Clipped Coat Changes

 

I gave Ink a bath today.  It was a little bit windy, but in the sun it wasn’t bad and luckily we are sheltered from whatever wind there is with the barn. 

After the bath I put him on the hot walker for about 10-15mins.  I didn’t have it on because I didn’t want him stirring up dust and defying the point of a bath lol :p.  Next door the old man has two new pigs and Ink hasn’t seen them yet.  He saw the last two from last year, but now there are new little pigs and he was scared of them.  Probably because he couldn’t see them very well from where we were.  So I put him on the side of the hot walker where he could look and observe.  And he did just that the whole time.  A little spooky in the beginning but he soon just stood looking with curiosity. 

Matt and I sat with him during his stay on the hot walker.  I ate my snack and then was able to get some shots.  The camera was getting low on battery and I had a full memory card and after compromising with deleting some photos, I had four spaces left. 

I’ve been curious as to see how Ink’s coat might change or what would happen after he was clipped.  Someone said that they don’t get their color back for two years.  Now I don’t know if that is true or not, but in the last week Ink’s regular coat color is coming back.  I think it should be back in full by at least the end of April, if it continues to go at this rate.  But right now it’s, interesting..  I recently read the blog of The Eventing Percheron at http://eventing-draft.blogspot.com/ talk about her boy’s coat color.  I’m having weird things happen with Ink’s coat.  His neck is really light, probably because it’s been exposed to the sun, when he’s been blanketed most of the time.  It was so noticeable and looked really funny, but it’s kind of blending in now.  And his head is shedding out now, but his ears are probably going to be last, they are soo fuzzy! 

Ink didn’t just get to be pampered all day, he had to do some work, since I’ve been light with him the past week.  I put the stretcher on and free lunged him in the round pen.  He didn’t like it at first, some times bucking and striking out, but then settled down fine and remembered about the release when giving to pressure.  He looked great going around.  Errika joined us and then my mom took her out for a little trail ride around the property and into their field. 

The Icing

Hi everyone, I am blogging a little late in the week than planned.  But I’m here to update you on the most current situation.  I wanted to personally thank Jessica of http://equuspalaverous.wordpress.com/ for helping me out with Ink through email :). 

Meghan didn’t end up coming on Sunday.  She called me in the morning to tell me that the mare who she’d been waiting for nearly 3 weeks to give birth, finally did.  I really was looking forward to her coming out, but I can only imagine how exhausted one must be after sleeping in the barn for that long waiting for a mare to foal.

On Monday Matt and I brought the horses out and free lunged them in the arena.  Ink was a happy, competitive, horse following Errika around the arena.  He threw some massive bucks as usual and played catch up with the frisky Arab mare.  

I’m feeling much better about what’s been going on.  I am pretty sure I took it hard because for the first time I had someone tell me that he just might not be “it.”  “It” I guess means the nice, sound OTTB who takes his rider to some Dressage and Jumping shows. 

“It’s” not an “It” anyway.  “He” is a beautiful creature with secrets to share that have only yet been starting to unfold.  He could take me over a thousand jumps and we could ride some awesome tests, but at the end of the day, he is still an animal.  He is still Ink and I won’t know who he is just by knowing what it’s like to ride him. 

I have actually learned things from horses from cleaning up their poop.  I’m now cleaning stalls for the barn where the horses are kept to help cover board.  There is only four stalls inside the barn, but I love each horse in there.  Especially one.  His name is Bucky and I’ve known him since he was a wee lad.  I used to play with him through a fence when he was kept in the field next to Errika and he would follow me around the field he was in when I would go in there.  I’ve never rode him, don’t have any plans to.  Well besides he’s one of the young ones in training.  When I’m cleaning out his stall he is so into what’s going on and what I’m doing.  I often times have to remind him to stay on one side of the stall while I’m cleaning out the other because he will smell my hair and walk in front of me for his favorite, wither itching. 

 I know that based on just spending time with horses doing some of the most, not the highlight of things to do, I can get to know those horses.  I’ve gotten to know Errika a lot just by spending time with her doing things other than riding.  Like enjoying sitting with her in the field, having a picnic with her, or my favorite - going over at night in a storm to bring her in for a few hours of grooming and dry time.  Ok, no that is not my favorite, but I’m sure she likes it.

Riding has been the second thing for us.  It’s been a lot of fun and I can’t tell you how awesome it is to ride her bareback.  I laugh so hard I swear I’m going to fall off.  I probably will one of these days, God knows I’ve come close!  I feel safe, whole, ful-filled and confident when we ride.  But again it’s just the icing on the cake.  There is a whole bunch of other goodness underneath the icing. 

Productive Ride

The dark skies are depressing.  I really miss the sun :(. 

My mom and I rode yesterday.  She rode Errika and I had a great ride on Ink! 

It was very productive, I worked on getting his neck and body to bend on circles, since he is a little stiff going right and tends to fall on his shoulder.  His jaw is really breaking loose and he goes on the bit much more easily now. I don’t ask much of him in terms of going on the bit at this point because he needs a lot of time to develop those muscles to hold it, but he’s getting the response down very well.  This was mostly done at the walk and I will continue to do that during the beginning and end of the rides. 

This is really funny..  Ink has been doing this a lot lately after we get done riding.  He will lift his back leg like a dog and stick his neck out and waits for me to scratch his belly.  He loooves his belly scratched, it’s just now he’s holding his leg up for me before I even do it! 

After I rode and un-tacked and scratched his belly, Matt let him out in the arena to roll.  It always feels good to him I’m sure, without his blankets on.  Apparently he had a lot of energy left and ran back and fourth after rolling bucking hugely as usual.  Then showing off his flashy trotting skills, haha. 

It rained today and is supposed to throughout the week, but it’s nothing bad as of now, so I think I’m going to head over there now to ride the big guy. 

Anticipation..

I’m waiting for a reply, to the last email, I sent for the job.  I really want this job, but I’m kind of confused.  I want to go to school to be a psychologist or maybe a lawyer.  Then again I want to study and master photography.  But I love riding and want to master Dressage and jumping.  I need a job anyway, the pressure just keeps building..  I feel so guilty for asking my mom for money, or having her buy something for me.  Even something as silly as water.  I told her that once I become financially-secure, maybe even a little wealthy, I will give her $50,000 in cash and a new car lol.  I swear I have no intention of not paying her back for everything she has done.  All I can think about is going to college, getting a super job and paying her back.  I don’t care about money really, I just want to be comfortable.  But I do want to have my own horse/equestrian facility and be a trainer as well.  Oh man I really do need to do something major to get my feet off the ground. 

Ink was super frisky today.  Weird for him really.  I lunged him first, just because, no special reason.  Good thing I did because he had many bucks to let out.  During cantering he tripped, jumped up and did a big buck, it was pretty funny.  I swear I could hear him saying “you didn’t see that…”  Distracting me with his buck.  But as usual he calms right down under saddle and I had a nice ride.  We worked on 60 meter circles, then smaller 20 meter circles.  Alternating directions through four of the smaller circles.  It was productive. 

I also rode Errika.  It was cold and windy, and for the first time in a while the work-out of riding did nothing to warm me up.  I was cold while I was riding.  Errika and I worked on the same thing like with Ink but mostly at the canter.  I don’t trot her a lot because it isn’t that comfortable and hurts my back.  But I should really.  I make up for it though, for her sake, on the lunge line. 

Gah.  People can be so greedy..  At least this time of year you would think they would be a little nicer in that department but no.  Forget about it.  I just don’t believe in acting like money is really the true, only importance of your actions and life.  So again, it’s time to get out of the situation.  =/

Lesson Again

I had another lesson with Meghan today.  I rode at one of the barn she basis her training at.  I first rode a hot little OTTB named Art, which was actually fun in my opinion.  Despite almost being dismounted by the guy, I enjoyed riding him.  Then I rode one of her personal horses; Demon.  His name is so befitting lol.  No he was a sweet guy.  He’s funny, one of those ‘I like it my way’ horses.  He’s a tester, a true teacher on hooves.  I enjoyed riding him as well, both offered their own challenges.  The barn was nice, and the people were so friendly.  I love indoor arena’s, and it had a nice one.  A low-key facility, everyone who was there seemed down to earth.  After the lessons, I drove up to Meghan’s place to feed her horses.  Then Matt and I stopped at the barn where my horses are and gave them their nice warm grain.

I’m having another lesson tomorrow on Ink.  It’s raining right now so it’s hard to say if it will actually happen or not.  But maybe if it doesn’t, I can ride Art or Demon again.  I haven’t rode Ink since my lesson on him, but I’m sure he doesn’t mind much.  On Saturday we took Christmas Pictures, and dressed the horses up, not forgetting the reindeer antlers of course! 

I’m looking for a new boarding facility as well.  I don’t know how that search will go, but I hope I find something soon.  I really don’t want to get into what happened recently, but I just need something new.  My mom is upset about the situation, and this just shouldn’t be happening the way it is.  Please just overlook this section of my blog if you don’t want to hear this.  I’m sorry to add it in, but I just feel like it’s important, to me anyway. 

In better news however, my mom and I got an offer to organize/clean a barn thoroughly, something I blogged about earlier in the month.  I would assume it would be close to a $300 job or so.  But I really don’t know.  It would be awesome to do this for some of my living expenses.  Plus my mom and I are good at organizing, especially barns!

Welcome to the World

I had two encounters today.. One was interesting and worth an eye covering, and the other was beautiful altogether. First, since it was the first encounter of the day, was with Ink. My mom, younger brother, and I were walking out to get the horses. Then Ink started making his manly whinny..that kind of whinny… and mounted Errika. The first words out of my mouth were, “Oh my gosh..” I just couldn’t believe he did, or would. The owner of the place has seen him mount her before when they were turned out together. I’ll spare the details. We got to their gate and he still was..in the mood.. He made more deep manly whinnies and acted like he was going to do it again. I’ve never owned a gelding before Ink, so I don’t know if this is natural or not, for them. We were and are thinking he is proud cut. He was acting a little unpredictable when I brought him out, but he settled down once we got to the barn. I put him in his old stall/paddock while I messed with Errika. The wash/tie rack is right next to his paddock, so he stood there making more deep noises and smelling her.

I decided to ride Errika. I would have preferred to ride Ink, but he’s not doing anything under saddle until the chiropractor comes out. I knew it wasn’t going to be the best day to ride, but hey it’s all in the challenge. It felt amazing getting in my Dressage saddle, I call the back saddle, because I have been riding bareback for a while now. The girth fit fine, because Errika has put on some pounds. Errika was evading my seat, leg and hands. So it wasn’t the easiest day to practice communication. But we did manage to do some nice extended trotting.. Her extended trot is beautiful, not the easiest to ride, but warmblood movement worthy. After about 10minutes I took her into the round pen where I had some poles. I did walking and trotting over those, made patterns, asked her to turn on the forehand and haunches over them, which was great. But she had tunnel vision so I didn’t feel like we were really settling into the work at hand.

After I was done with Errika, I had my mom untack and groom her while I took Ink out. I too, brought him into the arena to do some ground work. It was perfect because the round pen has grass in it, so we were able to practice that. He has improved a lot on his ground manners and respect of who is handling him. I did some pole work with him too. I had him back over poles, which is a new thing we’re doing, and some other various patterns. He was way more in-tune than Errika was, but his mind was a little off because he knew that Errika was at the barn..

I told you I had two encounters today. The second one was… Cinda’s baby was born!! He’s a handsome little palomino =D! He was loping around and bucking. I got some good pics of them. He was born Saturday.

Mud Slickers

I guess I’ll get to the point. I don’t want to make a seemingly bad thing, be the whole point of this post, but in keeping with honesty and the fact that I just cannot keep these until the end, I’ll say it now. Ink charged at me today. He didn’t catch me off gaurd really, but I wasn’t prepared for it. He’s never done this before, so my reaction was to back off and almost fall in the slippery mud. I probably looked like a dumb person out there, but oh well.

It was raining today. I am disappointed that it did, for Ink’s sake. I really didn’t/don’t want to put him in again. I am and was hoping that he will be turned out from now until this fall. But the rain came today. I didn’t have a chance to go by yesterday or last night to put their blankets on because it was my brothers’ birthday thing, and we were out of town. Matt said that he didn’t think it was going to rain that hard at all, just a little drizzle. But it rained pretty good, enough to get the field a little muddy. In case you’re wondering and haven’t read past posts, Ink got an abscess last year around fall/winter time and has been in since then, and we have been avoiding the mud for that reason. Otherwise he’d be out, being a horse, and not stuck in a stall he was never ment to live in.

When Matt and I got over there later in the afternoon, Ink and Errika were playing. Not always are you able to catch these moments in person. I’ve never seen Ink rear or jump off the ground, all fours, and strike. But today I had my chance. He was really feeling his oats! He would jump off the ground, spring in the air, and strike up and out. Of course I didn’t have my camera then, to get some shots..

Matt and I played with the horses out there for a little while. I had planned on bringing both the horses up for a grooming and then when they dried, to be blanketed, but Ink was enjoying his time and we were having fun. The rain slowed to a light drizzle. Matt and I brought Errika up to the barn, I figured I would spend some time with her and she could eat her grain up there too. Matt had to leave for work, so I was left solo with my dog.

I made up the kids’ grain, gave Errika her’s and then walked back to give Ink his. My little dog Sophie came along this trip to see the horses. So the two of us walked to the back, and we hung out there for a little while. I spent my time taking pictures of both Sophie and Ink. The one above was taken today at that time as well. Here are todays’ shots;

Galloping Beasts

We were over to visit and feed the horses right as the sun began to set. The sky was this beautiful shade of purple. I played with one of the yearlings before I went to get Ink or Errika out. But my mom was visiting with the big guy. He wanted his bum itched.. Unusual, but my mom gave him a full body itch-down. He was acting really sweet. Then he apparently pushed so hard on the stall door, it came off the track ^.^ Then he tried to push open his stall door once it was off the track. He’s too smart for his own good sometimes.

Ink was a gentlemen when I went into his stall to put his halter on. I had him stand quietly once I got the halter on, but as soon as I opened the door he barreled out, the second time he’s done that. Every-time we’ve accomplished something, like our excellent in-stall and walking to the arena behavior, a new problem arises. He finds a loop-hole in the not-so-routine, routine. It’s actually quite nice that he’s so extreme when it comes to that kind of stuff. He’ll find any little inch he can to push, or get to something he wants. It’s sure a challenge for me because if he senses any little bit of hesitation, or nervousness, he jumps on it like anything and takes advantage of you. I’m learning, it’s a process.

Thursday though, he was a little hot and did this rear buck combination while I was holding him in the arena after a roll. The neighbor came over with his 3y/o coming reiner, and Ink got this look in his eye. I was planning on turning him out to get the bucks out - it’s a good idea for safety reasons at this point - but the neighbor just came on in and I had to decide something else to do. Maybe the little filly was coming in heat or in heat, because he normally doesn’t act like that around other horses. But I swear he is not all gelding. I figure every experience can be a good one, because it’s something that we need to build on in many other aspects. I worked with him on lunging and then backing and side stepping. Then I had to take hot pants to the round pen for turn-out.. Not a lot of room really, but it’s the best I can do right now and in that circumstance.

Tonight (well last night now) Ink was really frisky. It was a little brisk, maybe that’s what got to him? I turned him out and he bucked, bucked, and bucked some more. Then I went back to get Errika. My little angel, I love her some much. She’s such a cinch compared to him, hehe. Still a fire cracker, wild mare, but is the kindest love. I turned her out with him. It appears she is coming into heat. Ink had more of an interest in her, if you know what I mean. And they stayed really close together, and he even pinned his ears and pushed off the mare that is in the field right next to the arena. You can tell that he isn’t just a gelding..

I even got a few videos of them galloping together in the arena. Both of them were so frisky, and I don’t know why. They weren’t this bad, yesterday. But it’s really nice to see them happy and doing what they do :).

Here is the video: Galloping

Good Boy Ink

I went to see the horses today, and because the other day I spent a lot of time working with Errika, I thought it was Ink’s turn. But I decided to turn Ink out in the arena before I went back to get Errika. He did a lot better on walking out of his stall. We’re working on it, and it did take a little bit for him to collect his mind and listen. The grass is so tempting! Plus he seems to have a new “thing” for his neighbor across the isle way, a cute filly. The side of her paddock is next to where we walk to go to the arena, so between her and the grass… His mind was ‘a floating! He didn’t try to get frisky, like usual, but he did try to pull my arm off a few times, but I was quick to correct him by getting his head up, and immediately asking him to back and stand. Standing is also another problem of his, he is happy on the move. Standing seems utterly pointless, but with time and patience we are and will be teaching him that the reward comes with equal patience on his part.

Normally when I turn him out in the arena, you have to turn him towards you, shut the gate, and then unclip him and back up quickly because he runs like a demon and kicks like crazy. So we’ve also been working on that. I bring him into the arena once he begins to listen and relax. Then I walk him, turn him around and have him stand and if he stands quietly I will ask him to walk forward towards the gate and ask him to stand quietly again. If he does all that well, then I let him loose. Today I brought him in, asked him to stand, and he tried to move left and right. So I asked him to back, and did that over and over, even if he decided to take on step out of place. He stood quietly, and then I walked him forward, asked him to stop. He lowered his head, and I told him “good boy” and unclip his lead rope. He quietly walked over to my mom, who was standing at large gate to the arena, and she gave him a little bit of grain.

He rolled and dawdled around, sticking his nose under the arena boards to get some grass and then cantered off to the left back corner of the arena, which he seems to favor. He always looks into the distance to the horses in the back fields, rolls, and then runs off bucking. Ink did exactly that this time.

I went back to get Errika, took her blanket off, and brought her up to the back arena gate and turned her loose. Surprisingly Ink didn’t give a hoot about her, and she tried to get his attention, but failed and went up the other end and stood patiently waiting for something to do. I gave her to my mom and she gave Errika a full grooming, her coat is soooo shinny. The best it has ever been this time of year! We have been teaching Errika to ground tie because she has developed a fear of being tied. She’s always been sensitive to being tied but a while back she pulled back and since then she won’t even go near the tie post. She does well ground tied and she stood in the barn quietly while my mom groomed her.

I set up some ground poles again for Ink and we did a little of that, and then I tied him and brushed him. He was acting pretty good. He isn’t one to enjoy a nice grooming. Ink is shedding like crazy right now!

That was about our day, nothing too special, but we are taking things one step at a time.

Be My Valentine?

Yes, today is Valentines day! I woke up this morning to find Matt had brought me flowers, balloons, chocolate, and two of the cutest stuffed animals… Classic Pooh-Bear and Tigger :D. I love classic Pooh, and I’ve always wanted one of the stuffed animals. They sell the line at Target. Actually Matt had bought them for me a few days back while we were shopping around . So much for a surprise ;)! A nice card would have made my day, or even a hug. But Matt always uses these occasions to the advantage.

After the morning Valentines surprise, I got up, took a shower, then my mom and I drove to the glass repair and replacement place downtown. My windshield on my car was in pretty bad shape, so we had it replaced. We left the car there and my dad picked us up. From there we went to lunch with my older brother and one of our friends he works with. Then my dad took my mom and I over to see the horses.

I’ve been doing a lot of work with Ink in his stall. Having him move off of pressure and generally teaching him manners and respect. It has and is working quite well, and he has caught on mighty fast.

Things are so great and he is so responsive while he’s in his stall, but when we begin to walk out, everything goes down hill and he becomes a hard headed, nut case. He was kicking, bucking and jumping left and right. I must admit I was nervous, and I knew he could sense that. So before I had to collect him up and make this a positive, effective session, I first had to bring myself back down. Ink was just feeding off of my nervousness. I calmed down quickly, got Ink in a safe place and myself and then began working. I know I shouldn’t let him get away with it even if for a mili-second, but I wasn’t ready and it would have been unsafe. I actually planned on taking him immediately back in his stall and starting back over if he didn’t listen the second we started walking out of the barn. But the situation with from zero-110MPH very quickly. I also didn’t think it would have been safe to walk back through the barn, it’s too small if he started jumping about. So I opted for staying out in front of the barn where it was much safer for the both of us.

I stood at his shoulder and jiggled the rope from soft, to hard, to harder, until he took a step backwards. As soon as he took a step back, I released all pressure and my body softened. As soon as I started doing that, I noticed a change immediately. His body relaxed, his head lowered and he was paying attention to me. I knew I was getting somewhere. I kept working on him. My rope stayed loose, and I was holding onto the very end. If Ink took a step, I jiggled the rope. I also used the lunge whip to apply pressure to other parts, such as asking him to lift his legs, and move right and left. After about 30mintues I was satisfied with his progress and where he was. So his reward was being turned out in the arena. He ran and bucked as usual, as happy as could be. Ink stayed close to Errika because the cows were out, and we all know the cows are killer beasts

After a little while being out, I brought Errika back to the barn and put some boots on her. I decided to ride her bareback and in a halter. I haven’t rode her for a while, so I didn’t know where the day was going to take us. I brought Ink back into the barn while Errika stood ground tied in her stall. Then my mom helped me get on Errika.

It was the best ride I’ve had in a while! I was so impressed by Errika. We cantered around collected, it was awesome! I felt a real connection with her and it was relaxed and fun ride. We did leg yields as well. Just using my seat and leg, and no use of the hands. I think we’ll continue doing this bareback riding in a halter and then work towards riding without a halter.

The best Valentines day ever!

I hope everyone has a great Valentine’s day! Don’t forget to give your horses a bunch of x’s and o’s.