Trinity Trails ride with friends....

Well, I didn't realize how long ago this had been, but here it goes.

Saturday, September 20th, Tracey and I went to the Trinity Trails in Fort Worth. I have driven Summer on those trails, but never ridden them. It was quite nice and not muddy like every other place there was to ride.

*

We met Cythia and Emily there and a couple of other boarders (Sarah and John) from our barn came with us. The weather was gorgeous and it is kinda cool riding near the city. Don't have much to write about as it was a month ago today, but have lots of pics. Here you go:

*************************The city of Fort Worth to the right.

*

**************Summer's ears and Fort Worth...what a combination!

Fixing to ride under a train trussle, that is Cyn and Em in front of us.

*****************A metal recycle facility...pretty huh? LOL

******************************The Trinity River

**************************Under University St bridge

Very pretty trails through here. There was a large cemetery on the left. And the horses were a little spooky as there were people there that they could hear but not see. LOL

The pedestrian bridge we had to cross. It was little creepy for me but the horses took it in stride. It is used for runners, walkers, bicyclist and of course us.

*

******Cyn, Em, Sarah and John in the lead to cross the pedi bridge.

Here we go. Actually, this was the fourth time to cross such a bridge. We crossed this one going out and then crossed another one a short time later. We crossed the other one coming back and this one again going back to our trail head. I took pictures this time as I knew Summer didn't care about crossing them. I wasn't sure what her reactions were going to be the first couple of times and didn't want to take a chance dropping my camera if she boogered at something.

***************On the pedi bridge looking to the right.

***********************Trinity River looking towards Main St. bridge

Summer and I after the Main St. bridge with the Tarrant County court house and the Tandy towers in the back ground.

Crossing the wooden Davis Bridge. I drove across this when we drove our carts and buggies out here. My most favorite driving picture of Summer is her crossing this bridge while hitched to a cart.

Another weekend of sorting...what a blast!

Well, Summer and I met Robin and Taz at Roy's Friday night. I tell you, those calves were rank and the horses were "up"! I am guessing it was the weather.

Well, I decided to go ahead and run the beginner jackpot with Robin and Connie. But Summer was extra nervous and I was starting to feel bad about agreeing to run with them. I am sure it was because the calves were so "up" as she was good the previous Friday. But I was afraid that Summer might get too nervous and blow it. I would have felt like I had wasted their money. About 8:20pm, Robin and I were near the front of the right pen. James was riding by on one of his horses and I hollered out to him that I was ready to ride one of his horses. (Back up to the previous Friday. He offered for me to ride one of his finished horses in the jackpot. I just didn't feel right about it, but was very honored that he would entrust me on one of his horses. I did tell him I would like to ride one during practice sometime and he said, "okay".)

James was on a big bay when I said I was ready. He told me to do my run and come to the warm up arena to get to know the horse. After our run, I went and tied Summer to the trailer and met James in the arena. The horse was a clients horse and was for sale. Well of course he was! LOL But I felt honored once again, that he entrusted my riding abilities to ride a horse of this caliber and it also being a clients horse. But I guess you have to test drive the Corvette before you buy it! LOL

OMG! Could this horse move or what! I know I am a big girl, but thank God I have a pretty good seat and have taken riding lessons. This horse was so sensitive to everything I asked of it. And boy could he spin! He and I worked together for about 10 minutes and then James and I got in line to practice. It was just a rush! I love my Summer and am VERY proud of what she is capable of for not being a cow horse, but this horse was just awesome! Then again, he was trained as a cutting horse. (The horses name is Lark N Lena)

After our practice, I asked James if he was using Larkn in the jackpot. He wasn't. He was riding his blk/wht paint mare. So I asked if I could ride him in the jackpot. And he let me! There were 11 teams. Robin and Connie got 1st with 4 head and Connie and I got 2nd with 4 head. Robin and Connie received a little bit faster time. But with 11 teams competing, 2nd place received a cash prize as well! WOOHOO! LOL

James invited me to his place on a dry day to ride Larkn. Well, Robin and her hubby keep their horses at James', so I asked Robin what day she was going to ride. She said she was riding the next morning (Saturday). So I met Robin on Saturday morn at 9am. I thought we were just going to ride around in the arena and the pasture. But no, James had other plans for us.

James met us at the barn and we all saddled up and went out to the pasture and brought about 10 head of calves in. We got them in the pens and James cut one from the herd and put the other 9 in the opposite pen. He told me he wanted me to see what Larkn could actually do! OMG, I was going to get to cut! He gave me some instructions and boy did I have a blast! I have never rode a horse that could turn on a dime and give 9 cents in return! LOL James was using lingo I wasn't used to. Like how Larkn "rated" a cow. I kind of understood what that meant, but asked my friend at work who used to ride cutting horses. Now I understand completely.

I almost came off the first time Larkn moved from left to right as he was "rating" the calf. But I didn't, it was a good save. LOL James told me to be more relaxed and just let my body move with the horse. After a bit, it became easier. Once I saw what Larkn could do, we started sorting. We sorted for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It was so much fun. I wish I had brought Summer. It was a more relaxed atmosphere and the calves weren't near as rank as the ones on Friday. Once we were done, he had me cut one from the herd and play with it on the back wall. Once that one finally got away he made me cut one more and play with it for a minute. That was just so cool. As long as he has this horse, I am hopeful he will let me ride it, but if I can find the money, I want Larkn to be Summer's baby brother (as he is a year younger). LOL Besides his abilities, he had such a sweet personality.

Yes, I know what James was doing. I'm not stupid. Get me to fall in love so I would buy him. Well, he did it. Now I have to play the lotto, find a buried treasure, sell a kidney or something to get this cool animal.

And I was reminded that I say Summer is my do it all horse. Well, she is. She is fine for the kind of sorting we do at Roy's. But if I want to really advance and up my playing level in sorting, then I will need the caliber of horse that Larkn already is.

Oh, and nobody tell me to sell Summer to get Larkn. Cause that ain't happening.

TTYL!

My first sorting jackpot win!

Well, I am posting this late as my blogger has been acting up. Either that, or my computer was acting up. Either way, I am just now being able to blog.

Sunday, September 6th, I went sorting. Met my friends Cynthia and Robin there. They were both vying for the buckle in the 5 week buckle series that Roy Goldsmith was putting on at his arena. This was the last week and Cyn and Robin were neck and neck for the beginners buckle. They both were going to run 4 times. There were 8 teams that entered. They ran 4 times, Lane and Kim ran 3 times and I ran twice. I know it sounds confusing, but it was a total of 8 different teams.

Well, still learning this game, I thought that when you did your first run, you had to do it clean and try to get as many calves as you could. Which you do. But if you did that, it would qualify you for the real run. Which it does. But I thought the first run was just a qualifing run, I didn't know they added the first head count to your second run. But they do. So during Robin and I's first run, we got 4 head and Cynthia and I got 6. WOOHOO, that is the most I have gotten with another beginner. Anyway, all 8 teams did a clean first run. Even though when Lane and Kim teamed up, they got 0 head, they still didn't bust. And because there were only 8 teams, they qualified for the second run. If there were more than 10, they might have not.

Anywho, I was really happy with both my runs. Again, I still didn't know that the first head count gets added to your second run. That is, until the first team ran and the judge announced the total head count with the total time. Then I knew how the game was played. I knew I had to try to run good and clean. Robin and I got 3 calves, and as I was working the hole, a calf was right at Summer's chest, she was real good for me and we jumped at the calf, the calf turned slightly to the left, then darted right past us and we busted. I was heart broke. I felt bad for Robin as I felt like I had let her down. I went and asked her husband, Anthony, if there was anything different I could have done. He said no. That even a good cutting horse doesn't work calves that close and they probably couldn't have stopped it either. He said I was doing a great job. That made me feel a little better. Well, Cyn and I entered and got 4 head. For a total of 10. And for the win!

I was so happy! We won a total of $160 and Roy gives you a t-shirt for first place. And Cynthia got her buckle.

I went back to my trailer and cried a little. I am so proud of Summer. My Tennessee Walking Horse is now a money earning cow horse. LOL I don't know if we will ever win again, but at least I can say I won once. I have done a lot with Summer and she has always done me proud, has always given me her best and she has a lot of heart. Even when she is nervous she seems to trust that I am not going to let anything hurt or kill her, she has always tried to make me happy. But never have we done anything that put money BACK in my pocket, so that night was pretty cool!

And as for those nay-sayers...I wonder what they are saying now? LOL

Yes, this IS an obsession!

Okay, I am sure that the folks that read my blog (only because you are board! LOL) may not know much about drag racers and their names (I only know a couple myself). Most of you do know however, that my hubby drag races. So, I get to watch it on TV at home. I do enjoy watching it with him, and my favorite racer is John Force. I have recently compared myself with John as after he finishes his run he is just FULL of adrenalin. It is fun to watch him when they interview him after a race. He is loud, and very hyper when he talks. You can just tell that he still loves what he does after all these years (about 25 of them). So I have had to apologize to some folks when I talk about sorting. I get loud, hyper and just reved up. I get all "John Force"y. LOL

I attended a private clinic Saturday morning with a small group of ladies that are beginners such as myself but very much serious about the sport. It was so fun and Summer was really on. We each even got to do a run with the pro/instructor. And that was real fun.

When I got there, we all saddled up and warmed up in the deep sandy arena. Summer was a running walk fool and it was fun to watch James (instructor) watch her go around the arena. He started asking me questions about her different gaits and how I learned the difference in each one. I just told him it took me about 2 years to tell the difference as she has about 9 different gaits, from dog walk to gallop and everything in between.

We had a real good 2 1/2 hours. It was me and 4 other beginners, and another lady (a rating of 4 sorter) who kind of acted as an assist for James outside the pens when we had questions while he worked with a team in the pens. I just got so much out of it.
*
Sunday we went to the arena and I started off not doing to well. I guess I had other things on my mind. One of the pro guys named Pete said he would run with me early in the day and we got 5 in. So, either he made me look good or I made him look bad! LOL But my theory is, if a pro runs with a beginner, they know what they are getting into. LOL Later in the day, I ran with Starla and we got 5, then my last run I went with Cynthia and we got 4.

**********************Connie and I waiting for the words, "flag is up"

Not bad as I did get about 9 runs in that day. A few were busts right away, so that is probably why I was able to go so many times. James was there and was giving us, that went to his place Saturday, side line instruction, which I thought was just super cool of him to do.

*******************Summer and I bringing one through the hole

*****Once you get the calf in, you got to turn quickly to guard the hole.

*************Connie guarding the hole while my calf and 2 bad ones come to her

************************Summer and I in the hole

I really tried to put into use everything that he taught. There were a few times I caught myself making a mistake and I would try to correct it before it was a major boo-boo.

I think my major issue is getting to fast and trying to hard for my level. I think I am getting ahead of myself and my abilities at this point. I know I need to back off a bit and learn more. Just quit getting so dang excited! I guess I just watch those pro-am folks and the speed they go at and I think, "I can do that!" But, Summer is not ready for that and I need more learning. James said that two things that Summer needs to work on, and that they both would come with time and experience is, seperating the herd when there are a bunch standing together, and if too many come at the hole at once while we are guarding it. He said she get nervous. And I know that, cause while he can see it, I can feel it. But, he said, she is very responsive to me and that could be why she is doing what I ask her to do. She may be nervous on those two issues, but she is doing it. Her strongest issue I think is, once we get our calf between her and the wall, she is all business.

Is this an obsession or what!?

Just thinking about sorting gets my adrenaline up! What is it with this sport?

I went again this weekend. Met my friends, Cynthia, Emily and Robin there. Even rode with a lady named Connie. It was her first time. So there was someone there newer than me! LOL

Summer and I got 5 runs in. We could have done 6, but after our 5th run, I quit on a good note. Our 5th run was with Cynthia and we got 5 calves in. I got 3 and she got 2 and she was working on her 3rd when the buzzer sounded. I was so happy. I thought we only got 4 in and I turned around and we had gotten 5. I hollered I was so excited and shouted to Dennis, "We got 5!" LOL I know, I know...might have embarrassed myself a little, but I just can't believe that Summer is starting to pick this up. I know there have been sneers and remarks made about Summer and I. I have heard them repeated to me. But we are showing those few nay-sayers aren't we! LOL

Summer was gaiting real good in the warm up areas and when I was waiting in line for our turn, a cowboy came up to me and said, "You could get somewhere real fast on her can't ya?" LOL I guess he had been watching us, and probably trying to figure out what kind of horse she was. When I told another guy named Larry what she was, he said, "You should get a prize just for doing this on a Tennessee Walker. " LOL Guess they don't see to many of those around the sorting pens.

But once again, I can't wait until this weekend. Now don't get me wrong. I ain't giving up on trail riding. She is too good at that to let that go. I just feel that I have such a willing mare that it would be shameful not to let her try new venues.

So her resume' is this to date:

Trail horse

NATRC Safety Horse
***Tracks
***Rides Double
***Ponies

Competitive Trail Horse
***NATRC - several
***TTC - 1
***STC - 1

Endurance
***LD -1 (but we ain't stopping at 1!)

Parades
***2006 Stock Show
***2007 Driving her cart behind the longhorns in the stockyards

Driving
***since 2006
***Endurance Distance Drive 2007

Ranch Sorting

More to follow, God willing...

More Ranch Sorting...

I tell you...I am really digging this sport.

Maybe I watched too many westerns when I was a kid. I have pictures of me dressed in cowboy gear when I was little. I was standing next to my grandpa and my granny took the picture. On weekends on channel 39 (which is now a latino channel), it was cartoons until noon and westerns the rest of the day. Bonanza, Raw Hide, Gun Smoke, The Rifleman, etc...It fed my dreams to someday have horses and ride. Ride the open range and herd the cattle home. Head 'em up and move 'em out! LOL

Well, I've done a lot of trail riding (that is the open range part I guess), now I have the urge to herd the cattle home (or in the case of sorting, put 'em the other round pen LOL). Last Friday I met some of my friends at the arena and we had a blast. As soon as Emily gets the video uploaded to youtube I will have a video of mine and Summer's run with Cynthia and her boy Monte. If Doug can get a shoe to stay on Summer's right rear foot (horizontal crack), I will be going again this Friday and then to a sorting clinic next Saturday. I found out the clinician doesn't like anymore than 6 folks, so that will be a lot of good one on one with him.

Summer was real good this past Friday. She wasn't a ball of nerves. She was calm and did what I asked. I think the only mess ups were with the pilot(me) not communicating the right signals to ground control (Summer). LOL

Who knows how far this will go. Maybe this is just something I need to get out of my system. Maybe, secretly, it is just one of my things on my "bucket list" I want to mark off. Or maybe it is something I want to see if me and my non-stock horse can actually do. Who knows...all I do know, as long as we are having fun...then let's do it! YEEHAW!

Update on equines part three...My girl Summer.

*************************Cow horse in the making****************

Glad I only have three horses. Don't know if my typing could hold up to anymore! LOL

Here is what Summer and I have been doing. Cows. Well, not exactly cows. More like calves. Weanlings I guess you could call them. Anyhoot...Tracey and I had decided to try our hand at this thing called Ranch Sorting. Also called Team Sorting. You and a partner enter a round pen that is attached to another round pen. Forming a figure 8. At the center of the 8 is an opening the size of 1 panel. About 12 foot or so wide. This area is called the "hole", it is the area that you herd your calf through and try not to let all the calves or the wrong calf through. One person protects the hole and one sorts the calves. You can either rotate or keep your job the entire 60 seconds.

The calves have numbers chained around their necks from 0 to 9 and there can be 1 or 2 calves with no numbers. These are called "trash cows". They make the game harder. Trash cows cannot go through the hole at all. If they do, game over.

The first couple of times we went, we wore our helmets. I know, I know...people were looking at us like we just got out of an asylum. Especially since neither of us were on stock type horses either! LOL My biggest issue with the whole thing of why wear a helmet I guess is, if Summer trips, or moves to fast for me to keep up because she is frightened, etc...I come off, then I am in a round pen with 1000lbs of freaked out horse and 11 crazy eyed calves running all over the place. Including running over my head. I did let vanity take over last Friday night (our third time out there) and didn't wear my helmet. I got chastized by David and Patti. So I will be wearing it if I go this Friday.

So far, Summer has gotten a calf everytime. Now, is she doing it willingly? No. LOL But she is doing it. I can still feel the tension in her body, but she is trying desperately to please me. And for that I am grateful. I hope that with more time, she will become more relaxed. I am really enjoying this. I need to find an instructor with cattle/calves and take lessons. I have one in mind that lives in Crowley and is absolutely wonderful. He mostly does cutting, but I have worked with him at the AHA show for the past two years and I think he might give me some instruction.

As of yet though, I do not have pictures. If I go this Friday night, I will try to con Amanda into coming out and taking pictures.

Mostly I am doing this for fun and just to say I did it. But it really is fun. I don't know why I like it so much but I do!