Moving Success!

Drifter was a rockstar!

She loaded up in the trailer after stepping up and down about 12 times. This was the first time loading in my newer two horse straight load. It's pretty roomy with a bright white interior, but it had a metal floor. I think she was trying to figure out if the floor was solid and safe for her. Once she loaded she stood rock solid while I put up the butt bar and closed the door. She gets a bit antsy when she is first loaded. but was calm by the time we arrived at Toy Box.

I will be traveling mostly by myself, so I need Drifter to behave well while I open the back door to get her out of the trailer. I didn't want her to fly out backwards. No fear in that. She stood perfectly while I went up with her and asked her to back out. She stepped out with one foot and thought I was backing her over a cliff. I let her regain her composure and then asked a few more times. She backed out and stood there sniffing. It was like she was trying to remember.

I put her inside Fritz' stall and went to clean and park the trailer. She ate most of his hay by the time I got back. I groomed her and tacked her up- she seemed fine with it, but I felt a bit anxious. I walked her over to the indoor (which has been expanded by 33% and updated). I walked her around once on the ground to let her see it and tighten up her girth. Mounted at the block and went in with two unknown horses and riders.

Drifter was so good! She will need a long warm-up at shows. She was a little inverted, but her gait and body was calm. We walked, trotted and did some leg yielding with the two other horses in the ring and she was soo good. She was calm, attentive and cooperative. I couldn't have asked for more.

I am so happy to have my horse back.

Zee went to her new home

Our little girl got on the big girl trailer and is on the way to Maryland. I have some pictures taken today, but forgot my camera at the barn.

I rode Drifter before Zee's new owner arrived. She was very good and we worked on leg yielding. She has more trouble moving off the left leg to the right. I have tried the suggested spiral exercise with her with moderate success. We are able to "fall in" well and have more control on the spiral out part. It's been super windy here, so I've not bee doing as much at canter. Focusing more on this type of lateral exercise and transitions.

Drifter was totally cool that Zee was gone and walked off with Charlie to graze tonight. Back to two horses!

Canter work

Alright gentle readers... I need your advice from greenie land.

We have been working on the canter and the left lead is coming along nicely. The right lead is still a big challenge. Even with an inside leg aid, Drifter still falls to the inside and falls into the canter. I am working hard on my position to stay back and balanced, but she usually ends up four inches to the right of my seat by the time she is actually cantering. She gets 5-7 strides, pops the left shoulder and breaks to the trot. We need help...




This is a picture of newly weaned Zee with her buddy Charlie- thanks Kim for the great picture.

We cantered!

After seven months, we cantered again today. Drifter was great. I am picturing the baroque horses with their upright canter- that's our goal. Hope to get some video again soon.

Vacation Motivation

The long absence from posting was due to my vacation. I was able to visit my friend in MD who is currently eventing her paint horse. This was very motivating and it gave me something to look forward to. If she can do it, so can Drifter and me!

I noticed Drifter being in heat for the first time since foaling. I know she's been in heat before, but it's hard to notice. This time she was "flirting" with the new mare at the farm. She was extra slow under saddle as well. She was good despite numerous distractions. We continued to work at walk and trot, leaving cantering on the lunge line. I want to work on canter so that we can do ground pole/cross rail jump school this fall. There is also a schooling dressage show in November that might be nice to take her to. I forgot that there were walk/trot tests. It's sort of a goal now.

Zee is doing good and is a REGISTERED AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE!! Now I just need to find her a new home. She is listed on Dreamhorse and Equine.com. I have a flier that I have printed out that I probably should take by the tack stores and whatnot. I am moving Drifter back to Toy Box at the end of September and I don't want to pay board on three horses.

Getting back to riding

Things are getting back to where they were pre-Zee days. It's nice to almost have my horse back again. It will be nice to work on a relationship between her and I without having her attention split between me and Zee. I think it will help her undersaddle work. Drifter is doing well being ridden in the big ring at the walk and the trot. I worked on cantering her on the lunge on Tuesday as well. We are still not back to where we were in Nov/Dec, but we are getting back to riding.

Great riding in ring

We rode in the big ring today and Drifter was very good. We're finally out of the round pen and back to working on riding skills. She did well on the lunge and good under saddle. Hooray.

Here are new picture of Zee. These were used for her sale ad.