2/5/2011

We've had a bit of a crisis at the barn the last few days. It got pretty darn cold, even for Arizona, and our well busted. Not sure if it was just pipes or what; though, I do know the pump busted. So we had no water for about 100 some horses, for two days. We had to haul in or go buy our own water. Crazy! I went out today to check on Gertie and the other horses, and it's back up and running. My poor Barn Owner is pretty frazzled and ticked off about it, lol, but what can you do?

So with all that going on, we haven't done a whole lot. I did ride her yesterday and we worked on figure 8's with just leg pressure only. She is doing really good at it! I hardly have to give her any rein cue to turn. So we did that, some circles that way, and ground poles. All undersaddle. She was full of attitude, as usual, but I then incorporated a very low set cross-rail up to trot her over. First she was pretty funny about it, but did not refuse it one bit and after a few pop overs, she seemed to really enjoy herself when she started to "get" it. Such a good girl! There are a few straight-aways on the rail the she will turn her hind-end in and trot diagonally with her head at the rail. I wish I had a picture to "show." Maybe my right leg is still weak, because no matter how much leg pressure I would put on her to try and push her HQ over, she often wouldn't budge. Oh, it's frustrating! Yesterday was a lot better and even though I was frustrated, we did more circles and I'd push her into the rail and push her more into the turn, supporting her QH and holding them... hurt the crap out of my RL but made some progress, so we ended it there.

Pictures :)

This was actually her first "attempt" ^^

She kept thinking she HAD to pop herself over them. She wasn't balking or refusing so I let her pop over them, however, my goal is to get her to easily just trot over the x-rail. It's wider than the cavaletties but easy enough to trot over and pick up those feet.