Update and saddle

             I haven't written in a little while because life is busy.  But I've done a lot with dash since I last wrote.  Last week I tried riding Dashy liberty style in the round pen.  It was fun.  I was able to get her to walk and stop without any tack.  I haven't practiced since, but eventually I want to master liberty riding with her.

               Dashy is a special horse and I’m proud to be her owner. If I’m being honest, I love horses a lot but I am scared of them. It has been nice to work with a horse that I’m still training but is calm enough to help me get my confidence back (or I guess develop confidence since I’ve always had Horse anxiety, especially while riding).

             Dash is figuring out lunging and doing better on the ground. She cantered for the first time on the lunge line on saturday and has wanted to move forwards better. She is still sore but is improving and moving out more. I got the bit in with no help for the first time (it took about 5min and lots of deep breaths lol).

           We rode bareback in the indoor arena (I even got on by jumping and no leg up lol) and practiced walking, trotting, backing up, and stopping. And I stood up on her back for the first time.

             Dash still loves being brushed with the curry comb and is still ornery about picking up get feet, though she holds them longer every day. She enjoys walks and I took her on one after I brushed her out so that she doesn’t get into the habit of work and run back to her pasture.

Pooped after a day at the ranch

           On monday (sept 24th), I took Dash to the vet for a checkup.  She did great and we learned a lot of good stuff.  We learned that she has thin soles and need horse shoes (which is why she has been sore) and that she has had a lot of laminitis in her life. She is healthy and about 12yrs old. She got vaccinated and practiced with the horse trailer (which still needs a lot of work but we survived with some assistance).

            We love Dr.Geary and are so excited that Dash will fully recover from her time out in Montana and will be healthy and sound in time.

Dash injured herself freaking out about the
trailer today.  The vet looked at it and said
it would be fine

             On Sept 26, we worked in the outdoor arena some more.  We haven’t figured out riding yet but our ground game is pretty good. Dash isn’t a fan of lunging but she will do it at a walk. She follows me everywhere and listens well on the halter now (she followed me around barrels and over ground poles). The funniest thing was watching her get stuck while walking over a cross rail.

               We tried riding at a walk in the outdoor but Dashy got to frustrated trying to figure out what I was asking so we walked in the indoor yesterday and she did pretty good.  I need to research different ground games to teach her and how to help her understand the bit and riding better. But we are improving and doing our best.

              On September 27th, Dashy wore a saddle for the first time! She did great! I tried the English first because it’s my favorite but my girth doesn’t fit her. The cinch for the western doesn’t fit well either but it works.  I lunged her with the saddle and then we walked around in the indoor arena. Super proud of my girl. She is still ornery about taking the bit but getting better about directions while in the saddle.

Sadie is still learning manners around the ranch.  She loves
being out here!  Today, she knocked me over when I got
off of my horse.

              On September 28th, Dashy got her feet done for the first time!  It took about 2hrs and a whole tube of dorm gel, but we had a great and patient farrier and he got it done.  Her feet look good and she has begun walking and moving out better and better every day.  

            On Sept 29th, I put an English saddle on Dashy for the first time.  She looks good in English and actually does better than western.  She did great in the outdoor arena and I even got her to canter a few strides for the first time!  She is doing so much better after getting shoes put on.  

            On Oct 2nd, I rode dash around more outside and she actually had lot's of energy.  For the first time, she was pulling to go faster and moving pretty well around the arena.  We struggled with direction a little bit, but we worked it out as problems arose and she did pretty well.  A friend rode her and they did well together in the outdoor arena.  Dash cantered easily yesterday.  I think she is feeling a lot better now and acting like her true self.

           We also worked on having her follow me around in the indoor arena and go over poles and the red mat.  I then put her away and just sat and chilled with her.  I sat in Dash's feeder and eventually she let me climb on her back while she ate.  I really love this horse.    

september 19-farrier attempt and arena

               Today was supposed to be Dashy's first time getting her feet done.  But nothing works out as planned.  Dash isn't dangerous but she didn't let the farrier hold her hooves long enough to do anything.  She is pretty pushy on the ground and hasn't learned to respect people much yet.  I need to work more on teaching her manners.  I want to be her friend, but I also need Dash to respect me.
             Not being able to help her feet was a little frustrating, but luckily, they aren't too bad.  We started by working in the round pen.  We kept the halter and rope on this time and worked on lunging.  Dash is still confused but she is slowly improving and learning to walk and trot on the line.  And I'm working on teaching her about space and staying out of my bubble (she has a tendency to cut her circle in half to come to me or run me over).  She is the first horse I've met that doesn't know how to round pen.  She won't run away from the whip or work off of body cues.  It is difficult but we are figuring out what works for her.
              After round penning on the line a little bit, I took off her halter and free lunged her for a few minutes.  Dash is improving at that, though she still doesn't like it too much.  I love how she follows me around after I work with her.  It makes me feel like she likes me (I hope she does).

                I wanted to try and ride Dash again today but I couldn't get her to take the bit.  She hates people messing with her mouth and will put her nose into the air and bob her head up and down every time you try to put in the bit.  Eventually, a friend helped and we were able to slide the bit in with her halter on.  It was different for her to work with her halter and super long, heavy lead rope tied around her, but I had no way to take it off and leave the bit in, so we worked with it.  

                I don't want her to always associate bits and bridles with work and riding, so I took her out into the outdoor arena for the first time and we practiced walking and stopping around the arena with the halter (and bridle on).  She likes to run ahead of you and struggled with stops.  But when I stopped her and she went to move two seconds later, I backed her up and made her wait.  Eventually she understood that when I said stop, she was supposed to wait.  She did great and we will keep working on it.  

                      We headed back inside and to the round pen, where I hopped on (it took about 5 jump attempts this time before I could slide up onto her back lol) and we worked on walking, changing directions, and stopping.  She did great and I was feeling sorta brave, so I slid off and we headed into the indoor arena for the first time.  I got a leg up (after several bad jump on attempts) and we worked in the arena.  Dash was distracted by the other riders and trainers at first but I was able to walk her around and stop her.  

                  Honestly, she is a pretty lazy moving horse and I have to keep on her to keep her moving forwards.  But she is sensitive to my legs and the bit for turning and moving over.  Maybe she is just lazy because she hasn't been asked to work most of her life and she is pretty fat and a little stiff right now.

               When a horse and rider accidentally ran up her butt while we were stopped, Dash squealed and kicked out with a leg, but she didn't buck or freak out.  Just warned the other horse to back off.  She shakes her head for a second every time I ask her to stop, but she always stops and waits when i ask her.  Same thing with backing up.  She will shake her head annoyingly, and then take a few steps back.  She is a good horse and super smart, just a little stubborn and pushy sometimes.  

              I even got Dashy to trot today!  It takes a good amount of pushing with my legs but she would trot for half the arena and then walk.  I let her do that for a little bit because we are learning together and she is out of shape.  When the other horses left, I was able to get her to trot one full lap in the arena!  I was proud of her and then walked her out.  

                Dash didn't like when the other horses left.  She tried to follow them and then circled the gate every time we passed it.  I was nervous she would rear or buck because she was upset, but after correcting her several times and keeping my legs on her, she forgot about the other horses and just focused on working with me in the arena.  She moved out better and trotted longer.  

               After I cooled her off, I hopped off and she started following me around the arena.  I tried running and she even trotted behind me!  It was so cool!  She stopped when I did and went where ever I did.  She got distracted at one point and ran off, but I called her back and after a few seconds she ran back over and followed me again.  

             She followed me over a mat in the arena and a tarp, without even blinking.  I shook the tarp by her and she didn't mind, so I placed it on her and walked her around.  This horse is fearless.  I love it!  Because I am such a scaredy cat an full of anxiety.  I freak out while riding all of the time.  It's nice to work with a horse that is calm.  How funny that a rescue that no one touches ended up being such an amazing horse after a few days.  

             We still have far to go and a lot to learn on both ends, but I'm super proud of Dash and excited to have her as my horse.  She is a great partner and I think we will have fun together.  

First ride

           Today I caught Dash and we worked in the round pen for a little while without a rope.  Honestly, it would've been better with one because she is so confused and I'll probably go back to using one tomorrow.  She is learning to get out of my space, but doesn't really listen to the whip or like changing directions.  And she only walks and trots.  I worked with her until she got the idea pretty well and then ended before I forced too much on her.  She is slowly figuring it out.
         Dash seems pretty chill and I've sat on her before (just in a halter and I never asked her to do anything), so I decided to try riding her in a bit today.  I switched out my bits to the softest bit I have (a twisted D ring snaffle) and put it on Dashy.  Dash hates people trying to open her mouth.  I haven't been able to look at her teeth because of this.  I went to put the bit in and she refused to open her mouth and kept bobbing her head up and down and then put her nose to the ceiling.  I just kept trying and after a few minutes her mouth opened a smidge and I slid the bit in.

The bit I used

            After the bit was in, she took it well.  She didn't seem to mind it and I hopped onto her bareback from the ground.  I got stuck and crawled up her back and she didn't care one bit.  Dash is a really good horse.  I just walked her in the round pen, helping her work off of leg pressure and the bit.  We worked on walking on the outside (she loves to cut in the middle while I'm lunging her and riding her), stops, and changing direction.

Here is the full video of my ride on dash

               Dash did amazing!  She is still figuring out pressure and the bit but she did so well.  And when I got off, she followed me around when I went to grab her halter (seen at the end of the video).  I really love this mare.  

             I groomed her and then me and a friend combed out her dreadful dreadlock of a tail.  We salvaged most of it and now she has a tail!  

Tied her inside for the first time today.  She did well and din't mind
all of the people, dogs, and horses constantly passing behind her

           Here is a video of Dash and I practicing picking up her hooves.  She will pick them up when you ask, but not hold them.  So we are practicing with a rope.  We've been doing it for a few days and she is already improving.  

Dash sept 16 & 17, 2018

              The 16th was a sunday, so I didn't do too much with Dashy.  But I wanted to check up on her and get to know her better.  Jordan and I took Saddie out and then took Dash and Sades on a walk for about 30 minutes.  Dash walked pretty well, but she is still learning how to move off of pressure from the halter.  She did great on the way out, but tried to rush on the way back.  She shakes her head up and down every time you apply pressure, but she is slowly starting to learn how to walk with it.  We stopped a lot and backed up on our way home.
           Here are some pictures to document what Dash looked like when we first brought her home.  A little fat and broken hooves, but she isn't too bad.  And we will help her look better and be healthier.

           On monday (17th) I got Dashy used to being tied outside and walked her into the barn for the first time.  She dug a giant hole at the hitching post outside, but didn't mind being inside the barn.  I lunged her in the round pen with a halter and lunge line.  She doesn't understand how to lunge, so it was just ten minutes of walking and some trotting and teaching her to go out from me with the lunge whip.  

          I groomed her and she loves the curry comb.  She did great with being brushed.  She isn't too good with her feet, thought she doesn't mind you picking them up.  She will just pick them up for a second and slam them down.  So I used a lead rope tied around her leg.  Then I asked her to pick up her feet and held it there until she quit fighting.  

           Sadie loves being out at the ranch and she is a great ranch dog!

             Still struggling a little with depression but doing my best to get out of bed every morning and do things. It helps to have a husband, dog, and horse to take care of. I’m back to work and starting an internship this week. And I still have my nremt to study for and pass so I can finally work at the fire station like I’ve always dreamed. Life is good and God is there!

It's Been too long/Dashy

     I honestly forgot about this blog because life has been so crazy and I have been spending most of my writing time on my other blog www.mormonfarmgirl.blogspot.com and writing about the Lord.  But I realized that I like having a blog like this to update on my animals and have a cool family history journal for my family to look at.
       Phoenix fully recovered from her splint and we went up to BYU-Idaho for college.  She loved the snow and we had a lot of fun new adventures.

       I haven't had a horse in about a year.  I was really struggling a year ago and I sold my quarter horse, Phoenix.  I loved that horse, but I was having such a hard time.  I was frustrated with riding and someone kept asking about buying her.  So I finally sold her.  Phoenix is now owned by a girl in Arizona who uses her for high school rodeo.  She is kicking butt, but I miss her so much.  Selling her was the worst mistake I've ever made, but I can't change the past.
         Today I was blessed with a new horse.  Jordan and I were at the ranch in Charlo, Montana where we came across the ranch horse, Dashy.  Dash has been at that ranch since she was about 2yrs old and just left out there.  She runs wild in the cow pastures and has never seen a vet or farrier.  We went out and played with her one night in the fields and I liked her a lot.

My hot husband on our truck

    Dashy loves people and she came up to us and let us slip a halter on her.  She even let me ride her around in a halter.  She doesn't really know how to ride but you can sit on her and she doesn't mind.  I missed horses so much and decided to pray about it.  

      My husband and I are broke college kids who already have a dog (oh yea that's another new thing: I'm married!).  Horses are expensive and a lot of work.  So I prayed to Heavenly Father about it saying that if I was meant to get a horse, please help us to find the right one and find a way to bring it back with us.  

        We were up in Montana for a few weeks and time was running out.  We had no money and no trailer and only a few days left before we headed home.  I was worried but I trusted the Lord.  If it worked out now, it was meant to be.  If not, I would keep working hard towards my dreams and it would unfold in the Lord's time.  

Our puppy, Saddie

On a 10 mile fishing hike

          The morning we were leaving, we received a phone call that told of our blessing to take a trailer and take Dashy home with us.  I was super excited!  We cleaned out and fixed up an old ranch cattle trailer and headed over to catch Dashy (She was in one of the cow pastures).  

My spider killer

       I worked with Dashy for about 2 hours and we managed to break a halter, cause her to bleed, and I was frustrated.  I was patient and got her into the trailer, but we she was too freaked out and not able to travel that day.  We ended up leaving the next day, where dashy fought a little, but ended up hopping into the trailer after about 10 minutes and riding the 6hr ride home very calmly.   

     

When she ran off with her broken halter

Her first time looking into the trailer

Her first time riding in a trailer

My love and my girl on the drive back

                Once we got back into Rexburg, the hard part was getting Dashy to come out of the trailer.  We tried to back her out but she was so scared.  She backed out halfway and then hopped back in.  The trailer was now her safe space.  We ended up having to turn her around in the trailer and then she hopped out forwards. 
               We put her in her new outdoor pen where she had horse mates for the first time.  Dash gets along pretty well with other horses and enjoys the space.  I'm so happy to have a new baby to obsess over.