Post by spirithawk06 on Nov 11, 2014 1:31:56 GMT
Now I have Frozen stuck in my head lol!
My cousin called me up to see if I wanted to go ride. At first, I was bummed because my trailer isn't ready and they usually go ride elsewhere. But, he said he has a trailer that he bought and he offered to come to me! I found a babysitter and we saddled up. He brought his two mares and one of our friends and my girl cousin rode behind us on the bigger mare since Apollo is a bucker and neither of us are up to that kind of wild ride. C has offered to help me with him. HOORAY! C's horses are awesome and I know how he trains.
I caught Star...took a bit. He must have sensed we were wanting to ride. He was acting spooky and when I mounted up, my cousin realized the bit wasn't even doing much when I would pull back to make him stop. Luckily he also listens to seat cues. So we switched bridles and I can see why he was ridden with his original bit. (Greg has his gift chosen for me already I'll be getting a new bridle for Christmas!) He was still acting up with the new horses and new people, so A (friend) suggested that C (cousin) ride Star while I rode Lil Bit just to refresh him a bit. We rode to the back and he only had to show him who's boss a couple of times before he settled down to ride. It helped that he wanted to stay with the mares. My herd was being ridiculous, trying to harass the new mares while we rode past. I was riding with my other cousin behind me but the buckskin mare I was riding didn't even bat an eye. She kept us safe while my other horses were acting like idiots. C and A had us ride ahead while they kept the herd away from us. Once the herd got bored, they left us alone and we rode through the back gate into the back half of my property into the trails. The horses did great over the bridge. While we were waiting for A to close the gate, something took off in the brush right in front of us and Lil Bit just looked at it. If that'd been Star, he likely would have been dancing all over.
We went through the trails in the woods and stopped at the canal to take a break. On the way back, I rode Star and my cousin stayed with C. Star had multiple opportunities to spook but didn't. He kept breaking out into a trot to catch up to the mare ahead of us, but she is a kicker and I didn't want us getting kicked, so I kept him a good distance away. He would drop back to a walk as soon as I pulled back. Star did start a bit when C took off on a side trail making all kinds of noise on the side of me, but he settled down when I turned his head and took his mind off it. He really did have multiple chances to spook but didn't. I was really proud of him considering how anxious he's been.
On the way back up, we took a bunch of side trails. I didn't get any pictures on the way home because I had to focus on Star. On the way to the back, I could snap all I wanted because Lil Bit is unflappable. Apollo was being stupid again when we rode up and I had the most trouble with Star at that point, even to the point of bunching his back up under me, but I kicked him forward. He fought the bit a bit to try to run after the rest of the herd, but I was able to hold him back. I think that has done the most for my confidence. The fact that I kept control of him with chaos all around was quite the boost for me. C and A herded my other horses away (their mares are used to pen up cattle multiple times a week) and we kept riding. We rode up the street and stood for the longest time talking with the neighbors while the kids petted Lil Bit. Star did great, not impatient at all. We rode to the highway and just sat on them for a while. Star didn't bat an eye (I didn't ride him all the way to the highway. I stayed a safe distance away just to see what he'd do.) After that, we rode back to my house and unsaddled the horses.
We have plans to go back on the 23rd and I'm pumped. We rode for 3 hours. I guess I needed the babysitter horse to get my confidence up and then riding Star with friends to help if something went wrong made the difference. I'm not as afraid to ride anymore. My confidence was really shattered before my pregnancy when I got thrown twice. I was working on getting it back, but then I got pregnant and haven't ridden since.
C on Star telling a funny story
Star being dwarfed by the girls despite the fact that he's one of my biggest
So, we think we figured something out about Star. We suspect he's part Appaloosa. He has a really thin, straggly mane and tail, spots on his rump that are getting more and more every year. When I first got him, he had a few small ones on his back, but now, there's a whole line and he's getting more on his flanks. He also has a very little bit of mottling on his manly parts that's almost unnoticeable. We don't think he's pure, but it would explain why I can never get that guy's mane and tail to grow out lovely like my others!
I'm super sore today and will be using Epsom salts tonight, but oh did it feel so good to ride again!
My cousin called me up to see if I wanted to go ride. At first, I was bummed because my trailer isn't ready and they usually go ride elsewhere. But, he said he has a trailer that he bought and he offered to come to me! I found a babysitter and we saddled up. He brought his two mares and one of our friends and my girl cousin rode behind us on the bigger mare since Apollo is a bucker and neither of us are up to that kind of wild ride. C has offered to help me with him. HOORAY! C's horses are awesome and I know how he trains.
I caught Star...took a bit. He must have sensed we were wanting to ride. He was acting spooky and when I mounted up, my cousin realized the bit wasn't even doing much when I would pull back to make him stop. Luckily he also listens to seat cues. So we switched bridles and I can see why he was ridden with his original bit. (Greg has his gift chosen for me already I'll be getting a new bridle for Christmas!) He was still acting up with the new horses and new people, so A (friend) suggested that C (cousin) ride Star while I rode Lil Bit just to refresh him a bit. We rode to the back and he only had to show him who's boss a couple of times before he settled down to ride. It helped that he wanted to stay with the mares. My herd was being ridiculous, trying to harass the new mares while we rode past. I was riding with my other cousin behind me but the buckskin mare I was riding didn't even bat an eye. She kept us safe while my other horses were acting like idiots. C and A had us ride ahead while they kept the herd away from us. Once the herd got bored, they left us alone and we rode through the back gate into the back half of my property into the trails. The horses did great over the bridge. While we were waiting for A to close the gate, something took off in the brush right in front of us and Lil Bit just looked at it. If that'd been Star, he likely would have been dancing all over.
We went through the trails in the woods and stopped at the canal to take a break. On the way back, I rode Star and my cousin stayed with C. Star had multiple opportunities to spook but didn't. He kept breaking out into a trot to catch up to the mare ahead of us, but she is a kicker and I didn't want us getting kicked, so I kept him a good distance away. He would drop back to a walk as soon as I pulled back. Star did start a bit when C took off on a side trail making all kinds of noise on the side of me, but he settled down when I turned his head and took his mind off it. He really did have multiple chances to spook but didn't. I was really proud of him considering how anxious he's been.
On the way back up, we took a bunch of side trails. I didn't get any pictures on the way home because I had to focus on Star. On the way to the back, I could snap all I wanted because Lil Bit is unflappable. Apollo was being stupid again when we rode up and I had the most trouble with Star at that point, even to the point of bunching his back up under me, but I kicked him forward. He fought the bit a bit to try to run after the rest of the herd, but I was able to hold him back. I think that has done the most for my confidence. The fact that I kept control of him with chaos all around was quite the boost for me. C and A herded my other horses away (their mares are used to pen up cattle multiple times a week) and we kept riding. We rode up the street and stood for the longest time talking with the neighbors while the kids petted Lil Bit. Star did great, not impatient at all. We rode to the highway and just sat on them for a while. Star didn't bat an eye (I didn't ride him all the way to the highway. I stayed a safe distance away just to see what he'd do.) After that, we rode back to my house and unsaddled the horses.
We have plans to go back on the 23rd and I'm pumped. We rode for 3 hours. I guess I needed the babysitter horse to get my confidence up and then riding Star with friends to help if something went wrong made the difference. I'm not as afraid to ride anymore. My confidence was really shattered before my pregnancy when I got thrown twice. I was working on getting it back, but then I got pregnant and haven't ridden since.
C on Star telling a funny story
Star being dwarfed by the girls despite the fact that he's one of my biggest
So, we think we figured something out about Star. We suspect he's part Appaloosa. He has a really thin, straggly mane and tail, spots on his rump that are getting more and more every year. When I first got him, he had a few small ones on his back, but now, there's a whole line and he's getting more on his flanks. He also has a very little bit of mottling on his manly parts that's almost unnoticeable. We don't think he's pure, but it would explain why I can never get that guy's mane and tail to grow out lovely like my others!
I'm super sore today and will be using Epsom salts tonight, but oh did it feel so good to ride again!
Give me my old scuffed, and dirty boots and I will be happy all day, but those fashion, torture boots. Ummm, not so much.
I'll see if I can get someone to hang out and watch her in exchange for riding after I'm done. 
