October

This past month has been so much fun with Z. She's really coming into her own and I can't wait to show her off. We've finally gotten a trailer, so the adventures will start soon! (Adventures primarily meaning learning to load into a two horse straight load with a ramp...) We've started riding outside more and she's starting to relax more and more into doing that. We have a few tentative shows that I'd like to hit before it gets entirely too cold. One is just a hunter show the end of this month to do the baby greens, and then we have a beach ride scheduled for the following weekend, and I think we may do our first unrecognized event either the next week or two weeks after. :) I'm so excited to get her out and show off what my little stang can really do. :)

Also, this may not seem like a huge thing to most people, but Z can canter now! I don't know what changed, whether it was her muscles or just her mental capacity, but she's finally totally cool with cantering. It's far from balanced, but we're getting there. I'm so happy with her. She's had a few "baby days" where she kind of reverts back, but she's absolutely phenomenal overall.

I'm going to try to keep everyone updated as I'm planning on getting her out as much as possible during the next few months and I know she'd love to meet her extended family and any fans. :)

Quick plug, if you have a facebook, head on over to "like" my training page at www.facebook.com/nicolebarbyehorses

September

I'm finally back in the saddle. And I couldn't be happier. Though Z has picked up some of her old habits that we were just starting to get over, she's taking everything in stride. We both have to get back in shape and get motivated to get working. :) Attention is our main thing right now, so that's good. I mean, if my only steady complaint is that she doesn't pay attention as a four year old mustang mare, I'm quite alright with that.

That being said, worry-wart Nicole came out today because Z seems to have a hematoma right where the girth goes, centered on her belly right behind her front legs. Now, I know she kicks herself there when she kicks and stomps at flies, so I'm assuming that's what it's from. There's no puncture site and it doesn't seem to hurt her, because, believe me, she lets me know loud and clear when she's anything less that comfortable. It's also not warm. So we're going to keep an eye on it and if she starts to show discomfort, act then. If not, I know they tend to heal on their own, so here's hoping that's all it is. My tough cookie is gonna be completely fine. :)

So updates. Before I got back on, I decided to free jump Baby Z, just out of curiosity. I went into it saying, if we got to a height she refused or knocked hard, we'd just stop. No pressure, no expectations. Well, my little mustang jumped four foot. FOUR FOOT. My 16.3 TB couldn't do that, at least not more than once in a blue moon. Anyway, I think I have my first prelim horse, LOL. She's such a brave girl to even try that. I've attached a (very blurry) still from the video, which is, in it's entirety, in my Facebook.

Also, I'm going to be speaking, at some point in the near future, to a 4H club in Pennsylvania about y experience with Z, which I am super pumped about. Mainly because it'll be another excuse to wear my EMM shirt. Which I can't really ever wear because I ride English. :/ Regardless, super excited to spread the word about mustangs, MHF, and EMM to young people. Their club apparently already has a mustang, which is super rad. :)

I think that's all the September updates, we're still hoping to get out schooling and get to at least one little event or combined test before the end of the season, but I don't want to rush things. If we get a trailer and she feels ready, we'll do it, if not, there's always next year. :D

Also, found this gem of a picture of my spaz taking off during the auction. Good Lord, my body...

Quick update

So in case some of you didn't know, I've been out of commission for about a week and a half due to major jaw surgery. Bekkah has been awesome enough to work with Z a few times while I'm in recovery. Yesterday was the first day I got out to see her since the surgery last week. I'm still pretty weak since it's so hard to eat, but I walk out back to see her and she was under the run in with the other horses in her field. I yelled "hey, mom!" and she whipped her head up to walk to me, like "where have you been?!" I gave her a good brushing, but frankly, shouldn't have for my own good...but Z is so fat. LOL. I mean, not the fattest, but I'm so used to my skinny OTTBs, not a pony that noticeably gains weight in a week. :)

Anyway, today I went out when Bekkah said she was going to ride. Z is doing so well. She's still opinionated and sassy, but she is learning every day and getting more balanced every single ride. I can't wait to get back on her. I miss my baby.

I'm not sure how to title these anymore...

So this week was amazing. Z and I finally had relaxed playtime. Clearly, we both needed it. Z spent the week meeting new friends and chasing me for treats. :) Today I decided I had to get back on her, but, it of curiosity, I wanted to see how she would lunge in a neck stretcher. I'd really like to start building her back muscle, but I always feel like draw reins and even side reins put the horse too far on the forehand (not that I don't love their effects on the right horse, lol). So I tacked her up and for about 5 minutes (since she's not used to ANY sort of head restraint, even light and stretchy), I lunged her in the trusty neck stretcher. Oh. My. Goodness. Now when I say she was incredible afterwards, believe me, I've never had such an instant change in a horse. She was light, not eating the bit, resting her mouth, and super responsive to my rein aids. I don't know what it was about the darned stretcher, but something clicked for her today. I can't wait to see where she goes from here. :)

I also want to say that today I went to work with Caitlin's mustang, Halona. She'll be mentioned plenty in her, from now on, as she is a huge part of my mustang journey. I'd like to say Halona was the mustang before the mustang who started it all. Meeting Halona and Caitlin last winter, I had NO idea I'd end up with a mustang the same age as hers, only, maybe, six months later. Crazy... Anyway, Z has given me so much insight into the mind of a mustang, that after four months not working with her, and two or three weeks of absolutely no work, we were able to pick up right where we left off. Bit, saddle, lunging, and we even learned some steering today.

I love mustangs.

Makeover Wrap-Up

First off, it's completely surreal that the competition has come and gone. Crazy, crazy, crazy. It was absolutely incredible to finally meet everyone and put faces to facebook names. :) I was so impressed with how everyone handled themselves and their horses regardless of how far they had come in training. This mustang community is one that I am completely blessed to be a part of.

So Z was perfect for me all weekend, granted she didn't know half the stuff I asked of her. She kept her head and didn't spook at hardly anything. By the last day, she was COMPLETELY done though, lol. She kept looking at me like "Mom. Take me home, let me eat grass and roll around." Honestly, though, what a professional little girl. In the pattern class on Saturday, we counted canter, but goodness did she trot around that ring like a little hunter princess. I was over the moon with her. She gave me her everything in anything I asked her to do. Everyone who came by her stall got a slice of her personality with her banging her buckets all hours of the day and night. For anyone who cares how we ended up, we were 19th overall (preliminary, obviously not going to the finals). 19TH. Could I possibly, in any way, have asked for something more from my little girl? Nope. Perfection. She was so respectful and tried her little heart out in that big scary ring with all the scary people.

For anyone who was still wondering, after all this, who got to take her home, it was ME. She was a little grump during the auction, but it worked for us. The auctioneer asked us to ride around and what did my stinker do? Took off bucking like a crazy horse. She was so done with me being on her, but people still wanted her. I mean, who wouldn't, she's gorgeous, feisty, smart, and a ham on the ground. :) but yep, she's with me forever now.

That leads me to my next point. I've had such an overwhelming response to this blog that I've been considering continuing it as a sporadic update blog on the stang girl. What do you guys think? Is it something y'all would be interested in? I mean, I really want to kind of make Z an unofficial mustang representative in the area, and I think this would be a good way for everyone to keep up with us. But it's up to anyone who reads this. Let me know. :)

Getting some love from passing children. <3

Lots of (happy) tears after the adoption.

Week 16

This week has been so amazing. Z has been consistently ridden, and learns new things so well every day. After we pulled her coggins on Tuesday, I had our vet check her teeth (like a CHAMP) and got the clear to start with a bit. First day with a bit we had awesome brakes and steering. I was shocked and she was amazing. :)

Yesterday we loaded up (for the first time) and she got right on the trailer. Like she had done it her whole life. I can't believe her sometimes. I was such a proud mustang mommy. We went, with Chaeli (and Tyler, lol) and Paisley to the DREAMpark to expose them to some off property surroundings. Z was not so sure about everything, but took it all in stride. That is, until some mysterious ghost popped out and scared the pants off her. It was the first really big spook she has ever done, especially under saddle. Needless to say, I ate dirt, in the most literal sense. Face first into the ground, lol. I have some gnarly scratches on my nose from dirt and my glasses, so wearing them should be fun today. :) Again, I was wearing my helmet, thank God. This horse truly loves to make her physical mark on e known to everyone. Hahahaha. Anyway, we never quite calmed down under saddle, so I just walked her once then got off and tried to get her focused on the ground. In her defense, this was only her second day with a bit, so I'm not surprised I couldn't get her back during her spook. We'll go back today and play on the ground some, since I don't trust my vision with no glasses. But I'm so excited (and nervous) for the makeover. Just over one more week. Oh goodness.

Week 15 (only one day, mostly pictures)

So Z took another huge step forward, riding all over the arena completely on her own. She's still unsteady, but very responsive. Anyway, just look at the pictures of my baby!