I finally got my butt out of the house to work the mare today, I did not ride but we got a better understanding of what exactly Crickett is supposed to do when I go out to catch her.
Crickett has always been easy to catch whistle her over and slip the halter on her, but not today. Today she thought that it might be fun to avoid me and swing her but at me. I popped her on the butt with my lead rope and of course she trotted off to the end of the field so I whistle her back in and the shit does it again. This went on for a few minutes before I threw the lead rope around her neck and got her caught.
We then spent an hour learning how to be haltered and how to keep her big butt out of my face. At the end of our workout she was spinning pretty fast to keep her front end facing me. Hopefully it sticks and I do not have to worry about her trying to kick out at me.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Christmas Parade.
December 7, 2008.
Last night was the Yakima Lighted Parade, and I of course went with the 4-H group I have been involved with for the past 9 years. What a blast. I of course did not haul myself, I got picked up by Les, who grew up in the group and who's parents are still involved in the program. We loaded Crickett up in his 4 horse slant with his three charges for that night.
Drove through Yakima and ended up parking on a hill above my moms work, I helped the other kids get ready, chatted with the Barrel Racers club (and the girl who beat me out of a rodeo queen, because she was riding a judges horse) then ended up having to scramble to get Crickett ready to go.
I am sorry but I do not have any good pictures, but I attached battery Christmas lights to Crickett's bridle, breast collar, along the top of her mane, draped around her hind end and tinsel every where and had sleigh bells one about every limb. (I told the judge from the Queen competition that it looked like they needed more bling, (the supposed reason I lost the queen LOL). They were a little put off but I made them laugh so it was all good.
In the 4-H club there were six of us riding, Les and his daughter Kay, who rides a cute grumpy appaloosa that looks and acts exactly like Frosty, Les's ex-step daughter Ser who's birthday was yesterday, Les had this huge TWH/Paint/Arab gorgous hunk of bay goodness. Our leaders young daugther and her mom's walkaloosa, then our leaders boss.
We waited for about a half hour before the parade was supposed to start on the door step of my mothers work (Sorry for the yellow stains Mom!) right along side of a Coca-Cola truck, a hand full of carolers, three big floats and a tractor that had an air horn. All the horses were great, not one of them were spooked by anything.
I was pretty surprised with Crickett, this was only her third parade and first one at night and she was awesome, even the sleigh bells on her legs were perfectly fine and the blaring lights wrapped around her head. The parade finally stated and we had to fight our way into our spot and then deal with a couple of antsy horses who were ready to get going.
Kays poor old appy did not want to go, so I ended up having to pretty much lead her by her headstall and get her going every few steps. Finally I switched with Les who was leading our leaders daughter so he could lead his daughter.
This whole entire time Crickett is just fine and dandy, she has a low head set perked ears and just happy as a clam. I was so proud of her, no a single spook at all, with the kids coming up to pet her on the sidewalks, and the occasional candy that hit her nose she was PERFECT.
I really think that parades are now her thing that she just loves, it was so amazing I have never seen her so well adjusted to her surroundings. This was not a short parade, defiantly the longest and loudest we have gone through.
We got to the trailers that had been parked at the bus station and I again helped all the kids get un-tacked and ready to load. Being as were were at a bus station a lot of the homeless people were there to spend the night and Crickett just lapped up all the attention she could get, I let all the little boys and girls sit on her, every one petted her.
The last people to come up to see her was a little boy in a wheel chair and his mom. The boy was probably around 5, and it was evident that he had some sort of severe health issues I want to say cancer but I am not sure. The mom was really polite and asked if Crickett would spook at the wheel chair and I said no (she had been dealing with strollers all night). So she wheels him right up, and Crickett just sticks her head into his lap, like nose between his legs and just stood there while he played with her ears. Finally the boy leans forward and started to whisper in her ear real quiet , and for 10 minutes Crickett just stood and listened to him, not moving an inch
When the boy was done, the mom had tears in her eyes and they left. I have no idea what he said, what the boy had or anything, but Crickett knew. It was just so amazing to see a horse that I knew to be a bit of a hellion do something like this. It was a prefect end to a wonderful night.
Les then took us all out for dinner, for his fathers birthday, and I of course heard the story of the wagon train yahoo's running out of camp in 110 degree weather for the 20th time, but that was just fine with me because Les Sr. is just one awesome cowpoke.
Last night was the Yakima Lighted Parade, and I of course went with the 4-H group I have been involved with for the past 9 years. What a blast. I of course did not haul myself, I got picked up by Les, who grew up in the group and who's parents are still involved in the program. We loaded Crickett up in his 4 horse slant with his three charges for that night.
Drove through Yakima and ended up parking on a hill above my moms work, I helped the other kids get ready, chatted with the Barrel Racers club (and the girl who beat me out of a rodeo queen, because she was riding a judges horse) then ended up having to scramble to get Crickett ready to go.
I am sorry but I do not have any good pictures, but I attached battery Christmas lights to Crickett's bridle, breast collar, along the top of her mane, draped around her hind end and tinsel every where and had sleigh bells one about every limb. (I told the judge from the Queen competition that it looked like they needed more bling, (the supposed reason I lost the queen LOL). They were a little put off but I made them laugh so it was all good.
In the 4-H club there were six of us riding, Les and his daughter Kay, who rides a cute grumpy appaloosa that looks and acts exactly like Frosty, Les's ex-step daughter Ser who's birthday was yesterday, Les had this huge TWH/Paint/Arab gorgous hunk of bay goodness. Our leaders young daugther and her mom's walkaloosa, then our leaders boss.
We waited for about a half hour before the parade was supposed to start on the door step of my mothers work (Sorry for the yellow stains Mom!) right along side of a Coca-Cola truck, a hand full of carolers, three big floats and a tractor that had an air horn. All the horses were great, not one of them were spooked by anything.
I was pretty surprised with Crickett, this was only her third parade and first one at night and she was awesome, even the sleigh bells on her legs were perfectly fine and the blaring lights wrapped around her head. The parade finally stated and we had to fight our way into our spot and then deal with a couple of antsy horses who were ready to get going.
Kays poor old appy did not want to go, so I ended up having to pretty much lead her by her headstall and get her going every few steps. Finally I switched with Les who was leading our leaders daughter so he could lead his daughter.
This whole entire time Crickett is just fine and dandy, she has a low head set perked ears and just happy as a clam. I was so proud of her, no a single spook at all, with the kids coming up to pet her on the sidewalks, and the occasional candy that hit her nose she was PERFECT.
I really think that parades are now her thing that she just loves, it was so amazing I have never seen her so well adjusted to her surroundings. This was not a short parade, defiantly the longest and loudest we have gone through.
We got to the trailers that had been parked at the bus station and I again helped all the kids get un-tacked and ready to load. Being as were were at a bus station a lot of the homeless people were there to spend the night and Crickett just lapped up all the attention she could get, I let all the little boys and girls sit on her, every one petted her.
The last people to come up to see her was a little boy in a wheel chair and his mom. The boy was probably around 5, and it was evident that he had some sort of severe health issues I want to say cancer but I am not sure. The mom was really polite and asked if Crickett would spook at the wheel chair and I said no (she had been dealing with strollers all night). So she wheels him right up, and Crickett just sticks her head into his lap, like nose between his legs and just stood there while he played with her ears. Finally the boy leans forward and started to whisper in her ear real quiet , and for 10 minutes Crickett just stood and listened to him, not moving an inch
When the boy was done, the mom had tears in her eyes and they left. I have no idea what he said, what the boy had or anything, but Crickett knew. It was just so amazing to see a horse that I knew to be a bit of a hellion do something like this. It was a prefect end to a wonderful night.
Les then took us all out for dinner, for his fathers birthday, and I of course heard the story of the wagon train yahoo's running out of camp in 110 degree weather for the 20th time, but that was just fine with me because Les Sr. is just one awesome cowpoke.
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