Review

August 7, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Yesterday morning I went to the barn. It was a bit of a struggle to get out there. For one, I'll admit it, I'm sick of the added complication and inconvenience of keeping all my stuff in my trunk,

and as the barn is really nearing completion,

there is a part of me that would be conten...

Events

Robin

August 2, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

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Today, Brian, Steen and I all had new experiences. For Brian and I, it was a shared experience. We went to Catalpa Corner to watch the eventing. We had never been to a true eventing competition, so we found it very interesting. At first, we just walked around, staring at all the tall, athletic horses and trying not to look idiotic while doing so. We looked around a bit, and then walked out to the cross country course. I took my camera, and snapped a few photos. I have no idea who any of these people are....

Casting Shados

Robin

July 21, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

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Yesterday Brian and I headed to the barn in the morning for Brian's first ride at the new place. Steen has gotten so mellow about being handled and tied. He was practically nodding off while Brian groomed him. I think the new environment and all the changes combined with consistent handling in spite of the changes has brought Steen some new-found flexibility, and he really seems to understand that he is mine and I am his and that's just how it is now. I know everyone who works with horses knows it takes a long time to really get to know each one, and though I feel like I've known Steen pretty well for a while, we're really rounding a new corner lately. I think it's that I'm beginning to genuinely trust him and have faith that he's not going to break down and lose his mind to panic or anxiety, or try to run off, or throw me like he did that first time I tried to make him leave the...

On A Roll

Robin

July 20, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

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On Sunday I went to the barn, saddled Steen and then made him stand quietly and wait for around 20 minutes while 10 other people also saddled up their horses. Then we all hit the trail. We had kids and newbies present, so it was a walking ride. Steen and I ended up third in line at the beginning, behind Heater on Tommy and a neighbor on her horse - both pretty fast walkers. Steen kept up nicely without wanting to get too close to the horse in front of him. We ambled through a corn field and then had to stop at a gate to leave Cathi's property, at which point our six-year-old companion reached her maximum stress level and had to be taken back by Heather, and the neighbor decided to turn back as well. So, Cathi came to the front on Chewy, followed by Teri on Freebee, because those two horses, both young and very green, are happiest when they are close together. So I held my third...

Up a Notch

Robin

July 18, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

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Yesterday I had a busy morning but decided I wanted to get two rides at the new place under my belt before the planned group outing on Sunday I intend to attend with Steen. So, I dashed out to the barn after a morning of work on a new logo for a client, and found Steen hanging out at the top of the pasture with the herd. I took his fly mask off to discover his eyes have not run any more since I cleaned his face, so that is a good sign. I tacked him up, did a little ground-work and we returned to the strip.

The setting was much the same as our first ride, except minus the farrier and the other boarder. So, that means we only had a construction crew and an overly interested baby to contend with. Steen was visibly calmer about the ride this time, which I took as a good sign (and since his eyes have cleared up I'm thinking infection-induced lethargy is likely not a factor)...

Resume

Robin

July 16, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

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Yesterday I was sitting around kind of wasting my beautiful pre-work morning and I suddenly wondered, why am I not out riding my horse? It is funny how hard it can be to get back on track after the disruption of a pattern. My entire set of horse habits got chucked, by necessity, when we moved to the new land, and I have not yet established new ones. So, I finally decided to quit thinking of reasons going to the barn might not be all that great and just get out there and get going on adjusting.

It was a beautiful day, temperate with sun and a slight breeze. Steen was eating off a large round bale recently placed in the pasture when I arrived, and a little reluctant to leave it, but I persuaded him without difficulty. He was still wearing his fly mask, so that was good. I led him out of the pasture and past the partially built barn and he was not at all bothered by the ...

Picking Up

Robin

July 12, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

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Well, I'm back in Iowa and ready to settle back into my routine. I arrived home on Wednesday, late, worked Thursday and Friday and so didn't have a chance to go see Steen until Saturday. However, Saturday after a late morning, Brian and I headed out. I didn't think to take my camera, so can't illustrate the progress that's been made on the barn, but the building is definitely recognizable now, and I'm more than a little curious to see it all come together.

We found Steen in the pasture, without his new fly mask (we found it later, utterly dismembered, by the feed area). He seemed happy to see us, and we took him over to the trailer that currently acts as the tacking area. He was very good about weaving among the construction equipment and the new above-ground pool, not seeming bothered by any of it, though he was a little disinclined to stand quietly right at first. H...

Adjusting

Robin

June 30, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

So far Steen's adjustment to the new place seems to be going pretty well. It helps that he's had a few visitors in the form of a friend of mine who brought her two daughters as well as some sliced apples, and Brian's sister and her husband, who were handing out the carrots and forming a brushing team he seemed to highly approve of. I've been out there a number of time, but I haven't ridden. Between all the visitors and other stuff going on with life, I just haven't had the chance . However, Steen's groundwork has been impeccable lately, and a couple of days ago Cathi told me about a dirt-road loop I can take from the new property. I'm pretty sure just as soon as I have a chance to go find it, I'll have a nice ride.

The bummer is I'm leaving tomorrow and won't be back until next Thursday. *sigh. Such setbacks. The good news, however, is that the new barn is scheduled t...

Day One

Robin

June 21, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Today Brian and I drove out to the new place in the afternoon. Things seemed pretty good there, although the herd is definitely a bit restless. There is more movement in general, and more horses shooing other horses out of the way. I am sure the adjustment phase will be easier since they are all together, but still you can tell they're a bit unsettled. There is also a baby in the herd again. She's a three-week-old Morgan, and she and her mom joined the rest of the pasture gang mere days before the move. The baby is adorable, and all the adult horses seem to take quite an interest in her, shepherding her around and "protecting" her from one another. The baby, however, has taken quite an interest in Steen and whenever I take Steen from the pasture now, she wants to come too. However, Brian and I have some experience with clingy foals and we successfully navigated Steen through the...

A Trunk Full of Tack

Robin

June 21, 2009

Novels for Horse-Lovers

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

Learn More

Yesterday I left my house at 8:00 AM and didn't return until 5:30 PM. In between it was quite the day. I arrived at the barn shortly after the crew had rolled off with the first load of horses, as I knew Steen was going in the second load. I pulled up, parked and first cleaned out my tack locker, which fortunately wasn't all that hard as I've tried to keep it pretty clean. I loaded everything in my car except Steen's nylon halter, grooming bucket, groundwork stuff (rope, stick, rope-halter) and bridle. Then I went and got Steen, and brought him inside. He was good while I groomed him and we went to the arena and did a fair amount of groundwork. Then I hopped on for a short bareback walk and trot ride. I'd have gone longer, but it was a hot, humid day and the indoor arena was heating up like a sauna. Also, the effects of my watering had expired and it was super dusty in there again....