Back to the ground

Last night we put will to work.  He lunged his little butt off, he was frothing and sweating, trying to figure out how to give to the bit, move away, find his circle, and most important, have his butt follow his body.  He improved alot, but the best part wasn't the ground driving and the lunging... it was the cool down.  I sat on him and we just walked while my friend held the lunge line.  Circles, stops, turns, and inside leg pressure to widen up... it was "our time" our special alone time that he needs so much.  He is so sensitive, so soft... we need more of that.

The fence is there so you DONT go through it... DUH

So I got a frantic call about 5:30, just as i was getting of work, and i hear "Liz, you need to get to the barn ASAP, your horse went through two paddocks and took the fence with him..."
So i get there and sure enough, there he is two paddocks down, with the fence ripped off its tee posts, hot wire all over the ground, clicking and shorting out, and he is standing there like an idiot, nickering at me to save him from the evil wire that has so rudely captured him into a little square.  So... i unplug the fence, get a halter, put him in his stall with a snack, grab the tools and get to work. 
I restrung all the wire, pushed up the bent posts, screwed some new attatchments on the wood posts, , replaced some connectors, and had everything back in place and hot before the sun went down at 6:45.  Yeah, Im that awsome.  Hopefully he doesn't try that again...

Fog

The fall is the most beautiful time...  Today the fog was heavy, and I mean thick and heavy... so thick I couldn't see my hand in front of me when I got up and went to the barn.  My horse was standing in the fog, I could barely make out his shape, and the fog makes everything so silent... all I could hear was his breathing, and then his hoofs as they crunched through the frozen ground as he came to the fence to greet me.  It really was one of those moments, where everything stops, nothing matters, where life is so clear and obvious.  For a moment, you are so sure about yourself, about what matters, and what will come  I just stood there, listening to him breath, the fog was so cold on my cheeks and hands, and I rubbed his little cold nose... 
Then I led him out of the paddock and into the pathway that leads to the arena, and he was so fantastically beautiful, his back end hidden from my eyes, all I could make out was his head, neck and his shoulders slowly dissolved into the grey white of the most beautiful cloud.

Mr. Farrier

So, the Farrier came out tonight.  Since Yesterday, I have been working with my little Braveheart on his "Standing Still" Skills.  I call it, "stand still kindergarten"  and he has been doing great.  So... the farrier came, and my boy stood still like a champion.  Three hoofs done, and on the right rear, he moved only a few times.  He is all trimmed up and looks great.  He even got groomed super good for the farrier, and he was sooo pleased with himself.  He was so shiny his blood bay coat looked purple. 

My boy had a great ride today.  He really figured out forehand turns, and was steadily moving forward (Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I used spurs yesterday... and he didn't want THAT again!)  hehe. 

And We worked on the trailer again today... here is an update:

Good weekend...

Had a lot of fun this weekend.  I started out working with my boy and his social skills.  We brought some horses out to the arena and had them tied while I rode will.  It was a battle of "WIlls" so to speak, as he tried to become more herd bound.  He reared and bucked, but never got me off.  It was a good day really, got him more used to "different" things.
Then we took the broke horses out to the farm and rode on my own property.  It was so much fun!  I ended up losing my phone, and the next morning we retraced our steps and found it laying in the field down by the river. 
Then we started taking apart the trailer.  We tore off the window, the sheet metal, tore out the rotted wood, and got it ready for grinding and sand blasting.  Should be saveable, and it should be a decent trailer.  We are going to paint it John Deere green, with yellow trim, and we found an old tractor yield sign we are going to bolt onto the back door.  :)
Then we went out to a friend of a friends house who has a wild stallion, and I got him halter broke for them so they can try to actually do something with him.  :)  Fun Fun!