Getting ready for cows

The Bull Rider came out yesterday and rode me for the DOR.  We worked on my lope transitions and beginning to do rollbacks.  I am going to be ready to rock things when we head out to sorting events this summer.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

 

Redneck Carivan

The DOR is calling this vehicle The Pearl Beastie.  She is getting it worked over and ready to pull a trailer. TRAILER!!!! She has also gotten a trailer.

The trailer looks very similar to this one.  Currently the trailer is up at the mountain which is a good thing, I don't have to get in it yet.  Now the DOR has been busy playing wrangler, finishing up the school year, and seeing clients.  So what is the plan for the redneck caravan?  Well she told me that she plans on taking me to the mountain, that is great I love the mountain.  She also plans on taking me to cow sorting events, I like those too.  She mentioned a show or two-those I can do without.  Then there was something about the two of us being able to go out on trails on our own.  That will be something completely new but I think it will be fun.  The DOR also thinks it will be nice to take a few of her special therapy assistants with her to visit clients out of town.

Seems to me the DOR is becoming serious about us spending more time together.  Good thing I love her or I might not be happy with her new wheels.

I am hoping that eventually she will purchase wheels that are more in keeping with my beautiful bahtookie.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Memorial Day Salute

 

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Priceless and brands

 The DOR went up to the mountain to play faux wrangler.  Lucky was busy pulling a wagon for a local celebration so she rode a filly named Raven.  Now it takes a very special mare to make the DOR smile, Raven made her smile a lot.

 

She had this brand on her bum.  Now the DOR was not too sure but what the brand might have been in reference to her worth as a wrangler.  She said it certainly did not apply to the worth of this horse.  Well I beg to disagree...when compared to me any horse should be sporting this brand.

I think I would look good sporting a brand befitting my value.  The DOR does not like this brand at all.  If I insist on a brand she thinks it should look like this-

 

Love forever....isn't that sweet.

Well I am not going to get a brand, the doesn't brand horses.  I might get it painted on sometime though.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

 

 

 

Cramming in an update

 Sorry I have not been posting, I have been busy with the DOR. 

Here I am getting my teeth done.  The dentist said I was so much better than the last time.  He also said I have really strong jaws...of course I do, I need them to chew and they get a workout trying to get the DOR to listen to me.

The DOR is busy with getting her new business up and running.  She has also been working with Tahkoe.  Mouse is off at the trainers.  We have a new herd mate.

I will get you caught up on all the goings on as soon as I can.  Right now Sharkbait is out and wants to give me scrithces.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Dentist

 

This is me the last time I had my teeth done.  It has been several years since I have seen the dentist.  The DOR had to wait until she was sure the sedation would not effect my recovery. I like the dentist, I loooove the goofy shot, and even though I don't get a lollipop I do get a nice bowl of treats when I sober up.

 

As you can see from this photo there are a whole lot of teeth in a horse's mouth.  It is important that they be taken care of.  A sharp teeth could cut the soft tissue in a horse's mouth which effect how they eat.  I personally want nothing to interfere with my eating ability, I have to maintain my He Man Gelding physic at all times.  King Henry is also going to get his teeth looked at.  The old mountain goat probably needs work, rumor has it in his younger days he used to chew up rocks and spit them out like watermelon seeds at a misbehaving horse or human.  He tolerated no shenanigans in his line of riders.  Good thing he wasn't here when Fernie was around, he would have spent his day doing nothing put shooting small rocks at that horse.

Hopefully this year the dentist will have lollipops or mints for treats. 

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

 

 

 

Busy DOR

Click on the photo to see what the DOR is up to now!

I certainly hope she does not expect me to work doing this.  I will however, be more than happy to make guest appearances and dazzle the participants with my amazing self.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Not rigid

 

The DOR is becoming less rigid in her expectations of me.  Not that she has reduced what she expects, she is just changing the way that she is approaching these expectations.

She is lighter with her hands, emotions, and pressure.  She is focusing on one step at a time.  She is as focused on herself as she is on me.  So how does this translate to me?  I am less nervous because she is more clear and I know what she wants.  When she doesn't get what she wanted, she looks to how she asked instead of assuming I was naughty.  When she over cues and I let her know, with a hop or two, she just relaxes and waits until I am calm again instead of yanking me around in a tight circle.

In short I am enjoying being with her so much that when she calls my name I hurry to meet her.  We are a team and it is fun.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

The training of the DOR has paid off

  I hate to brag about myself, oh who am I kidding I love to brag about myself!  I took the DOR to a Barb Apple Cowboy Dressage clinic last Sunday and Monday.  I have never been to a dressage clinic and the DOR has not ridden dressage since high school (and we all know that was before home computers and cell phones).

I was on my very best Boogie behavior.  I did need to have a couple of snorts and a hop or two just to keep her on her toes.  The DOR was not bothered at all by my behavior, in fact she kept telling me what a good boy I was.  I was glad to see this because it shows she is getting more confidence.  I walked, trotted, side-passed, backed up, turned on the haunches and forehand, and stopped quickly all on a loose rein.  The DOR worked hard on maintain a loose, light hand the entire clinic and she did pretty good.

The clinician even pointed out to the group how light the DOR was on the rein and how she used her pinkie finger to give me cues.  She also noticed the the DOR could get me to turn with just her body-big turns, little turns I was turning.  She complimented the DOR on her posture and for being very balanced when she rides.  The secret to her being balance is a tactic that I have employed without notice.  I will secretly pick out an object that then jump to the side when we get there. Now if she isn't balanced she could fall off so she makes sure to stay as balanced as possible at all times.  One of these days I am going to catch her slipping and the BLAM she will kiss the dirt.  I am not being mean, I just want to help her become a better rider.

 

It was very cold after the first day of the clinic and I was sweaty.  The DOR quickly put my new blanket on me, I was glad to have it even if it was pink.
I just found out today the the DOR will be heading to the mountain to wrangle weekend rides during May.  Maybe you can come up and ride with us sometime.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

New jammies and I am not amused

 

Today the DOR was out getting things ready to take off early in the morning. She gave me my treats and then told me she wanted to try my new jammies on me. She wants to make sure that if it is chilly tomorrow evening that I will stay nice and warm. So she halters me up and leads me over to where the blanket is draped over a panel, it is a nice and shiny black and will look so good on me. The DOR picks up the blanket and goes to drape it on me....wait, wait, wait! Why are you turning the black to my fur, what is up with the pink zebra stripes? This is so wrong, I am the president of the He Man Gelding Club for gosh sakes. To top it off she didn't even do this in private, she put it on me in front of all of my pasture mated and the horse guardian. She kept telling me that only real He Man Geldings can wear pink-I am not buying that pile of cow poop!

The blanket is close to the same color as the flag that I absolutely do not like having move from one side of my back to the other. The DOR thinks these jammies will help me learn to be more tolerant of bright colors. I am thinking a launching will help the DOR become more tolerant of flying....

Well it looks that while the DOR is pulling on her big girl panties and riding a clinic that has her nervous, I will have to man up and brave the cold so I do not get laughed out of the pasture that we are spending the night in while at the clinic.

The DOR best be wearing green tomorrow or I might be pinching off her head.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!



Oh booger!

 

Oh it is so easy to make the DOR happy!  She gets so thrilled when she shows ups at the pasture, yells Boogie, and I come trotting up from the back forty.  I let her think it is because I am happy to see her and want to play.  I really hustle up because I know I am going to get groomed, a massage, and my special treats.  But what the DOR doesn't know won't hurt her.

Today when she showed up she informed me that she had a present for me so we were heading to the arena....

.

I thought it would be a extra special treat, a new brush, or an electric massager that wouldn't poop out because its figures are fatigued. What was it but a bright green flag...oh booger!

She was so pleased with herself...look Boogie it is just the thing for St. Patrick's Day weekend. Right and yippee is all I have to say.  Then to top it off she informed me that the first day of our cowboy dressage clinic is St. Patrick's Day and she is thinking that I may need to wear a bit of green to avoid getting pinched.  I am so NOT going to dress like a leprechaun, if she tries that I will make sure that she finds the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when I launch her out of the saddle.  It better not be anything to ridiculous or the DOR will be riding the fastest most jarring trot that I can deliver for the entire day!  I might be okay with a green shamrock on my rear.  Maybe she will change her mind about making me wear green.

By the way if anyone pinches me on Sunday they might get a big ol' appy hoof upside the head...just sayin.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

 

This says it all!

This says it all.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!     





Bunny hops lead to bunny trots

  Here I am with my little sister Dandi.  We are waiting patiently for our humans to get their acts together so we can go riding.  The DOR was busy fussing around with another horse when she should have been giving me her total undivided attention.

We had five riders out today and did a simple quadrille.  I tried to let the DOR to let me lope, she said that I had to wait until tomorrow.  I didn't like that answer so I did my imitation of a bunny hoping around the arena.  The DOR rewarded my behavior by making me trot, trot, trot until I begged her to let me stop.  I guess bunny hoping lead to bunny trotting.  That was not a good idea because it made me have to work harder than I wanted to be working.

The DOR has me started on my immune booster regime.  That is nice because I get a treat every day.  I even like the vitamins and herbs that are in it.

Tomorrow is farrier day.  I am going to have pretty feet for next weekends clinic.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Investigations

The DOR and I are both legging up for a Cowboy Dressage clinic.  Now that means that I have to work, work, and work in the arena.  I find the arena boring.  So this last ride I decided to entertain myself.  I snorted at Bob the Bull, made crazy eyes at tumble weeds, and jumped sideways when a truck used its jake brakes.  The DOR decided if I wanted to see buggers to snort and jump at she would show me some.  So she took me on an investigative ride around the ranch.  I had a good time and made sure to put my nose on all kinds of things.

The DOR has plans to take me to a schooling show this year.  I hope she is ready for a show because I could give her one at any moment.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Recapturing the DOR's youth

The DOR put the buckin riggin on me. I was not too sure what she was thinking. Yes it is spring, yes I have been known to buck, but really what good was that itty bitty little strap and handle going to do her if I decided to cut loose?  Was she really going to ride me with no saddle and just a halter?  Her confidence was as large as her weight if she was doing that.

Turns out that it was just a security blanket for her.  She has never ridden me bareback.  I am a bit sensitive to the leg and she has worried about me squirting out from under her.  In her younger days, back before cell phones and Internet, she rode her horses bareback quite often and loved it.  I guess she is feeling the need to recapture a bit of her youth now that her hair is mostly grey.

So after a bit of maneuvering I lined up to the fence so she could get on.  Yes it is true, she climbed up on the rail fence-can you believe it?  I gave her a bit of a small squirt just to keep her on her toes, after all if I was too good she would wonder what happened to her bad boy Boogie.



I surprised her with a nice slow jog.  She was able to ride on a loose rein with princess fingers and a big grin.  She has a great time and even handled things well when I started to do my freight train trot.

 

 

We had a great time and it did a lot to help strengthen our relationship.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

 

 



Appy Valentines Day

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Giving comfort

 

This is me comforting Mushboy's Icelandic Tahkoe.  She had just had a saddle malfunction and was a bit worried.  She was being lunged and her saddle started slipping off to the side.  Seems the saddle pad was not allowing for a snug cinching because of her mutton withers.  Boy can I empathize with that! 

The DOR had been riding me with an impact gel pad that she thought I would really like.  The saddle was a bit loose, caused by the fact that the pad was thick and I am mutton withered.  When she went to dismount the saddle rolled clear under my belly.  I started doing the spider dance, snorting and hopping up and down.  Remember this is when I first came to live with the DOR.  Luckily the Horse Guardian was there to help us and it all turned out okay.

So while the Rodeo Rider set the saddle in place and re-cinched I gave comfort to Tahkoe and told her that humans are sometimes goofy.  I reminded her that saddles can't hurt us.  I explained how mutton withers make cinching hard sometimes and that if she would blow out her air it would help.  I was pleased with how well she was listening.  Then as the Rodeo Rider went to snug up the cinch Tahkoe took in a deep breath and held it, smirking at the same time.  The little stinker was going to see if the saddle would roll when the Rodeo Rider went to mount.  He lead her over to the mounting bock and instead of stepping into the stirrup he just swung his leg over....well played Rodeo Rider, well played.  Tahkoe was a bit miffed that her prank failed.

I have a feeling that these two are going to be trying to out fox each other often in the future.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!

Come dance with me

 The weather was wonderful today and the DOR came out to ride.  The horse guardian is part of the SunSation Drill Team and I needed to help her and Chez Beau practice. 

It was my job to go whizzing by Beau while he had to keep going the same speed.  I whipped around him in all sorts of directions...it was fun.

The I partnered up with him to help him on his quadrille parttern.  I liked it because the DOR had to concentrate on where Beau was and being in the right position instead of messing with my mouth!  She even had to look some where else other than between my ears at the ground right in front of my nose.

I even worked on the pattern with Beau while he carried a flag.  Not my favorite thing and I gave him lots of space.  I have heard that flags have been know to try and eat horses.  I was also a bit confused because a flapping flag means I am either supposed to hurry up or yeild some part of my body.  In this instance I was supposed to keep the same speed and travel on a certain path, regardless what the flag was doing.  I tell you humans expect some darn silly things.

The DOR asked me to give a try at carrying the flag.  At first I wasn't even going near it.  I did finally give it a valiant try, I did not like it at all but I know when the DOR asks me to do really tough things I always get extra treats.

I ended the afternoon by having the DOR practice ponying a horse.  We ponied Beau and the Horse Guardian rode with her eyes closed.  I am going to start ponying Marvelous Marvin several times a week to get him ready to return to his job at the mountain.

The DOR is going to be sore tomorrow I bet, she posted the entire time we trotted a good hour.

She was so pleased with our ride I got a whole handful of treats.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!