Summer might have another new venue?

Summer watching a competitor shoot. She was very interested in the action
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What about...Cowboy Mounted Shooting? Well, I took her to a competition this past Saturday up in Decatur to watch my friends Toni and Kelley compete. We also wanted to see how Summer would react to the gunfire.

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Let's take a moment to reflect on another issue we have been having:

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I have mentioned that Summer has been having some trailer unloading issues. I don't mind talking about, but just don't want everyone's opinions on why she might be doing it and how to fix it. For this kind of problem, I strongly urge anyone to go to a trainer. This kind of problem can literally kill your horse. I will tell the story quickly. A few month ago, Summer started blowing out of the trailer when it was time to get out. I thought she was just being a snot and didn't really think about it. That is, until a few weeks ago when she came out and slammed her head into the roof of the trailer. She started stumbling and shaking her head. That scared me to death. As I have mentioned also before, my new friend Toni is a horse trainer. I confided in her my problems. Since then, she has helped me and schooled me with this issue. This past Saturday night, after the trip to watch Toni at the CMS, when we got home, she unloaded quiet as a church mouse. I buried my face in Summer's neck and cried.

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I can honestly say, nothing Summer has ever done has terrified me, but this did. I was terrified I was going to loose her if something wasn't done. I had even contemplated buying a taller trailer. But Toni said, "No, we will fix this." This had to be fixed because what if I had to use a shorter trailer again. And of course, she was right.

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You would be shocked at what some folks suggested I do to fix this issue. All of which were dangerous in my mind. And what some folks thought Summer's problems were as to why she was doing this. I sit here and just shake my head. If this ever happens to you, please, please, PLEASE seek the help of a REAL trainer. I can pretty much teach Summer to do anything, but this was just something I couldn't do by myself. I just can't thank Toni enough.

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Anyway, back to the Cowboy Mounted Shoot. When Summer and I got there, we parked right next to Toni and Kelley. Toni said, "Let me see you unload her."

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Now, let's go back to the previous night (Friday), when Summer and I went sorting. It took me 20 minutes to get her in the trailer. And she literally tried to run me over several times. Yes, I took a whip to her everytime she did that. Once I finally got her in, I was sweating and shaking. When we got on the road, I called Toni and as soon as she answered the phone I said, "I'm sorry." I then explained to her what just happened. She said, "Don't you remember me telling you that I expected this?" She did say it would get worse before it got better. "Good, Bad, Better, Worse, Trained". She believed that this was the worse. When we got to sorting, Summer sort of blew out of the trailer. But when sorting was done, got back in the trailer pretty good. And when we got home, sort of blew out again.

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Back to Saturday and Toni wanting to see me unload Summer. I showed Toni what and how I was working her (what Toni had taught me to do the previous weekend we went to her place)(see previous blog), and Summer backed out VERY good. Not quiet as a church mouse, but much better even though we had issues just that previous night. Toni was very happy with the progress. I was going to leave Summer with Toni for a week because I honestly didn't think I could do this as I just didn't want to hurt her. But when she just unloaded the way she just did, Toni had all the confidence in me. She said she would keep her if I wanted, but believed that Summer and I would be just fine. So I agreed, and took her home after the shoot. And was glad I did because of the "quiet as a church mouse" unload she did when we got home

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Now back to the shooting event. Summer could give a rat's patooty about all that gunfire. I saddled her before the event and took her straight in to the arena as it was drizzling outside. Toni and I were very proud of her as that gunfire was loud. .45 caliber pistols are pretty noisey in a covered arena. Summer and I watched for awhile then went to the warm up area and rode. Went to the little pasture and pushed the roping calves back. (I knew they were roping calves cause they had horn protectors on).

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So, if all goes right, I am going to go to Toni's this weekend as she is going to use my trailer for a lesson for one of her horses, then we are going to (hopefully) shoot off of Summer. Oh yes, there will be pictures!

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Oh, and BTW, she was excellent Friday night during sorting pratice. My instructor and I rode 1 round and got all the calves. And no, he didn't "carry" me! LOL But I love running with him cause I am getting a lesson while we run. Can't wait to start competiting at Southwest next year! YeeHaw!

Getting ready for rides...

Well, my hubby got a lot of work done on my trailer this weekend. Lights, hay manger, dressing room door, metal molding, center divider, the hitch, the roof and I know a couple of other little things. But, now it is usuable. It still needs some cosmetic surgery, but it is now functionally sound. I took it to a car wash last night, only had a couple of dollars in quarters, but it looks a lot cleaner than it did. I just need to do some spot cleaning now. I was in a hurry to get my trailer done because, well, first of all he promised to get this stuff done, second, it will be going on its first CTR with me on the first weekend in April to the Parrie Haynes, Deep in the Heart of Texas ride. That is, unless I hitch a ride and split gas with someone.

This weekend, Liz and I will be going to the Oklahoma Land Run in Stillwater, OK. Once again, I am excited and nervous. And once again, I hope we just finish sound. This is the first ride Summer and I did in 2006 and her metabolics were horrid. She still placed 6th out of 10 horses, but had she not lost 7 metabolic points, she would have had a perfect 100 on her score card because her obstacles were great. Hopefully, with the conditioning I have been trying to do with her, she will do better with her mets. I did buy some electrolytes just in case, but hope I do not need them.

Please keep us in your prayers that we have a safe trip and a safe ride.

TTFN

She did it!!!

Summer is finally side passing to the right! I was so proud of her yesterday. I got her to side pass without a fence behind her. I even got her to side pass over a log out in the pasture and over a log that was in the barn yard. She is finally getting it. I still have to turn her nose to the left towards my knee and ask with my left foot, but she is doing it. When she passes to the left, we don't have to turn the head. I figure, it won't take her long to "get" what I am asking for and the head turning can stop when going to the right as well.

What a pretty weekend we had. I spent all day Saturday with my daughter at the barn. We did all kinds of chores. Then I took her shopping and out to eat. We went and got hay. Those were some heavy bales too. She and I were trying to unload and stack them and one of the men at my barn came over and finished it for us. Thanks Larry!

Then Sunday, I spent the day out at the barn, cleaning and organizing my carriages, (I have three). David (hubby) came out and worked on my friend's golf cart and worked on my horse trailer some. I need to go get a scraper and some 80 grit sand paper and start getting rid of the rust. Then I saddled up Summer, and we took off out to the trails. Summer was a gaiting fool out there last night. She hit that running walk lick and she was off. It was wonderful! She was really on her game last night. Let's pray that she is that good in two weeks at the Scamper CTR.

TTFN

What a weekend...

Well, needless to say, I didn't do my first LD. But I did get a little riding in this weekend. But better than that is, my husband actually went horse trailer shopping with me! I about fell out! My friend's fiance (David B.)is selling his little 2 horse BP. So we went and looked at that and then David (my hubby) wanted to go look at a few others before he wanted to commit. After a day of shopping and getting on the net and looking locally up to 75 miles, he said I could have the trailer (David B) is selling. I have a little 2 horse BP (bumper pull), but mine is a circuit trailer (no tack room or dressing room). This one is a performer. It has an actual tack room/dressing room and it is big enough for me to sleep in when I go camping! I won't have to sleep in my SUV anymore unless I just want to. YIPPY! It does need a little work, but I plan on really fixing it up and it will probably be my trailer for a long time. The little trailer I have now is ugly, but it is functionally sound and gets me where I need to go, and it was free. This little old lady gave it to me because I used to take care of her old TWH gelding. I did have to buy tires and rims for it and have a couple of running lights fixed, but the floor was good and it pulls good. So as soon as I get a few things fixed on my new/used trailer, then Brownie (my old trailer) will be finding a new home. BTW, I know my new/used trailer is old (see picture) it is about a 1984 WW brand but Brownie is a 1972 WW brand. So for me, it is a step up.

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On Sunday, Liz, Mary, Kim and I went to the Grasslands for a light and easy ride. No conditioning, just a pleasureable stroll in the woods. It was real nice. I actually felt like riding too as the infection in my tooth is pretty much gone and I am only having some pain now, not excruciating pain like before.

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Also, another good thing for me this weekend, during my ride with Liz, I borrowed her Skito pad for Summer. Summer's back is so touchy that it took me forever to get a proper fitting saddle. Now I am looking for a proper fitting pad. I have been using my barn owner's gel saddle pad for the last year or so. It has done me very well. The other day, she finally said she would sell it to me. I have been looking for months for this same pad for me to buy and cannot find one like it anywhere. Anyway, I have also bugged Liz, on and off, to sell me her Skito pad as it is too long for her paint mare Jazz, and Shelby, her TWHxQH, doesn't require a built up pad. This particular Skito is about $200.00. She told me Sunday that another friend of hers wanted to buy it but she told her that she had promised it to me if she ever sold it. Well, bless her, she sold it to me this weekend (of course for less than $200). I kinda guessed she would since it would be for Summer and who do you think I bought Summer from? Yip, Liz. So Summer has a special place in Liz's heart and I know that if Liz has something for sell that will benefit Summer, then she will let me have first shot at it.

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As for today, I started my root canal. Everything was great, until I got back to work and the novacain wore off! Thank you Lord for vicodin!!! I go back in two weeks for him to finish the root canal, and make a "mold" for my crown. No, not my tiara, I already have that! (hahaha) I just can't wait for all this to be done. All I can say is, this root canal so far, has not hurt any worse than that abscess did. So I was a big girl at the dentist office today and didn't cry once. (smile)

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Well, better quit rambling for now.

Thanks for reading!