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| Have To Brag | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Fri May 13th, 2011 04:18 pm |
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1st Post |
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GypsySusan G.O.G Community Member 
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I have to brag on my Shadow. Here's the long story to get to the brag: This week I almost completely dismantled my saddle, breast collar, Ride-N-Tie, and headstall with bit, and boots and spurs to clean all the leather (with a new to me product, Leather Honey aka Harness Honey - works good!tu1). So after letting it sit overnight and scheduled to ride on Wednesday, I put everything back together. I knew my stirrups were probably not back in the right place but knew I could adjust after I'd mounted up. Well, the first thing was the Ride-N-Tie wasn't put together correctly and had to ride in just the headstall and bit, which was tight but doable. Then, stirrup on the left was too long but rode with it that way anyway. Shadow was kind of jigging around everywhere whenever we weren't actually doing anything and very hard to smooth out. After my time volunteering with the hippotherapy patients, we decided to ride some more in the big arena - we were trying to practice pole bending and barrels and I was only trying to get her into a good running walk but she was jigging. I adjusted the stirrup before mounting but didn't adjust her bit. I thought it was her feet. Then, last night for parade practice, I took the Ride-N-Tie apart again and finally reassembled it correctly. Checked the headstall and it looked ok. Went into the arena to warm up and get the horses reacquainted with each other then began parade practice. Well, let me tell you about arch in Shadow's neck - I'd never seen her collect up and stay that way. Finally, got out on the road and she was rushing, jigging, throwing her head and really, really worrying that bit - very, very tense - again, I thought it might be her feet on the asphalt because she felt so "humpy". One of my ride partners even said "Wow, she really prances beautifully." Then, I figured out it must be the bit and tried to stay way, way out of her mouth and used verbals, legs and seat cues as much as possible. BUT (this is the brag on her), Shadow stayed with me and kept listening the whole time and following our parade cues. She seemed to remember and almost followed the pattern with minimal cues from me. While not calm and throwing her head all over, I didn't feel like she was going to bolt or rear. Finally, got back to the arena and decided to take her back to the trailer and check her bit - I thought it might be hurting her mouth. Well, let me tell you how stupid I was  - the curb chain was twisted and not even 1 finger deep, the headstall was at least one hole too tight and the throat latch was at least 6 fingers deep.  I took me about 15 minutes of loosening, tightening, adjusting before we had everything right again. She slowly sighed and dropped her head - I could feel the tension leave her body. tu1 I called it "good", untacked her and sang her praises for being such a great horse. I expect riding tonight and tomorrow's fun day will be much more fun and calmer. So, a word of caution to anyone who's cleaning their tack - make sure it's put back together correctly and for the right fit for your horse before mounting and trying to ride. I told my riding partner I was getting to the point when I was worried that on the first time I didn't put on my helmet, I was going to go down but it didn't happen and I know it was because of my horse.
____________________ Susan http://www.gypsytrotters.com Phil 4:11-13, 19 Missouri Fox Trotters: To Ride One... Is to Own One. |
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| Posted: Fri May 13th, 2011 05:03 pm |
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2nd Post |
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sdlepal Ranch Hand 
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Yes, you have the right to brag on a good girl. Sometimes we do the dumbest things, like not thinking what we are doing Duh! Our poor horses are so understanding aren't they! When I first put my new ICB on my bridle, I had the curb in the wrong place. Rode like that most of the day till DH saw it.
____________________ Pam and Cowboy Casey |
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| Posted: Fri May 13th, 2011 05:13 pm |
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3rd Post |
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whattarack Pasture Boss 
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Darn good girl, I'd say!!! Many horses would have had a total melt down. I'm glad you got this all worked out in practice, though. Parade nerves are enough to deal with on their own. I hope you'll be posting pics again this year. You have a very good looking group of horses and riders.
____________________ Being Offended is Optional. |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 9th, 2011 12:52 am |
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4th Post |
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kyangel G.O.G Community Member 
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I'm glad that your amazing girl did so good for you !! She's worth her weight in gold for taking such good care of you ! The first time I goofed up like that I made a vow to never do it again. I now keep a notebook handy and scribble in it the "settings" or hole adjustments for each piece of tack as I take it apart and clean it, along with notations as to which horse it's for. Then all I have to do it slap it back together in it's settings and away we go ready to head down the trail. I find it a lot easier for me to do it this way since I have a lot of trouble mounting and dismounting now with my back injuries.
____________________ I love Jesus, my horse, and then it's between you and the dog !  |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 9th, 2011 02:58 pm |
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5th Post |
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karenlexsc G.O.G Community Member 
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I posted on another thread that I recently met a woman who had been riding her big beautiful TWH with the long shank bit with a high port upside down for years!!! OMG! Don't know how she did that without someone else pointing it out to her but she did. When she got him he was a bit tough mouthed but he worked out of that...wonder how??????
____________________ Karen No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 9th, 2011 03:08 pm |
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6th Post |
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GypsySusan G.O.G Community Member
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kyangel wrote: I now keep a notebook handy and scribble in it the "settings" or hole adjustments for each piece of tack as I take it apart and clean it, along with notations as to which horse it's for. Then all I have to do it slap it back together in it's settings and away we go ready to head down the trail. I find it a lot easier for me to do it this way since I have a lot of trouble mounting and dismounting now with my back injuries. That's a great idea - hope I can remember it this fall when I clean and oil all my tack. Thanks. I know how forgiving they are and I'm just awed by the whole relationship with her.
____________________ Susan http://www.gypsytrotters.com Phil 4:11-13, 19 Missouri Fox Trotters: To Ride One... Is to Own One. |
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10th, 2011 01:00 pm |
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7th Post |
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TessieBAgain G.O.G Community Member 
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How nice of her not to flip over backwards. Because of all that hard work you knew exactly what to do! Nice job!
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