Hey Rodeo Sweet heart...

[boss mare]

How are you doing with that ApHC mare that you bought a awhile ago?

[rodeosweetheart]

How are you doing with that ApHC mare that you bought a awhile ago?

Hi Boss Mare!

We are doing okay--we were having a rough patch about 2 months ago, but we seem to be doing better now. I'm still not quite sure what was going on, but it seemed to be several things--she was reacting to bad bug season, I went out of town for 2 weeks, we lost our riding buddy (and her pal that my buddy rode on), new pasture dynamics, general lousy time. She was STRESSED and so was I.

We are going back to basics, working with the trainer again, slowing things down to destress her, and this last week has been much better. But you were quite right about taking on a horse from the slaughter house--she definitely has some quirks and some "issues." She has a pretty antsy personality generally, very sensitive, and probably not the best choice for me at my level of re-riding, coming back from a very bad injury/illness situation (not riding related) and in need of confidence building.

How's your beautiful guy doing?

[boss mare]

He is doing quite well... we too had a real rough patch as we were getting to know each other He will not urinate anywhere except in a stall when we are at a show and he gets to be a jerk about it and starts acting naughty.... It took me 2 shows to figure that one out. If he is taken to his stall at regular intervals he is a happy boy. I was able to get some western pleasure points on him too this year and we are starting trail class
All and all I am starting to like him , but he has not quite at the status that Chippy was yet

[rodeosweetheart]

I was able to get some western pleasure points on him too this year and we are starting trail class


Very cool-- I would enjoy that, as that is just the best thing ever, to be out in nature on the back of a horse!!

We ride aournd where we board and have gone out on the road a little bit (around an industrial park and a little back road) but I still have not traileed anywhere with real trails--it's either been too hot or raining every time we plan it!

[boss mare]

It has been very hard for me to start over with a new horse... Chippy, who I had shown for 10 years was my soul mate She now belongs to a young lady who was able to show her at the ApHC Nationals / Youth World Show this year in Tulsa OK and did very well in the 10 and under walk/trot classes They earned a Reserve World Championship and were always in the top 10. Chippy walks on water as far as this young lady and her parents are concerned... Which is fine by me I know that she will be cared for and cherished .
Cooper is starting to because my dream horse... I just got spoiled after having Chippy for so long
Chippy was, on a good day with new shoes is 14.2 Cooper on the other hand is 16.1 and still growing .. and I am now 51 years old. I have had to realized that it is not the end of the end that I have to use a mounting block
I refer to it as " The Stool With Little Or No Shame" !Splat!

[boss mare]

I wish I could trail ride at times... But my idea of trail riding is more like" Urban Trail Riding" I used to live in a suburb outside of Seatttle that had just the place 500 acres and 20 + miles of well groomed trails www.bridletrails.org In my youger days I had gone yearly on a 2 week/ 200 mile trail ride on the old Milwaukee Railroad www.jwpwr.org and would go horse camping in Capitol Forest and Salmon La Sac and Mt St Helens

[rodeosweetheart]

Oh my goodness, that www.bridletrails.org is astounding. Washington state must be the best place in the world to have horses. A friend of mine just moved her Appaloosa there, and she says it is really heaven.

I am looking at buying this stirrup thing that hangs off the horn for trail riding; you step up on that, then into your stirrup--it's only 16 dollars, and easier than finding a block.

It sure sounds like Chippy is doing wonderfully with the little girl-- a Reserve World Championship! Best of all, the family loves her!

I keep telling myself it just takes time to get those relationships going; in time we will have that deep bond with the new horses!