My fifth riding lesson

This last lesson was my favorite. Well, they all are, but this time I got to ride in a field! Around trees, and more straight areas to ride in then a round pen.

Robyn thought that since I was so gentle with Shorty that I could use a high port bit for reining training.
She had gotten her trail riding saddle back that she loaned out to a family member, and oh my goodness was my behind happy. That saddle is so comfortable. It moves with you, kind of conforms to your seat.

I'll start from the beginning where I arrive and give carrots to Shorty, when Tonto allows him, and Tonto, and Ollie the donkey.

Do my usual grooming as stated in previous blog.

We did something a little different this time that Clint Anderson advises. That is, when your horse is feeling a little ornary, get a long rope, and rotate it by your side to make them run around the round pen. When they do start walking, trotting, to your satisfaction then stop rotating the rope. This teaches them to respect you. If they stop moving, then rotate the rope, as so on. I did this for about 15-20 minutes then when I stopped rotating the rope at this point, Shorty walked up to me. I said "Good Boy" and gave him a carrot. Then we saddled up.

We practiced reining in the round pen for a good 20 minutes until we, Shorty and I, got the feel of each other......and I could stop him!

Then we rode out of the round pen, out of the pasture gate, under a couple short lines, and out to the side yard. Which is huge and full of trees. We rode around trees, he gained speed when I asked him to, with my forward lean, and feet on either side. We even rode around a tree at a steady trot! The next thing I have to learn will be how to sit the trot because Shorty puts a lot of air between me and the saddle. So, I'll have to learn to ride it.

This entire lesson took almost 2 1/2 hours and I loved every minute of it. I can't wait to see what we will be doing this week!

My fourth riding lesson

                                       
                                    Back with Shorty…it’s been a week!

A little insight as to the steps from the beginning to the end of the lesson.

First, call the horses to the fence, or walk to get them from a neighbor’s pasture.

Second, get some treats for Shorty…..and Tonto……and Ollie.

Third, put the halter on Shorty.

Fourth, walk over to our favorite tree, secure Shorty with a knot, and brush him…three different stages.

Fifth, get the blanket and saddle.

Sixth, saddle up.

Seventh, slip the halter down  Shorty’s neck a little and put the bridle on. After that, we take the halter off.

If Shorty needs it I will walk him around a while to loosen his girth.

This lesson I was to learn to rein Shorty. We had the round pen to ourselves!To tell the truth, I was trying to figure out what he was used to. Whether it was one-handed light reining, or something else. The only thing that worked, not consistently, was holding the loop reins with my right hand, and if I needed him to turn I would outstretch that side with that hand and cluck my tongue while I did it. But I didn’t get to that point until close to the end of the lesson. I am having a hard time keeping him in a straight line, which is something I need to work on with him. We are learning together.
                             
                                      
I can get him to walk from a dead stop. Which is handy. As far as stopping, I can get him to stop but, he starts walking when he wants to. So, I need to work on not letting him start without my go ahead.
                                       
Shorty likes to stop at the gate, thinking maybe we can stop now. But, I cluck my tongue and turn him into the pen again.
                                        

We do a lot of walking in circles, and attempting more figure 8s, some work, some don’t. We just have to be consistent, and now that I’ve figured out that I have the steering wheel, I have to drive correctly. That is what I am learning. To do it right every time. I know that Shorty might not always feel like it, because horses have not so great days like the rest of us, but we can make baby steps every time we are together. And that is what I look forward to every week. Being with Shorty...
                                         
                                                                                                       ... My third main man.

Photos courtesy of Simple Journeys Photography
Clarksville, Texas

My third riding lesson…..in pictures

                                                                                
                                                                     
                        Got the boots                                          “ Got  Shorty”
               
                      After brushing I got a lesson in cleaning hooves.

                
              
                                   Just Horsin’ Around before saddling up
           
    Letting Shorty smell the blanket               Putting on the blanket
            
                                                         Saddling up                                               
             
                     Taking Shorty for a walk to loosen his girth
            
                    Robyn is walking Shorty and me around the round pen
             
        I have the reins. We rode around the round pen and in figure 8s.
              
                                            Riding. And oh what a ride it is.
                            
                           Robyn is showing me how to hold the reins
              
                Getting off                  Thanking Shorty             Having a chat.
                                        
                                                      and love, love, love..
                                           
                                                                  The end.

Photos courtesy of Simple Journeys Photography.
Clarksville, Texas.

My second riding lesson

I had read about despooking horses. So I decided to bring carrots for the horses...in a Wal-Mart bag. I wondered if the sound would bother them.  Nope.  They watched and waited for the carrots and gratefully ate them. Didn't even bat an eyelash.

Then it was into the barn for a refresher course in what I had learned at the first lesson. I found the halter and lead rope, got it off of the rack, and we went through the gate to "get Shorty". I put the halter on this time! Then I walked Shorty around the round pen, while Robyn went to get the saddle. Robyn put the blanket on Shorty, and then she put the saddle on. YAY!! I am going to fail Q & A because I can't remember the type of saddle it was, or at least the way it straps, anyway you wrap it like a tie at the top. Then I had to walk Shorty around the pen until his girth lessed a little so we could tighten the saddle a bit more.

Here comes the awesome part........I put my foot in the stirrup! Yep my left foot to be exact, by the way you do everything on the left, getting on, getting off, putting the saddle on, taking it off, putting on a harness, everything!

Then Robyn told me to stand up, on the stirrup, don't get on the saddle, just let me see you stand up in the stirrup. So I did. Yes! Then, she told me to mount. And so I did. Way Cool! Then she told me take my feet out of the stirrups and hold my arms out while she leads Shorty around the round pen. O.K. I read about this. I knew it was coming, I was ready, I was on, I was balancing, but I must say, the muscles you feel when you are hanging on with your thighs, oh my, where have those been? And where did they come from?! We did this for a while. Robyn turned, and walked straight, went in circles, any different kind of walking. I loved every minute of it.

My very first riding lesson

Well, not exactly riding..
First things first, find a fantastic teacher, with a horse of course, and then meet the horse. Which is what I did the entire first lesson. For two hours "Shorty" (that's the horse) and I walked and grazed. I pet him on his mane, his back, his butt, his tail, I brushed him, he had treats from my hand, we connected.
I read a book from a friend of mine, the title I will put on my blog later, but it said over and over again how important it is for the owner/rider to have a relationship with the horse. So did my teacher, Robyn. So that's what we did. Met each other. All three of us actually.
The first thing Robyn did when we walked outside was call for Tonto and Shorty. Tonto is a Tennessee Walker, and Shorty is a Morgan. They came running from the side of the pasture. She called them, and they came, my dog won't do that! We fed them cookies, horse treats, hand flat. Did you know horses will lick your hand? I didn't but it is the coolest thing! At first I was a little apprehensive, thinking if I don't have a treat in my hand he might try to nibble on my fingers, but no, they lick you..shock! I was in love from that moment on.
After that discovery, Robyn showed me a bridle and lead rope. Yes, I know, I don't know the technical jargon, but hey, if I keep this up which I plan to, I'll be talking with the rest of them! Just wait and see. Robyn put the bridle on Shorty, all the while I am watching with pure fascination, and she walked this magnificent creature. Roughly 900 pounds of animal was following her. How amazing is that! It was my turn. She put the lead rope in my hand, not around my hand but folded it so if Shorty ran away he wouldn't take me with him. Good. So, I am walking Shorty! I'm nervous, I'm anxious, this is the beginning of something I have wanted to do my entire life but just haven't had a chance to. Now I am doing it. Way...too... cool! Shorty starts out walking behind me, just past my shoulders, but then he gets to where his head is ahead of me. Robyn stops us and gives me a pointer. Give the rope a tail, when he gets in front of you twirl it in front of him and he will drop back. When he does, stop twirling. Keep walking. If you notice him doing it again, twirl the rope. I did it! He fell back and I stopped twirling. Then, after that walk a couple times around the back yard, I stopped so Shorty could eat some grass, the good stuff growing where he can't reach. Robyn and I talked and talked, and answered each others questions. All the while I am petting Shorty up and down the side of his mane, his body, his buttocks around the tail, brushing him, leaning on him putting my hands and arms over his back and putting my head down on him. I never knew a horse smelled so good. She asked what kind of riding I wanted to do? Well, I already knew that one, trail riding. She asked if I wanted to learn jumping or anything like that. Hmm...well, I suppose there might be a time that could come in handy when your trail riding. A limb, anything. So she will teach me some jumping as well. Yay!! I will be riding western. Once a week to start.