Fancy End of Summer News

September 23, 2019Posted inFancy
During the last couple of weeks when riding was not death by heat and humidity, Fancy and I became pole bending racers. We didn’t have poles, so we changed our title to cone bending racers. I tried to communicate with Fancy using hindquarter leg cues and neck reining using no contact with the bit. We were modestly successful. We were immodestly successful when speed zoomed up to a trot. Fancy likes Cone Bending and Pleasure Barrel Racing. She gets to “GO! We ended our day cantering around the arena. Our…

Near Fall for Fancy and Terry

September 23, 2019Posted inFancy
It is late September and we have had a most horrible heat and humidity summer. I predicted Fall would start TODAY! I had no idea that both the spouse and Fancy would make my prediction a “Near Fall” exciting event! Oh the fun today when I got to ride in a lesson today given by Erin Patterson. I got to ride with another student (who is amazing and has an amazing horse). The focus was on a Ranch Horse pattern, a Reining pattern, turns on the haunches, stopping and speed…

2019 World Celebration #1 Boyfriend!

September 17, 2019Posted inMissouri Fox Trotter
I was on the sidelines, novice live streaming the Ranch Horse classes. It was time for Ranch Horse Versatility. This is a pattern that combines a trail pattern with a reining pattern. The horse and rider have to canter over a small jump (lined with flowers), drag a fifty thousand pound tire with a roping lasso, do rollbacks and lead changes.Be still my heart! I was videoing some of the individuals doing their pattern. They all were doing great. The Amateur class participants were done and came into the arena…

2019 Celebration Live Stream

September 17, 2019Posted inMissouri Fox Trotter
Sunday, September 1 was the first of three days of Versatility and Ranch Horse classes. Heat and Humidity (Double H) were the opponent at this show. Forget the cow, the obstacles and the gaits, Double H was the enemy. The Versatility and Ranch Horse Days were held from 9:00am until 4-5:00pm enduring the Double H. Sadly, the days were too long for me to compete. I now understand why we have few 70+ year old people riding in the long days. On the morning of the second day, I arrived…

Wretched Fantasy Team Competition

September 8, 2019Posted inEmma, Fancy
I was going to ride 30-40 miles yesterday to get points for the Fox Trot Urbane Fantasy Team competition.  But that didn’t work.  My incentive to take her to my favorite riding park and ride alone, like I did in my 40’s ...failed. There is old person fear in me.  Instead, I brought Fancy home yesterday and planned to ride her at home today. It rained overnight.  Damn. There is mud and slippery grass in pasture. I’ve never rode Fancy alone outdoors except 30 feet between arenas as I’m an…

Fancy Fun

August 24, 2019Posted inFancy
It is a very odd day not to go fast. I like fast. I love cantering. Fancy likes to go fast only when she decides. Amazingly, we just had fun weaving around obstacles and playing with body position, hindquarter yields, forequarter yields, backing and leg cues. Fast was not in our playbook today! I got a new plastic bag from the grocery store.. Why don’t I attach it to my Horsemanship stick today? I didn’t tear any holes in it and tied it only with one handle. It was big…