BFO with Fancy and Flying Changes!

Posted inFancy, Flying Change
BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious) Day! Our group lesson was over and I’m driving truck and trailer home with Fancy. I had fun today. Fancy and flying lead changes are more fun than a barrel full of monkeys. Yuck I don’t think a barrel full of monkeys would be fun. Hmmm, where have I had more fun than this today? FUN? The only thing I can think of are the times when I’ve been in the middle of a group being loud, obnoxious and dribbling spittle. Why yes, my…

Consistent Flying Changes!

Posted inFancy, Flying Change
Words Matter!  I heard the following words today in the group lesson from Erin Patterson, “Susan, you are getting consistent flying changes now both with counter canter and figure eight.”  I am to lean forward and be a Yahoo Cowgirl enthusiast. I did lean forward today! I asked Erin twice to repeat the consistent words.  When I was absolutely certain, she said those exact words, I fainted and fell off Fancy.  (I fainted and fell off  in my mind.  I could see me down there in the arena dirt.)

Fancy is not a RUNAWAY

Posted inFancy, Flying Change
A runaway horse suddenly takes off and accelerates into a gallop with the victim human riding.  The victim human will probably end up tossed off and getting badly hurt. A horses who refuses to go the direction the rider cued is not a runaway.  A horse who is not accelerating faster up into the gallop is not a runaway.  A horse who refuses to stop, but doesn't accelerate is not a runaway.  Fancy is not a runaway horse. So, what happened today in the group lesson? My goal now is…

Straight Line Flying Lead Change

Posted inFancy, Flying Change
Group lesson minus one.  Erin stated she had thought of a new flying lead change pattern.  Oh Boy! We used the entire arena with cones placed where we would start to turn the corner.  Our warm up consisted me trying to get Fancy to not do a pacy flat foot walk. Erin explained the secret is to get her going in a fast enough walk with inside support rein. Easy Pattern Cones Set in arena corners, before horse starts to bend around the corner. Trot about midway on long side…

She’s Something Else!

Posted inFancy
The breed rules don’t allow a name change at her age, BUT….. maybe I could submit a petition for a special horse name change.  Her name should be She's Something Else instead of She's Something Fancy. What did she do today, Susan? It's cold here, in the lower 20 degrees, there is snow on the ground.  Water is always something to worry about. The lake has just melted and for perhaps, today, there is water available for the horses to drink.  The horses have heated buckets in their run-in stalls. We…