Sue – How Do You Do at Letting Susan Dismount…oh noooooo

April 28, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
Warmth has finally visited the midwest after a long icy and cold winter. Finally Sue and I got to ride outside...in a large turnout pasture right next to the arena. I rode. We did great. I dismounted to the wheel barrow platform for the manure pile. I splatted onto the ground. (not the manure pile, thanks goodness) whoops It was right when my near foot went to the platform and my other leg was swinging over when Sue moved sideways. Instead of keeping my near foot in the stirrup and…

Sue-How Do You Do with a Big Heavy Breathing Saddlebred Horse?

April 20, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
This is the 2nd consecutive day of trail ride.  Oh woe if we could only have 5 days or 2 weeks or so consecutive days. Today, Sue was more relaxed on the trail.  Today, Sue was more nervous on the trail. Huh? Even though the saddlebred did wonderful on his first trail ride, he is still a fairly high energy horse.  I believe that energy sparked more of Sue's inner terror that still exists. Part of today (the first half away from the trailer), we were able to follow our…

Sue – How Do You Trail Ride in Smushy Grass and MUD!

April 19, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
Sue is sure-footed. Sue can be very gaited - very smooth - in saturated 3"-4" deep mud or grass.  That's how far her feet sink.  That's today at the park. She judges where she wants to go and we just float over the muck. I don't ever remember going this fast before over muck.  I was amazed. This, our first trail ride since last November. Sue is a great trail horse.  In fact, Sue is a darn great horse. I'm lucky to have her.  I'm still grateful to Nichole for bringing…

Sue-How Do You Do those Liquid Gold Eyes?

April 7, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
Sue - How Have Your Eyes Changed AGAIN We had Sue with the dull look in her eyes.  That was when I first got her.  This post is written in April 2008.  I got Sue in April of 2006. In 2007, we had the transformation Sue with the bright eyes. That was darn amazing.  Her eyes changed from dull to bright and interested. I'll have to look back in the blog to see what month that was. Her eyes changed to bright , but they were still wide open for things of…

Sue – How Do You Do after being with Nichole?

April 5, 2008Posted inSue - How Do You Do!
I took Sue home 4/1/08.  She's been with Nichole all this time.  Our bond has slipped since Sue and I haven't been together for quite a time.  My job is to get her trust again.  I took her to a clinic today.  It's called a Liberty Clinic.  It's all about building a relationship and language so strong that your horse will sidepass, back, turn on the forequarters and hindquarters and circle around you and walk beside you...all while "loose".  They have no halter no lead rope.. I learned that this…

Nova – My First Ride

March 23, 2008Posted inNOVA
Nova has been in training with Jenny for a while. I rode Nova for the 1st time today in Jenny's 11:00 lesson. I managed to keep my butterflies in formation upon first getting on. I might have been somewhat relaxed when we stopped riding. I haven't rode a young horse since JR was young about 6 years ago! Wow! Is she ever nice. Nova is Sage's daughter. Sage is a lesson horse at Pine Dell and lives in the pasture horse. Sage was in the arena when I took my…