Trail Ride Success!

Had a small incident this morning. I put three boots on Cotton and went to put the last one on, when suddenly, Cotton decided that she'd never been cross-tied before and pulled back HARD. She broke her halter and went down on the floor. So we were down to just her spare halter. I brought along Trouble's spare, as well as Cotton's broken on. It broke along the throatlatch hole, so you could reuse it on a tighter hole. That might fit better than Trouble's cob sized halter, if we ran into trouble. Even with that small incident, we loaded up and left just slightly behind schedule.

You should first understand this. I've only driven to my instructors and to the FBT (Flat, Boring Trail) on my own. And I knew the road that this ride is at is difficult to see. So, hubby followed me in his car, so that he could leave once we got settled in. We made it there with almost no issue (I thought I might have missed the turn, but I didn't).

And then we waited. Cotton would start pawing, unless you gave her a job. So I started brushing and brushing her. This was a trail competition, but many of the other horses were clean enough for a real horse show. And body clipped! I knew we wouldn't be in the running for the "Best Groomed" Award this time.

They finally held the rider briefing, where they told us what the obstacles would be. The obstacles seemed well enough for us:

1. Mailbox
2. Trot logs, stop at 3rd log for 5 sec, then walk off.
3. Slicker - take off tree, touch horse's four quarters, put back on tree.
4. Downhill
5. Drag - Remove rope from tree, drag plastic bag of cans ~ 50 ft.
6. Back through L

I thought the mailbox and back through would be our hardest. Finessing things was not Cotton's strongpoint.

1. The mailbox went really well. The approach from the left was nicer, but I knew that Cotton sidepasses much better to the right. If I didn't get her lined up right initially, I could sidepass closer to the mailbox if I came from the right. So I did. I came up to it, and said, "Okay, stop Cotton."
Cotton: Sounds good, commencing naptime.
Me: Open mailbox, retrieve flyer, stow flyer away... "Okay, move off Cotton"
Cotton: Really, don't you want to nap?
Me: Nope
Cotton: Well, if you're sure...
Since it was the beginning, the other horses were wired and bouncing off the walls. I know Trouble would have been. But Cotton was so good!

2. Trotting not a problem. But those logs were huge! (Possibly, 18 inches) I trotted a hair too far, or Cotton took a hair too long to stop. We ended up with three legs on the front side and just one in back. You were supposed to straddle the log. So I asked Cotton to back.
Cotton: "Back over this GIANT log?! Are you nuts?!!"
Me: "Yes, pretty please"
Cotton: "Oh, alright"
And then we waited our 5 sec, and moved off. Good Cotton!

3. Cotton walked right up to the slicker, no problems!
Cotton: "Commencing naptime!"
Meanwhile, I could NOT for the life of me get the stupid slicker off the tree! Cotton was right there, it just was snagged on the tree! After trying, I finally managed to get it down. Then I touched it to Cotton's shoulders and hindquarters.
Cotton: "Still sleeping!"
Then I hung it back up.
Me: "Time to move off again, Cotton!"
Cotton: "Sigh, if I must"

4. The downhill was a gimme. There definitely were steeper hills on the last ride here. This one wasn't bad at all! Sit back and let Cotton go!

5. While waiting for our turn, we watched some scary horses at the drag! Their horses would startle, and then take off running. And the riders wouldn't let go! So the bag was still chasing the poor horses! In retrospect, I think this was our hardest obstacle. I dragged the rope and dragged the rattling bag without problem. For bonus points, you were to turn around, backing your horse whilst dragging the bag back to the start. We turned around and started backing. Cotton decided that was too scary! So we dropped the rope and called it good.

6. I thought the back was going to be the hardest one, but Cotton was so good! We walked through the L, and then I asked her to back, and back she did! All done!

My original plan was to head home after the ride, and not wait around for the awards. But Cotton was so good that I decided to wait around. And since we'd gone out in one of the later groups (I picked the smallest group!) we didn't have quite as long to wait. Not too long, just an hour and a half or so....

Finally, they did awards. We got a 5th and $25! Sweet! Should be enough to buy a new leather halter, to replace the one she broke. Yay!

It took longer than I would have liked to load back up. We're up to 60 sec now. Trouble would definitely have gotten yelled at. Cotton just got popped with the end of the leadrope. "Oh, you mean you want me back feet in the trailer, too?!"

Coming home was a bit more exciting than getting there. When we crossed over the highway, I was doing 55 mph. The only time the whole trip I actually go the speed limit! There was a big hill coming up and I wanted some speed to make it over. So, the truck and trailer are zipping along at 55 mph, when so crazy car pulls out right in front of us. Growl! And then comes to a stop. Double growl! Doesn't he know that a loaded truck and trailer do NOT stop quickly? Fortunately, there was a shoulder that we could roll onto. Excuse the rumble strips, Cotton!

We made it almost home. We got to the house and discovered that the stoooopid window contractors were working on a Saturday on our windows, without telling us, and had blocked in the driveway. Umm, dudes, you need to move your trucks and move them NOW! Meanwhile, Cotton starts shaking the trailer, "Let meeee oooooffff! Why are we stoooooped?!" They move, sort of. We clipped a Douglas pear on our way in. I'm not fond of those trees, so I wasn't too sad.

We finally made it home, and reunited Cotton and Trouble.

Travel Trial

I loaded Cotton up and without issue, we headed off to my instructor's for a "travel trial." We made it there without incident and unloaded. Cotton was very interested in the new surroundings and was checking out the scenery. I let her munch some grass for a bit, and then tied her to the trailer and set to work tacking up. Amusingly, she never tried pulling back, and barely complained about the girth tightening! Interesting... she's only girthy at home!

Then we headed over to the outdoor dressage arena. With mirrors! Cotton did check out her reflection, "Gee, I am a FUZZY horse!" but was unconcerned. We walked a few laps, both directions, and then did some of the slowest trotting that that farm has probably ever seen (instructor was not around to yell, FORWARD!) We have that problem all the time, now was not the time to address it - we were working on being good away from home. I wasn't going to ask for a canter - again, the plan was to do easy stuff in a new setting. But she was so good and the footing was so nice.... so I asked for it, and she gave! It seemed much easier in the groomed arena, much more so than the mud at home. Then we had to turn around and canter the other direction. Then called it quits. A good ride!

Untacking went well. I booted Cotton and then pointed her at the trailer. She put her front feet on and then paused. She checked out the view out the windows on the right, checked out the divider on the left, checked out the ceiling above, and then consented to get all the way on the trailer. (Is that the equine equivalent of crossing yourself?) The loading process took 20 sec. I'm still okay with that. The line between good and bad loading times is fuzzy. Ten min is too long, 20 sec is still in my "okay" range. For Cotton. Since Trouble gets on so easily, I'd give her a sharp word if she took 20 sec. So, it's all relative.

Anyway, she got back on, we made it home, unloaded, and then for good measure, loaded and unloaded again. I told Cotton what a good girl she was and then turned her back out.

We are now signed up for the ride on Saturday! Yay!

Baths and Trailer Trips

We worked more on the 5th stall today. We used up the last of our boards, so we'll have to make a run back into town to get more wood. But it's coming along quite nicely!

While hubby was mowing the grass, I decided to give both horses baths. Not show clean baths, just you-haven't-had-a-bath-in-months bath. To try and get some of the ground in grit out. Afterwards, of course, both horses rolled. After hubby put the mower away, I mentioned to him that I'd given the horses baths. He looked at the horse (now, both covered in mud, again) and said, "Oh, you mean you ARE going to give them baths?" No, I already gave then baths!

During lunch, I contemplated my next move. I'd planned on taking Cotton for a solo trailer ride, but it's been so long since she went anywhere (and wasn't all that well behaved last time, either) Baby steps, that's the best training method. So, I decided to take Trouble with us.

The timing didn't go so smoothly. Hubby had invited a friend over to get manure for his garden, so I was rushed in getting the horses loaded up and out of the way. As a result, Cotton took longer to load (up to 20 sec, which still isn't bad, all things considered). We went for a 15 min circle of the neighborhood, came home and unloaded. I put Cotton back on the trailer again, and she happily went back on and back off. Then, I put both horses in the soggy pasture, talked to the manure man (who was very friendly). After he left, I got Cotton back out and gave her a thorough grooming (she is VERY fuzzy!) I put hay in the trailer this time, loaded her up alone, and we headed back out. No problems at all (and, with Cotton alone, I managed to hit all three traffic lights on green, no stopped trailer, no impatient horse!) I did see one woman who was out working on her fence, both times. The second time, she looked right at me, as if to say, "Didn't I just see that rig go by 30 min ago?" When we got home, Trouble was running her little head off, and was quite pleased to see her friend. I unloaded Cotton, popped her back on and off the trailer (Good horsey!), and then called it quits for the day. Planted more potatoes. Hopefully, no spotted critter will try to knock them over...

With the time change, we brought the horses in and feed them on the early side, but they seemed happy to go in and eat, after their "rough" day. No ducks showed up! We came inside to shower and work on dinner. Right at 530, old time, the ducks waddled through the pasture and up to the barn. Sorry, duckies, now you're late! We're already inside, no dinner tonight! Poor duckies!

Tomorrow's going to be a rainy day (no trailer trips). Tuesday is my last day of extracurricular spots (hooray!) So, on Wednesday, the plan is to take Cotton to my instructors (for another test trailer trip), unload, ride, load up, and come home, on Monday. If that goes well, we'll sign up for the trail competition next Saturday.

Tacking Up!

Today, we spent a good deal of time working on the 5th stall. We took the junk that was stored in their to the dump, and bought stall mats and wood. This stall has partially buried fencing along the perimeter (to keep out skunks!), so we want to cover the above ground section of fence, so that the New Horse doesn't get caught up on it. And, one of the sides of the stall is the metal barn, so we'd like to cover that up and have wood "kick boards" installed. Hubby got one wall finished, we'll work more on it tomorrow.

I also practiced tacking up Cotton, to address her girthiness. She made some moves like she was going to lean back and lie down again, so I popped one of the cross-ties off. She seemed surprised by this move and stood back up. "What, I can't lean on the ties?" She did take some steps backward, but having just one tie on (and the leadrope around her neck) seemed to solve the larger issue. When I was able to take the girth off and put it on the first hole a couple of times, without complaints from Cotton, I pulled the whole saddle off. Which, again, surprised Cotton. "What, we not going riding?"

Things a Bombproof Horse is Afraid of!

#1. Sheep/Great Pyranees dogs.
We took Cotton to a trail ride on a research farm, which has a pasture of sheep. They'll really bizarre. Total hive-mind mentality. "Let's all go left!" and then they do! Trouble didn't care, "Can we stop watching the boooooring critters and GO already?!" Cotton decided they were too weird and took off, dumping poor hubby.

About a week later, our neighbors (the cows) let a Great Pyranees dog into their pasture. He came up (about 100 ft from the fenceline) and sat watching the horses for about an hour. TOTALLY freaked out poor Cotton. At first, Trouble was spooking in sync with Cotton, but then decided it wasn't worth it and went back to eating. Cotton continued to freak until the dog decided it was time to go home.

Which brings us to scary thing number 2:
#2. Trumpets.

Apparently, one of our neighbors is learning to play the trumpet. It's nothing obnoxious, just, neighbors are playing the trumpet. Which is, apparently, cause for alarm in a Bombproof horse's world. As a result, poor Cotton has been subject to some "Big Band" style of music playing in the barn this weekend. She's mellowing back out. But sudden, loud, trumpet calls are still cause for alarm.

I'd planned on taking Cotton for a solo "trail" ride, but given the trumpet music, we decided to change plans and hang out at home, in the arena and mostly out of sight from Trouble. I seldom talk whilst riding (anyone who knows me knows that I have trouble doing two things at once), so, in an effort to desensitize poor Cotton, I started singing while riding. It's hard, singing "Ruler of the Queen's Navy" while posting!

Trailer Loading Practice

Went astonishingly well. I loaded Cotton, closed the divider, let her out, and backed out nicely. Trouble was being obnoxious, so at one point, I threw her on the trailer after Cotton. And she did a hop-skip-jump onto the trailer. "Ow, Mom, my hocks hurt!" Alright, my poor spotted horsey, you can have off until the vet comes out.

But this morning, when I turned the horses outside, Cotton went for the hay like a good horse. Trouble was cantering around like a nut, and NOT lame!! Oh, spotted horsey, you drive me bonkers!!

Plans Go Awry

Vet's truck died, so we had to reschedule Trouble's hock injections. Now he won't come out until 3/18. Which means, we can't go on the trail competition on 3/19.

New plan:

1. Practice trailer loading Cotton
2. Take Cotton for a spin in the trailer without her Trouble-friend
3. Take Cotton instead of Trouble!

Who is hungry?

Lesson yesterday was completely horrible. When it was time to load Trouble into the trailer, I couldn't catch her. I can't remember if she was trotting while I was chasing her, or if it was just a low speed chase, but she would NOT be caught. I finally managed to catch her (by first removing her Cotton!) We made it to the lesson barn, I tacked up and started walking around the arena. No problems yet. As soon as I trot her, she is totally, completely, absolutely very much LAME. Usually, it just a general not-quite-rightness when it's her hocks. So I haven't a clue what's up with her. You can't see anything at the walk, but a very non-horsey person can see that she is very off at the trot. Vet's coming out on Wednesday for her hocks, so we'll see what he says.

So we came home early. I set about my usual chores, though later than usual. Everything goes off the usual schedule on lesson days. I threw both horses in the pasture and went into the barn to do stalls. When I was finished, I opened the barn door to find FOUR hungry critters, complaining that dinner was late.

Trouble: I'm huuuuuungry! You're laaaaate!
Critter #2: "Me too!" Quack!

Critter #3: "Yeah, what the others said!" Quack, quack!

Cotton (Standing in the back of the pack): I'm still the lowest ranked critter!

Yes, we have ducks. Two white ducks, who are unusually tame. And hungry.

I finally make it back into the house, where I'm greeted by a spinning dog. She spins when she's hungry.

Happy Birthday to Trouble!

Happy Birthday to Trouble!
Happy Birthday to Trouble!
Happy Birthday to Craaaazy Hoooooorse!
Happy Birthday to Trouble!

Today, Trouble actually turns 16. She celebrated by getting a manicure (the farrier came out!) and eating the last of her stash of clearance candy canes.

Average Horses

Recently, there is a post on COTH forums asking what the average horse is capable of. With regard to eventing, the consensus is that the average horse can do Novice! I just want to do Tadpole/BN! Of course, my horses aren't very average. Trouble is having hock issues and refusing jumps (because she's a brat or because she's in pain? The verdict is, it started as 2, but now it's 1). Cotton is 24! That's awfully old to be starting to jump. Though I'm not sure what she has gone in her life. We bought her from a lesson barn with too many horses. They only had her for a few years, prior to that, she was a boarder's horse who went off to college.

In any case, I think I SHOULD be able to get either horse around the local Pony Club's Amoeba level (18", dressage + cross country). Trouble has been there three times, she's seen the scary Training level jump that is NEAR one of the Amoeba jumps, and she's seen the massive barrel construction that is the finale jump. And she'll put it a respectable dressage test. But, she may have some attitude and get me eliminated. Or dump me.

Cotton has less attitude. I COULD get her around a dressage test without getting eliminated. I mean, it's about having fun, right? Not winning? I don't care about winning, I just want to not get eliminated (though any ribbon would be nice...)

I do NOT want to take two horses. That's just TOO much going on for my tastes. So, which do I take?

Jumping Cotton

I was SO incredibly tired of dealing with Trouble's antics, that I decided to ride Cotton today. She is so uncomplicated! I took her over the poles that I had out from working with Trouble, and Cotton trotted right through them, no trouble! I also had out my half barrel jump. I decided to ask her to pop over that, and she did, so very willingly!

My horses are just so different. But while Cotton is less obnoxious than Trouble, both horses still have things that I need to work on.

Trouble:
1. MAJOR attitude
2. Does NOT want to jump.

Cotton:
1. Does not load into the trailer well. Never trailed without Trouble!
2. Very girthy
3. Cantering is not trivial
4. The rail is not her happy place
5. Knows nothing about dressage (what round? My nose is carried down and out!)

For now, let's ignore 5. Problem 4 is getting much better, though gets a bit lost at the canter... The solutions for problems 1-3 are all consistent work! Easy to do, just have to DO it.

Jumping Cotton, Take Two

After being totally unable to decide which horse to ride, I decided to ride Cotton. I think Trouble may have been a bit surprised, but neither horse did any calling for the other! Super!

Cotton was quite good. We trotted some cavaletti, popped over my half barrel jump, and "jumped" a crossrail. Didn't actually jump it, just trotted over it, but as long as it is FORWARD, I'm okay with that.

Cantering? My new plan of attack was to work on sitting trot (I always sit before I ask for the canter). During this, I'd be uber sensitive about her starting to root (drop her head and pull the reins out of my hands), to let her know that rooting is not kosher! After a bit, I asked for the canter. Got nothing. I tried the other direction, still nothing. Ears went back and had an ugly face, so I knew she knew what I wanted. I kept her trotting around, no getting out of work, even if we're not cantering! She finally gave me a nice canter (no rooting at all!) We went halfway around the arena, and then *I* asked for a walk, told her how very, very good she was, and then hopped right off. See, you canter when I ask and then we'll be done. For now, anyway!

One problem we do have is that Cotton is EXTREMELY girthy. I always just put the girth on the first hole and then take her for a walk, tightening it one hole at a time. Today, she nearly laid down in the cross-ties, after I'd put the girth on (first holes only!) A quick google search suggests:

1. Cotton is a brat
2. Cotton has ulcers
3. Saddle doesn't fit
4. Ribs are maligned and need a chiro.

I had this problem before and consistent, slow girthing seemed to solve the problem (had NO trouble girthing at the Poker Ride!). So I'll start with gentle girthing and see if the problem doesn't resolve itself.

Tale of the Auto Feeders, Day Two, Part Two

This evening, I set up the auto feeders before I brought the horses in. The less Trouble sees me messing with it, the better. Then I brought them inside their stalls and head for the feed room to get their dinners. Suddenly, there is a sound of grain filling a horse's feed dish! Noooo! Trouble has feed herself. Uncool! I yell at her, scoop the grain out, feed her breakfast, and reset the auto feeder (it was all a fluke, right?). So, Trouble eats her dinner, and then immediately feeds herself breakfast. Drats!

So, until the auto feeders are made Trouble-proof, only Cotton gets fed at 5 AM. Trouble must wait until I come out.

Okay, who was betting two days?

Tale of the Auto Feeders, Day Two, Part One

This morning, Cotton had eaten about half her grain. Our conversation went like this:

"Cotton! Come and eat!"

"Watching something out back window!"

"Breakfast!"

"Too busy watching darkness!"

"I'm going to drag your butt over here!"

"Try and make me!"

And Cotton gets dragged, unwillingly to the front of the stall.

"Eat!"

And Cotton spins and goes back to her back window.

And Trouble says, "I'll eat it!"

So they got turned out. Trouble seemed rather upset.

"What, no breakfast?"

"The feeders are instead of breakfast."

"You mean, in addition to breakfast?"

"No!"

"I want breakfast!"

"You already had breakfast!"

"That was a early morning snack! Wait, don't turn me out! I haven't had breakfast yet!"

So, apparently, we haven't yet adjusted to the new schedule yet.

Tale of the Auto Feeders, Day One

Today was the first day the auto feeders were in operation. Cotton, for whom the feeders were installed, had not discovered her grain - it was still in her dish when I went out at 5:45 AM. Trouble's grain had disappeared. I assume it dispensed, as scheduled, and she ate it. Of course, there's no real way to know if she ate it at 7 PM after I left, or when the feeder dispensed at 5 AM.

And so, we still had to wait 30 min for Cotton to eat breakfast. C'mon, figure out the system! Eat when grain is dispensed!

Automatic Horse Feeders!

We used four inch diameter PVC pipes to create two automatic horse feeders. The ends have a metal lid and a 66 lbf magnet, which is plugged into a timer (like Christmas lights). Ours are scheduled to dispense grain at 5 AM.

Any bets on how long it takes Trouble to figure it out?

Lesson!

I know, it's been awhile. But never fear that I'm not keeping track of my New Year's Resolution! I have a special calendar, which contains snippets of my ride, or giant sad faces on the days that I didn't ride.

So, lesson today! I'd been practicing backing (the truck and trailer, that is!) I left a little bit early so that I could back into my designated parking space in the daylight. Which my instructor gave me a bit of a hard time for, but at least she got me to park there. It's a better lit spot, for tacking up when it gets dark so early!

Since Trouble hadn't had any real work in awhile (the 9 inches of snow, remember?) she was happy and eager (mostly) to do my bidding. We still had three moments of, "I thought I was done! I don't want to go more!" tantrums, but they weren't as strong as what I'd been dealing with at home, pre-snow.

Anyway, we worked a good bit on shoulder-fore (a moderated version of shoulder-in). We did alright tracking right, but had a good bit of trouble going right. That's Trouble less bendy direction, anyway. So we digressed into a leg yield along the wall. Where we are 30 deg to the wall, and moving parallel to the wall. That at least got Trouble moving off my leg. I definitely need to work at staying straight for that. I get all discombobulated, which isn't helping Trouble at all!

So we have homework! Leg yields along the wall, getting her moving off my leg. Instructor said to just do that much and get it good, and then we'll get back to shoulder-fores and even shoulder-outs. Very convoluted stuff, but it all should help Trouble become more bendy in both directions.

AND, the most exciting news of the day. I've been feeding the horses old Nature's Valley granola bars. They're just too soft (old and stale!) to be good people-eating food anymore. Trouble, as always, is happy to oblige with getting rid of them. The box we have is a giant variety pack. Both critters have sampled the Oats and Honey and the Maple varieties. Today, they had Peanut Butter. Trouble has decided that those are HER FAVORITE THING OF EARTH. Hmmm, might have to get some more of those!

Jan 2011 Snow!

We got 7.5 inches of snow overnight. That's more than I've seen since we lived here! Horses seemed to do fine in it.






We made a snowman inside the horse pasture. Used horse droppings for eyes! And carrots for noses. So, I'm sure you know what happened next.

First Lesson of the New Year

And some crazy spotted horse did NOT want to go. It took me about 10 min to catch her. Not too long, all things considered, but she's usually easy to bring in. And she definitely had some get up and go. Only took a little leg to move off! So, my instructor had us work on downward transitions (no fun, let's do extended trot when she wants to go!) But, apparently, I'm supposed to get her to do what I want, not what she wants. We also work on turns on the forehand and haunches.

Common themes that instructor said:
1. Sit tall!
2. Bend elbows.
3. Keep butt in saddle (at canter).
4. Chin up!

Brat is Back!

Trouble was a great big brat today. I rode, bareback, again. I cut up a Bit of Britain catalog to make dollar bills with. I managed to never lose my dollars (put one under each leg), even when Trouble bucked and acted like a snot. I'd ask her to go forward, she'd come to an abrupt stop, I'd tap her with the crop, she'd buck... My instructor says to just tap her with the crop, and to keep taping her forever until she goes forward. Hitting harder only makes her madder.... I just wish she would quit doing that! It may be time for a "trail" ride, to reboot her brain. Problem is, it's still hunting season around here.

Lesson tomorrow!

Water Logged!

We got nearly three inches of rain overnight, so today wasn't exactly a great day to ride. But I couldn't not do my New Year's resolution (to ride) on New Year's! So I took Trouble for a spin.

We are back at Full Pond levels, which means we can't go swimming in there. It's nearly six feet deep and the drop off is rather steep, so it's not ideal for swimming. But, when we get tons of rain, the pond backflows into a ditch along our fenceline. Which is just about perfect for riding through! If only the fence wasn't there, we could practice our trot/canter pass throughs!