Oh Boy....I'm Sorry!

Wow, I'm so sorry I have been such a slacker on blog posting! I will admit....Instagram as gotten the attention instead.
We have been having some nice weather recently. (Where the sun is shining and the air is warmer.) Which means things are drying up. Like, the round pen!! Last week I worked him three times and rode him twice! (I am so excited for this summer!) Just after working him four times, (really only two main times, the other two were really "short workouts") Chester is loads better! He is much calmer now, not as hyper and is respecting me more. There was a little bit there where I was very nervous about taking him out of his yard. Because when I did he would get really energetic and there was a couple times he got so excited about being out and had so much energy that he started bucking and kicking. Not aggressively, just out of pure excitement and joy.
Don't get me wrong, he still has lots of energy, but isn't having those bucking "episodes". Which I am very happy about as those scared me. I tell you, he is in Great shape for an older guy! =)

I was so happy to get on him and ride around. It's been awhile since I had a ride like that. I have to say though, I have only ridden him one other time this winter. Besides practicing jumping up on him bareback. =) 
I was going to work and ride him the other day but was pleasantly reminded that a little rain around here goes far! We had gotten a little rain the night before so the round pen was just a little to wet to work in. He slid around while trying to trot on the lunge line. So since I already was doing good with him that week having had him out twice-worked and rode him- I figured it would be fine if we called it a day and I let him pop all the heads off the dandelions that have sprung up recently. :)

Breaking It In; Bit By Bit!

Well, I didn't exactly break the round pen in bit by bit. The first time I brought Chester in there, it wasn't anything special to him. (Which was Tuesday.) We weren't in there that long, maybe thirty minutes....why? Well, it's winter here and now (hopefully) spring is on it's way. But, for the past three to four months I haven't been doing much with Chester. So from going to the arena almost every weekend, and working him once a week, to not much at all.....my boy has (now had!!) A LOT OF energy. There was one week when I took him for about four walks. Other then that, I have only lunged him a couple times, and a few walks this whole winter.

I had noticed that when I would take him out that he was getting pushy (not respecting my space) and head strong. Plus, last fall he decided he was going to be barn sour. So, a horse with tons of energy + no respect + being barn sour = a "crazy" horse. Now, he was not truly crazy. He was just  "high strung" or something of the sort. I am pretty much a beginner with horses. I have had Chester for two and a half years. I don't really know when you would not be a "beginner" any more. But that doesn't really matter. Before I got Chester the Lord gave me a chance to take care of a friend's horse for ten days and get to know how it is to own a horse. That was a huge blessing and prepared me for my own horse. It was a great opportunity. I also got to take some riding lessons one summer when I was 7 and 8. I started when I was seven and turned eight in the mean time. (If that makes sense.) Those were my only horse experiences before I got Chester.
Chester is the horse that I have learned the most with. He was the one who started my ride through the horse world. =) With that said, when new things happen with Chester most likely it's my first time in that situation and first time dealing with it. He may be just acting like a horse or doing what horses do, and I'm like, "what's my horse doing!?" If that makes sense at all. =)

Ok, now I'll go back to using the round pen for the first time. I didn't know what to do with my horse. He was not respecting me and had loads of energy. After being out there for a little bit, I decided to be done (after ending on somewhat of a good note) and put him away until I knew what to do. Neither of us were too happy. He was the most energetic I have ever seen him. That is saying something since I have had him for two and a half years.

Well, I emailed my horsey friend (aka: my friend who had helped me tons with Chester and even went with me to buy him) and asked her if she could come over and help us both. The wonderful person she is, she actually came over the next morning, on Wednesday, bright and early at 8:15! She worked with Chester for a couple hours and gave us both a reminder on ground work. It was such a blessing and a good needed reminder on how to handle certain situations. Chester was different and calmer just after those two hours. Thank you, horsey friend! =)

I told someone the other day; "the horse ocean is deep and wide. You have to take swimming lessons to learn how to swim and then keep practicing what you've learned to stay afloat. And then, it takes years to become a strong swimmer."
Just think of that all in horse sense. =)

After we had worked him, I brought him breakfast and decided to leave him in the round pen for the rest of the day. To work on his "barn sourness". That kinda sounds weird...oh well! (Sorry about my grammar, Grandma.) =)
Anyway, he stayed out there till about four thirty, to his dismay. He did fine, though, and then I put him out there all Thursday and half of Friday. He's doing better every day! He is very safe out there and I am constantly watching him. I will keep putting him out there for about another week. I feed him his breakfast out there, but so far he hasn't eaten a whole lot of it. Silly boy!

Today I went out and worked him and even hopped on and walked him around. He did really good! I think I am going to set some goals for myself. I probably do a post on them. =)

Chester has done a good job at breaking it in- hasn't he? Well, more like he was running around because he didn't want to be down there- therefore it is 90% mud and dirt now. Not that I wanted it mud; it would have been nice to keep it grass. He's a horse in Washington though, what do you expect?
Isn't he purtty!! =) (Even though he's dirty...) He has a long back. A couple people have told me that. I think it's the Thoroughbred in him.

A quick question for ya'll. What are your opinions on, sweat scrapers? (I know, I know, sorry about the weird sort of question.)
In the past few days he has been quite sweaty, since he has been working and not happy about being in the round pen. Do you guys use sweat scrapers? I know they are pretty cheap, but are they worth your money?

I hope you and your ponies have had a nice week. The weather was nice starting on Tuesday and has been gorgeous! It's not supposed to last and I know it won't since it's only February. (March tomorrow) But it makes me excited for summer. Therefore, I will make goals for this summer and take advantage of the nice weather when I can!  

Have a great weekend!
Warm summer thoughts from Malory and her pony, Chester.

Winter Months Challenges

So I got to ride Chester, not last Saturday but the one before that! (The 25th) I would say it went pretty good. He had lots of energy...the last time I got on him, I decided to jump up on him bareback when I had him out one day after working him. In the past, I've been practicing jumping up onto his back from the ground. So I just jumped up and was pulling myself up when all of a sudden he bucked me off. I didn't have a helmet with me and I was by myself, so I didn't get back on. (Bad me) =/ That made me sad because my boy has never just bucked me off before. =( So ever since then I've wanted to get back on him. I think that day he had a lot of energy and was excited or whatnot.
That brings us to Saturday, when I tacked him up and got on him. (Before I did, I sent him in a few lunge circles and he bucked a few times. I was glad he got those out.) =) He did great for the most part. After a few minutes he decided that he was done, but I told him I wasn't. I kept at him, as he was heading back towards his barn. (I didn't use a bit.) Well, he started trotting and I ended up stopping him. He was all worked up and started, like, trotting in place. It reminded me of a dancing horse. Then he started walking side ways. Then I thought, hmmm is this what side passing is like? I was more serious then that though; trust me! =) After that he started, (I don't know how to describe it) bumping up his back like he was going to buck. I have to admit, I am scared about being bucked off. Yet over the past couple years of owning a horse, I have gained confidence about being on the back of one; as I have slid off a few times and have fallen off at a lope. I have also been bucked off Chester one time when I was falling off (I was half on and half off) and I think I must have had a foot in his rib. That time I amazingly landed right on my feet right next to him. (Probably because I was half off already.) =) Anyways! Rabbit trail there!
After I got him to a point where I thought I could safely get off, I got off and backed him up letting him know that he was miss behaving and that we weren't going in that direction. Also letting him know I was in charge and we were going to do what I wanted to do. I took him back to where I was originally riding and got back on him and rode him in a couple circles and then ended the ride with me in charge and on a good note.
I think it all goes back to the time and effort you put into your horse. I love this quote- Life does not give you anything. What you get out of it, is what you put into it. I can just think of that horse wise. What I put into my horse is what I'm going to get out. Chester hasn't been worked or ridden a lot at all lately. This is our slow time of year. So, I shouldn't expect this really well mannered horse when we haven't been working on it and keeping it fresh on his mind. I'm not saying that he has forgotten everything. Of course not, but he's a little rusty right now and by george(!), if I hadn't had a good run in months I would be the same way! =)

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! 

All Tacked Up!

   Here's Chester all tacked up! I hadn't tacked him up for months. Literally, I think the last time I tacked him up it was last winter. Why? You ask. Well, most of the time I ride him bareback. Plus, I haven't been riding him due to the ground, (to many holes) and because I am working on ground work with him right now. Everything starts one the ground with a horse. If it's not good on the ground, it won't be good in the saddle.
Since Chester and I started taking ground work lessons, Chester (AND me mainly) have learned tons, and are progressing really fast! I am very excited about all the stuff I have been doing with him.

Also, for new news, Chester got adjusted on Sunday. (Kinda like a chiropractor) He had to "sit" (do nothing) for 48 hours. I took him out and lunged him today and he was wonderful! He actually wanted to stay cantering for more then just two circles. = ) Love it! And I love that he's not in anymore pain. His pelvic was totally off....That's why he didn't like turning his back end around or anything that had to do with moving sharply with his back legs.

                                  Hi there! He's like, "are you done taking pictures?"

                                  I guess our color is blue! = )

                                                          Want a treat?

                                          You're gonna have to reach for it!

This was the first time I used this saddle. I have another one, which is bigger and fits him better. But I wanted to try this one out. It is much comfier than the other one for sure!

                                 He's looken at the grass.....= ) Ya, that's my boy!

                                          He looks bigger here then he actoully is.
                                          Oh, I just love his star and blaze!

That was my afternoon! I hope you all had a nice day and you got sunshine of some sort!

 Question for you horse folks out there; If I am not using the breast collar, and my saddle keeps sliding back off his withers, does that mean I need to tighten my cinch?



   Here are some pictures of my other saddle. I know it's not on right. I was just taking some pictures of it on him.

                                  Like I said, it's not situated right. I know that. = )