Sunny Morning

I'd forgotten what a blue sky looked like!  It was nice to take advantage of the morning sun.  Clouds were already building and rain was on it's way so I made sure to get out to the barn in time.  The day before I spent the morning assisting the local horse community in working on our upcoming Equestrian Skills Park!!  Exciting stuff and can't wait to see it implemented!

I decided it would be good to refresh Dani on some groundwork since I haven't been out much due to the rain.  We did some round pen work.  She's getting better on turning in; I guess remembering is more accurate.  She already knows this stuff.

I then reminded her about backing using body language and the stick as a signal.  We also worked on turning on the forehand and then the "salute" as I like to call it where I move around to her outside with active body language and ask her to move her hindquarters away.  She's gotten that down pretty well.

She does it so well that even when I was not trying to move her but take a side picture she would still turn and salute giving me two eyes.  Dani is around 969 or 953 based on the weight tape.  I'd like to get her down some, 900 maybe?  Really there is a place on her shoulder and then her tail base that shows there excess fat.  She's more at a level 7 when she needs to be a 5 on the body condition score.  Hopefully wearing a muzzle during the day time will help and if this darn rain stops I can get out to exercise her more often!

It's so great that even despite the rain she is doing well.  Her legs aren't showing signs of scratches or other issues and her summer coat is starting to come in nicely.  She's getting shiny!  She always seems to get a little darker in the summer and then sometimes has developed some dapples.  Fuzzy or smooth though she's my pretty girl.

Serene sunday

I'm still here!

I'm still here.  Just been busy and rainy.  For work I was gone for about 3 days in Durango, CO.  I'm hoping to get out sometime this weekend to work with my mare and hoping that we get more dry weather.

It worries me when Colorado gets a ton of rain at once.  Our soils can't hold the moisture and then the plant growth increases.  If this is followed by a long dry spell it could mean bad news for fires.  Wish we could send the rain to California!  Talk with you all very soon!

Arena Footing Break up

The barn got a tractor guy to come break up the soil in the arena and round pen.  Nice and cushy now for arena work.  It was nice to try it out!  I'm happy to have a great place to ride at my barn, a round pen and then two pseudo trail riding type areas.  

My dream is an indoor arena but those come with a boarding cost or there isn't much pasture available at the local facilities.  We'll see what I can do on my own property someday but it's a pipe dream.

First world problems hey?  "I wish I could ride my pony inside!"  LOL

Trailer Training a Fiery Mare

The next week or more is full of rainy days and afternoon.  AKA, don't get to do anything with pony.  At least I've had some good training sessions with her but I haven't been able to have several in a row which I really need.

One day when I was working by myself Dani was very willing to step up and into the trailer.  She turned around and would just stand.  I kept it really relaxed with her and she complied very calmly.  The next step will be to work on her with the divider so she stays facing forward.  I will have to most likely get into the trailer to keep her straight or have someone outside on the side of the trailer with another lead attached while I close the divider.  I'll have to work out the logistics but I want to stay safe while teaching her the next step of facing forward.

At least we are getting there.  If the weather cooperates we can get some sessions in and the finally do a small local trail ride.  Spring in Colorado.  If it's not really wet with flooding potential it's dry with the threat of fires...

Serene sunday