July 28 -weekly wrap-up

Quiet riding week after Monday's fun- I had every intent to use my amusement at having a little scare to good purpose and really get going. But it didn't happen.

Sherlock has been hivey again right on the girth line so I haven't wanted to saddle him. I did a bit of work with the new felt pad under the surcingle, and even tried out the late-arriving side reins. He wasn't too sure about the side reins and I am not experienced with using them so we took it very slow, just leading with one on then the other. Surcingle slid back which didn't help the placement of the reins. Got Lissa's old breast collar out for next time. We've done more free-lunging which gives my shoulder a break and allows him to reverse as he sees fit. Reverses at speed a bit challenging but he's starting to get it- I need to talk more as I move to ask for the reverse from the blind side so he can hear that I am about to block him. "Now I'm stepping in front of you and ready to... reverse!"

itchy, so itchy

The weather has been humid but a little cooler, so he has been feeling good, though a bit footsore from being newly barefoot. So he'll get playing and then have to slow down a bit to ease his feet. That has already been wearing off a bit.

I went to some of the local tack shops handing out resumes, and looking at used English bridles and ancient felt saddle pads. I was really pleased at the ladies at one place who seemed really excited about more help, but when I brought their application back the next day it was a completely different story. Self-doubt rush- is it my handwriting? my tattoos? my not-as-Western clothes? my salary requirements? Feels like a lot of rejection issues popping up this week to be dealt with.

I also called and visited several local stables and found a brand-new boarding stable very close to home. It's a very small place but has a trainer on-site, a drylot pasture with wooden fencing, and good fly controls (easier with only 20 horses). I really liked the stable manager and the owners, and I'm planning to move Sherlock on Friday next. I will miss the DC, it has been a great start for Sherlock and me, but it just doesn't feel like home without Jo.

July 22 -Ride #2 "rolling"

After a weekend at the cabin, we returned to the heat of our home Sunday and spent what felt like the majority of the afternoon installing Skype on my phone so Gray's brother J's kids in NC could see Sherlock in semi-person. I could not get access to my existing account through my iPhone, so now I have an account on the laptop and one on the computer- I can Skype myself now.
Sherlock did well on Skype. I groomed him, including a little extra hoof attention since the farrier was due the next day. Then I free-lunged him in the round pen, walk, trot and canter very calm and good for the voice commands while Grayson narrated for the rapt audience.

Today I went out a little later in the morning than usual with the plan to ride before the farrier arrived. Practiced with Sherlock's feet a little extra, gave him a good all-over grooming -really getting used to being touched everywhere. Very relaxed. I saddled him up and put on the leather English bridle and got it fitted with lots of tugging, unbuckling and rebuckling. It's not a really great fit- might be a Cob size. Maybe next time the English hackamore.
Did a few minutes walk/trot free lunging, with an extra shout to keep him from rolling with the saddle on. Felt-bottom pad moved less but not enough wither relief.

Anyway, I got the chair out and just swung up. He stood there getting lots of pets on the neck while I tightened the girth a bit, and turned to look at my right foot a few times. Did pushing passenger a minute or two, then started steering more so we could get both directions. He likes the safeness of the gate so we were doing a figure-8 using towards the gate for getting a nice stretch, when he decided to lie down. I hadn't quite figured out what he was doing until his knees were on the ground!

Up top! So tall!

I shook the reins and gave him a kick and he skittered off with the reins both on the right side of his head! I went to my one-rein stop and once he came back a bit I remembered to stand up, and he settled into an excited but manageable trot, then a walk, and I got the reins rearranged.

After all that excitement I was hardly nervous about doing some more trotting, I just stayed in two-point and we trotted both directions just fine. I brought him into the center and asked him to stop, less spiralling needed today, and hopped off. Lots of love and a mint for Sherlock! I removed the saddle and bridle and took them to the tack rack while he followed me and I told him to go roll someplace.

The saddle sweatmarks are not bad with maybe some small drier areas. Different pad with a bit more cushion and wither relief shape needed.

I took him back to his corral and gave him a little grazing time while I hosed his back down. He didn't seem to mind that much at all. Then a little sweat-scraper and fly sheet back on. Finally he's ready again to roll and got good and dusty. The farrier arrived and pulled his front shoes and trimmed him up all around. He seems to have very nice strong hooves, the right front frog is a little odd but with no shoes for a little bit we'll see how it settles. He did very well for her, and she thanked me for doing my homework and said he was a pleasure to work with today.  I am pretty proud of myself today

July 17- Ride #1

Geared up and ready to ride.

Super-hot day yesterday, a great time to work on "stand", since any break was more and more welcome. Did lots of work holding up his feet- cleaned each one twice, fussed over them and twisted, etc. His hooves are overgrowing the edges of the shoe, I'm glad his feet will be bigger than these shoes are, once allowed to grow more naturally. "Stand" lessons especially at each gate, where he was out of position ealrier in the week and got scared by the blowing gate.

Today I was excited to try to get on him. Lots of work on feet, including Rosie kicking the wall and making Sherlock spook and step on my foot. Left big toe purple and sore... Still we went back to the feet and lifted them all again. When he gets anxious I tend to make a big yawn and say, "so boring", and he starts to relax.

Tacked up- no arguing for the bit or during cinching up. I did notice Sherlock's saddle pad slides off to the right, same as his blanket. I am also heavier on the right due to my scoliosis. Might need a saddle pad shim or something to balance us both as I ride more. Chiropractor for me tonight.

Standing very well at the paddock gate, and at the arena gate. He didn't want to go in the round pen. Did some walk lunging to get drive from behind but he was still balky. Then I pushed the pen gate inside instead of pulling it out, and we went right in. Such a funny horse- when he's sure something is wrong he just doesn't give in.

Put him on the lunge line, and worked on voice commands. "Out" to move away from me and circle, "in" to stop and turn towards me. He gets anxious when asked to move out, I didn't want to push him as hard today with the sound of the whip as last time. Every time he looked at me I put the whip up in both hands, in front of my face, and said "out" or lowered it completely for "in".  This seemed gentle enough but understandable, and working to the left went well. But going right he was really sticky, trying to keep me under his blind eye by nearly coming over top of me. So I brought him back just to the walk and did tons of reverses. Asking to him to reverse when I saw he was going to anyway, supporting gently in the middle with whip position, and he got better and better, and calmer.

Then I brought in the plastic chair and stood on it and straightened the saddle pad, gave him lots of rubs all over the neck and shoulders. Leaned on the stirrups, let them down. Held on to the other side of the saddle and put my full weight on it. No problem, more scratches please. So I put the reins on, got my helmet on, and swung up. He stood for some more attention then walked off, got a little jiggy so I turned him to face the fence, and he snorted but then walked off well. I just sat there at first, then started steering a tiny bit, just letting him relax. He started to lengthen stride into a really nice relaxed low-headed swinging walk (perhaps I have found his perfect circle?), and after a minute I asked him to spiral in and stop, and I swung down.

Really nice first ride, maybe a video next time. I feel there is plenty more lunging work to do, and likely long-lining as well. My side reins have still not arrived. But these first lessons in riding are just for relaxation and I'm not giving him much hand to lean on, just barely steering.

Stood really calmly at gates going back, a bit reluctant to go back to corral but did fine. He wants to chew on my saddle- hasn't it been through enough? We argued about what wasn't chewable, which included my arm, so we need more discussion about mouthiness. Still he settled well and was sheeted up and enjoying a sloppy bran mash when I left him for the day.

Tomorrow no riding, Friday maybe, Saturday going to cabin in Idaho Springs for the day and night, Sunday returning and hopefully Skyping at the stable with little cousins who want to see the horse! Monday he has to be ready for the farrier. Maybe I come early and work him first that day. His sister Stars Collide was scratched from her race- I hope she's ok.

July 15- Returns

Returned home to a desperately lonely Sherlock! Jo and company have kept him fly-sprayed and petted but it's clearly not the same as your very own person coming every day. Now that I've been back a couple days he's settled again. I do wish I had all day every day to hang out.

Washed and repaired his fly sheet, might need to change fly sprays as he's still a bit hivey. Still doesn't need a fly mask (and would Cimarron leave it on?) but stomping a bit, might need leg scrims, too.

Windy yesterday and had trouble getting him some turnout- the gates were out of control, one came back and hit him and startled him pretty bad. Hurt my pinky and strained my leg, I am super-stiff walking today and resorted to a cold pack. He did get a nice roll in, and galloped a bit before asking to come back. Today I just gave him some bran mash and put the clean sheet back on.


Lots of plans in the works. Side reins are in the mail from State Line Tack, with a sidepull-style rope halter that was too cheap to pass up. Still, I must be able to walk to do lunging, ground driving or even just get the saddle on and sit on him. Luckily the main work for this week is to get ready for the farrier. I hope I'm not fooling myself that holding up his feet will be easy work for my leg.

Looking for a new stable in the area that's got some pasture, better fly controls, and an English trainer. One sounds perfect of course, closer to home with trail riding lessons and they are members of the Arapahoe Hunt. But I have to afford it. So off to update my resume now, so I can be part-time job hunting tomorrow, so I can afford the stable Sherlock and I need.

Sherlock and Cimarron playing Blair Witch 

July 12-Vacation, trainer and Stars Collide

Almost done with a week's vacation in Vail. Boy,  I love it up here.
We had both A and my Mom for guests last night to see the Dvorak chamber music concert, which was super.  I have been showing off Sherlock's photos and videos like mad, even to the bead store ladies!

But Jo my trainer has left me, got a e-mail from her saying her Fearful Riders program is taking off and she won't have time for regular lessons. I'm very sad but I'm sure it will be nice to have Jo and Dawn as friends, not teachers. I'm glad her program is getting successful, but I probably should find an English riding place this summer.

And I got Sherlock's little sister Stars Collide on my Virtual Stable. She had a recent workout and is entered in the Cellars Shiraz Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

July 4- Many Photos

G went to the stable again with me this morning to take pics, so here is our light day's work- so hot already I didn't want Sherlock to sweat off his fly spray. Groomed quick, he was really good with his feet today, liked the stiffer brush today on itchy areas. Glad I didn't bring my saddle, he was pretty hivey today. Always curious-checking out the camera!

Went for a walk out to the back of the property to see the longhorns, he was walking pretty fast at first then settled in. Here we are checking out Jo's herd of mustangs.

And at the back arena. Cows are all lying down, maybe it will rain tomorrow? Forecast says nothing until Sunday.

Went to the round pen-again no trouble with the gate- and let him loose to roll, but he really just wanted to be scratched on the withers and shoulders.

I did just a bit of walk lunging, which I think will transfer into long-lining really easily. He's gotten quite good at this, such a smart fellow. I love the way he's just swinging easily along in this photo, this is with me on his seeing side but he's also doing well with me on the blind side.

July 3- Lunging

Great day today!
 Sherlock has been playing with the cone, but it was not destroyed or on the roof. I may teach him some tricks that involve holding things- he really likes that.

Anyway, I got there a bit late so I groomed quick, just a brushing and fly spray and off to the round pen. I just decided to ignore any history with the gate. I just walked in and put my stuff down as if he was going to follow me in like he'd done it a million times, and that's exactly what he did.

First I introduced the dressage whip, rubbed him all over with the handle, so itchy with the mosquitoes starting up now. Asked him to move over and to walk forward by gentle pressure. Switched to the lunge line and did the same small circles with whip pressure for gaining distance when he fell inside. "Reverse" is really easy for him now, he just stops and turns in to get me in his other eye.

He got a little trot going turning left- blind side- but immediately needed to check where I was. We tried it on the other side, but no trot. I tapped my leg with the whip and he cantered off a bit startled, did a circle at the canter while I praised him, and stopped to check on me. Lots of pets and showed him the motion with the whip, and then we tried it again, less startled and more willing to go forward.

Switched back to the blind side and asked him to trot with more whip noise- trotted a few strides and checked in. Again good scratches and dusting off flies with the whip handle. Bigger whip noise and he cantered off a bit frantically but soon came down to a circle or two of trot and I asked for whoa and got a very nice halt. Lots of attention and let him breathe a bit. I did just a few more circles each way at the trot and finished up.

Sherlock was still bit excited and didn't want to stop to talk to people, but he was praised for his action and great voice commands, and they didn't believe he can't see out of one eye. I put my lunge line and whip in the car- it opens up! Then we walked to the back to see the longhorns and came back up to talk to Byron the black horse's people. The two little kids were in the cab of the truck and Sherlock couldn't see where the voices were coming from, but he gradually came up and then let them pet his face from the truck window very sweetly. Such a nice horse, he really wants to hang out with people all day and not go back in his corral. He has a new neighbor- one of the yearlings took over Tink's corral.

"Wake up, little brother!"

July 2- Saddle and Farrier

This week we've been working hard on getting this good horse a name. I think we have hit upon "Sherlock" after many a Seussian conversation- fox in socks, box of rocks, hawks on clocks... Show name Smarty Holmes. Time to sign up for a TIP number.

My farrier also came on Monday and got those toe grabs off the back feet. His feet are a little "bullnosed", which means the outer wall curves out instead of being nice and straight. Should be fixable with time and trims. His hoof wall is nice and hard and healthy. And his farrier manners are atrocious. He's anxious about holding his foot up, which I have already been working on and have been getting better relaxation with less pressure. But by next visit, July 22, I need to get him used to holding his feet up for shoe pull and a trim.

We've been working on lunging, doing better both directions and I plan to get him on the real lunge line and get to trotting and cantering real soon. It has been so brutally hot that I have wanted to take it easy. He enjoys walking the tour of the ranch, not scared of the buffalo in the least anymore and even viewed the longhorns with minimal reaction.

Farrier M just came from a weekend Parelli conference and judged Sherlock a left-brain introvert, a pretty active one as he's a young TB. I do love a left-brain introvert, Lissa was one. Sherlock just loves to play with stuff- he keeps picking up the fly spray and throwing it down- I got him a traffic cone and I hope he likes it.

Took my saddle out today, with the biggest girth I have and an extender. Didn't need the extender, and it seems like a good fit. Walked the place and worked on lunging both directions plus reverse, which he is getting good at on voice command. He was already a bit sweaty under the saddle after that light work, I'm glad we took it easy.
A week's vacation coming up soon, I'm keen to get up on him before I leave for a week but trying to be patient. If I can get him a few reps of trotting on the lunge line or free-lunging in the round pen that will build his knowledge quite a lot.