Visiting Ponies

Oh, it was too sweet last week, when my sister came to visit.

We gave the horses time to catch up, as well, look at them!

I went over to our old barn and picked up Pantz firstly...drove her and my sissy to my new Stable - saddled up....

well.... now that we have discovered that= BOTH our saddles= have been determined to not fit...we bareback padded up!

she has a fleece one that had to suffice. She cut out a piece of Rust suede material out, to put on top for more grip and protection.

I was just itching to take her around my new pathways and roads and such.

Here, we discover yet another pond...on the 350 acres. There has to be 7 or 8..maybe more , on these privately owned "Oasis Acres"!

It was a bright and cloudy day, and supposed to rain and storm for the next 7..oou..quick, we got on and rode!

Pretty Pantz mare~ 

Yea..you are all going to get tired of this view...a fave of mine!

We just did a quick spin around the closest lands, of the privately owned property, right from the stable.

My mare's Thermography apt last Friday rendered images of -Striation of the muscles- on Wa's ham strings, from over extension in her fall ( 2 months ago) So, only walking do we get to do for like 3 more weeks.

Miriah, my Equine therapist, had  just gotten back from BEND Oregon, where

 Dr. Deb Bennett  was teaching

one of her classes on dissection of an equine.

Miriah now has "NEW" Vision on muscle attachments and much more!

That's fine with me, the walking....though before the apt, I took her out and we did do some uphill trotting...ooops.
Well, I figured, since this apt got cancelled once and then, happened this much later...everything I have done either has prolonged or helped... I rather think it may have helped me to know- DON'T BE PUSHING HER!

She has told me so much through the other  therapist's work on her, and through me- just watching her move- as I have "free lunged" her a few times only.

So, our healing continues, walking only.

BUT-I found her with mudd up to her tits the other day and asked the PBO what area has that much mudd?? She thought I was upset with mudd...no, as mudd  is such a fact of life here in Oregon.
I  just can't  have a frantically running/sliding mare at this point.

 I failed to tell her that WA needed to be contained  in her actions, since the paddock she has been turned out since we arrived, was next to the barn and she was so calm, I didn't see the need.

 The next day, a working day for me, Washashe  had been turned out in a new field, and was a bit frantic. The horse in the front field next to hers, gets to be taken in before her.
I got to see these sliding, muddy stops and galloping myself, the other day, when I went to retrieve her from that field. It is what she does when she is upset, it's normal...but right now, not good.
 We are on the same page now, Barn owner and me....communication- a wonderful invention!

I have also kept from group rides...which causes the mare to become competitive and collected sometimes- which uses exactly the muscles she needs to rest.

 I am dying to ride with my riding bud Jules...but, as she has told me several times that Maddy mare has been rearing to go and run, each time she has gone out.. I know that it may be a while longer for us to ride.

Soo....

I again, went to retrieve my sissy and her mare- just Wednesday-

LOOK AT THIS WEATHER...it stormed for 6 days, in between her visits from the coast.
THEN, this week 70 degrees and perfectly sunny!

I ordered a new Bareback riding pad.

 After much research and wanting something a bit more refined and closer to the horse. I decided on the "THIN LINE" pad.

The technology is great and if I am right on the horse what better way to distribute concussion and heat...diagonally, instead of vertically. I let my sissy try it out first this day.

I really like the anti microbial, non slip material, that is on the horse. PLUS, the girth is the same, with these perfectly placed rings for a breast collar in front, and pack for the back!

Awe, the mares, they were really kissy face~

They were pleased to be together, as we were, this fine day!

Stopped at the pond crossing for a drink~

Then, something unusual, different and new occurred...and if you can figure it out, visually so...

First one to get it right, gets the cool prize~

 a POSTER FROM JULIETTE, coming to YOU or an EQUINE NECKLACE charm of your horse from Tara at Five'oClock Somewhere

(NOTE: Previous winners may guess, but this is for others,  that have never won a contest here before)( "~' )

As we started to ride again, I noticed this...how very cool!!!



As we stood, to look closer at the Beaver's handy work towards a home....

We both heard a chirping noise, just behind us, in another body of water. We turned to look, but bubbles is all we could detect.

Onward and forward we rode, into the gorgeous sunlight and warmth

Funny how- the last pony on the trail, always keeps and ear out for anything that may come from behind!

Around and about we strode...into the light, and into the wondrous views~ of these "Oasis Acres"!

We went through many newly formed water spots on the way

I always try to head directly through the middle of any water puddles...

At first, a few years ago, I met with resistance from the mare...and the threat to jump or carry me far too closely near an edge, to avoid the wet spots. Now, she  reads my mind, through body intent, and heads for the center.



As many of you may recall this summer, while riding another's horse at the beach, I had a tumble OFF his backside...as he flung himself over a less than 2 ft wide puddle.

He misread my intensions and it ended up badly for all of us that day.

 That action from him is EXACTLY WHY I train my mare to disreguard puddles and to THINK and refer to me, over having to make her own way through a trail ride.

Follow me, I am the leader! 

We determined that Wa mare felt even better than the previous weeks ride. She appeared to be stepping up and under, and her hips moved evenly so.
I know that time and patience, every third day massages and stretches I have as homework, has done wonders...and, I am sure that the "Joint wafer treats" I started 2 weeks ago, have made this difference as well.

She has retained a nice "sole callus, for having her Easy Walker shoes on for the summer. Only was slightly ginger footed on these rocks, but not bad at all!

 This tree farm land is owned by one of my clients, I  JUST found out..and is another 350 acres- to add to the arsenal of riding options!

Homeward bound we went...back across the new stream below the stable.

Then we get ready to dismount for the last 50 yards....

....we see a brightly colored object, growing on a stump.

Oou, very cool and festively appropriate this Autumn, and month of Thanksgiving!

Bye- bye my sissy..untill you get back to Portland...I'll be riding out, by myself and strengthening the mare.

Have fun today everyone, and if you did not quite figure  out what the differance was -in the post...just wait a little while.

 I have video to post next..it should clear things up,

quite a bit!

In the beginning. . .

 . . . .I rode the dog, but there are NO photo's of that!  
Just this "slide" and some other raggity pics, documenting the beginning of my Love affair with all things horse!

I read this wonderful Post that "GREY HORSE MATTERS" wrote, and it got me desiring to tell you all my riding beginnings,

Here goes!

The above slide is of

my PONY TRIXIE and me...must have been fall of 1969-cause I got that -NEW-Light Leather Bridle, for my 8th birthday!
Trixie herself, was my 7th Birthday present.

Recently mom went through  "some" of our family photo albums, and gave these to me yesterday.
I was complaining about not having any photo's of my Trixie pony.

 Sorry to say, very poor quality images here, as I took photos of really OLD photos!

(yea, I'm feeling it)

I was wanting and wishing that it could be me, upon those wonderfully large and amazing horsey creatures, my mother and sister  floated  the sky upon.
So, they thought they would give me the chance to FEEL what it was like up there.
At  4 years old, when they did set me up on Bunny mare, my sisters first horse....they had no idea..
( THAT EQUINE LOVING GENE GOT IGNITED!)

NOW-I WAS HOOKED on horses!!

My sister and mother, were responsible for my" horse gene" as it is described.
Mom, in her younger days in Grants Pass, Oregon

And again mom, many moons later, and now with 3 daughters (two of which she passed the" Horse Gene" to).
This was part of our 10 acre parcel. Dad had made a track for us to ride on. My mother is on "Verda's Star" Washashe Grand Dam.

My sissy on one her first horse rides ...and my mom reliving her childhood dreams, through passing the "Horse Gene" to her!

My Sis rode that dream through United States Pony Club, then "evented", all over the countryside... then had a successful side business, giving dressage and jumping lessons. She also worked  10 years with the Portland Mounted Police, training horses and riders for the downtown work.
 She is on My mare's half brother, here.

 Before the pony and even the dog riding...for me...was the "Stick Horse"

I soon became tired of that stick pony...the dog came next, but before I got into too much trouble with that
dog...they found me a pony!!

I loved my Trixie pony! She was the best ever, and we went absolutely EVERYWHERE.

 I was eight in most of these photo's, our first snow!

The large field below us is where I had to ride, when I was grounded.
My father had made a track around it and we set up jumps sometimes, on the flattest areas. There also was a creek that ran through the middle. The creek made for hours of fun, jumping  and walking in it! At our fence line, a nieghbor boy, Mike Nickols, lived...he had a pony too...but was afraid to ride it.

My sister's trailer behind Trixie,Victor, the German short hair and I

THIS (below) is my ABSOLUTE favorite photo of us...because, it is the only one that captured us with a saddle on my pony. I never rode with saddles...just bareback!

 That saddle was what I sat upon in the photo of me on Bunny(above) when I was 4. And,

until last summer, it was my Favorite saddle to ride Washsahse mare with!

The photo is my favorite also, because of the Apple tree in the background. I had a tree house in it that tree my Pa made for me!

My Little Shetland/Welsh Pinto pony Trixie, took me to so many cities...only touching 1 or 2 roads back then. That was before housing developments were so popular.

We'd take off from our driveway in West Linn, travel down to "Chaffy's fields", go through  "Green Fields". The "Green Fields were a series of fields and trails in between them. Altogether, there were 8.

And by a rough estimation of miles, since I clock miles with my GPS frequently now, it may have been 7 or 8 miles- to my pony riding partners barn, over looking the Willamette River.

 My Pony riding pardner, Lisa Shennamen, was my  baby sitters daughter.  That was convenient!

From there, we would ride private fields down to the city of Willamette, take a road through the city and then join up with a series of fields and trails- all the way to Lake Oswego.

The Lake Oswego Hunt Club was where my sister rode in Pony Club.

 I dreamt of riding in the BIG ARENA!

Oh, so many stories to tell...but this is only the "Beginning" so will leave the other tales, for another time.

Adieu for now ~happily in love~ Still riding into the sunsets, thanks to My Trixie pony and now,

 Washashe mare!

Breezy mare

A mare of rare quality..she had the heart of a lion and the gentleness of a lamb. Many young riders sought her for learning.

We met for the first time last Autumn, she was enjoying herself, outside.

"Hey Breezy mare", I called.

Inquisitive, she decided to take me up on an invitation....

Closer she came...sweetly glancing at me~

Breezy mare resided at a wonderful stable and taught many riders joy!

Breezy has a sweet filly too...meet Jessie mare, who is just as giving and faithful~

"KK girl, here's looking at you!"

This summer, Jessie traded her Mother places at the wonderful stable...now she gets to show young riders

how it's done!

Breezy came home and Enjoyed pasturing next door to Mustang Cazi and Simeon, while eating the sweet grasses of retirement.

Today, Breezy said goodbye to this earth and joined the Great herd above~

With much sadness, we will miss you little mare~ The joy has been ours~



Camera Critters do I really see what I think I see?

On a ride out from the stable, my partner and I yielded to a this neat couple...and....

their riding partners!!!

                                      We thought it pretty cool that this couple took the pups along for the ride, even having "special wool blanket mats" for them to sit upon, behind the saddles.
 This is one set of dogs...you'd want to leave the nails long...for the grip to ride!

This pup below, on the woman's horse, had a special harness too. He tends to jettison himself OFF THE HORSE sometimes, and would definatley hurt himself. This way, he will do it sometimes...but his mother may haul him back up -onto his mat!

They told us that the pups usually run on their own, for say 9 miles, of any ride...but after that, they ride.

Below is their buddy the boxer. He always stays on the ground...and usually leads the way-cowbell a jingling, on his collar.

Hope to see ya around, you two,

 +!!!

Have loads of fun visiting others interesting Critter photos this weekend.

THANKS to MISTY DAWN!!

"Mustang" moves

While I have been waiting for my mare to  recover more fully from her injuries of falling on the road last month, I remembered my own fall on the road, and off of her, last year.
It was due to saddle fit issues and pain for Wa mare, I am convinced. My feet,  heals, ankles took at least 4-5 months before they did not pain me and swell constantly. I still do feel some residuals.

Age, and motion wearing...can be so unforgiving and I do know this...with most  injuries , you NEVER go back to the  same health  again.
 FACTS are facts, and though I hate aging and injuries...we are all heading down the same road of disrepair.We live our lives, accidents and repetitive motions happen and wear on us!
 We must all take care and do the best we can to stay healthy.

Sometimes changing the risk factor by discontinuing an activity and or it's risk level. And sometimes just getting smarter, more informed about how you may diminish ill befalling you, in that activity.

For me now, I have determined the saddle fit issue is a larger part of my mare's volatile responses to certain activities.
 Her first 30 days in an  arena, right before I received her from my sissy, did her in to start with.The ill mannered/educated cowboy trainer- re saddled her daily, by putting plastic wrap over her saddle fit wounds, riding her for an hour or so each time, and being tied down, into frame, she could barely be herself .

 Because of my great ignorance towards pain response( and memory pain response) in a horse, due to ill fitting and wrong gear, she and I have gone round and round with this issue.
 Me not wanting to die, by being catapulted off again..in or out of the arena....

 I have been using my down times, this past spring, summer and now, to educate myself and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE, $ !!!
My research shows that knowledge costs one= to live up to what you have learned.

For me, when I learn something as truth..proven and tested truth..I can't 'Unlearn it". Meaning: I can not ignore it and keep on- keeping on. I dig in and do my best to do- JUST THAT-
Take the knowledge and go for it...

My sister likes to educate herself too...we share most things horse.
She found this CO. over the summer as I have had continued issues. It was born out of the Loss of a dream- of an Olympic team  rider.
SADDLEFIT 4 LIFE

After watching just the first 3 videos(out of 9) I am very interested, and hopeful too.
I couldn't have chosen a more expensive saddle...and reviewing the make of it and the fact that they have researched the differences in a man's saddle fit needs- verses the woman's body shape and different needs, they have me sold!
I love the fact that I may change the saddle fit, should my horse change in her shape or, I get a different horse in the future. These saddles are NOT cheap (like what I've been using) so I need to know I may trade it in, or have it changed. After all, it will fit me, no matter what horse I have.

I remember some of our best rides,the mare and me,  hardly any resistance from her in the arena and some soft attitudes from her,  to try for me, were in my "Cashel Soft Saddle". It is just closed cell foam. No tree, and stirrups...I could only use those stirrups in this level arena environment though...and undulations in a changing outdoor environment beneath us or ....in that glorified bareback saddle, and you were over the side!

 Now, having moved to a stable with an indoor arena, I am nervous to try riding it. We have had some explosive results under some of the best (and worst ) trainers in the past 4 years.
-Firstly-
 I MUST make sure I've not blocked her movements and caused my own problem- with the pain of an ill fitting saddle. She may still have residual mind blocks, towards arena work, but if I am certain she is not in pain...I will start over, slowly and cautiously with her, again. AND under an expert eye, to help us along.

I have NO GRAND ideas for us...just the basic 6 point German Dressage training scale:
Relaxation
Rhythm
Contact
Impulsion
Straightness
Collection

Until I can ride the arena, I will do groundwork and connect the dots, outdoors..it is amazing what I may accomplish out of the arena.
 Just yesterday, we went out for a lovely ride...me wanting to supple my mare on both sides-without- using the reins directly.( her being so claustrophobic to being trapped -it is part of her mind block)
I did use a bit yesterday, and my goal with it was to  have light, low, relaxed contact. I kept my reins even and giving, using  my torso core and weight to dictate our direction and my desire for supple bending around my leg.
 When going straight. I wanted to see her eye lash, then her eyeball to each side. She gave and did almost a shoulder in, against my imaginary wall leg. There is one side that is REALLY tough for her to bend on...the left.
Yesterday, if anyone was around...out there in the wooded trails we now ride, all they heard was a RESOUNDING, " Oh, GOOD"..in a soft COOING Tone..she was so wonderful..it was a joy!
This ride only happened yesterday because she showed me something......

Her very own "MUSTANG MOVES"

(Mustang metal art piece from Sisters, Oregon)


She has been pretty resistant to moving like normal and has not once- bucked it up-  in the arena..when I let her in there to roll.
I think she has really enjoyed her new stable...I mean, it's the life of leisure and Therapy sessions, small -less than 5 mile rides on soft footed, forest flats. JUST  Rolling in an arena and not riding in it (yet). Healing is coming.

I also have been adding some joint sups into her feed. "JOINT HEALTH TREATS "They are little wafers treats you may hand feed them..or... (but  for therapeutic gain,there are quite a few, and I fear mouthiness would ensue) ... put into grain, as I have.

" Springtime Inc." makes them. I do love the devotion to pure and sound ingredients, this Co. has!

OKAY...after only 7 days of dosing her...yesterday...she had her own "MUSTANG MOMENTS"!!Of course...that taken after Mustang Cazi and his up and sideways moves-  with me on him!

I got to the stable...she was in her run , with everyone else in theirs too. The forecast was for a winter storm watch, and the owners would not be home till dark.

She saw me come in, waited for her apple..then proceded to trot down the lane of her 150 foot run...then, she quickly did a roll back and turned-full steam canter up the lane, then to a halt, and entered her stall again!

I got the message...it's time to ride KK girl!!

And after the ride...guess what??

She got up from the roll in the arena..and bucked it up!!

She's getting her groove back-Yea, Wa mare!