Did let her out to eat for an hour while I cleaned her stall and rebedded it and then just watched her. I just leave the lead rope on her and turn her loose in the yard. If I put her in a pen she paces and gets upset so I just let her free range for a while. She never goes far from where she can see me and is happy. She is eating her grain just fine now. She is getting a supplement to help her with weight gain, a scoop of ground flax seed, a coffee can of oats and 2 1/2# of soaked beet pulp topped with a vitamin mix. She gets a can of oats in the morning and then the concoction at night. She seems to be putting on a little weight. I know she needs to compete in the conditioning phase. She seems to like it all.

Had a little disaster this evening. Katie came out to ride Abby and Abby decided to be a total jerk, ran away with her in the arena. She rode the running fine but when she made an abrupt stop Katie came off and landed on her back. She is kind of a timid rider anyway but was making progress. Don't know what got into Abby. She spooks at stuff. Katie tried to pull her ahead around but she just bowed her neck and would not give. It will be back in the round pen and work on some of these things. This was the first time we have let her go out and ride without one of us being there. We were eating. Her parents are going to be so upset. Very protective and this will be difficult. She was OK, just her back hurt.

We have a small pasture full of young goats. One is ours, the rest there to help eat the weeds. I went out to check their water this evening. One of the little guys had his head stuck in the fence. Its a field fence and he has little horns

Another thunder boomer is headed out way. As dry as it is, fires are always a problem.

Wednesday

A good day overall. It is still hot - probably till Sept.- I promise I am not complaining. I worked with Sierra this morning. She got sweaty again and doesn't like it. She is a princess. I lounged her to get some muscle on her yearling body. Bob has some sacks full of shavings tied together and I put them over her back and she just looked at them. Took a bite at one of them but did not do anything. She did not mind the purple noodles flopping in the breeze and had a time with the big green ball trying to smell it and have it move. Did some work without the lead on her and she did very well. Bob was duly impressed but I really think he is prejudiced though. He thinks all I do is wonderful. That makes me very happy of course. I hope the judges in Reno think so too.

Katie came out and rode Abby today. Since we gave Abby to her she has come more often and is riding much better. She is a sweet girl.

Bob talked to Ramona in Burns today and we have another horse coming when we come back from Reno. A 3 year old filly. I have not seen her. Andi does not have room so I hope that Ramona can find a place to stow her till we can get there. He better think of a name for her. Tracey calls her Tank but I would go for something a little more feminine. Bob will come up with something I am sure. He named Pepper and Abby.

I wonder why my pictures went across the top. I wanted the one on the right to be down further on the page. Oh well, at list it printed.