Well you and Dasher certainly seem to be finally working out your problems. 

I rode Ziggy Sunday and he did much better, had to put his old stand by O ring with the little twisted wire mouth piece on him.  He is still trying to be a butt but hopefully will start coming around again.  It is really my own fault for not riding him consistently like he needs to be. 

The Nik Dell gelding is going to Keiths the end of the month for 3-4 weeks of riding, someone else will heal up faster than me? 

Neighbor gril came over Saturday and Sunday.  On Sunday I put her on Bud and let her ride while on a lunge line and she learned to guide and stop and back.  Trying to teach her to stop without pulling on the reins.  Good old Bud did not care, too bad she won't ride like that for her owner. 

And I have lost another pound, only 40 more to go before I am at my goal.  I will never loose 50 more (which is how much heavier I am than I was when I quit smoking) but will settle for 30-40 more off and have allowed myself about 18 months to get there. 

Everyone tell how they did over the weekend with their projects.

Oh, got to see Nicole and Dena or was it Dana on Saturday.  Always good to see them.   

It's Dena!  At least you got my name down this time!  It's always good to see you to Val!  The babies are getting big!  Glad Bud did good for your neighbor!  She is so cute!

HH-  I'm SSSSSOOOOOOO glad things are going good for you!  Congrats!  Way to go Dasher!  How long have you had her?  How old is she?

I rode on Sunday.  I could tell I gave Scout to many days off!  He was wanting to look around and not pay attention, till I gave him a good slap on the but with the rein!  He jumped forward and shook his head as if to say "don't do that again", but when he did that I slapped him again and he settle down and we go to work!  Walking cicles, long trotting, reg. trotting circles.  He is really starting to pick up his canter well, I still have to guide him and make sure he stays out of the pine trees!  I'm trying hard to keep his mind moving and our work outs productive!  He is getting better at moving off my legs.  So thats my update!

Don't worry, you will get Ziggy back to where you want him to be. Congrats on lose another pound.  Keep it up and we will start to see less of you in the future.
BTW, Keith was at the show Friday night. So was Ronny Day, Rhoda Hess, Tim Oxbey as well as Christy Armstrong and Jack and Chris Herron. Barrel horse Poor was there too (and they has some good runs). I think everybody was using this show as a tune up for state.

I know it will just take him time, he is a man I can't expect too much, ya know! :rotf:  I hope it does not take us that long to get together eaither!

Ya know I think she was call me Aleshia!  Or maybe it was Michelle!?  Oh well, I've been called alot worse!

Oh Val- Congrats on losing a pound!  One step at a time!  I need to be on a diet too, but I just gave you all my skinny girl jeans to sell at the state show! 

  Did you tell her we set up a thread for her and everything!  Why has she not been on here?

Yup, I told him. I gave him a card the other day but I know he is limited on his internet acces right now. He will stop by when he gets a chance. They are some really nice, down to earth people. I know they will be at state so If I get the chance, then I am going to introduce them to Val and Ramsey (if she makes it over there)

Good job!  I need some cards my self!  I'm gonna get on Ramsey about that!  Not sure when Ramsey is coming back!  I saw her B/F on Sat, he said they got there ok, so thats good!

I am glad to know everything is good so far. I hope she is able to get internet access in one of the hotels she is staying at. Maybe she can give us a trip update. Aaron did not go with her?

No Aarron did not go with her!  Just her, the munckin, and her Aunt (maybe a cousin went too)!

Just wanted to let you all know that this thread helped me ride last night!  I was wanting to be alittle lazey and not ride.  Well I thought if I don't ride I will catch heck from you guys for not riding, and not having a good excuse why I didn't ride.

Scout was alittle brat for the most part last night.  I was extending his trot and taking him in a bigger area then I normally do.  I was posting on him and I think that messed him up.  I just kept my hands steady, and kept at him and finally he got it and settled in!  I think he needs his teeth floated because sometimes he flings his head around and whe I fist put the bit in his mouth he will gap it open for a couple secs.  He is doing alot better on picking up his canter and steering while cantering.  My little area is so hard to ride in, but I make do!  Once I get him past the first 10 min of riding he is fine and does most any thing I ask him. 

How long do you guys noramlly do circles, etc. before you introduce them to the pattern?

I did not ride because it was raining all day yesterday. If it slows up some today I might get to but I have to start loading my trailer too.




Don't try too many new things just yet. Keep working on the basics until he has them down. You can do alot just by walking and trotting (like around fields or trail riding.) Make sure he has a stop and you might try backing him up a few steps everytime you stop to help him understand to work off his back end. As far as doing circles before showing them a pattern, I would not even worry about showing the pattern to him this summer. If you want to walk around it fine but I would not go any further then that right now. He is still trying to understand the whole riding thing right now and you want him to understand you and your riding style first before you try getting him to think about what a barrel is for. Work him like you were training him for pleasure first. Get him responsive and collected before you do any barrel work You can set the barrels up in diffrent configureations and get him use to working off you leg. If you have four barrels then set them up like a square and work  (at a walk) on corners. Don't rush him. Alot of good horses are messed up by trying to do too much too fast. The more you work him the more he will tell you when he is ready to move on to something else. If you start to get bored with doing the same ol thing try trail riding him. Build his air and muscles up. That way when you two are ready to move on he will be in shape.  Don't worry grasshopper, you will get there.  Unless you plan on doing futuritys, then you are in no rush.

Has not started raining here yet! 

  Yippie I have been doing that!  More for the fact that he feels like he is pulling against me when I pull back.  So I back him up until I feel him "give" to the bit.

  Oh good!  I'm glad you said that, because thats what I've been doing!  I have not been putting a head set on him of course!  I have been riding him and "training" him like I did my mare.  I figure eventually he will be able to "read my mind" like my mare does!

  That is the last thing I want to do!  I just asked my first question out of curosity!  I want him to be a good horse, somthing fun that I don't have to fight with!  Plus I gotta get him good and broke by our trail ride!  Don't want to embarress myself!


  On some weekends thats all we do is trail ride!  I wanna get him alittle more broke before I take him around our neighbors fields!  Funny isn't it I trust him on the side of the mountain, but if an open flat field I don't!!!  I do have some cones at home that I can set up in different patterns, I want to keep him interested too!

Thanks for the advise HH!  My plan is to run him in December, if all goes well!

Well you have a goal now. Do not get down if he is not ready to really run in December though. If you get a chance, try to find a small club show and just take him in the practice (if they have one) later on this fall. Work on the basics first. Don't try to push him before he is ready. If he tells you he is not ready then wait until he is. You and he have several years of running ahead of you. Remember, small steps lead to big strides. If you have missed anything you will find out when you start to run. Then you will need to go back and teach him again and that takes more time then a slow training program. A good seasoned barrel horse takes a few years to make. A big time trainer or seasoned trainer might be able to pump out a barrel horse in a few months but for the rest of us it takes time. They have the advantage of already knowing how to do everything that us little folks have to learn as we go along. Take your time. You and he will be much better for it in the end.

I have been busy trying to get the trailer loaded and am about a quarter of the way there. I did get a chance to get Dasher out and lung her a little. Just to keep her legs limber. I am really getting geared for this weekend. I am also starting to get a little nevious too. This feels like it is going to be a good weeked (I hope).