My Westernaire Home: First Rides of the New Year 1 - 4

Saturday, January 4, 2014

First Rides of the New Year 1 - 4 - 14

Happy New Year!!! All rides were inside today. For Junior 1 I got Blaze #11. He is one of the grumpiest horses out at Westernaires. It was so hard to find any horse in the pasture because they were all snow covered and looked the same. I finally found him with his crooked blaze and lead him to the arena. I used the metal curry to get all the snow off of him. Then we had to get towels and dry them off before we saddled. He was great for grooming but he wouldn't give me his first foot. After that he was good. You just have to be real slow and patient with the bridle. For Junior 1 we worked on the side pass. So we were working on communicating with the horse with subtle commands and with spurs. Blaze was perfect! He did everything I asked of him! His trot is absolutely to die for! So smooth!!! We then worked on tails in again. Because he was so busy working his feet he hardly had time to be grumpy at the other horses. We did attempt loping and it didn't end too badly. Blaze did try to bite one horse but other than that he was an absolute angel. His lope wasn't bad but I would love too trot on him forever!!! Then before White Star I met up with my instructors and turned in my diagrams so that I could ride. For White Star I got Cedar #41. Wow Cedar is soooo head shy! I was trying to put the reins over her head after I adjusted her stirrups and she wouldn't let me. I had to undo one rein and pull it over her neck. After that she wouldn't stand still so I had to swing up while she was walking. She responds to the smallest slightest cues. Do not touch her with the spurs though or she bolts forward. All I had to do was loosen the reins and kiss and she would pick up her amazingly smooth trot. I got two really nice trotting horses today. We got to ride our drill for the first time!!!!!!!!! We made 4's and then the rail riders were #1's and the inside riders #4's. Then she had the 1's and 3's move forward. We were missing so many people. We did not have any CP's or a 6th four. I got to ride position 3-5 (3rd rider of the 5th four). Because we had no 6th four I got to be on the outside of the star! It was so much fun bringing the drill to life off the paper. I loved my position. I lead pinwheels and into our giant circle. We got through our drill at a walk 2 full times. It was awesome and so much fun! Cedar did everything I asked of her and did not fuss :) I love her so much. All rides starting at 12 and after were cancelled so we had to unsaddle. I lead Cedar around to the back of the Red Arena and unsaddled her. Then I took her back to the pasture. Man she was ready too be home. Our parents voted to have us run diagramming class so we had diagramming at 12. We took Quiz #4. I felt pretty good about it. Then came sloppy copies. I am getting really good at making short cuts so I can finish faster. We did 9 diagrams. After class we got Quiz #3 back I got 34/35 again! I also got my patch for ticket sales! We have to have our flag boot by next ride... I wonder if we will be riding with flags or just getting used to having something in our other hand when we ride. It will be cool getting to use mine, since I've had it for a while. Here are pictures!