Better Late, Or Really Really Late, Then Never, Right?

Ok, this is a super duper late post, on what I got for Christmas. Sorry I didn't do this weeks ago! Have any of you heard of school? Ya well...

                                  Here's everything in one picture. Lots of blessings! =)

                                                       I got a pair of riding gloves!

                                                          They are really nice!

                                                 A belt buckle-Super-de-duper fun!

                                                                     Ooooooo! =)

                                                    Jean, always need those! =)

       And.....

                                             ....A belt!! I big bingy belt! I love it! =)

                                                                       It's purtty!

         One thing that I did need, was a real riding helmet. That too, came as a Christmas blessing!

I like it- a lot! =) I feel like I need to step up and be a "real" Equestrian now. (Whatever that means. I don't know...I just feel that way.) =) I'm weird. Moving on!

Now one of my most favorites!!

                                 A sweatshirt that says, Barrel Racing! I absolutely Love it!!

                                              It's a really fun sweatshirt! Trust me! =)

                                    This was before I washed it- so it shrunk a little bit. =)
         

                        Of course I got a horse calender. We all get a calender, each Christmas.

                                                       I love my horse calenders....

Those were all gifts from my family.

A couple friends gave me some horse/country related gifts.

A sweet friend gave me this, super fun frame! (And the picture-it's so weird though, the girl looks like me!) =)

 Then another girl gave me this book mark. You put it around the bind of the book. Is'n't that fun!?

That's all my horse related gifts this year! I was really blessed! Sorry it's like, LATE! =/

My First, Official Ridding Lessons!

Hey Ya'll! I hope you are all having a great week! I am doing lots of school while trying not to dream about the summer. 

I wanted to show you guys my first official ridding lesson. I already had two lessons, but they weren't private. (Now they are) Which was totally fine- they were technique ground work lessons but my teacher wanted to move on- so these pictures are from my "first" riding lesson. However, it turned out to be really unique and extra special. I got to drive cattle! Yes, me, some ol' country girl who never dreamed that I could ever do that, did! 

So as you know I Love pictures....I posted a lot! Tons! Enjoy!

 

Unloading- he has adapted to the slant load really nicely.

 

Hey look! Grass!

All tacked up, and putting my, bike, helmet on. = ) Don't have a real helmet yet, but I am staying as safe as possible. I don't want no concussion....I like being safe then sorry.
Have you heard that horses are unpredictable? Ya. well. 

                                                           Warming up!
Dani said to warm up and then they would let the cows in. Oh boy! =) She said it's only scary for the first couple minutes. To tell you the truth, I didn't expect her to say that. You know? They usually say, "Oh, you'll be fine!" Well, I guess not! = )

 

Cows are in and I am waiting excitedly/nervously for directions. (I'm on the far right.)

                                             Here we go! driving cattle!

At first I let Chester get used to them; by walking through and around them. He was awesome! He was curious, but warmed up fast!

                                   

 

Getting instructions from de Cowboy.

                                          Come on cows, keep moving!
Chester wasn't fond of the blue tarps and whenever we would go over there, he would try and stay as far as he could away from them. It could have been the cows behind them too. The whole thing was scary to him! =) I worked with him though and he got better.

Chasing one down with a smile on my face! Look at those ears! Chester is totally listening to me!

                                         Mooooooove! Everyone together now!
A couple of them got out of the penned area and then they were put into another one instead of bringing them back in. So the other cows wanted to stay on that side of the arena where they could talk to their friends that were "locked" up for escaping.

                                                 The cows got kind of bored.

Oooo.....look at that horse paying attention!

Actually, I think in the picture, we were watching some naughty cows. One of the cows, that wasn't out, decided to jump one of the panels. He bent it, got his legs caught, got undone, and then ran to meet his buddies leaving the panel bent and allowing more cows to get out. 

Silly cows.

                                                        Lookin at something...

                                              On we go! Not waisten time!

          Taken a short quick break- Chester's listening though! I love my boy!
It totally looks like Chester has a cow tail. But there is actually a cow back there that flicked it's tail. 

                                                     Ok, get em rolling!!

                                                  Right through them!

                                                  Hey you cow. Smile!
Actually, one of the bigger cows-one with horns and a temper- butted Chester in the hip. I didn't like that and after that I didn't like the cow either. Chester kicked him though, so he should think twice before he does it again.   

Well, that's it! I leave you with this one. My concentrated face, Chester's cute face and part of the American flag. God bless America, land, of the free.

Friday Quotes

Hey guys, today I don't have a real update. So sorry about that! I will be getting one up soon though. 

Probably sometime this weekend. Until then....

 

 

                                           Have an Awesome Friday ya'll!

More like Christ, And More Like A Cowgirl.

Just know, if you haven't ridden a horse in a long time, and you trot for 40 minutes; you will be sore. And you might walk like a cowboy, a little bow legged, because it's easier-less painful- that way.
But why, I ask, would anyone want to do it over again? To ride, get sore, and per chance do it a third time? Because, you're not riding a bike, a car, a plane or anything of the sort. You are riding a horse which feels like you are on the wings of the wind. Which can become apart of you, one with you, and wrap it's self around you. It brings you the joy of being free. It makes you stronger, braver and more confident. It makes love grow in you, helps patience to flow like streams of water within you. To be able to connect with something and someone.
You do it again because you want to become the confident rider you have always dreamed to be. To be one with your horse and friend. To be able to guide them trustfully through the many valleys that life takes you through.
To be, a cowgirl. A cowgirl for Christ     

 "Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane? Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust? Its majestic snorting is terrifying! It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength when it charges out to battle. It laughs at fear and is unafraid."
                                                                                                                  -The book of Job- 

I have so many goals I want to accomplish with Chester. From learning how to barrel race, (not at top speed, I think his prime days for barrel racing is up) to having a very close bond. I think we are getting closer in our relationship everyday. I am trusting him more and he is respecting me more. 
I have already put this quote and picture up, but it doesn't hurt to put it up again. I think one of the main things with horses is, if you want to see improvement, work with them very. single. day.

     I hope that next year at this time I will find myself, more like Christ and more like a cowgirl.
                                     

Clear Enough?

Lunging Chester On A Sunny Day!

I took a video of Chester on the lunge line, to show you how good he feels after being adjusted. It did wonders! He's more willing to do things now.....like go fast! I knew he liked to go fast, but that is normally when we are going for a barrel. Now, he likes to get going whenever he can!

Sorry for all the clucking and kissing, it's really hard to lunge a horse and hold a camera. Trust me! I think he was deciding if he should take me seriously or not. He eventually got up to a canter though. And I wanted to show you guys his pain free canter! = ) I love it! So much more relaxed!

The flies were really bad that day. I have a fly mask that I put on him when we're not working.

I have been feeding Chester more hay to fatten him up for the winter. He has been thoroughly loving it! Tonight we are going to ground work lessons so he will get a work out. Not that he is fat, he is far from that! I would love to see the day when someone looks at my horse and says, "wow, he's a little plump, wouldn't you say?"

 

I found this and thought is was really fun! Thanks Kalin for sharing it! 

Be The Change You Want To See In The World.

I love both of these! Sending blessings to all of you on this wonderful Tuesday!!

And thanks Kalin for sharing these!