First the Bridle and Now the Saddle

November 7, 2016Posted inCISCO, Missouri Fox Trotter
I tell people that a new book is not possible because the humor of a person new to horses is gone.  Maybe that theory is flawed.  I might have had two humbling experiences just today and the last time I rode.  I might have dramatic, pathetic and humorous stories, even now.  You be the judge. Friday I decided to change bits today on Cisco's bridle. Cisco made certain that he was involved in the exchange. He had his head mostly in my lap while I was trying to do this.…

Remember the Lessons Velvet Taught You, Susan

November 1, 2016Posted inVelvet
Why did Velvet canter every time I asked her to leg yield at a lesser gait.  We were walking, I asked her to leg yield and she tried to canter.  We were in the next gait up, I asked her to leg yield and she tried to canter.  Then I realized I was asking her to leg yield with force in my legs.  I remembered that I thought about the difference between a cue and asking for a faster gait. I've been thinking the same thing about Cisco lately.  How…

Cisco Worship

October 28, 2016Posted inCISCO, Missouri Fox Trotter
Every day I agonize over how I can let Cisco know what a wondrous horse he is to give me so much try and affection. Should I just go into his pasture and feed him treats non stop all day long? How about me brushing him daily for 3 hours? Can I feed him a bag of horse feed every day? Let me rub behind his ears, rub his withers, rub his head, rub his nose, scratch his belly, scratch other itchy places etc for three hours every day.  Would…

Afraid of Gates or Worry?

October 26, 2016Posted inCISCO, Missouri Fox Trotter
I've wrapped up enough examples to know that Cicso is darn certain that a gate will kill him, We were so scared of the gate at the April 2015 Spring Horse show that we just zipped around it. Cisco was terrifie of the gate at the 2015 versatility arena at Ava shows both June and September. We have yet to make an entrance through a strange gate using my right hand. Cisco can barely tolerate me using my left hand to open and shut a gate. Usually gates are set…

Saddle Hell Saga

October 1, 2016Posted inSaddle fit
I was a beginning adult rider in the mid 90's and started out my riding life using my childhood saddle.  My childhood saddle fit my large pony and a narrow Saddlebred horse back in the sixties. After some months of daily riding, horrid silver dollar size white spots developed on Sage's withers.  My saddle was too tight and cut the circulation off at those two spots.  After no blood flow for a while, the horse's hair grows white.  It was a blow as it meant young Sage had experienced pain…

One in Six Saddles Might Have Broken Trees – AKA Death of a Saddle

September 26, 2016Posted inSaddle fit
I love Circle Y Flex tree saddles so much that I have three of them. A couple years ago I managed to let go of the ones I don't use to get them checked and cleaned. However. I couldn't let the one that I use daily leave to get cleaned and checked. I had bought this saddle a long long time ago and it was checked out before I bought it. This summer was a horrid hot and humid one. I stopped riding plus I was going on a week…