Saturday, June 7, 2008
We tied like a pro
Today started out warm and muggy like most June days in south Texas.
Misty is doing well with our humid climate. Hasn't seemed to bother her. She runs and plays with her best friend Troy. Shes growing and filling out by leaps and bounds.
Today we started a new task. We stood tied to the rail. No problems to report. She tested the rope several times but soon realized it wasn't going anywhere and neither was she.
I can't tell you how impressed my whole family and anyone who meets her is. We joke that someone is missing a real nice thoroughbred filly.
Now don't get me wrong shes not a trained pony by any means but every day she learns and excepts what ever comes her way.
In the following days we'll be changing her stall. She gets a bigger one closer to Troy. We'll she how shes like fly spray and Swat.
Of course sometime in between the kids and I and several students leave for Tulsa Ok and Pinto World.
Until we meet again
Enjoy the Ride
Ms Jodie
Labels: animal, horse, mustang challange, riding, training 8:36 PM
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Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Bouncing Chad
Mustangs are renowned for their strength,endurance,agility, and intelligence-Characteristics bred into them in the wild which make them idea for work or recreation..
This is a quote from the Mission 007 2008 Yearling Edition Information. In working with Missy I have found this to be true. She seems to think things through and the day Chad and I put the lead rope on her was no exception.
The day we picked Missy up we were offered the opportunity to have them put the lead rope on her while she was trapped in the chute. I decided against that due to the long trailer ride in Houston traffic.
But today was the day to have her learn the basic of giving to pressure. Today we put the lead rope on. We decided it was a two man job so off we went. Missy, Chad and I all in the stall one happy family.
Chad is a master at many things but he's the only man I have ever met that likes to "hold the babies" As a matter of fact several of our weanling feel as comfortable in Chad lap as with their moms. More than one boarder has commented on the fact that its kind of funny to hear out of no where Chad put the horse down. Not something you would expect to hear. But it works wonders their first time with the farrier or trimming their ears. As they get older they will tuck their heads under his arm as if to say hold me now..
So this was our plan Chad would gentle gather her up in his arms and (He's big 6'4 a lot of room there)I would clip the lead rope. No problem right she's just a bit bigger than our weanling's.
You would have had to been there to see the fun we had. Missy had other ideas about that snake looking thing we wanted to attach to her head and Chad wearing his neon green shirt looked like a bouncing ball. No as easy as we'd hoped but none worse the wear.
The lead rope attacked we stood with her awhile and enjoyed petting and loving on her. Its so important that she is left with positive feelings once a training session is over.
Until we meet again
Enjoy the ride...
Ms. Jodie
Labels: animal, horse, lessons, mustang challange, training 8:28 AM
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Sunday, June 1, 2008
Man VS Beast
Today Misty made a friend.
Her stall backs up to our arena so we open the back gate and let her out. Troy was our friend of choice. He's a yearling gelding of her same size and temperament. It was love at first sight.
But the fun didn't start until it was time to come in for the evening. She was not happy about Troy going back to his stall and she wanted no part of hers.
This is a smart mare she new what we were trying to do and was having no party of it. She would stop at the opening of the stall step just close enough then take off to the other end of the arena. Her beautiful black mane and tail flying in the wind.
She finally grew tired of the game her tummy won out and she went back in with sparkle in her eyes. as if to say. "Remember this was my choice"
Misty is a joy to work with and reminds me a lot of Chad. Her stomach is never far from her mind..She already will approach the stall gate and take hay from your hand.
Tomorrow Ill tell you about her first day on a lead rope, and her first day with Chad..
Until we meet again
Enjoy the ride
jodie
6:06 PM
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Saturday, May 31, 2008
Misty to drink or not to drink.....
Our first night at home was fairly uneventful. We had already set up the stall so all we had to do was back up to the stall and run her in. She was a doll. We managed without a problem.
I was a bit concerned as she stood in the back with her head down. She showed no interest in food or water. But her eyes where bright and everything seemed good.
I guess we could all say our first trip through Houston traffic can make all of us feel a bit out of sorts.
Misty stall opens into our large covered arena. Tomorrow we turn her out and she meets her new friends. I feel like a parent with her child's first day at preschool.
What will the day hold
Until we meet again
Enjoy the ride
jodie
Labels: animal.training, arena, horse, mustang challange, tx 8:26 AM
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Thursday, May 29, 2008
From #4077 to Misty
Driving home from Elgin was a long trip for our new little girl. We never heard a sound from the trailer but it gave me a chance to think about what I wanted to name her. I joked about calling her "Mustang Sally" Nikki said it was just to hokey. I'm sure I wouldn't want that.
After meeting #4077 I knew she was a Misty. I couldn't help but think about the little horse from the novel "Misty of Chintuique Island". Misty in the book is herded from the island then swam across the water to await adoption from a loving family. I believe she has the same courage and heart that the little horse in the book must have had.
As I child I grew up reading horse novels my favorite was Walter Farley's The Black Stallion. I loved the relationship between the wild horse and the little boy. I spent hours on my horse pretending to rescue a wild horse from some unknown danger.
I realized traveling down Hwy 290 toward home that Misty and I are starting our own adventure. No more pretending. But this story is about a wild horse and a girl.
I'm hoping there will not be any ghost,horse thieves or runaway trains. But you never know around here.
We'll just have to wait and see.
Until we meet again
Enjoy the ride....
jodie
1:01 PM
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Monday, May 26, 2008
THE FIRST DAY
Pulling into SouthWest Stallion Station in Elgin,Texas I realized, I am really going to pick up a wild horse.
I can feel it in the air. Anticipation, excitement and fear. Unfortunately the fear is from the many wide eyed yearling that are being herded into pens to where they await their turn to be run into a crowed chute where they are haltered then run into an awaiting trailer for the next leg of their journey.
As the babies rear and attempt escape they appear as bucking broncs in a rodeo. but its immediately apparent that this is real for them. This isn't something they have done hundreds of times. They don't know there is fresh hay and feed at the end of this journey.
This is real and they are afraid.
The first order of business as with most human projects is the paper work. While I get that started John with the trailer, Alex and Marlana with the camera and Allison taking notes they get in line to load our newest member of the family. Four of us one yearling who will have the upper hand?
First thing we realize is there is no picking in this process. First one in thats the one you take home. As we all line up on the fence we must look a sight,wondering which one is ours. They come in all shapes, sizes and color. Black,brown,bay even a nice grey. As I watch I can't help but think. Ms Patti would like that one it looks just like Flash or man that one looks like Fancy,black with 3 white stockings. Allison repeats the same sentiment she finds one that looks just like her baby Pooka.
The one that is loaded into the chute is a pretty bay filly. The men put her new halter on her and cut away the tag that holds her herd number. Number 4077. Shes larger than I would have expected. Long nice legs and big bright eyes. She is wide eyed with fear but you can quickly see the intelligence that the mustangs are know for.
She circles the trailer several times looking for a way to escape and return to the awaiting herd but none is found. The nice new red halter doesn't seem to bother her, as a matter of fact she doesn't seem to notice it. None of the head shaking that can sometimes be seen with the first time a halter is put on a young horse.
She stops backs into a corner and watches us. What must she be thinking? With all of us watching her.
I wish I could tell her that it will be Ok, she will have new friends, a safe place to live and a human to love her.
She appears to read my mind. she pick up her head as to say I'm not so sure of you. " It depends on if you are a quick learner"
Who will be learning more # 4077 or myself?
Check back tomorrow and Ill let you know about the trip home,her first night in the stall and how she out smarted Mr. John..
Until we meet again.. Enjoy the ride..
Labels: animals, horse, mustang challange, training 9:06 AM
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MUSTANG MAKE OVER 'THE BEGINNING"
Extreme Mustang Make Over Mission 007 2008 Yearling Edition
As I read the headlines I thought "This looks like it would be a lot of fun and very challenging". My ever supporting family says "mom this is right up your alley". As most of you know we're a large full service family run horse operation. It takes all 4 of us to make it run and we all have our special areas . For me I enjoy the the yearling's.
I believe that this year is one of the most important. Without the ground work you won't have a firm foundation to build on. Nutrition,trust,understanding and most of all the learning.
I home schooled both my children and one of the most important things I learned was the ability to teach them to learn. To love the act of learning. Learning is not about hating something and dreading the class room but realizing its a road into an exciting future. As with my kids I can't anticipate everything that will come to them in their lives but I can teach them the best way to deal with it.
I had heard about the Mustang Makeover before but always in the older horses. Never Yearling's. As would be expected many things ran though my mind. Would I have time , do I have the pens that will hold him, would I even be chosen.
With all of this in mind I filled out the paper work and sent it in. With in days I reachieved word that I was one of the lucky ones to be chosen. ( Ill let you know if I feel lucky)
I decided with the help of my wonderful webmaster to set up this blog to keep everyone posted on my progress. Ill start with the day we pick her up all the way to the finial day she has her coming out at the Mustang Challenge in Fort Worth,TX September 18-20Th
Keep us in your hearts and prayers and Ill keep you posted on this end.
As Roy Rodgers would say
Until we meet again...
Enjoy the ride..
Labels: animals, horse, mustang challange 8:16 AM
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