The sun was shining today

AR Cirro, Training 2 Responses »
Oct 302009

Last week, saying hi to Hargobind

Last week, saying hi to Hargobind

The sun was shining, so I saddled Vinnie up, hopped on and went. No lunging or ground work today! I had to catch all the daylight possible, since soon that will be lost to daylight savings. So out explored the local roads it was. We met other horses, squirrels on fences, serious barking dogs, a deer, horses galloping up to the fence, cars, trucks, puddles, mailboxes, pavement, gravel and more.

He did jump a few times and the loose horses running up the fence by the road made him puff up a lot and dance a little, but he never lost it. He was most spooked by a huge rock someone had put by their mailbox. It didn’t even move! But it elicited snorts, backing up and wanting to scoot down the road. I asked him to face it at a comfortable distance. As soon as he was willing to take one step toward it, we moved on.

He was light in the bridle and listened to my seat to steady him. When we rode up to the arena at Three Cedars, someone was washing the mirrors at the far end. More snorting! We had a really nice big trot along the back side of the turnouts that turned into our first short canter. And later he gaited on the pavement home. We got to the gate to his barn and he wanted to explore further, so we took another turn down the side road.

And he hasn’t even had ten rides yet. What a joy…

It had been POURING all day, so the poor boy was wet.

It had been POURING all day, so the poor boy was wet.

I guess the work we did last night in the Three Cedars arena paid off. I’ve been trying different bits on him this week. He seems to like a single jointed better than a French link. I’ve been having him carry it and working him off the cavason still. Last night I put side reins to the bit for the first time. They were very loose and he did well, stretching down into the feeling.


It had been raining steadily all day and continued through the evening. I had stripped his muddy sheet and then walked him down through the rain to Three Cedars to work. I wanted to try my Wintec AP saddle on him. It seems to fit alright, though I’ll be switching out the gullet for a slightly narrower one after Paisano leaves next week. I rode him a some after lunging. The sheepskin that Pam put on my saddle is really nice! I quit after he did a full round of the arena at the trot. Prior to that, we had to spend some time looking in the mirrors, sniffing the mounting stand and otherwise exploring.

Working away

Working away

Going home was an adventure, as it was quite dark by then. I have flashers that I hung around my neck, a yellow one to the front and a red one behind. Then I trotted Vinnie in hand down the road home in the rain. Thankfully, we only met one vehicle. I am continually happy with what he puts up with!


One more week and Paisano leaves. Then another week and Lily comes home. There are so many transitions going on that sometimes, I don’t quite know what to think. Still, I keep going to the barn and doing what needs to be done each day. And it’s usually something interesting.

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Posted by Simrat at 9:05 pm Tagged with: , ,

Many Things

AR Cirro, Thankful Thursday 7 Responses »
Oct 222009

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Getting the Idea

Getting the Idea

Michelle at From the Horse’s Back posted and made me realize that another Thursday had started without a TT post from me. Last week, I was just swamped with getting ready to go up to Tired Dog Ranch and didn’t get a chance to post.


We had a great day last Friday. I helped out with vet work there. Multiple horses had teeth done, little Luis was gelded and then I worked with Rita on halter training. I also got in a short, fun ride on my Lily mare.


I am very thankful that I have these wonderful horses to play with; That I have great friends to share them with; And that we are headed out for another Cowgirl Campout this weekend, this time at Megan’s place.


The best one I got right now of last night's ride...

The best one I got right now of last night's ride...

Vinnie has been a blast to ride. I’ve gotten up on him two times this last week. Last night for just 10 minutes or so around the pasture. Hargobind took a few photos and a short video with my new point & shoot camera (an early birthday present to myself!). I just have to get downloading worked out.


The ride before that, I worked him a bit around the pastures. He has a great trot. I ended up taking him down the road and met up with a lady from my new barn. I also met Laura, who lives across the street. She was on her 2 year old, …another green bean. We rode the local gravel roads until after dark. What fun! Vinnie was a champ. He really likes to move out.


I’m starting to think that if I can find a part leaser for Lily, who wants to trail ride at Pisgah … that I might be able to afford to keep them both. It’s hard to think about selling Vinnie. I’m just going to hold that thought and see what comes of it. Plans right now are to bring Lily home sometime in November. And THAT I’m thankful for as well.


Take a few minutes today to create your own Thankful Thursday.

How:

  • Sit back and consider what you have to be thankful for. Listing three to five things is nice, but one will do.
  • Post about gratitude on your blog. If you don’t have your own blog, go ahead and write about what you are thankful for in the comments here instead.
  • If you blog, please link back here or leave a comment.
  • Feel free to tag other bloggers, if you like to do that, but it’s not necessary. This is not a meme that obligates you to do anything, but look for gratitude. Oh, and link back, and comment, that’s all I ask.
    • Visit these other blogs that often participate in Thankful Thursday:

  • Tired Dog Ranch
  • Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch
  • Earth Dancer Spanish Mustangs
  • The Pony Expression
  • From the Horse’s Back
    • Posted by Simrat at 10:57 am Tagged with: , , , ,

    Progress towards making a driving pony

    AR Cirro, Training 7 Responses »
    Oct 192009

    I found that the girth on Paisano’s harness finally fits Vinnie. He must have filled out. In fact, I measured him today and he is 13.1 hands. He HAS grown! I moved the harness over to the new barn and tried it all on Vin, then ground drove him yesterday. Pam came by just as we were finishing up, so she snapped a few photos and took a short video in his paddock.



    I also spent a bit of time sanding down the cart. I removed the seat and backrest. That took some use of a small sledge (one of my favorite tools) and a hacksaw, along with drilling out rusted screws. My wonderful husband was able to remove the bolt holding on the singletree too, so now the frame is entirely stripped down. The only downside to the day was that the rust treatment I had saved from painting my trailer would not come out of the can, despite much shaking, swapping out spray tips, soaking them in mineral spirits and anything else I could think of. I might have to use something else. It’s too bad, as this stuff worked really well.

    I also stopped in at a local bicycle shop to see about new wheels. All they had were ultralight, single thickness, alloy rim wheels. I think that I need something a bit more sturdy than that. And less expensive! I guess it’s back to the web to search for heavy duty, inexpensive 26″ wheels.

    I'll have to make new seat and backrest. These are destroyed.

    I'll have to make new seat and backrest. These are destroyed. I want to make the back taller and the seat a little deeper anyway.

    And lastly, in preparation, Vinnie had his teeth done today. He had a few points, but otherwise a good bite. I asked how many caps he has left to loose. When Dr. C counted, he found that Vinne has one less tooth than normal in each row! It’s consistent on both sides top and bottom. It does not hurt his mouth or chewing at all. He was just born that way. Paisano’s teeth were done as well, but we didn’t think to count them. I’ll definitely ask about Lily’s when she has them done in December. Spanish Mustangs sometimes have one less rib and a missing or fused lumbar vertebrae. I wonder how many have four less teeth!

    Posted by Simrat at 8:56 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

    AR Cirro - Vinnie is for sale

    AR Cirro, Horses for Sale 6 Responses »
    Oct 142009

    AR Cirro SMR 3613

    AR Cirro SMR 3613

    SMR 3613
    (Paisano SMR 3313 x Choctaw Lily SMR 3150)


    Born August 22, 2006
    Bay dun sabino gelding with roaning

    Video – 3rd or 4th ride
    Video – ground driving in harness

    With less than twenty rides, Vinnie is doing extremely well. He has been ridden on trails, in the arena and on the road. I am starting him on moving off the leg with side passing and turn on the forehand. He is multi-gaited with a diagonal gait, as well as a very nice reaching walk and suspended, smooth trot. Vinnie will be an excellent ambassador for the breed and a first rate partner to his rider.

    Right now, he measures around 13.1 hands. He may grow another inch or two, but could also stay this tall. His dam is 14 hands and his sire 13.3 hands.

    Of course he is current on all vet care, trimming, dental work, etc.

    I am going to continue to work with him until he sells. He’s pretty unflappable. I’ve had a tarp over him, flapping in the rain and wind. He was much more interested in the grass below. I have walked him down the road to the neighbor’s arena, passing 3 different kinds of tractors/combines, kids on bicycles, cars, dogs running and barking behind fences, mailboxes, etc. He looked, but didn’t spook once. I have ridden him on the road at night with flashers hanging from the saddle. He was just fine with that too. I am continuing with his training in harness and under saddle, with some trick training thrown in for fun. Vinnie is intelligent and likes to be engaged with new tasks regularly.

    On the trail rides we’ve had so far, he moved out really nicely. He has a good reaching trot and a good walk as well. During his tenth ride solo, we had our first canters. He was very obedient and responsive to voice, rein and leg commands. He could be an excellent trail horse or do endurance, showing, driving or pretty much anything else.

    If you are interested, please contact me. A good home is paramount.

    Updated February 15, 2010.

    Posted by Simrat at 9:45 pm Tagged with: ,

    Back to Macro Monday

    Macro Monday 4 Responses »
    Oct 122009

    I was trying out a new point & shoot camera last week and found this. The camera didn’t quite suit me, so it’s going back, but I did find this image interesting… Click for a larger view. I am glad that at least it got me back into the groove of Macro Mondays.


    Visit other blogs participating in Macro Monday here.


    Do you see what I see?

    Do you see what I see?


    Posted by Simrat at 7:05 am Tagged with:
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