Eh. Poor, poor pitiful me.

After being teased at the barn for my white plastic bridle, I did what needed to be done! That is, got on ebay and bought a used Passier bridle. Classic looking. I don't think the leather is all that, though. The plastic bridle was made of biothane and though completely ugly, was very nice to work with.

It has taken me a full month to almost get over falling off my horse. The xrays didn't show anything broken. And I learned about a new painkiller - Aleve. Going through the airport last week, I broke down and got a wheelchair. Hauling crap with a sore hip is just a bad idea, all round.

I tried out the australian saddle and it just didn't work for me. It felt perchy on my horse. And the workmanship was not up to standards. So it has been sent back.

I am back to the Bates Isabell. It fits well - both for me and my horse. No lesson this week. Everyone is getting ready for the horse show on Sunday.

New Saddle on its way

I got to thinking that having a more secure saddle would help with developing my seat. So I haved ordered a Kates Rideabout Endurance saddle. I will use my saddle pad, monkey grip, and webbers with it. There is a nice review of the saddle on http://www.horsetackreview.com/.

I am still sore and have a slight headache.

One of the things I have been told to change is my ugly bridle. Being a white bridle on a black horse looks like a neon light to Marty. So I am conditioning one of my other bridles and will change over today.

Henry did a lovely dismount yesterday - he was riding bareback and Zwarte took off. Henry landed on his feet. This is the way to do it. Not landing on one's head.

I am very sore.

That is all. New helmet on its way.

Hit the dirt

I was travelling in circles - trying to get Zwarte to go the way I wanted him to. We had done this for some time when he spooked at something, the saddle slipped, and I slammed into the ground. Shoulder, hip and head.

I am sore.

Lesson learned: Must take a firmer grip on the reins - tell Z every step of the way what I want him to do. Oh, and tighten up the girth.

I'd like to try an aussie saddle with poleys to see if I can keep my seat better.

First lesson

This is the first lesson. I feel like our steering is pretty wobbly. My legs are not strong enough.
I learned today that I need to lean back and let my feet go forward. This makes it tricky to post. I will practice every day until my legs get stronger.

Plus work on verbal cues for backing up.

Zwarte has a snotty nose. Poor baby.

I am so very very happy to have him home. I missed him so much.

Clay Maier

I asked Marty if she would consider hosting a clinic by Clay Maier - expecting to be shot down. She didn't though and said she would look him up on the internet.

So hot.

I get out to the stable early - yesterday at 6:40 am, today at 8:00 am but sweat through my clothes anyway.

Yesterday, I think I taught Zwarte a bad thing. He learned that, while longeing, he could turn outward and change directions and I would lose control of him. So today, I decided we would back up a little bit, put the chain on his nose and do small, tight longes where I kept control. If he tried to pull away, his nose hurt. This seemed to give him the message and he didn't try running off again. It is a bad thing to have him running off with the longe rope wrapped around my ankle. This is entirely my fault.

I get joy from just looking at him. After his workout and rinse, I took him down to graze in the shade. He seems to be growing a little rump high again - but not as oddly as when he was a yearling. He also shows no ribs at all.

He has quit trying to bite me and actually seems affectionate. He quits eating to come over and hang out with me. Maybe he is hoping for a banana. This horse looooves bananas.

I have been thinking about long-lining him. This would actually be better than longeing. But Fred's wife was killed in May long-lining a horse. It is hard to fathom Fred being dead. And now his wife. How sad.

I remember they had a picture of Grandpa Anderson astride a beautiful black horse - probably when he went to Mexico to chase Pancho Villa. I'd love to have that picture.