| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 17 2010 : 07:14:50 AM
Oh Ladies!
I have to gush for a moment about my wonderful horse Tala! She is just 3 years old (technically she hasn't reached her birthday yet but all horses get the new age at the New Year) and I have just started doing some basic training to lead up towards saddle training.
I have done a lot of ground work with her and longeing etc, but this week I borrowed an english saddle from the barn manager and have put on her twice. We are working on ground driving and I have even leaned all of my weight into the saddle without getting on.
She hasn't bucked at the saddle, she has just turned to look at it curiously, she doesn't even mind when I let the stirrups down and let them flap (I want her to get used to any and all noises a saddle can make).
She was a bit confused at first with the ground driving and I don't have a helper so we had to work it out ourselves. But she got it really quickly and last night was our second night of ground driving. Now that she understands that I am going to be behind her I am working on getting her to be be a bit more sensitive in turning with the aid of the reins. I know that this is going to be so much easier once I actually am in he saddle as I can give her cues with my heels like she is used to me giving on the ground with ground work.
Anyway for only two days worth of new training she is doing great! Honestly, I could probably get on her tonight and she wouldn't fuss a bit, but I need to wait for that experiment until I have helpers- I don't need to get injured and not have help until the next morning! LOL
Alee
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| AliciaNak |
Posted - Mar 15 2010 : 10:56:03 AM
Beautiful horses, girls! Congrats Alee! Working with the youngsters, and seeing the moment when they just "get it" are my favorites!
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
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| Alee |
Posted - Mar 14 2010 : 8:50:27 PM
I went out to see Tala again today- actually twice because Nora didn't go the first time and she really wanted to see Tala. The first time was in the late morning. It was absolutely beautiful out. Almost perfect weather. Heck I would take weather like that all year long if it was offered! High sixty degrees, beautiful sunny day and no breeze!
I worked Tala in side reins again today- she is really getting the hang of it. But I want to get a surcingle so I can see the rounding of her back to make sure she is doing it properly...Right now I am attaching the side reins to her girth buckles on the english saddle we are borrowing.
She is such a good filly! I love her so much! I can't wait until she finishes shedding out so I can take pictures of her!
Alee
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| Alee |
Posted - Mar 12 2010 : 06:47:48 AM
Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. Nora, Sky and I all went out to spend the afternoon with Tala. She is SO smart! She got a good work out in side reins for the first time. She did AWESOME! I can see how this will really help her build up the muscles for riding. She was so eager to be out and working that I could practically feel her vibrating with energy.
Nora had fun playing in the sand and Sky just likes going out there because of all the different scents and sights. I think poor Sky-dog gets rather bored with her day to day life.
Anyway I am really excited about this new phase of training. I am going to work with Tala for another month or so using the english Saddle and then switch to a Western saddle. I am probably going to ride her in a western saddle for the first month or so at least just in case she decides to try to see if she can unseat me. I hope she doesn't buck though! LOL I am going to have assistance the first couple rides at least.
Have you guys ever seen HalfPassGirl's "Breathe" video? It is amazing to see what this girl can do! She rides some horses with some bad issues and by the end of the video you can see them being ridden with calm, relaxed attitudes.
http://www.halfpassgal.com/breathevideo.htm
I was thinking about that yesterday as I worked with Tala. We had one moment where she decided that maybe she didn't like the side reins and didn't want to go forward so I just kept asking with a gentle but firm insistance and as soon as she got past that block she tucked her head, found the spot with just the right pressure on the bit and really stepped out. It was beautiful!
Alee
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| Alee |
Posted - Mar 09 2010 : 8:47:35 PM
Memorial day weekend? Last weekend in May right? That is a big Arabian horse show here in Billings! It will be Tala's maiden show! And if you are coming all the way to Colorado you for sure should come up and say hi!! *wink* Anyway it looks like our camping trip is going to be moved to Julyish. The Tennessee Walker ranch that I board Tala at is having a retirement sale of about half their stock on June 25th. ( www.standingrockranch.com )
Alee
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| arabianhorselover |
Posted - Mar 09 2010 : 8:28:06 PM
Alee, I would love to come out for a visit. I am trying to talk my husband into letting me come. How fun would that be?! It would be a long drive for the horses. I have been trying to talk him into taking the horses to Colorado when we go for the family reunion which happens to be Memorial day weekend. I told him we should just keep on going up to see you! Ha! My only problem is he has such a crazy schedule I never know when he will be home or not. Well, I guess we will just have to see but I really would love to come and visit.
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| Alee |
Posted - Mar 01 2010 : 06:54:35 AM
I am so proud of my girl, ladies! Well I guess partially proud of this moment because it was both of our fault that caused it. Anyway I had her tied up to a hitching post/rail so I could groom her. She is starting her spring shed already and her face is so itchy she is liking it to be brushed with her body brush!!
Anyway as I started to brush her body she put her head down to scratch her eye ridge on the wood and got a bit of the foot and a half slack in the rope over her nose. She was standing at such and angle that when she brought up her face it just made it worse and pulled on her halter weird so she pulled back and her halter pinned down one ear and one of the metal fittings was really close to her eye because of the pressure from the lead rope.
Okay so all happened in about a quarter of a second while I was at her side. She had side stepped when this all started happening so I stepped up to her neck and kept a steady "Whoa, easy girl" up and the second I re-touched her neck she froze and just waited for me to rescue her. Looking back I should have just released the quick release knot and that would have taken the pressure off the realign the halter, but her ear looked painful being squished like that so I trusted her to be a good girl and actually unfastened the top buckle of her halter which of course released the ear and got the metal fitting away from her eye. She stood stock-still and waited until I had her fixed before relaxing.
I promptly took the extra slack out of her rope. I honestly hadn't thought she would be able to get into trouble with as little slack as I gave her but I learned my lesson! I am just so proud of her that when she got into trouble she trusted me enough to let me get her out of it. I think that shows how good of a girl she is going to be for me in the long run.
Alee
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| Alee |
Posted - Feb 27 2010 : 09:16:32 AM
Hi Shery- I am not really committed to any particular discipline. I like western because that was what I was started on, but I also like English too- Mostly I want to get her under saddle and see what she is excited to do. For the most part she will be a trail horse until I breed her. She is a show horse too but my plans for this year are just the in-hand classes- unless we make some huge progress with the undersaddle training.
Alee
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| Shery Jespersen |
Posted - Feb 27 2010 : 08:03:54 AM
How exciting for you Alee!! I have a 3 yr old to start too...this spring. What kind of riding do you do? Show, trail ride, drive? Shery J
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| Alee |
Posted - Feb 27 2010 : 07:06:06 AM
We finally got a streak of warm (high 40's) weather wit sun! Yay! It melted off a lot of snow which of course now means mud- but it also means I got to take Tala outside the other day for some much needed "free" time out in the super big outdoor arena. She was so happy! She took off flying down to the other end, greeted her friends that are in the adjacent pasture- saw I wasn't keeping up with her (I had stayed at the far end), so she came back full speed and pranced to a stop in front of me. Her body language was something like "Hey! The sun is out and we have room to run! Let's go! Why are you running with me?!! Let's Run!"
She kept running, turning around to see I was still where I had been and then running back to me. She finally decided I wasn't go to run with her and just did her own horsey thing. It was so funny! I love watching her out at liberty. She is such a character!
Alee
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| nanny |
Posted - Feb 27 2010 : 05:33:30 AM
beautiful horses , I have recently got into parelli ground work , really cool , its worth a look check it out on the web , |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 8:21:30 PM
I can imagine, Marcia! But isn't it so worth it?!
Jennifer- I would love for you to come up to visit! I am planning on going on a horse weekend with my barn manager sometime this spring/summer when it is warm enough to go but not too hot during the day! Maybe in May? Anyway I know it would be a long drive for you but if you want to come we will be riding in the Rocky Mountains and staying at my family's cabin at night. A girl's weekend! It will be so much fun! Let me know if that is at all feasible. We also could probably find you a mount if you didn't mind riding a Tenessee Walker if you just wanted to fly in!
Alee
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| child in harmony |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 7:33:55 PM
Oooh Beautiful horses Alee and Jennifer ! I have two Haflinger mares, 15 h, that will soon be trained under saddle. They are half sisters and I got them when they were weanlings. It has been quite a journey :)
~marcia
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and the arts .. for the child and the child within" |
| arabianhorselover |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 08:12:04 AM
Alee, that would be so much fun. I have never been to Yellowstone park. I am so sure I would love it. We have a big trailer with living quarters and my DH says we don't use it enough. Maybe I will be able to talk him into a horsey trip. :)
Did you get photos of Nora on Tala. I bet that was so cute. They love children so much. I think they don't feel threatened by them.
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| Alee |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 5:59:18 PM
Nora rode Tala today- she feels more comfortable when there is a saddle on :D Tala did great! She is very soft and gentle towards Nora. Tala was out for her daily free time in the large indoor arena when I showed up. She was at the far end of the arena when I walked in. She immediatly saw me and came running full speed to see me. She is such a sweet girl! I bet if we were trail riding and something happened- she wouldn't leave me or if she did it would be to go straight back to get help.
Although I must say she is a bit of a princess at the same time- sometimes I don't think she wants hugs and kisses as much as she expects them as due worship! LOL
Alee
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| Alee |
Posted - Feb 20 2010 : 3:12:50 PM
Jan- I am totally spoiled and board at a barn that has a semi heated indoor arena (it's heated but they rarely turn it on) It's been a balmy 50-60 degrees in there all winter- maybe warmer!
Alee
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| Species |
Posted - Feb 20 2010 : 1:33:56 PM
Ok, Alee I've just got to know in the heck you can stand to train your horse in the winter. Maybe I'm a wimp, but the snow and ice here makes for uneven footing for me and my horse, Topper, but most of all I hate being cold (he's kind of a thin skinned guy too). We both can't wait for Spring. We went out for a walk today and saw a blue bird. I guess I'm just a fair weather farmgirl. jan
"Getting old aint for sissies" Bette Davis |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 19 2010 : 9:16:20 PM
Jennifer- That is too funny! :D Someday you will have to bring him up and we could do a horse ride through Yellowstone Park!
Alee
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| arabianhorselover |
Posted - Feb 19 2010 : 8:20:53 PM
Thank you Kerry. Tala's great grandsire Thee Desperado is my geldings grandsire. I know Alee will have and already has as much fun with her girl as I have had with my boy. I have had him Alee since he was 4 months old and he is now 6. I plan on keeping him and riding him in the Dressage ring. He has been trained up to First Level and was doing 2nd and 3rd level movements. He is much further along than I am. But that is a good thing. This way I can concentrate on my riding while he knows what to do. By the way he is the horse they called Alee at the training barn. :)
Breeder of Straight Egyptian Arabians and SportHorses
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Farmgirl Sister #561
Never squat with your spurs on!!!
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| Alee |
Posted - Feb 19 2010 : 7:13:27 PM
Isn't it amazing how The Minstril line is so strongly stamped in both of them! Tala is one of the few HS Infinte babies out there. I can't wait to clean her up this spring and get some great pictures!
Alee
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| Kerbear |
Posted - Feb 19 2010 : 5:40:34 PM
Jennifer and Alee,
Both of your horses are beautiful, and they look so much alike! Thank you for sharing your pictures! I love the bubbles Jennifer!
~Kerry
Farmgirl Sister #975 |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Feb 19 2010 : 09:30:47 AM
What a beauty Jennifer!!
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
| arabianhorselover |
Posted - Feb 19 2010 : 08:18:55 AM
  
Hey Alee here is my gelding, He is sired by Thee Infidel out of a Minstril daughter. I have been riding him in Dressage. Hoping to get to show him again soon. The bubble picture was from about 2yrs ago. He has grown so much since then. He stands at 15.2 hh. A very nice height for me since I am 6ft tall.
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Farmgirl Sister #561
Never squat with your spurs on!!!
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| Alee |
Posted - Feb 19 2010 : 08:08:20 AM
I certainly agree Jan! Horses are great about educating people! I find that when I am working with Tala she helps me destress and decompress and at that point I am able to listen better and learn from her. We have been doing really well so far in our training of each other- she has always been a great girl, but she is so much more in tune with me lately.
Fore example- the other day I was round penning her with her bridle on just so she could get used to wearing it without any pressure from reins on the bit and such. It was a new bridle and something about it just wasn't making me happy about it but I couldn't put my finger on it. So when the barn manager (an much more experienced horsewoman) walked by, I asked her to take a look at it for me. While all this was happening, Tala was "feeling her oats" and cantering around the round pen at her own speed (I didn't ask her to canter- that was her decision) When Deb said sure she would look at the Bridle I turned back to Tala and said "Whoa" My sweet beautiful girl didn't take a single step forward- she immediatly rocked back and slid to a stop and stood stock still as I walked up to her and led her by the cavesson to Deb. Deb laughed and said "Show off!" to Tala! It was so funny.
Alee
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| Species |
Posted - Feb 19 2010 : 04:17:50 AM
Thanks for posting about Tala. She is really cute! Don't you think that horses teach us patience? It's the building the relationship that takes time and I found the more done on the ground rather than in the saddle, the better the ride. Good luck and enjoy the journey. jan |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 18 2010 : 11:05:44 PM
Jennifer-
Tala's grand sires on her dam side are RHR Safar (Thee Desperado) and RU Serr Faasad (Straight Babson).
I love that picture but the only thing is I wish I had gotten a better angle of her eyes so you could see how amazingly large and dark they are!
Alee
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