The Horsepower Homestead

This past weekend I attended the Fort Worth Stock Show and had the pleasure of watching the Mustang Magic event. In this event, a number of trainers work with mustangs for 120 days and the top 10 compete against each other in a free style event.   I very much enjoyed the show and think that one day perhaps, I'd like to try it for myself. It was also quite amazing how versatile and smart these mustang were. The trainers were interesting as well, multiple styles and preferences. My favorite trainers from the event were Kristen Mew, Kaitlyne Wadman, and Brittany Mayer. I enjoyed their performances very much, and had I been in the market for a mustang, either of those three would have been quite the catch.  For more information on Mustangs, their history, how you can protect them, and how you can purchase/own one, please visit:  http://mustangheritagefoundation.org/

**This entry is transcribed from my handwritten journal. This entry is from June 2017. It has been too cold to ride this week. So enjoy this entry instead.  The neighbors have this filly. She's cute. Unhandled. They had stuck a halter on her so that they could catch her and left it on all the time. But then they still couldn't catch her. They asked me to halter train her for them. Her name is Lucy. She's almost two. Lucy in the late February 2017 Lucy in the late February 2017, featuring Sonny's ear. It took us a while to earn Lucy's trust. She was out to pasture on 20 acres with a herd of cattle. I had to use some grain to bribe her initially. But she quickly learned that people equal food and scratching and she liked food and scratching.  I was reminded that often, young horses just need quality time. It was easy. I moved slow. I was patient and we practiced a lot. She's come a long way. No more bribes with treats.  For those interested...

My horseback riding instructor was old when he started teaching me. I don't say that lightly or to be mean. Nor am I exaggerating. It's simply fact. He was in his 60s when I started riding with him. And now, he's mid 70s. He's funny though, you wouldn't know he's old. He refuses to age. He has however come to terms with the fact that he can't ride anymore. Although it's not so much that he isn't mentally capable, more like his two metal hips, and metal knee making mounting up very challenging. He can't break colts like he used to. He still starts them, but he needs someone else in the saddle these days. That's where I come in. He's had some health issues and family stuff the past few years. We haven't seen each other much. But I always call around Christmas. So I called him last weekend. And he was so happy to hear from me. Because he'd been thinking of calling me. But he wasn't sure I had time for "an old man and hi...

This weekend I was fortunate enough to participate in my standard weekend adventure. I had a fantastic ride with Apache. We took a peaceful trail ride through the pasture. She jumped the creek easily this weekend, which is a subtle improvement. Sonny was his normal "old man" self. As for me, I was reminded that horses are great perceivers of emotion. They can sense your fear, your sadness, your frustration, your desperation. And I think Apache could tell that I was not feeling like myself. She was quiet, patient, and let me hug all over her neck. She seemed softer than normal. I felt like she was listening to me, and not from a rider and horse standpoint but as if to ask me, "friend, what's wrong?". It reminded me of those times in high school, when my feelings would be so wounded that I would show up to the barn and spend 10 minutes sobbing into the mane of my favorite horse. They can make fantastic listeners, friends, and therapists. And I'm happy to ...

I purchased this item from Amazon.com for $20.90. Tractor Supply sells similar choices. The description as provided by Tough-1: Features 48" fiberglass shaft with grip handle and 66" removable lash with leather popper.               Aid can be used with or without lash Perfect for encouraging your horse at safe distances Ideal Training whip with popper and lash Training whip, Purple Zebra color selection     I purchased this item for lunging and round pen work. This whip is sturdy and easy to "pop". It pops in the air and does not require contact with the horse to facilitate the sound. For the record, if I ever do make "contact" with the horse using the whip, it is a gentle flick or a light touch, so that they know it is there. I am not cracking it down on them or acting like I'm Indiana Jones.   This whip is very similar to Clinton Anderson's Handy st...

I remember the first time I felt that nasty gut wrenching feeling. I was in college. I had joined the Equestrian team. And as I mounted up for my first practice, the feeling settled deep in my belly. "They're better than you." The other girls wore pristine breeches. They were thin, with custom saddles, fancy tall boots, and embroidered saddle pads. I was wearing skinny jeans with half chaps pulled over old paddock boots. I had a synthetic saddle. And no one new who I was. I didn't train under fancy trainers. I didn't win world class shows. None of the people I trained, rode, and otherwise "horsed" with were famous or important. And these girls, they were the real deal. And I was a little bit scared. I'd been riding since I was a kid, and now, after all these years, I was finally scared. The coach told me I had quiet legs and a steady hand. That seemed like a compliment. The other girls never invited me to hang out with them, they didn't t...