All knds of NEW

Somethings missing here....

Firstly, it was SUNNY on my day off...that's a new one! I'll take it!
Secondly, a BOX from Dover Saddlery came in the mail...I did not even open it at home, but plopped it directly into the truck and left for the stable .
And -as we drove onto the final 500 feet of road to the driveway of the stable...oh wow, the trail on both sides of the road was GONE..and the dudes were still falling the trees! We all knew it was going to happen...but when it actually does...it is sad to see clear cut(they were supposed to be "selective cutting) but my PBO says that is a pathway for the machines to come and clearcut. All I know, is the forest right next to the stable is part of what they plan to cut and horses are in for a SHOCK!

Okay, back to me sharing about some other-better-new things.
 I wanted to share with Juliette from "Honeysuckle faire" blog, what mane and tail product I used...she liked the way Wa's black mane looked black and sometimes shiney~ And YUP, being a hairdresser, I am into the least abrasive routines for the mane and tail. I don't like loosing any strands of either!
My mudcake mare upon arrival to the grooming station~

Fortunately for me and my bum elbows and hands, grooming is only the two sides of her neck, mane, tail. I usually use the "wash station" for her hooves and legs with cold water, then I towel them and brush the hair to dry out. This facility is smaller than my last one and has smaller turnouts...so the mud is much greater, to my dismay. I have already cleaned the two lightweight rain blankets...and in 2 weeks..the one looks pretty bad, already...boo...so Then I begin to BRUSH the horse AND the blanket!

ANYWHO.....I've always used this hair conditioner on Wa. it seems to detangle and shine without building up and it never gets brittle in the hair. THIS IS CONCENTRATE, so I use 2 oz to a 12 oz bottle of water.
 It's pink and smells nice!

These are my muddy day grooming articles, amoungst many.  As you see, these are frequently used...I wash them about every other time in soapy hot water.

Semi stff, synthetic brush- rubberised brush with very a awesome handle, for those who don't grip well(like me) it's more of a pushing motion and Wa gets a massage with it. A rubber mitt-and

wide toothed comb

I spray the muddy area's firstly- mane, tail. Then let it set some...and go for the knocking off of ground in mudd on her neck, underside (how do they do that anyway...right between the forelegs and middle of belly??!!)

Here she is with the larger chunks of mudd "knocked off" and me having sprayed the hair again with the misty conditioner.

Once I get through the mane with this "Wide Tooth" comb, I then go over it with my synthetic soft brush. it distributes the sprayed on conditioner well.

Since most of her body is covered with the turjnout blanket, I have little else to do save a little mudd on the opposite of her mane.

And she is ready for tacking up! I do her feet outside the main door, or in her paddock on the ground...so I don't have to sweep all the mud and rocks.

NEW "HAF" pad from Action rider tack for my "treeless" saddle I am saving for. This has been awesome under my Bareback saddle pad , by giving my mare an extra channel for her spine, making it ultra comfy for me, with it's closed cell foam incerts.( I got this a few weeks ago)

Here is yet another NEW thing

I finally got a new helmet! I have been using my LARGE WHITE Q-tip looking Troxel helmet for 4 years. I have liked it and liked the neato device on the back, that dials for looser or tighter..I hate photos of me in it...it's absolutely huge!

Meet my new "Tipperary Sportage" in Navy blue~I even like the bag!

Oh these vents are pretty great...since I will be riding in the desert places of Oregon this summer .(more on that later)You  can see the Big White Q-tip helmet in the background- on our tack room photo frame.

And the last NEW thing come from something I dread doing. Constantly cleaning the muck off my half chaps in late winter and spring. I have tall winter boots, for the colder rides...they clean up great with a hose and paper towel...but my leather boots, with the tread and half chaps for the spring...messy, icky labor intensive...

I've gone to this now, as of opening the Dover Saddlery box~

"Goode Riders" chic, rubber bottomed, tall boots!

They were on sale and though I wanted the ones with canvas top and back zipper (they were out of) These are GREAT! No problem with my muscle rich calves. And they are so nice and thin with a soft rubber sole, I can FEEL everything!!I just realised whoever put the cosmetic only buckle on..they did it backwards...I'll flip it tomorrow when I go to ride.

And lastly and MOST important to me is:

I started my indoor training regime yesterday. This simply consists of lots of varying groundwork, to warm the mare up and then riding patterns at walk with my body intention only. Steering with intesion and some light outside rein, jsut as my torso moves, to start with.

I will pick up more rein contact intermittently and then relax. But we shall keep with the patterns and keep moving with lots of praises for her relaxed demeanor!

I  did some lateral work from the ground over and between polls firstly. She really has NEVER gotten this comfortably. She dislikes anything under her. So we did this from a long line till she got stuck...meaning, she had to be in front of the poll or behind it! She would NOT allow the poll to be under her. So I would drop the rope and training stick, walk over to her and calmingly rub her, stand with her and then- ask for sidestep...just one or two correct steps....

 till we went over the entire ground poll.

She did so well! A total mental work out for her Wa-mare- brain!

Then onto the lunge line, for a few rounds of outside contact with that outside side rein on the longest setting. "Trot Out" to "Easy Trot" change within the gate.

She did well, with only one explosive burst that I looked away for-

( if I look at her too hard or respond to her too much-she escalates) I cooed her back to trot with my hand in backward line motions and a smaller circle. Good!

Then, the real work began....I sighted out 6 -10 meter circles and 2- 20 meter circles to have her lunge  around me on .

This took place in the entire arena. My point was for her to listen and have control. At first, she really sped up when i directed her to the long wall and the first 10 meter circle, which resulted in her having to do 2 circles-instead of one...she got it soon enough and we changed directions for the  patterns repeated the  that way. I was so pleased with her!! she really was nicely controlled.

I WAS going to get on her and walk all of the patterns too...but... thought better of it this time, as it was all so new, why chance the over load effect ( happens easily for this mare)and end up maybe badly.

I got on and we took a stroll around the outside of the property..about a mile. She did balk at the first hill..and I took the non -reactive stance to her active halting & evil eye. I instead circled right, then left and threw in a rein back...CURED! We went on and she was shortly in the "Stall Peeking" position!

She ate her treat and I quickly braided her tail again for the next few days of her mud- fest- rolling.

Good start to my plans for calm arena work...readying for my new

"Treeless" saddle in the future. We must ride our gaits in it to decide!

Goodnight Wa mare~