WordPlay

By Patty Wilber

Last Saturday was the first Back Country Horsemen, Pecos Chapter, training ride for 2012.  I have been really busy teaching and riding my client horses.  I haven’t had too much time for T and Penny.  JD could really use a group ride, but I resisted and decided to take the two I actually plan to use on BCH projects this summer. (I get to take JD to Elephant Butte Lake 2/17  anyhow, weather permitting.)

Jim took Cometa, and I took T and Penny. We drove down to Town and Country Feed, right at the eastern edge of Albuquerque, 10 miles from us.  They have a big parking lot and access to open space that reaches into the hills you just can see in the back ground of the picture below.

Penny is the lead horse and T is the pack horse. He is packing stove pellets--40 lbs on each side, in nice compact, easy to load bags. Great for training! And I got to practice my box hitch, which held!

There were 11 of us, and I ended up leading with Penny–down the scary narrow chute by the rental horses, to the muddy creek crossing.  Penny has been over more than a few creeks, but the first water of the season some times can be interesting…but nope.  She’s five now and we have logged a lot of miles. It’s starting to show!  Yeah!

T, in his starring role as Pack Horse, at first had somewhat of an issue because a Big Black Long Ears was Right Behind him, but he settled very well–except for that one glitch where he wrapped the rope under Penny’s tail.  She didn’t buck or pitch a fit.  She just aimed, and kicked him.

I appreciated that she took it out on T instead of me!

We rode up and up and got a nice view.

Not a bad, for just outside a major city, eh?

It was getting windy, so we dropped off the ridge, found some nice trees to tie the horses to, and rocks for our picnic lunch.  Then we headed on down, as the weather turned colder and windier.

We got home, just in time to show Curly Moe to a potential buyer.  Julie had seen Curly Moe’s Blog, and already was a little smitten by his Very Cuteness.

But, she went to see another Fjord first.  One that has been ridden quite a bit, and whom we thought might be a better match (even though Kathleen and I had our fingers crossed for Curly!).  That other Fjord was having a bad day apparently, and did not make the cut.

Curly showed off his ground manners, rode really well (walked, trotted, turned, backed, sideways, bridge, gate, bent to a stop, halted on voice–he is a Very Smart Boy to have learned all that in 20 rides.  The show day was ride 21.)

Then Julie rode him, and he was almost perfect! I was SO PROUD!  Of course she had to buy him!

He will go to his new home about 5 hours south, in another week!

And lastly, some just for fun pics of Wednesday in Tijeras.  I woke up, looked out the window and saw no snow on the deck railing.  Dozed off of a bit and finally dragged myself out of bed, planning to feed real quick and head to work.

Opened up the basement door to….WOW.  The snow was up to the tops of my rubber boots!

It had been windy, so had blown off my porch rail, completely fooling me!  I got a few photos in the afternoon.

Lacey says, "longshot--look! she's got that box thing again! this one is blue tho!" Longshot says,"jd! u r closest! u check it out!"

Yep, that's a blue bath tub. I have a friend that had a blue toilet in his yard. I should have asked for it so I'd have a match for this tub! Lacey thinks snow in a blue tub MUST be different than all the other snow she'd been hanging around in all day, so she stuck her nose in it.

Curly in all his Cuteness.

Crazy mane! I thought it was fun that you can see my shadow, taking the picture and the shadow of Curly's head, too! We had fun on our snow ride!

Next week, I may have a little discussion on hernia repair, or maybe JD will have a feature on our trip to Elephant Butte!

Mother Nature has been taunting me this week.

You see, it’s weather-watching time, as TD Sunday approaches.  (Yup, I’m writing this on Saturday.  Sunday will be…busy.)

There are those of you out there who probably think this is some oblique reference to the Superbowl, which is not a recognized date in my house, other than the fact that the roads are blessedly clear of traffic during certain hours of that day.

No, TD = tracking dog.  Around here, it’s a test we have once a year.  And it’s the sort of test that’s so dependent on circumstances–weather, terrain, bunnies, judging decisions–that even if you and the dog are Ready, it can all still go very, very wrong.

One does not get cocky about a tracking test at any level.

I think that Dart is ready, if still very green.  He’s enthusiastic, driven, and he knows what his job is.

But that Mother Nature!

Over the course of the week, the forecast for Sunday has gone from calm with the slight potential of rain (not the worst thing that could happen) to calm (yay!) to cloudy (fine) and then, between Friday night and Saturday morning, to strong winds with wicked strong gusts.

(Not that I’ve been watching.)

As you may guess, even if you’ve never trained a tracking dog, this is not ideal tracking weather.  What we won’t know, until we get there, is whether it’s a decently consistent wind, or whether it’s suck-n-gust.

Well, by the time you read this, all will have been answered.  I may even add a little something here to indicate how it went…unless I’m out sulking and kicking at dust devils.  But meanwhile, here are images from Dart’s final training track before the test… (watch that tail wag…)

Already on the track, heading for the start article...

Sniffy sniffy sniffy--about to navigate Cactus Row

And off we go! He's decided he's sure of himself and he's about to put our brush-navigating skills to the test

By Patty Wilber

(Pictures thanks to Kathleen Jesse)

Curly Moe--Fjord!

Just to make sure I had the right Nordic Aura, I continued to wear the “outfit” over the next few days (plus it is comfortable and warm!)

Disengagement of the hip. Soft (loose rope, head toward me, moving the hip away nicely)! The helmet on top of the Swedish hat is such a good look, too.

This is lunging. Working the horse in a circle around me. He got lots better, fast! The rope is not taut, which is nice because that means he is not pulling away. A pulling Fjord can be a sand-skiing lesson if one is not careful!

Got on, after making sure he was not scared of the stirrups or my weight or the saddle shifting.  Then I asked him to bend his head.  A soft give is so much nicer than a stiff refusal!  He was soft.

i might look short and stout, but a) i am not a teapot (short and stout); b) i am flexible!

Part of the reason I took all this time to ease him up to riding is because on his last ride with a prospective adopter, he got worried and dumped her.   I hadn’t met him yet, but I am thinking it was a fear reaction rather than an evil buck fest, because, guess what?  He had never been trained for riding (which was discovered out later)!  Still, it is never good if a horse learns he can lose his passenger with a well timed  flick. I don’t think he has.

We walked around the arena, practiced stopping –right this minute, not a dribble down–,  and backing.  He is not a reiner.  He is not built to slide.  But he does use his hind end well, so his only excuse for sloppy stops is lack of knowledge, not conformation! He needs work on his knowledge base.

He even felt confident enough to attempt (successfully) the bridge!

So we are crossing the short way...better than no way.

I’m thinking 30 days is going to go by too fast!

 

By Patty Wilber

Western Pleasure is one of the classes that I show.  It turns out to be, for me, a fairly difficult class.  It was originally an entry-level class, but the pace of the gaits (walk, trot and lope) has become very slow, which is not the norm for many horses, so it’s not that easy!

Some horses are naturally slow and low headed.  Of the group that is here, T fits that bill the best. Penny has a prettier way of going, but she moves out more (i.e. she goes faster) than T, so it has required more work to get her to a pace that is acceptable for Western Pleasure.

Tabooli--low headed--that's just the way he is..

It is kind of a fun challenge to get a horse going in the slow, correct and rhythmic manner required for this class.  However, that lack of speed is not super useful for most other classes, and definitely not out on a a trail, where the idea is to get somewhere!

In this video, watch for the very loose rein, the slowness of the gaits, and the steadiness of the horse’s head.  Also, you might see that the lope seems just a little choppy–it is actually quite an athletic feat to go that slow and move smoothly!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DybOE-3yqwU&feature=related

Top level show horses are usually  specialized nowadays. This  is a change from the time when a good horse was the all around type, and was EXPECTED to be in a variety of classes.

I prefer a horse that is under 16 hands (not the best for western pleasure — often taller looks more elegant) and can do a little of everything, in the ring and out on a trail (even in the dark!).  Although I do ride English, I put more emphasis on Western. Penny is a great fit!   T is too, although Penny is more interested in cows (cowier!)

Riding English

For a different kind of fun and challenge, there are a number of events that involve trail obstacles and good manners.  One that has stuck me is Extreme Trail.  Check this out.  Note how this horse is not so low headed as the WP horse, but looks soft, responsive and holds himself very nicely, seems brave,  and a pleasure to ride. Hmmm.

Love the suspension bridge.  LOOKS LIKE A BLAST!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmQeNy25iTI

So many things to do!  So little time!

I need to quit my job as a bio. prof. and devote all my time to horse training so I can learn to do ALL this horse stuff!

Stock Horse (walk, trot lope at ranch speed–a let’s actually get somewhere pace; trail obstacles; reining; cow work) and straight reining are this year’s program because Buckshot is so talented, and Penny can give stock horse a go.

T is currently cut from the stock horse program due to his lack of interest in cows…but he is going to show Western Pleasure and he is still going into the back country every chance I get–with Penny!

Penny

By Patty Wilber

That’s because, La Nina, not living up to her promise of dry (thank goodness), was circumvented by FIVE storms in four weeks that forgot to read the long-term forecast, and dumped on us.

And it has been cold, so the snow is slow to go.

The 21st or the 2oth of Dec., I forget, was the shortest day of the year. Not as short here in the southwest as in the north, but abbreviated enough to leave me without enough daylight.  And since no one I know has won the lottery, I am still without that indoor (lighted) arena!

So, I sometimes ride in the dark.  On the trail.  In the snow.

After a fresh layering, the snow is still up in the trees, boughs bent under the weight, blocking the trail.  When we push through, it dumps over T, me and my saddle.

My hands and feet and nose usually end up pretty cold, but there’s just something about being out there alone in the night with a horse.

Back in the day of the cavalry, riding in the dark was not uncommon.  If a soldier had somewhere to go, the horse took him there.

Most horses apparently see well in the dark (they have many rods in their eyes, and rods are the cells that perceive light, as opposed to the cones that detect color).  In addition, a good trail horse has a sense of where its feet are, regardless of the sun’s position.

It might be the rider that has the night-time problem! Ride blindfolded?

It is possible to have a flashlight illuminating the way, but that is like riding in a mobile room.  The boundaries of the room keep moving forward, but the walls still press in.

If there is a moon, or starlight on the snow, or the long glimmer of the  setting summer sun that seems to hang in the sky for hours, it is possible to actually see in the gloom, at least somewhat.

Being out in the naked night is something many of us have given up in our mechanized, technologically advanced world.  We don’t really know what it’s like out there.  Our brains shape the shadows of the landscape into weirdnesses that morph and shift.

About two years ago, I suddenly realized that I wasn’t getting any younger.  In fact, I realized, I was actually getting older.  For the first time I started feeling as though my life was narrowing down to a point.  The point of death.  I don’t mean that like death was imminent and looming, but just the light bulb moment that my life is, most likely, more than half over.

That’s when I decided that I better get busy so that I did “not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

Well, I might be 50, but I’m not dead yet.  I’m done marking time.  I’m riding into the night.

By Patty Wilber

Two thousand eleven has almost gone now.

I think I will call it The Year of the Cow.

Twas March when I went out and got my first bunch.

About the time and the work, I hadn’t a hunch.

I checked ‘em each week by horseback or car.

I bought ‘em some feed, which didn’t go far.

They sure didn’t drop when they were supposed to,

But four out of five popped calves that did moo.

I had ‘em at Pozzi’s and then on to The Farm,

And when I went out there, it never was warm.

The wind was a howlin’ like some ol’ torture test,

But my ponies, they handled it, cuz they are the best.

There wasn’t much rain, so North we did go.

Twas June, but we scouted through mud and deep snow.

The drifts were chest high and the bogs were hock deep.

Three horses lost shoes on their left front feet.

We were first up country, twas like the old west.

We saw elk, deer and pronghorn, and I do not jest.

They were there in the hundreds, just like on TV.

But it weren’t no film, it was re-al-i-tee!

The cabin was cozy and the wood did burn warm,

Which was kinda nice, since there was sorta a storm.

We checked out the fence lines and put up some wire.

We looked out around us, and it did inspire.

We branded and castrated and gave ‘em their shots.

Some people, they like this, and some, they do not.

But to me it’s just grand, always wanted to do it.

I got my chance and there’s sure somethin’ to it.

We trucked beeves to Llaves and some to the Pens,

And we moved ‘em by horseback, like they did back then.

We ‘most lost an ol’ boy when his mare came unglued,

And from his groin to his knee, it was midnight blued.

We rode up the mountain with the wind in our face.

We moved the whole herd, but it was a slow pace.

We went through a river and escaped the peat bogs.

It mighta gone faster if we’d had some good dogs.

We had steady horses, ‘cept T was a butt,

He loves Alameda– makes him think he’s in rut.

But other than that, it went really slick.

If I never came back, it would be too quick.

Summer went fast and the cows did grow fat

We lost several calves to sickness or cats.

Our trips sometimes were in 24 hours

Cuz at the home place some things were quite dour.

At the end of September we moved ‘em back south.

The aspens were turning.  I was down in the mouth.

The land was so dry and scarce was the hay.

So we brewed us some coffee and pondered all day.

There just was no forage, down in the low.

There was only one choice, and it was a blow.

We called up the trucker and loaded them all.

They went East to Roswell; the auctioneer called.

So that is my tale as a cattle baroness.

Twas the best  ever, as I think you have guessed.

I loved every minute and I’m glad I was there

If I could do it again, you betcha, I’m goin’ for bear!

By Patty Wilber

…a covered arena!  This one would be nice….

In order to put an arena of this size on my property, the cost of creating that big of a flat space might be more than the cost of the building! But if you're gonna dream, go BIG!

And I know this guy, Mike, that sells these metal buildings, and I know these other two guys that can do anything, so just as soon as I win the lottery…

********************************

It snowed a foot last week.  Dry snow, but still, a foot is fair amount. And it has been pretty cold–teens and single digits at night and 25-45 during the day (but usually sunny).  The snow melted only in the areas where there was help.

Help in the form of horses walking through it.  Of course some of those spots just packed down and turned to ice. Which at this rate, might last until May, at least on the North side of the barn.

(Penny had a blast tearing around in the new snow.  “woo wee!  i can terrorize lacey!  she’s a runt!”

“am not!” says Lacey.  “i”m barely 1.5 years old! i’m a reiner! ”

Penny concedes “she does nice roll backs to avoid me!  i can slide on my new sliders! woo wee!  watch me do it again!  again!  oops, misjudged, have to slide sideways like a race car…hit the gate anyway.”  (shakes her head, runs off) “watch this!”)

Now if I can only get all  that slide when I am riding!

Help in the form of dragging the arena-thanks to the Spousal Unit and the F1 generation, 0ther-wise known as Progeny #2. (Could not resist, Heather!) The drag, pulled by the Jeep –maybe we will get a tractor next year!– kicked up a little of the sand.  Dark sand + sun = melting.

Where the drag went, melting followed. Not dragged = still covered in snow.

The arena turned into a lake during the day.  With good footing, as the base is deep.

Really, the footing IS good, under all that water.

(“yeah,” say Buckshot, Penny, and JD.  “we have to ride in the lake and we don’t complain –much– because we know better, but our feet get wet!  our legs get wet!  our bellies get wet. AND at dusk we can churn it up while she is riding us.  it delays the ice crystals and makes slush!”

Buckshot adds, “i’ve been to the indoor arena at the Santa Fe Equestrian Center. it is really nice. they have a guy that drags it for me.”

Um that is not just for you, Buckshot.

“but, i’m sexy and i know it.”

Of course it's for me!

Penny and JD roll their eyes.

*******************************************

All we want for Christmas is…a 4 wheel drive truck!  Used is fine! I had to phone a friend (and neighbor) to come over with his truck and pull my trailer up from the barn. It is supposed to snow a whole lot more tonight (Monday). Which might mean nothing, or it might be two feet. (Note: It rained a whole ton instead Monday night. Snowed  3″ Tuesday night.)

Well, it's a stock photo, but at least there is hay in the back...

Normally I pull my trailer out BEFORE a snow, but last week I forgot.  That foot of snow (truthfully even an inch of snow would stymie my truck) combined with the slope, results in fishtailing and buried tires and a big big mess on the gravel road from the barn to the house.  Yeah, I have all weather tires.  But not studs–because around here, it snows, and melts, in most years.

So, I don’t need 4 wheel drive very often.  But the next truck will have it. For the occasional snow, and so I can haul cows and horses where ever I need to go, in good and not so great conditions, highway or gravelled road.

I don’t want dry weather for Christmas.  I can haul to town and use the public arena.  I can go to Santa Fe.  I can plow my arena–well pay some one to plow it for me–to remove the snow.  I can ride on the road.

The wet, if it says wet long enough and sinks in deep enough = GRASS.  Grass = forage for cows.  If the cows have forage, we can buy some and won’t have to feed them. If we can afford to buy them…Old Otis says the price will be sky high if we have any moisture because all the guys from Texas will be here, snapping up our cows.  It could just stay dry in Texas, maybe.

Of course, when we get the cows back,  I am going to have to figure out how to show reining, American Stock Horse, Buckskin, ride the horses I have in training and live with the cows…

(“i got to drive the cows” says Penny. “i was the only one.“ 

Penny, wishing for warmer days and maybe a cow or two to harass.

“i went more than u,” says T from over in Moriarty.

“yeah but u are not here right now so u don’t count” says Penny.

“u haven’t seen the last of me,” says T. “and i stop better than u.”

“hrmpph,” says Penny, and stomps off through the snow.)

Um, all we want for Christmas is…a 30,000 acre ranch? (and an expense account to cover the ranch necessities: cabin, fencing, indoor arena, 4 wheel drive truck, cows…)

Not 30,000 acres, but not a bad location to call home!

By Patty Wilber

The 2011 show season ended in September and after we retrieved the cattle from the ranch (on the second try), Penny got a six week vacation.  She is only four years old and she worked hard in the show ring as well as with the cows at the farm and the ranch January to September.

The show season was a success (go to the bottom of the blog is you want to see The Brag List), and having a horse that will show in multiple events, trail ride, pony, push cows (in a herd–we are still struggling with the 1v1) and pack supplies, is really, really nice!

Penny the pack horse.

Penny under English tack.

Penny doing trail, Western tack.

I have had at least three outside horses + Penny and T here all fall so this in between the seasons time has not been very productive for Penny–I’ve been earning $ to pay for hay!–and shoes and shots, and well, a bunch of new horse stuff I wanted (and needed?).

But the first Shaggy shows begin in January, so the time has come to start planning for the year!

It is all about a focused vision. And while I cannot say I am psychic (but I have a this friend…), I can vouch for the power of seeing where you want to go, and keeping your eyes on the prize.

I won National and World titles, my first trip to that level of competition, on a horse (All Round Sundown) I trained for Whispering Spirit Ranch. On vision.

Ali got 3rd in Hackamore Reining and won Jr. Western Riding in 2008.

Not to say I didn’t prepare. I put hundreds of training hours on Ali in the arena and in the back country (yep she could hobble, highline and lead a pack horse).

Success is when all that hard work meets opportunity.  The opportunity YOU focused on despite roadblocks or detours.  The opportunity YOU created through vision and choice.

And don’t collapse at the last minute!  If you are lead to the water you’ve been craving, you damn well oughta drink!

I saw the Jr. western riding (a pattern class with lots of lead changes) finals online in 2007 and I KNEW Ali could do that.  I had a year to prepare.

At the Nationals in 2008, Ali was four years old.  She is cow bred and is only 14.2 hands high.  I showed western riding against 16 hand, super fancy, western pleasure horses.  My go was midway through the pack, so I watched a few of the early rides, and I started to panic.

We are too small, wrong type, ahhhh!

And then I put that voice on mute and heard this instead: This horse can change leads better than any horse I have ever seen.  Shut up and ride.

So I did. It was the best go she’d ever had.  And we won.

On Vision!

So! What do I see for Penny for 2012?  I dunno yet!

But I watched the Jr. Working Cow Finals for the National Appaloosa show and I KNEW.  Buckshot can do that! So, we are going to the Nationals and the Worlds (we have already qualified, too) in reining and working cow in 2012. There are 7 months left to prepare!

Buckshot says, "really? u picked THIS picture of me? hmpff"

Buckshot says: "much better, but u've used this pic before. u need more pictures of me, cuz i'm sexy and i know it."

******************************************

Penny’s 2012 Brag List:

New Mexico Buckskin Horse Association: Six time Jr high point horse (all the shows this year). Year End Champion: Jr. Hunter Under Saddle, Jr. Western Pleasure, Open Hunter Hack, Open Trail, All Breed Hunter Hack. Plus Reserve Buckskin Open Reining AND the big ones: High Point Jr. Horse, Reserve Super Horse.

New Mexico Appaloosa Horse Association: Year end High Point Performance Horse–for the New Mexico horse with the most points (and she got points in English, Western, Jumping, Reining, Working Cow and Trail.)

Over all winnings: More than $525.00 cash, a brush tote, saddle pad, bridle bag, hay bag, a fan, horse treats, a nice buckle, fancy spur straps, a quilted English saddle carrier and some other stuff I have forgotten!!

Just a shorty for this week.

Happy Thanksgiving from:

Cometa

Boss of the Universe (most of the time)

Penny (The B****y Mare)

Who said I was a crab? Everyone? Hmpff. I don't like them anyway.

Longshot (he is like a big stuffed toy and he likes to put his head on my shoulder).

Longshot. He is ridiculously personable. Ask me again when I start to ride him. He might need the Perk up Program like his half Bro T.

Lacey (kind of emulating Aunt Penny lately–and all I have had heretofore were NICE mares…)

Can't wait to see her in the summer!

JD (he has been here 2 months!)

JD is over 16 hands and he is pretty stout. He loves being "uncle" to Longshot, and he is my biggest goof ball on the trail!

Buckshot (Currenty on a mini vacation–not in the Bahamas)

He is a very fun horse to have around!

Tabooli (the Perk up Program is showing results!)

I wanna be a cow horse?

 Happy Thanksgiving!

It doesn't get much better than this.

By Patty Wilber

I’ve got three horses at the house right now that have “some cow”.

Buckshot (registered name A Para Dox) is the cowy-est. He is a four year old Appaloosa stallion owned by Whispering Spirit Ranch. (He has spots–they are just hard to …uh…spot!)

Buckshot's first ever competition with cows in July.

Penny (Chips at the Bar) has a real interest in cows, but she tends to be “cow fresh”. She is a 4 year old Appaloosa mare and she belongs to me. (Not a spot to be found!)

One of Penny's quieter go's on cows. The judges wanted to give me a new cow because mine was so dull. That's ok! We are FINE with the dull cow.

Tabooli almost flunked out of cow school (lack of interest), but he got a reprieve… and according to my Cow Mentor, “If nothing else, at least  we’ll be able to rope off him.” (Supposing I can learn to rope…) He is a five year old Quarter Horse gelding. He is on loan to me, but belongs to Longshot’s dad.  In fact, Longshot and T have the same mother.

By this stage of the cattle drive T was kind of annoyed at the slow pace of the laggards. His pinned ears actually indicate interest--negative interest, but interest.

 Dog people figured out long ago that if you want a racing dog, get something like a greyhound, and if you want a bird dog, get something like a Brittany spaniel.  Don’t use a poodle as a bird dog? (Editted note: you can use standard poodles s bird dogs!)

Don’t use mini chihuahuas as bird dogs?

Horse people sometimes seem to think that any horse can be a cow horse or a reiner, if only they have the right training (Hey!  Don’t look at me like that!) .

Buckshot is bred to be a reiner (Sliding stops! Spins!  Circles!) and he is bred to work cows. His dad could do those things too.

I am here to tell you that having a horse bred to do the job makes everything a whole lot easier.

Buckshot has the right body to stop hard and slide; he has the right shoulder flexibility to cross over and spin; he perks up when he sees cows.

The cowy-est horses are the cutters. These horses can single a cow out of a herd and then use quick and agile moves to keep the animal from getting back to the bunch.  A good cutter works on a completely loose rein, and the rider hangs onto the saddle horn for dear life.  Buckshot’s dad has show points in cutting and Buckshot himself might do all right in some lower level cutting events.

DK Smart Mate, World Champion Appaloosa cutting horse owned by Whispering Spirit Ranch

Reined Cow Horse or Working Cow Horse is the next level down on the cowy-ness scale.  Working Cow Horses have to run a reining pattern (Buckshot can do that!). Then they have to work a cow back and forth on one end of the arena, run it down the long side and turn it back a few times, and then run a circle around it both directions. He can do that too! The training challenge with Buckshot is to avoid over doing even though it all seems so easy for him!

Penny has enough cow (even though she is NOT bred right-she is a pleasure horse!) to do reined cow horse, but she tends to get a little amped.  She is “cow fresh.” If I ask for much action, she is all over the cow.  She’ll try to take a chunk out of its hide with her teeth (points off in competition if you bite the subject!), and if that is prevented, she’s been known to turn tail and plant a horse shoe on the bovine hip!

The training challenge with her is to take the excitement OUT. (Which I did some last winter when we worked cows at the walk at the farm, but those cows are sold now…whaaa!)

Penny the ranch horse.

She can run a decent reining pattern–compared to other pleasure horses–but the best she’ll be able to do on a sliding stop is probably about 10 feet, whereas Buckshot ought to get 20+. Still, Penny is a pretty good athlete, will have reasonable spins, and she will go just about anywhere I point her.

The lowest rung of the cowy-ness ladder is rope horse.  A rope horse needs some speed to burst out of the roping box and he needs to follow (track)the cow.

Tabooli has successful rope horses in his family tree but he finds  the working cow horse event a bit too taxing (all those quick turns!) and purposeless (the point of this is WHAT?!).  But he does track decently, and he has shown flashes of speed.   So, at minimum, looks like we can rope off him.

I have been working to perk him up in general and hope that will spur (and yes I have  used  spurs to motivate him) his interest in both reining and cows–that is his training challenge.

T did work the cattle drives this year and hopefully the "Perk-up Program" will help him be a better ranch horse, too.

 Buckshot is definitely the most exciting of the the three to work in both the reining and cow pens, but it is fun to find the reining and cow talents of the other two, even if they aren’t totally bred for it.

Next, maybe I’ll take my poodle bird hunting.

No I mean my mini chihuahua.

(oh yeah I don’t have a poodle –or a chihuahua– and I don’t hunt birds).