Twilight gets some training!

So I haven't posted in weeks? maybe months? I'm not quite sure.
But good news is this blog will probably get alot of use in the near future, because-

*drum roll*

We finally have the three year olds in!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually they've been in for like a month. Unfortunately I haven't gotten to work with Twi as much as I'd like simply because school and cheering and other pain-in-the-ass problems keep arising.

But thats all besides the point... where to begin, where to begin.

Well I guess I got her right before school and have worked with her from sacking her out in everyway I could think of,  then bitting up, first saddling, sitting on her, more ground work, and exposing her to everything.

Today though its been like a week since I've had time to work with her so we just pretty much reviewed. I tossed [my new used!!!] saddle on her back and threw a bridle on Teddy  and ponied her up to where our rode meets the highway and back. Over all kinds of frightful stuff like bridges and creeks, a highway and a burned patch of grass. Twilight was fine with all of it- Teddy just about died of a heartattack during any given moment. That horse of Mary's is such a pussy cat! I hope Twi keeps up her bravery when I climb into the saddle cuz I am not such a big fan of getting dumped. I can't wait to ride her though even though our area of riding has been drastically cut into by hunters running all over the place.

Oh well Autumn will blow over into Winter and Winter will give birth to Spring and I can spend my final days riding the plains of my home on the Great Oregon Desert.

Well thats it for today- tomorrow I'll have more to report on little Twi's progress...

Well I haven't blogged here in awhile- but really I haven't had any reason to. The only riding I've done is working. All of our horses are in the mountains, to me this is like the ultimate heartbreaker because I had just started riding Storm bareback. But on the bright side I'm finallly comfertable enough in her neckreining to put her in a tom thumb bit, up until now shes just had a snaffle. I know that took a long time but thanks to several of our horses who  weren't trained to neck rein well enough when they were in snaffle or hackamore there was no way I was putting her  in a bit until I thought she was a hundred percent ready.
We're getting the three year olds in to work with them , round pen or no round pen. I'm so tired of waiting around for something that isn't gonna happen so we're just gonna have to work around that large mountain little bump, that somehow sprung up in the road.

I'm thinking about merging this blog back with the other one- it just doesn't get enough use. I'll see how frequently I use it while we're training the colts.
Nickers and Whinnies,
Kyle, Celia, Stormy, and Shine

Random Picture Overload!

So I decided I oughta get yall acquainted with the looks[or former looks] of my darling cast of ponehs=]
These pics are kinda old so not everybody looks the same but still pretty close:
Celia:

Stormy in the sun

Baby Shining!
Katie:
Fuzzt Teddy
Rosie Posie:
Teke Peke
Kitty KatThe new boys:
Tiggy
and Cash/Moosy

The dynamic tria in horse form:
Rockette
And Misty and Twi:
Wily-
Thats it for the random pics today=]]

Yeehaw!

I love jumping, but haven't really jumped at all since Celia got cripppled, of course sage jumping, but that doesn't count. Last Saturday I got the brilliant idea that we could make our own jumping course.
So true to our roots Mary and I went all out and what we got was a somewhat redneck jumping course-complete with tires and barrels, which we haven't used[hence the lack of pictures]
Unforetunatley the pictures we got of our more basic jumps didn't turn out so great because of the camera quality.
Ted likes to jump about a mile before he should
But by the end of this session he was getting better
Up and ovver
She looks frightened
Mary has the tendency to ride close to her horse and pull back when she jumps
Teke is an excellent jumper, but gets carried away and I forgot to lift myself
Gyps got led over a few
I totally look the part in skinny jeans and vans, of course=]
Rita and I tried to sync, it didn't work
Mary prefers Ted but she'll ride Teke
Ha, yep thats been my horse involvement for the last week, an amazing time jumping!

I'll take a Morgan, or a horse

I'm still searching diligently for a horse, not sure what breed or anything-preferably a Fjord, Morgan, Mustang, Arab, or Welsh, maybe a Walker though or another gaited breed. I'm trying to stay away from QHs this time, I mean I love my Quarters, I wouldn't trade Storm for the world, but I need something different. I'm hoping[if I don't find the perfect horse before] to pick up a something in October, they always have several unregistered, different breeds of horses that go dirt cheap. If I see a Fjord there this year I will not let it slip away again! I still regret letting the last little Fjord mare. I guess I'd take a nice little Morgan mare over a Fjord though I suppose.. I've totally fallen in love with Morgans recently, I mean is this not the cutest little thing you've ever seen:

And look at this gorgeous stud:
I love how they carry themselves:
And have such sweet faces:

[Not my pics]

First hand I have hardly any experience with Morgans. When I was in middle school one of my best friends had a crazy hyper little Morab-but she def more Arab then Morgan. Recently the only Morgans I've been around are one of the guys we ride with in the mountains owns too hulking Morgans, there cute tough little horses and keep up with the best of our Quarters.
You'll definitely being hearing more about my horse hunting this summer=]

Falling off...oh well ya gotta know how to, right?

I skipped a few days of riding Storm bareback because I've worked everyday since schools been out. Today though Mary, Rita and I decided to ride for Mary's bday. Ha we had such success at fun!

We started off galloping through the wheatfield[after warming up of course] A few miniutes into the ride Stormy shied at something and since I was just rolling with her and not expecting it I went sprawling and hit the ground rolling. [The first time I've fallen off in almost a year and I don't even land on my feet, how depressing] Storm took off and then stopped a couple feet away and Mary went to go get her while I sat and laughed hysterically. I was of course hidden completely by wheat and Rita was cantering back to find me and I yelled at her to not run me over when bam Wily sees me sitting where she least expected and she shies and Rita, of course, hits me rolling. Mary sat an d laughed like crazy, I was like just you wait Rita and I are covered now, but you, you're in trouble!

So we countinued and when we got up behind the old dump Rita decided we ougta get closer, and oops Storm caught her leg in a sagebrush. We would been just fine if we were pointed up hill but since we were climbing off a bluff she tripped on her nose and I went somersaulting[again] and landed on my feet and flipped again and smashed my palm, so now it is brusied and ug-a-lay! Stormy, when she saw me on my butt leaned down and nudge me like she was sorry, so of course I couldn't be mad!

Anyway fast forward we're headed back up the canyon to the house and galloping along jumping sagebrush and logs or whatever is in our paths and Mary is leading. Well she decided she wanted to go one way and Ted decided they were going another. Well Mary got her way all right, Teddy popped his way over a high sage and Mary went flying the way she wanted to go. But, being Mary, she couldn't just fall she had to get her hand stuck in his mane and run along side him a few feet. Talk about laugh! Rita and I laughed until we were crying, it was crazy funny. Mary took it well though, with just a "well now we're all covered for awhile."

So yep the points are now in my favor, I've been expecting a fall for awhile=]

I've been riding Stormy bareback, no work, no constant-lets spin circles or work on side passing or how about riding on the bit?-none of that. I decided her and I needed some laid back time together. Also with all the riding we've done, she needs shoes. I've never had her shod before because her feet have always been extremely tough- like, gallop over rocks and not get foot sore tough. Unfortunately I think all the rain we've been having thats kept the grass wet and the dirt mud has softened her feet a bit, so rather then force her to trek through rock strewn hills shoelessly I'm a have her shod.

I also ended up riding the buckskin, and I have to say I don't think her and I are going to work. I've always clicked with my horses, Celia, Stormy, Lila, Shine... there was always something there. Even ole Brandy was friendly for the time I rode her, so I'm not used to horses who won't even acknowledge my presence. I guess I'm spoiled, but I'd rather let someone else take her, maybe Rita, she after all did get Wily to love her. So there goes the number two horse on my riding string, I will probably ride her anyway though. Or maybe I'll try Twi instead, since I am gonna train her anyways.

This week we're headed to the mountains to put the cows on the forest so I'ma see how that goes with Storm and Gyps.

Barebackin' it on The Cloud

So first Kate over at A Year With Horses had a link to The Horse Personalities Quiz which I thought was really cute so I decided to take it and check how accurate it was with my horses, it did turn out pretty close.

Celia and Shining are both-surprise-Rock Stars!
-The Rock Stars are confident and charismatic. They are expressive and strong minded. They love to show you what they know but are hard to get to focus on the small details of the task. They are found in many competitive arenas, usually at the top of their field.

Stormy was a a Goddess, which fits her pretty well too.
-The Goddess is loved by most of the other horses and most people. They are expressive and sensitive and emotional. You will know how they feel. They try very hard to please and will worry and be anxious if you are not happy with them. In the negative they can have scattered energy that is hard to get focused. This personality can be loved on as much as you want.

Gypsy was an Accountant.
-Slow, steady and determined describes this personality. They do not need excitement or fanfare. They like predictability. They want you to have a plan and stick to it. The friendship is important to them, so it is important for them to be honored and appreciated.

Anyways moving on yesterday we ended up having to get more cows in, after missing them on Saturday. I was planning on riding Gypsy but dad decided that he had to come and make sure it was "done right this time" and all the other horses are up in Long Creek beside Teddy, Wily and some "unridable" horses and Mary and Rita had to ride with us his only other choice would have been Stormy and I refuse to let him ride her, he had to ride Gyps.
So I rode darling little Storm, with a saddle of course, because riding her bareback is all but suicide. We ended up having to chase those cows 3 miles up the back canyon before it finally widened out enough to get around them. I blame my father for this because he forgot to warn us that Paul's pyhcotic cows were done with our two extra hiefers and bull. Running with his two cows all winter the heifers were wild as march hares and the bull was on the fight.

No big deal we chased em til they hit the fence and had no room left and chased them back up the canyon. About a half mile back Stormy stepped in wire and I thoughted she'd freak, she just picked her little foot carefully out of it though and cantered on, I was so proud of her!

With almost 2 miles left I mentioned how I'd much rather have ridden bareback[meaning another horse] along with Mary and Rita, and Dad immediately jumped on that.
"If ya wanna ride bareback so bad put that saddle in the rhino with Donald."
Me~Uhhh , shes awful sweaty to ride bareback."
Dad~"Your afraid, hahaha, your afraid of that horse."
Innerself~"Tell him you value your life!"
To innerself~"Our pride won't let me"
Dad~"So?"
Me~Fine"
I hopped off and stripped her of the saddle. Meanwhile innerself was saying what an awful idea it was.
Innerself~We're gonna die!!!"
Me~Deep breaths, we'll be...fine, just fine"
Mary tossed me back on and Stormy skittered.
Innerself~"Shit"
Everbody took off trotting and Donald roared away. I gave Stormy her head and a nudge and off we flew.
Innerself~Told ya so"
She was actually surprisingly easy to hand on even though she was obviously running away with me, she did stop once we got to the other horses though.
Mary~"Ready to go?"
Rita~"Duh'
Dad~I'll stay behind, you guys cross the creek and make sure they don't turn."
Mary and Rita took off in front. So I let the reins go slack and kicked her-a little bit to hard. Bam, racehorse mode, she does love to race Teddy. We whipped up past Wily and Ted so fast Mary and Rita had to grab mane or else get left behind as thier ponies surged to keep up. Mary and I eventually got her and Ted under control and waited for Rita and Wi to catch up. Then we had to cross the creek, which didn't go as bad as it might have. Storm did bog down a little and covered us both in mud but not that bad. The best part was she didn't pull any tricks while we got the cows.

We ended having to go and get mom's crazy Jersey bull from Jim's when we were done and all he wanted to do was fight, Stormy stayed pretty calm though even when a snake slithered under her. But when we got him out of the corral and moving me and Storm had to push him back to the road and in the process crossed a hose. She nicked it with her hind hoof and-whoosh, she spun like a demon and I landed on her neck. She danced across the hose and let me slide back to where I belonged without incident though.

So yeah she was awesome for her first time bareback after cows, and I couldn't be more proud of her, I'm a little sore those, shes alot smaller and harder to hold onto then any of our other horses. But ha my post drug on forever.

Stress relief

I was feeling terribly down today after getting home from school[drama, drama, drama] so instead of working with Gypsy like I planned, I decided that I'd take Stormy and go on a ride to cry it out to her. Because as everyone knows horses are the best medicine for a broken and battered heart.

All little Storm wanted to do those was crowhop-my fault entirely. She has way to much energy and has to be ridden daily or have a job when shes ridden so she doesn't get bored. I wasn't in the mood to fight with her so I decided we'd work on some more english-type riding. I took her out to the lot next to my Aunt Loa's where we used to race our horses when we were kids, because the corrals are still really muddy, and hooked her on the lunge line.

We worked on basic stuff like just lunging, because we haven't done it in awhile and she'd rather just sit in the circle with me. I don't blame her but "thats not acceptable, blahblahblah..." We also worked on direct reining-which she hated epically. And whip training, I think that caused more confusion then enlightenment though. I don't blame her, I have problems getting it to sometimes. Lastly we did her least favorite thing ever, working with her hind legs- she was pretty good though, I got to hand it to her. She didn't kick or anything, just kinda scooted away. Eventually though she did hold still and let me lift them, so we ended on that good note.

It did get my mind off my issues and her my mind off crowhopping so I'd say success!

Pictures coming soon!
Sincerely,
This horse whisperer

Branding and getting back to work

I haven't really posted in awhile but what can I say- I can't blog about whispering to horses when I haven't been whispering to horses. Life has just caught up with me lately the only times I've been able to ride have been for work, especially on Stormy. I can't exactly go joy riding on a horse that is running loose who knows where. Also Gypsy has been limping again which really interferes with my training her. Dad finally did go and get Celia, we took her up for Yesenia to ride on our first take at branding. She still limps but I'm pretty sure it doesn't hurt her anymore, but to be on the safe side I refuse to let anyone ride her.

I did get in some riding at Branding Take 1 but not much because we had all the inexperienced riders with us, I got in alot more at Branding Take 2.

I didn't take Storm because like I said shes out loose so I ended up just riding Zip. I've been trying to teach that old gelding to rear on command because he does it anyway when he doesn't get his way. I was not very successful. All that happened is that he rears more, and higher with little added bucks on the end when he doesn't get his way. So now I get to break him of this new "trick." I mean I don't really care I think its fun-like riding a bronc with his head up, but much simpler, my brother on the other hand is scared to death of it so I have to work it out of him.

They wouldn't let me rope off him at branding[I can't imagine why] so the only serious work I got out of him was moving the cows back and forth to pasture.

But even though I got stuck with the ground crew and didn't get as much riding in as I'd have liked I did see some pretty amazing looking horses and some very good riding and roping on the part of thier riders. I'll to post some pic of the horses when I put up pics on my other blog.

But now that schools almost out I hope I get in alot more riding and training, the 3 year olds are due home any day now. Also I'm looking for a new horse, my friend Hannah offered to sell me a little Arab mare she has since she has her hands full training her other horses, but my dad put his foot down there, because he "won't have any Arabians on a cattle ranch." Then I found a pretty little Morgan/Mustang cross mare but she sold before I could inquire about her. I kinda want a BLM Mustang but I don't think our faculties are up to snuff. Right now I'll probably just wait to see if the rumors about West's having a dispersal sale are true, and if they are pick up a horse there.

Also I fixed my comment glitch soo.. yeah its fixed=D

Sincerely,
The horse whispering teen

Week 1 and 2 Saturday and Sunday

Saturday 5/8/2010
Gypsy was once again the only one I worked with today. I just did the usual grooming and she was ok-ish but she could certainly be more responsive. We did end up going on another run which I think she enjoys it alot more then a massage, silly little thing that she is. It ended up being really long and it got dark so I had to rush her back rather then let her go as slowly as she wanted so she could graze like we normally do. Her fat little self dragging and me, walking beside her sucking a lolly pop while humming Hey There Delilah over and over again. Maybe I'll switch songs, maybe shes not a fan of the Plain White Tees, anyway thats besides the point, over all I think that I'm finally getting through to her.

Sunday 5/9/2010
I didn't get anytime at all to work with Gypsy today, because my dad insisted on us getting cows in. So I decided to choose Stormy so I could work with her while we rode. She was feeling really spooky for no apparent reason other then she likes to act like a space case for no reason sometimes. She was kinda pussy-footin' along too, but think it was just that she was a little footsore, which means I'll probably have to get her shod. I certainly don't envy the guy who gets to do that. I mean I really have tried to break her of the crazy right hind leg kicking but after the second barb wire mishap[when her moron owner turned her out] she refuses to let me get near it.

But speaking of her leg kicking issue she only had one little incident when she wanted to stand still and kick the leg that got caught in the wire. Overall though I think her kicking is better then her crazy bolting she used to do when ever her hind leg touched something that scared her.

She also getting much better at cow sorting and turning. It's gotten to where I can almost just point her at the cow I want and hang on for the ride. She'll tiptoe through the herd at it then chase it out with her teeth on its butt, without so much as disrupting the other cows. She does still have her moments where she gets confused and attacks every cow in sight, but besides that she a darling at cutting.

Thursday, week one

I worked with that little PIA Gypsy again today but missed out on yesterday because... I don't really remember why, skittles.
Anyway today we started out with the usual grooming and I tried some Ttouch on her. No response, at all. Maybe I did something wrong because the horses normally respond right away when we do Ttouch, but with Gypsy, nothing, no leaning into it or even sighing contedly or chewing, just nothing at all. I decided to try playing. I took her out in the pen next to Tiggy and took off running to see if she'd follow me or show any interest at all. It is so frustrating, everything I do nothing, I try to do things I think would fit her personality but constantly run in to dead ends. Finally I just gave up on trying to get a response out of her and drug her out on a walk, she seemed to enjoy that a little better. I slowly drag around and she grazes, very progressive. I did convince her to run with me and she seemed to enjoy that but that was the most response I got. After that I decided we had enough progress that I decided to end it.
Yesterday was Shining's birthday but I didn't get to celebrate it because I didn't have time to hunt her down and give her the customary party, poor thing. I think we might celebrate it Friday though.
Also apparently I'm having a comment glitch so until I ether a. solve the problem or b. change to a layout with a comment box that works my email is horsecrazee179@yahoo.com or cowgurl179@hotmail.com so yeah, hope ya'll have a great day!

Starting days

Gypsy
First day:
Gypsy freaked out with me just putting the halter on her, I can't say I blame her though, it's been along time since shes been around humans. But this lack of wanting to be haltered did cause me to change plans on what we were gonna do. Originally I was gonna brush her and then lunge her, just to get a rough idea of where shes at and if shes ever even been lunged before. But because of her skittishness and fear I ended up just giving her a good grooming and talking to her to get her used to the sound of my voice.
Second day:
I planned on working her after school today but unfortunately my fat little steer bloated again so I had to take a chunk out of my "work with Gypsy time" to pump mineral oil down his throat. I did get a little bit of daylight left so I decided to groom her, just because she needs that to help her be calm. She was skittery again but that's to be expected, one grooming is not a miracle exercise. She won't look at me though, its really weird and frustrating. I think that she thinks if she doesn't acknowledge my presence I'll leave her alone. No such luck though, poor Jips. As soon as I got home I went and dug out a few training books, and Chris Dyer's Plants, Potions and oils for horses, which I totally dig because I'm one hundred percent into the use of plants in training and remedies for things like her tight back muscles. While I was at it I found Linda Tellington's book, which I love simply for Ttouch. Of course I grabbed my favorite training book, Imke Spilker's Empowered Horses, which in my opinion is a revolution in training. I have been poring over all these books for little tips that would be useful for a resistant horse.
I didn't get to work with Stormy or Shining because they are both turned out for awhile.

The Beginning

I have a gift -I can hear the whispers of horses. Don't believe me? Listen close and open your mind, you'll hear them too.
I've been "speaking" to horses my whole life, and there is nothing I'd rather do. I hope you come to love all my precious horses as I do, let me introduce you.

Celia
Breed:Grade, Quarter horse
Color: Sorrel
Sex: Mare
Age: 18
Who’s: Mine
My first ever horse, I’ve had her forever!You'll hear alot about her. Celia is a little lame now as I seem to have the horrid habit of doing to horses, I rode her to hard and much when we were younger and now shes in retirement. But she still loves everybody and food is her absolute best friend.

Quiet Bardell aka Stormy sometimes the Cloud
Breed: AQHA
Color: Grey
Sex: Mare
Age: 8
Who's: Technically my uncles, but I ride her
First horse I ever trained and the horse I ride most now, you'll definitely hear alot about her. She has an terrible fear of wire and hates most people save me and my friend Rico. Stormy is the flightiest horse I've ever ridden and will bolt over the silliest things but when calmness matters most she can be a rock.

Shining or Shiny or Steak when I'm mad at her
Breed: Unreg. AQHA
Color: Blue/Bay Roan
Sex: Filly
Age: 2
Who's: Mine
My baby who is starting real training this year, she too will be talked of often. Shining definitely has her bratty moments, I blame that on me spoiling me when she cut her shoulder open as a colt. But she has personality and will gladly play a game of tag with anyone who is willing and loves everyone.

One Dot Done aka Gypsy previously The Buckskin
Breed: AQHA
Color: Buckskin
Sex: Mare
Age: 5
Who's: My father's, but I called her so shes good as mine
Gypsy is the elusive buckskin who we've owned for two years but haven't had at home until a few days ago. Everything about her is a mystery to me but every time I work with her she lets me know more about her.

Loki aka Loquila aka The Barn Rat
Breed: Aussie/RottieColor: Blue merle
Sex: filly
age: younger then a year
Who's: Mine
Yeah you'll hear about her too because shes so often around the horses so much.

Kylie aka Kyle aka The Horse Whisperer
Breed: person
Color: auburn
Sex: Filly
Age:17
Who's: Celia's, Stormy's, Shining, Gpysy's, and Loki's
Uhuh that's me, you can learn more by reading my blog but in a nutshell; I love my horses more then anything else, I'm as flighty as Stormy, as playful as Shining, as loving as Celia, as mysterious as Gypsy and as loyal as Loki.

We have alot of other horses I'll talk about too:
Wily-Rita's horse
Teddy-Mary's horse
Zippy-Donald's horse
Rosie-Mary's in training horse
Twilight, Misty, and Rockette-My, Mary and Rita's 3 years old trainees
Kitty-Donald's other horse
Buddy, Teke, Lily, Cash, Tiggy, Katie, not to mention some that are around but not ours Blue, Curly, Grey, and Arrow

I think thats all, its pretty hard to keep them straight. But anyways I hope y'all enjoy reading about my adventures in horse whispering as I document our daily trials and triumphs.