tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22090922433851020872024-03-13T11:06:09.939-04:00ShadowsRiderA blog of the ramblings, thoughts and memories of a 50-something former trainer and riding instructor.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-38517435242230546562012-02-12T16:58:00.007-05:002012-02-12T17:08:38.540-05:00Preggers...Dixie is in foal, due the end of March. It's her first, so we are watching her carefully.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RVxmKzgj8cE/Tzg2Yez8TtI/AAAAAAAACrA/NugG_hT892Y/s1600/dixie-004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RVxmKzgj8cE/Tzg2Yez8TtI/AAAAAAAACrA/NugG_hT892Y/s320/dixie-004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708372321907789522" border="0" /></a>Note the belly.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6B2UgH-GvXQ/Tzg2UEubJ-I/AAAAAAAACq0/FkviSzO3-OY/s1600/dixie-005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6B2UgH-GvXQ/Tzg2UEubJ-I/AAAAAAAACq0/FkviSzO3-OY/s320/dixie-005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708372246185846754" border="0" /></a>The lengthening and sinking of the muscles around the tail head.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07JY2c0EMFA/Tzg2PvqmGhI/AAAAAAAACqo/gxWg9YOlNJY/s1600/dixie-007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07JY2c0EMFA/Tzg2PvqmGhI/AAAAAAAACqo/gxWg9YOlNJY/s320/dixie-007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708372171813165586" border="0" /></a>Baby belly!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bUSMkUwh28s/Tzg2KcSgPCI/AAAAAAAACqc/_qJ73Tn4cps/s1600/dixie-011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bUSMkUwh28s/Tzg2KcSgPCI/AAAAAAAACqc/_qJ73Tn4cps/s320/dixie-011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708372080712498210" border="0" /></a>No milk yet though.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lVKjdQwyvdQ/Tzg2GRqwrEI/AAAAAAAACqQ/I9LvKyrsQso/s1600/dixie-012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lVKjdQwyvdQ/Tzg2GRqwrEI/AAAAAAAACqQ/I9LvKyrsQso/s320/dixie-012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708372009141972034" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tcChEQZl0I8/Tzg2DMZ4hOI/AAAAAAAACqE/u3qwAqrtv6Q/s1600/dixie-014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tcChEQZl0I8/Tzg2DMZ4hOI/AAAAAAAACqE/u3qwAqrtv6Q/s320/dixie-014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708371956189398242" border="0" /></a>Dixie has gotten sweeter, now that she is close to foaling. She craves attention, and scratching. She also has attached herself to Shadow, who is calm and wise.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-60251957864905926922011-11-15T21:37:00.010-05:002011-11-15T21:52:21.640-05:00Barn Day 2011This year we had horses and hounds at our Barn Day. I think as many people came to see the new puppy as did to ride the horses.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WoafFGyBerQ/TsMkaaZyTbI/AAAAAAAACpk/Xr2SU44Q3bE/s1600/baenday4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WoafFGyBerQ/TsMkaaZyTbI/AAAAAAAACpk/Xr2SU44Q3bE/s320/baenday4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675419991599631794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cFMYjfpeMDc/TsMkW_xZyBI/AAAAAAAACpY/uYhKR3hf9oA/s1600/barnday5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cFMYjfpeMDc/TsMkW_xZyBI/AAAAAAAACpY/uYhKR3hf9oA/s320/barnday5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675419932911323154" border="0" /></a>We had Dog guests too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVU8_3jZUns/TsMkQJ9o24I/AAAAAAAACpM/jWhK1PmCiF4/s1600/barnday7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVU8_3jZUns/TsMkQJ9o24I/AAAAAAAACpM/jWhK1PmCiF4/s320/barnday7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675419815387913090" border="0" /></a>Little kids rode...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7JUuiF74tYI/TsMkKOdzwCI/AAAAAAAACpA/NK32ZcP1vyQ/s1600/barnday8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7JUuiF74tYI/TsMkKOdzwCI/AAAAAAAACpA/NK32ZcP1vyQ/s320/barnday8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675419713517371426" border="0" /></a>Big kids rode...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEcnSmpWKB8/TsMkBP70owI/AAAAAAAACo0/1i75xzHDePo/s1600/barnday9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEcnSmpWKB8/TsMkBP70owI/AAAAAAAACo0/1i75xzHDePo/s320/barnday9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675419559292871426" border="0" /></a>and combinations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D8ox5Ii7zRU/TsMj9kyri5I/AAAAAAAACoo/rFHKMOrymjw/s1600/barnday10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D8ox5Ii7zRU/TsMj9kyri5I/AAAAAAAACoo/rFHKMOrymjw/s320/barnday10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675419496172194706" border="0" /></a>We revisited the past a bit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0TQwaaoMHM/TsMjNkcYpuI/AAAAAAAACoc/7Psvyww-7b0/s1600/barnday1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0TQwaaoMHM/TsMjNkcYpuI/AAAAAAAACoc/7Psvyww-7b0/s320/barnday1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675418671444960994" border="0" /></a>A good time was had by all!Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-5481626777001078742011-11-06T20:19:00.009-05:002011-11-06T20:49:09.537-05:00HomeworkThis is the time of year where it's hard to find time to work with your horse, especially if like me you work full time. By the time you get off work and get to the barn, it's dark, so that leaves weekends for schooling young horses. If it doesn't rain, or snow, or the rest of your life interferes.<br /><br />I still work with them, there is a lot you can do in the barn, ground manners, tacking, lessons in moving away from pressure, etc. But I also like to leave homework for them to do while I am at work. Usually I leave something for them to interact with, and something potentially scary. One cheap and easy thing to set up is a walk thru obstacle. I found some pool noodles on sale for $1, strung them up at the end of the barn with hay string, and left them to sway in the breeze.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PzCumccK0Sc/Trc0t3h7LgI/AAAAAAAACiY/2fEZKUbdZ9s/s1600/homework1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PzCumccK0Sc/Trc0t3h7LgI/AAAAAAAACiY/2fEZKUbdZ9s/s320/homework1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672060218301427202" border="0" /></a>None of the horses had to walk through them, I left the other end of the barn clear. At first they snorted and avoided them. But after a day they were walking through them, and playing with them.<br /><br />Another homework is walk on scary tarps. I set up a tarp in the field, with poles, and tubs holding down the edges. I then put hay in the center. To eat the hay, they have to step on the tarp.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bI3g95IL-Ws/Trc0qtzjliI/AAAAAAAACiM/ClulOIHPwik/s1600/homework2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bI3g95IL-Ws/Trc0qtzjliI/AAAAAAAACiM/ClulOIHPwik/s320/homework2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672060164151416354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kj5poUsX7Yw/Trc0nr98idI/AAAAAAAACiA/p_fpozpHN3I/s1600/homework3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kj5poUsX7Yw/Trc0nr98idI/AAAAAAAACiA/p_fpozpHN3I/s320/homework3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672060112118516178" border="0" /></a>It helps if a wise older horse dives right into the hay.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hNG9fQUWNYs/Trc0ju00bRI/AAAAAAAACh0/nLFTjb8J5ag/s1600/homework4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hNG9fQUWNYs/Trc0ju00bRI/AAAAAAAACh0/nLFTjb8J5ag/s320/homework4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672060044166065426" border="0" /></a>Roheryn first snorted and took off when she saw the tarp. Then she had to investigate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ3PpEr3Qv4/Trc0gTw1mNI/AAAAAAAACho/3ewK5L-bzHM/s1600/homework5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ3PpEr3Qv4/Trc0gTw1mNI/AAAAAAAACho/3ewK5L-bzHM/s320/homework5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672059985362000082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_QZNbshea8/Trc0c338qzI/AAAAAAAAChc/4ybAUvX9Jb0/s1600/homework6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_QZNbshea8/Trc0c338qzI/AAAAAAAAChc/4ybAUvX9Jb0/s320/homework6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672059926336023346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LLk-eSuD6DQ/TrcyW4juzdI/AAAAAAAAChQ/mebMTgLGrpc/s1600/homework7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LLk-eSuD6DQ/TrcyW4juzdI/AAAAAAAAChQ/mebMTgLGrpc/s320/homework7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672057624417193426" border="0" /></a>Eventually they all were walking across the tarp to munch the hay.<br /><br />Best to do this with a tarp you don't care about. They will chew, and paw it so there will be holes.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-50387750791020537532011-10-03T12:13:00.008-04:002011-10-03T12:44:40.727-04:00Barn workThere is always barn work to be done. Our current project is putting down stone dust inside the barn, and putting a moisture barrier on the outside walls to keep the barn dry.<br /><br />Our horses are always willing to 'help' with this work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ghNVeCKaWnY/TonfMvms32I/AAAAAAAACRk/B__U-7nl9PM/s1600/rain1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ghNVeCKaWnY/TonfMvms32I/AAAAAAAACRk/B__U-7nl9PM/s320/rain1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659299816797953890" border="0" /></a>Roheryn helps Bill dig the trench.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQlNVh92q70/TonfRqA9g3I/AAAAAAAACRs/gyPLEzlbzts/s1600/rain2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQlNVh92q70/TonfRqA9g3I/AAAAAAAACRs/gyPLEzlbzts/s320/rain2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659299901196829554" border="0" /></a>She also inspects the work, to make the lines are all straight.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YitVdhjInbI/TonfVWJNx4I/AAAAAAAACR0/KM54-T-8aUI/s1600/rain3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YitVdhjInbI/TonfVWJNx4I/AAAAAAAACR0/KM54-T-8aUI/s320/rain3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659299964582217602" border="0" /></a>She is quite curious about the tools..really wanted to play with them. She followed the shovel for a bit.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VYK60yzOcg0/TonfZilBK2I/AAAAAAAACR8/ETaaeSvPb1U/s1600/rain4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VYK60yzOcg0/TonfZilBK2I/AAAAAAAACR8/ETaaeSvPb1U/s320/rain4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659300036639533922" border="0" /></a>Dixie was fascinated with the the magic plastic coming under the wall.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCDNZSjssN4/TonfdHmO1XI/AAAAAAAACSE/c3iKY7MayHU/s1600/rain5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCDNZSjssN4/TonfdHmO1XI/AAAAAAAACSE/c3iKY7MayHU/s320/rain5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659300098116343154" border="0" /></a>Despite her best efforts to pick up the shovel, Roheryn was not able to help put the stone down. But she did supervise the whole project.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-48854825763877059322011-08-31T13:07:00.016-04:002011-08-31T14:36:57.251-04:00The Iceman cometh...A long time ago (17 years ago, in fact) I went to a local auction in Millersville. It was a favorite of many of the local horse people, we would all show up, eat Pit Beef BBQ, buy some tack, and swap tales. The horses were a mix of OTTB and various grade horses and ponies.
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<br />At this auction, I bought a young stud pony I named Iceman. Everyone who knew me at the auction laughed at me for buying him. Three years later Iceman was taking my students to shows and winning in everything from hunter to western to trail. Skip forward a few more years and I was going through a divorce and for financial reasons had to sell Ice and all my horses (except Shadow). I kept in touch with the place who bought him, and when I recovered financially tried to buy him back. I kept calling every 6 months and kept getting told they weren't interested in selling until one day I was told he had been sold months before to a barn up in Connecticut. I resigned myself to never getting him back, but always watched ads and registered at sites like Horse Reunions just in case.
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<br />Fast forward to this summer, when I had a SSH gelding for sale. One of the people who came to look at him was talking about her daughter's pony and how much fun it was to keep a creamello pony clean. She kept taking about 'Icy'. I asked if he was 13.2, blue-gray eyes, cream with white mane and tail, back socks and a wide blaze? Yes, she had my Iceman! Iceman had been her lesson pony and her students and her daughter had been winning ribbons on him for 10 years. She wasn't using him for lessons anymore, and after hearing the stories about him, decided he should come back to us.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6YQKDQGGco4/Tl514OCYyGI/AAAAAAAACL8/U0-4oPe0o8A/s1600/barn10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6YQKDQGGco4/Tl514OCYyGI/AAAAAAAACL8/U0-4oPe0o8A/s320/barn10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647080591470413922" border="0" /></a>The first few days he was a bit low key and hesitant. I kept him separate from the other horses and in a small paddock. I then tried him out with one other horse and he got a bit more relaxed. He met Shadow again, and they seemed to remember each other, but no great reunion. Then I turned him out in the main pasture. He walked around a bit, sniffed the ground, and then..
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OEITzSaW5B0/Tl50SDEJKlI/AAAAAAAACK0/XLSvlunxkoc/s1600/roll7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OEITzSaW5B0/Tl50SDEJKlI/AAAAAAAACK0/XLSvlunxkoc/s320/roll7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647078836178332242" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9S2gXJ5ZVDo/Tl50PCAhOjI/AAAAAAAACKs/d0MolWAJ_js/s1600/roll8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9S2gXJ5ZVDo/Tl50PCAhOjI/AAAAAAAACKs/d0MolWAJ_js/s320/roll8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647078784355088946" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CEUB3ZSV3Q8/Tl50JD7vhRI/AAAAAAAACKk/wZ3qHP_YbE0/s1600/roll9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CEUB3ZSV3Q8/Tl50JD7vhRI/AAAAAAAACKk/wZ3qHP_YbE0/s320/roll9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647078681792709906" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fB-oIbh1PBI/Tl50FIIc6YI/AAAAAAAACKc/gP64V2H8CAY/s1600/roll10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fB-oIbh1PBI/Tl50FIIc6YI/AAAAAAAACKc/gP64V2H8CAY/s320/roll10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647078614200281474" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9w2BwcYcmvk/Tl50CNez7ZI/AAAAAAAACKU/-CJpKo_4IX0/s1600/roll11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9w2BwcYcmvk/Tl50CNez7ZI/AAAAAAAACKU/-CJpKo_4IX0/s320/roll11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647078564096634258" border="0" /></a>Now that's a happy pony face.
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<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xaUbgeM4eKY/Tl51J41jn1I/AAAAAAAACL0/GqpCAawrbmo/s1600/barn4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xaUbgeM4eKY/Tl51J41jn1I/AAAAAAAACL0/GqpCAawrbmo/s320/barn4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647079795505471314" border="0" /></a>Nicely dirty and covered with grass.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y2FqF8fEuk4/Tl5z_EsOL-I/AAAAAAAACKM/ajDLA3CsBwo/s1600/roll12.jpg">
<br /></a>We are very excited and happy to have him home. Iceman was my son's pony, and he has been out to the barn often to see him and play with him. Rather a fun sight seeing them run in the pasture and play, my son is 6 ft tall now. We plan on driving a bit, some trail riding, and some grandchildren of friends will need their first pony rides. Thank you Joanna, for making this possible!
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<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y2FqF8fEuk4/Tl5z_EsOL-I/AAAAAAAACKM/ajDLA3CsBwo/s1600/roll12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y2FqF8fEuk4/Tl5z_EsOL-I/AAAAAAAACKM/ajDLA3CsBwo/s320/roll12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647078510197354466" border="0" /></a>
<br />Iceman has come home.
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<br />Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-42471804868805937502011-08-08T14:28:00.006-04:002011-08-08T16:35:03.005-04:00First show...a comedy of errors...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppcGnR7v-Ew/TkBGNeIc5nI/AAAAAAAACIA/4VO8X10DhGY/s1600/033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppcGnR7v-Ew/TkBGNeIc5nI/AAAAAAAACIA/4VO8X10DhGY/s320/033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638583930708616818" border="0" /></a>
<br />First off, let me say I used to show, a lot. I have a shelf of trophies, a trunk of ribbons, all with my mare Shadow (herein known as 'the Saint.')
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<br />So when we got these two youngsters, I planned on showing them. I figured this year we would just do model. Gets them into showing without a lot of stress (HA!) and gets them started on their versatility books. All you need for model is show bridle and matching show outfit for the handler.
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<br />This spring I joined <a href="http://www.pwhm.net/">PWHM</a> (actually re-joined, I was a member way back when) and signed up for the show points. I was all ready to start practicing for shows by trailering the girls to other rings, etc. I bought a western show shirt (if you go western, you don't have to braid, and I knew my show coat would have to be altered) and saddleseat jodhpurs. I pulled my show sets out of storage and polished silver.
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<br />Then my truck broke down, and 'we' decided to fix it ourselves. So I missed the first few shows of the year. Then the next show was the same day as another event we had already signed up for. Then the next show we were out of town. Then a show was cancelled because of heat.
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<br />Finally the Howard County Fair comes around. As this show is practically in my back yard, and was a show I went to every year with Shadow I was determined to go. Since I knew trying to show two would be difficult, I lined up people to help, friends who had asked to come to a horse show with me. I had people lined up 6 deep because, you know life happens, someone may not be able to come. Well, as of 2 days before the show I had no help at all. I was trying to decide if it was worth it. I knew it would be hot, I would be dealing with silly greenies all by myself in a hectic environment.
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<br />I sent out a last plea to my trailriding e-mail group for help, hoping for at least someone to lead a horse in the ring (I couldn't show both at the same time) and Denise offered to help since she wasn't showing model.
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<br />Ok, so all set if I can get them ready and there. I set everything up the night before, clip the girls and purchase another sheet for the trailer ride. My trailer is aluminum, and while it never affected anything with our black horses with these two light colored girls they would both have a dark gray streak down their sides from the dividers. So now each girl has a matching sheet and halter, all ready to go.
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<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5inG8ZeAOek/TkBGGqTUAJI/AAAAAAAACH4/dObi1josO8k/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5inG8ZeAOek/TkBGGqTUAJI/AAAAAAAACH4/dObi1josO8k/s320/016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638583813716312210" border="0" /></a>
<br />I get up the next morning at my usual 6:30, walk the dog, have tea, check e-mail. I knew I had plenty of time, the show starts at 10 and it is 20 minutes from my barn. I would get there at 9, walk the girls around to relax them, do last minute grooming, etc. I go on the club website, just in case although I know THIS show won't be cancelled. I look at the show bill and see start time 9am!! Yikes! So I throw my clothes on, grab coggins, show shirt and water and hit the door running.
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<br />I get to the barn, hook up the trailer, and put everyone in the barn to feed. I look at the two that are showing and find lovely mud-covered urchins in their stalls. I won't have time to groom that off! Fortunately, I've been in this situation before. I pull them out and hose them off, even hooves! Throw the sheets on, load them up and off we go. It's 8:30, I should be there registering now.
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<br />I head off to the fairgrounds, resigned to not making it on time, but thinking I would at least walk the mares around the ground, so still a learning experience. The traffic gods smile on me, I make it to the fairgrounds at 8:51. When I get to the rings, it hadn't started so maybe I had a chance. I park, and sprint to the booth. Yes, they would wait! I get registered, unload the girls, and just catch Denise walking by.
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<br />Now here is where the fun starts. It's been 10 years since I have shown, 15 since I have shown any greenies. We are trying to calmly rush through pulling blankets off and putting bridles on. That is all we have time to do. Denise slips Dixie's halter off to put the bridle on, Dixie steps back, then takes off!
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<br />So we have the cries of 'Loose Horse' I have a frantic Roheryn in my hands, Dixie is skittering around having the time of her life (no, she wasn't afraid, she was yipee!) and Denise and I both know we are 'Holding Up The Show' a big no no in horse show world.
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<br />Dixie decided then to sniff a tied horse, who proceeds to kick at her. Dixie thinks about retaliating but my growled Uh-Uh!! stops her. She then comes over to Roheryn, and I grab her mane long enough for Denise to get the halter on her.
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<br />We lead them back to the trailer, get bridles on both (lead ropes around the head this time) and get ready to head to the DQP. I'm so frazzled by then I don't even bother putting my show shirt on, or putting my number on. I just carried it. Denise had this great plastic sleeve for the number, I have to get one! Held on with magnets, just slide the number in. She sells them, by the way.
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<br />So at the DQP* Dixie is great. The moment the bridle went on, she because Miss Manners. Roheryn, however, was not. She was pulling, champing the bit, crowding, spooking at the traffic, generally being quite silly.
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<br />In the ring, Dixie walks around and notices all the people watching. I can tell she thinks this is wonderful, all this attention on her! She looks back at us a couple of times, but is very mannerly. Roheryn frets, and chews, and nudges, and doesn't want to stand. She finally settles down, and we get sort of a park, but really we are just there for the experience. Meanwhile I am standing there with a horse slobbery tank top on holding my number in my hand, and thinking I will probably get the gate just for tackiness!
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<br />They announce the winner, the gorgeous bay tobiano next to us (very well deserved!) but then they call Dixie's number! She got 2nd place! On they went down the line and to my surprise, Roheryn got 5th! I think the judge was being very kind. So a 2 and 5 when they were just pulled out of the pasture and hosed off, didn't even have time to brush them. I have to sincerely thank Denise for Dixie's 2nd, she wouldn't have gotten it without her expert help.
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<br />We took them back to the trailer, and very carefully took the bridles off. Dixie was wiggly again, but didn't get loose this time! Roheryn was a different horse as soon as the bit was out of her mouth. She relaxed back into the calm girl she usually is. I suspect a different bit is in order for her. I led them around and let them graze. They watched the horses in the ring with interest. It was funny, when they grazed by another trailer, Roheryn went to load herself in it. I think she was ready to go home.
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<br />I then left them tied to the trailer and walked away (watching to be sure they behaved) to chat with some friends. They did very well tied, and loaded right up to go home.
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<br />So, an interesting day, lessons learned all around, and big bonus, one point towards Dixie's versatility book! No photos of the show, I didn't even think about it in all the chaos. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:enableopentypekerning/> <w:dontflipmirrorindents/> <w:overridetablestylehps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><span style="line-height:115%; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";font-size:11.0pt;" ></span>
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<br />*A DQP is a Designated Qualified Person who checks for soring agents, a requirement for all TWH shows.
<br />Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-14967439992114725082011-07-21T13:23:00.003-04:002011-07-21T13:33:44.115-04:00Rides two and three - DixieSunday we rode again, this time taking Dixie across 108 to Schooley Mill Park. Yes, we rode a green horse on her second ride across a hwy, down a road and in to a busy multi-purpose park...<br /><br />Dixie did great. No hesitation at the traffic, the water crossings (her first!) the wooden bridge (her first) the tennis courts and kids playing (her..well, you get the idea).<br /><br />We met dogs, other riders, a horse pulling a shiny new red endurance cart, went up and down hills, gaited a bit, did a brief canter, and through most of it Dixie led the way. We rode about 45 minutes, and Dixie came back with just as much bounce as she started with.<br /><br />Tuesday night we rode again, but a shorter ride as it was very hot. We first took Dixie out alone, and found out she wasn't quite as brave when she was all alone. A riding lawnmower caused a jump, and she wasn't quite as forward. Then we rejoined the others and went on a brief ride, up the road and back through some twisty overgrown trails with muddy creek crossings. Again Dixie did very well. This time we put her in the center, instead of leading, and while she did crowd a bit, she accepted it fairly well.<br /><br />She is continuing to stand well for mounting, and now for dismounting (the first one was exciting), is getting better about walking in a straight line and she looks for her after ride shower and cookie.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-79438091288367241042011-07-16T23:52:00.009-04:002011-07-17T00:09:54.448-04:00First Ride! - DixieDixie had been doing well with lunging, and work with the saddle, so we decided to step up on her and see how she did. We first followed her usual routine, grooming, saddling, lunging in the round pen.<br /><br />I then brought my horse Shadow out so that if Dixie did well, I could pony her around with a rider on her back. We brought the mounting block into the round pen, and brought Dixie over to it. She was quite relaxed, we had done this many times. We stepped up on her, then off, and Dixie never moved. We then mounted her, and asked her to walk off.<br /><br />And Dixie never moved.<br /><br />This happens a lot with green horses, they don't understand we actually want them to walk while we are on them, LOL! So I led her while my friend rode, and we got her moving. While my friend rode, I stood in the center, so I could give her lunging cues that matched what her rider was asking her.<br /><br />She did very well, so well my friend decided to skip the ponying, and just ride following Shadow. I mounted Shadow and off we went around the pasture. Dixie quickly made it plain she didn't feel she had to follow Shadow!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Leo2Sfp6QA4/TiJdF5SVvwI/AAAAAAAACE0/w4xLfiC9rWI/s1600/20110716_46.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Leo2Sfp6QA4/TiJdF5SVvwI/AAAAAAAACE0/w4xLfiC9rWI/s320/20110716_46.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630164840025014018" border="0" /></a><br />So we decided to ride out into the hay fields.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEBJBMrVwY4/TiJc_outd4I/AAAAAAAACEs/YXbXi67hp8Y/s1600/20110716_49.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEBJBMrVwY4/TiJc_outd4I/AAAAAAAACEs/YXbXi67hp8Y/s320/20110716_49.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630164732501391234" border="0" /></a>This was my view a lot of the time! Not only did Dixie not care where Shadow was, but she was quite willing to lead, investigate scary things by approaching and sniffing, and walk off on her own. We rode back to the barn, then passed it and went on down the road, doing a bit of slow gaiting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bq4ajw_7D3U/TiJc6Dz9GjI/AAAAAAAACEk/jbqioW_hcr0/s1600/20110716_50.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bq4ajw_7D3U/TiJc6Dz9GjI/AAAAAAAACEk/jbqioW_hcr0/s320/20110716_50.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630164636691929650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7X_QvBNpioo/TiJc02XbP3I/AAAAAAAACEc/VxDYeCVodiA/s1600/20110716_51.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7X_QvBNpioo/TiJc02XbP3I/AAAAAAAACEc/VxDYeCVodiA/s320/20110716_51.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630164547183263602" border="0" /></a><br />Dixie did great! We are going to take her out tomorrow and have some more fun.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-47946816200534281032011-07-06T22:11:00.001-04:002011-07-04T22:14:37.810-04:00A Tale of Two Fillies - Week twoThe second week, I continued with the round pen work. I would tack Dixie up, lead her to the round pen, and we would work through the gaits and turns. I would free lunge first, then put a lunge line on her and request specific speeds. She was sort of getting the idea of whoa, still pretty clueless on what gait and canter were. Walk she was getting, but didn't always want to do it.<br /><br />I was concerned about her attitude though. She endured what we did, but didn't look forward to working. I decided to take a break and show her learning was fun. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nILVMc5vDbc/ThI4hPYNV6I/AAAAAAAACDA/dMbxPP_Skmc/s1600/035.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syUS1S8luLQ/ThI4GrjKBQI/AAAAAAAACC4/kAIY2VCVbC4/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syUS1S8luLQ/ThI4GrjKBQI/AAAAAAAACC4/kAIY2VCVbC4/s320/034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625620571959723266" border="0" /></a><br />I pocketed a bunch of horse cookies, and approached her in the field. I called her to me, and when she came, I gave her a cookie. I then asked her to back up, when she did, I gave her a cookie. Now she was getting more interested in what we were doing. So sometimes she got a cookie, sometimes scratches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSDDn0QkbS8/ThI4APnXGrI/AAAAAAAACCw/dUIJjg044tk/s1600/033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSDDn0QkbS8/ThI4APnXGrI/AAAAAAAACCw/dUIJjg044tk/s320/033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625620461381950130" border="0" /></a><br />I then tacked her up like usual, but instead of going to the round pen, I worked her around the barn, walking, stopping, tugging on the stirrups, etc. We stopped at the mounting block, and I stepped up making lots of noise. Nothing fazed her. She was completely relaxed with everything I was doing, and was very interested in what she had to do to earn cookies.<br /><br />The next day we went back to the usual routine, but this time she looked forward to the work. She had figured out there was a reward, cookies, scratches, praise for learning what I wanted her to do.<br /><br />Rohern was always enthused about doing things. She was interested in going where I led, in what we were doing. Where Dixie had been backed and worked with before, Roheryn had never had a saddle on. I saddled her up, and let her graze with the saddle on and get used to the feel of it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oalUKo0mqv0/ThI3x7ay6ZI/AAAAAAAACCo/jHVdVEkM6B0/s1600/phone%2B060.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oalUKo0mqv0/ThI3x7ay6ZI/AAAAAAAACCo/jHVdVEkM6B0/s320/phone%2B060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625620215442368914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zgTJZgcUbVE/ThI3kUBeMAI/AAAAAAAACCg/u-9UgAWh2IA/s1600/phone%2B059.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zgTJZgcUbVE/ThI3kUBeMAI/AAAAAAAACCg/u-9UgAWh2IA/s320/phone%2B059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625619981528870914" border="0" /></a>She turned and chewed on it a few times.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndqABC6duFQ/ThI3fHbyNxI/AAAAAAAACCY/xrG0BYTv3kc/s1600/phone%2B058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndqABC6duFQ/ThI3fHbyNxI/AAAAAAAACCY/xrG0BYTv3kc/s320/phone%2B058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625619892250228498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ0WdJXdC3k/ThI3Y8-3xjI/AAAAAAAACCQ/1CjLymYczig/s1600/phone%2B057.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ0WdJXdC3k/ThI3Y8-3xjI/AAAAAAAACCQ/1CjLymYczig/s320/phone%2B057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625619786365388338" border="0" /></a>But she was not really worried. One thing I did discover, was some jealousy. I had a helper a couple of days, so we took both fillies out to the round pen. I had set up a high tie in a tree so they could stand tied and learn a little patience which the other one was worked. I gave my helper Roheryn to lead out, since I considered her better behaved in hand. She was not happy with that at all! She pulled back, fretted, and generally was a pain the whole way out there. She also didn't want to pay attention when lunged. When it was her turn to be tied, she was fine, but then the walk back to the barn she fretted and fussed. It took 3 days before she was back to good manners.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nILVMc5vDbc/ThI4hPYNV6I/AAAAAAAACDA/dMbxPP_Skmc/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nILVMc5vDbc/ThI4hPYNV6I/AAAAAAAACDA/dMbxPP_Skmc/s320/035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625621028254078882" border="0" /></a><br />Both have advanced nicely this week, and both remind me why I love TWH! So much easier to train and work with.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-80033276532914651342011-07-01T11:22:00.000-04:002011-07-01T11:22:00.332-04:00Touch Football!I brought a horse ball in for our 'touch' game.<br /><br />This is a game where I bring in something new, something potentially scary, and ask the horses to touch it. If they do, they get praises, scratches or a cookie, and the realization that it doesn't hurt them. I also use this as a way to teach them how to approach new scary objects, by making it a game.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dm2H0p75mXI/Tg0-woEBeQI/AAAAAAAACBU/7sa0fLJEiaw/s1600/038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dm2H0p75mXI/Tg0-woEBeQI/AAAAAAAACBU/7sa0fLJEiaw/s320/038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624220514764552450" border="0" /></a>Dixie eyeing the ball.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSB7kqFrNd4/Tg0-kNbVEtI/AAAAAAAACBM/Z_NAdhG3CTE/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSB7kqFrNd4/Tg0-kNbVEtI/AAAAAAAACBM/Z_NAdhG3CTE/s320/039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624220301456118482" border="0" /></a>Roheryn walked right up and nudged it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1J12mDeYHKQ/Tg0-bLMaHPI/AAAAAAAACBE/dpinwt30PCY/s1600/040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1J12mDeYHKQ/Tg0-bLMaHPI/AAAAAAAACBE/dpinwt30PCY/s320/040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624220146237840626" border="0" /></a>Symphony looked, and when I asked her to touch did come up and put her nose on it. She was not interested in playing with it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEKzGnzhC0I/Tg0-Rrlc9tI/AAAAAAAACA8/hlYsQZ7IJhA/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEKzGnzhC0I/Tg0-Rrlc9tI/AAAAAAAACA8/hlYsQZ7IJhA/s320/042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624219983134127826" border="0" /></a>Dixie finally touched it. (with Shadow as backup)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FxAwDtZGshQ/Tg0-LRLBISI/AAAAAAAACA0/QYt_T3O7MaE/s1600/043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FxAwDtZGshQ/Tg0-LRLBISI/AAAAAAAACA0/QYt_T3O7MaE/s320/043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624219872964714786" border="0" /></a>Then she found out it rolled!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PHXevaNyTvU/Tg0-E_0BqsI/AAAAAAAACAs/4ROOv28R80s/s1600/044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PHXevaNyTvU/Tg0-E_0BqsI/AAAAAAAACAs/4ROOv28R80s/s320/044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624219765225663170" border="0" /></a>She would nudge it around, but didn't chase it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2SNj9JOzc8/Tg09r2wXQ7I/AAAAAAAACAk/feJAyanQ1wA/s1600/036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2SNj9JOzc8/Tg09r2wXQ7I/AAAAAAAACAk/feJAyanQ1wA/s320/036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624219333297652658" border="0" /></a>Interesting for a while, but hay is better.<br />I did get Roheryn and Dixie to both chase it later when I kicked it. They didn't show any interest in biting it and playing rough, like colts I have had in the past.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-79270074923580032192011-06-29T22:10:00.000-04:002011-06-30T23:36:46.444-04:00A Tale of Two Fillies - Week oneWhen life finally settled down, I decided to start working the fillies. Pending weather, I would work with them every day, with the goal of getting Dixie under saddle and Roheryn driving. The methods for both were the same, but Dixie was older, and ready for more work.<br /><br />I started by handling them each day, haltering, tying, grooming, introducing new objects. Both were good with this. I would take one out at a time, then put them back in their stall. This is where we ran into the first issue.<br /><br />Dixie would refuse to go back in her stall. Since she was young and rather silly, my usual slap the leadline on the belly I would use with an older horse would not work. She would use that as an excuse to throw a temper tantrum, and since I was working them alone I wasn't interested in getting run over.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0v53hIHUWf0/Tg08P80R98I/AAAAAAAACAU/F5hSkaKYWxQ/s1600/014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0v53hIHUWf0/Tg08P80R98I/AAAAAAAACAU/F5hSkaKYWxQ/s320/014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624217754376730562" border="0" /></a>Dixie wasn't so sure about this "Work" idea.<br /><br />She wasn't afraid of her stall, she ate in there every day, she just didn't want to do it and she didn't think I could make her do it. I have a feeling this little princess hasn't had to do a lot of things she didn't want to! So I turned her loose, and ran her out of the barn. I controlled her movements, back and forth in the pasture, hazing her away from the other horses, and showing her that yes, even when I didn't have a leadline on her, I could control where she went. At first there was a lot of bucking, and flinging of the head, but pretty soon she was coming up to me and asking to be caught, and taken in to her friends.<br /><br />I caught her, and led her back in the barn. Nope, still wouldn't go in her stall. So I then put her out by herself in the side pasture, and ignored her while I worked Roheryn. The whole time I brushed and worked Roheryn (who was a perfect angel) Dixie banged the gate, pawed, called the other horses, and generally threw a fit. I waiting until she was standing quietly for a moment (reward the good behavior), then went and got her. I led her to her stall, she hesitated, then walked right in. I told her she was a good girl, scratched her, and took her halter off.<br /><br />I did the same routine for a couple of days, both were fine. I then decided to take Dixie out to the round pen and start lunging. I tacked her with saddle and bridle (no reins). She refused at the gate to that field, but I got her going by back and forth movement. Halfway up the field she pulled back and threw a bit of a fit, but I got her going again. Then she threw a complete tantrum, rearing, pulling back, striking out. I got her stopped and quickly put the chain over her nose. When she tried again, I jerked the leadline and yelled, making her back up.<br /><br />Her eyes were as big as saucers! I could tell no one had ever disciplined her like that. Once she was still, I calmly asked her to move forward again, but I was pretty wary of where her feet were. She tried twice more, got the same treatment, and we made it to the round pen. I unhooked her in the round pen, and once she realized she was free, I got quite a show.<br /><br />I gave her a minute to blow and run, but then started working her in the pen. Controlling her direction, making her stop and reverse. I wasn't worried about slowing her down yet, just controlling the space. It took a while, but she finally started looking at me with ears up asking if she could stop. I would let her come to me, give her a scratch, then send her out again. She still wasn't settled down completely, but she was sweated, so I caught her and we walked back to the barn. She was quite mannerly. I untacked her, hosed her off, then went to put her in the stall and she balked again. Since I still had the lungeline handy, I just hooked her to that, ran the line to the back of the stall and tied it. I walked out and went to get the next horse. Once Dixie realize I was ignoring her, she walked right in the stall. It was at that moment I realized, she wasn't afraid of any of this, she was just being pissy! She didn't want to do it, and just wanted to throw a fit.<br /><br />Lovely.<br /><br />I took Roheryn out, led beautifully to the round pen, got in there and she just wanted to follow me, so since I was running out of daylight, we worked on walking, stopping, backing on command, then I took her back to the barn. No problems, she was bright, interested, and happy to be doing things.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--kz0eJtx6s4/Tg08tiSsIQI/AAAAAAAACAc/kr9shalVySs/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--kz0eJtx6s4/Tg08tiSsIQI/AAAAAAAACAc/kr9shalVySs/s320/016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624218262652592386" border="0" /></a>Happy girl Roheryn.<br /><br />Roheryn has a nice case of 'Me Too! - istis'. Anything she sees another horse do, she wants to do. It's how I got her accustomed to being hosed off. Since she is a Texas girl, water is for drinkin, not washin! But, I hosed Shadow and the other horses off and ignored her, and eventually she had to have the shower too. Now she loves water. Same with the clippers. Clipped everyone but her, then pulled her out to clip. The whole time her eyes were bright and ears up, she was getting to do what the other horses did.<br /><br />This is a good method for training, let your seasoned horses show the greenies how it is done!Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-54186794306540673092011-06-21T22:13:00.003-04:002011-06-22T16:56:38.346-04:00A Tale of Two Fillies, part 3 - Dixie<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dixie<br /></span><span>Dixie I spotted on the website of <a href="http://westwoodfarms.net/">Westwood Farms</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><span>I really like their stallions</span><span>, and I tend to wander over and see what pretty babies they have. There was Dixie, 3 years old, a gray roan and while someone had been on her back basically not started yet. I had a cute black and white tobiano for sale, and after a few chats, we scheduled a trade.<br /><br />We met at Bull Run Park, because if I was going to trailer horses somewhere, we were going to ride! After our ride, we met up, looked each others horses over, and decided it was a done deal. I really liked Dixie's conformation, but my first hint to her personality came when we tied her to our trailer so we could chat. While she was getting attention, she was fine, but when we ignored her, she pulled back. But, she was a good girl loading, and riding home.<br /><br />Back at our barn she made it plain she wasn't going to take an nonsense off the younger Roheryn, but was nicely respectful of the older mares. She constantly wanted attention though. If she was being ignored, she would bang her stall door, paw, and we saw a few temper tantrums. She would stand forever for brushing, wasn't fazed about a blanket being tossed on her, but didn't like the scary new objects I brought in the barn.<br /><br />We let her settle in for the winter, and learn our routine. She quickly learned which stall was hers, but often didn't want to go in, even though that was where dinner is. A bit difficult for the farrier, but got better. Good for the vet though. She would sometimes refuse, sometimes crowd when being led, so we switched to a rope halter and ignored her temper tantrums.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-41550124050909049672011-06-13T22:05:00.005-04:002011-06-21T22:35:05.990-04:00A Tale of Two Fillies, part 2 - Roheryn<span style="font-weight: bold;">Roheryn</span><br />I bought Roheryn from a photo on the internet, and my knowledge of her parents. I had her shipped from Texas, and except for a trip in a stock trailer to the vet for shots, this was her first real trailering experience.<br /><br />The shippers I used, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.themillhouseteam.com">Millhouse Equine Transport</a> were wonderful and patient. The former owner worked with her for a few weeks before we shipped her on loading and leading, but she was a green, scared baby. Roheryn shipped like a trooper, loaded and unloaded in the big transport trailer, and winning the heart of the driver who showed off how nicely she unloaded, then loaded right back up in the trailer.<br /><br />She ran around a bit, called a bit, and was rather lost and bewildered at first. It took two weeks before she settled in with the herd, but she quickly attached herself to Shadow, who was tolerant of her. With humans though, she was wary. She would lead, tie for grooming, and was pretty good about feet. She was interested in any human who showed up.<br /><br />After a few months she had a teenager moment, where she charged me when I was carrying feed buckets. I yelled, flung the bucket and chased her out of the barn. I didn't let her back in the barn until she asked politely, and there never was another challenge to my authority as boss mare.<br /><br />I would bring new objects to the barn for her to explore, balls, tarps, etc. She was curious, but not spooky. But, if I lifted a saddle blanket she would snort and scoot. We let her go, just working around her and letting her see what life was like at the barn and learning to trust us.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-74863157016637188632011-06-06T13:44:00.006-04:002011-06-06T14:48:27.999-04:00A Tale of Two FilliesIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times....<br /><br />Pretty accurate assessment. The best of times is to have two pretty new horses to play with, both well bred, good conformation, and gorgeous color. The worst of times is the fact they are both untrained, and I am the one who has to train them.<br /><br />Back in 1998, I decided I was training my last green horse. At the time I had a colt I had bred myself out of my Senator mare by a Sun's Delight stud. As I worked my way through temper tantrums and stubbornness (teenager years) I thought "When I finally have to retire Shadow, I'm just buying a fully broke horse."<br /><br />Fast forward to 2010, I've finally realized I really have to retire Shadow. I'm looking at a bunch of nice 3-5 year old mares. All well started, all pretty, but either out of my price range, or too far along in their training for their age. In other words, they were started very young, and my past experience has shown me this means soundness issues further down the road. I was seeing 2 year old babies that had 6 months of trail riding on them.<br /><br />My next horse is going to be my last horse, so I want them to last. If not for the bridge accident, Shadow would still be going strong at 24. I want a horse that will be sound into at least late 20's, if not 30's. I figure by the time this horse is in their 30's, and I'm in my 80's, we may both be ready to slow down a bit. Maybe..<br /><br />So I bought a baby. Well, a 2 year old, who hadn't been touched except to teach her to be brushed, lead and load in a trailer. Funnily enough, I'm probably the reason this filly exists anyway. I had tried to breed Shadow to her sire, but Shadow didn't take for several reasons. I thought about buying the filly's dam back then, because I just thought she was gorgeous! So I talked to the owner of both and said you should cross them, it would be a nice blend of bloodlines. This filly was the result, so when I checked back in to see how she was doing, she was gorgeous! I did a little fast talking (she wasn't for sale) and had her shipped from Texas sight unseen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mg-A1xyIxII/Te0cGo52koI/AAAAAAAAB5k/mFDsrm-dphI/s1600/chance%2Bs%2Bsunshine%2B6.2.09a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mg-A1xyIxII/Te0cGo52koI/AAAAAAAAB5k/mFDsrm-dphI/s320/chance%2Bs%2Bsunshine%2B6.2.09a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615175210785739394" border="0" /></a><br />I'm sure you can see why.<br /><br />So now I had a baby to train..<br /><br />Meanwhile my husband had decided he didn't have the time for his high maintenance and needy gelding, so we sold him. I was on the lookout for a horse for him, and found one right in VA that was gray roan, perfect conformation, and barely started at 3 years old. (as in someone sat on her back). He has always wanted a gray roan, so we made the trade and now I have 2 to train.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfC2sehC30s/Te0fGyPyVuI/AAAAAAAAB5s/2OwAV8Iqtyk/s1600/dixiehead.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfC2sehC30s/Te0fGyPyVuI/AAAAAAAAB5s/2OwAV8Iqtyk/s320/dixiehead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615178511828539106" border="0" /></a><br />Enter in life, in all it's time consuming complexities. For the last year we have had graduations, I'm started my masters program, and we have had one vehicle breakdown after another, repairs on our home, and a wet spring. So other than manners training, the two fillies have been doing very little except get fat.<br /><br />The two fillies have very different personalities. Rohern was range raised, very little handling until she was 2, Dixie was handled daily from birth, and treated like a princess.<br /><br />So I wonder which one will be the most difficult??Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-12737995908155090012011-04-10T13:49:00.002-04:002011-04-10T13:52:49.849-04:00Irish HuntingSomeone just posted these over on Fugly's blog in the comments, and I had to post them here. The comments by the people filming are just hilarious! They obviously know the riders and the horses quite well. Typical Irish, LOL!<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J09QBNGo5jg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WyZusCtBhsI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-80752567085632852752011-03-31T10:29:00.000-04:002011-03-31T10:29:00.637-04:00Mud is the fifth season.Once the worst winter weather is over, when you start to dream about warm spring days and have hopes of an early spring is when the season begins you never hear about until you have horses.<br /><br />Mud Season.<br /><br />This is the season where it's still cold and miserable, you may have wet snow, freezing rain, and every inch of ground your horses have access to has been turned into a slimy disgusting mass of muck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3OGjcSYt2w/TZOkmZmcpMI/AAAAAAAABz0/XbOvdplWduE/s1600/blankets1.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3OGjcSYt2w/TZOkmZmcpMI/AAAAAAAABz0/XbOvdplWduE/s320/blankets1.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589992542111048898" border="0" /></a><br />Don't let those innocent faces fool you. They will stomp back and forth through puddles until it is a knee deep boot stealing morass of doom.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inJaMpHxamA/TZOkaR_EfWI/AAAAAAAABzU/m9Nv1LFV4bk/s1600/blankets5.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inJaMpHxamA/TZOkaR_EfWI/AAAAAAAABzU/m9Nv1LFV4bk/s320/blankets5.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589992333908409698" border="0" /></a><br />Some treat it like makeup, smearing it on faces and cheeks. (Symphony is hiding so you can't see her mud mask)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fxHhXlA7krc/TZOkdE4NthI/AAAAAAAABzc/2hqUsgBw4hI/s1600/blankets4.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fxHhXlA7krc/TZOkdE4NthI/AAAAAAAABzc/2hqUsgBw4hI/s320/blankets4.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589992381929600530" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> Others delight in rolling and plastering themselves with this mud into a shellacked shell that defies the toughest curry. Black is just as bad as white. That dirt shows up very well against a dark coat, and there is no hiding the dust, every spec shows. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pgmh7ah-VLQ/TZOkfs6JZYI/AAAAAAAABzk/weOcIlUMuvM/s1600/blankets3.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pgmh7ah-VLQ/TZOkfs6JZYI/AAAAAAAABzk/weOcIlUMuvM/s320/blankets3.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589992427034862978" border="0" /></a>There are two things you can do:<br /><br />A. Blanket them, so that at least the part where the saddle goes doesn't have to be chiseled free.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IJXYBWNGefk/TZOkjTQnSlI/AAAAAAAABzs/KxieuRHnbiU/s1600/blankets2.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IJXYBWNGefk/TZOkjTQnSlI/AAAAAAAABzs/KxieuRHnbiU/s320/blankets2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589992488869251666" border="0" /></a><br />B. Buy a dirt colored horse. I like B best.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-64504285177813634302011-03-30T16:47:00.010-04:002011-03-30T16:59:00.983-04:00Hay delivery - Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7b4YB4GrLBM/TZOW5NT0v-I/AAAAAAAABvU/rTIJVn4VUSg/s1600/horsesnow1.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7b4YB4GrLBM/TZOW5NT0v-I/AAAAAAAABvU/rTIJVn4VUSg/s320/horsesnow1.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589977472066437090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nsFxu_KL-PY/TZOXczcqFoI/AAAAAAAABwM/aPaVzaLQ-CQ/s1600/horsesnow6.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nsFxu_KL-PY/TZOXczcqFoI/AAAAAAAABwM/aPaVzaLQ-CQ/s320/horsesnow6.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589978083599455874" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0AttNHEwWdo/TZOXJN8RwPI/AAAAAAAABv0/xFgAz6d5oEM/s1600/horsesnow3.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0AttNHEwWdo/TZOXJN8RwPI/AAAAAAAABv0/xFgAz6d5oEM/s320/horsesnow3.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589977747114017010" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_q-WAvU3Dtc/TZOXaJeKNRI/AAAAAAAABwE/yBtOyamRaqg/s1600/horsesnow5.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_q-WAvU3Dtc/TZOXaJeKNRI/AAAAAAAABwE/yBtOyamRaqg/s320/horsesnow5.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589978037971727634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOkS0pRsBRY/TZOXDYwE6VI/AAAAAAAABvs/Qj9sNyxK-tc/s1600/horsesnow4.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOkS0pRsBRY/TZOXDYwE6VI/AAAAAAAABvs/Qj9sNyxK-tc/s320/horsesnow4.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589977646936418642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmEGjfXrWhg/TZOW8N80NtI/AAAAAAAABvc/8IMwveoBoec/s1600/horsesnow2.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmEGjfXrWhg/TZOW8N80NtI/AAAAAAAABvc/8IMwveoBoec/s320/horsesnow2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589977523777976018" border="0" /></a>Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-52646479015889561742011-01-13T19:58:00.009-05:002011-01-13T20:42:56.387-05:00Snow!Everyone was snoozing when I got to the barn. I had to thaw out a frozen faucet and hose, so while the hair dryer was doing it's work I took some photos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gi7_AL9I/AAAAAAAABnQ/58SgqzpdBU0/s1600/cookie8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gi7_AL9I/AAAAAAAABnQ/58SgqzpdBU0/s320/cookie8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561840586903793618" border="0" /></a>Shadow, Roheryn and Symphony.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-geKr-0sI/AAAAAAAABnI/g8j8Kt11Wdc/s1600/cookie7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-geKr-0sI/AAAAAAAABnI/g8j8Kt11Wdc/s320/cookie7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561840504951198402" border="0" /></a>Dixie, sound asleep!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gLYT4E6I/AAAAAAAABnA/p59WgNB3vyM/s1600/cookie5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gLYT4E6I/AAAAAAAABnA/p59WgNB3vyM/s320/cookie5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561840182190674850" border="0" /></a>Hey, Mom's here!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gH5nalNI/AAAAAAAABm4/gN1QQnlpsVM/s1600/cookie4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gH5nalNI/AAAAAAAABm4/gN1QQnlpsVM/s320/cookie4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561840122411521234" border="0" /></a>Hey, whatcha doin'?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gEcBF0yI/AAAAAAAABmw/_vCFPRhLpaA/s1600/cookie3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gEcBF0yI/AAAAAAAABmw/_vCFPRhLpaA/s320/cookie3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561840062926541602" border="0" /></a>Roheryn has such a kind eye.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gAC0tQyI/AAAAAAAABmo/7RwyTwgrrJc/s1600/cookie2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-gAC0tQyI/AAAAAAAABmo/7RwyTwgrrJc/s320/cookie2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561839987444237090" border="0" /></a>How YOU doin'?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-f7w86S7I/AAAAAAAABmg/RbsHLueXuFQ/s1600/cookies1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TS-f7w86S7I/AAAAAAAABmg/RbsHLueXuFQ/s320/cookies1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561839913927330738" border="0" /></a>Got cookies?Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-20579981567398272072010-11-05T09:08:00.005-04:002010-11-05T11:36:25.243-04:00It's that time of year!The Monday after Thanksgiving is the first day of regular hunting season, and the bow and blackpowder season has already started. Even if you are riding in an area clearly marked No Hunting, you should take precautions! If you do not already have your bright orange gear, you can pick it up at Bass Pro Shops, or any outdoor sports store. For dogs Petsmart and Petco carry items in their stores and online. Horse items are found online at retailers like Smart Pak and Valley Vet.<br /><br />Another excellent source for safety gear is the website <a href="http://www.dontshootme.ca/">Don't Shoot Me!</a> Lot's of good items for Human, Horse and Hound.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dontshootme.ca/horse-apparel-1/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 161px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TNQDptgzdiI/AAAAAAAABiA/Q69zvoQSLxk/s320/blanket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536053857071887906" border="0" /></a>They also have the best logo..really makes the point, doesn't it?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dontshootme.ca/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 101px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TNQDsRqbRkI/AAAAAAAABiI/peAGUH-596U/s320/logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536053901135660610" border="0" /></a><br />It especially is important for those of us in MD, because Sunday morning one of our friends had their horse shot and killed in their field. Now this was a deliberate killing, not a hunting accident, but it's a reminder how fragile life can be. One shot, and her horse was gone.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-71618506722263844972010-10-30T18:17:00.017-04:002010-10-30T18:31:49.457-04:00There's a new girl in town...Everyone was excited!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaWrt7ePI/AAAAAAAABgg/vUJOcZbyil8/s1600/missy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaWrt7ePI/AAAAAAAABgg/vUJOcZbyil8/s320/missy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967756614662386" border="0" /></a>Missy and Killian, who live across the road.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMybnh83SKI/AAAAAAAABhA/2PZb7qhmTTo/s1600/killian.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMybnh83SKI/AAAAAAAABhA/2PZb7qhmTTo/s320/killian.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533969145562351778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaGGZlkgI/AAAAAAAABf4/pVuwIrZWTRQ/s1600/dixie7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaGGZlkgI/AAAAAAAABf4/pVuwIrZWTRQ/s320/dixie7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967471719322114" border="0" /></a>Roheryn and Paladin...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyad7FeysI/AAAAAAAABgw/VUHxgPDeKKo/s1600/roh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyad7FeysI/AAAAAAAABgw/VUHxgPDeKKo/s320/roh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967880999062210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyahEVf6dI/AAAAAAAABg4/hNLbTCf8TQg/s1600/shadow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyahEVf6dI/AAAAAAAABg4/hNLbTCf8TQg/s320/shadow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967935021771218" border="0" /></a>Shadow didn't care..<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaQDnCCSI/AAAAAAAABgQ/scCV24YS_yA/s1600/dixiehead.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaQDnCCSI/AAAAAAAABgQ/scCV24YS_yA/s320/dixiehead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967642769099042" border="0" /></a><br />Welcome to Generator's Dixieland Diva.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaMZTA88I/AAAAAAAABgI/3WZtRjN55FI/s1600/dixie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaMZTA88I/AAAAAAAABgI/3WZtRjN55FI/s320/dixie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967579871245250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaJIGAwvI/AAAAAAAABgA/aDATiZ66II4/s1600/dixie8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaJIGAwvI/AAAAAAAABgA/aDATiZ66II4/s320/dixie8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967523713696498" border="0" /></a>Dixie looked around, checked out the pasture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaBzmv5SI/AAAAAAAABfw/cskA5kd0S0I/s1600/dixie6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaBzmv5SI/AAAAAAAABfw/cskA5kd0S0I/s320/dixie6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967397954774306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZ9jzz8lI/AAAAAAAABfo/Si3_ERUr13w/s1600/dixie5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZ9jzz8lI/AAAAAAAABfo/Si3_ERUr13w/s320/dixie5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967324995121746" border="0" /></a>There was a bit of squealing, and ears back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZ57OnkwI/AAAAAAAABfg/Y7dEd3yyjEc/s1600/dixie4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZ57OnkwI/AAAAAAAABfg/Y7dEd3yyjEc/s320/dixie4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967262562095874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZ2TQAoJI/AAAAAAAABfY/4S3rnH0XXXs/s1600/dixie3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZ2TQAoJI/AAAAAAAABfY/4S3rnH0XXXs/s320/dixie3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967200290906258" border="0" /></a>Some ugly faces from Roheryn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZzHiHmmI/AAAAAAAABfQ/Qbuv9NklxUE/s1600/dixie2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZzHiHmmI/AAAAAAAABfQ/Qbuv9NklxUE/s320/dixie2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967145606027874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZu5gk8KI/AAAAAAAABfI/mA78LM10mWs/s1600/dixie1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyZu5gk8KI/AAAAAAAABfI/mA78LM10mWs/s320/dixie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967073121988770" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaZk-cXyI/AAAAAAAABgo/4QvPiaa6ulA/s1600/pair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMyaZk-cXyI/AAAAAAAABgo/4QvPiaa6ulA/s320/pair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533967806344486690" border="0" /></a>But they eventually settled down together. Dixie is 3, Roheryn 2, so they are the babies in the field.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-108822410664323102010-10-25T19:05:00.000-04:002010-10-25T19:05:00.529-04:00Pretty girl!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS8aWb4SRI/AAAAAAAABeo/81wZehdl6Ww/s1600/roh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS8aWb4SRI/AAAAAAAABeo/81wZehdl6Ww/s320/roh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531753403202947346" border="0" /></a>Roheryn, 2 yr old TWH.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-66902067530763607372010-10-24T18:42:00.007-04:002010-10-24T19:05:08.642-04:00Ladies Night out!We have decided Wednesday night is Ladies Night out! So we met at Schooley Mill park to ride.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS6GTuSi1I/AAAAAAAABeg/-zsxvXBE6jQ/s1600/sym4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS6GTuSi1I/AAAAAAAABeg/-zsxvXBE6jQ/s320/sym4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531750859854220114" border="0" /></a><br />Symphony, ready to tack up.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS5oJJagtI/AAAAAAAABdw/FbjI5bgGzss/s1600/pal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS5oJJagtI/AAAAAAAABdw/FbjI5bgGzss/s320/pal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531750341619122898" border="0" /></a>Paladin (not a lady, but he was a total gentleman, so we let him come)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS58zT7-1I/AAAAAAAABeQ/w3el1UBNR6o/s1600/sym2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS58zT7-1I/AAAAAAAABeQ/w3el1UBNR6o/s320/sym2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531750696534932306" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS5xSImumI/AAAAAAAABeA/4hSHFCOenL4/s1600/pal3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS5xSImumI/AAAAAAAABeA/4hSHFCOenL4/s320/pal3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531750498650471010" border="0" /></a>Paladin and Lisa<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS6BmNjW4I/AAAAAAAABeY/a_1k8doAXzs/s1600/sym3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 289px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS6BmNjW4I/AAAAAAAABeY/a_1k8doAXzs/s320/sym3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531750778917837698" border="0" /></a>Lauren and Symphony. I rode Shadow, since we weren't going to do much that night.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS5tLVvObI/AAAAAAAABd4/LgykJodcJZg/s1600/pal2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS5tLVvObI/AAAAAAAABd4/LgykJodcJZg/s320/pal2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531750428107028914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS53SXqrsI/AAAAAAAABeI/1WqRRhQkED4/s1600/sym.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TMS53SXqrsI/AAAAAAAABeI/1WqRRhQkED4/s320/sym.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531750601792859842" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone else left the park, so we couldn't get someone to take a photo of the three of us. We had a lovely ride, then went off to the Twist and Turn Tavern for dinner and drinks.<br /><br />Anyone want to join us this week??Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-31098574033424913492010-10-01T09:31:00.000-04:002010-10-01T09:31:00.708-04:00Horsepower 2Part 2 of the series by Martin Clune.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5XG1nZwH37g?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5XG1nZwH37g?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xzZsIhvHCUg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xzZsIhvHCUg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AyqKWRW0CXY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AyqKWRW0CXY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WSGjLqvL82A?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WSGjLqvL82A?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6gVim8ZLacc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6gVim8ZLacc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-24119309742832594992010-09-30T09:24:00.002-04:002010-09-30T09:31:29.884-04:00Martin Clunes: HorsepowerI love Martin Clunes. His programs have such a 'joie de vivre' to them. He also is a rider, and did 2 programs about horses. Thanks to Sherrel for bringing them to my notice!<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hOo-HMpp0no?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hOo-HMpp0no?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B0gXlWi_RVw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B0gXlWi_RVw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s3TVhTCo1fs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s3TVhTCo1fs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/01gNaadxI0M?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/01gNaadxI0M?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pcPAlVrgmkg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pcPAlVrgmkg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209092243385102087.post-47880687954409988792010-09-26T22:53:00.001-04:002010-09-26T22:55:01.410-04:00Invasion!There was an invader at the barn!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TKAHO1pFZoI/AAAAAAAABco/TerQGJ6R2gc/s1600/mantis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tEHgf7knFks/TKAHO1pFZoI/AAAAAAAABco/TerQGJ6R2gc/s320/mantis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521421094655190658" border="0" /></a>She claimed the fence post as her own.Shadow Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015365019108553741noreply@blogger.com0