English and the platform

Today was cold! It was snowing and I didn't much feel like going out to the barn but it had been a few days since I rode and wanted to work Koda a bit.

Yesterday I got Koda an new halter (with the clip instead of doing up the buckle). Ok, who am I kidding, it's for me. Anyway I like it much better. It's a nice maroon color. Would have preferred turquoise but they didn't have it. Someday he will be decked out in light blue or turquoise since it looks so good with his blue eye and coloring.

He's not a big fan of his English tack yet but he's getting better. I really wonder what he's thinking! We started off doing some trot/collection work and moved to the square poles on the ground.

I remember at the beginning of this year how challenging it was to work on that and now easy! We played around a bit and then worked on lope transitions. Again he did pretty good, needs more work going to the right though.

I knew he'd want to roll, so I took off his tack and let him go at it. I don't know why but it makes me happy seeing him do it. It's like I am letting him be a kid and let loose.

There is a platform in the arena, about 7 feet long and 4 feet wide and 300 pounds or something. It's heavy!! Anyway I decided I would pull it out today. I had tried another time and it was too heavy. But today it was in a different place and I managed to pull it out (my back is NOT happy!)

I wanted him to follow me up on the platform but he didn't want to at first. I decided to go get his grain and use it as a reward. Oh yes it worked! By the third attempt he had his front feet on it, then after a few more tries he got up on it completely. It is so much fun doing stuff at liberty.

I would run away, he'd catch up to me trotting and I'd give him a treat. We'd go back to the platform and do it all over again. I think he was having fun too! I love this boy.

Hoof Prints on my Heart

 Today it wasn't too cold outside, so we rode Western and worked on collection and lope transitions. Koda did pretty good. Me, ? So often I feel like I don't know anything, but Koda is such a patient boy. After that we took a little trail ride to the grove, but Koda was being a little spooky and didn't want to go up. The deer are coming closer and there is a nice cliff going up to the grove. All I could think about was a deer jumping in front of us,  him spooking and me falling down the cliff. No thanks.

We turned around and had fun trotting  back. We like to lope up the hills now and it is SO fun!!

After we came back I knew he'd want to roll. Better to roll in the sand than the mud I say. So Koda made some "sand angels." I had so much fun watching him roll around. Must feel so good, especially since I've been keeping a sheet on him--mostly to keep him clean but also to protect against the elements.

As he got up from the sand, his two front hoofs made a for a nice photo. His hoof prints are definitely on my heart. :)

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Deer and Games

Today was chilly. I went out not knowing what we would do today.  It rained last night so of course I had a muddy mess to clean up. 3 wheelbarrows full! Yuck. I took Koda over to the grass to let him graze while I cleaned. He looks so happy.

After that I decided to take him for a walk. I practiced ground manners, halt, etc. But all of that changed when the deer ran in front of us. Koda didn't spook or anything but he got stressed and instead of let it go and relax, I decided to follow the deer to see if I could get him to relax around them (we found a group of 5 deer). Big mistake. He just got excited, snorted and kept looking in their direction. I have a lot to learn in regards to ground manners when a horse is excited. Sheesh! He was controllable but if I had let go of that lead rope I don't know what would have happened.

When we got back to the barn I put him in the turnout area and of course the first thing he did was roll in the mud. That's my boy! He was all relaxed again. I decided to do some at liberty work. I went to get his grain. Of course he followed me and I gave him a little. Then he walked away and I was surprised because he LOVES his grain. I realized he was going to the fence to crib (he's a cribber and it's his usual habit when he eats his grain). I just watched,  and before long he came trotting up to me. I asked him to bow and he did--got some grain and went back to crib.

Again he came trotting up to me, about 30 feet away. It was so cute. We kept playing this game until the grain was gone. He's definitely on the lazy side so for him to keep turning to me and trotting up was funny. Needless to say he didn't get his sheet put back on because I didn't have time to clean all the mud off his winter coat.

Muck = Yuck

Snow...mud

M's first ride + Trailer update

The Long Bridge

We are taking advantage of the beautiful weather and my vacation time.

Bareback

Halloween Trail Ride

Today was a beautiful day. we went out on the trails. Shirley brought her gaited mare to show me other trails to ride. I've never ridden with a gaited horse and won't be doing it again unless I get a gaited horse! We kept having to trot to catch up. Koda is not a fast walker anyway, but he was trying. 

She was in a hurry to get back to the barn so I told her to go. I had time and wanted me and Koda to enjoy it. I turned him around while she got out of sight. He did get a little worried at being left alone but soon he was fine and I was proud of us for getting back alone. 

A Painted Pony for Halloween

No riding today. My nieces wanted to paint Koda for Halloween, so we did! He was such a good sport. We gave him lots of love and carrots as we painted him with tempera paint. We all had so much fun. My parents brought the girls over and we all added our hand prints. However, Koda did NOT love when it was time to wash it out!

Easy Ride

Today we did a short trail ride from the barn :)

Hidden Trail

I just got back from Cancun last night. I missed Koda so much!!!

A while ago we found a hidden trail so today we ventured out again to see if we could take it a bit further. I am excited to see where is goes. Koda not so much. :) We are getting 

really good going out on our own. The only people to ride with at the barn have gaited horses, so it's not fun for any of us.