Priorities

Well, here we are nearing the end of another year and it gets me thinking about what I accomplished and what I hope to accomplish next year. I was speaking with a friend of mine yesterday and she thought we should set up our schedule of rides for next year on a calendar. What a great thought! So many times we say we are going to do something and then we let life get in the way and before we know it a month or two has past and we didn't get to meet up and visit. Life is to short to worry about little things like if the laundry is all clean (never around here) or to feel guilty about the pleasure of escaping with my horse to the woods or show ring. So, even though it is not new years yet I am making a resolution now to set a schedule of sorts and make more time for me this coming year. Hope you all do the same. Happy Halloween!

A matter of trust

So here I am in mid life, starting over with a new horse and learning a new riding discipline. I have ridden for over 30 years in all sorts of situations but find myself feeling like a beginner again. I purchased Harley just a year ago as a green 4 year old. He was well started in reining but lacked rate and patience in his manuevers. My backround was in halter horses and trail riding for the most part so what an adventure I was in for. I have been riding him steady for the most part and working with a trainer for lessons once or twice a month. We have made some great progress and I feel like he is the horse for me. I have shown him at ranch horse shows this past summer and we continue to improve but I still lack the ability to get him relaxed. Herein is the problem I think, I simply do not trust him and he doesn't trust me. It is nothing I can put my finger on per say, just a lack of trust. He has never offered to run off or buck uncontrollably, he just has such a big motor and is so lightning quick in his maneuvers. My ultimate goal for us is to compete in working cow horse with no particular time frame in mind.
I keep thinking the more I ride him the better it will get, but so far I am not making a whole lot of progress. I am open to suggestions for anyone who may have encountered this or can think of things to better our relationship together. I suppose it is just like with people, a trust must be built upon and takes a while to establish.

Fall ride

As you may have figured from previous post, I am a true Floridian transplanted to Indiana. I must say I love the Fall! Nothing like this in sunny south Florida. Today, a glorious day weather wise here in Indiana I decided to tank my young horse "Harley" for a trail ride to give him something other to think about than cows and training. We loaded up and met some friends at Brown County State Park, a nice park only 45 minutes from my house. The park is lovely and has a horseman's campground and around a hundred miles of trails. I never tire of riding here it is so diverse. We saddled up around 9 am and headed out for a day of riding. We all decided we would love to ride to a nearby town called Story for lunch. Story has a small inn and a few eateries to sample. The trail goes right down next to the inn and has hitching posts for the horses along with fresh water. I decided to let Harley lead today, something he is not used to doing. He is small at 14.2 and a little slower than my friend's horse but he took the job in stride. We had a little stutter step when a bunch of turkeys came shooting across the trail but I was happy he did not spin and run. ( A little backround on Harley: He is a cutting bred gelding that can spin a hole in the ground and usual does when spooked which thanks heavens is not often.) The trail we chose to
take today was a difficult one with lots of hill climbing and lots of downed trees. Harley did very well crossing the creeks and downed trees without a hitch. We arrived at the inn a little after noon and tethered the horses after letting them drink awhile. Lunch was superb and we all enjoyed the live music they had playing. For the ride home we chose a different route and a little less challenging. We got back to camp around 3 and called it a day. I simply love going riding with friends and the fall colors were an added bonus today. Tomorrow it is back to the grindstone with riding circles and lead changes (something I need work on not Harley). Hope you all are enjoying your horses. Till next time.......

Born with It

To me it seems, you are either born with the horse "bug" or not. Trying to explain this to someone who was not is impossible, like trying to name the exact color of the sky. For as long as I can remember, I have been affected by horses. The first one I owned was when I was 11 years old, although I had been pursuing being around them long before. My first was a little appalossa gelding named Mr. Specks, a sorrell with a star and a blanket. He was all of 11 hands and very sweet, a true learning pony.
I rode daily, mostly bareback and usually in a halter and lead rope, oh the innocence of youth is grand. It wasn't long before I outgrew Specks and moved on to my next horse, Fred. Fred was a quarter/pony very mischeivous and full of speed. He was an absolute doll on the ground, but climb aboard and get ready for the ride of your life. I enjoyed him for several years until I went to college and got married. We competed in everything from barrels to jumping and I had a blast with him. Many years passed by and it wasn't until I took a friend's daughter on a trail ride at a local barn that I realized what was missing from my life. Two weeks later I was the proud owner of a Paint mare. I have not been without a horse since. The Paint mare was an introduction into the breed and I ended up owning and breeding several more over the years. Eventually I ended up owning a boarding stable in south Florida and getting a real education in horses first hand. Try as I have to explain this obsession I have with horses it is impossible and so I repeat, you are either born with it or you are not.

An Introduction

Welcome! Herein is the introduction of my blog space. I intend to discuss and converse about all things horses. I am owned by three of the magnificent creatures currently. I have interest in all disciplines of horse ownership and riding. I reside in central Indiana, not a thriving horse community but alas I am stuck here for the time being. I am at this time a western rider and am currently learning how to compete in cattle classes on my 5 year old Quarter horse "Harley" his barn name of course.

I love to trail ride as well and still enjoy riding my old faithful 27 year old
Quarter horse "Tank". I also have a welsh pony named "Wilson", he is primarily a pasture mate for whichever horse I am not using. I hope to share with you my experiences trail riding and the places I go. I will also keep you up to date on my experience in the show ring. I welcome all comments and look forward to conversing with you .