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!