August 2011 SWTPA / NATRC

What a great show!

I FINALLY worked up the nerve to team pen. And it was AWESOME! I loved it! I love the speed of it and the action of it.

I had been wanting to try for sometime now, but just never worked up the nerve to throw my name in the draw. Well, I finally just did it. I rode with a man named Syd and Felicia's son, Coy. It was so fun! There were 14 teams and we got third place. No money as it only paid first and second, but I earned another 8 points for year end. Won't matter much tho as I only have like 14 points anyway, but now I have 22. LOL

We had 3 head on our first go. Syd and Coy got 2 head and the third one just pealed it's way out of the herd right in front of me. So I started hollering pen, pen, pen. I was the hole person and Syd and Coy were the wing and swing. One of the cows got past Coy and ran back towards the herd. It was too late to do anything so we penned the 2 we had. On our second go, Coy pealed out one good and one trash. I didn't stop the trash so had to haul butt after it down the arena wall. I finally headed it and turned it back and chased the crap out of it. Again, Coy pulled one good and one trash out of the herd. We were running out of time, so brought them both down to the pen. This time Syd was the hole and Coy was the wing and I was the swing. Coy took off after the trash and hollered at me to pen. So I penned our 1 cow and threw my hand in the air as we waited on Coy to push the trash back past the foul line. We finished the a total of 3 head and third place. Yes, I am hooked!

I sorted 3 times in the 3 class. My partners were Vicki, Mike and my draw was Katie, their niece. Mike and I got 3, Vicki and I got 4 and Katie and I busted. No short runs for me this month. But I wasn't distraught about it. The cows were tough and we did the best we could for novices. Even though I had no short goes, I was real happy with our performance. Shelby and I are starting to click. Slow as it may be, we are getting there. I am finally learning to set her back and then turn her when working the hole and we didn't let one cow get past us even though the pressure was on!

The Wednesday prior to the show, I did take a lesson with James and it was a good one. He only corrected me once. My moves were good, Shelby and I are working better as a team all the time, so I am real happy with that. James even commented on how Shelby has really calmed down. He even said again that he knew I would be good for her.

Summer is really coming along and getting fit for our job as Safety Chair for the Benefit NATRC ride in September. It is the weekend of the 10th. We do about 3 good conditioning rides a week and on the weekend we do long slow distance in the pasture with some moving out. Even if we have to hit every trail 3 or 4 times. I may get bored, but it is for her benefit and health.

I bought Hank the Hackney Pony back. Hank has dropped a considerable amount of weight. David was very upset a couple of weeks ago when he saw him. When I was leasing him from Barb, he was being fed twice a day as he is a hard keeper. I wish he was an air fern, but he isn't. When I relinquished my leash on him, Barb only fed him once a day. That wasn't working, and he started loosing weight. Then she was going to sell him. He was in no condition to sell as he needed to gain about 50 pounds. I literally wanted to be sick every time I thought about him leaving. So I talked to her about him and asked how much. She told me. I told her I wanted to buy him out right. So she cut the price in half and starting crying as she was so happy I was buying him. Even David was glad that Hank is back with us. Plus, when we get our own place, Hank will be the third horse I was planning on getting anyway as I wanted a companion horse for when Summer or Shelby had to leave for work.

Chompers has a new home. I have given him to my driving instructor Denise. Her barn isn't ready yet, but should be done in fall, then he will be leaving. I love that little pony, but she will take him somewhere as far as showing. He will be awesome in the show ring and Denise is the one that can take him there! So I am excited as they will be a good match, much like Hank and I.

Way over a month since I have blogged....

I can't believe it's been over a month since I have blogged. I really haven't been doing much with my equine kids so I guess that could be the reason for my absence.

I haven't been sorting in 3 months. I didn't compete in May due to my Driving Trail Challenge on the same day. I didn't compete in June due to me throwing a birthday party for a senior friend of mine. And I didn't compete in July just cause it was hot, I have been having tummy problems and I was a bit short on funds. And I may or may not compete in August. That is going to depend on my mood and this blasted Texas heat.

But my kids are doing good. Summer is doing well. We trail ride mostly in the pasture as I just don't see hauling out somewhere in this heat. I can go to my barn (6 miles from the house), ride as much as I want and go home. Granted, it ain't no 1500 or 20,000 acres, but it is hard for me to reason on hauling my horse in the heat of the day in that hot trailer. I know hauling to the ride is fine, but by noon or later, it is just blasted hot in a horse trailer. Call me kookey, but I wouldn't want to be in that trailer if I was a horse. Just saying. Maybe when I finally get some bus fans in my trailer, then I won't feel like such a heel for hauling in 105* weather.

Hank is looking real good. It took all of the winter and spring, but I have really fattened him up. When we did the ADS July of 2009, the judge spoke with me on Hank's weight. That he was a little lean. Course, I was pouring food to him at the time. At least I thought I was. So, I did a power pack on him and uped his feed a little. Plus he gets out for about 8 to 10 hours a day now on coastal. So he looks wonderful now. Once this heat starts to give us a break, I will be taking lessons with him. It is just so hot that I don't go out to the barn until about 8pm now just to try and beat the heat.

Chompers is fat and sassy as ever. He got a new/used biothane harness the other day. I have been borrowing one that isn't pieced together right. And it's leather so it has to been cleaned a lot. Now that I have my own and he has his own cart now, I see us driving much more when the weather cools a bit. But he looks real snazzy in his new harness.

Anywho, that is pretty much about it. If we finally do something that folks might actually want to read about, well, y'all will be the first to know! LOL

Hugs!

Update on me and my equine kids.

As of yesterday, it has been 3 weeks since my accident with Summer.

Last Saturday (March 27th) was SWTPA March sort and I didn't compete but I did go watch my friends. And of course I was glad I didn't take a horse as I probably would have entered. I was glad I went though as even watching from the side lines teaches you a lot.

I did have a few folks that knew about about the accident ask me if I have ridden yet. No, I hadn't as of then. I knew what they were thinking though. The longer I wait, the tougher it will be, because I will just become even more nervous.

So Sunday (March 28th), Tracey and I saddled up and rode around the barn for about 25 minutes then hit the trails for about 20. When we first started out around the barn, the wind was blowing and Summer was a bit "up", but I think it was because I was nervous. You can't take a fall like that and can't say you aren't even a tad nervous getting back on. Anyway, after the 2nd loop around the barn, I noticed Summer's head was down and she had relaxed. I then noticed that I had relaxed by then too. Which is why she had settled. After about 5 loops, we hit the trails and it was real nice.

Monday evening, I rode the trails by myself. Summer was a pretty good girl. And it was just something I had to do. Getting over these little fear humps is just an exercise I must do.

Wednesday, Hank and I had our first driving lesson with Denise. All we did was longe line but it was SO informative and she taught me so much about my pony and why he is doing some of the things he does. Things like getting his tongue over his bit. The hour just flew by. And while she was working him, I heard her purr to him. I asked her if she had just done that and she shyly said yes, that it was to calm him. I told her that she and my dressage instructor in California from 20 years ago were the only two I had ever heard do that. So, back to purring I will go to settle my hyper pony. But it was so great and I can't wait for my next lesson!

Saturday came and we had an AWESOME sorting lesson! Robin, Anthony and I just had a great lesson with James. We all had things that James critiqued us on. One of my worse runs of the day was when tunnel vision kicked in and I put a BUNCH of pressure on James when he was working the hole as my partner. Tunnel vision usually doesn't happen to me, but it did this day. I also pushed her pass our cows shoulder a couple of times, causing the cow to turn back away from the hole, which will cause us precious seconds in competition. My bad again. But at least I am catching my mistakes as I make them. That shows that I am learning something I guess.

But Summer was really good for me. When we were done with each run, I would try to be the one to push the cattle back thru the hole for the next run for Summer's sake. Summer was pinning those ears and putting her head down to push the cows with her nose. Next thing I know, she bit one again! LOL Once again, this isn't allowed as it can be construed as "roughing" the cattle. But with Summer still having a bit of fear issues, I will let her touch them and such at James'. She also got real close to them when we were cutting them from the herd too. And when we would push our cow on the fence to the hole, she was much closer to their hip than she usually is.

I had a talk with James after the lesson and told him that I knew that I didn't have the kind of horse that he and the others had, but I had a horse with a lot of heart and a lot of want in trying to please me and he agreed. And that for now, she will have to be my cow horse if I want to play this game. She just shows me that she can have potential at this sport because of the way she handles the cows at his place.

After we got home from our lesson, we had a nice ride on the trails. Just she and I. It was so peaceful and quiet. She was so good.

Of course Sunday I woke up feeling muscles that I hadn't felt in awhile. LOL

I am feeling those same muscles today as well. Guess I need to start hitting a gym.

Thanks for reading.

Record snow in Texas pictures.

Downtown, aka: work

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Home, aka: rest

Hank and Summer, aka: play and where all my money goes. (smile)

Hansom Hank my Hackney Pony

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FMK Imperial Summer

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My first ever snow ride:

I do feel a little bad as I didn't get any shots of Chompers in the snow. Sorry Chomp-Chomps

Update on equines part two...Hansom Hank.

*********************So good he ought to be in print!*****************

Well, Hank and I had been getting ready for our first driving show. I admit, the closer it got, the more nervous I got. Had I been taking Summer I would have been fine. I know how she reacts to new situations. But Hank...I have never driven him off the property and never driven him in a situation I was about to take him in. On the good side however, it was an Arena Driving Trial, not a Combined Driving Event. You do basically the same things, but in an arena setting. So it is more controlled for green horses and novice drivers.

I had been driving him quite a bit and felt pretty good that he was going to at least not kill us. And I was right. However, there were a couple of times I was very glad I had a helmet on. (smile)

We left Friday morning (July 24th) as it was a one day show in Tyler, TX at the Texas Rose Horse Park http://www.texasrosehorsepark.com/ on July 25th. It is a very lovely place. VERY "fru-fru". You saw no one there with a western saddle on, only English riders.

Once we got there we unloaded and got the ponies comfortable in their stalls. After a brief rest and a look around, we took turns harnessing and hitching up for each other. We got June off and then Barb helped me with Hank. She didn't harness her pony as she is kind of my instructor and wanted to help me. I have to say, Hank was a pretty good boy. There were a lot of things there that were kinda scary to him, but he handled it to my approval. They were going to do the dressage test outside as they thought the indoor arena might not be big enough. But my oh my, that ground was horrid! It was WAY to rough. But, Hank was wonderful. We imagined where the letters were (as they didn't have them out yet) and drove our test. Barb was very proud of us. I told her after we were done, if he didn't place at all, I was very proud of his results just on Friday. He calmed down and respected my reins. After we unharnessed, I helped her harness her pony and off she went.

After everyone tried to drive on the "dressage field", it was determined that it was WAY to rough by everyone. Even folks driving horses and large carriages. The show manager and some other volunteers measured the indoor arena and thankfully it was plenty big enough for the dressage tests.

It was a little hard sleeping Friday night. My mind wouldn't shut off. What is nice about driving shows is, your horse is comfortably stabled in a nice barn and you are housed in a hotel room. So not like what I am used to doing CTRs! LOL

We got up and headed to the farm at about 6:15am. Barb's test was at 8:10am, June's was at 8:30am and mine was at 10:35am. I harness up about 9:30 to warm him and settle him down. At 10am was my safety check on my harness and cart.

At 10:35, we entered the arena. I actually dressed up a bit and was thankful that I was wearing a vest with my sateen shirt. It was hot and I was sweating like crazy! We entered and I drove him around a bit. As we were fixing to pass the judge, she asked me if I was ready, and we started our test. I tell you, I couldn't have been more proud of him. He looked like he had done this a 100 times. He executed every thing I asked. If he was crooked or anything, it was pure driver error. Once we completed our test, all I felt was relief. With dressage, it is like golf, the lower your score, the better. Barb and June always seem to get low to mid 50's. So I was hoping for a 60. I would have been thrilled with that. About 2 hours later, they posted my classes scores. Would you believe, I got a 47.4! OMG! There were 5 ponies in our class and Hank and I came in second! Once again, I cried. We accomplished something neither of us had done before. Now my thoughts were of the obstacle course and the cones course. All I had to do was try and run a clean course. This means, don't knock any of the tennis balls off the barrels or cones.

Once our test was over, I unharnessed Hank and put him up. I changed into shorts and a t-shirt for the next two events. I had about two hours to rest and get a bite to eat.

About 45 minutes before my next event. I was hurried by Barb to tack up and get ready to enter the arena. I knew I had awhile before my turn, but did as I was told because I had never done this before and didn't want to do anything wrong. Well, due to hurrying and tacking up, it seemed to upset Hank. When I started driving him off, he was REALLY acting up. To the point, I couldn't stop him. This actually scared me because he has never acted like this before. He wanted to canter so I did my best to keep him at a trot, but still couldn't stop him. I drove by the barn and hollered to June that I needed Barb, there was something wrong with Hank. When Barb came out to the field we were on, I took him straight to her. She told me that I was tense and to calm down. That he was feeding off of me. I told her that he has never acted like this before. Then she checked his mouth as he used to get his tongue over the bit. Well guess what? His tongue was over the bit. He was trying to get away from the pain. It must have happened when he was fidgeting with me bridling him. Once we corrected the problem, he became my sweet boy again. But during this whole incident, I was so thankful I had my helmet on!

About 25 minutes after this, we entered the arena for our obstacle course. We didn't haul butt, but we ran a clean course. Both June and Barb were eliminated after their obstacle courses. Barb did the wrong course first and June did a letter backwards. So I was relieved when I was told that I was safe.

About 1 and 1/2 hours later was my time up for cones. Barb is a dear friend, but once again, she was trying to rush me to re-harness and hook up. I told her not yet. I told her that I was just as anal as she was about doing my equine things on time, but Hank is not the type of horse that you rush. And I was right. I re-tacked him and hitched him and then just stood in front of his stall and let him watch the action. He was so relaxed. When I saw the person that was ahead of me head for the arena, then I started that way as the cones only take a couple of minutes to do. Well, we ran a clean cones course. I did go over my allotted time by 3 seconds so received a -1.5. But I was okay with that. For every tennis ball you knock off is a -3. I'll take the 1.5 over even a single 3 any day!

The others that scored a higher dressage score than I did, needed to make up for it in the obstacle and cones to try to knock us out of 2nd place. Well, they didn't succeed. Some of them hurried and received several faults compared to my little -1.5. And Hank and I took home a second place ribbon and some great memories!

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Thanks for reading!

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BTW. forgot to mention, no one in my class was eliminated, so I was competing against 5 other large ponies the entire time. Way cool! (big grin!)

Pleasure Drive at B-Tex 06-06/07-2009

Well, on June 6-7, we had a pleasure drive for North Texas Whip. Tracey and I sort of did the safety thing/ mounted guide thing on Saturday. She lead the open buggies and I had to go back to the barn as we had left without the Welsh pony team, pulling a surrey. So I waited on them to get hooked up and off we went. By the time we got to the trails, the others were gone. We had a very nice time and all the horses were pretty well behaved. Well, that is for Boogie the Hackney pony, because he truly lives up to his name. He likes to boogie on down the trail. Tracey had said he even reared while they were on the trail. He was with a horse trainer, so no accidents and Tracey said he did eventually calm down.



Above picture are the really pretty Welsh pony team. Very well behaved too.

Once the drivers headed back to the barn, Tracey and I took Lori (the only rider to come out, she had decided to ride instead of drive) on all the trails that the buggies couldn't go on. Lori had a blast. I think she said this was her boy Timmy's 2nd trail ride ever. He was so good for her, and very pretty to boot. Here is a picture of Lori and Tracey in the flowers.

Sunday was mini only day. I decided to drive the Mule out with the ice chest and first aid kit and pony Chompers next to it so he could be in on the Mini action. He was one big ball of energy and boy did he get a work out next to the mule. Tracey rode safety again and got some great photos. I tell you, there were mini carts going every which way, I think about 8 drivers came on this day. It was a very fun day. Course, it got a little nerve wracking when I was in the woods on foot, trying to find a nice place to stand and take photos of the drivers entering the woods. When I almost stepped on a dark gray, approx 4 foot long with a 2" girth, snake. It laid very still, but the first think I noticed was the viper shaped head. At that point I decided that pictures weren't an option as he was on one of the two trails that could be taken by a pony. As the first driver came in, I directed them to stay on the right path as there was a poisonous snake on the left path. The first driver stopped, as she did, one of the dumb barn dogs ran right over the snake, the snake lunged and struck at the dog then turned and struck at me then took off. Scared the pee out of me. I am not usually scared of snakes, but I do respect them if I don't know what type of snake I am dealing with. The first driver, Juanita, stated that was a Texas Gray snake and non-poisonous, but flattens its jaws out when nervous to resemble a viper. I of course, had to Google the thing and found the exact picture and the true name, Yellow Bellied Water Snake and its defense is to mimic its looks to look like a Cottonmouth. Anywho, once that commotion was over, on with the drive.

We took some lovely photos of the drivers in the flower field. This is June and her boy Jerrett.

And I had to take one of my handsome black stallion Chompers. Isn't he just pretty?

Then the group had to go play in the water.

Ponies and pooches playing in the water. After everyone drove for a bit longer, they started to head in:

After lunch and a break, I decided to hitch Summer up so Tracey and I could enjoy a drive and we sure did. I think Tracey thought it was kinda cool when we got back near the power lines and I cantered Summer under harness. I just love to watch her canter from that angle. You don't appreciate the power that animal has until you are that angle watching those muscles work. Here are a few pictures from that outing:

Letting Tracey take the reins.

Most every one's favorite because she is right on the bit.

And then my favorite that is framed and on my desk at work:

That evening, I just had to drive Hank for a bit. The clouds rolled in and the temps dropped a few degrees. So Tracey saddled up Gypsy for a little bit of easy riding and I hitched Hank. Tracey took a fabulous shot of him standing so pretty and some of him moving, here are a couple of shots:

My mouth looks funny because I am talking to him, but he is really moving up this gradual incline like a pro! I am so proud of the progress he and I have made.

Well, this was longer than I had planned, but I can't wait for the next pleasure drive weekend we will have. This one was great!
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Thanks for reading!

Tammy, Summer, Hank and Chompers

Update on me and my equines

Been a bit since I have posted about my four legged, hoofed critters. So here it gos...


Summer was turned out on a 100 acres for about 4 weeks while her pen was having fresh dirt hauled in. It took awhile for them to finish as the rain would hold up progress. While out, Summer became Alpha mare, as usual. But she is a good leader, she is not too vicious with the other mares. I do see her get crabby when I am out there visiting with them. She pushes the other girls away from me and won't let them get close. Jealousy maybe. Anyway, I am sure she has gained a least 70lbs. I had to drop her girth one hole, which is about 2 inches. But she is a much happier girl when she is out romping with the herd. I may turn her back out in a week or so for a bit as I need to focus on Hank and get him ready for his/our first show in July.


On July 25th, he and I will be competing in our first arena driving trial at http://www.texasrosehorsepark.com/ . I am so excited and nervous. When Hank is good, he is REALLY good. But when he is bad, it takes patience and nerves when he acts up. He acted up the other day when we had a mini drive day at the barn. All the action had him up. Hackney Ponys are like miniature Arabs. Full of spirit and energy. Always ready to go and very faithful, but when they are having an off day, it shows. I can say that as I had a few Arabs in my horse life time. When he is a toot, I am always thinking of a plan of action. It won't hurt to fall out of the cart, but if I let that happen and he bolts with the cart chasing him, he may never drive again. And that is always in the back of my mind, "Don't let him get hurt." Anyway, after a short time during the drive, he did settle and I received many compliments on him. I was also told that this ADT would be a great way to show him as it is wonderful for greenies such as he and I.

Chompers is doing great. He was to be gelded this past Monday, but when my vet learned that he was about 14 yoa, she didn't do it. She is uncomfortable doing an older stallion in an unsterile area. She said that older stallions bleed a lot and wants me to have him cut at a hospital and wants me to wait until November to do so. So the lucky boy gets to keep his gems for 6 more months. She also checked his teeth the other day, and due to his teeth, she is going to have to buy a mini speculum just to do them. They have huge hooks in the front and she can't do them by hand. However, they are not interferring with his eating or his bit. He just looks like he is smiling all the time. LOL BTW, a mini speculum is about $500! OMGosh! But with her mini patients growing, she needed to buy one anyway.

I have not been riding much. We (Barb, June, Tracey and I) have been getting the trails ready for a weekend pleasure drive/ride on June 6/7. They are looking great. Mark and Mel are coming out this weekend for a ride. Mel isn't riding as she is to be a mommy again. But is bringing her new mini Appy pony out for a driving lesson with Barb.

Tracey finally drove her first horse during our little drive the other day. She drove miniature horse Sir Jerret, who belongs to June. I think she had fun. At least she looked like it with that smile on her face! LOL We might have her hooked, but she said she only wants to do hazards and cones. Which are a blast because they are speed events. Course, once she sees a driven dressage test, she may like that too as it is pretty to watch.

Well, TTFN

Last CTR of the season...

...is slowly approaching. Last Chance at the OK Corral in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It is a nice ride. The Oklahoma Land Run was there this spring.

The last couple of rides, I have felt that I have become too competitive and I don't like it. I think I said that in my last post. I have been telling myself that I am just going to go and have fun at this ride and do the best I can.

I started reading my In Touch magazines yesterday. They are Christian magazines by Dr. Charles Stanley. I read one article yesterday that helped me put some things in perspective. I know it sounds kooky, but it made me realize that what is going to happen is going to happen. Even something as simple as NATRC. I will just go out, do the best I can with Summer, and that's that. If I place, I place, if I don't, well then, I don't.

Summer looks good. I was worried about her night before last. She showed no interest in her feed, even with the cup of sweet feed in it. But last night she scarfed it down. Feed, beet pulp and some alfalfa cubes.

Hank was colicy last night. That worried me. I called Barb and she gave him a shot of Banamin. He wasn't real bad, but you could tell, even Barb and Paula saw it. He was interested in eating, but kept laying down. Not thrashing, but he looked a little bloated. I haven't gotten a call this morning from June, so I am sure he is just fine. I am sure it was due to the drastic weather change. I am sure he isn't the only one that didn't feel good because of the weather. It got COLD Monday night. Down in the 30's I believe.

My friend Billie who owns http://www.christiancarriage.net/ (that is me sitting next to her in the top picture of the site wearing top hats) called me yesterday. She had a bad accident in Mexico while showing the new owners of some Percherons she sold him, how to handle and drive them. She busted her knee and has had two surgeries already. A few months before that, one of her drafts knocked her down causing her break her shoulder. They are gentle giants but I swear they don't know their own strength. Well, she asked me if I could drive her carriage a few times in December, I said of course. It is extra Christmas money and I do enjoy her company.

Well, gotta go.
TTFN

Proud to announce...

Hank the Hackney pony is back in the shafts!!!

Sunday, Barb, June and myself, harnessed Hank, put the cart to him and I told Barb she was the first test subject. (smile) We took him to the outdoor, fenced in arena for his first time out. He was a little up but did great. Barb then asked me if I wanted to take the reins. So I climbed in the cart and off we went. He did great! I was so excited!!! We finished on a good note and unharnessed him.

Next, we put Summer to the wooden roadcart I had been refurbishing. She did great of course! I even took two new boarders for their first time cart ride. I was a little worried because a wooden cart makes different noisies than her metal cart. But she was an angel.

Monday, we put Hank back in the shafts and drove him in the open dressage arena. Again he was a little up, but did great. Barb drove him first then I drove him and once again finished on a good note.

After Hank, I put Summer back in the wooden cart and gave another boarders little cousin a cart ride. I was real proud of Summer for being such a good girl.

Yesterday, I wanted to drive Hank again. Barb and June were getting ready to go out of town. So I decided to hitch him myself. After harnessing him and putting him between the shafts, I unclipped the cross ties. I gathered up the reins and stood next to the roadcart. Hank started to fidgit and move around. He has down this the last two times and that is why we used someone to head him. But I stood there, talked to him, used the reins and he just settled right down. After a few seconds I climbed in and asked him to walk on. I didn't know Barb was watching me. We drove around the dressage arena then I took him out on the property road. He did great! Barb told me later that evening, she was real proud of Hank and me. That made me feel real good.