Today had to be one of the best days. Eveh.
At days-end, I was covered in horse hair and Ivomec, but it was so worth it.
It began by Zach and I de-worming 25 geldings and stud colts. That’s all the colts/geldings we’re keeping for this year. Though that number doesn’t include, Lucy, Shuttle, Sonora, Hope, or Zero.
And then, after all that, I saddled three colts- two for the first time ever. I went from Ranger, to Wyatt, to Dino. And saddled them, one at time in the round pen, in our barn. Ranger, is just adorably sweet. He’d rather stand still and have you rub two tons of winter hair off of him than move around (lazy is my favorite kind of horse). He likes to be with people and have his head rubbed and his tail head scratched. In about 5 mintues with a burlap sack and then a navajo, I had him saddled. He really just didn’t care.
Wyatt, of course, was saddled and moved out yesterday.
Dino was all but saddled yesterday. By the time I finally got to him, it was late, and I didn’t want to start something I didn’t have the energy to finish, should it go awry. But today, I got him in, rubbed him for a few minutes with a burlap sack, and then went to the navajo. He stayed very relaxed and did really well for the saddling. All told, it took maybe 25 minutes from the time I brushed him off to saddling.
Then I moved all three of them out. When it was all said and done, the colts were all very relaxed, and super happy. If I don’t sell Ranger, I’ll just keep him, because there isn’t any reason why in the next 10-15 rides I can’t be loping around on him, and maybe use him at brandings this spring. The only reason I couldn’t use him (or be loping around on him) would be because I’m too chicken to ride a colt at branding. That said, today was a huge confidence booster for me and I learned that I really can go from barely halterbroke horse, to saddled and nearly ready to ride in an hour. Writing about today doesn’t even really describe all the great things that happened. The horses would rather have been with me than with their buddies. I could move them out at a walk and a trot with little effort. Wyatt is going to be DROP DEAD gorgeous when he’s a grown up. Dino has my heart because I adore his big half-brother, Gump; and Ranger is just plain kind.
Which brings me to something that I didn’t talk about yesterday- I roped on Shuttle on Tuesday. Zach told me a year ago that she was ready to be a cow-pony. And she is. She could have cared less. Branding season is about to be in full swing and I think I’ll have a pretty sorrel mare to ride!
I liked it better when you wrote about what you were feeling and not about what you did today.
I know it’s your blog and all, and I’ll keep reading regardless, but I miss reading what was really going on.
Sounds like a most wonderful day! How I dream of being able to do things like that. And I can’t believe it only takes you that long to get a saddle on. You must really, REALLY be good!
Next time, take some pictures!
It does my heart good to hear the song in your words.
I know what Ian is saying, but for me . . . I can hear how you feel in the words you wrote.
I always knew you had it in you! I’m glad you are figuring it out too.
Cow work will be very good for Shuttle! Actually, it will be good for you and her to work as a team. I won’t be surprised when your barrel racing times get faster because you and Shuttle are communicating better.
Isn’t it a good feeling when you discover things you didn’t feel comfortable about doing but do it anyway…and get it done? Isn’t that what you taught Dara about Copper?
She found out that he wasn’t as bad as she thought when YOU taught her that he didn’t have the basics he needed…RIGHT?
It does my heart good to hear about your DAILY happenings because I can be right there with you and know exactly how you felt at the time.
(I really need to talk with you about this summer and Dara. I’ll email you.)