Training on the Podium

Yawn...

Hills and Tractors

Sunday we went for at least a 2 hour ride! It was a beautiful day and I was challenged by hills. In the long run I love doing hills because I'm pushed beyond my confort zone and I have to trust my horse and my confidence.


Yesterday, Ross and I put part of Diesel Betty back together and I put on some bolts. I never thought I'd be learning about tractor mechanics! An antique at that. And then I drove around the barn and parked her (drove in reverse...not my favorite!). While moving the clutch, I was told to move it slowly or else the front end will come up!

Great Day for 2 Rides :)

Today was beautiful! I was sitting in a hay feeder reflecting on life and enjoying myself. Maybe I can sit in a feeder to do homework once school starts. Eventually the horses ignore me (unless they decide that the hay is tastier under me!), and I can get a lot done. It's peaceful listening to them chew and listening to the frogs.

Later, I went for a nice long ride with lots of trotting (I'm learning to relax) and even a bit of loping (uphill for control), with one stirrup! Pongo is out of shape and I had to keep him going uphill...he's a bit chubby :)

When we got back, I unsaddled him and let him go. Then join in on a BBQ. Yummy! There was a little riding lesson going on for 3 kids...so I joined in bareback (my favorite)! We even trotted some cavelletis and he started 'jumping' the last one. I wonder if I'm confident enough to go higher...bareback? I could still do a slight 2-point position!

Awesome, awesome day!

When I'm with my horse, the world stands still :)

Step Up Girls

Minnie and Bunky harnessed in, outriders ready and we're off! It was a beautiful day and we all managed the horses in harness, trucks, cars, a school bus, other horses, deer, cattle, bulls, and hills!

Confidence

When I'm confident, Pongo is confident and he'll do almost anything! Treats help :)

I'm driving the tractor and floating the road and areas up by the barn and round pen:

Adventures at The Ranch

Building a Podium with Roxanne and Ross...with the horses supervising!

Memories

This afternoon at the ranch, I was reminded of my Grandpa.

I was able to help build a podeum. My Grandpa was a carpenter and it always smelled like sawdust and wood. I love the smell of freshly cut wood.

And then it rained and hailed. It was incredible listening to the hail on the tin roof of the barn. It reminded me of camping as a kid and hearing the rain pour down on our tent trailer roof. I love storms!

But my most favorite is musty barn smell. It reminded me of when I was little and my brother and I would explore the barn at my aunt and uncles. We'd climb the ladders into the loft and just sit looking out over the yard. Those were some great summers.

Living in Faith

I met with the Financial Advisor at Robertson College and was approved for a Student Loan today!

It's enough to cover tuition and maybe rent/expenses for one month.

I'm praying now that I'll be able to switch over my line of credit to a student line of credit and find a part time job.

Also, that I find a place to live for Aug. 1st. I'm looking for rent for about $400/month (or free) including utilities. Any ideas?

Sometimes it's hard to believe that I'm going back to school after 8 years. What an adventure I'm entering into!!

Relationship Building

Great day at the Ranch yesterday afternoon.

Arrived early and sat in a feeder watching the herd. They eat in groups and push each other away in one is in anothers 'space'.

Rode Pongo up to the barn and trotted a little. I love riding bareback. Allows me to feel the horse and work on my balance

We did some round pen work in the evening. Pongo did awesome...for not having done it before!

Worked on getting him used to an obstical and then we all (about 8 of us) went back into the round pen and rode bareback.

I really didn't want to leave :(

He is one special horse and he's helping me break down my trust barriers and build a friendship with him.

I've never had the opportunity to do so with other horses. I realized yesterday that although I know how to ride, I don't really know how to build a relationship with a horse.

For anyone who is interested, go to www.highertrails.org 2 horses are available for people!

News

I haven't been too great at updating.

I'm going to try to post about what I'm up to and life with my new Foster Horse, Pongo.



He's a 6 year old Paint who was mauled by a cougar at 2. His owner was going to put him down, when Higher Trails bought him. Unfortunately, since then, he hasn't had much consistency. When I took him on in February, I thought he was 4 years old!

He has calmed down a lot in the last 3 months. Pongo now stands fairly still for longer than a few seconds and is becoming much more comfortable in the barn. We are working on the basics such as neck reining and backing up. Sometimes it almost seems too easy as he's so willing to learn and please.

Through him I've been learning to relax and let go of my fears. It's a process :)

I'm still in Calgary and in June I'm going back to school! I'm enrolled at Robertson College in their Vet Office Assistant course. It's like a retraining college. The program is 6 months long, M-F, 8am to 1pm. Should be interesting and challenging. In the long run I'd like to work with large animals, but I have to start somewhere :)