Count Down

Only a few days left until we leave for Texas. Napoleon is continuing to progress and starting to smooth everything out. The word of the week? TRANSITIONS, TRANSITIONS, TRANSITIONS. Never can do enough as this is where a "green" horses lack of experience crops up. Just being patient now as he gets more and more confident in himself and what I am asking. Setting a lot of patterns and trail patterns to test our readiness. Still a little unsettled on a finals routine.
Tonight I took Napoleon to the Junior Rodeo. Lots of activity and unexpected happenings there for a horse to experience. He was really, really good. Not nervous at all. Let everyone come up and pet him with ease. Lots of little kids and swinging ropes whisking by and he didn't care at all. I walked him around the grounds and he guided well one-handed and no-handed while I talked on the phone and drank a bottle of water. Afterwards, we did a test pattern in the outdoor arena without warming up in it and he absolutely did every maneuver in a plus fashion. (I know, I sound like a proud mother..but I am!)

Cutie

I hope you can see by the photos how cute Napoleon is. I am loving him! So are the kids. They are begging me to ride him everyday. I would let them too but my arm is still so sore I don't think it's quite safe to leg them up yet for that first ride. Zane can't help either as he can't get out of a walk yet. So, they might have to wait a little longer. I must say that I am surprised that I never get a comment on the blog, positive or negative. We got lots of comments on our first blog but I guess now everyone talks on facebook :)

He Doesn't Even Blink

Napoleon has had a good week. Zane thinks the horse is quite funny. Napoleon is very low energy and very quiet. He is in to strict energy conservation. When he is in the field, he never runs or trots, he slowly walks from place to place. He has a pasture mate and he stays completely out of their way and doesn't socialize. When he is tied up in the barn he cocks a foot and closes his eyes, and doesn't hardly move a muscle. He is very patient...so far! Zane said the other day, "Man,I'm not sure that horse even blinks!" He is absolutely no trouble.You should see him slowly creep into the wash stall. He knows he has to go and many of the horses are not fond of the design, but he resolutely gets in and lets me tie him and stands stock still for his bath and rinse. So cute! Last weekend we accompanied Zane to Bozeman for a clinic. Napoleon turned back in the cutting pen and got to work a few cows down the fence in the indoor arena. He was stellar and I was very pleased with his attitude and work. They had kind of a junk pile behind the cattle pen and I steered him through the irrigation pipe and walked through a tire. He just went wherever I pointed him. It was a very good workout for Napoleon. He even let Zane load him in the trailer. (And he's on crutches, so not an easy sight for a horse.) Monday was not such a great workout though. Napoleon may have been tired and sore or maybe just grumpy. The first time since the first few weeks of riding where he was resistant. I had to keep working to end on a good note, but was finally able to after he completed a relaxed stop. The next few days I backed off on what I had been asking him to do and on Wednesday he was really good again. I will try to post a video that Zayle took. It's not the best cow turns as he usually preforms better but you know how it is when the cameras come out. Sometimes the little extra pressure gets to the performer! We just need to continue to improve a little each day and work on Napoleon's natural assets so we are ready for Texas.

Asking for Comments...

Okay, for all of you mustang fans out there: What would you like to see in a freestyle routine? and/or What was your favorite freestyle "element(s)" you have witnessed in the Mustang Makeover? In our 2007 finals Zane and I opted for no props or guns or anything. Zane did rope a steer but the judges felt he should have stopped it instead of break-away roping. (Algore was barely 14 hands but that was the judges' feedback). In the last makeover in Colorado, the winner did a well executed freestyle pattern with no props and did a bridleless routine to follow. (I tried that with Chopper in practice in 2007, he was not a bridleless guy!) So, as Zane helps me with planning and showmanship for this show what is your opinion? (Don't worry, I am not packing a "bouncy" ball or anything ;)

Today Napoleon and I practiced our events again. Zane had given us a thorough evaluation yesterday and told me what we needed to concentrate on in our gymnastic and reining work for the next few weeks. So, with a clear lesson plan in place, we worked on all of those elements today. (Rest assured, Zane has ridden Napoleon all of 20 minutes in the entire time he has been with me and has only schooled with us a few times.) Zane will be doing a cowhorse clinic this weekend and Napoleon gets to tag along so it will be a great test for us.

Still Here :)

Yes, we're still here. Haven't written in a while. Napoleon is doing well as usual. He looks beautiful. He has such a short, fine haircoat and he is chubby in a cute way. He is working all his events well and is very smart on a cow. He is good to me, which I appreciate. Especially since Zane and I have had a few weeks of mishaps. Just over a week ago, Zane had his foot and ankle smashed. Not broken, but really bruised, sore and swollen. He can't walk on it yet, but is riding anyway. A horse fell with him going down the fence. I'm supposed to be picking up the slack and then on Monday, his 3 year old NCHA Futurity horse bucked me off on the road. I couldn't hardly move for 2 days and I'm pretty sure my collar bone is cracked because my right arm hurts constantly and I can't raise my arm above my head. Nothing like a horse wreck to make you feel your age. I am so bruised up and tender on my right side. I had to give Napoleon the day off on Monday due to my aches and pains. I got on and rode him the rest of the week though. Mostly one handed since I can't pull with my right arm hardly at all. He let me get on with a bucket and he stands stock still which is great too. We just continued to work the preliminary events and have started on our tentative finals routine. I might have to change it a little due to my physical limitations at the moment. Just starting to plan all my travel arrangements too. Here's hoping for a better week ahead!

Definition of a "Broke" Horse

The last few days have been "good rides" for my horse and I. We have had some good moves on the cattle, a few short slides, some honest canter departures, good trail manuevers and jumps. The best thing of all is Napoleon's demeanor is happy, happy, happy! Zane thinks he is getting fat and that is amazing because he gets a lot of riding each day. He is a good eater with a good appetite and he conserves his energy in the field. He never bucks and plays, just walks leisurely enjoying his grass, his water, and his hay and grain. I am thrilled that he is filling out and really looking like a 6 year old..(Morgan /QH cross?)

Today I enjoyed riding him mostly one-handed. We had lots of little jobs like turning back and opening awkward gates. We coached the kids while Zayle learned how to jump and also while she practiced her barrels and poles. Napoleon did lots of demonstration of proper technique for Zayle and Dawson's horses. He is riding like a "broke" horse.

That got me thinking about my definition of a "broke" horse. I was blessed with some good ones as a kid. Back then, horses got a lot of riding on the ranch and were really used. Even my show and rodeo horses got several hours of riding almost every day of the week. As kids, we just rode and rode and rode. (Without much parental supervison, I might add ;) I took it for granted that neck reining and lead changes were really that easy! My kids are fortunate enough to ride a few hours a day. It makes a huge difference in their abilities and a huge difference in how their horses work for them.

Now, what is a "broke" horse? First of all, it is a horse that can complete a daily job with ease-no fights, no drama, no anxiety-just work honestly. Second, it is a horse that will pull through for you in a tight spot. Such as when you have to cross deep water or get pressured in an alley full of cattle. Lastly,it is a horse that will continue to learn and refine their movements making them a joy to "drive" with one soft hand, like a Mercedes, not a Ford Pinto with a 4 speed! Now, of course the question is: How do we progress to the "broke" horse?

The first step to a broke horse is to ride it and treat it as such. When it makes a mistake, just re-direct and show the horse the right way. PATIENT REPETITION. Of course, there are exercises that build up to riding the horse one handed. One of the most important in our program is the side-pass. (LOTS and LOTS of side-passing). Then, there is vertical flexion and also the ability of the horse to follow the direct rein when he is pulled through a turn. It is important that his feet move with his nose! (We skip just the holding the nose in part that exercise isn't practical for a working horse. )When the horse is moving easily off your feet and following the rein without trouble and giving at the poll, I start riding them one-handed with crossed reins and a short-shank snaffle. I tip their nose, follow with the in-direct rein and press last with my calf to finish the turn. (Don't spur through the turn, it makes for an unhappy horse.) Then, it's lots of repetition. A horse doesn't learn to ride one-handed, unless you ride them that way! (I know it seems obvious, but many people that have ridden with us have to have their off-hand tied to their side to force them to ride one-handed.)

So, as I work on "finishing" Napoleon, (yes, it is still a ways off we only have 100 days, you know!) I keep in mind patient repetition and I keep working towards the goals of a "Broke" horse.

A Small Set-Back

It is finally warm in Montana! Napoleon is doing well. He is spending most of the day in the pasture. Zayle (my daughter) can easily catch and handle him now. Yesterday, one of the girls in the barn saddled him for me. All great stepping stones for a mustang in training. I had a small set-back on Friday morning. It didn't involve Napoleon, just me. We got up early to move cattle and I was brushing one of the stallions, as I walked around behind him to brush his other side, he squealed at another horse and kicked. He kicked me right in the thigh and sent me flying. First time in my entire life of working with horses that I have been kicked. I still rode Napoleon Friday evening and Saturday morning, but boy, is my leg sore! Made it harder to ride effectively and made it really hard to mount and dismount. Napoleon was patient with me though as I flailed around trying to get in the saddle without using my thigh muscle. Good thing he is short. I finally stepped up on a bucket and slid my toe in the stirrup that way. He is feeling really, really good. Maybe a little too good! He was giving me playful bucks when we started out yesterday. This week we will concentrate on all our class events for the competition. I will work each class everyday. (Rail class, pattern class, trail class, cow class.) I also need to format my finals routine and music this week. If we are fortunate enough to make the finals, I will be prepared!! The GREAT news is that a local girl is coming to work for us this week and that will take the pressure off of me so I can concentrate on Napoleon.