The Art of Poi

Back in 2001 I worked as a wrangler at Lone Mountain Ranch in Big sky, Montana. The ranch had 89 horses, it was a summer job and one of the best experiences of my life. We had some great rides right from the ranch, but mostly I would trailer people and horses into nearby Yellowstone Park and do all day rides. The scenery and wildlife were just breath taking. You can see some pictures here.

It was such physical work and you were exhausted at the end of the day, but it was a good feeling and by the end of the season after lifting all those saddles, and riding, and cleaning I was as fit as a butchers dog!

Me on my favorite ranch horse Leland, on the Spanish Creek Trail

We had no television at the ranch so our evenings were filled with sitting outside on the deck of our cabin and talking about our day, watching the deer strolling by, or the fox cubs playing that lived under the tool shed next to our cabin. It's also when Margot, one of the other wranglers taught us the art of Poi.

Learning the art of Poi

I ordered myself a set and have been playing with them a little over the years, and when I packed some of my belongings and moved to CO, I found them and brought them with me, thinking it would be a fun thing to do with Sienna.

Sienna is pretty laid back and takes everything in her stride and when I first got the Poi out and started twirling them a little, it didn't phase her one bit. Since she was so good about it, I have been tying them to her bareback pad and we do most stuff with them trailing along her sides, then I'll get on here and twirl them next to her and over her head.....no problem. So this weekend I took it one step further. I think you can pretty much tell by these pictures and the expression on her face that she's OK with it all.

Now I just need to get better with my technique. :0)

Sienna my Love

I Just wanted to share these random photos of Sienna. It was late in the day and we were loosing light, but it was the perfect time to capture these images.

Zone 5 Driving

Sienna and I had a very productive weekend, we did all sorts, figure of 8’s at liberty, needle prep, working on holding her tongue, bridle-less riding with two carrot sticks (the kidz carrot sticks are great for this), picking up all four feet with savvy, ground tying, and zone 5 driving. We even finished the day with a stroll around the neighborhood.

Sienna was trained to drive a carriage before I bought her at the age of four, so driving with two lines is a piece of cake for her, she knows this stuff better than I do. But driving with one rein has been a challenge. Starting off in zone three and gradually making my way back to zone 5, and keeping her on the rail has been the key. We come a little unstuck when we come off the rail, but it is improving every time we play with it. We have also been experimenting with the 22ft feather lines as well the 12ft and 22ft lead rope. I really like the feather lines not only because they are lighter in weight and easier to handle, but also because you can really get some refinement when driving.

Here are a few images of us driving from zone five with the 12ft Lead rope.

Starting out in zone 3

Gradually working our way back

To zone 5

Coming off the rail and through the barrels....success!

Love this smart girl

Our Stroll Around the neighborhood

Dogs + Snow = Fun Times

I remember reading a blog by the fabulous Pioneer Woman about the Many Faces of Charlie, and I couldn't help but relate when I think about the many pictures I have taken of Sophie and Milo lately. The snow seems to bring out they're character.

Sophie- The glamor queen

Sophie- Doing her best pointer dog.

Milo - in camouflage

Milo - Looking pleased with himself

The rest are images of pure joy...and perhaps a little bit of Cujo thrown in. I've also come to realize that jowls and ears do some mighty things when in motion....

The following images are stills captured from a video clip, hence the quality, but I had to share them as the expressions say it all.....

Sophie

Milo

As Light as a Feather!

I didn't realize how long it had been since I wrote my last post. Christmas and New Year has come and gone, and here we are in 2011.

Sienna and I continue to have fun in the snow whenever we can. We started playing with our new 22ft Feather lines. When I drive her with the two 22ft lead ropes, I think there is room for forgiveness, but with the feather lines, it seems to be about how little you have to do to ask a question. It only seems to take a light touch to have a more enhanced level of contact. There was a lot of over-steering on my part at the beginning, but after a while we were in sync and it felt great. You can see some more pictures here.

After our driving session, I climbed up on her bareback and very promptly fell off her for the first time ever..........well I would call it more of a slide :0). We were riding around and something spooked her, now her spooks aren't that big, she just took a leap sideways, but it was enough to start that slide in motion. I remember feeling like it was happening in slow motion and it got to the point where I couldn't save myself, so I swung my arms around her neck and linked my fingers together, then I did this very slow and graceful slide under her neck, at which point my fingers came unlocked and I landed on my butt. Sienna was looking at me as if to say: "how did you end up down there?".

No there are not any pictures, but I wish there were, I would have loved to have captured the look on Sienna's face :0).