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).

To Snow or Not to Snow!

This week we have been having fall temperatures here in Pagosa, yet last week it looked like winter had finally arrived with quite the snowfall. I'm not complaining, I was able to do some fun stuff with Sienna this weekend because of the mild temperatures, but last weekend was a different story, one that these pictures will tell.

BEAU BEAU CHIBEAU

Beau Beau Chibeau is the name given to Beau at the barn by my friend Sarah who is from France, it means Handsome, Handsome, so Handsome, and it's the first word I would use when asked to describe my boy.

Beau was born in 2003 in Idaho. His sire was CW Major, his dam - Dianas Guard, his great grand sire was Major Bonanza. His AQHA registered name was Bonanzas Shiny Boy. I think this picture say's it all.

We passed our official Level Two assessment back in December of 2008. We were quite confident about all of the tasks except for holding his tongue, mostly because he was SO mouthy, he had sucked my fingers up into his back teeth a couple of times and chomped down. The night before my assessment we came up with a solution, I taught him to stick his tongue out rather than me going in there after it :0), ever since then he did it on command, you can see it here.

He had so much character that we even featured him a couple of times on the Facebook - "Put a caption on it" photos. This was the first picture, and this was the second.

He was superb at Liberty. He was super smart and picked things up at the drop of a hat. Being a Left Brain Extrovert, he craved learning new things and constantly challenged me to be creative. His flying lead changes were to die for, he was a natural, better at them than I was able to ask for.

In 2009 when Beau was five and just as we were moving into level three, Beau had check ligament surgery in both of his front legs. He was doing OK for a while but he had a couple of setbacks during his recovery, and in July of this year he had a major setback, one that he would never recover from.

I was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to him at the age of seven, and on November 11th, 2010 at 3.26pm, my handsome boy left this earth.

I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest and it has been difficult to write this post, fighting back the tears as I am thinking about him. I have heard Linda say that "We are exactly where we are supposed to be", and deep down I believe that our paths are written. It would be so easy to let the sadness take over and it has on several occasions as the loss is still so fresh, but I do feel lucky that in Beau's short life that he belonged to me, and even though he had been through so much in his short life, when it came to love and affection, I know he didn't suffer. We accomplished so much together and I don't think a day went by that he didn't put a smile on my face, even up until the end.

To those who have reached out and offered support at this time, I thank you. Your heartfelt words have meant so much.

To my boy - may you have four good legs where you are now, and may you be running and bucking to your hearts content.

I'm glad you were mine Beau, Beau, Chibeau.

How do you prepare?

Well it looks like Mackenzie and I finally found a place to rent. It's a great place with about 5 1/2 acres. I can't tell you how amazing it is to have our horses in our back yard. Looking out the window to see them grazing and exploring their new pasture is wonderful.

We even spent this weekend loading up 200+ bales of hay for the winter.

But I can't help but feel immense sadness as my other horse Beau is not doing so well back in Las Vegas. For those of you who don't know, Beau had check ligament surgery in both front legs back in March of 2009 and was doing OK for a while, but in July of this year he had a major set back and has been getting progressively worse. Even with all the care and proper exercise, the check ligament in his front right leg grew back with so much scar tissue that it's three times the size it should be, and it has grown adhesions that have attached to his deep digital and superficial digital flexor tendons. It's causing it to act like a bow that's being pulled tight and he is now over at the fetlock so severely that it's knuckling the wrong way. I have been told that there isn't much that can be done for him which has left me with a feeling of such helplessness it's unbearable.

It's been so difficult to be away from him yet thankful for friends in Vegas have been taking such good care of him, but I received a phone call last week and it sounds like he isn't doing so well.

I have the vet looking at him this Wednesday and at this point in time, I am fearing the worse, and I am wondering how you prepare yourself for the worse. My heart is breaking just thinking about it.

On The Move!

Ever since the ranch shut down I have been on the move in search of a rental property where we (Mackenzie and I) can keep our horses for the winter. I have house sat for several people which has been great, I've either had canine company or kitty company but most of all, electricity and running water LOL.

For the past few weeks I have been staying in a place temporarily (thanks to Parelli), and Sienna and Juno have been enjoying their time in their temporary pasture.

The girls in their pasture

Last week I made the drive back to Vegas to take care of a few things. It was nice to spend time with Justin, and I got to love on my two dogs Sophie and Milo, my other horse Beau and Sammy the cat.

My puppies

Sammy

The handsome Beau

I also traded my truck in while I was there. For those that follow my blogs, you'll know that we (Gina, Kerrin and I) ran into a bit of trouble on our way back to Pagosa with the horses in July. So Gina will be happy to know that I got this......

This last shot is for you Gina LOL

This truck did come with a few upgrades besides the 4 wheel drive, it also has dual heated front seats which will come on VERY handy for the next 6 months. It gives me peace of mind knowing that i'll have a toasty bum on my drive to and from work. :0)