Weekly update

  I've been slacking at writing lately, so I'll try to go over everything really quick.  Phoenix has been doing super well at Rocking 45 and we both love it.  We have been riding only Western for now and Phoenix has been working great in her jointed gag bit.  She stops well and I can keep off her mouth, but till have control for speed events.  I've been riding since January 15th (a tad bit before I was cleared) and everything has been very good.  I had been lunging her in the round pen until I was fit to ride and, though she was a tad rambunctious, she joined up nice and loved when I let her out with the other horses.  She did threaten the lead mare a few times, but she's got her role figured out after being kicked a few times.
  On the 17th I took Phoenix to FFA horse evaluation practice and it was probably the best she has done at trailering so far.  She just hopped in both ways.  Though at the practice she got a little hyped up at showmanship and did good enough to get judged (a lot of the judges liked her overall conformation), but I couldn't ride her cause she was too freaked out from everything in the small fenced dog area. 
  She threw me off the following Monday after school, but she was just excited to be running around with another horse (Kelly rode too).  I didn't get hurt and I got back up and corrected her.  After a few more bucking attempts I got her to lope normal.  The next day I worked almost the whole time on her left lead, but I only got her to pick it up once during the whole hour I rode her.  It is both of our bad sides, so we definitely have to work on it.  I tied her to the fence, ran a hose over her, and then let her out into the arena to play.  It sounded like a great idea...until I caught her to put her away and she was caked in dirt.  Phoenix was dun for the rest of the day. 
  On Wednesday, we discovered (thank to Jenny) that Phoenix had a rib out of place, which was making her uncomfortable and harder for her to do certain movements.  Jenny popped it back into place and showed me how to tell if it was out on Phoenix.  All I have to do is run my fingers down her withers and if there is an odd twitch away from a certain area, then she has a rib out of place.  Luckily, its super easy to put back in.  You just grab a hoof pick, stand directly behind her and run the blunt end down her lower back/buttock to pop her back.  If her poll gets out of whack though (If your horse can't bend to grab a treat on her side, then that may be what's wrong) I have to get a chiropractor. 
  Thursday we played games with Kelly in the arena.  Phoenix and I learned the Big T pattern which is supper fun to mess around with and I received her new saddle pad later that night, which I can't wait to use.  Another thing that surprised me, is earlier in the week while I was riding it was super windy out.  Rocking 45 has a huge hay pile that has a huge flapping white tarp covering it by the arena.  I was nervous it would spook Phoenix but she was totally fine and I didn't have to desensitize her from it.  I've worked with her on tarps before, but never like that, so I was super proud of my girl. 

Rocking 45 Ranch

  I moved Phoenix out to Rocking 45 Ranch on January 2nd and so far it has been going great!  I still can't ride, but I head out almost everyday to spend time with my girl and everything is run very well over there. She is back in a western style stall (instead of her previous box stall) and gets turned out every day by the ranch (into the round pen until it is determined if she gets along with the pasture horses).  I have been lunging her in the round pen to exercise her since I can't ride yet and I have been very pleased with her behavior.
  Phoenix has been calm and listening to cues (mostly body, but getting better at voice cues) and she loves following me around.  I have also worked on her with rubbing the lunge whip all over her to ensure her it is a tool not a weapon (she barely glanced at it) and after a little reassurance, she was desensitized from plastic grocery bags.  I tied 2 bags to the end of a dressage crop and stroked, waved, and moved it on and around her.  She got nervous a few times, but the biggest scare she had was a little jump and she didn't buck or rear. I was pleased to see she seemed calm with it flapping around her face, butt, legs, and stomach.
  While lunging Phoenix earlier I noticed she kept jumping over or running around a giant puddle in the round pen (she ran through it once or twice), so next we worked on puddles.  I stood in the freezing water (with a cast boot on my right foot) and encouraged her through it and after a few times I figured out how to avoid her tricks of side stepping and stopping.  I took it from both directions and didn't glance twice at the puddle and if she side stepped around it I turned her right back around and encouraged her to take it by standing on the side with the only way around the puddle.
  She didn't like the water really at first, but I stopped her and rewarded her a few times in the middle of the puddle and walked her through it several times and I think she is more comfortable with it now.  After our little lesson was over I led her back to her stall with a lead rope looped around her neck and then I brushed Phoenix in her stall.  She has been doing great with grooming and now allows me to fully groom her (curry, brush, comb mane/tail, and pick hooves) without tying her up or putting on a halter.  She just chills in her stall while I mess with her.
  I am so proud at my girl's progress and I can't wait to heal up and be able to ride.  This ranch has cows and invited us to go cutting (I've never been, but Phoenix was bred for cutting).  Also, there are a few kids of my age to ride (and trail ride!) with and the owners are super nice.