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!

*

Thanks for reading!

*

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!)

Update on my equines...It's been awhile! Chompers...

Let's see...Well, first off, my mini man, Chompers, is officially broke to ride and drive. As a 14 year old stallion, he had never done either. He did his first birthday party pony ride at his previous owners house. Her name is Nancy and her grandson had turned 5 and was having a big party. I offered to bring Chompers for riding and my friend June brought her mini named Jarret for cart rides. The kids had a blast and both ponies were perfect gentlemen. We couldn't have asked for better behaved ponies. After it was over, I had to admit to Nancy that, that was Chompers first time as a riding pony. She said she figured, but knew Chomps had a good temperment and was a good boy. I was real proud of him. Here is a picture of him giving a ride to Rylan.


*****************My mini man being a perfect little gentleman*********

The rest of the following week I spent training him to drive. Near the end, you always need help from second or third parties as you can't do it all by yourself. When it was time to show him the cart, June helped me. He could care less. Barb was our main assisting person, but when we were ready to drive him, she wasn't at the farm. So June and I slipped the shafts in the tug loops and just let him pull it around with me driving from behind the cart and her holding his lead rope. We didn't hook him as if there was an emergency, he would just slip out of the cart.

Once Barb got to the farm, we hitched him up and I ground drove again from behind the cart. We only did this for about 5 minutes and then all agreed it was time! I was so excited! I know Barb and June will let me drive one of their many ponies. But I wanted to drive MY pony! So we headed to the out door arena and I got in the cart. They had two lead ropes on him and they each got on either side of him. Again, in case of an emergency. After we did once around the arena. June took off her lead rope. Barb lengthened her rope and gave me all the control of him. After another time around. We agreed it was time for me to take the controls. She let go and he drove off like he had done it all his life. I admit, I cried. I am not a trainer, but I felt such an accomplishment at teaching another one of my kids to drive. Here is a picture of our first solo drive:

**********************Isn't he just the cutest thing!******************

He is still very green of course. Still has a lot to learn, but hopefully next year, he will be ready for his first show.

Summer and Gypsy's day of adventure!

Well, on the weekend of June 27, Tracey and I took Gypsy and Summer to Grapevine lake for a ride. The heat was actually pretty tolerable. Well that is, until about 4pm. Then it was almost unbearable. UGH! It actually started to get to me. So Tracey gave me some of those pills called Succeed(sp?), they contain nothing but potassium and sodium. Electrolytes for humans basically. And they helped tremendously!

Anyway, the girls were really pretty good. And Tracey finally got to see Summer have one of her "moments". I had to take a crop to her butt to make her move. A large rock really had her freaked out and when she did this, she was in front of Gypsy, you know, the one that is supposed to be in training. Summer is supposed to be "Miss Rock Steady"! LOL I told Tracey that it is good she is not riding Gypsy with a "bomb proof" horse. Gypsy needs to see a horse be naughty too. And she did. And what did Ms. Gypster do? Nothing...except look at Summer and say, "What you do that for?" LOL Once Summer got it out of her system, off we went.


Gyp lead most of the way unless she came to something that she wasn't sure about, then Summer got in front. We took them into the water several times. Gyp wasn't sure about those waves at first though. So I grabbed her bridle and lead her in. After that, she wasn't bothered by them anymore.


All in all, we had a very nice ride. Except for the killer rock, Summer was her good girl self.

At about 2pm we left the lake and headed to the Keller Horse Owners Association arena. We got there about 2:30 due to stopping at the store and detours.

I am thinking the horses did not find this amusing at all. We were supposed to be going home after the morning workout!

*
********Gypsy and Summer, they have no idea what is in store! LOL**********

*

I had never been to this facility before and Tracey said we should take a canopy. My hubby let us borrow his. But, we were very fortunate. There was one, lone little tree, and no one around it. So of course we nabbed it and didn't have to put up a canopy! Yeah!

This was a trail course day that they are going to start putting on once a month. All but a few are contrived obstacles. Which I don't mind. I figure, if Summer will do a contrived one, maybe I will have a better chance of her doing a natural one. We can only hope! (smile)

There were 21 obstacles. Some of which, Summer has never been exposed to. A cowboy car wash. A teeter toter bridge. Dropping a hoola hoop over a fake cows head. Cowboy polo and actually penning a calf. Course, there was more to the calf than just penning. I will explain later.

From 4pm to 6pm was practice. You could do all you wanted with your horse either in hand or mounted.

The first was a mount from a block. This is about the only way I mount. No problem, so we didn't practice that. The next was the cowboy car wash. She wasn't sure about them things flapping around, so I had to borrow Tracey's crop and tap her belly. She went in. You could see it in her eyes she was nervous, but she trusted me, and just stood there. 3rd was the teeter toter bridge. Now, she has crossed many a wooden bridge, but I didn't tell her it would tip once we were almost over it. When it tipped, she jumped a little, but was very good. 4th was, as soon you came off the bridge, pick up a lope and lope over cavalettie. 5th was pick up a hoola hoop off a pole and drop it over a fake cow's head. 6th was pick up a flag pole bearing the KHOA flag, walk around another flag, then place it back in a bucket of dirt. 7th, place your horses front feet on a raised wooden platform.

Let's talk about number 7 for a minute. 2 years ago at a TTC at Parrie Haynes, there was this same obstacle. Read that blog entry to understand my qualms about obstacle number 7.

Anyway, I was real proud when she tried and succeeded in doing it. Of course, not before she knuckled over trying it the first time. 8th was placing a rain slicker over your horse and then walking in and out of two horse shoots. 9th was front feet over a log, side pass to the right, open a mail box, remove mail, wave it in the air, return mail and close box, then side pass to left to get off of log. 10th back through barrels in a key hole pattern. 11th, drag a bois'd arc log with a lasso. (they said that thing weighed about 100lbs, my hand believed them) 12th was a blue tarp held down at the four corners with planters and the center of the tarp was filled with water. 13 was trot up to three jumps. You could trot them or jump them. They were kinda large to trot, but she gave it her best shot. 14th was 4 decorative lumber poles lying on four tires in a box shape. Enter and do a 360 degree turn. 15 was back up pole bending. 16 was lope over a clover leaf pattern. 17th was lope up to a gate and stop. 18, back up 20 feet. 19 approach gate, open right handed, go through, then close. 20 was working a calf. (that was FUN!) 21 was cowboy polo.

Now, everything above, we tried in hand first. Duh...

After practicing, we went and took a break. This is when the heat started to get to me. I am usually pretty good with the heat, especially if I let myself acclimate to it like I did on this day. This is when Tracey had me try some of those electrolyte tablets. And they really helped.

After break, we tacked up and entered the arena. I was so proud of Summer. She either did, or tried to the best of her ability, to do every obstacle they asked of us. Her only troubles are loping from a stand still and I have never asked her to jump.

At 6pm they were holding a friendly competition. So I entered the novice. I entered novice because of Summer's two issues I stated above. But I tell you what. She gave me her best and I couldn't have asked for more.

After it was over, they called me and this one other gal to the front. We had tied for 3rd out of 13. We were to do three obstacles of the judges choice. And which one do the choose? The first one was the jumps. Oh well. I was tired, she was tired and we didn't make the cut. But you know, I am so proud of her for trying.

The two things I am most proud of was number 7 and number 20. The platform and the calf. She did the platform like a circus horse. And worked that calf like a Quarter Horse. Who says Tennessee Walkers can't do it all?! LOL

*

The job for the calf was to get it out of its pen, move it between two cones and get it back in its pen. 21 horses worked the calf for competition. Luckily, Summer was number 6 and the calf was still pretty fresh.

**********************************Teeter toter bridge

***************************************Platform

********************************Work that cow girl!

************************************Pen it, job done!

************************************Cowboy polo

Like a charm...

Mom, Amanda and I. Mom trying to smile through the tears.

Well, the surprise I had planned went off like a charm. The only way it could have been better for me was if I could have afforded a big Thomas Kinkade for her. Maybe next year...

I do have pictures, and yes, they are emotional. Don't know if I want to post them on a public blog. But let's just say, it was a tearful moment.

At 10 am that morning, I had a hair appointment. My new lady that cuts my hair, her shop is by mom's house. So I got my hair done, then David, Amanda and I went to Albertson's for some HUGE steaks and baking potatoes for dinner at mom and dads that night. Plus I got mom a dozen roses. You know, to make her think that was her birthday present.

When we got over there, mom really didn't want to go downtown to eat. She was like, "there is a Dickey's BBQ right down the road and they are pretty good." I am like, "No, I want to take you all to Risky's as I know you have never been there and would love it." So we loaded into my car and I drove. Remember, Risky's BBQ is right next to the gallery. I was very lucky to find a parking place right next to Risky's but not near the gallery where she could see it.

Once we left the restaurant after that wonderful lunch, we "mosied" on down the side walk and, what should we run into...Thomas Kinkade Gallery. I said, "Let's go in here, dad needs to see what all the fuss is about a Thomas Kindade painting." So we went in and there were several people there as they were having an open house to celebrate his painting "Viva Las Vegas". Laura Kinkade and another lady were dressed like black jack dealers. There was a table with all kinds of edible goodies and drinks and a print of his Viva Las Vegas behind the table. Plus they had door prizes. And there were several people around the table and sitting in chairs. Well, mom's painting was where she just wouldn't walk right into it when you walked in the door. We were "oooing" and "awing" at the pictures and dad found one he really liked. Before I knew it, mom had gone around the corner to where her picture was. I followed her as fast I could but she had already found it. She just stood there. Her hand over her mouth, and a hand on her stomach. Red faced with tears. I don't think she breathed for 5 minutes. When Laura Kinkade saw us come in, she had went to the folks that had been standing and sitting around the table (which was right across from mom's picture) and told them that the lady that this picture is reserved for had just walked in and if they wanted to be a part of it to watch her find her gift, to hang around for a little bit. I thought that was so sweet of her. After mom started breathing again, all those folks started shaking her hand and wishing her a happy birthday. Laura took our picture next to the painting and then she said, "I want to get a picture with my camera too." So she went to her desk and took one with hers.

I will post some pictures on here once I get them downloaded off my camera.

Once we got back to the house, the picture found its permanent home over the fire place. We had huge, thick Rib Eye steak for dinner that evening and watched Gran Torino starring Clint Eastwood.

I honestly don't know if this could have been a better day? I can't imagine that it could have been. I feel SO blessed that it turned out the way I imagined. For those that said a prayer for this wonderful day, thank you.

Mom's birthday...the big 6-0

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday. As I have stated in past posts, it is also Granny's birthday. Mom's mom. You may also remember that we lost Granny in March of 2008. So mom's first birthday without Granny to celebrate with was actually last year. But with the loss so close to the birthday, the pain of the loss was still very strong. Mom didn't want anything for her birthday, so Amanda and I kidnapped her and did a turn around trip to Altus last year so mom could put flowers on Granny's grave. As I type the word grave, I feel the tears swelling in my eyes.

Well, mom stated a few weeks ago that she didn't want to celebrate her birthday because she had no one to celebrate it with. That broke my heart, but I knew what she meant.

So here is what her sneaky child is going to do. Or has already started doing about two weeks ago:

Mom has always loved the works of Thomas Kinkade. A couple of months ago, Amanda and I took her to his gallery in Fort Worth. If you have never gone and live close to one of his galleries, you need to go look. They have dimmer switches for the lights and you can see what that creates with his art when you dim the lights slowly. Just beautiful. You will really see why they call him the painter of light. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, I went and bought her a Thomas Kinkade classic. It is a print of course, but his prints are actually on canvass, not a piece of paper. I am going to pay it off today and make plans with the gallery director on how mom is going to receive it tomorrow. What mom will also think is cool is that the director of this particular gallery is Thom's sister-in-law.

Here is my plan: David, Amanda and I, are going over mom and dads tomorrow to take them out to lunch for mom's birthday. I am taking them downtown Fort Worth to Risky's BBQ. Great food and a good price. And the atmosphere is very nice. But the best part about Risky's, it is right next to the gallery. Once we eat, we will mosie on over the gallery since dad has never been there. They do have 1 original Kinkade there, but since I don't have $195,000.00 dollars, she is getting a copy. Yes, that is One Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand dollars. Yikes! But it is big and beautiful. Anyway, her picture will be on the wall with a "Reserved for Linda Barrett" With a Happy Birthday with it. My plan is that we will wander in the gallery and I will have my camera in hand. We will kind of guide mom in the direction of her present and she will find it for herself. Once she finds it, I know the tears will roll, but being the only child and with Granny gone, I want to make "her" days as special for her as I can. I then want Mrs. Kinkade to come up and introduce herself and wish mom a happy birthday. And here is her picture:

The title is Victorian Garden.

*

Please wish me luck that my plan goes off without a hitch. I love my mom and want her to have a memorable 60th birthday.

*

Thanks for reading,

Tammy in TX

B-B-Q and trail ride 06-14-09

This past Sunday we had a cookout and a trail ride. It was kind of a last minute thing, but turned out real well. One of the other boarders at our barn had invited a few of his friends from his other barn and I think some from his riding club, so we had a pretty good turn out. I was especially happy to see Summer's sister Shelby show up with her new owner. They took her in and tied her in the covered arena. So I took Summer in the barn and Shelby's ears perked up and it was so cute to watch them nuzzle, then I almost caught the cutest picture ever when Shelby licked Summer muzzle. The picture shows Shelby's tongue going back in her mouth after giving her sister a kiss. Summer and Shelby have the same daddy.

Another boarder named June just thinks Shelby is the cat's meow and has always called her Miss. Licks cause all she does is lick. And here is a pic of June visiting her and Shelby licking the fence right before she started licking June's hand for peppermints.

After June got done visiting, I went up to her and she reached over the fence and licked my face like she remembered who I was. AAAWWWW....

After we all visited and ate hot dogs with all the fixin's, we mounted up and took out for the ride. I guess there were about 10 riders or so and it went pretty well. Even the Appy that didn't want to cross the Honey Hole, finally did.

Once we got back to the barn, I had promised a lady named Donna a buggy ride on the trails. She had had an unscheduled dismount from her horse a week prior and couldn't ride this weekend, but I wanted her to enjoy the trails as well. Plus, it is good for Summer to both ride and drive the same day. I got Summer harnessed up and we drove about a mile around the barn yard. I even let Donna take the reins and I think she had a blast. I believe I heard her hubby Scott, say, "No, I am not buying you a cart!" as she drove by. LOL I took the reins back and asked her if she felt comfortable if I cantered Summer and she said yes. I think she kind of liked that part too. LOL

We took off out into the pasture and she really enjoyed herself and said she would absolutely be back out to ride next month, broken ribs or no! I think we were out there longer than some folks expected cause her hubby called her and a few minutes later, June called me, checking on us. LOL

If you go to Tracey's blog you can see a slid show of pictures from the ride: http://traceysrandomramblings.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading

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!
*

Thanks for reading!

Tammy, Summer, Hank and Chompers