May contest challenges

Well, this set of challenges could not have come at a better time. Weather is warming up down here in Central Texas and I had just made a "bridge" from an old pallet we had lying around. Simultaneously, my weanlings were learning how to turn on the faucet and created a nice puddle for us to ride through. Ginger was fantastic as she stepped carefully through the puddle, went around the cones, smelled the "bridge" and hopped up and over with nary a complaint. Later, the weaners also investigated the new noisy, scary "bridge" and before long they too were sniffing, pawing, and fighting over who could be first to jump on top!

I have ridden Ginger bareback a lot but this time had a nice Barefoot treeless saddle on her, although as her pregnancy progresses, it's harder than ever to keep it from slipping around. I just bought a new Aussie hackamore from Clinton Anderson and can't wait to try it out as a "new" bitless bridle next weekend.

As for some of the other tasks, I will have to endeavor to meet up with some others for trail rides, as that is my greatest challenge. With 4 kids, homeschooling one, and living about 1.5 hours away from our horses, it's often just me and my lonesome trying to whip these Curly MFTs into shape. I doubt I'll get much done in that regard during May, but will make it a yearlong goal to get to by Dec 31.

Also, as with a prior contestant, I am recovering from a bad fall last year that cost me my confidence. The ground is a lot harder than I remember and I had decided not to wear my helmet because it was just too hot! Well, never again after that hard bump...helmet is always on now, no matter how sweaty I get..

Thanks, Denise, for inspiring us to do more with our curlies and get the word out, too!

Snow Ride!

Our first ride in the snow in a long time! Nice quiet ride. Rah wasn't too happy to be out walking in the snow. I think he is sick of snow!

Stella's Latest Adventure I

Yesterday my mom, my sister, and I went out for another ride in our pasture! The horses where worn out within 10 minutes of riding. It was such a warm and sunny day, the horses' coats were making them really hot! My mom (Laura), riding Wyoming, figured this one out.

My sister, Josalynn, riding Lady, didn't get any RAC points. So, she ponied Franky, Lady's baby from 2 years ago. He is currently under going training so is getter used to having people above him.

We rode down inside a ditch, crossed a stream, and even I got brave enough to jump my feminine Stella.

At the end of our ride, Josalynn, Mom and I, took turns walking the horses through our tractor tire. I have been working on Stella to get all four of her feet in the tire at once. We finaly got that accomplished yesterday!

Stella had some friends bugging her, so she decided to bring the pictures to a hault.

Later, after the horses were untacked, Mom and I were playing with Stellas belly, brushing, and stroking her soft, fine, hair. The last time we went in the woods, Stella didn't try to run over the saplings like she usually does. We weren't at all conserned until I went to rub her belly, like she loves, and she jerked back on the rope, and flenched away from my hand. Mom tried also. The same reaction. We started pushing, lightly, on the sides of her belly. We felt something roll around inside her. Getting curious, we moved to different positions around on her belly. The baby, hopefully, was getting very active, and Stella, (the soon to be mom), was confused, and upset. So we stopped torturing my girl, and gave her some Red L, and grain for a Good Night snack.

First Ride for 2010!

Finally! Temps in NJ were above normal, so I took advantage of the mild weather and went for a ride. Rah was very excited to "get out" and break up his boring routine.

He did very good despite several startled steps from rustling squirrels, birds in bushes and farm tractor noise. I just don't understand, Rah is immune to all this when he is inside his paddock. But when I take him out, he's a little "nervous".

Last week I did some ground training by walking him in and out of our new garage. Each time he'd walk in, walk around several times and then stand, he would get a treat or a

scratch. Don't you know that when I rode him past the garage, he wanted to walk in! Guess he thought he was going to get a treat!