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Post by kiki on Aug 20, 2006 18:58:23 GMT -5
As I walked into the barn, I went into my loft/house. I had been out and about town. Up there I grabbed a carrot for myself, then pulled a sweatshirt over my t-shirt. Then I went back down into the barn. I flipped on the lights, and I heard nickers of hello. Smiling I went down to my extra large stall, being occupied by my draft mare Sundance. Hey there girl, I said softly. Approaching her carefully I put her halter and lead on and took her to the cross-ties. But instead a mouse darted across the isle and spooked her; she bolted out of my hands. No!! Sundance come back here!! I shouted. I took Fable Gal out of her stall, and put a helmet on quick. Jumping on her bareback I dug my heels into her sides and we jumped after the big bay draft. There was much noise, and my stallions started getting rambunctious in their stalls. Finally we cornered her, but she was lashing out. I didn't want to risk Fable Gal, so I dismounted and she calmly trotted back to her open stall. Easy girl... no one will hurt you. You're all right. I won't do anything... I said softly, and slowly started to walk to her. She was shaking, but trusted me enough to slow down. I reached her lead and untangled it from her legs and neck. Stroking her neck I gave her a kiss then we walked to the wash rack. She needed to cool down. I hosed her off, and untangled her mane. Then I put her light blanket and into her stall, hoping she would calm down. Then I went to Fable Gal and did the same. Thanks girl, you helped a lot, I said. Giving her a carrot, I went to Churchill's stall. Hey boy! I said and took him into the cross-ties. Smiling I groomed his sleek coat, and made his mane and tail shine. Then I put his Saddle Seat saddle on, and a bridle too. I led him out into the outdoor ring, and mounted up. After warming up, I started a trot. Sitting deep I kept his nose in line and kicked a bit behind his shoulders. Then he started picking his knees up, and we started the fast and smooth pace around the ring. Good boy, I said to him, and pat his neck. I checked him a bit, then after a while more I let him on loose rein at a canter. After cooling him out I put him in the barn after seeing the huge storm cloud coming. Then I took Pete; he was the calmest and if a storm came while riding I could trust him the most. Good boy, Pete, I said as I picked his hooves in the cross ties. Then I put his cutting saddle on and his leather bridle too. I heard a clap of thunder, and looked to Pete. He was fine; good. Rain started coming down. I led Pete to the indoor ring and mounted up. We warmed up, then I just would practice with some drills instead of taking a calf. Together we bolted down the middle, then turned sharply left and right. We repeated it, then started a new drill. Gallop down the middle, then turn in tight circles. Reverse, and do the same thing. Then I cooled him off and put him in the barn. It was pouring, thundering, and everything really bad now. I fed my now getting neverous horses, and gave them each a sugar cube. Then I headed up to my hayloft to watch a bit of TV.
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Post by kiki on Aug 22, 2006 12:56:13 GMT -5
I woke up early, and quickly got dressed. I didn't even bother with breakfast because I wanted to see my new horse right away. He had been delivered last night; he was being imported a long way. Racing down the ladder I ran to his stall. I saw a cute, white gelding in stall number 32, between Churchill and Fable Gal. Hey there Nero, welcome to Shining Star, I whispered, then went into his stall. I ran my hand down his legs and over his back, making sure the trip had went well. Feeling no heat or bumps I smiled. I hugged his neck and he nickered. I took Nero out of his stall and into the cross ties. I used the stiff brush to get rid of all the acumalated dust, then picked his hooves. I tacked him up with an older all-purpose saddle, then mounted and we went out of the barn. We got to the outdoor arena where a course of 18" jumps was set up. I wanted to start low and gradually go higher with him. We did a quick warm up, the started. 'Spurring' him on, I kissed to him as we flew over the first combo. A gradual left diagnal took us to a mini-roll top. I gave a quick tap with my whip and he didn't even need it as he soared over the jump. We took a half-circle turn to another combo. He nicked the first one, but cleared the next beautifully. We continuted at a right diagnal, then did a loop to the middle. Over one, quite a few strides, then over the brick wall. We finished beautifully, and I praised him. Good boy, Nero, good boy, I said, and took him to the barn. I dismounted, untacked him, then also hosed him down lightly. I turned him out then. I cleaned up Sundance's vaulting saddle, then took her to the cross ties and groomed her for a little. Taking a step-stool I set the vaulting saddle down on her back and did the girth. I put her bridle on, then grabbed my helmet and put my protection vest on. This was probably the most dangerous riding I did on any of my horses, but it was good I had Sundance to do it on. I led her to the ring with a post in the middle, and tied the lunge line to it and one to Sundance. I mounted her and sent her at a walk for the most risky things first. I stood upon the saddle, and took hold of the front grips. Then I hoisted myself up into a handstand. I felt her starting to speed up, so I lightly swung down. Asking for a trot, I slowly got on my knees. I raised one, and and grabbed it. Gaining balance, I asked for a canter. I started to fall, and grabbed the front grips. I slowed her to a halt, and dismounted. Good girl... I said softly, and pet her neck. I untied the lunge line, then we went to the barn. I untacked her then hosed her off too. I then turned her out with Nero. Then I went and took Cloud. I tacked him up and mounted him. We went to the large field where I had set up a natural course. At a canter we head for the first jump. a 36" flat top. Hunching into a tight jumping position I yelled, Ha! and he soared over the jump. We had to change the lead, then we went on to the next one. It was a series of wagon wheels. It was higher, and more dangerous if he nicked it. I sped him up as we got only a few strides from the jump. Burying my face in his mane I hoped for the best. As we landed the reins were torn from my hands, and I saw drops of blood. Not caring, I gained control of him again and directed him to the next water/brush combo. Over the water and log jump, then over the brush jumps 5 strides away. We finished it, and by then my hands were sliced up. With a bit of pain I untacked him and turned him, Churchill and Fable Gal out with the others. When it came to Pete, he knew somthing was wrong. He didn't take the halter, so I just opened his stall door and he followed me to the pasture. Thanks, boy, I said, then decided to go to the cafe to relax and bandage my hands.
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Post by kiki on Oct 29, 2006 13:54:29 GMT -5
My hands had healed over, and I was thankful for that. I grabbed a quick lunch, then ran down the latter to Fable Gal's stall. I took her by the cheeckstrap and into the cross ties. I got my grooming things and started working on her belly wich held a lot of caked mud. After that was done I finished grooming her and tacked her up for driving. Opening the big barn door I led her out and hopped into the carriage. Without me doing anything she was already tucking her nose. Good Girl, I praised, then we started a walk around the ring. I then moved her into an extended walk. She looked so elegant when she was driving. With a click of my tounge she moved into a nice, steady trot. I gave a flick of my whip above her head to tell her to keep going. She took this signal in the wrong way and started an extended trot. I gave a small tug on the reins and she ceased this pace. She started to throw her nose out, so I started see-sawing with my hands. It became tucked again as I cooled her off and unharnessed her. After putting her outside with Cloud, who would get off today, I got my paint stallion. I curried him untill he shone then hopped on bareback. We set off to the trail. I leaned forward very far as we went up a really steep hill. Then I took him through a field at a nice smooth trot like we would do if I was riding him saddleseat. Once on a trail again I asked for a canter and we flew through the forest. Then we re-traced our steps to home. I turned him out with the other two. I took Pete and Nero from the pasture, as Sundance would get off too. I changed her pasture to the other's and put the stallion and gelding in their stalls. I took Pete first. We did the same trail as Churchill, and he was in his stall with a little grain and 2 flakes of alfalfa. Then I tacked up Nero and mounted. We went to the jumping arena. Today it would be tackling a 2' triple. Nothing else, just that. I warmed him up well then headed for it. He jumped the first one beautifully, second one just touched the top pole, but inbetween the first and second he charged causing me to lose my stirrup and he over-jumped it too. We did it 3 more times in that direction then changed directions and did it 4 times that way too. I patted my gray gelding for his wonderful effort then put him in the stall across from Pete's.
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