I read it on the internet, so it MUST be true!

Sorry for the random title... forwarded emails annoy me greatly.  I don't mind the jokes and the funny videos, but the political crap I can do without.

Anyway,  I got to take Risk team roping tonight.  It was fun even though she still needs work.  I really like riding other people's broke rope horses so that I can figure out what it's supposed to feel like.  Risk will get there, and she's already come so far without much work, but it takes consistency and that's not always easy.  

Steve dragged the dummy around for me so I could work on my own roping skills, and that helped.  I hadn't caught one all night before we practiced on the dummy, and after that I was able to catch some.  

This week sure did fly by!  I volunteered to take photos for the 4-H Horse and Pony show this weekend, but I'm not really looking forward to that.  In the past I've done it and it's only been a 1 day show, but this year the show is both days, so my weekend is pretty much shot... I'll bring a book to read and work on my tan... which is stupid because I don't tan... I turn red and then pale again.  *sigh* 

Happy Friday everyone!

A New Halter and Thistles for Dinner

I got my prize from Andrea in the mail today!  She held a contest over at her blog, whoever could guess how many porcupine quills she pulled out of her mustang's nose would win a prize.  I guessed 21, and the answer was 22.  Nobody guessed 22 so I was the closest!  I won a hand tied rope halter that Andrea made.  I love it!  I tried it on Risk right away and it fits great.  It's not like the rope halters I'm used to, it is made of thinner rope, but I really like the way it looks.  Thanks Andrea!  I might have to hold a contest of my own again...

Riskie could be a halter model...

I saddled Risk up tonight and we braved the mosquito swarms together.  We worked on picking up the correct lead and stopping when I throw my rope.  She's getting it, that's for sure.

Risk in her roping gear

The pasture that I ride in is full of really tall thistles that I have to ride around to avoid.  They

are a good way to make sure I've got control of my horse... If the horse doesn't go exactly where

I tell it, chances are we'll end up running into one of these giant weeds.

As I was walking Risk down to the pasture, I stopped to open the gate and saw her very carefully pluck the purple flower off of the thistle!  I couldn't believe it!  That thing still had thorns on it, too.  It was so funny I had to go back and get my camera to get a video of it...

Does this look like something you'd want to eat???

Cutest. Puppy. Ever.

I was just reminiscing about the days when my giant, hairy, smelly, whining Aussie was a wee pup.  I miss being able to carry him around.  He was seriously, the cutest puppy ever born... I don't care what you say! 

Bask in the cuteness that is Puppy Caper...

I guess he did turn into a pretty handsome dog... but it's sad that they don't stay little for longer...

I haven't done much riding due to the ridiculous amount of mosquitos that have taken over the land.  I did get on Risk and practiced throwing my rope and stopping.  I just worked her along the driveway on the mowed grass.  She did much better stopping while we rode away from the barn than she did going towards it... funny how that works, isn't it? 

Going back to work wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and another artist is on vacation this whole week so I've got lots to keep me busy.  Having too much work to do usually makes the days go by much faster.  

Well, I didn't have much to say in the first place so I'm going to end it here before things get random and out of control!  Have a good week!  Maybe something interesting will happen during mine and I'll have more to write about...

Team Roping, Team Roping and More Team Roping...

Can anyone guess what I've been up to on my vacation?

Heh, yep, team roping is correct.  But, not on any of my horses.  

Wednesday night I went over to watch my trainer and a few of his students practice.  I worked the chutes and listened in on the advice everyone was getting.  

Thursday I went over to my Uncle's place to get his horses ready before he got home from work.  He let me ride Brady again, and that was a lot of fun.  He knows his job so well.  The girl who trained him was there and she gave me some good advice.  I told her that my mare just didn't know to stop automatically the way Brady does.  She told me that heel horses need to stop when they see the rope fall in front of them, so I should just practice twirling my rope off of Risk, and when I throw it, stop her.  It's so simple, I can't believe I didn't think to practice this on my own! She's a smart mare so I know she'll get it pretty quickly.  The best part is that I don't even need a steer around to practice this part.  

Brady was really good for me and I caught quite a few, but only singles.  I always manage to catch the right leg, but not the left.

Today I went over to my trainers place again to watch a reining lesson (because it's free to watch!) and then help out with the chutes again.  Before they started roping the live steers they were dragging the dummy around and practicing on that.  One of the old cowboys that showed up to rope let me ride his little mare.  She was a lot of fun, and very much like riding Riskie.  Short strided and quick.  I got some good advice from those old cowboys, too.  

The farrier came this morning and I had him put front shoes on Risk.  She's good to go now, so I am going to start riding her a little more.  She is so fat and out of shape!

My vacation will be over before I know it, but I think I spent it well... and I even kept it pretty cheap.  I had fun, and I relaxed quite a bit, so I'm happy with that.  

I am off to read now!  I hope you all have a happy (and safe) 4th!

Pictures From The Show

Jelaine and Charlie spinning

Lee and Polly loping circles

Missy and Boots sliding

I had a BLT from Subway tonight and it was delicious!

I am starting my vacation tonight and I have a head cold, a sun burn, a cold sore and lots of mosquito bites... but I don't care because I don't have to work tomorrow!!

That is all...

1st Reining Show - A Lesson In Counting

So, the show went pretty good... or as good as a first show doing something new can go I guess.  My biggest goal was to do the pattern while remaining upright... that goes for me and Remington, and we accomplished that.  There was no falling over or falling off.  My 2nd goal was to do the pattern correctly.  I didn't exactly meet this goal, but that just leaves me something to improve upon at the next reining show.  

I entered the green rider reining class and that is the last one of the day.  So, I had all day to memorize my pattern, and memorize I did!  Pattern number 2 was chosen for my class.

The plan was to just go in and complete the pattern.  My trainer told me not to worry about doing fast spins or flying changes.  Just go in and find out what it's like to ride a reining pattern.  So that's what I did.  It was a lot of fun too!  I was pretty nervous so I know I wasn't concentrating as hard as I should have.  Our circles were more like ovals... and after I did my simple change to the left I thought I heard someone in the stands say something about being on the wrong lead so I broke to a trot before I started my large fast circles. Turns out that wasn't needed and I had the correct lead in the first place. It was pretty sloppy, but I know I can improve on that.  

It was very windy, so when I was doing the first rundown my hat flew off.  Then after the rollback to rundown to the other end of the arena, Rem wasn't sure what my hat was doing sitting on the ground in his path, so instead of running straight we ran diagonally...  

Then it was time to spin... thus the counting lesson.  I don't even remember counting wrong, but I do remember being unsure... so it's quite possible that I did 5 spins instead of 4.  That's where we zeroed out.  There are so many things you can get a zero for, and over-spinning is one of them.  So, I was glad we got a zero at the end of our pattern... that way I could still see how I scored on the previous maneuvers... which was not good! Ha, but that's okay.  Can't expect much when we don't do flying changes.  Our stops and rollbacks (which he could have done better) were only -1/2 so I was happy with that.  He doesn't have sliding plates on, so he doesn't slide the way most of the other horses did that were there.

I'm not sure when my next show will be, but I know I will be way more confident when we step into that arena.  

I don't have any photos of me and Rem, but I've got some good ones of my friends.  I still have to get them off my camera though... 

I have to go to work tomorrow, but then I've got the rest of the week off!  The only bad part about that is I'm broke(reining shows are expensive), so I won't be doing anything that require cash :-P  That's okay though, the weather should be nice enough to ride during the day and I've got 2 horses that could use some work, so I'll have a great vacation riding them! 

Because Everybody Else Is Doing It...

Here is a fun little reining freestyle to MJ's Thriller...

May he rest in peace...

In other news, I am going to a reining show with Rem tomorrow.  Wish us luck!