Go to Jail, don't collect $200

He's in jail!!! 

But for real he was getting grain.. since he is lower then low in the pecking order, he has to be grained in a stall b/c well he won't be allowed to eat it out in pasture :)

It's Raining It's Pooring

Tuesday's lesson was a killer leg work out, period. HA

Trainer had me seriously do like 80% of it in the 2 point... I am not sure if she forgot about me or was in the mood to give me a good workout :)

Flatting was trotting and hand galloping in the two point.. a little walking and then onto jumping.

There was another trainer who started their jumping lesson just as we started to jump too so I warmed up with her kid and the little girl I was lessoning with.

We did this course again... Trainer is starting to have me so things backwards or more bending lines. I am now super comfortable on it and it's fun! :)

A and I went for a walk after we were done. She is a sweet little girl who B loves playing with and I love being friends with her mom!

Wednesday he was CRAZY and rolled in the mud ugh!

Wednesday was a day of constant rain .. we needed it but umm it was 107 two days ago! lol

Another lesson Thursday then we are diving into RODEO WEEK!! Woot!

Sorting out Grayson's Plan

Grayson is still doing great, growing up :)

He still is his chill, laid back, nothing bothers him self... well except spray bottles. I have been using them since the DAY I got him but he just isn't a fan. Could care less about the bottle but when you spray it, no thank you. It's like someone is getting after him with it, but I have had him since he was 6 months old so I know he wasn't beaten with one!

He's still getting lots of handling, had a saddle/bridle on, ponying, trailered places and loving life out with his bff Rocky :)

I am starting to think about what I am going to do with him. I think I am going to send him to a cutting trainer, probably when he is 3, that is kind of local so he will get exposed to cattle, buffalo, other stuff and maybe I can even go take some lessons and learn the buttons that are being installed.

He loves the girls, even follows Addison around in the stroller- not scared at all and it's too cute!

Hoping to get him some easy boots this week cause his toes are a little tender and shoer wants to wait a bit longer to shoe him. I was hoping he would be ok without shoes but it doesn't look like it. Sad days but it's ok, we just want him happy :)

So right now that is the plan... it could change haha!

Weather weeeeeenie!!

 I was able to sneak in a lesson Friday late morning before hubby had to go to work.

It was like 80 but I swear it was 100... we haven't had any hot weather so I am totally a baby!

 We did this set of jumps again... a variety of courses using them all :) Henry was great, I rode pretty good and I am having fun on this new course.

Henry made a little rip on one of his hind Eskadron boots while we were riding, he tripped a little on a tight turn/lead change .. i was so glad it was the boot and not his leg!

Pic from a few weeks ago

Saturday and Sunday are turn out days for Henry... spoiled boy! We are going to support a barn buddy in his 4H show tomorrow :)

Picture Book: Ranch Life and Cowboy Hats

Grayson got his first big boy fly outfit...

Maybe this will help him turn gray?! lol 

What this isn't how you feed? Addi and I were being resourceful :)

My second mom blinged out my hat :)

B and I had an impromptu photo shoot with our hats on lol

June = New Course

Sheehs it's already June?!

Most of you are knee deep in shows, me on the other hand- wishing I could plan for shows but with hubby's schedule nothing is in sight :(

New course trainer set up, PC: Kat :)

Monday I hacked outside, I let Henry get his crazies out first so he was actually really good :)

Took a picture for Nicku lol.. mustache is back, Henry could care less

I rode in draw reigns ... did LOTS of backing up.

Went through the paces and then went for a walk around the property to cool both of us out.

Tuesday was lesson day.

Kat and I tacked up, lunged and got on. Trainer put us through the paces on the flat.

Of course we needed to put some hard stuff in there so trainer had me do lead changes up the center line.. left to right, no problem.. right to left, lord help us. Thankfully it wasn't too much of a battle :) I got my determined panties on and Henry wasn't too much of a hard head ;)

Then Kat jumped and I waited in anticipation to jump the new course lol. But for real I was super excited to jump everything!

Drawing of Kats pic above :)

Once it was my turn i warmed up over the orange X back and forth a few times. Then I cantered the orange X to the vertical to the blue oxer.

Once I got that we did the orange line to the blue oxer, right aroung to the yellow pannel, left to the black line (domino walls to green gate), roll back to the left over the gray (triangle wall thing).

I had to do that a few times to get my crap together lol.

Then we did the black to the yellow bending line, left turn to the black line, left turn up the in and out (oxer, oxer, vertical), right turn roll back to the pink (mustache).

Then we did the in and out then turn left to the pink ('stash).

Henry cared less about pretty much everything. I rode like I had jumped it all a million times- how trainer always reminds me I need to ride everything, I tend to over think new courses and try to do to much not just letting Henry do his job.

Just love my horse!!!

Wednesday was turn out day for Mr spoiled :)

Hubby has a crazy full day Thursday but am hoping to get my second lesson in in the afternoon if possible! And a hack Friday morning.

Horse of a Lifetime

Have you had your horse of a lifetime?

I have had a few horses who have made me who I am today but I don't think I have ever felt a partnership that I do with Henry.

Maddy (close second) was a horse who I just loved, she was the sweetest and most easy going horse.. but had no drive to show/compete.

Henry and I both have the same work ethic.. when we are in a lesson we are all work. I am not there to chat and hangout till after I am done with my job, he feels the same way.

He is brave when I need him to be brave I just have to have faith in him and he will do it ha!

We have grown a lot together through his training .. it's a partnership that only comes with the highs and lows.

It feels so nice to be where we are today and know that I have been there every step of the way, working through the training- with my trainers help of course.

Tell me about your horse of a lifetime or do a post about it!

Show Season

Being that it is now show season (oh how I wish I was rich and could show every weekend at all the shows!) I wanted to talk about showing.

2013

Do you show?
As much as I can... Hubby's schedule doesn't allow for much but I appreciate what I can do.

2013 (i was just barely prego with Addi here but didn't know it lol)

What do you show in?
As this last show I did the 2'9 and 3' ... planned to do the 2'6 but after doing a warm up class and trainer making me school the 2'9/3' stuff I decided to take the plunge. Henry is better at 3' so it was really no big deal once I got over the mind game. Going forward this season, I will do the same and try to refine and better our trips :)

2015

Do you show rated or local?
Both... Rated is so expensive so I can't afford more then one or two a season. Local/Schooling are much more do able but then again they don't all have the height I want so it's a fine line. I feel like Henry is too nice for schooling but not quite nice enough for rated... blah.

2013

What are your ultimate show goals?
I am really comfortable working in the 3' and getting good at that... Maybe one day I'll be brave and move up to the 3'6 but def not right now. Much less competition and more ribbons there though lol!! So tempting so tempting!

Back to Back

Hubby works a long weekend this weekend but I was able to get three great rides in this week!

Our courses for Monday and Tuesday

Monday there was another group lesson since it was a holiday and I was able to partake! :)

Flatted with everyone, including some no stirrup work blah!

We warmed up over the orange.

I *think* the course we did was orange down, right turn to the blue line, left turn to the green, left turn to the in and out, left turn to the red oxer then single line.

Of course we had to break it down a little and fix the issues... nothing major just my steering :)

Thanks Nicku!! Pic of the oxer in the in and out- don't mind me elbows!

Tuesday Kat and I had a lesson, normally there are some kids there but they weren't there.

We flatted, thankfully not to hard since we both had ridden the day before.

Then we warmed up over the orange again.

Course was orange up, left to the green, left to the red line, right to the in and out, roll back to the right over the black wall, roll back to the left over the red single.

Then we did the in and out backwards adding in the black wall as a benging line ish.

Then trainer got a wild hair.. or was feeling confident in my skill? Anywho she had me do the blue oxer (top left in the pic) to the red single.. but on a straight line so i was jumping the jumps on and angle in order to stay on a straight line. I did that back and forth a few times... I was pretty cool actually. Yay for Henry being broke and able to do crazy stuff!! lol

Thursday I went outside and hacked.

Worked through my paced and warming up. Then trainer had me ride one handed (think western) and work on really getting Henry to listen to my leg and neck reining a little ... Henry likes to hang on the left so she was having me give him nothing to hang on. I did think at the trot and canter.. lots of circles and going all around not just staying on the rail.

BoTing before our ride

Then I worked on some counter canter including circles.

He was great, we were both sweaty at the end.. went for a walk around to cool out and then I sponged him off and cleaned his man parts.. you are welcome Henry.

Part of the out door arena

John 15:13

I've been in a funk lately and haven't blogged or ridden much... I lost a dear friend of 17 years this last week in a senseless way- It angers me. Hug your loved ones... I have been spending lots of extra time with mine.

Thursday I was hoping to jump in on the 4 pm lesson BUT hubby didn't get home till 4:40 ish sooooo a hack it was for me.

I had all my stuff out and ready to tack up once hubby got there... and the arena to myself :)

I flatted around and then went to work...

- No stirrup work
- Counter bending
- Moving his hip both ways

Great workout for us both!

Cooled out and groomed him all up .. then we went outside to graze a little while I braided his tail.

Hubby works all weekend so turn outs for Henry till Monday.

Anyone else have Leg Protection info they want to share? Please :)