Lungeline Jumping the Minis

I cannot remember if I already mentioned it or not, but when it was still nice and warm we lunged the minis. Over elevated cavaletti poles. It was fun!

The basic setup was easy, but it did require a lot of running (for both horse and handler) and the horses wearing either wraps or boots to protect their legs. Generally when lunging the handler should stay in one spot, but for this it was pretty essential to move around or the horses would be lazy and avoid the jumps.

When I recorded this (and that's my awesome horsey friend doing all the hard work!) Angel was on the lungeline, but sometimes during the session we would free-lunge them both. Free-lunging is lunging them without using a lungeline. :)

Visiting Nick

When we went and looked at Red the other day we also met up with his pal, Nick, the horse I rode some time ago! Here are some pictures of him in a lovely green pasture. :)

Trotting to greet us. :D

SUCH A GORGEOUS BOY. <3

Rushing up to us from the creek bed!

Yes, he is robust. Very.

Later dude.

Meet Red

Red is a deep flaxen chestnut Belgian with a wonderful disposition. He isn't quite as tall as his pal, Nick, but he still is a gentle giant.

A couple months ago something happened - we still aren't sure what - and he went blind. I'd never been around a blind horse, so it was a new experience for me. While we were approaching him we talked, and to introduce ourselves we let him smell up for a bit. While we moved around him we talked and also stayed in contact with him. This was to ensure that he knew where we were and wouldn't spook.

He stayed calm the whole time, and after we left he went back to circling around his picket line. It made me sad to see him restart his regimen of walking around in circles, sullenly. That's the thing, though - because he's blind there isn't any better, safer option for keeping him on pasture.

Regardless, he's a sweetheart. Hopefully the owner will have a petition signed by the other drivers in our show circuit and Red can continue being shown in harness. Personally, my state's horse group *should* allow blind horses to show, but only after a series of tests.

Here's Red. :)

Red!

Making sure he knew where we were.

He has pretty legs.

His head really is this large!

He had gently placed his huge head against my jacket and just kept it there for a bit. It was so sweet, and I'm glad I got a picture of it.

Feather

This yearling palomino pinto is my project horse. Her name is Feather. I'm calling her a project horse because she is not *mine*, but I'm taking on the task of training her as a project. :)

She's really cute. :)

Here she is!

Feather. Her head is so delicate!

She is a bit on the thin and unmuscular side. She'll improve, though!

Her hind legs are really correct. Notice how they're straight and neither cow-hocked nor sickle-hocked? :)

And then we groomed her. :)

SHE IS SO PRETTY.

Even though eventually we'll clip all that hair outta the ears, they're cute. They have a nice shape and curve!

Munching down the hay. :)

Shavings Bird

Some time back I found this finch trapped under the tarp when I went to get shavings. It didn't particularly like being held and got away the first time, but it was really cute when it bit me with an annoyed little look on its face.

(And yes, I did let it free. I'm not sure how well Mags and Meena would do with a bird in the house.)

Lunging Angel and Toy Toy

On Saturday I worked Angel and Toy on the lungeline! It was good to be with them and hopefully work some fat off. After some time it got boring, but I'm glad I worked them longer than usual.

MY FAVORITE PICTURE OF ANGEL EVER.

Riding Nick

Late last month I rode Nick! He's the Belgian gelding that used to be named Ben.

Because I was a bit rusty at riding and Nick had some hip issues, he merely plodded along at a walk. Which was awesome. It was a bit funny - even though he's a colossal horse (standing at 17hh), when I was on his back he seemed normal height. I'm presuming that's because I haven't ridden a normal-sized horse for over a year.

We didn't have much ground to cover, so I worked on serpentines, posture, and plow-reining. Plow-reining is turning by pulling the rein the direction you want to go, with your hands as low as your arms allow. This does make for sore shoulders. You'll only steer a horse in this manner when it's a harness horse. In harness, the reins are down near the shoulders, so you hold the riding reins accordingly.

It was entirely awesome. To be on a horse is amazing, and even more so to ride a draft! I've admired draft horses for a long time, and riding one is just as fun as I had imagined.

Finally way up there. :) 

Pretty boy.

Alrighty, this is me! I apologize for looking ferocious in both pictures - I seem to do that when I'm concentrating! At this point in the ride he didn't want to stand still for me.

This one's a little better. :)

Awww, Pawnee!

I had the opportunity to groom on Pawnee the other day, and it was so cool! Pawnee is a *very* human-oriented horse, and when I'm in her stall she doesn't want to leave my side. If she isn't circling my legs to obtain attention, she's either walking in between my legs (and itching the sides of her body on my jeans), nuzzling on my boots and jeans, or doing some other adorable action.

Generally horses don't make my heart melt, but Pawnee did. She was so adorable.

<3

The stall was dark, and I only had the cell phone with me, but I managed to get some shotty images of Pawnee and her dam Deceivious. It was difficult because Pawnee wouldn't stand still for me. :)

Pretty dam with a blue eye :)

Oh hi! I really like her muzzle. I highly suspect she carries the splash allele.

Pawnee circling me.

Not sure what she was doing here, but she didn't want to stand still for me. :)

She really likes the curry comb.

Hey can I follow you? (:

A Short Photographic Journey: Part Three!

The final part of stable pictures from a bit back. :)

Part One

Part Two

Such a cute stripe down her face!

Which do you prefer? The shot with or without the tail?

Hesitating to fully enter.

Toy seems to have thought that I didn't want her in the stall.

This is the best shot I could get of Pawnee! She was moving around a lot and the lighting in the upper barn wasn't the best.

Legacy!

Oh hii. I'm checkin' out your camera.