Things I learned today...

[dunbnwild]

I'm not in shape enough to do the showmanship class.

Last night I was trying to teach Rain how to jog with me for the showmanship class, and I realized I'm way too out of shape to be in a showmanship class if means jogging, LOL.

Rain keep looking at me huffing and puffing like--"Why are we doing this? You don't look like your enjoying this, either."

[kigerfan]

That is too darn funny! I have asthma pretty good and I can't jog well either. I've had some breathing issues while working with Firefly and she does the same thing, she just stops and looks at me as if asking why are you doing this to us??

One time when she had never been out on trails before, I took her out and something spooked her, she started rearing and trying like heck to get away. It was all I could do to keep hold of her and keep from being dragged. Finally, she calmed down and by this time I was having some real asthma problems. She came up and dropped her head and just stood there with me while I was bent over trying to regain control of my breathing. I couldn't do any in hand showing at all so I denfinitely understand where you are coming from.

[lilnagy]

You remind me of last year's Kigerfest. I was showing trail in hand, and there was a jump! I knew my horse would have been fine, but I had visions of me not clearing it and landing flat on my face! Somebody politely asked the judge, and she lowered one end of the rail for the in hand class, so the horses had a jump but the handler just had a little step over. We are not all as young spry as the horses we show...

[fantasykiger]

Oh I feel for you dear and understand your woes ...just the same.

[stlkigers]

Now now, don't count yourselves out! It's not all that far to jog a little straight line...You gals can do it....I promise you it won't be that far.....Can't wait to meet you at the Mustang show!

Angela

[DianneC]

Horses CAN trot in place LOL, just slow it down... What amazes me is those (usually guys) who show Andalusians and Lusitanos at FULL trot. Man, they have to run!

[dunbnwild]

The story about the jump cracks me up! Can you imgine being covered in dirt and someone asking--oh, were you thrown? And having to say--no, it was an in-hand class. LOL.

I'm happy to report Rain is jogging better along side of me--so I don't have to run as much to get her started. I do have to give a little wiggle of the rope to send her forward, but hopefully we can get past that.

I was very happy to discover that with Lazzy all I had to do was drop my shoulder a little and invite her forward with me--her connection to my energy is amazing and I just wish I had a little more control of it to do her justice. Cat is the same way (when she wants to be, LOL).

[dunbnwild]

Angela-- I'm so glad you all will have pity on us :-)

I'm so excited about bringing the girls up for the show. We've been putting in some good practices. And another thing I've learned is that horses who've been around electric fences aren't so keen on the rope gate obsticle, LOL. Both of mine had wide eyes as I asked them to cozy up to it. Took a little convincing but they both did it!

I went to my trainer's place this weekend and told her all about the show and she's wanting to come as well with her EMM mustang--He's All the Rage. I tried to take pics of him but my camera battery was dead and my cell phone has to be perfectly positioned or it is super distorted.

[desperatehorsewife]

Love that name, He's All the Rage.

Trotting is hard work, especially if the sand/footing is deep! Poor Lea, at age 70, did the yearling makeover in '08 and she said the in hand course was almost all trotting. They were out in the sun in Las Vegas, too!

[kigerfan]

When I went to the extreme mustang makeover in Norco, there was one woman who's horse was not ready to be ridden yet but she still wanted to be in the competition. The arena work is understandable, though tiring, but where this woman got my full respect and admiration is when she walked the whole distance on both days of the trail and in town riding segments. The trail was grueling for a horse, let alone a woman on foot, but she walked the whole thing both days and stayed in a chipper mood the whole time. There was another woman who did part of the competition on horseback but due to a fall had to complete the rest of the competition on foot, this meant she walked the entire route of the in town segment. Both of these women have guts, determination and a real love for what they are doing. I admire their drive and I think any horse can count themselves lucky to be promoted by these two.

[dunbnwild]

Terri named him "Rage" because he was so angry in the loading chute and the emotion was so strong in him that it just fit. But I told her she needed to give it a positive spin, especially since he was coming around--and suggested He's All the Rage--and she loved it. So I feel kind of like his god momma, since I helped name him. ;D

I can't wait to go cheer them on in FT. Worth. Will take lots of pictures--should have my fancy new Nikon by then ;D ;D ;D

Let's hope I figure out how to use it though, LOL.

[desperatehorsewife]

How's Rage doing now? Sandy was rearing in the chutte, too, but he sure settled into a nice boy.

[DianneC]

oh, are you lucky or what? Getting to go and have a new camera too! I love the name, especially the new one. Poor guy probably thought he was fighting for his life.

[dunbnwild]

Rage is doing amazing!! The first week was harder than expected and Rage was really defensive and did a lot of striking and such. I think it took about two weeks to safely handle his face and he had to wear a halter and drag a rope for awhile. It took her about a month to start riding him and Terri is pretty much fearless. She wanted to be 100% sure that he was as ready as she was.

This past weekend we warmed up at her place doing obsticles and all sorts and he was great--so calm you'd never believe he'd even had enough spark in him to be as upset as he'd been on week one. We then went out into her pasture with cows and canyon ravines and water crossing--solid as a rock. Being a refined gentlemen, Rage handled the gate for Lazzy and I as we exited into the neighborhood for an urban trail ride. There were dogs barking from all sides, flag waving, mowers going, kids, mailboxes, trash cans, motorcycles, and even an ice cream truck! Rage had loose reins and Terri was smoking a cigarette. Lazzy had big eyes, but did awesome as well--only did a little side dance when the motorcycle came roaring toward us--she'd never seen a steel horse. How I wish I'd had my camera (and some money for the ice cream truck!).

We rode up to the feed store and in and out of their porch area, over curbs, up and down in a deep cement water run off thing--it was crazy! Lazzy did amazing and Rage barely blinked. Of course this wasn't his first urban adventure. In fact the only things he showed any interest in at all were things that had changed or weren't there before. And those things he just approached, looked at, sniffed, and accepted. He's so solid.

We crossed the main street and headed over to the round up club arena. They were building onto the announcer stand, so that was more excitement, all handled well. Terri just let him stand and watch those crazy humans and there funny ways.

There was one other horse there, a big paint. He was having a fit over a plastic bag in the adjacent pasture. I didn't say anything, but I sure had a little smile as I thought about our wild mustangs.

So, yeah--Rage is doing amazing! Terri's in the Idols division and I think she'll do very well. I really hope she'll get to finals and judging from what I saw this weekend, she should.

I'll also be cheering for Bill Lopez and his mustang, Lots of Chrome, but this isn't his first EMM and he's been very successful--finaling in his first one and winning Mustang Magic. So I'm not as worried about him.

(Camera come tomorrow!!)