It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Ok. So I know that it’s not Christmas. But it is springtime in South Dakota. And other than the wind that’s been blowing big the past few days, it’s absolutely gorgeous outside! There’ve been rides into the pasture to check on the mama cows. Rides in the arena to work on speed control,softness, and lead changes on my barrel horses.

Tuesday, yesterday, was an exceptionally good day. Zach’s been trimming feet the past few days (I think he’s done right at 12 head). So I have been riding in the barn out so I can hang out with him, and stay out of the wind. I started the morning playing with Ranger- cleaning him up and taking some more pictures of him, but today I’m pretty sure I’ll saddle him- he’s ready. After Ranger, I brought in this adorable colt we call Wyatt. He’s a half brother to Ranger by Tom, and he’s been haltered about 6 times prior to yesterday. He was saddled within 30 minutes of me getting him in the barn. We walked around a bit while saddled with me leading him. After that was all good, I just let him go and moved him out with the saddle on. He never offered to buck or even think about it actually. Relaxed might be a good way to describe him.

After a great ride on Shuttle, where we worked on getting a pretty, slow collected lope I brought in Dino, the last half-brother to my favorite gelding, Gump. Dino has now been haltered 3 times. We halter broke him last summer, and he was so good he was in and out of the barn in about 30 minutes. I put a halter on him on Sunday and played with him in the outdoor round pen for a bit. Yesterday I worked on getting him ready to saddle and today that’s what I’ll do. On a daily basis, I feel like I’m getting more confident in my ability to start colts and do right by them.

I love spring!