Annies Asteroid

I have been a slacker....I know. But when there are horse adventures to be told, I will tell.
I did have someone over the other day that wanted to brush up on their horse grooming and tacking skills. Chester did great! He did try to sneak off when I was busy talking to someone....but I saw him. ;)
I "weighed" him the other day with my weight tape, and he has gained about 100 pounds since the last time I "weighed" him which was maybe a year ago? I can't remember. =)
He actually doesn't like the weight tape. So after he ran around his yard not letting me get within twenty feet of him, I set down the weight tape and got his halter and he submitted to me. When he has his halter on he switches from a free roaming pony in his yard, to, a pony that's like, ok what are we going to do?
I do groom him free though....I don't always put on his halter when I'm doing stuff with him in his yard. Anyways, back to the weight tape. Once I had him standing there I put the weight tape around his heart girth area and lined it up and what not. I wasn't sure what numbers to look at so I read the directions out loud while holding the tape on him. He wasn't super comfortable but he was standing there quietly and being a good boy. As I was reading the directions a loud I came across, "make sure the horse is not holding it's breath." I looked at Chester and asked, "are you holding your breath?" He was looking straight ahead, not moving a muscle, eyes open a little wider then normal and wasn't blinking. I told him, "I think you're holding your breath".  He did great and I was able to finish and when I was done gave him some peppermint treats. (Actually, before I "weighed" him, I gave him a peppermint treat in the same hand that I was holding the scary white thing.) =)

I then went on to de-worm him. He did great for that too. I'm not an expert at giving him stuff orally. He was totally relaxed about oral stuff when I got him but has since taken to not liking it. I think it might be because I'm "newer" at it? It's not that hard to do though....so maybe not.

Alright, you are probably wondering what Annies Asteroid as to do with this post. Well, I wanted to share a game with you all! It's called Annies Asteroid. My dad made it! You can down load it for free off Itunes. It's made for a phone or Ipad, so if you don't have one I don't think you can get it. (If you don't have a phone I totally understand. I just got my first phone a few months ago, and I'm eighteen.) =) If any of you check it out or get it, let me know what you think! Go Here to see it.
 I think it's really fun and can get addicting once you get the hang of it. Please pass on the word! Enjoy!


                           

Wait, Whuuuuut?!?

This past week, inspired by some of my blogger friends, I emailed the past owner of Chester and asked if he had any pictures of Chester or knew of anyone that would. He emailed back and said he had some somewhere, that he would send my way. I also asked him if he knew Chester's birthday.. When we bought him he was sixteen and now he is "eighteen".
So, he told me his birthday was April 13th. I was like, oh that's coming up! My next thought was, what year was he born? They guy was already on it and had sent me his pedigree. I opened it up and started to figure it out as I have never really (maybe one other time) looked at a pedigree before.
His barn name was Shorty when we bought him but I renamed him, Chester. We didn't think Shorty was such a "loving" name....but, come to find out his "legal" name on his pedigree is Valiant Mr. Shorty! I thought that was a pretty neat name; better then just Shorty. =) His name is actually a mix of his mom and dad. His dad's name was Sold Short, and his mom's was Valiant Quest. I thought that was really cool! There was no picture of his dad, and it said that there was a picture of his Grandfather but the picture won't pop up. =( But, I do have a picture of his great-grandfather! I think there is a big resemblance! His face looks like Chester and even his back end is shaped like Chester's! =)
Here, have a look!

                                                       Chester's great-grandfather

Ok, I know Chester has his winter coat on here so he's not shiny like Top Deck. But I think their faces look alike.

                                   In this picture he has his summer coat on so he's shiny. =)

                                                 This is a picture of his great-grandma

Here are some more pictures of grandfathers....

Great, great-grandfather

Great, great, great-grandfather

And I think we'll stop there. =)

Well, I did find this guy down the line and thought he was a nice looking one. He's a big guy! =)

Back to the pedigree....after I found out his pedigree name, I saw the date he was born. 1992. Yep, my horse is four years older then I thought he was. I thought he was 18 turning 19 sometime this year. Well noooo, he's 21 turning 22 in a few weeks! The main reason I was in "shock" was I lost four years I thought I was (possibly) going to have with my horse.
The thing is, if we knew that Chester was 19 years old when we bought him, we wouldn't have bought him. And I wouldn't have the wonderful horse I have now. I would have never met Chester. I would have never met and own the best horse in the world! God knew that he was older all along and yet He had him picked out for me and provided the right horse, nineteen year old Chester, for me. So even if I'm in "shock" finding out my horse is now definitely "an older horse", as my brother put it, "he is still the perfect horse for you." I agree!

Day Fourteen

Day Fourteen- Your dream barn/farm.


I don't know if I have a dream barn or farm. I love ranches and I know I love the big red barns. Ok, so I do have a dream barn and farm. = ) Maybe we'll sum it up with, a ranch. Would that work? = )

I would love a barn like this! With lots of stalls, a high roof and a windmill next to it! Oh, and notice it's sunny with no mud!! = )

                   This is a cool barn too. But I don't know if I would want to use it every day.

 My dream barn/farm isn't this perfect picture. I like things loved and used. Here is a picture that I found and for some reason I love it. I think it's because it's used and it's not perfect. It's loved.
I do like a clean barn/farm though. I keep my barn very clean. So in other words, if this were my barn, I would probably clean it up a little bit. = )

I couldn't find a picture of a farm I liked or I would want to have as my dream farm. Just think of a dusty ranch with horses, a couple lazy dogs, (but ones that are willing to work) = ) some cats, other animals, and the smell of fresh baked bread coming out of the kitchen window. You should find me somewhere on that ranch; whether out riding my horse or in the kitchen baking. = )

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!
 

Saddle Sitt'n Sunday

I got this really cool idea. It's called Saddle Sitt'n Sunday.
Where each Sunday evening, I would update you on what I did while in the saddle Saturday.
The one problem is, I don't think I will be able to keep up with it. So once in awhile, you might get a Saddle Sitt'n Sunday.
Saturday's I take ridding lessons but for the past few weeks I have been just working on my own and riding in the arena. My Teacher fell off a horse and got a concussion so I haven't been having lessons. Hopefully I will start back up soon but until then, I am enjoying the access to an arena and the fun times I am having with my Chester.

We worked a lot on a constant trot yesterday. Back home the one thing I lacked was a place I could do a constant gate. (Besides walking.) Here there is lots of room and it is enclosed. Yay! Before coming here, I had never worked or rode Chester in an enclosed area. So if he spooked or got lose...he could go anywhere.
Back to the point though, I have wanted to gain confidence with him and one of the ways that I gain confidence is to ride him a lot more, and at a faster pace. Which also leads to my gaining better balance. Then I don't look like a clown. = )
Then that leads back to working on a constant trot. I asked for more out of him (meaning longer trotting periods) and made sure that he was listening to me. Which Chester loves to "get going" so there's no problem there.
I even cantered some, more then last time. This time I tried to have him make wider turns...trying to get him out of the barrel racing mode. Man, my boy can turn! = ) I really want to barrel race but lets make sure I can stay on the horse first! = )
After we had a blast and a little over an hour flew by, we packed up and headed home. Thankfully we live 12 to 15 minutes away so the drive isn't bad!
Oh and yes, I wore a helmet. = )

                         Chester looks tired and sweaty. He could be blinking though. = )

 

We're always happy to be home. = )   He loves to be with other horses though and we both have loads of fun!

But, nothing beats, Home Sweet Home.

Have a pleasant evening! And thanks for joining me for Saddle Sitt'n Sunday!

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!