Mother's Day Weekend ~Sassy Time

 Sassy and I have had a blast during Mother's Day weekend.  On Saturday due to the rain I went to my friends arena. Sassy had a bit of a tude  loading on the trailer...but after a bounce....bounce ... step step ...back up *which is a new one* ... then Ms Sassy  lowered her head and walked on the trailer so calmly...shooting me a look like..."WHAT?" Our transitions Saturday were really smooth!!! Diagonals in patterns not so much... Figure eight really gave me something to work on the next couple of days.  I used her Rhythm beads to "HEAR" her beat...and that helped....then  we played with the clicker and targeting by  stepping up and standing on an eighteen inch box ....We have been working on "Stay" ..She did it for me on the box....I WAS THRILLED...LLLOLLL Happy Mothers Day Curly Nation!

Her eyes are closed and Im looking off...Im thinking ONE of us needs to be watching where we are going!!!

Rhythm beads

Sassy thinking...Looks a Lil questionable to me!!!

Where DO you come up with this stuff Blondie??

I better get a "click" for this!!

Holding Target with her hoof !!!  Click and an Ear Rub reward

Such Little thingys make my Human Happy



EPIC~Lead coming off...Showing off my Rhythm bead Bling



Mmmm...Where are you going blondie? Im "Staying" Buttttttt Im NOT liking you walking off

My Back hoofs can do it toooo

~♥  God Created the Curly Horse ....and it was AWSOME ♥ ~


~♥ Sassy and Krista in Ohio ♥ ~

Happy Mother's Day!

I don't actually know when or if each of the RAC represented countries has their Mother's Day, but here in Canada, it was today. I know it varies because my Scottish husband always misses the one back home because it's a couple months earlier than ours. I had a blast today spending my time with my son Owen and then of course, Linus!

He was a very good boy again today. I did have to do a bit of reminding with picking up the feet again but he quickly gave in and we got that taken care of. I put the Bitless and the bareback pad on today. I didn't get on him but I like to put some form of tack on him a few times a week. I like to change it up too so it isn't always the same thing. I really am hoping to get in some driving time with him soon! It will be ground only though since I am still cart shopping!

Dressed in my best! I love how calm and "with me" he is in these 2 pictures. I was lucky enough for my husband to have accompanied us on our walk today and he took some pictures for me.

Linus just had his grooming and a bit of a snack and now I'm about to change his halter for his bridle. He was very light and responsive in the Bitless today.

It was actually a great test for Linus today for a few reasons. With my husband there, there was a few times where he had to hold Linus for me while I helped Dad with Allie. Stu is a bit more nervous around horses because he hasn't spent much time around them and is pretty allergic to say the least (which is why I got Linus...I'm not allergic) Linus did try to test him a bit but thankfully Stu stood his ground and then Linus was a gentleman. He will test anyone new but as soon as he knows you won't let him get away with anything he's just fine. When we brought them in from the grassy spot Stu led him for me while I led Allie and again Linus was a great boy. Didn't rush the gate or anything. He actually did very well since I stopped Allie before going through the gate so she wouldn't rush it. She has issues with small spaces. Getting better though. It helps having Linus who will go through about anything. When I walked him over for some grass I took him through a space just barely wider than him. It was long too because it was where the haywagon was parked beside the stock trailer. He was not concerned at all!

On the road we met several vehicles today. No reaction. We met a crew replacing the roof of a house that had a fire, a tractor, a deck being built, a lawn mower and a dog that had no fear of horses and ran right under Linus! He took it all in stride and didn't put a foot out of place. He really was stellar today...must be setting an example for his new baby sister!

Winners of the April Mini Challenge - Obstacles!

GREAT JOB everyone on last month's challenge!! Here are your winners!!

Giddy UP Gals: Tiffany Beechinor
The Cowboys: Jim Washington
Jack Benny: Ann Washington
Wranglers (Youth): Ashley Ostman
Curly Team: Donna Wilson

Keep up the great work!

Aha!

So, Linus took something away from our lesson yesterday and was a complete gentleman today. He stood patiently as I was holding Allie for Dad while he trimmed her hooves a bit. This was a very big accomplishment for a very jealous boy. I think it actually took a lot out of him too because he was very quiet on our walk! He walked the majority of the time with his head at my shoulder. He didn't spook at a dog that came running and barking at us. In fact when the dog realised Linus wasn't scared he took off with his tail between his legs!

He also didn't spook when birds flew up from the grass a few metres from us. Allie didn't either which was good because last time that happened with a pair of Mallards she freaked!

Linus improved more with his hooves too. He seems to go through phases where he's an old timer to it and then phases where it's totally new to him. The joys of a youngster!

Here they are chilling out after our walk. Linus is wearing the green (full size) horse halter and Allie is wearing the light blue (yearling!) halter that used to belong to Linus and no longer fits him!

Here is Linus sporting the saddle blanket I made for his Aussie saddle. The sides of it are so long my other blanket wasn't going to properly protect him so I made a rough copy one day with an old sheet on him underneath his saddle. He was so good that day and stood nicely while I cut out the rough shape. I couldn't take a picture the first time I had the blanket on him because when my back was turned he pulled the blanket off then stepped on it and I had to wash it before the saddle even sat on it because it was just caked!! Bugger! Maybe he doesn't like the Canadian Maple Leaf tartan?!?!? I think the colours suit him!

Testing me...

No pictures again but I am really hoping to get some later today. This post is for yesterday. I moved the smaller round pen and gave the horses more room to graze for a bit. I was walking Linus down the lane to it and he was a complete gentleman...until Allie called for him. You could distinctly see his "Oh my, my buddy is left behind!!!" moment! I circled him and eventually got him to the pen and after some hassle and a bit of name calling, got his lead unclipped. Allie was anxious to get out there with him and when they were together all was well.

I decided reversing the order on the way back after a few hours grazing. I brought Allie up first then went back to Linus. He was so wound up and my son had left his "stay here until I come and get you" safe place so it wasn't worth any risk. I opened the gate and let him run up to their pen. He was not hard to catch. I just walked up to him and grabbed a hold. But boy did he not want to leave the green grass he was munching. With Owen playing safely now in the trailer out of harm's way I again grabbed Linus, then my carrot stick and he worked!! He worked until I was happy that this acting out was out of his system. He had his head below my shoulder and was very in tune to what I may ask for. I do understand that he wants so bad to be out on grass. It's just not yet possible. Despite how much he wants it I'm still going to make sure he respects me even when he wants something else. So, today after work, we are first going to go through some exercises and then see what we get up to after that. I want his full attention first of all.

oh...and its not raining!!!!!

Donna in Lunenburg, Ontario

Ride Freedom, Mallie and Lydiker ooolala.....Kayla nope no foal yet

Today I had company. We have an English teacher student from the Netherlands doing her internship at the farm. I took her on a trail ride today. We went to places Freedom has not been before and since we were with the two of us I could see how he did.
Well he did great! Of course there were times he was a little insecure but overall he did great. When I came back I practiced ground tying him he did good too.



This morning I took my other hors Spirit for a ride by myself. With him it is like my body is shaped to his and our thoughts are one…so relaxing to ride him. And I am pretty sure I will have the same thing with Freedom. They look so much alike, and that’s probably why I bought Freedom :-). The extra bonus is Freedom and Spirit are best friends. Ahhh I love my boys.

Milestone in may

Yesterday I had a really nice ride with Suri but this time no riding lesson, it was the first time that I saddled my horse for a nice ride by myself! It might sound small but it was definately an important step for me. Suri behaved great, actually the same as the other times but it felt special anyway. She stood perfectly still while I mounted and we had a nice ride in the field. I am looking forward to many more of these lovely rides!

Getting things done

So I had this post written and then Poof it was gone. My computer decided to close out of all my programs. Oh well I guess.

Last weekend Theo and I had another lesson with Stephanie from Timeless Farms. We practiced riding a course because I will be attending my first show tomorrow...maybe. My stomach turns in knots just typing this but I need to get over it and go. It's a small schooling show which should be the perfect way to get introduced to this whole new world.
Why am I so afraid? 1. My biggest fear is I'll forget the jump sequence. I have a terrible short term memory. 2. Theo did not like being by himself at the fair and at one of our lessons he was crazy when he couldn't see Amigo. We will be on our own tomorrow so hopefully getting off the trailer alone and not with Amigo he will be attached to me instead. However, I wanted to prepare so this week I have done allot of respect excerises with him to help increase our bond. Wednesday night I worked him away from the barn and his buddies. We then walked down the trail until he could barely see the other horses. He did pretty good but there were a few times that he wasn't paying attention to me and looking back to the barn so I made him work each time. Once I had his full attention I let him eat some grass and just chill. On the way back he saw someone riding and started to put is head up like he was going to call or start walking faster so we did some work to get his mind off it. I think it helped tons because he walked home with his head level and relaxed.
So that being said I think I have the tools to help Theo stay calm and focused now I just have to figure out how I can remember those darn courses!

On to Abby. She was a superstar Sunday when I had a friend from work come out with her 3 kids and her sister's 2 kids. Abby had 4 kids brushing on her at the same time. Her eyes were half open and you could tell she was really enjoying it. Then we saddled her up and I got on her for a few minutes just to make sure she was in the right frame of mind and of course she was. So the kids took turns getting on and I lead them around. Two of the other boarders offered thier horses up for rides too which helped speed up the process. I let one of the older kids ride her by himself and boy was he a natural. He got her to gait really nice and even cantered on her!
By the end she was giving me this look like "Seriously, how many more times are we going to do this" So I decided that was a good ending point. I got on her and rode her around to refresh her memory of proper riding and we called it a day.

The adults rode as well but Abby would not gait for them...just walk :-) I think she was tired.

And finally a clip from the Midwest Horse Fair. My husband video taped and I forgot to tell him I wanted all the Curlies video taped not just me! There is a smalll portion of other Curlies on the video though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUALeuORKz0

Spring Fever II

I always aim to work on something in particular with Linus almost every time we are out. I do like to have our relaxing walks but they always seem to have a lesson hiding somewhere too. Today, we put into practice our hoof lesson from yesterday. I didn't have to touch the carrot stick as wound up as Linus was. He is learning to hold himself in check and respect me regardless how much he wants to go. yay! He's getting so much better at standing patiently too. Tonight though he even managed to annoy Allie from the other side of the gates by picking on her! What a brat he can be! I know what their problem is though. There is loads and loads of fresh green grass all around them but the pastures are too wet to get them on it. The pasture would be ruined in no time and not last the summer. So, for now its hand grazing after our workouts.

Linus was on me right away tonight. I knew he was wound up but he really showed me how much he took away from our session yesterday. There was no song and dance today. He respected my cues and acted quick to get the job done. He's a fast learner!

I'm really looking forward to the nice weather we are supposed to have on the weekend so we can continue to work on our neck reining. It might even get warm enough for a bath which would be wonderful since it was only about 6C here today!! Was more like March weather than May weather.

Hopefully will get back to taking pictures again too! It's been too crappy out to bring the camera out or

Spring Fever!

Unfortunately the rain did not hold until I had finished working with Linus today so I was unable to get some pictures. Linus had a serious case of P&V today! I think he is getting fed up with this weather and is longing to be on pasture. So I finally had a chance to really work him and bring him from a high down to a cooperative low. I'm not at all interested in breaking his spirit. I love that he is playful but I don't think just anyone could go in and handle him on days like this. Today he was a full blown youngster boy!! It was fun though. I worked him until he was no longer bothering with Allie and was 100% on me. I had him standing within a foot of some fresh grass and he was not even looking at it. We had a really great connection after a few minutes.

Once he came down to his usual self I groomed him. He thought he didn't want to pick up his right hind for cleaning so I smacked the carrot stick on the ground while he was moving his feet and kept it up until he stopped. Then I stopped and picked his leg up and clean out the hoof without any fuss from him at all. Boy does he like to test his handler! I'd be in quite a mess if I gave in to his shananigans!

I then swapped his halter for his bridle and we did some reining exercises from the ground. He actually turns better right now to a rope around his neck than with the reins but he is getting there. He is very good at go, whoa and back up. We did about a ten or fifteen minute reining session. I'm keeping his lessons there short and sweet so he doesn't not enjoy what we are doing.

I swapped back to his "leisure" halter and hand grazed him for a bit. Last year if I hand grazed him it was an awful fight to get him away from the grass and back to wherever he needed to go. Our relationship has grown and he was not a problem today to put back in his round pen. He even patiently waited for his grain. He's a gentleman and let Allie have the first pail and he waits for the second pail. They have their own pail and will not eat out of the other one. They actually get along really well.

Let's hope for some sun soon!

Donna & Linus

Lunenburg, ON Canada

Taste of Spring

Good Morning Curly Country!!!

Yesterday I couldn't get out of the office fast enough to get home and ride. We finally had a big bright glowing thing in the sky we haven't seen in days it seems like and it was warm out! I was only going to ride Marley to keep him in shape for our 3 day clinic next week so he won't be so sore and tired but my littlest wanted to ride as well so I worked Marley for about a half hour in a working trot, some loping, practiced a nice slow walk, side passing, turning on the hind, and backing. My goal is by year end I have him neck reining like a pro and I do have to say we are making progress. Marley was just being a goofy nut everytime we went by my planter up by the house so I finally had to stop what we where doing and go see what the issue was he was shying away from every time we went by there. I have an old wagon wheel leaned up the tree, he has seen a million times but today we where nervous about it. After we checked it out and it was ok, back to work we went. While I was working Marley, my hubby was nice and caught Larry for me (cause it takes forever to catch him) so when I was done brushing Marley I could go right over and start brushing Larry. (I also got in a short warm up session on Larry, trying to work on my horsemanship, how do I look?) I took Lane (my son) for a ride around the farm, did some circling, backing, standing, and then more riding down to the manure pile and up and around the yard. He said he finally had his share and thought it would be nice to let my hubby ride a little as well to give him a break from doing chores. I think he really enjoyed his ride. Farrier is due to come out for the first time this year tomorrow to get everyone their spring trims, they are all so long, but it has been so terrible muddy too, everyone will have to stay inside tomorrow and be crabby, oh well :) Today the weather is suppose to be a bit warmer but storms are suppose to move in again later and stay till Friday, all I know is the rain has to quite some time! Happy Riding :)

Marley, Larry, & Dana (MN)

Last Challenge

I choose to introduce Rah to the drainage pipe this Saturday. I had a ten foot long (maybe longer) piece of pipe that I hung over the fence while I groomed him. He noticed it there but didnt pay much attention to it. Then we went over the the pipe and he was curious but scared. I slowly brought the pipe over the fence and let him see and smell it. He licked and bit at it, so I slowly rubbed the pipe on one side of him and he didnt move or mind it much. Then the other side. He stood there like a champ!

I placed the pipe on Rah's back and moved it back and forth. We found out that the pipe makes a great back and butt scratcher! I then placed the pipe on the ground to make him walk over it. After several failed attempts, finally he walked over it! I thought Rah would be much more afraid of the giant black snake, but he was quite patient and willing.

Rah has been under the vet's care for about 6 months now (mild laminitis) and after today, she gave me the go ahead to ride him again. Yea! I can begin earning some more points!

A Good Start to May

Susan and *RCR Ah-D-Das in Maine~ I had an absolute blast Sunday out on the trails with my trusty Curly boy Ah-D. We had company!! We were joined by Kara on AhD’s buddy Fat Albert and by my son Zach’s girlfriend Kayla and future mother-in-law (ok, just joking here…he is just 16…but I still can wish, can’t I?) Kim. Notice how my horse-savvy Zach came out totally prepared (barefooted) to hold his girlfriend's horse while she tacked up. I am very thankful he was there at the start to play Head Photographer.

We had a mixed bunch of horse sizes and temperaments, and we zipped right along, even Al! AhD led much of the way.

We went around a fairly easy loop first, so the horses would get to know each other. AhD and Al went in for a stream walk, but my guest’s horses said, “Oh, no… I don’t think so!!” Even so, by the time we had done a little bushwhacking and w/t/c down to the next stream on the menu, they were game to cross. We had fun cheering each other on. The weather was perfect and the bugs were not out yet. We traveled some nice trails and enjoyed each other’s company. Once, we came down a small incline and AhD popped over a little stream and then surprised me by galloping up the next hill, and all three horses behind followed suit. We had a giggling fit when we caught up to each other. It was the first time ever Kara had jumped, and it just about surprised her right out of her skin! She was beaming.
What a fun day. I hope we can get together again soon. My Curly was such a good boy, with just enough p&v and zip to make it fun without being a pain.

May Curly Madness

WOW!!! I can't believe April is over already!!!!!  What a Busy BUSY month!!!!! I managed to still work most every day with Sassy ....surviving my daughters Jr prom....a hospital stay.....Equine Affaire... and  really crazy rainy weather.  Sassy's hock is three full inches smaller than when she first injured it! HAPPPY Blonde here!!  I am hoping that on this months vet visit we are taken off restriction to see how it goes~ In addition to the challenge...Sassy and I have gotten to talk ALOT about Curlies this past month.  We went to the Columbus OH Equine Affaire and wore our Curly shirts!!! I CAN NOT tell you HOW many people stopped to talk to me and Lee about the curlies.  Some were amazed by them...never having heard of them...and some were familiar already. Several wrote down the website and said they were going to check them out!!!!  Sassy and I also really appreciate our Ferrier and Chiropractor!! So, we gifted each of them with the  Curly"BUILT TOUGH" shirts in PINK of course!!!! We are the only Curly clients they have!    *Picts Below*

Saddle Stuff:  Sassy and I are working very hard on SMOOTH transitions and diagnals. When I ask for the trot to canter, Sassy is ready to ROCK and ROLL....(middle set of picts) .... we are also working on "Stay" ...If I take her lead or her halter off....I want her to stay close to me......(last set of Picts) and with the target we are working on "bowing" which requires her to touch the target between her front legs with her nose.  With her hock smaller..we are really focusing on mastering that lil move!!



Curlies being Represented at Equine Affaire in Columbus Oh





Ferrier *Mike* and Equine Chiropractor *Scott*



Ferrier and Chiropractor Getting their Curly Shirts

                      ~♥ Then God Created the Curly Horse ....and it was AWSOME ♥ ~

                                       Horsey Hugs from Sassy and Krissy in Oh

Big Brother

Linus had a few things to celebrate today.

1) he officially graduated from his green rope halter. It's too small and rubbing his prominent cheek bones (that ruggedly handsome look!) So, I'm deciding between a blue one and a red with black one to see which I like best. Today he wore the blue one.

2) OYY Uptown Girl (Lucy) has a Birthday today!! Happy Birthday Momma!!!

3) Linus became a big brother in the wee hours today so his baby sister, Midge, shares the same day with their mother and all 3 are born in the same month. (Linus officially turns 2 later this month)

We've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this sibling. Linus and I were so happy for the great news that we celebrated. We are about 2.5 hours away from Homefire Curly Horses (Lynn Downer) in Stirling, ON. There will be a visit in the near future but for now we did this:

His lessons in standing still are paying off and he was a great boy today while I dressed him.

We used a light pink old sheet, some dark pink lace and you can't see it but there is also light pink lace in his tail and his tail is braided. He also has pink feathers in his forelock.

Oh you can see his dressed up tail in this picture. What a sport to put up with me!! : )

I should have taken a picture of his braided tail. It looked really cool showing all of the colours in it from gold to black!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY AND MIDGE ~ Love Donna & Linus

Lunenburg, ON Canada

OETRA Mary Ben ride - Saddle Revenge

This weekend was the annual Oklahoma Equestrian Trail Riders Association's Mary Ben ride named for a pioneer in trail blazing in Oklahoma. Mary is 89 years young and rode on the trails. Oetra works very hard to keep trails in great condition and open new trails in different areas of Oklahoma. They have many work days - I vow to start working more this year!

The ride was at Bell Cow Lake - only a few miles away from our Chandler ranch. I waited until 10pm Friday for the wind to die down so that I could haul Bruce from Edmond, but gave up and drove out in my car. (Semis were blowing over on the highways - 50mph sustained winds)

I ended up riding Shaw Mead, who is the best ever, and Cody rode Cleopatra. I received payback for having Cody ride in my dressage saddle a few weeks ago. None of my saddles are wide enough for Shaw Mead and I rode in Cody's very laaaaaarge roping saddle. I'm a little sore today:) Beautiful weather, sunny, barely any wind and we had a wonderful time visiting with all sorts of folks from all over Oklahoma. It was the kind of day that you just don't want to end.

After our ride, we had a wonderful dinner at the pavilion, then enjoyed a great band and dance in the starlight and cool evening.

Woke up to pouring rain and reality.... laundry, shopping - yuck

Very thankful to have these breaks in my life to enjoy with great people and horses!

Hugs to all,

Adena

Landrun Curlies

May Days

Have brought sunshine!! Finally!! A whole nice weekend. And we were lucky enough to get the horses out on both days! Linus did really well tied today. Well at first anyway. I wanted to dress his hooves when we got back and he wasn't too keen on it but then I discovered he had picked up a stone and it was really in there so once we got that out he was fine. Once his hooves get trimmed this week I'm sure he will be even better.

We went for a walk today in a direction we hadn't been in a long time and Linus was so laid back. I think he was just taking in the sun and enjoying the spring weather. Finally Tshirt weather!

I got a bit not quite bored, but wanted to do more than just walk so I started swinging my rope around. I swung it in big circles in front of him, beside him and over his head like I was going to rope a calf. He was not at all bothered. So I threw the rope out in front of him and coiled it back up again. I did this several times and kept changing up the way I was swinging it. With not living with the cows maybe he will get to do some cutting and roping....though maybe not with our cows; they are pretty quiet and probably wouldn't provide any chase!

We aren't currently using our other set of gates so we set up a second, smaller pen that we've been moving around to slowly get the horses some grass. It's not taking them much time to chew it off but they sure do appreciate it. We've had so much rain that I think it will be a good few weeks before any pasture is ready.

I'm hoping to continue our neck reining training this week. Linus is picking it up really fast which I find impressive considering he has been driving too so has to learn to separate the cues. He's a star! .....and STILL not yet a big brother!