Can She Play Poker???

Yeah, she did.....well, in a sense...

We arrived to what Steven read as a PC crowd: very nice people, nice farm after momentarily becoming lost....Thank You to the Hillsboro Fire Department dude for the directions....and he did it by farm owner name....Ya gotta love small towns.

Here are the entries:



Entries filed, tacked up, Lorin safely atop Dazz...we marched right up to the starting point for an overview of the rules.



Not so hard....I thought, passing the map to Steven, Maps and I are non partners....

We start out on the Poker Run: not timed, with 5 obstacles, Parelli Game style, along the way, that if done successfully, one way or another, will earn you a playing card.

First was a small trail thru the woods...easy stuff...we do this all the time: Bingo! Card for each of us....!

Second: Receive raw egg in spoon, must weave thru cones and back. Sage had no problem, tho Steven did crack the egg on the saddle horn before she even took a step: proceed, with the cracked egg..... One handed he weaves thru the cones and back...See? All that neck reining exercises paid off! Caly: same cracked egg, we got a note from the attendant for trotting! Good boy. Dazzle with Lorin aboard: flawlessly....good! Presto! We each get a card!

Third: Drag something....uh, oh. No tarps in sight....Choices were: a cone, a log!, or a barrel!! Caly, I take the rope for the cone and trot on down to the end marker, pass the rope over his head with a nifty rollback, and then the other side of the horse saw the cone: sidepass all the way back...." oooh, he sidepasses nice!" I hear....if they only knew.... Steven selects the log! to my surprise...totally uneventfully they drag the log down and back! No theatrics, and Steven explained later he thought it would be the quietest....good call! Dazzle and Lorin took the cone, la de dah....No problem! YeeHaw! Cards! ( was working on a straight now.....)



Forth: Hill? I don't understand how a hill can be an issue, except for the fact that near the bottom of it was obstacle #5: water crossing....Caly: charge down, saw the horse eating water and blasted up: card. Sage: no big deal to her, didn't waste any time in either direction: card. Dazzle had some tenderness issues early in the day, so Lorin took a go around which was forgiven due to the explaination that Dazzle has a bone in his leg that is in place with 5 screws: card.

Fifth: The w~a~t~e~r. I was hoping it was merely a stream so I could just jump it...no such luck. Big puddle with 2 barrels: weave the barrels. To my delight, with minimal "I do not want to go in" hesitations , both Caly and Sage did as asked....Dazzle, well we call him the sea horse....cards!

Success! I didn't get my straight, in fact, I got nuthin', ditto for Lorin, but Steven finished with 1 pair, which didn't make him a winner, but Sage sure was!

Like A Girl Scout: Be Prepared

Always ready to try new events with the horses, I tripped across what looked like a good time on Equinesite.com 's bulletin board. A Poker Run and a Trail Race! ( Did someone say RACE????)

Sponsored by Granite State Savvy Club ( Savvy: a word that tells me that the group uses methods of horsemanship and training from Pat Parelli). Years ago I had attended a Parelli clinic in the far, far north regions of New Hampshire with my friend MaryBeth. While I found it very heavy in the marketing end of things, it was very informative and interesting: well worth going....Funny, most trainers techniques overlap, with some sort of twist....I think if you listen to them all, then go with your gut, I think you will get a very well trained horse in the end.....but I digress...

Reading thru the info about the event provided by the club, I scanned for hints, clues: What are these obstacles you must traverse in order to 1) Get a playing card and 2)pass thru during your timed trail ride????

Water: um, we have worked on that...should be ok, during the race, Caly can probably just jump over.....crossing hooves for Sage, lately with water, she is OK....
Dragging something? Carcass? Rider?? (hope not) so we assumed that they mean tarp.....

I have enlisted the help of Lorin ( my friend in New Hampshire who we will converge upon for tonite) Who I will refer to as "10Horses"....yes: 10!! She will ride Dazzle so he will not need to be left home, bellowing and disturbing the entire neighborhood! To keep 10Horses, and the rest of us safe, we decided to give the tarp dragging a shot....It went better than expected. Sage was a bit curious, but not afraid. She only showed a small response when out back in the practice area, we had a long rope attached to the dragging ( really, at some points: Flying! Very windy back there!)tarp as she rounded a barrel, and the tarp appeared alongside her...on the other side. Interesting.....

Incidentally, the fly mask is on to keep the flies from further balding near her eyes, she is in no way some sort of wierd burgler....

Some Pictures!!!







Next up was Caly....Who showed no fear up in the back yard near the house....Minimal ( and very entertaining) squirming and side stepping around the barrels...tho what really appeared to concern him was something lying in wait for him in the woods....





And then Mr. Perfect, Mr. Solid As A Rock, Mr. I Will Be Nice To My Rider: Dazzle...who was once terrified of carrying a flag during an opening ceremony at a show....ran all the way to the end of the ring with little Mollie O.....then stood there....proved my concerns to be wrong this time: he was GOOD. Imagine that? Handsome bugger!





Time will tell how the 3 fare in New Hampshire......Stand by!

Sooooo...Ya Like To Break Stuff, Do Ya ???

Evil little thing, purely by accident she pulled a cross tie screw out of a tree that was not much of a challenge since the tree is pretty punky.....and then just stood there..." Hmmmm, that was interesting, can't wait to try that again" she pondered when returned to her stall......

She got her opportunity the next day....Back in the crossties, a sturdier anchored set, she measures and CALCULATES ( damn, she's better at that than I am!) Twisting her head side to side.....rocks forward.....rocks back. Then she gets a bit antsy....doing the math I suppose. Then she positions herself....and rears. The lead is still attached, Steven is nearby, watching and pulls her down "NO!"....she just looks at him.....She tried, with the same results, and eventually, successfully, snaps a metal clip. What does she do then? She stands there. Looks at us as if to say "ha ha ha, I knew I could do it"....doesn't even try to get away.....The wench!

I called Robin, explained what she'd been doing, having my own idea already, but asking HER opinion...which counts for ALOT here.....after all: she's 'wild' not a domestic.....they could be very different approaches. We thought alike: "shank her".

Next day, I am at work having shown Steven the shank extension and how to use it...He later told me it was employed 3 times, each application a little stronger than the previous, and the third time she went high enuf to nearly pull the lead from his hand, she failed.........and the drama has yet to repeat itself....Crossing hooves.

Sage Brush Bucky Lilly.....

Harumph...When she's feeling stubborn: She bucks.

She's back in heat, and a bit cranky the past couple days. Of course I understand, and do my best to explain to Steven: he might have 'cramps' or perhaps frustrated that she is surrounded by Boyz....who will have nothing to do with her: that way. Nonetheless: she must learn to deal, and behave.

He barely caught the first one.....but was quick to correct the second wave, and the third was the last. Apparently his correction must have made an impression. I heard the verbal parts, but missed the actual corrections, and he stayed on and made her do what he'd asked: every time. That would include splitting her off from Dazzle and Caly to an adjacent trail, trotting when they were walking, leading the group, and walking when they were trotting. She would verbally protest when separated, same as before: whin nn nnn nnn nnn eeee, which makes her sound like some sort of wierd Sunday morning cartoon horse, trotting along. Ryan remarked that she sounded a bit like the end of a bad western....and she did!

Sage has some odd ideas. I forgot to tell about her water concerns during the previous ride. We'd approached a few ponds. Sage was having nothing to do with entering the water with her feet. With nose outstretched, she would sip, but no classic western pose of horse drinking standing knee deep, Uh Uh, no way baby. She stood her ground, reaching out her neck for just a sip.

At one stretch of beach, Steven dismounted, and handed me her lead rope, removing the reins. I was on Caly, who had quite some time ago, given in and learned to enter a pond.....but it involved about a half hour and spurs. This time, I have the spurs for him.....and just a rope for her.

She ponies, not well, but it's not really necessary at this point. I eased Caly into the edge of the pond, thankfully without much effort. In a matter of seconds, she joined him. They splashed along and she appeared to get over the 'Oh my God that is just a big black hole' kinda phobia....or so we thought.

Steven remounted: nope. She has decided that is just not safe, ok alone but no way: with a rider, and she again refused....will work on that....but another day.

An Amazing Thing.....

I still can't believe it myself.....and has little to nothing to do with Sage....but thought I would share a real shocker.

The Anti~Rider took to the saddle yesterday. He actually has several titles....My Personal Undertaker, Pet Babysitter, and Favorite Son amongst them....But his real, given name is Ryan.

On our last ride just Caly and Sage got to go out. We felt a bit bad that Dazzle had to stay home. With just Steven and I available, I was going to take Dazzle with Sage....On a whim, I asked favorite Son if he would like to go....to my utter shock, he said " Sure, I have nothing to do anyway."

I was surprised he didn't hear my jaw drop. He is 23 with limited riding experience. His horse contact ( as far as I know) is usually in the form of feeding those "beasts" while I am away.

As I recall, his last horseback ride was in the paddock, on a horse named "Fred" who belonged to young lady about his age, 14, Nicki. Fred was not what I would call 'pony material'.....a hot Morgan, whom Nicki adored, but years later did admit that she was surprised didn't kill her. Fred had some issues, as well as a number of positions and cues that strictly meant "go"....in fact all positions and cues meant "go" to Fred. He was the ONLY horse I ever got off because I could not get to a place where I felt safe......but she rode him like a pro.

She barrel raced him, and trail rode, but primarily barrels, like a madman. Even Caly preferred to follow Fred, so he could watch the show, and thankfully not learn what Fred knew, how to dance, jig and otherwise get his way.....and she just rode along, apparently not noticing.

Ryan had ridden Domino and Angel, our first 2 horses, but always on a lead and not for long. His younger brother, Colby actually did compete with Dazzle years ago at the local horse club, and did OK, in his odd Mother~taught way.....Ryan attended some of the shows, but I don't believe he ever competed but possibly once: leadline on Fred with Nicki leading....or that quite possibly could have been their friend Wes: tall, lanky teen like them, it was rather humorous....the other leadline riders were about 5 years old or so....and Wes/Ryan, whichever one, stuck out like a sore thumb.

Nicki convinced Ryan that Fred was harmless.....I am quite sure it was to impress the very pretty girl boarding her horse at my house, Ryan agreed to get on Fred, but only in the paddock. I missed the whole thing, I was not home, but I heard that it was quite an experience, one he would not repeat and it had something to do with a broken rein and a crazed Morgan in the paddock. That was Ryan's last ride.....until yesterday, 9 years later, which seems like an eternity to me.

Steven and I tacked up, and out comes Ryan, a jusbravery can of beer in his hand: a tall boy. I know what that was: I have had them myself. My former brother calls the regular sized ones " 12 ounce Tranquilizers". Finishing the 16 ouncer, and setting it on the ground, he gave Dazzle a good scratch. Dressed just as he'd asked me: boots and jeans....and a ball cap, he offered that when we are away he goes out and talks to them.....He TALKS to them??? I really thought he didn't much care for them at all, never mind talk to them! I remember he nailed Dazzle's door shut once because he'd opened his sliding door, and done the limbo under the stall guard more than once while I was away ..... he was sick of going to the neighbor's lawn to retrieve him....but I digress....I offered to have him use the stump to get on....he said, no, I know how to do this...and he did, mowed over the empty can, without incident, and followed along behind Caly and Sage.

Let me say, even with that long hiatus from horse back riding, I was impressed. Very impressed. He figured out very quickly how to avoid Dazzle eating every leaf in sight, How to speed up, how to slow down, and even how to neck rein. I checked his foot position several times: Heels down. Wow! I turned around to check Steven and Ryan.....they were both TROTTING and later, when I was trotting....Ryan and Dazzle were loping! Yay! He IS his Mother's son....

It was just a short ride, no sense in beating Favorite Son his first time up....his back was getting a bit sore and we arrived home in one piece, and here's the kicker:

He admitted: " That was fun".

Steven's Little Honor Student.....

Three more rides since the last entry....You really don't think he can stay off her for very long do you? Not if you know Steven.....He even took her on a short ride solo....no fireworks, just a bitt of calling home to make sure her Boyz were still there and within earshot: they were.

She lopes, she lopes just fine now. First few times was a bit wobbly.....like running with a book on your head, figuring out how to move along without it going flying. Each time is steadier than the time before. She's a quick study that one.

Tianna and Steven took Dazzle and Sage out as I was working on stuff at home. They say there was no loping involved.....I only half believe them. For Tianna and Steven to refrain from any sort of speed activity without the watchful eye of Herself the Warden, would be like leaving 2 children in a room of M&M's without a parent and expecting them to not eat even one....Nah, ain't gonna happen....they ate an M&M, I just know it....

Steven and I decided to get out and ride this past Saturday afternoon, before the onset of 4 days of promised rain....All went well with the preparation.....Steven suggested we bring the video camera to get footage of Sage loping....so if there is any disappointment from this peanut gallery that there is no video, it is my fault! I just couldn't imagine loping along ahead, on Mr. Progressive, dropping the reins, to turn around and shoot video from the back of what would soon be a galloping horse, was somhow.....not my idea of a relaxing time....

With only a small amount of pouting, Steven saw my point....I really do, sometimes, prefer a ride that is not an ordeal, a fiasco, as was the rest of my week. This was one of those days.

She did great! Really great. Steven and I decided to try her all the way around the park. Lots of varying terrain to see what she can do....I'll tell ya! She can do! Steven was really thrilled with how smooth and comfortable she was climbing this hill that is washed out and rocky with roots.....None of the horses is smooth going up.....but Sage is. Steady and confident, without notice of new kind of footing...just marched ant a trot, right on up.

She led, she followed, she even trotted ahead.....and just a couple "ET"'s! from Steven when she threw a buck or two....not mean, not hard, but it was there. I was kinda surprised that his reaction took as long as it did once when I was watching....the head go down and the ears back.....pay attention Steven! But she was having fun......doesn't make it right, but I really think it was excitement.

Heading home, Silas Rd: long dirt/grass road with extended flat and clear areas that scream " speed, baby, speed!"....called to Steven to try her out...I think this is where the video camera woulda come in. I loped Caly, I hear him asking Sage for the same, behind me, a pause, then a LOOK! I turn around....she was loping, she sure was. Head nice an level, ears up, focused and appeared to be very smooth! She was also just a hair below gallop...very very close. Saving that for another day. It was really quite impressive that she had such a steady lope.....on the heels of Stinkerbell, who surprised me and didn't bolt.

All went well. Really well. Thinking I will try to get Steven to stick in this stage for a bit.....for perfecting purposes......before that eventual gallop. I reminded him, when he was riding ahead of me at a walk....and the distance between us was growing, that one of his primary concerns was if she would able to kepp up with Caly.....I got a thumbs up.

Please? Can I say it now? " I toldja so."

She makes a honking noise.....really: honk, honk, honk~honk....Gotta talk to Robin 'bout that one. Wierd: a mustang with a horn....5.0 maybe?

Hmmmm, I Think She Will Keep Up Just Fine

Remember Steven's concerns about Sage being able to keep up? Have a bit of fire? Keeping pace with Caly? Well, she walks quick, real quick.

Days have passed since the actual excursion for a trail ride with 3.....been busy.

Steven saddled Sage, Tianna on Dazzle and I rode Caly. Still suffering from that blasted headcold, we went out into the woods. mainly walking at first, we added a bit of trotting: Caly in the lead, then Sage, with Dazzle poking along behind with Tianna, for now anyway....

Sage has no qualms about trotting up. In fact, I think she really enjoys going out with her boyz, and they, thank heavens, are not at all aggressive to the girl. Caly has a history of pretending to be nice....and then the true colors come out: teeth, strikes and spins with attempts to kick out: nothing. Apparently, there have been some fenceline discussions about how where SHE comes from: Mares rule, and he is quite possibly listening to her? Harumph....she's doing better n'I am. He didn't give her an ounce of hoof.

During a rather brisk trot, that I was sure that Dazzle would lope to, I hear Steven say something....behind me. I slowed down with the usual "WHAT?" he says: " She was loping!" WOW....how was it? He said she felt a bit unbalanced, but she was more than willing, that's my invitation to try it again....So I did.

She learns in threes. We noticed that with everything we have covered so far. The first time is " Is this ok?, I think so" Second time is " oh, that again....not so bad" and the third time " I like this, having fun guys...."

Second lope, steadier, still trying to balance herself with a rider, but O so willing, even to slow the pace. Third time: much steadier and really enjoying herself....

Trying not to push the envelope off the table, we left it there. But I actually experienced a first. I trotted down a long stretch of trail, solo, after turning a corner. Sage lost sight of us and let out a whinny.....at a trot, and it was the funniest sound I think I have heard....every hoof fall was verbalized...Like:

Whin~n~n~n~n~n~n~n~n~eeeee~eeeee~eeeee

So....She can talk and walk at the same time.....Talented girl!

The Warden: BB

Just so you know who is watching over me when I am blogging.

Pretty as a Picture

Short on time lately so it seems, it's that blasted work that gets in the way. Between that, the weather,and low energy reserves due to a horrible summer cold, have not gotten much done.

Steven did take advantage of a sunny afternoon to longe Sage out in the back. As usual, he reported that she did much better one on one than when I showed up, with camera, to resume my stump sitting position.

She was doing quite well, so I snapped some pictures.





It's hard to believe she has been here a month already! She has learned SO much with minimal drama....good! She actually loped for Steven on the longe line, without the antics of head tossing, attempting to bolt, and pull away during this session. She got a bit distracted with a human stump sitter watching her every move, and I asked Steven to let me give it a try. Much to his delight ( he probably will not admit it) she was the same if not WORSE for me....So I handed her back over.

She has gained some weight in the last month. This picture makes her look like a real porker, but she's really not. Hay belly is diminishing with work, and her muscles are really starting to show....She actually has a bit of a chest starting....and with more work, it will only get better and better.



Now.....if only this cold would go away and the weather would cooperate!

Entrez Vous, S'il Vous Plait, Mon Petite......

The dog barks.....I look out my breezeway door, I see horse.....and Steven. WTF...In the BREEZEWAY!?

He had taken her out for a 'walk'....I had convinced him to give her a day off from riding.....He reports that she was super compliant: passing between the car and the fence?? ( thankfully not MY car ) In the woods: no calling....and said he was coming to get me ( get ME?) and she followed him right up the little 4" step into the breezeway????

Now, the front of the breezeway has a 4' step: concrete. the REAR of the breezeway has a wooden ramp, who's composition has weakened over time....In other words: I think it may be rotten enough for a horse hoof to go thru. So he decides to 'turn her around', IN the breezeway.

I am having visions, from my kitchen door, of the glass top table, contents, gas can, chairs and park bench becoming dangerous obstacles.....thankfully, she is petite enough that none of these things are disturbed during the 180 degree change in position to get her OUT of my breezeway....

Walk on, he commands....she complies.....UNTIL she feels her toe suspended over the edge of the step.....the little 4" step! No way, she is thinking, I ain't fallin' for that one: It's a hole. She REFUSES to walk on....Great! She's STUCK in my BREEZEWAY!

I go outside, I get some treats from the garage, I try baiting....not even peppermint treats are enuf to convince her to step into "the hole". I try hay....starting to get a bit nervous, and growing MORE annoyed at Steven for putting her in this predicament, worsened by his giggling at the absurdity of the situation.

Nope, not for treats, food, adoration...she ain't budging.

He reaches for the contents of the glass table....Hammer? No. Deer Antler? No. Ashtray? No. He reaches for the long handled dog toy, the kind that you launch a tennis ball from......still with the BALL in it! Nooooo! Removes ball: tap, tap, tap. Nothin' She's no dummy, not stepping in that hole...we demonstrate. Nope, even tho we didn't DIE, she won't move. Oh great!

Last resort: the ramp.

Holding my breath and crossing hooves that the ramp is stronger than it appears, he does another about face, and starts down the ramp.

It holds......She's out of my breezeway and happily munching grass in the back yard.

Sputtering.....Don't do it again......

C'est la vie.....

Naughty Sage ! Bad Steven!

Steven wants to go for a ride....We decide to take Caly and I arrive outside to find both Sage and Caly in the crossties. We prepared them for the ride, Steven finishing tacking Sage just before me. As I was putting on the tie down, I suggested that he use the stump for mounting today, and he headed over, behind me, to it. As I was about to place the bit in Caly's mouth...I hear "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" from Steven.

By the time I turned around, Steven was sitting on her rump, completely behind the saddle, leaning up and over the saddle, hand extended to the reins, and Sage hunching madly, not really bucking, but certainly not a normal gait.....quickly down the pathway to the barn.....Ooooh, I know that postion...."Jump!" I said. He actually looked at me, and then, after freeing his feet from the stirrups, he launched himself to the left, narrowly missing a tree. Nice tumble Stevie!

Sage proceeded to the front of the barn, turned right and ended up in a dead end, facing electric fence straight ahead, and to her right, the barn to her left, and she lowered her head for some nice tall grass that grows there.

I abandoned Caly in the crossties clipped to his noseband. After I was sure Steven was ok, we proceeded to collect Sage, who was slightly unnerved, looking at us like: " Uh, oh......Where did he go? Did I do something bad?"

She settled down easily and I asked Steven what happened.

I want to apologize for no pictures today.....If you turned up the volume when viewing the first ride video, just before it ends....you will know why I am particularly annoyed with myself for not setting up the camera today.........

Apparently, Sage had not positioned herself perfectly at the stump, and I think Steven forgot momentarily, that it was not Dazzle or Caly he was getting on, and reached for the stirrup/saddle to land in the seat, missing, when she moved off slightly.....What I had missed, was, Steven had originally landed in FRONT of the saddle, which obviously upset Sage.....I can't imagine anyone had ever landed there! She had bucked, at least once, maybe more, which launched Steven to the backseat.....another place that no one had ever landed on Sage, thus the tantrum and her attempt to go to her room!

It was rather obvious that we had some corrective work to be done, Caly was getting a bit animated in the crossties and I think he was only slightly disappointed that his ride was over before it was started.

We spent a LONG time that afternoon teaching Sage that the bad stump was not so bad afterall, and it was expected that she stand quietly next to it when asked. After she was able to maintain proper position at the stump, we worked on standing for mounting.....placing a hand for weight in the stirrup, praising when she did not move off, repositioning and trying again when she did move. Then a foot, then a leg up and finally with a rider up. Mount, dismount, mount, dismount.....she must think we are horribly indescisive!

We rewarded her with trips around the back yard....she likes just ambling around the trees, in full wiew of her Boyz. Steven wove her around the trees, the stump, to the trailer and back, she occasionally would just stop, become balky, and refuse to move....he'd wait, re cue with a 'walk on', squeeze the seat, repeat both adding a couple heels to her side....for the most part that would work.....but there was once it was pretty obvious to me that she would move on HER time. Not ok.

When it's time to make a point with Sage, it is usally me that tries it first....I recall Robin telling me that Mustangs can harbor grudges, and I would much prefer to have Sage not happy with me for a bit, than with Steven. Steven is her person.

I got on. She stood still, just like we had just worked on: good girl....I asked for a walk on....she did. We walked to the front of the barn, and turned towards the rear of the house.....she stopped.

Walk on.....nothing.
Walk on, with the seat and leg pressure......nothing.
Walk on, with the seat and leg pressure, adding a couple heels.....nothing
Walk on, seat/leg pressure, couple heels and a good slap on the rump....she walked.
She started off a bit abruptly....I am quite sure she was a bit startled....but she was ok.'Good Girl'

We walked along, til the next time....repeat....right up to the slap on the butt....then she moved.

One more time, she responded to the command, seat and legs....good girl!

I explained escalation to Steven, his turn to try. She tested him, only a couple times and then, as she had done for me, responded well before the heel and slap application. She gets it.....Will try that again.....but next ride.

He practiced turns, and whoas for a bit more. One more revisit to the 'stand' for mount and dismount: success. She's solid on that....for now.

Barrels? What Are Barrels?

Steven put Sage in the crossties and proceeded to give her a brisk curry rub: she LOVES those...she is an itchy horse: Watch her face:



Saddling was uneventful and we were chatting during the process. She stood relatively still, Steven mounted and she was ready to get to work. This was her fourth ride.



We had discussed what we were going to do with Sage for today....We decided to use the barrels in the practice area to work on neck reining that we had left set up from the day before, would be a good exercise to practice weaving and turning.... She started off a bit hesitant, stopping frequently, and I just couldn't stand to see them have all the fun....so I did like any good stump~sittin~horse~trainer~wanna~be woulda done....I grabbed my beer and joined right in.....I think Sage really enjoyed the company....

Follow the leader.......................

I did offer her a sip, but she's too young....will have to wait a bit.

In all, Sage did a great job. Not only did she learn to weave the barrels, at a snails pace, but it's still a real weave ( with and without her 'escort' ), and to make turns around them. Look out NBHA, Sage Brush Lily will be burning 3 real soon!

Finished off the day dragging the ring with Favorite Son's 4 Wheeler. Man, that was FUN!

hey! At least I didn't crash.....like last time.

Sage And The Boyz: First Trail Date

It was a rather dreary late am on Sunday, we had Tianna for the day....that makes 3: all opt in for a ride: Sage's first outing with the Boyz. Tianna kept Dazz busy, bareback goof off time down in the practice area, while Caly and Sage spent some quality time in the cross ties. Both were well behaved, no ugly faces from either of them.....just a little figetiness from Caly: "Lets' Go!"






All saddled up, with warnings to maintain distance between horses, just in case someone gets snarky, we head off to the woods. Caly in front, Sage in the middle and Dazzle bringing up the rear.....much to the delight of Tianna who likes to drop back and 'catch up'.



Steven said Sage was walking rather quickly, easily closing the gap between herself and Caly's butt. He would halt her, and she complied, only to resume creeping up to him. Nice walk ! he commented.

We saw my neighbor Donna and her daughter Sara outside, and went over to greet them. Donna snapped a pic of the three of us on our first trio outing....Actually, Donna, the camera DID go off 3x....



When we reached the powerlines, for some reason, Caly quickened his step, which was apparently read by Sage....mini fit resulting in 2 little bucks, that later, Tianna reported from her behind position, were of the all~feet~off~the~ground variety...Steven stuck nicely.....told her "easy", and used the one rein turn that we had discussed previously, and she settled right down. After a bit, Steven dismounted to signal Sage she was 'on break' and it was OK for her to graze....she found mint, lots of mint....and she really didn't want to give it up....but she did.

Next, out to the bike trail. Sage is not so good with bikes, and it's time she gets over that....Ya gotta love desentisization. The first people we saw were 2 teen girls walking their bikes as one had a flat tire. We asked that they come towards the horses so that Sage could see that those funky looking metal things were not horse~consuming~wheeled~things~from~hell....Both girls approached, Sage watching distrustfully, until they each, 1 at a time, approached to give her a cookie furnished by Steven....She relaxed, alot!

Along the biketrail a family rode towards us...I asked that they give that second horse some room, it's her first trail ride. They did, she watched them, held her ground and the next dozen or so bikes that whizzed from either front of behind were largely unnoticed. Steven was smiling!



Steven used some nice winding trails as an opportunity to reinforce neck reining, which she has really started to respond to. One little fit from a low branch Steven moved directly above her and that was about it! We headed for home.



Tianna pushed Dazzle up front, jogging and loping to get well ahead. Caly was really stepping forward now, keeping an eye on Dazzle, and failed to notice the bikes in the parallel bike trail....he spooked.....and Sage followed suit, even tho she had indeed noticed the bikes, she was concerend that Caly had seen a true demon that she should be aware of. They settled right down as we hit the trail to home.

With Dazzle now out of sight, Sage, who had passed Caly, looking for her dun buddy, started calling. We had decided to try a trot, after passing the last trail to the house....but Sage was not waiting...She picked up a nice jog, which later, Steven was very happy to report was very smooth! I noted outward swinging of her forelegs, interesting, and later, after Caly and I passed her and looking over my shoulder: she was pacing....really pretty. We transitioned from walk to trot several times: smoothly and without incident. The whole ride lasting less than an hour. Sage and I went home to rest, Dazzle and Caly went out with Steven and Tianna for a short ride.



It was about a half hour later that Sage called to her boyz, just a couple times....and then resumed eating. What a good girl!

Transitions, Transitions, Transitions....

Steven took about an hour this afternoon to longe Sage.....I was a bit tied up in here....waiting for a video to load.....and took a walk out. She's amazing.....she was trotting nicely to the left for Steven, transitioning to a walk very well, and a few nice whoas....

She was a bit distracted when she spied me, but got back to work nicely. She broke into a nice pace at one point, slowed back to a trot on command. Then she got a bit carried away for about 10 minutes: lope, a real lope.....followed by bouncing and a valiant effort to quit this gig....which was aborted by Steven nicely.

I have complimented him on how much more confidently he is handling her lil tantrums....

I was just sittin' on my stump.

Saddle Up Hombre.....

Her second and third rides were largely the same uneventful experiences for Sage. I actually got on her myself, briefly, and she walked right on when verbally cued. There is much maneuvering the bit in her mouth and her turns are not quite there yet. Direct rein, brace rein and outside leg have been replaced with a neck rein cue with the reassurrance of a direct rein, seat and a bit of outside leg pressure.

Here is a shot without her" human escort" on the second ride....

The third ride we added a crop, with a plastic bag tied to the end....I am not quite sure why, she is not phazed by plastic at all. When in New jersey, Robin had demonstrated her immunity to plastic: she stuck her head in the bag to see if there were, perhaps, any treats inside. She was disappointed, just some miscellaneous stuff from a shopping trip. With a very gentle tap of the crop to remind her that walk~on means to move forward, she was, as usual, compliant.

This ride, the third, Steven shed the helmet....instantly losing 6" of height.....much better.

After the third ride, removing the reins, but leaving the saddle, bridle and halter on Steven took her to the open practice area for some longing with tack. She was a bit slow to understand the concept with tack, but caught on quickly. Again, she moved very well to the left, and Steven even encouraged her to trot up a bit. The word " Trot" means something to her. The transition was smooth, a bit slow on the uptake, but consistent with encouragement. The right side: not so good. Again. Finally getting her to walk on to the right, Steven tried to get her to repeat the trot....after a bit of head tossing and one mini tantrum which said to me " I am SO done with this, I wanna go back to my BOYZ" She did comply, briefly. I think maybe her foot could be bothering her a bit. I do see a small crack and a slight divet near the toe on the sole....could be one of those gas pockets Robin spoke of, that will take some time to grow out. The farrier said her feet look good and not to worry....so will just give her time.

Steven wanted a pony ride back to the barn....he had saddle and bridle, but no reins....which I recall thinking later: was a good thing. Since there is no mounting block down there, I placed my hand in the right stirrup to keep saddle movement to a minimum as he got on. I guess, where Sage comes from, that may be a bad thing, having a person on each side, maybe reminiscent of branding, capture? I don't know. She bucked once and braced for what looked like it could become a rear. I just held her and we both reassurred her with "eeeasy". She calmed down, Steven stayed on just fine and we started to walk up to the house. She was a bit hurried....I and Steven, in unison, paused her with a whoa twice, and she was her usual compliant self.

Finished off the session with a brief walk, without tack, into the woods across the street: she was angelic....no calling to her Boyz....nuthin. Good!

3 Strikes For Sage Means Success!

She's a quick study.....The third time for longing: got it. Minimal issues.....She will occasionally decide that the 'session is over' before it's over....but will snap back to work.

Steven is getting better about consistent cues....Whoa means stop, and easy means to calm the heck down and get back to work, OR, slow down.....Will come in handy later. So much more Politically correct to say "easssssy" than the usual " you blasted )(*&)*#$% horse, will you slow the %(&(&^)*^) down?!"

Day one longing had her only succeeding in one direction, day two longing, got both directions, at a walk, down, with only a few quits. Day three, a nice windy day, had her a bit snotty at first, which was captured on the camera....

She settled down nicely, saw the light and the error of her ways, apparently, and became angelic....

Ahhhh, life is good......Time to try riding her....

Trainers Are Valuable Assets

Robin called.....She is just so nice and helpful. And immediately makes me feel better. She had not gotten to the lesson to teach Sage to longe......Whoo Hoo. I get a first.....I usually just send poor Steven out to work with his mare, and my involvement, as promised, was to be sittin' on that stump in case he needed to ask a question.....

I asked Robin, her opinion, or for affirmation of my decision..... When she gets stupid at the trot....do I just let her get the Ya Ya's out or do I, as i did, make her stop the shennanigans and do it correctly.

More yay! Robin thinks as I did: Make her do it right......

For today, I don't know what Steven has in mind...I do know that I have some busted boards between Sage and Dazzle.....probably has to do with this 'heat' thing....but he's coming shortly with some lumber, screws and knowledge.

I think, with a gentle twist to his arm, I can get him out for a ride on the Boyz.....

Heat? What is Heat?

These are Sage's Boyz....Dazzle and Caly

So she goes for a walk.....into the woods....and she is a bit anxious, especially when heading home. Ok, so we are deciding, on the fly, how to handle when she decides to lead.....we whoa. We tell her stand, and walk to her rear and back...She's twitchy and occasionally calls out to the Boyz....

I decide to give it a try, a domestic horse try. I tug.....EASY, and she does, tho her attention is obviously not on me.....she is more concerned about going home, back to the boyz.

Steven takes her, she's not so bad, but it's obvious: whe would rather be home with the boyz....

We decide to let her get over separation both this way, and by taking the Boyz out and leaving her home....that's been done, with very little verbalization on Sage's part....

We arrive home. When put in her section, she goes straight to the fence, the one that separates Caly from her, it's then that we see squirt, hear squeal. Gross, just plain gross. She's a bimbo.

Longing For Dummies....

Longe? What is Longe?

Steven tried to longe Sage.....apparently she doesn't know it? Safe in the enclosed section with Caly locked away in his stall....Steven snapped the longe line on Sage. Walk. Huh? Everytime he told her to walk, she did, which, except for when longing, is a good thing: walked right up to him.

Hmmm. I was tied up, not really watching....tho I did know what he was attelpting to do. Not having a round pen here, that enclosure was the next best thing, or so he thought.

He told a friend that he was having trouble.....and he offered to show Steven just how he longes his young horse: Danny. Steven went to observe John longing Danny, which, from what I hear, was successful and Steven was quite impressed, and anxious to try John's method with Sage.

My experience, on the other hand, years ago, was a feeble attemp at repeating what I had learned from a book. I decide to try this longing thing with my 2 geldings, before the Boyz....They must have thought I had lost my mind.....I come out with a brand new longe line, snap it on under the halter and lead them to my front yard......much to the dismay of my, then, husband. These geldings were in their 20's, WELL into their 20's and it had been quite some time since they'd been asked to longe.......and they let me know it.

So off I go with the first horse, the Fell, Angel, who's real name was Hell's Angel, and I tell him: Walk. He looked at me like I was kidding...he just stood there, and I am sure he was laughing at me.... " You want me to do what???" WALK, I say more insistently.....still this blank stare of disbelief. I didn't have a whip in those days, so I made use of the extra longe line, wrapped in my left hand.....Walk!

Ok, so he understood, and immediately tossed his head and started to trot, nose in the air....Now, you must understand my front yard was really not all that large, and, in the middle of it stood a large Oak tree....with a circular rock wall around it, that, in summer, contained flowers.....So I go pacing around this planter, with trotting horse on the other end of the line.....and I truly believe, that had he not stopped and come to me, I would a lost my lunch. I was so dizzy!

Certainly, I thought, I am doing something wrong......and I go get the other horse, Domino, who was trained to the 9's....certainly HE would know what to do and give me a clue! He did. It did not cure my nausea, walking in circles, but he did show me just how this longe concept worked....and we worked at it for about 20 minutes.

When I was done, I was not only nauseaous, but I had made a mighty rut in a perfect circle thru the grass in my front yard....which promptly froze and didn't disapper until well into the spring.....and I heard about the damage....I heard about it a LOT....and I never tried it again. That was probably 20 years ago.....Since then, I have elected to ride out the crazies and not waste them on the other end of a line....

So Steven asks me to help longe Sage.....in the open practice area behind the barn. Granted, he has now seen, first hand, a successful longing session.....so I better measure up. I am trying to recall all of the past 20 years of what I had learned....all those trips to Equine Affaire where I watched the best of the best demonstrate longing and round penning.....So I clip the longe line to the side of the halter, put my best Mother's Stare at the shoulder and bark: walk on.....she did. She did very well, and I was quite pleased with myself......so I figure I will try: trot.....After all the whole point of this exercise is to build muscle and balance, right?

Sure, she trotted and then got snotty: tossing her head and not really bucking, but getting all excited. Quick, brain: What would Cathie Hatrick Anderson do??? Pull down and whoa. Whew! It worked! She stopped, and looked at me...."Like that was just getting fun, what'd ya stop for?". I sent her off at a walk, and passed the line to Steven.....she walked to him. I explained about driving from the shoulder and the neck....had seen greeat results....and she did it for him, briefly.

We tried the other direction. Nope, that is the 'other' side of the horse....and the one not to be trusting. That, coupled with my neighbors little herding dog of some breed that I can't recall, loose in her yard, was giving Sage an excuse not to perform. This same dog, Sassy, had freaked out Caly once. She just sat in the abutting woods, staring, with her head down.....motionless....and that was enuf to convince Caly it was something to be feared.... it was also quite windy.....so we cut the session short, led her back to her enclosure and had a successful moment: lifting of feet: on command. All was well, she had succeeded on her last task of the day.....and we will leave longing for another time.

Sage Goes To Work....

She's here a week, she's 5, she's comfortable with a saddle and a bridle: She goes to work!

Steven looks funny in a helmet.....makes him look about 6 inches taller, but, recalling when I played the role of crash test dummy on a 17.1 hh Belgian Stallion WITH a helmet ( I am chemically blonde....not stupid!) ....I did my best to stifle the giggle...Here's a picture of the handsome bugger: Skidder...When I come back, I wanna be a Belgian mare....Fabio Horse.

Get a soda before you click on the video.....Tianna was filming for us and we didn't want to miss a minute of this groundbreaker....or bonebreaker....or whatever was to come.

hwww.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=8c443c77d2de8d1933b426&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url ttp://


Yee Haw! Totally Uneventful! Steven put some weight on her: nuthin......like:" Get on with it will ya??" So he gets on......We had locked Stinkerbell in his room, and did this in his paddock: treeless. He left the halter on her, and the lead. Walk on, gentle push with his heels. She walks.....we used the corners: turn....Needs a bit of work there. Direct rein/brace rein, outside leg....she walks on.... She is completely and totally compliant....TAKE HER PULSE!

Whomever said that stainless makes a dry mouth has not met Sage.....I had the nailing apron on, full of alfalfa cubes, Rounders, and some peppermint flavored horse treats.....she drools....she drools ALOT!

Covered in mare slobber, I let Steven tell her what he wanted....she was, for the most part, very quick to catch on.....just a couple prompts from the apron wearing treat lady.....um, that would be me. At one point, after a whoa and a dismount and back....she butted the electric fence......Just a little scoot forward, nothing horrible....like I would expect from the domestics, she calms right down, and goes back to work after he remounted....more turns, whoas, a back and some more turns: called it a day! Tianna ( 15) , our spare child, was videoing.....and when I figure out how to view the videos on this computer I will certainly post a bit of it.....It was all very, very impressive.

Steven and Tianna have left for the bowels of the park with Caly and Dazzle......and I am home relaxing, it's Mother's Day and favorite son has rumbled out of the driveway on my motorcycle, and there is peace....at least for a little while.

One more Sam Adams....Life is Good.

Company Keeps Coming!

And she takes all the oohing and ahhing all in stride. Today she got to meet my good friend Dyan, who has finally recovered enuf from her cold, no longer sounding like she had tampons up her nose.......

She took a bunch of photos of the boyz and the princess.....And has full credit for the profile picture just added....

Next up was my stepmother, Nancy. Like a trooper she caned~it down to the barn to greet Sage. Who, in her usual calm style greeted her at the stall door. Loving every minute of the attention, strolling about, showing off her bars, stripe and that irresistible Mustang face.

Just waiting for Steven.....I think the rain has let off a bit so we can get the Boyz out....and see how Sage handles being solo at the barn......

The News Is Out!

My good friend Dyan found and sent me this for this blog, Sage and Steven's Scrapbook:
( sorry about the broken text, I cut and pasted...looks fine in the preview....if someone knows how to fix this, please email me! calysgal24@comcast.net Thank You!)

Great weekend for the USWHBABy Michael YodiceThe US Wild Horse and Burro Association shot out of the gate SaturdayMay 2nd and never looked back. Our trainers, working as Bureau of LandManagement volunteers through the “Adopt a Wild Horse or Burro” fosterprogram, are responsible for a 100% Mustang adoption. The adoption washeld at Ricks Saddle Shop Cream Ridge New Jersey Equestrian Super Store.Ten of the twelve Mustangs available for adoption found homes. (More onthe other 2 in a moment). We are extremely proud of our trainers, andhonored, as this was the VERY FIRST BLM gentled Mustang mini adoption.The mini adoptions are a pilot program established by the BLM to offergentled Mustangs and Burros via their volunteer trainers, to potentialadopters who may not have the facilities, or the knowledge of wild equinebehavior to take on a wild horse or burro. The mini adoption program alsohelps keep costs down for the BLM.
BLM volunteer trainers Robin Rivello, Kim Dore, Reid Totten, MeganPrint, Cliff Crowl, and Kristen King, travelled to Lexington Virginia tochoose their prospective Mustangs at an adoption held at the Virginia HorseCenter the weekend of March 14th. They had only 48 days to gentle, train,and prepare their horses for the Ricks event. The numbers tell the tale. Theyall did a great job. All the trainers held demonstrations for the publicthroughout the day.
Steve Meyer, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, from the BLM EasternStates Milwaukee Field Office was at the adoption to approve the adopter’sapplications.
Scott Swanson, External Affairs for the Wild Horse and Burro Program outof the Springfield Virginia office was also at the adoption. It was hiscoordination and guidance that enabled this adoption to take place.
The USWHBA also had a display table with sale items to support theorganization, and free items provided by the BLM for the promotion of the“Adopt a Wild Horse or Burro” program. The USWHBA also had a cookoutserving hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and soft drinks. Ricks provided thegrill. Purina Mills also donated 5 bags of feed to each adopter and their newMustang.
The following day, Sunday May 3rd, The USWHBA was at the “NewJersey Horse Expo” held at the Hunterdon County Fair Grounds in RingoesN.J. Once again we had our display table set up promoting the organizationand the BLM, along with 6 pens for our animals. We brought 4 mascots (3Mustangs and 1 Burro), and the 2 Mustangs that did not get adopted atRicks. Steve Meyer and Scott Swanson were also there.
Our Vice President, Hans Shull, rode Robin Rivello’s Mustang Skye inthe parade of breeds. Hans is also a member of the Single Action ShootingSociety (SASS) and participates in Cowboy Mounted Shooting events andcompetitions on his Mustang gelding Vinny. Hans, dressed in his vintagecowboy outfit, gave an afternoon demonstration, also with Skye, on how toprepare and train your horse for the sights and sounds (gun fire), that are partof the SASS events.
But the highlight of the Expo for us all was when the final 2 Mustangsavailable were adopted. It was an unbelievable feeling. We had achieved100% at the very first mini adoption. It is pretty amazing considering ourorganization was conceived in August 2008, and established in October2008. As stated earlier, we are truly honored to be part of this groundbreaking program with the BLM. Our directors, trainers, and memberswould like to thank the BLM for the faith and trust they have put in us.
The USWHBA would like to thank the following.Ricks Saddle ShopThe Bureau of Land Management, Wild Horse and Burro ProgramPurina MillsThe Hunterdon County Chamber of CommerceThe Hunterdon County Volunteer CommitteeThe BLM Mustang TrainersAnd most of all, the Mustang adoptersSincerely,The Directors and Members of the US Wild Horse and Burro AssociationP.S. To all of the adopters from this weekend, the USWHBA would like tostart a monthly spotlight page showing you and your horse together, as youprogress through the years. Please send us your photos so we can show offyour horses.

Whoo Hoo! GO! USWHBA

She PONIES

Today, a first visit with Dave the Blacksmith: she passed muster, and stood quietly while the boyz were trimmed and shod. She seemed to like Dave, they all do, despite our good natured bickering at each other, which is how we communicate.... Completely uneventful.....Quick: someone check her pulse!

This afternoon's outing....Crosstying, Weight on her back, and Ponying with Dazzle.

Poor Sage, was tested again in the crossties...waiting patiently, probably wondering if we humans were mentally deficient or something...she is ready for a ride! Steven laid across her back....not at all phased....He dismounts, and tries the other side....Nuthin. She is good, very very good......Riding will have to wait a bit, she needs to gain some weight and muscle....eat, Sage, eat!



She waited very patiently, and with her Big Horn saddle properly adjusted and 2 pads for ultimate comfort, I rode Dazz out to the dirt road, and we swapped, Steven rode Dazzle. Once we reached the wide road, we trotted a bit to the end of the way, and then I passed him the lead. After a bit of human awkwardness, getting the pony on the right side of the horse, they started off....Sage a bit hesitant to go with her appointed big brother, but she got the hang of it very very quickly!



Dazzle, as usual, was very well behaved and didn't give that little mare one ounce of grief....I jogged ahead....and took this pic. Not bad, eh?


Someone check her pulse....she is so good.

Rain Rain Go Away.....

..........Steve and Sage need to play.

What rotten weather.....shoulda adopted a sea~horse!

Between showers, Steven and Sage have been out on several walks. Yesterday, he put her in cross ties and tried the saddle on, laying 2 thick pads on her as the saddle was a bit wide for her.........She got a bit wiggly when the saddle was placed on her back. Nothing horrid, she was just a little apprehensive about the ends of the girth touching her sides....or perhaps her earlier crossties were inside the barn....ours are between trees, outside.

After the appropriate amount of praise, he removed the saddle, having not cinched it up, and took her for a long walk with just the 2 pads resting on her back: no problem. She was attentive to everything...even my neighbors horses, who, one by one came out to see the new girl.

Donna has all mares, and they did the normal amount of whinnying to each other. She was interested, but compliant, checking out the kids in the driveway: no fear. Good!

I did find the correct bit, yesterday while in NH, and once we get a nice day will swap out a tom thumb for this new " english' one. Ewwwww. But if she likes it, OK.

Her first day home, Sunday 5/2 her weight tape said 696, yesterday 704....that's IF it was in the exact spot....but knowing Steven as I do .......it probably was. She really likes her alfalfa mix hay, finishes it first, then goes after the 2nd cut timothy....gotta remember to order more, soon, she's a feeder.

How Much Trouble Can Steven Get Into In A Day?

Left on his own after I went to work, I was sure I would hear, at least a few times, about today's activities.

I had noticed at the last check before bedtime they were hanging out together....Dazzle was poking his nose thru the bars, Sage would respond with a tiny squeal or a pinning of the ears.....but she never left that side of the stall.

When I left this morning, Caly was munching happily at the top of his paddock, Sage and Dazzle were continuing to hang out side by side at the half wall with bars: Breakfast for 2? She also had hay outside, near the metal gate and fencing that separates Sage from " Stinkerbell".

Steven came by my work and I was told Sage nibbled from hay pile to hay pile, with a watchful eye towards Caly. She has learned in 36 hours what took me months: DO NOT TRUST HIM. She really is a fast learner.

Sage and Steven already had their first outing today, he doesn't do nothing well. After cleaning up her paddock, he took her out for a walk. Sitting in my office, he doled out details, very slowly, and in a tone that had me just waiting for a bad part of the outing to be revealed....He told me she balked a bit at leaving the Boyz, then fell into step with him, just as I had noticed with her in NJ on her very first outing....He adjusted his gait and she followed suit. On a few occasions she stopped to observe what was going on around her: dog and walker....She was very aware of what was going on, assessed all quickly and efficiently, and seeing no need for concern, went right back to work.

She is watchful of dogs, but she is not afraid. She watched my aged female Old English Sheepdog, Mela, amble along the edge of her paddock....facing and watching her. Mela was no threat, is hardly animated.....it could be a different stroy with Chuckie...will have to watch him.

She and Steven followed our dog walk path into the state park. The route includes wooded trails with fallen trees, narrow passages and low branches, and a stretch of the bike trail. She had no issues with any of this, still keeping a watchful eye in the direction of the dog, but paying attention to Steven, ducking behind him in narrow areas, concious of where he was, not stepping on his feet or pushing him along.

Her pace quickened a bit as they headed back to the house. Even though this was her first trip into the park, she knew where home was, and she started to pass Steven. His reaction was whoa her, and back her up a step or two, stand, and then tell her to walk on.....she remained in step, only passing him one more time, with the same correction. Good!

I was sure, at this point in his story of the outing, that there was going to be an incident.....munching on my bagel that he'd brought, I fought the urge to say 'OK! Was it successful or not?' The suspense was pretty thick! The story continued, and for me, there was a mix of disappointment hearing a tale with no excitement, and the delight that all went well.

Sage was led along the long side of Caly's paddock to the gate for hers. She was watching him, but no reaction. They went thru the gate, which swung far open...there is Steven with the 'wild' horse's lead in his left hand and a gate he can't quite reach now to his right. To make matters worse ( for Steven, Sage was fine!) the morning rain has electrified the gate, via the wet wood....and now HE has to touch it! Not wanting to transfer a jolt through his body to hers, should she come in contact with him.....he, in one movement, unclipped her, stepped to the gate, bit the bullet preparing for a shock and shut it. The zap was there, just faintly, not painfully. Whew!

She continued to graze between piles of hay. The Boyz, the domesticated duo, tend to eat meals.....she grazes.

Steven has Mondays off. His friend Dave has ridden with us on occasion back when I had 3 Boyz, mainly riding Dazzle, but once did ride Caly a brief period....with no disasters. Dave wants to meet Sage, and Steven said he was now heading over to see Dave and ask if he would like to go for a short ride....

Surprisingly, Steven admitted some hesitancy to ride Caly after the hissy fit we witnessed yesterday. We agreed that part of the drama was caused by Caly being angry that he was the only horse that didn't get to go out.....But I know, the balance was drama, he's a showoff at heart.

I assurred Steven that yesterday's display is usually behaviour that is reserved as a paddock performance. Likely not following to the saddle. Steven is a strong rider, observant and quick to react to bad behaviour, faster than I am.....He realizes, to avoid escalation of issues, that Caly's behaviour has to be caught very, very early, and correction must be swift and complete: no nonsense. He's checking with Dave.....and they may venture out before this afternoon's rain.....I think he is really looking forward to it. We both seem to have a real taste for 'on the edge' horsemanship....

I am considering a liability waiver.....or maybe a life insurance policy.

Dave was not up for a ride, Steven set to creating a new gate, using every last scrap of conduit in his garage....it's a masterpiece. He returned to the house, and after paying the appropriate attention to Sage, made a few adjustmants to the gate to prevent another episode of chosing horse or fence....

One more walk, this time I trailed along behind. Steven likes her brisk walk, and encourages by keeping his pace quick. He jogs: she jogs, right past me....paying no attention to me, he turns around, and then he really starts to run....

Sage was A-OK with that....she broke into a lope! for a few strides, before the young horse feel goods got out of control: she'd started to toss her head, twist a little and lift her butt. Steven told her "et!", spun and stopped her....and had a bit of a discussion she apparently understood, standing politely looking at him....and then they walked on....together.

I told him the only thing he should have done differently was to whoa, then stand....not the other way around. I am sure, next time he will. So I can just resume my position as observer....he's got it.

Houston! We Have Herd Dynamics!

At Steven's suggestion we decided to swap Caly and Dazzle in their paddocks. Sage's company and I left her paddock and stood at the front of the barn. Tianna had a leadrope for Caly and Scott was to relocate Dazzle, Steven was choreographing the maneuvers.

Dazzle is a big lug, and Scott, who is very new to horses, convinced him to come out of his paddock, making a wide swing towards the house, while Tianna led Caly out and across to the open gate. He rushed in, swung his big spotted butt around, Tianna unconcerned, made him face her and removed his halter and lead. Scott was doing the same with Dazzle.

Within seconds,Caly was racing around the paddock, which thankfully has few trees, bucking and farting, blowing and snorting. Caly would drop, roll, leap up, race around and repeat on the other side, racing around more....He is quite an athlete and he really enjoys showing off. My guests were quite amused, and Scott was a little concerned he would not stop for the fence, and, like a typical teen male, thought all the farting was hilarious! Caly's like a good nor'easter, just has to blow himself out....and this went on for quite some time.

Sage, upon Caly entering that paddock, left the adjoining fence line and went right into her new stall, making eyes at Dazzle thru the bars. She has decided he is a much nicer neighbor, and from the front window of her stall ovserved Caly's airs above the ground, sprints and releasing of gas. She ventured out near the fenceline separating them, pinned her ears and gave one small squeal, then retreated to the company of Dazzle.

I am now wondering if Caly could indeed be a crypt, a horse with one undescended testicle inside his body. He's always been a bit of a whackjob, but when he went into that stall and smelled mare urine, he went plain crazy! Flipping his head around, lip up, snorting and blowing.....more to watch.

For now ...all is quiet.....and the tantrum has subsided...

First Day Home

Once Steven arrived with our spare children, Tianna and Scott, teenagers, they were introduced to Sage and shortly afterward started brushing Dazzle. They ofen come over, tack up Dazzle and set off into the park, taking turns riding and walking. Dazzle is one of those good boys: 21 years old, solid and sane on the trail and never does anything he feels the rider is not ready for. So far, Sage seems that she could one day be very much like him. She whinnied a few times when they left, but settled down quickly. Good.

The kids departed and Steven was doing some paddock finishing touches, all the while Sage observing him, not at all put out by the pounding of the hammer and adjustment of gates. When the kids returned, Sage was to be brushed and have her first outing at the new place.

Steven placed her in cross ties, the kids keeping Dazzle and themselves busy in the practice area under the powerlines. Steven walked her out there an let her check out the area, making a few laps while Tianna and then Scott put Dazzle around a barrel pattern, slowly. She was very curious of the blacked areas from recent brush burning, and once inspected never gave it a second thought. her experience in the practice area was completely uneventful.

My neighbors stopped by with a welcome home bag of treats. Steven led Sage into the driveway. She didn't care much for the sound of her feet on the cement, it was a bit hollow sounding..... but was compliant and generally quiet. He let her graze a bit across the street and led her back to her stall.

A while later Steven discovered that Sage had tested 'the fence'. Although her paddock has wood fencing, with pipe gates, the other's are only electric tape fencing. A strip 1/2" white elctric fence tape lines the top rail to deter leaning....Steven discovered a rather long section laying on the ground, extending into Sage's paddock. The clip was no where to be found. She was at the far end of the paddock, and her curiosity got to her and she approached the tape, nose to the ground. She sniffed and sniffed, finally touching it: ZAP: which set her back a couple steps....but certainly not very upset about it....testing? I unplugged it, he repaired it and it was turned back on. I swear she understands how it works: she watched the entire process.

Steven and the kids gave all 3 hay, some inside, some out as it was starting to rain. Sage nibbled on and off at the outside pile, but didn't want any part of going into her stall. I was waiting for my friend Meri to come by with a couple friends from her lesson barn so I went out and tried to coax her in, out of the rain. Caly, the appy came to the fence, she squealed at him and went to the far end of the corral....hmmmmm.

Caly is, shall I say : Not so nice. His breast collar says:" This Horse Is.....Not Very Nice. Pretty much says it all. He pretends to be sweet and kind, but that often doesn't last long...he is my favorite horse, I am not sure why. Perhaps I just like the Bad Boys. There are vertical bars from a half wall to the ceiling which divide his stall from hers. They have a short stretch of adjoining paddocks at the rear of the barn, where the electric fence had been broken. Their feeders are on opposing walls, but the hay was in the opposite corner. He came around the back, she saw him, let out a little squeal, pinned her ears back and went to the other side of her paddock. Something to watch.....I mentioned to Steven he may want to lock her in the other stall again tonite....

My friend and her 2 barn buddies came to meet this 'wild' horse. For the first time, Sage was a bit agitated. She was fine with the people, remained outside, away from her hay, and for the first time actually pinned her ears. She was inquisitive of her visitors and behaved herself, except for raising a foot, flattening her ears, when Steven touched her back near her tail. She was agitated, not horribly so, but her attitude had definitely changed..............

He Is So Hooked.....

It's 6:05 am when I first open my eyes, well, sort of....upon returning from the lav, I already knew, somehow, that Steven was already awake, and I hear: "I think we should...." which I interuupted: "Steven: don't talk to me til at least 6:45". Silence.....Just like a kid on Christmas morning ......

At 7:45 Steven wakes me up: "Your coffee is ready and I have already fed the horses". I am thinking, oh, there is a big surprise....until I see that he's still in his bathrobe? Whaaat? Did he really go outside with the horses like that? I am now, quite shocked....that is not something he would normally do, I am impressed. Later I learned, he had actually gotten dressed first, but I was now awake and ready to start the day.

After breakfast, we prepare swapping Dazzle and Sage to their proper paddocks/stalls. All is fine, everyone quiet and compliant. She inspects her paddock, and it passes, and she promptly lays down for a good roll, rises and then does the other side. She inspects her slightly used stall, also met with approval and digs in to the fresh pile of hay, they all do.

Steven left to dump the manure trailer and a make a much needed trip to the dump, then retrieve spare children....to ride Dazzle. While they were out, I went outside...all three laying down in their paddocks, and all on their right side.....I'm going to check all their pulses...this is just too quiet. I think she's mesmerized the boyz.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

The suspense was killing me....I called Robin around 6:30, nearly 3 hours after we left, to see how many horses ended up adopted. Total was nine! Aspen was adopted! and finally the nagging in the back of my head ended.....not that I would change my mind and take a third trip to NJ and violate the Town's rules regading how many horses....but more the concern if he'd found a home.

Still available were Dun, Hunter and Shark Bait ( Sharkey) and they would be going to the Expo tomorrow.....

Dun

Hunter


Sharkey

Sage is a bit more worldly now.....She saw NYC traffic, for about 45 minutes. She never reminded us she was even 'in the box' she was so good. Stopping for fuel and for us to grab a bite to eat; waited patiently, like she just knew this was not the place.

Then there was Providence RI. Due to a change in the exits that Jill was not aware of ( and for the umpteenth time I hear: " I have to get this map updated") we ended up in downtown Providence. Sage got to see the big ANNIE marquis and the heart of the city....no reaction from the trailer..... and I was thinking....maybe we should take her pulse?

A bit closer to home I remembered: there is no fuel at my house.....Now, fuel, at my house, is not what heats it, it is what is in a bottle, has bubbles and vacations in the fridge. My brother used to refer to them as 12 ounce tranquilzers.... 2 quick stops, one a failure, lands a dozen Heineken's in the back seat. Properly equipped now, the last 20 minutes of the journey passes quickly.

At home, Steven lets me out at the end of the driveway to pop the back up lites on: nope, no go. He parked in the dark, almost perfectly, in the usual spot. Still, silence from the trailer. We move Dazzle to her paddock, because, at Robin's suggestion, she be stalled for the night. Her stall door does not latch, and his is larger. We put hay and water in place, turn on the stall lite, and Steven goes over to unload Sage.

He opened the door, she stood just inside: waiting. She stood patiently as he clipped her lead on, and out she came: like a lady. She seemed unconcerned with the flashlite that I had pointed at the ground, which was really more for me than for her. She walked flawlessy along the appy's fence, where he stood munching hay. He was interested..." Hey! Who's the new girl??, bring her on over "....the electric fence kept him a distance away. She looked mildly interested, and I wondered: is she just playing hard to get?

Steven led her in thru the paddock to the stall door. That access door is slightly narrower than the rear entry, dutch door, but Dazz is a big boy and has no trouble. She balked. She wanted to look around a bit before she complied with the command: walk on. She entered, looked around, and apparently she found her new accomodations acceptable as she allowed Steven to take her out and in a couple more times. Again: I thought: take her pulse! she's so good!

Once the lead was off, she stuck her nose into her hay pile. We turned off the light, observed her a bit after latching the stall door. Perfectly content, we could hear her chewing halfway back to the house. Not a peep....all night.

Testing, One, Two, Three

The people!

Starting slowly once the store opened, but getting busier by the minute and in full swing by 10 or 11, around the time the skies cleared and sun came out, for awhile...

Children, men, women, senior citizens: all turned out to see the wild mustangs. All were SO interested in the horses, it was difficult for me to tell who the adopters would be and who were the curious, who came to see these icons of the old American West. They wove their way around the pens and the roundpen: strollers, umbrellas and flapping raincoats. All good exposure for the 'wild' horses and only a couple of them mildy reacted, at first, and then quickly accepted all the strange attire from these humans.

Everyone I spoke with was very pleased and surprised at how calm most of the horses were and even those that were still a bit skittish and aloof were still impressive specimens. There was no racing around, pinning of ears or any behaviour that I would associated with meeting a 'wild' horse. People lined the contours of the pens, hands outstretched, trying to pet them, some offering handfuls of grass, which most gratefully accepted, gently. The group of 12 horses did an outstanding job of educating people and successfully impressed all that came. The BLM volunteers and USWHBA group were all so busy answering inquiries answering training questions and sharing information about gathers, adoption programs that if I needed to find one of them, they were not in the same place I saw them just seconds before. The trainers took turns taking a horse into the roundpen and letting them strut their stuff, and the spectators oohed and ahhed at the fence. Everyone was smiling, all seemed impressed, some were horribly disappointed they didn't have room at their barn for one of these horses.

Sage and Fallon had pending adoptions and once the paperwork was completed and finalized by Steven and the BLM, her nametag was one of the first to be edited: "ADOPTED".

I was VERY impressed by Aspen: what a mover in the round pen, what a pretty face, and that forelock: a Fabio horse.........and he was not yet adopted by noon, I couln't believe it!



We spent some time shopping in the store while we waited for the vet to arrive to do the interstate paperwork. Steven got his 5 bags of complimentary grain for adopting, and 2 official BLM tees that sprot a Proud Adopter logo. Sage got a new water bucket, 40 lbs of peppermint flavored treats, a bag of alfalfa cubes and
a bag of Mare Magic to ward off marish behavoiur....something which I was mildly concerned about. I had geldings aat home, my goal being to maintain peace in the neighborhood.

Outside, I purchased 90.00 worth of Tee Shirts, as souveniers of the day for a few people and ordered a black verison of the USWHBA sticker for my trailer.

We did meet alot of people that attended intending on trying to adopt Sage! There were a couple people that emailed Robin about her just after we did....the next in lines. I met one of them over at Red's pen......the teen and her mother were smiling broadly, the girl with her knuckles to her mouth....That would have been me a few decades ago if my mother had said yes when I begged and pleaded for the pony I never got til I was 23. She had been disappointed to hear that Sage had an adoption pending, and very nearly didn't come to the event. I laughed when they said they were an hour and a half away, they reciprocated the laugh when I told them we came from Cape Cod: not once, but twice: for Sage...

The pair had adopted Red: my second choice when viewing the site for Steven: small world, I thought. I had asked Robin what the usual outcome was of a regular adoption. She said they vary, some better attended than others, and it was common for 2, 3, and 4 to get adopted. By that standard this was going extremely well: I noted 5 out of 12 were marked "ADOPTED" and heard there was a LINE at the adoption paperwork table inside. Wow!

I noticed the grey colt was available still, Aspen. he was really a looker. Steven had commented the same back at the barn too. Seems we have similar taste in equines. Steven had already opened a bag of the treats he'd purchased, filled his pocket, and mine too. I passed a few out to people that were looking at Aspen, trying to figure out who were the potential adopters and who were the spectators.....

I was chatting with Kim at Aspen's pen, she was his trainer and he was a new arrival, who was quickly joined by a BLM rep.....and the hard sell started.....I do not need a thrid horse, I do not need a third horse...I do not have a forth stall, I do not have a forth stall....I will admit, that I did, fleetingly, entertain the idea when the 'once in a lifetime offer' of 'gelding included' was put on the table, but ultimately my rational mind prevailed.....Apsen was still up for adoption, and he was still on my mind.

I saw an SPCA van pull up, and a gentleman standing next to it, observing what was going on.....I stopped and asked him if he was, by some chance, the person doing the interstate exams. That was what we were waiting for so we could load Sage and head home. No, and he asked what was going on, I explained.....and he was very impressed. He told me that he'd wanted to get a horse, but had not done so. So I started the hard sell, and he resisted, stating he didn't 'yet' have a barn. When we parted, he was on his way down to meet the horses. He didn't adopt, but he left educated about 'wild' horses. In passing him at the hot dog table, I told him he better start that barn soon.

With the white flag to proceed, Steven swapped halters and leads to ones we brought with us, then he led her to the trailer uneventfully. She got right in and after the final Thank You's and goodbyes to our new friends from USWHBA, we headed home.

I had taken a final accounting of those adoted before I left: 8 out of 12 spoken for, and Aspen was still available......