December Update

     Being a high school senior has been super busy and I have let my updates slip.  I decided I better fill you all in before 2016 or I'll never get around to it lol.  November 30th was a fun day in ag working painting fences and pulling weeds and Phoenix and I went on a bareback trail ride with Caulina.  Phoenix was feeling good and crow hopping a little but she listened and we had fun.

     Here is fluffy butt on December 2nd.  I hate getting out of bed bright and early in the morning when my snuggly buddy won't get up lol.  

     Fluffybutt got a scrub down and a fluff out later that afternoon while I gave him a much needed bath.  

     Later that day Phoenix and I ventured out into the cold lol and competed at the local gymkhana at the Marana Heritage Arena.  Phoenix behaved well and I had tons of fun warming up and running around the grounds (we were late so we went last).  Phoenix was running around and galloping like crazy in the warm up arena and turning nice but when we went into the arena to compete I had to push her to go fast and our turns need work (thats my fault due to the lack of practice).  I believe Phoenix's problem with holding back is she has gotten used to my tentativeness at competing so now that I'm ready to open up and kick some butt, she is used to just hanging back while I get more comfortable.  We have a long way to go but I'm proud of my girl and the numb hands were totally worth it!

     On December 5th, Phoenix and I went on a bareback trail ride as usual but man has my girl gotten a little barn sour.  She threw a fit when I tried to take her off of the ranch by backing back through the fence and crow hopping and turning around to run back to the ranch.  It took a lot of kicking and riding through a fit but we made it down the street and after I got her out of the middle of the road (which she is usually great at not stopping in) she listened well for a few minutes.  Then Phoenix stopped and really wanted to turn around, so she kept crow hopping and I kept circling her to help keep her calm but she reared up really big and I leaned forward but she went up enough that I was scared she would flip over so I bailed off and fell on my butt lol.

     Luckily Phoenix waited for me and I hoped back on and she listened well.  We ran around the fields and on the Glover's ranch where we played in the water and I got soaked while Phoenix splashed me to death.  Then I ran her half way back and made her walk until we got home because the barn sour thing needs to be fixed before it gets more dangerous.  Here is me performing silent night on the guitar.  

  

     Later that evening my family and I attended the ward Christmas party and we had a blast!  The food was great and I loved caroling and laughing with friends and family.  What a great group of people and what better way to get into the spirit of Christmas! 

     December 7th I turned Phoenix out and let her run around for awhile and then we worked on ground work and rope desensitization in the round pen.  I brushed her down and ran alongside her on the ground around the track and then we went through all the gaits in both directions bareback for about half an hour on the track.  She did great and I love riding my girl and can't wait to I can practice more often.  

     Here is a video of me performing Lose My Soul by Tobymac on the guitar.  It needs some work but I love this song!

     I kind of have been terrible at keeping track of December lol so the info for this month will be short but Phoenix and I are still hard at work when I can get out there.  I will be honest and say that I haven't had as much time with my horse as I would like this month due to ride availability so my riding and Phoenix's training is suffering but we just have to do the best with what we have until we can change the circumstances.  Here are pics of me spending time with family and visiting the Mesa Temple Christmas lights with friends.  

  

     Phoenix and I are still having a barn sour issue but she is doing better and I made it down the road before I fell off when she spooked lol (it was my fault for having my stirrups all the way up not Phoenix).  I have been working hard to train to be able to ride Phoenix like a jockey and I still have a long way to go (and my stirrups dont go up any more lol) but here are pics and a video from the first time I tried.  It doesn't look too good but I have been building up my leg strength since then.  

     Had a great time at the New Year's Dance with Shawn and friends!  Totally killed it at the cupid shuffle and sandwich dance lol  Stayed out till the New Year and then stayed up till we caught our flight to SC.  Now all of my posts will be for 2016!  How crazy is that!

Update

     Before I talk about my limited riding time this week (sad face haha) I wanted to share some pics of me playing with fluffybutt.  I love this dog to the moon and back but man is he hard to get pics with lol.  He always makes my day by greeting me with licks and a wagging tail.

     Phoenix got the whole week following state off due to her needing some time off and my parents being out of town.  I was upset I didn't get any time with my girl but there was nothing I could do.  Here is a pic that doesn't do the paint justice from paint tag from mutual last wednesday.  I had a blast tackling people and getting caked in paint lol.  

     On monday I was finally able to have some horse time and man was Phoenix excited.  I let her get some bucks out while I free lunged my girl and then I tacked her up in a Western saddle and her shanked snaffle and split reins (her reining headstall).  We worked on flatwork and ran through all of the gaits.  Phoenix and I just needed some chill work and I needed to work on sitting her jog while she worked on keeping a consistent pace.  We worked on leads and figure eights and Phoenix is definitely a lot better at picking up the correct lead with split reins (something about neck reining I suppose).  

     There were points were she got pretty excited and I had to run her out in a circle till she chilled out but for the most part Phoenix was great and doing reining work really made me miss queening.  She still pulled out slide stops when I asked her and her backing and hindquarter turns need work but are getting there.  I pulled off her saddle and worked her through all the gaits on the flat bareback (which is always exhilarating!) and then I hosed down and walked out my girl.  

State Day 2- Gymkhana Day

    Omg I had been waiting forever for our opportunity to run our patterns and I couldn't believe we were competing at state!  I fed Phoenix and filled up her water in the morning and let her chill while I watched the roping and hung out with my bestie Caulina.  When it got closer to our turn I brushed Phoenix down and tacker her up and then we headed to go warm up.  Phoenix was super excited to run around and we hand galloped a lot to get some of it our of her system (though she would be needing some of it today) and then we chilled next to the indoor arena while we waited for our turn.

     Phoenix was a little jumpy under the arena with all the noise but I got her to settle well enough and just circled and walked her when she started being dangerous.  Our first event was goat tying.  Phoenix did great running and slowing her lope while I jumped off (though I almost fell haha).  I flipped the goat in a good amount of time but I haven't practiced goats since fair and I had trouble gathering its legs to tie.  It was a fairly large goat and it took me a little while to remember I had to put my right leg into it more to help hold its legs together to tie.  I almost lost the goat but I was determined to atleast get a time.  Finally I got its large legs tied and it stayed.  I received a time of 48 seconds which isn't too good but I will take it over nothing.  

     Next was our barrel run haha.  I was excited and ready to go and Phoenix really tried her best for me.  Yes our turns weren't perfect but our run felt good up to the point were we slipped and fell haha.  Luckily, Phoenix and I were both unhurt and I actually stood up laughing and asking if I could have a re-do cause man I was ready to run a good time lol.  I caught my girl and sadly we were DQed so we have to wait till further notice to see if Phoenix and I are improving.  I am getting less nervous about letting her our and now that we have slipped and gone down I'm not too scared of that either cause it honestly wasn't that bad.  Hope this video cracks you up as much as it does me haha. 

     Our last event for the day (and for state) was pole bending.  Phoenix and I haven't honestly done pole bending in a long time and it has never been our strong suit but she did amazing and I couldn't be prouder.  Phoenix and I ran a 29 second pole run (which is our fastest) and she whipped around those end poles like a boss!  We didn't place but I sure couldn't keep the smile off of my face!

     State was a blast and I can't believe it is over!  I loved every second and I learned a ton.  We won some and we lost some but Phoenix put her heart into everything for me and I couldn't ask for anything more.  Caulina and her sister kicked some butt and I loved meeting new people and watching everyone else!  I wish Phoenix and I could travel and compete all the time cause that was such a rush (maybe one day we will haha).  

     I hosed off my girl, loaded up the truck and trailer, and we hit the road home.  Phoenix munched on hay and was super excited to get home and settle back into her stall.  I am super thankful for the opportunity to compete at my first major show and I'm sad I wont be able to go next year lol.