Finally getting back to the horses-it's been awhile

Okay, I admit it-it has been a tremendous dry spell and if you had asked if I would have every taken so long to get back into the saddle, I would have told you that you were crazy. However, depression is a funny thing-and losing five horses inside of one year-three of which I raised from foals-just takes the pleasure right out of it. I mean there's just nothing there. 

Plus-my husband wanted me to sell my trailer-and that just didn't sit well with me. I balked-even though I did place the ads. Now things have worked around that he sees things the way I did originally-that we need to dump the big truck and big stock trailer instead and get a smaller utility trailer that the Frontier can pull. I'll still have to repair the Brenderup's ramp, but I will get to keep it. This works. Life is looking up. 

So now I can clean the saddles, dust off the bridles, and start thinking about getting my butt back into the saddles again. My mood is going back to the positive-back in control. I might be older, crankier, and not as easy to get off the ground as before, but at least I'm going again. 

Besides-I'd much rather leave this world while out with the horses than sitting inside wishing I had been. Here's to horse sweat, bruises, and being tired! 

Well, got up the nerve to ride Redford (formerly known as Razz or Razzamatazz or Tucson) a couple of days ago for the second time. This time I decided to ride at home and use just the rope hackamore as he is very lacking in basic skills. What I learned was revealing-he has been intimidating people with tantrums-half-rears, twisting, threatening bucking, and whipping around on both sides to bite at your legs. Plus-the sonofabitch can shy and swap ends like a rodeo bronc. (This old gal can still stay on that-but likes it less than she used to.)

Now I have his lessons straight in my head-and they go like thiis:

1. He learns to be saddled and girthed without biting and moving around. His intimidation/dominance tactics have got to come to an end.

2. I'll ride with dressage whips in BOTH hands until he learns to keep his head where I put it-and his mouth closed.

3. He needs a roller bit to keep him busy-and probably a copper one. I'd like to see how he reacts to a ported bit as well. He's probably going to freak about the chin chain, but he'll just have to live with it. May try the TTeam bit and use four reins. The loose jaw would be more like the snaffles he's used to.

4. Work on transitions, curves, and straight lines.

5. Get him out in the clear cut ASAP. That will keep him busy watching where his feet are going instead of thinking up evil thoughts.

That should be enough for now. When that gets done, time to re-evaluate and re-set goals!