Rode
Seven last night bareback to practice some of my Refined Horsemanship
lesson work...from Linda Hoover.
Now, if I get everything right and
stay out of Seven's way, a little bit of Magic Happens!!!
Friday, May 25, 2012
NEW Mule Owner!!
At the RMF Obstacle Course event this year. Tollie and Aimee fell in love with Charlie. An 11 year old John Mule who was staying at my house. He is owned by my friend Debbie, but see needed to sell him because he now has her other mule Jack. Before they bought him I put together this video to try to help sell him.
So congratulations Tollie! You are a new Mule owner and have a good looking mule at that!
Video:
Charlie the Wonder Boy Mule
So congratulations Tollie! You are a new Mule owner and have a good looking mule at that!
Video:
Charlie the Wonder Boy Mule
Corgi Yoga?
3rd Annual RMF Obstacle Course Weekend
May 19-20 -People started arriving on Friday and we finished setting up the obstacle course! Aime and Tollie help fix a great dinner for everyone with their great baked chicken! Saturday morning I fixed breakfast for those who were staying and then we were off and going the whole day!
I have several new obstacles this year, a mattress, step up block, large tires, water tarp and a sand pit! So the group had a great time working with all the obstacles. The weather us just so perfect we could not believe it! The nice breeze kept it from getting really hot and also added to the obstacles with some moving parts! The Pot luck was a great success with all kinds of really good food for lunch!
Most of the time during the weekend the number of mules out numbered the number of horses, which made me proud! I was impressed with every ones horsemanship and patience with the equines at some of the tougher obstacles! That's what this is all about! Kayla came for the weekend and helped me out as well as taking a ride on Sadie Mae! Saturday we went on a nice trail ride in the fields around my house!
Saturday night, eleven of us went to the steak house for dinner. The food was good but we had some very entertaining conversations! We stashed mules and horses everywhere for the night, all of them got along and no one make a ruckus during the night! Sadie got to see her boy friend Cletus! Check out Cletus The Mule on Face book! He has some rather funny posts!
Many thanks to everyone for coming! We raised $220 for Stolen Horse International and had a wonderful time too! A special thank you to all of you who helped set up and also helped clean up the course!
I could not believe how great the weather was because last year on the event weekend, we had tornadoes in Raleigh.
On Saturday a professional photographer came and took photos for us: Bryan Pittman from Sliver of Time Photography. Here is a link to his web site, where you can see all of his photos!
www.sliveroftimephotography.com
Here are a few photos I took:
I have several new obstacles this year, a mattress, step up block, large tires, water tarp and a sand pit! So the group had a great time working with all the obstacles. The weather us just so perfect we could not believe it! The nice breeze kept it from getting really hot and also added to the obstacles with some moving parts! The Pot luck was a great success with all kinds of really good food for lunch!
Most of the time during the weekend the number of mules out numbered the number of horses, which made me proud! I was impressed with every ones horsemanship and patience with the equines at some of the tougher obstacles! That's what this is all about! Kayla came for the weekend and helped me out as well as taking a ride on Sadie Mae! Saturday we went on a nice trail ride in the fields around my house!
Saturday night, eleven of us went to the steak house for dinner. The food was good but we had some very entertaining conversations! We stashed mules and horses everywhere for the night, all of them got along and no one make a ruckus during the night! Sadie got to see her boy friend Cletus! Check out Cletus The Mule on Face book! He has some rather funny posts!
Cletus and Sadie Mae
Sunday was another beautiful day! I had a few new people show up and others that had spent the night were up and riding the course again! Tara and Vicki had such a good time they actually stayed another night! The highlight of Sunday was when Beverly brought her new leased pony Moe, a miniature horse! Before lunch Bev took Moe through all the obstacles, even over the mattress. He looked like he might like to lay down for a nap on it! I helped her hook him up for a drive and she took Kellie for a ride around the pasture!Many thanks to everyone for coming! We raised $220 for Stolen Horse International and had a wonderful time too! A special thank you to all of you who helped set up and also helped clean up the course!
I could not believe how great the weather was because last year on the event weekend, we had tornadoes in Raleigh.
On Saturday a professional photographer came and took photos for us: Bryan Pittman from Sliver of Time Photography. Here is a link to his web site, where you can see all of his photos!
www.sliveroftimephotography.com
Here are a few photos I took:
Coal and Terri!
Bev and MOE!!!
Team Manure Life Cleans Up!!!
April 28th, Christina, Reed and I loaded up the equines, (two horses and my mule) and headed down to Lake Waccamaw for the the High Cotton Obstacle Challenge.
I first must explain Team Manure Life! Reed came up with the idea after seeing tons of stickers for SALT LIFE, a clothing line of beach wear that has become so popular that people place stickers on their car, stating that they love going to the beach! Reed designed a neat log with a manure fork in the place of the F in life! We all wore our t-shirts on Saturday and decided that we were a team!! Turned out we were a team to be reckoned with this weekend!
Check out her t-shirts and join the TEAM!!! www.manurelife.com or Like her on Face Book!
We had a great show and the course was as challenging as ever! Seven and I made it through the tight cones with eggs on top and ended up winning the in-hand class! Christina got second place! In the under saddle classes Christina again won Second in the Green Horn Class. Reed got a third in the Novice class. In the Maters Class Seven and I had a few problems and with competition so tight we got 3rd, with Christina beating us in 2nd place! AWESOME!
That night we had a great meal, thanks to the crock pot and had a nice visit from Tollie and Aimee. Reed set up her tent and we all snuggled in for a good sleep. Poor Reed did not get any sleep! There was a VERY Stinky dog that kept coming near her tent and then a fox that was running around making loud screaming sounds and then kept approching the dog.
We got loaded and on the road by 7:30AM, very impressive for us! Headed toward Denton for the Trail Obstacle Race at the Double G Ranch. We had another great day! The competition was again stiff and Seven and I had lost our mojo. Not sure where it went, we did the course but not with out usual enthusiasm, we also had some trouble on the teeter totter. This got us 4th place, but still in the money! Christina was 5th place, right behind me, and Reed was thrilled to have jumped all three pile jumps at a trot and lived!
We were very hot, sunburned and tied but very happy with our winnings and performances for the weekend. We headed to Taco Bell, where Seven bought is dinner, and then headed home!
Here is the video from Seven's In-Hand class:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cvyow7n4NQ
Here is the video from our ride at Denton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFZLu_iT8Iw
I first must explain Team Manure Life! Reed came up with the idea after seeing tons of stickers for SALT LIFE, a clothing line of beach wear that has become so popular that people place stickers on their car, stating that they love going to the beach! Reed designed a neat log with a manure fork in the place of the F in life! We all wore our t-shirts on Saturday and decided that we were a team!! Turned out we were a team to be reckoned with this weekend!
Check out her t-shirts and join the TEAM!!! www.manurelife.com or Like her on Face Book!
We had a great show and the course was as challenging as ever! Seven and I made it through the tight cones with eggs on top and ended up winning the in-hand class! Christina got second place! In the under saddle classes Christina again won Second in the Green Horn Class. Reed got a third in the Novice class. In the Maters Class Seven and I had a few problems and with competition so tight we got 3rd, with Christina beating us in 2nd place! AWESOME!
That night we had a great meal, thanks to the crock pot and had a nice visit from Tollie and Aimee. Reed set up her tent and we all snuggled in for a good sleep. Poor Reed did not get any sleep! There was a VERY Stinky dog that kept coming near her tent and then a fox that was running around making loud screaming sounds and then kept approching the dog.
We got loaded and on the road by 7:30AM, very impressive for us! Headed toward Denton for the Trail Obstacle Race at the Double G Ranch. We had another great day! The competition was again stiff and Seven and I had lost our mojo. Not sure where it went, we did the course but not with out usual enthusiasm, we also had some trouble on the teeter totter. This got us 4th place, but still in the money! Christina was 5th place, right behind me, and Reed was thrilled to have jumped all three pile jumps at a trot and lived!
We were very hot, sunburned and tied but very happy with our winnings and performances for the weekend. We headed to Taco Bell, where Seven bought is dinner, and then headed home!
Here is the video from Seven's In-Hand class:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cvyow7n4NQ
Here is the video from our ride at Denton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFZLu_iT8Iw
Spring Uwharrie Mule Ride!
April 21st the Carolina Mule Association gathered at 4B farm for another fun ride in the Uwharrie National Forest. It was a beautiful day and we had a great ride! It was so nice to see so many mules and friends! I took Sadie Mae, as she has not been out much this year. Of course she was good as gold and tough as ever! We had lunch by Badin Lake and then had another rest stop at "The Rocks". I had a great time using Sadie as a tripod and did a lot of videoing! We had a club meeting on Saturday evening and then everyone packed up and went home on Sunday morning! We had a huge rain storm blow in, but we were all thankful we got such a great ride in on Saturday!
Check out this video about the mule club ride:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUFtm2RX0gk
And this one that shows what it is like to ride wonderful Sadie Mae!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcVUiVgoBtY
Check out this video about the mule club ride:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUFtm2RX0gk
And this one that shows what it is like to ride wonderful Sadie Mae!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcVUiVgoBtY
Heading Out!
Lunch Break!
The Rocks!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Great American Trail Horse Sale and Competition
Aimee and I headed up to Lexington, VA to the Virginia Horse Center on Thursday April 12th. We got settled in and I rode Seven to get him ready for the filming of the audition for the American's Favorite Trial Horse video Competition that I entered. We gave him a quick but cold bath and then clipped him up.
The next morning we met Robin from ACTHA and she helped us do some filming in the arena and then Aimee and I headed up to cross country course and did some more filming.
I should have the American's Favorite Trail Horse Video ready soon!
Seven was really good all weekend. He had to be alone in those stalls at VA Horse Park for one night and also riding alone.
This is video from the Open Trail Competition that was part of the Great American Trail Horse Sale. Not one of our more proud moments, but very funny all the same. (the video starts about 1/2 way through the course)
The Judges told me they thought I had the whole course won, till the cow!!! I was the first to go so I had know idea what to expect!
I was to drag the cow at a trot and them lift it up and drop it into the trash can. Seven was fine with dragging the cow but did not like it raising up near his feet and legs!
Mule people can appreciate this moment!!!
The next morning we met Robin from ACTHA and she helped us do some filming in the arena and then Aimee and I headed up to cross country course and did some more filming.
I should have the American's Favorite Trail Horse Video ready soon!
Seven was really good all weekend. He had to be alone in those stalls at VA Horse Park for one night and also riding alone.
This is video from the Open Trail Competition that was part of the Great American Trail Horse Sale. Not one of our more proud moments, but very funny all the same. (the video starts about 1/2 way through the course)
The Judges told me they thought I had the whole course won, till the cow!!! I was the first to go so I had know idea what to expect!
I was to drag the cow at a trot and them lift it up and drop it into the trash can. Seven was fine with dragging the cow but did not like it raising up near his feet and legs!
Mule people can appreciate this moment!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXZOllQePXs
When he bolted I dropped the rope but the tip of it got stuck between my saddle and my leg, that was trying to hold on to the bolting mule, so he dragged more than I wanted! I did not fall off and no one got hurt! Thankfully!
Joe Most one of the Judges said he was very impressed by how I stayed right with that mule. He also said that the cow flying out of the arena on the end of the rope really tickled him!
Jackie let me take the stuffed cow home to work with. It was playing with Levi with it, because he started barking at it. When all of a sudden it got knocked out of my hands from behind. I thought is might be Dad or someone pulling at it for fun but it was my huge cat attacking it. Aimee said she saw him jump at it from behind me and knocked it right out of my hands! Thank fully he doesn't have any claws! I laughed till I nearly cried!
If anyone had old giant stuffed animals they want to donate to Seven, please let me know!
When he bolted I dropped the rope but the tip of it got stuck between my saddle and my leg, that was trying to hold on to the bolting mule, so he dragged more than I wanted! I did not fall off and no one got hurt! Thankfully!
Joe Most one of the Judges said he was very impressed by how I stayed right with that mule. He also said that the cow flying out of the arena on the end of the rope really tickled him!
Jackie let me take the stuffed cow home to work with. It was playing with Levi with it, because he started barking at it. When all of a sudden it got knocked out of my hands from behind. I thought is might be Dad or someone pulling at it for fun but it was my huge cat attacking it. Aimee said she saw him jump at it from behind me and knocked it right out of my hands! Thank fully he doesn't have any claws! I laughed till I nearly cried!
If anyone had old giant stuffed animals they want to donate to Seven, please let me know!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
1st Lesson With Linda
After having an Horsemanship Epiphany last year I decided to finally do something about it! I have known and respected Linda Hoover for the last 15 years. She is very advanced and a great teacher. I emailed her about taking some lessons and we found a time she was going to be in Apex, NC at a local farm. The owner is kind enough to let me use her arena for a small arena fee!
So excited! I took off from my farm early Saturday (4/7) and pickup you Susan on the way. Susan took lots of photos and video for me!
As we got started I was so excited because this is the refinement of horsemanship I have been wanting to learn.
Linda is a great teacher, very positive and thoughtful! She said that we would have to start from the beginning, working on getting a lifting from his top line so that he could learn to balance better with his hind end and move with more softness. She also said that we bring a lot to the table!
We had to go and change bits during the lesson, but she went over four different exercises for us to work on till we can come for another lesson. My only regret is that I did not start this Journey with her, years ago!
Link to video with clips from the Lesson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peprd6y1nyg
(some of the changes he makes are so slight you might not even see them!)
Check out Linda Hoover's web site at: http://www.foundation2success.com/
She has lots of fun clinics and some competitions too!
Open and closed the gate to go for the bridle change!!! What a good boy!!
So excited! I took off from my farm early Saturday (4/7) and pickup you Susan on the way. Susan took lots of photos and video for me!
As we got started I was so excited because this is the refinement of horsemanship I have been wanting to learn.
Linda is a great teacher, very positive and thoughtful! She said that we would have to start from the beginning, working on getting a lifting from his top line so that he could learn to balance better with his hind end and move with more softness. She also said that we bring a lot to the table!
We had to go and change bits during the lesson, but she went over four different exercises for us to work on till we can come for another lesson. My only regret is that I did not start this Journey with her, years ago!
Link to video with clips from the Lesson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peprd6y1nyg
(some of the changes he makes are so slight you might not even see them!)
Check out Linda Hoover's web site at: http://www.foundation2success.com/
She has lots of fun clinics and some competitions too!
Open and closed the gate to go for the bridle change!!! What a good boy!!
Lakeview Planation Ladies Mule Ride
On March 30th Seven, Tara's Jesse Mule, Levi and I headed down to South Carolina to Lake View Plantation for a Carolina Mule Ride. It worked out that is was going to be a smaller group and all Ladies too!Levi is still learning how to relax and just enjoy the ride, but he finally settled down and took a long nap!
We arrived and picked out a good place to camp! Holly and Linda soon arrived and then Tara and Jessica.We went out for a short ride on Friday afternoon. It was a good trail and very pretty but the mosquitos were terrible! We lost the marks of the trail when we were 3/4 of the way done, so we just turned around and followed the same trail back. The only problem was that the markers were on the other side of the tree. I just layed my rein down and told Seven to take us home! He sure did, he pick every single turn to take us home, with out making one mistake! I would look behind and double check to make sure we were still on the same trail but I didn't need to! WOW!
We hung out at the trailers, had a nice dinner, then turned in for bed. It rained a few times over night but no big thunderstorms.
Saturday morning was beautiful, all five of us rode out with lots of bug spray on! It was a wonderful ride, we took the green trail which is 10.8 miles. We came in around 1:30, just in time to put the tack away and sit under the awning while it lightly showered. We had such a nice ride and then a nice relaxing time that afternoon. Levi tried to dig a hole to China. We never could figure out what he was going after!
Zorro Seven in the Mystery Forest?
Here is a link to the video I put together:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjE5Z5PiPy4&feature=channel
Seven was not to happy about getting a quick bath so that he would be clean for the Trail Obstacle Competition on Sunday.On Sunday morning I packed up and drove out at 6:30AM! We were headed for Denton for the Trail Obstacle Race. Holly and Linda when on another ride and had a great time!
Tara and Jessica left to go and pick up a show horse for Jessica to train and then headed home.
Seven, Levi and I got to the Trail Obstacle Competition by 11AM, much later that I normally want to arrive. I quickly got tacked up and Brock told us the course. Reed Tucker was there too and she filmed me doing the course. Leisha had me go first because we needed some time in between competitors for me to be able to then film Reed and Fortune's go.
Seven did everything really well. He sure enjoys doing these courses and stayed relaxed during the whole thing. Brock was disappointed that Seven and I did the pin wheel (two barrels and a board to be swung all the way around) very well. He was hoping he found an obstacle that might give us some trouble.
Seven ended up winning the Open class! I was very pleased and put all my winnings right into my gas tank!!! UGH!!! Reed and Fortune got 5th with a very good run!
Here is a photo taken by the Photographer took of us crossing the water!
Here is a link to Seven's video from the Trail Race:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1oyaVlfA0A
Here is a link to Fortune's Video from the Trail Race:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpe2wHh762M&feature=relmfu
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Attack of the Stuffed Animal!
Thanks to Marlene Reed for these great photos!!!Seven and I rode in the advanced class and he did very well. He loves to do these classes and as usually went lickity split though the obstacles. We had to push a big ball, go through a cowboy curtain, carry a flag while side passing over a pipe, etc. We missed getting points on only three obstacles. Two were my fault, I can't rope something to save my life and two I was not comfortable jumping some barrels so we busted through them. The third thing that we messed up on was a large stuffed animal bear that we were supposed to "rescue" by putting it on our saddle then carrying to a drop off location. As we approached the animal Seven was already eyeing it, when I picked it up he said, "Not only no, but Hell NO, don't get that thing near me!" I tired for about 30 seconds and then had to loose the points and move on to the next obstacle. Which was to shoot a cap gun at a fake turkey, no problem.
After the competition I worked with Seven and the stuffed animal, he soon accepted it! We ended up in 3rd place in the open class and Christina and Reed ended up 3rd and 4th in the intermediate class. All and all a pretty good show.
We have a great time but it was one of the first sunny hot days and all three of us left like lobsters by the end of the day!! Next time, bring out the sun screen lotion!!
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