A Perfect Ride

September 15, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

On Monday I almost didn't go to the barn. I had a lot to do, and was feeling stressed. But... it was an absolutely perfect fall day - sunny but cool. I was so so so close to bailing (even had a text composed to Jean) but I rallied, told myself, "work will wait" and got in the car.

And I'm so glad I did. Jean and I were out on the trails by 9:15. Steen and Schooley were in fine form - both relaxed but energetic. We headed out the east side of Cathi's land and briefly (unintentionally) trespassed on someone's long, sloped driveway. On the way back down Schooley showed Steen how to settle into a relaxed, collected trot that doesn't involve crow-hopping, snorting or spinning in circles.

From there we headed up the B road that passes between Cathi's land and Jim's land. When we reached a gate, we detoured onto the strip around a corn-...

Steen the Teacher

Robin

September 12, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Yesterday was our first Duke Day with Bear. It was also scheduled to be a bit of a potluck. We hung out with the other barn people and ate home-made cornbread and chili and enjoyed the beautiful day. I also hauled along our SLR instead of our usual point-and-shoot. Trims were uneventful. Steen was his usual perfect self. Bear is definitely still a bit stiff in his hind end (though markedly less so than when we got him) and once Duke did have to hold his hoof for a minute and wait for him to be able to lower it for trimming. Another time Bear shifted partway across the aisle. But for a horse that's been in a new place for less than two weeks getting worked on for the first time by a strange farrier, I'd say things went well. We pulled Bear's shoes. Duke said probably with him standing and riding on grass he won't need them, but we'll keep an out for soreness over the next few wee...

Back to Bareback

Robin

September 10, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Brian and I were both feeling a bit banged up today. I stupidly fell down the stairs in our house, and he's dealing with the aftermath of tumbling off his horse. So, today we decided to take it easy and just do a low-key indoor ride. Then when we got to the barn and realized we'd forgotten to bring Bear's bridle back (we'd taken it home for a better rein-repair job) we were definitely limited in our options.

One of the less ideal things about Bear is that he's been trained and ridden to go in a tom-thumb. My opinions on bits have got narrower over the years, and I pretty much feel most horses should be ridden in a snaffle unless they are thoroughly trained and can go in a curb. We did test out the snaffle on Bear during our second test ride, and he was definitely confused by it, so we decided to get a tom-thumb to use with him for the time being, with pla...

Steen the Bad Influence

Robin

September 7, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Today Brian and I headed to the barn. We hoped for a longer trail ride, but things didn't quite go that way. The real problem was Steen. It was really windy and he was a bit antsy at first. As we headed down the strip, though, he relaxed and I thought he was going to settle in. Even when we headed back towards the barn and he started to prance, I tried a new technique to calm him down. Instead of trying to control him with the bit, I pushed him in circles with my leg and the rein on his neck. He was willing to turn in tight circles, which helped him think more and be less inclined to prance. By the time we neared the end of our warm-up area, he was walking on a loose rein and seemed quite calm. We veered onto a little double-track that runs by a shed and that's when things got less fantastic. Something scared Steen and he spun around and tried to bolt back towards the barn. I'm use...

Relaxing Last Days of Summer

Robin

September 6, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Things have continued to go well in the Bear department. Brian went out and rode him alone on Friday with good results. You can read about that here. We're going to have to make sure to continue to ride and handle the horses independently of one another, as it would seem and Bear and Steen are getting along just fine. Better than just fine, actually. This is what Brian and I found them doing on Friday evening when we took a break from the barn party we were attending and walked out into the pasture.

Apparently pretty fond of each other after just one w...

One Day, Two Rides

Robin

September 1, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Today I had a problem. Jean wanted to ride with me in the morning, and Brian wanted to ride with me in the afternoon. The only possible solution (much to Steen's chagrin) was for me to ride twice. First I met Jean at the barn in the morning. We tacked up Steen and Schooley and headed out. Things started out very low-key, but when we turned around to head back up the grassy strip between corn-fields we often use as a warm-up, we decided to trot for a bit. Steen wanted to go faster than a trot. When I didn't let him, he started to crow-hop. Now, this is the first time Steen has ever done anything like this under saddle. Other than the one time he threw me (right after I got him) his hind end has never even tried to come up on me. I stopped him and quickly looked him ...

A Trio for Three

Robin

August 31, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Yesterday Brian and I headed for the barn again and pulled out boys from the pasture. Bear was his usual mellow self about being caught and brought indoors. We tied up in the aisle and had just a little bit of drama when he sniffed noses with a precocious filly. She 'winked' and squealed and kicked, and he kicked at the wall of her stall in response, so we pulled him away from her and tied him up by a gelding and all was quiet again.

After that Bear stood quietly through tacking and Brian and I headed out in the company of Jean and Schooley. We meandered around for a bit, mostly walking. We headed up the overgrown pathway to the edge of Cathi's property and then turned back. I dismounted briefly to remove a piece of barbed wire from a hazardous location and while I was off Brian and Bear got a little ways off ahead of us. I got back on Steen and he switched from ange...

Two for Two

Robin

August 28, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

We've had absolutely beautiful weather the last few days. This morning was no exception - cool, sunny, breezy. A perfect morning for a ride. Brian and I woke up and attended to the puppy we're looking after for the weekend, then headed for the barn. We found Steen and Bear grazing happily (as usual) and brought them indoors. Bear seems even more settled in today. He and Steen both stood like angels while we groomed and tacked.

Steen and Bear tied in the aisle

In no time at all we were out on the trails. I showed Brian most of my new favorite ride, though we turned back sooner than I...

Duo

Robin

August 28, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Yesterday Brian and I headed to the barn in the afternoon. We arrived optimistically, with a bridle set up for Bear "just in case." From up by the barn we can't see the whole pasture, so we grabbed our two halters and headed out. We found Steen near the creek in the low part of the pasture, with Bear grazing on the other side with Nadir. Bear looked good, though his legs and belly were spattered in mud. He didn't have any bite-marks or bumps or bruises and he was grazing happily.

I haltered Steen and Brian headed down to Bear. Bear walked a few steps in Brian's direction and then stood quietly while Brian put the halter on. We headed up to the barn.

Once inside, Bear stood when tied. So did Steen. It was a remarkably drama-less and relaxing undertaking, having them both inside together. We groomed them and Brian tacked Bear up. He took the bit like a g...

Take Two

Robin

August 27, 2010

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

I've had a number of rather dramatic days in a row (the details or which really aren't worth blogging about) but the most exciting element of the upheaval is we have finally managed to find a replacement for Sham:

This is Bear. Yes, he's another bay quarterhorse gelding. But he's quite different. He is older and more experienced. He's also quieter and sweeter. We're hoping he's going to be a better match for Brian. He arrived yesterday (after we drove up north a couple of times to ride him and get him checked out by a vet). He is such a relaxed guy. He likes people. He's happy to just hang around. He's also surprisingly responsive and supple under saddle. So, updates to follow! ...