Putting in Time

I'm not sure if it's because I didn't grow up with horses or get to take a bunch of lessons, and I kinda had a late start, but I always feel like I need to make up for lost time with my horsemanship.  And one thing that always bothers me is the poor reputation barrel racers have for horsemanship.  There are some mighty skilled horsepeople out there running barrels, however the stereotype of "whip, spur, kick, yank" is there for a reason... there are plenty of that type of barrel racer out there as well.  While I may love barrels right now, I've always loved horses and want to be a horseperson first and foremost.  
So when I had the opportunity to take part in a clinic with John & Jamie Tilley (Tilley's Custom Colts) I was pretty excited.  I have heard nothing but good things about their program and liked what I saw on Facebook, and this quote from John helped cement that opinion "Of all the things your horse will wear, their expression is the most important".  So I was pretty sure going into it that this clinic would be a challenge for me, but I also knew that if I got anything out of it both my horses and I would be rewarded and I'm happy to say that with the homework I took away to work on I'm fairly confident that will be the case. (as long as I can apply it lol *I* need a lot of work!) 

This weekend was exactly what I needed, a good get away with friends and my horse (we camped at The Valley) and lots of learning.  It was really nice to meet the Tilleys.  John and Jamie came across as honest, kind hearted, well meaning, and hard working and that came across in their horsemanship as well.  And while some clinicians are good with horses but not so great with people John was able to both work with horses *and* teach us humans.

I really loved that we worked in our group and were encouraged to watch the other groups and ask questions.  You learn SO much by watching!  And with so many other types/levels of riders and horses there were always new things happening. Having John teaching in the arena and Jamie on the sidelines was nice because you could ask her questions about what was going on without interrupting what was happening in the arena.

*small disclaimer, this is what I took away from the clinic, it's how I understood things.  So, as I learned from Ed, what I understand isn't necessarily what was being said/taught lol*

Now anyone that knows me knows that I don't like a lot of things about the modern "Natural Horsemanship" trend.  It's too gimicky, there's too much selling you STUFF, and it's too "fluffy" (which in turn is potentially dangerous). Several times this weekend John mentioned Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt, what I consider the founding fathers or "old school" natural horsemanship.  We may want things to be soft and easy but sometimes things need to get worked through to find that, you have to be willing to be firm but fair to your horse.  He talked about finding your feel and timing and how it would help things smooth out, which was something I struggled with (feel has always been tough for me, and of course that effects your timing).  About making the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy, which is often said but seeing examples of that while doing ground work and while riding is another thing.  About not getting mad at your horse if/when things go wrong, and while that is an easy thing to preach it is different to follow through with which John did with patience when a mare fired out at him. He just went back to working like nothing had happened.  

We worked in 3 groups of 6-8 riders.  Friday was 2 hours per group and focused on ground work.  I learned a few things, or different ways of doing things, which I'll be adding to my "tools".  We worked on getting your horse to follow a feel, I noticed a difference in Lefta as the session went on and even more so the next morning. 
The next two days we started with some ground work and moved on to under saddle work for about three hours total (with a break for the horses). I liked that John let us work through our difficulties and coached us through things without immediately jumping in, but if things were getting a bit hairy or we struggled too much he'd step in.
Something I've been struggling with is getting Lefta to become softer and rounder and another is  picking up her left lead and being relaxed when loping circles to the left.  The soft is definitely still a work in progress but John explained a few things that started to click.  And probably my proudest 'personal goal' moment was when we were all working on spiraling down and back out at the lope in different parts of the arena at the same time.  Lefta was pretty good going right, but when I tried the left she'd get all tight and stiff and leaning in, I could feel her starting to get anxious and worried.  John was helping another girl so I just stopped for a few moments.  Things were getting worse and I didn't want to end up frustrating myself and my horse both beyond where we already were.  So while Lefta was airing up I sat and waited for a chance to ask for help, and I thought about what we had been talking about and practicing and it clicked... I gave Lefta another moment and then we went back to work and it happened.  She started to get stiff and anxious and instead of doing what I've always done I tried (remembered to try! lol) what we had done earlier.  Use my inside rein to round her and have her follow that feel, outside rein and legs to support the direction we traveled.  Lefta relaxed, she got round and suddenly things felt so much better.
This weekend made me even more certain that this is the direction to horsemanship that I want to take... but it's going to be a long journey with lots of work to put in.  I almost feel like I'm not giving the clinic a completely fair review, it seems like there's not a lot said about it here.  But it's honestly because there's still so much more from this clinic swirling around in my brain that I'm sorting, processing and digesting.  I love it!

I think almost everyone walked out of that clinic with some new ideas and confidence (almost, because there usually seems to be someone that can't accept changes start with them).  I'm already looking forward to next year's clinic and sending Shine to the Tilley's to start when it's time!  I'm waiting until she's 3 to have her started (2019) so that gives me a few more years to get my poop in a group lol  

At the end of each group's working time on the last day John recited a poem he wrote.  I really liked them both and thought it was a nice way to cap off the group.  There were two and I asked for permission to share them with you, so here they are:

Take Time

Take time to take time, you won't get it all at the start

Take time to take time and feel of your horse from your heart

Take time to take time and let it soak into his mind

If you take time to let him digest you'll be amazed at the answers he finds

Take time to take time and let him get ready to go

If you take time to let him shape up when you want him soon he'll just know

Take time to take time and wait on his feet to move back

If you take time to teach him your feel soon he'll go when you pick up the slack

Take time to take time and enjoy him when he's not caught or up in his stall

Take time to rub him out in the pasture for no particular reason at all

Take time to enjoy your horse in moments that won't cost you a dime

If you take time to take time it'll take you less time next time

John Tilley
May 14, 2017 

Making Friends

It's kind of a comfortable feeling,

a goal you work hard to get

To the time he might be called finished from the moment that you first met

The colt is young and wild and doesn't trust people, but he will sometime you know

If you take the time to let him figure things out and be there to direct him and show 

Cause he's not sure about that saddle you want him to wear and the cattle you take him to chase

And it's darn sure a frightening moment when those grouse flutter up in his face

Wire gates and 60 foot ropes are a scary thing to see

But you have to remember that he's just a kid and don't see it like you or me

But if you take the time to direct him along through scary times like these

He will soon become your partner and you'll do your work with ease

It may take a year, a month or a day it kind of just depends

Only the rider that sits on his back will know when he says "let's be friends"

John Tilley

**photos courtesy of Jamie Tilley** 

Always Learning

Now this is just my opinion, but with horses you never stop learning.  At least, if you have an open mind and are willing to learn you keep learning.

(actually, that goes for life in general)

This is why I look for articles to read, take some equine related classes, take lessons with a few different people, go to clinics.  I know some people are hesitant to go to clinics or lessons if they don't know the person, but the way I look at it is if you learn absolutely nothing and it's an absolutely awful experience (and how damn likely is that) you'll at least learn what doesn't work for you.

Anyhow... one of my boarders rented our arena to host a barrel racing clinic this past weekend.  I got a spot in the clinic, which was with Andrea Udal.
Now some may remember I rode with Ed Wright the last few years.  His style was really working for me and Lefta, but I just couldn't quite seem to get it going with Frosty... at least without Ed, with him it may have been a different story.
I have to say that when at the very start of the clinic Andrea said she knew some of us had rode with Ed but her style is completely different I had a few doubts.  I shoved them aside though and sat down to watch the morning group, listen, and learn. 
The main difference I saw, and later rode, was that unlike Ed's 'jockey like' position up over your horses first ribs, Andrea wanted us to sit deep and drive.  However they both want a horse to move around a barrel "in 4 wheel drive" and they both want a horse that is shaped in the turn.  A smooth, flowing turn is fastest and can put you in the money even if your horse isn't very fast was my take away.
Which is funny because that's what I had been thinking to myself just a few days prior.  I had been thinking of Lefta's last run.  How she isn't really running hard between barrels yet, but her turns are just so darn nice that it's helping her start to clock better.
Back to Frosty though... I have only had him a year, but what I've noticed, is he can be a bit of a freight train at times (at least for me).  He's a nice horse, and he knows how to be soft.  But sometimes he just gets a bit frazzled and needs to blow off steam.  Or he'll go into a run and it's like he's thinking "you just sit there, I've got this" and while he may have it some, we are a team and he needs a bit of guidance at times lol
Working with Andrea I found some drills that helped him relax, made a small change to equipment and holy smokes... he was soft, relaxed, focused, and still craving that turn :D 
Fingers crossed for good things this season!

Maybe I'm biased...

... but she's gorgeous! 

Lefta, May 2017 photo credit @imagesbyRoman

 

Once in awhile I'll catch a glimpse of one of my horses, in person or a photo, and almost need to pinch myself.  I grew up without horses but was determined to have one someday.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd own horses of any real quality though... all I wanted was a horse even if it was just a "scruffy backyard" one. 
The above pic of Lefta was taken by my newest boarder (AK), who is a fledgling photographer (imagesbyRoman), I stumbled upon it on Instagram days after it was taken.  It was taken at my place during a jackpot we were hosting.  I had tied up Lefta after her run and gone to grab Frosty for his turn.  AK had stopped in and snapped a few pics, and yes I have her permission to share this :)

I Swear I'm Still Here!

Really!  I've been reading everyone's blogs, just haven't seemed to find time to post on mine.
So what have we been up to...

I joined the Northwood Farm winter Facebook challenge, with Lefta, and for the first time in the three times I've signed up I completed it.  Had to have some very quick rides (honestly it kinda felt like cheating lol) and had to ride multiple times on a couple days, but we made it.  Finished up our last ride at a jackpot which I thought was kinda fitting ;)
 Frosty had the winter off after cutting his heel.  I won't lie, I was a bit hesitant to get on him this spring after so much time off but he's been a total gentleman *knock wood*
My little Christmas present filly, who was supposed to be halter broke when I got her and she wasn't, is taking a long time to come around.  You just cannot get on her right side or touch her right side.  Yesterday she discovered that being brushed with a curry is a FANTASTIC thing, as long as it was on her left :/
Lefta and I have made some progress on getting her softer in the face, thanks to some tips from my farrier (he shows in cowhorse and rode with us for a bit one day)
A friend is putting some rides on Odin, he's still green and he and I are just at a point where we're stuck.  The plan is to take him to a clinic in June and work with him some more then put him up for sale.
One of my boarders (and a friend) is possibly going to take Voodoo to some barrel jackpots, he's a good confidence booster (despite being a total a-hole at times lol)
And miss Sarita gets to grow up some more this year and then goes to the trainer next spring!

 

Umm, it's March?!

It may not seem like winter is over, especially the last few days... cold set in and a blizzard, yay Saskatchewan weather :/   I just hope that counted as March coming in like a lion and it remembers to go out like a lamb!
It is however getting to be the time of year to take ponies that were either lightly worked or had the winter off and start easing them back into the real world. Voodoo has been ridden once or twice since December, Frosty was off due to his heel injury but has had three rides in the last six or so weeks, Lefta has had about a dozen rides since January, and Odin... poor Odin has had no rides. And he won't know what hit him - he's going to get legged up because he has a Tilley clinic in June.
I've also signed up for two barrel clinics, going to try to see what works for me now that Ed isn't here to put up with me and set me straight :(   Andrea Udal and Shannon Blakely, both of which are being held at my arena. So far I'm not sure which horse will be used. In the meantime, I'm going to try to get riding as much as March allows. The goal is 3x/week but we'll see how the weather cooperates! But judging from the pic below it's definitely time to work on our fitness!

Someone *ahem Lefta* has wintered well

**eyeroll**

A Christmas Win!

Usually Hubster is IMPOSSIBLE to buy for but this year, this year I came across the PERFECT gift when I saw this on a friend's Facebook post:

I messaged her immediately and sent a deposit. Hubster has wanted a longhorn skull for quite some time now and up here they're not just something you run out and get.  I was 100% certain he hadn't bought one for himself lol
KB (the talented young lady that put this together) brainstormed back and forth with me on ideas and I settled on browns and sandy colours with some turquoise.  The main feature I wanted was my brand in the centre of the skull.
The other day KB messaged me that it was done and sent me a pic, it had turned out even better than I had hoped :)  A few days later we met in the city and she dropped it off for me.  I was so excited to give it to Hubs that I literally jumped up and down.  And yes he got his Christmas gift early, I just couldn't wait! (plus I couldn't think of a suitable hiding spot lol)  To say he was surprised and loved it is an understatement.  Pretty sure I banked some serious wife points on this one ;)

finished product

 

It is an absolutely fantastic feeling to give someone a gift that you are truly excited about and know that they'll love.  It's even better when you are receiving a pretty great gift yourself* but you're more excited about what you're giving :D
* I received my gift early as well, a 2016 red roan filly!  I'll fill y'all in on Shine in a later post :)

Short Go!

I was in the office helping with envelopes while our Chair person, Ash, and another director, Jewls, were getting the short go figured out. Short go was based on the average of your two running times so things got moved around a little bit but not too much. We were taking back 15 in each D, Ash was reading out the names and Jewls was writing them out.  When Ash got to the 13th spot in 3D she giggled and said "Wow, I can't believe this person made it" in a joking voice.  Jewls and I looked at each other and said "Who?" at the same time.  With a sly grin she looked at me and said "You're back on Lefta!"
Shocked to say the least, I asked if she was sure, and yes it was correct.  The 14th spot was read out and then she burst out laughing when she got to the 15th and final spot... I had made it back on Frosty as well! :o
I'll admit my first reaction was "Oh crap!"  Between not having a lot of time to get both horses ready and the fact that he had been humpy earlier I wasn't too sure what to think.  I quickly texted Janelle and she called right away for a pep talk.  She said he had felt great when she worked on him and she was confident he would run and be fine.  One of the other board members hadn't made it back and I really like how she handles a horse so I asked if she'd warm up one of mine and she said yes.  Lefta was first up so CB warmed up Frosty for me. 
Lefta ran clean and pretty, but not fast.  The poor girl was t.i.r.e.d. 4 runs in two days were enough!
I cooled her out and put her up in her stall then went to the warm up ring.  CB smiled and said "He's really nice!  Like, I want him nice".  I told her she'd have to get in line behind MJ's daughter who is in loooove with him lol
As soon as I swung on I felt better, he just felt good.  We walked and loped a few circles to confirm it and he finally felt RIGHT for the first time all week.
We went to the arena to wait for our turn... then we were going in for our run!  I was a bit hesitant to push him to first, so I let him cruise in (oh what a mistake that would end up being!)  He turned nice but hadn't gotten much speed going in and was a bit wide (my fault).  Second was good, pics below:

*Photo credit for these two pics to Humphrey Tam of Wildting Photography*

 

He rocked third and I rode and kicked all the way home* I could hear some cheering from my friends and new we had had a good run :D
*not stopping riding/kicking before the timer has been a mental issue I've been working on.  Riding harder has been something I've worked on this year too, with support/verbal butt kicking from my friends*
I'll admit, I was almost in tears once I had him stopped in the holding pen.  He had felt so good, it was a really nice run and it just felt so damn good to have him feeling right again, I was a bit emotional.  One of my friends ran over and was super excited, congratulating me on my run and then said something that blew me away... She was pretty sure I was sitting in the top couple spots in 3D!  I knew it was a good run but I didn't think it was that good... not for the team that had barely made it back to the short go! :o   Now there was nothing to do but wait.
Once it was all said and done, yes Lefta finished pretty much at the bottom (if not THE bottom) and Frosty, well my golden boy finished 2nd in the 3D.  We missed the buckle by 0.026!!  Not giving him that push to first, and not keeping it a bit tighter cost us the buckle!
Instead he got a swanky BOT sheet with SBRA 25th Anniversary embroidered on it.  Not mad at all, love those BOT sheets!

All in all I am pretty pleased, making the short go was on my goals list this year.  I've never made a short go and I got back with both horses and finished in the prizes with one.  :D  I'm really looking forward to next year... already planning a goal list and game plan!