Saturday, October 29, 2011

Tricks!!

I have had the pleasure of working (off and of for the last 4 years) with a very talented pinto colt.  As a yearling, this little guy went national pinto champion, reserve as a 2 year old.  Now he's 5 and we're working together in dressage.  I have enjoyed him immeasurably since I've had him.  Norton told me one day that he was a little tired of just going to the arena and working on riding and circles and rail work and silly, boring things like that.  So, like my last very special boy Sam, I thought it would be time for Norton to learn some tricks.  He has really enjoyed this new stuff!!  We do our tricks in the arena before we tack up for our ride.  On the first day, we learned how to wave (he paws with his left forefoot when I wave and click to him) and lay down!  He was so so very willing to try for me, didn't fight it at all!  He is the first horse I've taught to lay down.  Now, about 3 weeks later, he has mastered that wave and often offers it for free, lays down pretty well, lays down flat and is working towards a sit (we've had it twice!)  He now also does a deep bow and we're still trying to masture the concept of a smile.  I have even had him lay down, then I sat on him, and he stood up with me on him!  OMG I was sooo nervous but it was super cool and he was perfect about it.  I even had an audience for that one (I know at least one person was there just to make sure I didn't die!) 


Isn't it amazing what a horse will do for a cookie and a pat?

Friday, October 21, 2011

Good Feelings :)

I'm not sure whyyy but today I woke up (with some help from a 2-and-a-half-year-old girly) with a really good feeling!  I'm not expecting anything special - going to judge a fun show tomorrow at Spoons Arabians, and then have my favorite equine girly friends over for a spagetti supper (how fun!) but nothing really big enough to warrant the feeling of glee I have in me right now.  I'll take it though.  It's sure a much better feeling than the worry that normally comes with raising a child and horses. 


Speaking of Bucky McOldpants (as my husband now calls him).  My 22-year-old anglo-arab gelding is now gently back into training. (Thanks very much to Jaime for sending him back to me when a move caused her to be unable to keep him any longer.)  He will be my husband's mount and take me around sidesaddle on occasion as well.  It's been just a blast getting him back into training as he is soooo schooled!  I hope Anthony has as much fun with him as I have through the years. 
Ah the old days... <3

Monday, October 17, 2011

Fall Classic Sale Overview

Well if I ever needed a weekend out, it was last weekend and boooy did I ever have a good time of it! 
I'm very fortunate to have some very good friends (some of whom live in very convenient locations, with very convenient hot tubs, and some of whom have very fuel-efficient little cars that make travel very inexpensive!)  My dear friend Renate and I decided to head down to Olds for the Fall Classic Canadian Warmblood Breeder's Sale.  (I think they need to cut that name down a little...)  We went down early on Saturday and watched some free jumping, had some visiting with the fantastic Michelle who was kind enough to put us up for the night, and then went back for the "Gala Event" Saturday evening.  It was a very good time including a small combined driving competition (the hackney and halflinger were AWESOME!!) and a 3-bar high jump competition.  I have to say I was a little petrified to watch the lady on her 17+ hh gelding who somehow managed to make it over the 5 ft 3" verticle to a second place finish.  The first place horse was a darling chestnut, the smallest of the bunch, who had all the try in the world to make it over a jump bigger than himself.  He certainly deserved the prize money, so did his rider!  Kudos also to the birthday boy Lyle who retired his horse appropriately.  A bottle of wine and a hot tub were a very fitting end to a great day!

The sale on Sunday brought much more visiting with old friends and quite a bit of excitement from my own little three-some.  Michelle has been considering a new mount as her mare is getting up there in years.  We found the IDEAL little gelding for her, lot 56, Castiel.  We thought he had the ideal temperment, confirmation, height, movement, for Michelle (and she agreed!!)  We were pretty excited when she went to bid on him but unfortunately her bank just wasn't quite deep enough to bring him home.  He sold to Victoria, BC, and I do hope his new home enjoys him as much as the 3 of us would have! 
Isn't he lovely??  His personality reminded me a lot of my Sam.  Made me miss him just a little bit more...

Anyways, prices were really all over the board and horses I expected to go for a good doller were taken back home because there was no action on them.  High selling horse went for $24,000. 

Next year we crazy sidesaddle riders would like to do a sidesaddle demo for the Gala evening.  I hope they're interested in having us :)

Sunday, October 9, 2011

I'm so far behind I don't know if I lost my horse or found a rope...

My appologies for the delay!!
The RHPSI inspection went very very well! Ritchie (LaBamba SE) is officially fully registered Zweibrucker and will be recieving his German registration papers in the spring. For some reason the RHPSI's branding irons were not permitted across the border, customs decided they were "dangerous", so he will be recieving his branding next year.
The trip went quite well. Ritchie rode all the way down to Okotokes like a champ. We stopped for water and fuel in Red Deer and then went right along. Poor fella had to ride alone through Calgary in rush-hour all alone! I was so proud of him.

On arrival at Bri-Mel Farm, Brian (owner) showed us to our grass paddock (lovely!) and gave us the low-down on the detals for the following day's events. Can't say enough good things about Brian and Michelle (and their clients) at Bri-Mel Farm. They were so welcoming, helpful and friendly! I highly recommend them to anyone on the south side of Calgary.
The inspection went quite well. Ritchie was the only yearling there, the rest were broodmares with foals at their side. Some LOVELY foals there. Ritchie recieved very good comments from the inspector Otto. I am so proud of him!!!



On our way home we stopped in Ponoka to pick up an old friend of mine. My old FEI Anglo-Arab gelding Celebrity Ruler (Buck) was given back to me by the lady I'd sold him to years ago. She and her family were moving to a small property that was not set up for horses. Buck is 22 years young this year so she was concerned primarily for a good home for him. I'm so glad to have him back. He's fat and happy and has gone for a couple of nice rides with me since coming home (yep, even sidesaddle!)

All in all it's been a great month - a wonderful end to the summer.&nbsp; I hope it keeps going like this!!

Since Ritchie has to be branded next year (back to the inspection we go) we are looking at having an inspection/branding in the NORTHERN part of Alberta.  The RHPSI is all for adding another date to their inspection tour for us, all we need is a minimum of 10 horses to inspect.  If you are interested in having your horses inspected, registered and branded with a German Verband, please contact me at shimmere@live.ca