Ride Free!

I have been thinking about the different places people ride horses. I decided to do a post on the different ones.


Arenas;
                                                             Covered-

                                                         That's where I ride!

 Not covered-

Round Pen;

                                                                   Not Covered-

                                                                  Covered-

                            This looks really cool! I have one of these in my dreams! = )

Trails;

Fields; !!

Ok, I did pick nice looking fields. Fields that I would love to ride in! I am sure that we can all say the fields we ride in aren't as pretty. = )

Tracks;

Beaches;

In Snow;

   I love this picture! Does it not make you want to go ride your horse in the snow, right now?

Mountains;

A Ranch;

Farms;

Then, I realized that I probably could go on forever on where people ride horses.

So I decided to stop and ask you guys where your favorite place is to ride your horse?

Or even better yet, where is your dream place to ride your horse?

This is mine- 

                            Rolling hills with grass knee high, or short brown grass.

Or a huge flat field with short grass.

Rolling hills

Basically; an open, rolling field with wild grass.

Where's your dream place to ride?

A Cool Chart

I found this chart and thought it was totally cool! I found it on Paola's Horse Blog. 

Which, she got it from here! http://kppusa.com/tips-and-topics/gym-membership-when-horses/. I think I am going to start doing horse stuff by the hour. lol! It's kinda hard to do stuff by the hour, when you only have one horse; only one stall to clean, one horse to groom, one horse to feed. But, I will get my exercise out of the chores I have to do. I only ride once a week but when I do I make it worth all my while! = ) Go head and take a look! It's pretty neat!

It's the time of year when we all start figuring out how we are going to keep in shape during the winter. I think it's fun to figure out how you want to exercise each day, but it's also a time when you need to commit yourself to doing it. Really. You know the saying, "It's easier said then done." Well, it really is easier to say something and then not follow through with it. (At least it is for me.) = ) I hope you will all take up my challenge and follow through with your winter goals, for you and your horse.

As I am deciding, right now, what I want to do for exercise this winter, I will follow up later with a post on what I am doing. = ) I would love to hear your winter plans! Not just the ways you are going to stay in shape, but also in regards to your horse. Are you going to be riding through the winter? Do you have goals to accomplish with your horse this winter?

With Chester, I am still deciding what I really want to do. It's really hard in the winter months/even the spring time, because it is so wet and cold here in Washington. So if it's not raining, the ground is still soggy. My horse sinks in the ground and then panics (overall not fun). Even in the summer I am limited to where I can work and ride him, as our property is very bumpy and has lots of hills. I don't lunge him during the winter unless it froze and the ground has hardened up. And, even with that, it's just a little trotting, as I don't want to hurt his joints. I then switch to basic ground work and some bare back riding (mainly walking around). You gotta love Western Washington; the worst place to own a horse. = ) BUT! This winter should be different, as I now have an arena to use!

Good luck on those winter goals! 

~Your Cowgirl Friend~

Sunshine Award!

Kalin at Modesty Is My Policy gave this reward to several of her followers including me! This is the first reward I have gotten and was very surprised and delighted to find out that I was one of the nominees! Thanks Kalin!

 

"Here is what the sunshine award means, "bloggers who positively and creatively

inspire others in the blogosphere." Of course all awards have rules for awarding people. Rules below. (Please read with care if you have been awarded)"

First, the nominee must

thank the blogger that nominated her and link to her blog. (Done)

Next she must nominate ten bloggers for the award and let them know. 

Then, she must answer a list of ten questions and post to her blog.  

Finally, the Sunshine Award button must be posted on the blog (Done)

 I decided to make my own questions. I thought you guys might want to know more of my horse likes and dislikes. (Or opinions.)

1. Do you prefer Mares or Geldings?

I truly don't know. I like both- but have only owned a gelding and think he's really sweet tempered.

2. English or Western?

I'm totally a cowgirl! But I have nothing against English. I think it would be fun to try out some day.

3. Do you prefer "younger" or "older" horses?

I like both. For my first horse I like it being "older" and being able to learn from him.

4. Have you ever trained a horse from ground zero? 

    No, but I would love too someday!

5. Do you prefer riding or ground work?

I like both...if it's not good one the ground, it won't be good in the saddle. I have worked a lot on ground work and I think that you make a really good relationship in the process. You gain their respect and they trust you more. But I do LOVE riding!!

6. Do you board your horse or keep it at home?

 I keep my boy on our small farm.

7. Do you do all natural things or commercial stuff? (In the sense of products.)

I am all for natural but have no problem buying treats or helping a horse that needs it.

8. All Tacked up or Bareback? 

I love both! Riding bareback you can be one with the horse. With a saddle you are like a foot off the horse. = ) I do like an all tacked up horse and enjoy riding with a saddle.

9. Equestrian model?

 Stacy Westfall!! Totally! = )

10. What's your, one, main goal while being in the horse world?

To create a awesome relationship with my horse and to be able to be one with my horse when I ride. To ride across a field bareback, being one with my horse and friend. 

Time for my nominees!!
(I only have six. As that is how many followers I have. And they are all awesome followers!) = )

Kalin at - Cash's Steppin' Up

American Girl at - Paola's Horse Blog
Allison at - Adventures with Shyloh
Ashly at - Into The Western Wild

Ashley Bergen at - Kansas Country Girl
Mrs. Blanchet at - Pur et Simple


Have a great weekend!
 

Just A Good Ol Picture

My youngest sister made this picture for me. I love it! Such a nice picture of Chester and she did such a great job. Thank you Annie!

Last night I had about two hours to do whatever I wanted and was planing on making/coming up with ideas for blog posts. But, guess what? I drew a blank. I. had. no. ideas. Can't believe it!
So I decided to ask you guys. Is there anything you want to hear about or see? I am of course going to keep updating on what's going with Chester and random pictures of him. = ) This is totally making me look like a bad blogger. But hey, I don't have all the time in the world. Plus, blogging is not the most important thing in my life. It comes after the Lord, family, school and...horse chores. = )

I did run out today and take some self portraits of me and my boy.

                                                             He's like, "really?"
 I walked up there, we said "hi" to each other and then I was like, "SNAP!" That's when he was like, "really? Come on!"

Straight on!

 I love his star and stripe; he actually has another star on his nose. It makes him so unique.

                                                  That's Chester....Isn't he cute?

                      I gave him a snack; sense it was later he thought it was dinner time.

Later folks!

                               

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.