Perfect End to Today

This is my life...

So okay, I don't have the most state-of-the-art round pen... But it works for what I need it for and Brantley doesn't test the older than dirt woodwork. Apparently though, one of the drunks cabin dwellers couldn't handle the snow and drove right into it. Someone tried to fix it... But obviously it did not work...

But I did get to lunge my horse in the snow yesterday. I'm glad I did but... It rained today so once again, he sat in his paddock. Bored to death and wet.

Today was the Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade - AKA: The day everyone in Rhode Island crosses the bridges to sit in the rain and party and get f*#$ing wasted... And most likely arrested. Over the years it's become so dangerous that not only have people DIED in those 24 hours but people have actually pulled themselves out of marching in the parade like local schools and fire departments.

Lucky me I was originally schedule to work in Middletown which is 5 minutes away from the parade but I switched with a girl who lived in town so I didn't have to even cross the bridge. I've come home to sobriety tests in my drive way. I DON'T WANT TO DIE BECAUSE YOU'RE STUPID!

Don't get me wrong, you've read posts about my occasional night out. I can party hard with the rest of them, but I'd rather not kill anyone in the process.

After work I stopped home, gave the puppy a kiss, grabbed my boots, and screwed over to the barn (after getting a coffee from my favorite coffee place of course). Tacked Beaker right up and hopped on. No problems! Know why? Because he decided to take a huge chunk of hay to the indoor with him. His mouth was so busy trying to get it around the bit that he didn't even bother with me getting on. Of course I pulled it out once I was on... And we got to work.

I'm cute... Don't lie... You hate loving me.

His biggest thing is his GO! button. And I am terrible at riding with a whip especially when I know... I really don't need one. I just need the horse to find his own sense of motivation. One step being, showing him how much it sucks to back up when asked. We'd walk a few steps, halt, and back two steps. Right away he responded with a tuck and step forward. I rubbed him and praised him. We did that a few times in each direction before I asked for a trot off the back up. What do you know?! He had a little pep in his step.

I win.

We did some figure 8's over the ground poles I set up. Did not set them up in his favor but I was too lazy to get off. He figured them out though and the picked up a canter. We're still getting the cues but he's getting less sucked back about picking it up. Still have to work on the few running-trot strides into it. He'll get there. He was so good that I picked up a half-seat and let him cruise around the arena.

Disappointed in my ground pole set up.

I got to hop on the little Arab again. Teke is a hot shit and I blame Sherry and Pretty for my fascination of these little horses. Taught me that big personalities come in small packages. It may have slipped out from a friend that yeah, I love my OTTBs... But Arabs may be my breed. 

SAVE ME!

Miss my girl!

 Teke's mom (S) had an awesome ride yesterday which was great because she's been really spooky and a handful in the indoor lately. She was due for a good ride and got one. S gave me a heads up about the issues in the indoor and as soon as I swung my leg over she started looking for something to spook at. Psh. I got this. After a few walk strides she made it clear that a walking warm up in the saddle was not on her agenda. So we trotted... and trotted... and she'd look at something, so we'd change rein and keep trotting. We did large circles, figure-8's, and after about 20 minutes of trotting I had her extending down the long sides and collecting more on the short sides. She tried to shy from the corners a little bit so I opened my inside rein, booted her a bit to ask her to move into the corner and as soon as I got the bend I'd bring back my rein.

It was a bit difficult for her to come back to me on the short sides at first because she just wanted to go but it gave something for her to focus her "bad" energy on. I finally had her going around in a nice long forward sitting trot with her relaxed on the bit. Winning? I think so.

When I figured that the "freak-outs" were out of her mind, I asked for a few walk strides and then a canter. She popped right into it no questions. As her head got lower she asked to lengthen her stride and I said, "As long as you keep your head out of your ass, go ahead." She did great. Was almost going around on the buckle a few times. Anytime she tried to run out from under me we'd change direction, do a simple change, and pick up the canter again. Mini version of the cruising lesson.

All in all it was an awesome afternoon and I hope I have some really good pony time tomorrow.

Then back to work Monday. Eck.