Good Morning Saturday

This morning I went to see my girl. She and her mates were all wearing fly masks. Tis the season.

We rode for about 30 minutes... just a little bare back relaxing leisurely walk around the lot and neighbors' field.

Then I put her little mask back on, threw some dressing on her hooves, snuggled her and headed home.

It was a great way to start my Saturday. :) 

Gwin Had a Baby!!!

This morning I was looking up some records online to see if I could find anything more about Gwen's history. Gwen and I were having a conversation about her opinion that Gwinivere is in fact a Quarter Horse... which it turns out to be that she is part quarter because her mother's sire was a registered App and her Dam's parents were sire/App - dam/AQHA (registered Quarter Horse).

Anyway, in looking online for her using her registered name and number I found that she and some (strapping I'm certain) black stallion named Magic's Tasoaro, born in 1991, had a son whose name is Royal's Magic Ka Zemie. He was foaled on March 11, 2006. I then looked him up, and found a WHOLE family history on Gwinivere AKA: Princess Royal Jazmin.

Princess Royal Jazmin N519975	Exhibit's Royale T361804 1982 dk b/br wh over hips	Royal Exhibit #260803 1977 ch lacy blanket	The Executive #183779 1973 r dun	Dial Bright Too #107308
				Dial Right Time BT110067
			Dart's Annette AQHA-404178 1965 sor	Dart Bar AQHA-64254
				Annie Lowery AQHA-54254
		Ivy Lane T207196 1974 blk blanket & spots	Front Street T138188 1970 ch	War Reed T78025
				Nichols No. 12 ID8787
			Amber Girl ID11423	Elko Traveler F2828
	Im Princes Gem (Appaloosa)	Prince's Jim #107197 1969 blk few spot leopard	Prince Plaudit #55156 1963 ch ro	Red Plaudit #10191
				Princess Rita ID8372
			Joker's Mindy Fe #28265 1962 bay	Joker B. F678
				Speck Fe AQHA-39704
		Jada Leo Bars AQHA-397744 1965 sor	McJoe AQHA-25380 1950 sor	Leo AQHA-1335
				Dipsydoodle Milligan AQHA-3467

This means nothing to my husband, who actually laughed at me when I told him, and then squealed in a girly voice (much higher than my own) 
"ooh! my horse has a baby. and it's OUT THERE somewhere!!!" 
Jerk! :)

So, I'll have to wait until I get to talk to someone who GET'S it today. Like my Auntie Judy, or Gwen... I'm sure she's out in the barn right now. I think I'll just take a little ride over there. ;)

Anyway, I think it's SO sweet that my long necked girl had her own single baby boy. Just like me. And it would explain all her nurturing mama nature, and her love for my own boy (and really any little ones).

Awwww. My baby had a baby!!! (and it's out there somewhere!)

A New Horse in Town

Today Zeek and I went to meet Gwen's new gelding, Choco. He's very nice and so cute. He's only 14.2 and he's brown. I forgot to take his picture, but I'm sure we'll have plenty of that soon enough.

Monty doesn't like him, so they haven't been introduced yet. Gwin is taking Choco for her next trip and will probably not put/try the horses together until after that.

Later in the afternoon, Gwen took Angel and I took Gwin (of course), and we went out across the street to my favorite trails. Gwen went places we usually don't, so it was nice to learn some alternatives. The girls had a great time, and then back at home we gave then both baths.

Gwin's previous owners warned me that she doesn't like baths, 

so I've avoided giving her one until now. 

But she loved her little bath time. 

Stood as still as a rock and even tried to get some water 

out of the hose to nibble on. ;) 

Gwen helped a lot. She did all the scrubbing and washing. 

Then we let both of our girls graze in the yard 

while we laid back on the grass and chatted.

It was a beautiful peaceful evening.  

Morning Ride

It's been HOT. 
This morning I went over for a little ride and decided to change things up a little. We went across the drive to the next door neighbors' freshly plowed field. We went around the acre or so about 8-10 times, alternating from a walk, to trop, to lope and back. 
Although it was a nice time, it certainly wasn't as fun or as much work as our usual trails and fields of acres. 
A nice time, none-the-less. 
I always like to be with my girl.

Beauty

Today, I went by Gwin in the cool morning while Zeek was at school and Sarita and Ceanna were sleeping away their late night sleep over.

Gwin was pretty sweet about seeing me, after all, it had been four HOT days since our last visit. I brushed her out and saddled her just fine. But once we were on our way, she seemed kind of different. She seemed a little squirrely. Even a bit pushy and a little too certain of her power. ???

So we turned around halfway down the drive and went up to the round pen. We did some light ground work to get her in a thinking mood, and when I felt sure she knew we were together for this, we set off again.

She was still nutty, but not in a disobedient way. Just looking all over and moving real fast. It was kind of funny.

We crossed the street and she became even more like a wild horse. Running so intentionally, like we had somewhere to go. She seemed so proud and a little too confident for me. I was really baffled as to what was going on.

On our first trail I lost my sunglasses off my head trying to get her to STOP running uninvitedly through the trees. I had to get off and find my glasses, and then we had a heart to heart. 

As soon as I looked in her soft confused eyes, I realized that she thought this is what I wanted??? That made me stop trying to analyze and figure it out, and I shut up my mind and listened. Then I remembered something. Something that might seem a little crazy to anyone who reads this.

I have been thinking a lot about the 30 minute Adventures of Black Beauty series I used to watch everyday on TV when I was a little girl. I would watch in awe as the rider, Victoria, would ride the absolute dickens out of this horse of hers. I mean they would run her father's medicine bag to him in the next town at top speed - Beauty would take off running knowing there was trouble, and Victoria would just ride right along, trusting her horse's instincts...

Anyway, it was my favorite show. And when it was over I would go outside and sit on the white wooden fence in front of my city home and pretend that I had my own Black Beauty.

When I arrived to ride Gwin this morning, I thanked God for giving me my own real horse, and for all the amazing things we've already been through. I thought about Victoria and Black Beauty all throughout my time grooming Gwin. 

And when I looked into her eyes again, standing in the trees, fixing my sunglasses back on top of my head, I saw the offering. I realized that Gwin picked up on the desire of my heart, and she had been trying to give me just what I had been dreaming of. A ride!

I kissed her face, apologized, threw my sunglasses into my saddle bag, remounted, and gave her permission to haul ass as best she could.

Oh, and she could. :)

She has never ridden with me like that. Never. I kept thinking, "who is this horse?"

So many times I was laughing out loud, tears streaming off the sides of my face, toggling evenly between the words "oh shit!" and "oh yeah! you are awesome!"

I don't know how to explain it. The running and turning... she would literally speed up to take our turns. Where I usually have to guide her to keep from being smacked by branches, she jutted and bolted around them with no leading. I still can't believe some of the crazy stuff she did. It was exhilarating!

It was definitely the ride of my life.

Later, Zeek and I returned to let Lexi (the dog) out and take Gwin and Angel off the grass for Gwen. I asked, as I always do, If Zeek wanted to ride. Nine times out of 10 he doesn't, but today he did!

So, I put Gwen's kid saddle on her and let Zeek ride her in the round pen. They did so well together. He even asked if he could ever ride her outside of the pen. I assured him that if he keeps working with her, they will be out on their own in no time.

P.S. I ordered him the first two season of The Adventures of Black Beauty on DVD today. He does love his horse movies... I hope he loves this one as much as I did.

Saturday

Visited Gwen this morning. She and Carrie were gone for about a week to a cattle herding ranch. It was good to see her.

Sadly, Monty isn't doing good. His muscle disease is acting up again. He has restrictions and they are trying to determine if he needs to go back on steroids. I am praying that God just heals him. His Will though. Poor Monty isn't feeling well.

Also, Angel has a rough ankle. She's been keeping off it for a couple of weeks - or longer. Gwen is trying to heal it, but she's also looking at getting a different horse, because she really likes to ride and trailer a lot. She can't have a horse that can't take her. I'm praying for Angle's ankle, too.

Thank God that my baby girl is in great shape. She and I did some easy and fun bareback riding in the round pen this morning before the heat came on. It was nice to just spend a little time with her.

I picked up some new treats, brushes, and a can of hoof dressing for her at Fleet Farm after I left. She's got some dry hoofs in this droughty season. A little cracking. I know Gwen will take good care of it, though. :)

Working Out

Rode this morning again. Loved it. Just went out on the trails across the street. We ran in the field a lot. She did great. Good exercise for us both. Very similar to Tuesday's adventure.

I'm enjoying this first week of Summer School that allots me 4 hours in the cool mornings. 

the beautiful intangible

This morning was fantastic. I dropped Zeek off at school and went to Gwin. It was in the high 60s, sunny, and gorgeous outside. 

I was stressed out about Jeff, and I could tell that I had a hard time connecting to her right away. I spent some time just loving on her, opening my heart up and resting in her unconditional love and understanding. 

I'm always amazed at all the ways that God enlightens me, sharpens my senses, and strengthens me in areas of my spiritual life using my experiences with Gwin. 

Once I was in a right mind and a light heart for riding we set off. 

We did some "round pen" work while I was in the saddle on our way down the long driveway. Backing, side passing, standing still, both of us listening. Then we made our way across the street. She ate some, we moved slowly and relaxed across the land. When we got to the fields we had trotted into a warm up. Once in the fields we did a lot of running. Back and forth, bolting up hills, walking down hills, around and around we went. It was so nice. 

I LOVE TO RIDE HER FAST. And she loves to go fast. And when something flies out of the woods and scares her, she plants instead of spooks. And it's so easy to stay on her. I found a lot of times that I wasn't even directing her where to go, how fast or slow. We were just in sync. 

On the way home I also noticed that her excitement to return to her friends was not there. FINALLY. She moseyed along, taking here time. She nibbled some grass, I bird watched and worshiped God, thanking Him for leading me to this. To Gwin. To following my heart. To learning what it's like to trust her. To listen to her and move when I know what she is saying. To navigate the intangible... the way I need to with Him. 

Once back to the barn, I brushed her out and turned her into her friends. 

I put on my Facebook,

"I can try to learn as much as I want about horses by watching, reading and listening to outside sources... but today I'm convinced that I would have never had a shot at learning all that I need to know about MY horse if I hadn't learned how to listen to HER ♥"

Home

Today, Zeek went to his Nanna's all day, and I spent about five hours with Gwin.

We started with a trail ride. She is SO responsive to the slightest coaxing with my right boot. That is awesome, since I really only had to prove to her that I would do the "one, two, KICK" during one ride, and now it's maintaining itself. 

Because of this, we had no problem getting around from one place to the next. She even crossed the street and the "bridge" well. These are areas where she used act up because she knew there wasn't much I could do. They are places where I would protect us first, and get what I wanted second. She's certainly no dumby. ;)

Once I realized where we were where, half way through our usual trails, we headed to my house! It was such a short way that I was laughing at myself we'd never gone before. 

Gwin was VERY uncomfortable when I took her straight onto my land and had her all over the yard and woods. It was eye opening for me, because I knew just how very safe she was. Knowing that I was fully confident and aware of our surroundings, and that she was not in ANY danger what-so-ever, showed me that she can be scared all on her own having nothing to do with reality or her riders insecurities. 

I felt great showing her around. We accidentally separated a mama deer and her sweet tiny baby/s in the woods. We had to leave so they could reunite. 

Up at the house, I took Gwin's saddle off. I tried to tie her to a couple of trees... each time she immediately wound herself around them and panicked. I didn't know where to put her so I could go in to pee, get some sun screen, and bring lunch out. 

I finally decided to try the dog trolley. It was AWESOME! She could get around. He lead was no where near her feet, ever, and she could be close enough to the house to feel safe. I still only went in the house quickly three separate times so I could keep a good eye on her. She was an emotional mess here. :)

My favorite was when she spotted herself in my front door (which is pretty much a big window), and thought there was another horse. She whinnied and whinnied until the neighbors came over! They used to have horses so they were very excited to see a horse in the neighborhood. 

On our ride home I was a little nervous. I think it was all that nervous energy from Gwin back at my place. But we rode past a mail man in his truck, and he had that warmest eyes. He smiled big and said, "great day for a ride", and I felt at peace again. Can't let all that horse drama separate you from being a human, right!? 

The ride home was fun (and quick). Just at the very end it sprinkled a little. So cool and refreshing. I groomed her in the stall for about an hour, taking care of her legs too. She loved having her legs groomed. She would even pick her feet up to push her leg deeper into the brushed. 

I turned her out to Monty and Angel. She must be in heat, because she was all over Monty, flirty and suggesting. Poor girl. Monty looks hot, but he's out of commission and has nothing to offer her. 

I drove to Jeff's to take care of things there by about 3:30. It was SO nice to have had the whole day with my girl. Can't wait for Monday when Zeek's summer school starts, and I will have four morning hours a day with her for six weeks! :)

Soft and Warm

Today, Zeek and I went by Gwin for about an hour and a half. Zeek stayed in the Jeep with the windows open reading and using his media hour. 

I worked Gwin on the ground in the round pen. First I used a lounge line (a morning tip I got from my A. Jude to help communicate head and body positioning). She did really well, and I was able to turn her in when I needed to. 

Second I worked her around with no lounge. She turned in to me perfectly whenever I asked her to stop. So nice. 

After that little work out of the mind and feet, I attached her rope reigns to her rope halter and did some more work bareback with leg reigning. I don't know why for sure, but when I got on her at first, she pinned her ears and backed at me a little. ??? It could have been that she wasn't expected me to mount off the fence. OR because it was my first time on her bareback skin to skin, because I was wearing shorts. 

Whatever it was, I checked her all out, reassured her, and let her get calm and ready before we began.

Her leg reigning is getting better and softer everyday. Which of course, it should. I'm just so proud of her. We worked on backing near the end of our session. She isn't quite understanding what I'm asking, and the leg cues are confusing her to where she isn't even sure what I mean when I ask her with the reigns as a last resort. 

We will continue working on that slowly. I'm just so pleased that we are connecting, warm and soft on the ground and riding. THIS is what I want from our relationship. Good listening and respecting, both from one to the other. 

Repeat

Today was much like yesterday, without the initial transition for Gwin once she realized that I was getting back to the heart of us.

Today, she knew the feeling as soon as I stepped out of the Jeep.

She was anxious for me. I could tell. I thought I would clean up her area a little, fill her feed bag, and then get to visiting and playing with her... but I could tell she was not thinking to wait for me the way she would have gladly gone about her business until I came to catch her in the past. Her energy was directed right at me, as if she were wondering and hoping that things would be the same today as they were yesterday between us.

And they were. After our hello and snuggles she politely followed me around, keeping at least 10 feet between us, but soft staring at me until I was finished working. We couldn't wait to get our hands on each other. :)

We went right out to the round pen first. I didn't even close the gate. I just led her to the fence and climbed on her bareback. We rode inside, practicing our leg reigning and stretching a bit. Then we went out into the yard.

It was beautiful out, again. We walked and trotted all over the place. Back the pond, up the tree hill, around the pastures, on the trails... Gwin grazed shortly now and then and I took in the time we had. It felt perfect.

Then tonight, I finished my first Mark Rashid book, and funny enough, he wrapped the whole thing up with a story about a woman who was all command and tactics and alpha. Her horse did everything she wanted it to, but she didn't have any connection to it. It has built a wall between itself and her, and the woman wanted more.

Of course, it all ended up that she had to build back the kind of trust that would bring the horse around to her heart. And of course, the horse preformed even better once she was allowed to rather than demanded/expected/forced to.

The woman wrote in a letter that she wanted to get back to the way she rode at heart when she was younger.

I couldn't help but remember what happened to me as a result of learning all the technicalities of photography AFTER I became a photographer at heart. It took all the heart out of it. My photographs just weren't the same when they were technically correct but had no heart connecting. I regretted letting that happen, knowing I would never be in a place of full instinct again having piled to much information, theory and technique on top of my natural work.

I won't do that again. Not with Gwin. 

At the Heart

Today was SO good with Gwin. I went out by her for a few hours in the early afternoon. I worked with her using some of the things Linda taught me on Wednesday. Gwin responded SO soft and well. It was fun. We had a great, connected, loving, bonding three hours together. And I couldn't have been happier. 

I talked to her. With my heart. I know that sounds a little crazy, but it completely works, and anyone who knows and loves horses knows it's true.

I've learned with Gwin, that somehow, if I stay loyal to my word and prove the integrity of my true character whenever I'm with her, she opens up to me. If I lie to her or myself in choosing/trying things out that I don't feel are right for us, I lose her altogether for that session. It's just that simple.

Today, we did MY kind of round pen work. And it was lovely. She did JUST what I'd hoped she would do. We rode bare back with just her rope harness and reigns. We did all leg reigning only in the pen. She was remarkable. Then we went out of the pen (first time bare) and rode ALL over the property. We did most leg reigning. Some trotting (I'm getting there) and lots of "partnering" on our walk. It was fantastic!

Then I spent some time with her in her space. Gwen and Carrie took Angle and Monty on a weekend trail riding trip, so we had the place all to ourselves. I kneeled and sat a lot. Stepped back when she made eye contact. (This really does make her come to me!) And just hung out without asking anything of her.

A few times she came over while I was down low, she put her face to my face softly and loved me. Once, she blew long and gentle on my right cheek and then did the same to my left. It was so sweet.

I let her out to pasture and took some photographs of her. Okay, like maybe 300 or so. :) It was so beautiful out and we were having such a good time together. I kept having to move back because she kept slowly working her way to me in her grass munching. ;)

Finally, it started to rain and I had to close up shop, bring her in for her beet pulp and supplements, and head home.

I can't wait for our time together again tomorrow.