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April 29, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

It was another beautiful day today, and our barn day started with a visit from the farrier. Steen got a trim but the other two didn't need it. I rode Steen. I didn't do any groundwork at all because the door out of the arena was open, and I get a somewhat ridiculous kick out of riding through gates I normally have to dismount to open. But Steen is really to the point that I don't need to do groundwork every ride. I've been skipping it more and more often. I mounted inside the indoor and rode out to the strip. One silver lining to the fact that our favorite spot to ride got torn up and turned into a driveway is Steen's comfort zone on the strip is effectively destroyed. I can't ride him there at all, period. So today I took him further down the strip to start with, and admitted to myself that it's was as much my comfort zone as his. We started out with the set and turn again. ...

All Grown Up (Kind Of)

Robin

April 27, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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Laredo has been feeling a lot more mature lately. With his 4th birthday just around the corner, we've now owned him almost a quarter of his life. It's evident in all the little things. He is quiet now, familiar with our routine around the barn. Today, for the first time, I took my leather halter out to the pasture and slipped it over his ears to halter him. He didn't bat an eye. I think his issues with being headshy are behind us in earnest.

The herd got let into the second pasture last night, so while that is great they are out on some grass, it meant we couldn't ride there. So we went to the strip. It's kind of torn up, so we had to ride further down than usual. I started out ...

Five Years

Robin

April 26, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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I got completely taken out by a virus and was down for the count for about two weeks. My primary symptoms were weakness, lightheadedness and vertigo, so riding a horse was out of the question. However, today I was finally back to feeling good. Also, it was a special day. It was my 5th anniversary of owning Steen. In some respects, it's hard to believe it's really been five years. In others, it's pretty evident. I'd like to say the big change is in Steen. It is true that in the last five years he's changed from an underweight, uneducated spaz-case into a pretty darn solid hackamore horse. Then:

Now:

Shameless Self Promotion

Robin

April 19, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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Obviously all of you who read my blog know I write about our horses a lot, but what many of you might not know is I write fiction as well. And my first published book is now available on Amazon (it even has some horses in it -- in a very minor way.)

Right now it is only available as an e-book (but a print version will be available soon). Today and tomorrow (April 19th and 20th) the book is going to be FREE on Amazon. So if you like free stuff and you like reading, hop on over to Amazon and grab your copy...

A Smooth Ride

Robin

April 14, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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We found the herd all wound up today. Laredo came walking right up to us initially but then got swept off with a group of passing horses, after which he decided not to come back. We haven't had to reinforce the idea that Laredo should come to us when we look at him for close to a year, but suddenly its three times in quick succession. Unfortunately the footing is so bad in the pasture right now, it's hard to keep the pressure on him when he's moving away. Today one of my muck boots got so deeply mired down that I stepped right out of it and into a wet heap of hay and manure. Big time yuck.

Fortunately Laredo remembered his manners and came up to me shortly thereafter. I got him inside with the intention of doing some pretty intense groundwork. But then he was just great on the rope. Like soft, light, paying attention, moving with energy, not invading my space. There w...

Chilly and Chill

Robin

April 12, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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In spite of some issues with motivation, we made it to the barn after work today. The weather has been consistently cruddy and everything is all over mud again. Steen was in a funny mood today. He was about as quiet as he gets. There were even times I found myself wishing he would respond to my cues with more energy. I have thought on and off that it would be interesting to ride him with the spurs sometime, not because I think he needs livening up but because I'm curious what it would do for us in terms of precision. Today would have been a perfect day for that, but I'd left the spurs at home. We had a fine ride. We had to share the arena, but that's never a problem for Steen. Not that long ago I used to feel a bit nervous and confined when three horses were in that space. Now it's not really a problem for me. We just did all our usual stuff, and it was all fine. We worked on...

Three Blankets

Robin

April 11, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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Today was the epitome of miserable spring weather. We had a cold rain all day, and it was chilly, damp, and breezy. We headed for the barn as soon as Brian got home from work, knowing we'd find some pretty unhappy horses. They were all lined up against the wind block, heads down, butts to the wind. All except Steen, that is, who was eating when we got there but the left the bale before he saw us and started wandering around looking forlorn. As soon as he noticed us at the gate he came hurrying over, walking sideways because of the blowing rain. He was shaking all over. I've seen him shivering and uncomfortable, but these were full-body spasms. I hurried him inside and gave him a generous helping of chopped hay while I worked on swiping the worst of the water off, toweled him down, and then draped his blanket over him. Brian came in a moment later with Bear and Laredo. They we...

T-Shirt Weather?

Robin

April 10, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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Brian got home from work today and we were both keen to get to the barn. It was nearly 70° out. I slathered on sunscreen, put on one of my thin summer barn t's, and as we drove we discussed which fantastic outdoor environment we would ride in. Except then we got to the barn. And the sun was no longer out, a cold wind had kicked up, and it looked like they'd gotten a lot more rain than we did in town. We found Laredo lying in a pile of muck, more than a little filthy.

I keep a spare sweatshirt in the car for just this type of miscalculation. By the time we got the horses tacked we'd agreed we'd just rip the ground up anywhere we rode while being uncomfortably cold. Somewhat disappointed, we adjourned to the indoor arena. But it actuall...

Obstacles

Robin

April 8, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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The sun was out today, and we waited for things to really warm up before heading out to the barn. Our plan was to do a double ride, starting with me on Laredo and Brian on Steen, then switching to me riding Steen and Brian riding Bear. We planned to do the first ride on the strip and head over to the salad bowl for the second. One of the interesting aspects of boarding at a facility attached to a working farm is you never quite know what's going to be going on any given day. Today we pulled up to find three huge pieces of machinery parked on the strip, right where we usually ride. At first this was annoying and disappointing, but while we groomed the horses I made an effort to adjust mentally to their presence and by the time we got out to the strip I was ready to think of it as an opportunity rather than a hindrance.

Windy and Dry

Robin

April 6, 2013

Novels for Horse-Lovers

The Tipped Z Ranch books feature fictional stories but real horsemanship.

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It was not the most enticing weather today: bright but hazy, with crazy winds. But it was at least warm, and when we got to the barn we got to meet the new baby that arrived during the night. The mare, Jackie, has been unbelievably big for weeks. She seems a lot happier with her little girl on the outside.

The vet was also there, doing dental work on a bunch of horses. So the barn was crowded and noisy and the wind was just screaming in the roof. It was the kind of day that makes me glad our horses are quiet. There was nowhere to tie, but even Laredo has standing figured out now, so it was no problem. We just parked them near our locker and got ready to go.