More NEW tricks (with Missy)

Here I am working with Missy on getting her to bow with a rider on her and not getting up till I let her.  As you can see, she is doing great!  

Above: oops Ted cut off Missy's head in this pic--just wanted to prove to you that she can be patient on the pedestal too!

Below:  Me underneath Missy-oops on the lead rope in my face

Above:  This is a great action shot taken by my brother, Ted.  Missy is waving hello to everyone!  Doesn't she have great "mareners!"  :) 

Below:  We are still working on straighter front legs for the stretch bow-not to bad here, but hopefully will get better! 

Above is Missy's New trick "shaking hands!"  

New tricks!

Unbelievable that we don't have any green grass yet and it is almost April!!!  However, I have learned to take advantage of upper 30s, lower 40s, sun and no to windy days!  (We haven't had too many days like this so I am so happy I got to spend most of it outside!!)  I just love how Monica captured Kitty and I here on the pedestal below!  

Above pic: I just asked Kitty to do this trick-she does it, but it is sloppy...

Below:  This is what it should look like the front legs stretched out--Kitty does this trick really well now if I help her into the right position--I'm so happy with her!  :)

Ted wanted to get into the trick training as well!  

Our NEW trick!!  The cross legs/act drunk trick!  For the most part, Kitty is doing this without her rope aid!  

Underneath Kitty on the pedestal while stepping on the tarp!  I have such a good horse...sometimes!  :)

Uncooperative Weather

Well......this weather is certainly undesirable for March.  I think I can count on one hand how many days have been sunny!  This is sad for March 18th!  Here I bought all this horse equipment and I can't even use it!     It's suppose to be 17 tonight and with the windchill it is suppose to feel more like -1 (yes...negative one!!!)  I heard someone say that last March we were in the 80s!!!  So...no wonder I'm chomping at the bit!  I can't start my horse on a new trick unless the ground is going to stay unfrozen for a week (so they can get the hang of it) so that I don't hurt their joints and cause them pain because horses are not stupid....if it hurts when they do something--they will NOT want to do what you ask again (unless they are a friesian or a very trusting/relaxed horse)!  Maybe April will be better?  Looks like March won't be getting any better....and it looks like this girl needs to be more patient!

Kitty Reining

This is a video taken last year sometime of Kitty doing her reining slides and going bridleless for her first time!  Some of those sliding stops are the same just showing some of them twice....Kitty really can do a little of everything and if I had a place to practice on my own-look out!  I hope that doesn't sound like I'm bragging too much, but I just can't believe how few times I get to work with her on this and she gets it!  :)

What about the trick training?

Trick training has been going pretty well--as well as it can in the winter--and mud!  My horses and I have had some great fun in learning new tricks.  Missy has learned how to smile and shake hands and we are still learning how to cross our fingers or act drunk trick along with the stretch bow.  Kitty has learned how to expand on her trick (push).  She will push the gate closed for me and she LOVES to push me--She will even push me when I'm not looking!  Don't worry-I ask for it!  :)  Kitty has had 2 really good days with her new tricks--for example she crosses her fingers/acts drunk without the leg aid of my rope and yesterday while I was talking to Monica she started her stretch bow and just stayed in that position like she really had something to pray about!  Really she was just looking for her treat I think!  :)  Hey...I WAS standing in the position that I ask her for a stretch bow I just didn't realize she would do it on her own!  lol!  She must love acting with me!  Either that or the treats!  :)  I really do have amazing horses! I do not drill them everyday--in fact once a week is sometimes all I get and they still learn!  :)  Happy horse training everyone!!! Can't wait till summer!! :)

Kitty Update...what do you think?

If you are one of my blog followers you are probably wondering how my poor little horsey is doing....My buckskin mare had a leg injury about 5 months ago and I took her into the vet to get an x-ray which showed no broken bones, but she is still swollen.  I took these pics the day after her accident: as you can see she is pretty swollen.....I realize pics are not as good as in person and up close....

Then I took some pictures about a week ago and this is about what her leg looks like these days...give or take.....The top leg is her injured leg--it is still swollen around her ankle area and slightly above-this is before we ride.  Her swelling usually goes down after the ride.....

This pic is taken after the ride-still swollen around ankle, but top part of leg looks great!

This pic is also after the ride-at this angle looks almost perfect!

I'm beginning to think this is as good as her leg will ever get, but I'm not giving up my HOPE!  She is very rideable and acts totally normal--just with a bigger leg---:'( I've put Kitty in God's hands because I know He knows what is best for her--but it is hard to let go of something you love.  I know this happened for a reason and even though I have no idea why it happened--I am much happier since letting Jesus worry about it---not that I don't ever stress out about it--I just feel better knowing that God is still taking care of His Kitty.  So...what do you think?  I'll probably ask my vet about her when he comes with the dental team for teeth floating, but hoping Kitty will get to do the things she loves to do best (riding) for another 15 years!!!  :)