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.