Saturday, September 27, 2014

The Usual.


Klein mare has been doing some awesome dressage work lately.  We've been having fun working on some training level movements (eventing training level, not USDF).  I actually feel like getting her out to some shows this fall.  My being burnt out on shows might finally be starting to wear off.  I'm also looking forward to some lessons soon.

 Klein mare concentrating.

 I had my trailer on my truck the other day and in that case, why not load the ponies just because it never hurts to practice, right?  All three loaded in less than two mins.  Wes I was pretty proud of just because the boy has been on a trailer twice in the past nine years.  Why?  Well, once he got to the barn in Salt Lake in 2005, he never went anywhere until I had Brook Ledge pick him up after his retirement last February.  He never hauled anywhere in Salt Lake because the barn was downtown.  The horses literally walked to work, there was no need to haul them. 

Wes is just such a sweetheart about pretty much everything.  He walked up to my trailer, sniffed the ramp then walked right on.  Even though there aren't plans to take him anywhere soon, you never know when there might be an emergency where hauling him has to happen.  Fingers crossed that doesn't happen, but better to be prepared.

 Boring.

 No, he doesn't make the trailer lean.


I took Wes for a little bareback ride last week too.  I haven't really been on him much this summer because this was his first summer here in the South Georgia heat.  I wanted him to just adjust to his new life and the new climate.  He had to learn how to be a horse again so I just let him enjoy that.  Now that we are having some cooler days I'll probably take him on little hacks just so he can get out and do something. 


Wes even tried to break out a canter on me.  It made me laugh.  He sure is feeling great.  He has had a complete life makeover from his hooves up and he shows us all the time that he could not be happier.

 Evening hack on my Klein baby.  It was SOOO nice out that evening!!

 Relaxed bareback hack might be an understatement.

Watching the farmers work on their crops.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Mr. & Mrs.

 
September 13th 2014.

 The Other Half and I had a very small ceremony at the barn last Saturday with a few select friends and all three of our ponies.  I had Klein's reins in my hand for the ceremony and he had Mochi's reins in his hand.  We wanted to hold all three during the ceremony but I'm pretty sure the girls would have made faces at Wes the whole time. I knew The Odd Couple would be fine.  We left Wes to wander around in the pasture while the ceremony was taking place.  I told everyone that Wes was allowed to photo bomb as much as he wanted.  No one was to tell him to move.  This was the first wedding he has ever been present for where he wasn't working so, he was free to do whatever he felt like!  We did get some pictures with all three after the ceremony though.

Everything was perfect!  It was beautiful evening and having the horses there for the ceremony was perfect.  Here are some photos, I will get the rest of the professional photos sometime next week.  This is a mix of iphone pictures with just a few of the professional pictures that I have received as a preview.  I'll post more when I get them from our photographer.

 

 


 










Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Currently Too Legit.

 Klein with room to spare over a 3'9" square oxer.

 
 Trying out the Pelham.

 
 I am so going to have a saddle pad made for Klein with this on it.  This is all her.

So, last night we schooled a gymnastic line that eventually ended with the 3'9" square oxer in the first pic of this post.  She felt great over it and had room to spare as you can see in the picture. 

 
 Locked on to the 3'6" in front of her.  I love her expressions when she is working.  She's always interested in her work and enthusiastic about it.

 
 Workin' it.  Go Klein Baby!

In the second pic, you can see we were working in a Pelham.  I got her a low port Pelham just for a different tool in the arsenal.  Something to switch up the routine a little and have some fun with.  She did great and we had one of our best dressage rides that we've had lately.  Her Kimberwicke is a low port, she is happy with that mouthpiece, that is why I got her a low port in the Pelham.

 Working on our halts.  Such a good ponyface.
  
 While we are on the subject of Klein...check this pic out that was taken before our ride yesterday evening:

 She was CUDDLING with The Other Half.

He is the ONLY other human that she wants to, or lets, cuddle her.  She was completely resting her head in his arms.  I mean, you know...she's a princess and only certain humans are worthy of her attention and she has clearly added one to her list of approved humans.

 Mochs following us around.

 I did get Mochi out for a little work this past weekend and it was...disappointing honestly.  I really do believe that she would just rather be a pet.  It was like she had never been ridden before.  She just protested everything.  Keep in mind this is a horse that is up to date on everything and has had chiro adjustments/massages.  Also remember I bought her when she was nine years old.  So what happened to her before that is a mystery and may be the cause of the anxiety she carries with her.  I did give her some Mare Magic before our ride and while it seemed to make a difference last time, it sure didn't make a dent in her this time.  I officially no longer feel bad that she isn't in regular work. She couldn't be happier just being a pet and being included in just hanging out with us at the barn.  The Other Half took her for a walk like a dog the other evening while Klein and I rode with them on our walk and she just loves that stuff.  Too bad, she's such an athletic little mare with some nice moves but, I feel like I would be one of those parents forcing their kid to play a sport that the kid hates.  That's not me.

 30 seconds of concentration out of a wreck of a ride.  Excuse my shoulders.  Wtf, shoulders back!

 *Le Sigh* oh well...

 So cute, and so happy being a big dog.