Friday thru Monday Happiness

Posted inNOVA, Powder, Velvet
Just singing my happiness living my life with horses. Friday was wonderful.  Powder came home from her 30 days of training with Tony and Jennifer Vaught.  It was good to have her back in the pasture again.  Powder and Velvet had never met.  Powder didn't move fast enough to suit Velvet, so Powder lost some hair. She's very aware of Velvet now. Friday was lesson night.  I have my winter goals for  with Nova.  We are to trail walk with head down until she is really relaxed.  You remember that…

Nova’s Notebook – Trailride with Velvet and Nathan

Posted inNOVA, Velvet
It's not often that I get to go trail riding with my son.  For a long long time early in my beginning adult riderhood, I realized that I didn't have a safe horse for a beginner to ride.  I now think I underestimated Nathan's riding ability, but you just never know. So, I have been-there-done -that horses now and safe for my son to ride!Nathan came out to James A Reed and rode with Hope and I. Velvet and Nathan led the way around the park.  Occasionally Velvet and Nathan…

Powder’s Progress – Two Years Old Today!

Posted inPowder
  She was born two years ago.  Her birthday is today!  But hold on! She's going to be two again in 2011...for showing purposes!  Powder is two, she'll have two birthdays.   Isn't that two cool! Powder was born in October and the rule is...Oct. thru December babies are deemed to attain their age in the following year. In this past few weeks, I'm determined that Powder will have the best horse development ever.  I've been playing with her at home and taking her to Pine Dell. Taking Powder to Pine…

Powder’s Progress- Phases of Pressure

Posted inPowder
Here's my terrible confession.  I am writing this blog just to publish some recent pictures of Powder. Don't worry, I have more from this great Sunday Fall afternoon.  You'll get to see all of them, eventually. Here's our self protrait. It's my blog.  I can do whatever I want!  See how my eyebrows match her hair.  If I want, I can have half my hair match Powder, but I would never admit that to anyone!  Let's just leave it at my eyebrows for now.  I love it when my horse…

Powder’s Progress- Liberty Game

Posted inPowder
It's a game we love to play. We turn the horses loose in the arena and wait for them to want to come back to us. The rules for the horses are trot or canter, maintain the same direction and don't cut thru the middle.That last rule is important because that's where the humans stand.  Tony called her "sassy"!  Sassy she was indeedy.  In the above picture, her goal was to be the leading horse. She cut the corner to pass Spike and JR. Not only did Powder cut thru…

Nova’s Notebook – Lesson time with Jenny

Posted inNOVA
Pat Parelli has done various studies of their students and why they enter the program.  Some of them have specific problems and when these problems are overcome, the students move out of the program. Many stay a long long time. Others drop out for various reasons. The category I'm in is "Want to Always Learn More - Can't Ever Get Enough" Lessons are my favorite horse back riding activity.  Lessons with the right people.  My right people are Jennifer and Tony Vaught. Tonight was the first time I've rode Nova since…