Here We Go!

Let the trimming commence!

4 days of classroom.
1 day of trimming at the course.
4 days of trimming our horses.

Yehaw!
So, I will be off of blogger for awhile. :-(
But I shall be back soon!

Trim on,
~Lea

Romans 12:4-5

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Pictures From Today

Buck Trailer

Just thought I'd share this video again.
I can't wait to buy the documentary! Buck has such an amazing way with horses.

I want to be like that. :-)

Course Time!

Just like last year, it is time for KC La Pierre's course!! YIPPEEE!!! It starts this weekend and goes until Wednesday. I'm really excited about it because I have been trimming with this method for over a year and It's starting to become ingrained in my mind. Of course, I don't hitch myself to one wagon, but I really do like KC's method and our horses' hooves look fantastic. Eddie's cracks are all gone and Scout's flares/dish are gone from spring. Diesel no longer has long toes and they are all healthy, happy and sound! :-) Trimming is so fun!
After this course, I'm going to attend a one day Ida Hammer course down in Congerville, IL and after that... Who knows? Clients maybe? Another course? I'm taking it one step at a time and I think it's pretty awesome how God works. I'm only 17 and I'm close to starting my professional career.

Hurrah for Hooves!

~Lea

When you think you need to use the reins more...

Well today was just totally gorgeous! Cool, sunny, breezy and just perfect! So, I took the day to play with Scout and Eddie and ride them both too. And Eddie proceeded to teach me a lesson.

Scout and I went for two liberty walks around the track. We cantered a lot, raced each other (of course he won) and I let him graze in the corners. Then we went into the outdoor and just rode around. Trotted here and there, walked over cavaletties and gave him some cookies. :-) A perfect, relaxing day with my super adorable pony! <3

Eddie and I played in the pasture and cantered (on the ground) quite a bit. He was pretty spunky, so I let him run around before we went into the outdoor. Also, we cantered because he's getting a little chubby. ;-) I don't like to admit that, but he is. So I put him in the outdoor for a little bit to graze it down and I think he thought, "I have to be in the Jenny Craig paddock?!" Yes, Eddie... poor Eddie...
We went in the outdoor and rode for a while and I learned a lesson. Eddie was pretty... opinionated. Which is not a bad thing. I'd rather have an opinionated horse than a dull horse. So the thought crossed my mind as he was pulling on the reins, "He needs to respect my reins!" The dominator in me came out for about two seconds as we walked a lap. Then the image of Buck riding his horse in his documentary appeared in my mind. Everything was at peace and he was offering a really good deal to his horse. The phrase popped into my mind out of nowhere:

Just when you think you need to use the reins more,
    You actually need to use them less.

I don't know where it came from. Maybe it was the inner-horsewoman coming out in me. Let me just say that I'm never going to forget it now.
So.
I laid the reins over Eddie's withers and crossed my arms. I only used the reins when I felt like my safety was in jeopardy. Like when he spooked at a shadow from a vulture overhead or pushed open a gate that led out of the outdoor.
Things went much better.
Naturally.
Duh.
He was relaxed, let out more sighs and was more responsive to my subtle leg cues than he's ever been. If you're a rider, then you know that legs cues can only be so 'loud' to a horse. They have to be subtle or else your leg would be floppin' up and down like a fish outta water.
Like Buck says:

“When you’re younger, you ride with 90% physical and 10% mental. But if you could learn how to use 90% mental and 10% physical you’d be better off.”

I think we all would be better off.

~Lea & Eddie~

Psalm 119:165
Great peace have those who love Your law,
         And nothing causes them to stumble.

New Video!

What a Day!

Yesterday was sooooooooo much fun!

Rebecca came over and we had a blast! I cantered Eddie and jumped and trotted a lot and Rebecca cantered and trotted Scout a lot too!
Rebecca even rode Eddie for a while and I was really surprised how well Eddie did! I knew he was acting more gentlemanly, but to have another person ride him? I'm very proud of him because it's been at least 3 years since anyone besides me has ridden him. And Rebecca was just the person to do it. :-) She has a gift with horses and is gentle and soft with them.

 Here's a picture of her riding Scouty! hehe, Scout and I have been doing a lot of cantering on the ground lately. We'll be sprinting together and go around the track several times. I'm usually out of breath by the time we're half around it, but he is ready to go!
So, it was a good thing I've been playing with him lately, because he wasn't too spunky and not too sleepy. :-) Just right!

Again, we had so much fun and I love to have a riding buddy! And I think the horses do too!

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Rebecca too~

Psalm 16:8
I have set the LORD always before me;
         Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Looking to the Future

Lately, Eddie and I have been making HUGE progress! It's like I'm finally immersing myself into a new realm where we can set high goals, achieve them and soar. I know that was poorly worded, but I can't really describe it. Here, maybe if I explain what what we have been doing lately things will be more clear.

First of all, Eddie and I have been jumping and cantering a lot. Wow. Am I actually saying that? Cantering? A lot? Yep I am and it is because I am confident and Eddie is ready.
Second, Eddie has taken up a new game. The cutting game with Scout! We opened up the round pen so now he has a very large paddock. It is SO nice! They have a ton of room to play and kick up their heels. Literally! Eddie was chasing Scout and cutting him. Going back and forth, you know, cutting!
Third, I'm really, really starting to like the idea of going to a Buck Brannaman clinic in the next two-three years.

After seeing his documentary and hearing great things of him from our friends at Karmik Acres, I really like his approach and he is just a legend. Well, I guess there are lots of other horsemen like Mark Rashid or Martin Black or... I know there are others I just can't rattle them off at the top of my head.
But yeah, I'm shooting for going to a clinic with Eddie sometime. We have lots of great friends and they are very willing and generous with their trailers. And I think Eddie would be ok. He hasn't left the farm since April 21st, 2007 but after seeing Diesel leave and come home just fine, I think Eddie would be ok too. We'll see. God knows what is in store for us. :-)

~Lea & Eddie~

Total Busyness

Eeek!!!!
It's been a while since I've posted on here!
One, it's because my mom and sister went up to MN for three days and I had to be the barn manager. ;-) And secondly because we're in the throws of grass killing. MWAHAHA! *blushes* Which basically means that we're taking out all the grass in the track and in the round pen. Because we're expanding the paddocks, we're merging the round pen and Eddie's paddock. Here, I have a picture from the top of the 'man cave.'

Merging the round pen and Eddie's paddock

Anyway, Eddie and I have been playing a lot and riding lots too. Mainly just doing lots of exercise, some jumping and Eddie and I even went for a ride in the track and pasture! :-) It was really fun and we haven't ridden in there for a while. I just hopped on and he was totally fine with it!
He is such a good boy, I just love him so much!
Oh yes! And we also jumped the sprinkler! lol! I got the idea from Karen Rolf's facebook page:

Oh course mine isn't too big because he was pretty freaked out about it at first. ;-) But we're going to keep playing with it and if he still doesn't like it after while, we'll stop. Such a good Eddie boy! <3



Promising to update more often,
~Lea & Eddie~

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Eddie Update

Eddie and I suffer from oval-syndrome. You see, it's this common problem that riders and horses face when they are scared of certain areas of their arena.
You get the picture.

The east corners are particularly spooky to my equine friend. The combination of the long grass, dung pile and hustling corn is enough to get him nervous.
Therefore, along with our Think Harmony, we have been practicing hanging out in the corners. We will go to one (while I'm riding) I will give Ed itches, grain and let him rest. Then we move on to the other one and do the same thing. He also likes going to the right, more than he likes going to the left. I think it's because he feels like he is always looking at the spooky-ness when he goes right. It's just the way the arena is set up. And when he goes to the left, he always has his butt to the spooky-ness. Hmmm... Observations, observations.
So, we did that for a little bit today and yesterday and then we moved on to doing obstacles courses with my arms folded. I've seen Buck Brannaman do it and I decided to try it.
It went pretty darn well.
We did took some different routes through the arena - around this barrel, stop at this one, go to that one. That sort of thing.
hehe, oh guess what?! We also did a barrel racing run! Yahoo!!! Only at the trot though. :-) But that's fine with me! It was fun! I'll always remember the barrel racing pattern because I always wanted to be one. You know how some little girls always dreamed of being jumpers, or eventers? (there is nothing wrong with that by a long shot because I have tried jumping and it is SO much fun!) Anywho, I always wanted to be a barrel racer. I think the speed is what drew me in. ;-)

Looking back though, I'm glad that I never got into it. The ways that people make their horses go and run just astound me and make me mad.

But yes, Eddie and I have been having so much fun and he is just the best!

~Lea & Eddie~

Isaiah 40:31

They shall run and not be weary,
      They shall walk and not faint.

Picture Post

 

It's Kinda Hot

hehe, that was Eddie's choice mood today when we rode. :-) He is so cute. <3
This afternoon we rode in the outdoor for a while. We trotted around, work on some more of the Think Harmony and then we went back to the barn and he got a lot of drinks and licked his salt block while I sat on him. :-) I love my Eddie so much!

Thursday

Yesterday was sort of a busy/sluggish day. I had a lot to do, I just did it lazily. :-/ Ever had one of those days? Felt kinda bad about it. Anywhos...
I took all the horses for walks! Scout and I went for a lap in the track and I rode. We trotted up the west line and then rode into the pasture. He was very happy for the long grass of the pasture!!

Then, Eddie and I went for a walk around the property. We went to the front yard, around the pool, down the west line and just all over! He loves to go for walks and had a blast. He is so confident now and I am so proud of how far he has come.
Last but not least, I took Diesel for a walk up and down the east line! We trotted together, he grazed and we enjoyed the time together. Our herd is so amazing. I love them all so much and they are just the best!


~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~



1 John 3:16
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

First Things First...

Well, it has been a really busy last couple of days!
Time to get caught up...
Let's see, on Wednesday I had an amazing day with Eddie. If you saw my video, no doubt you would agree! Eddie and I jumped, cantered, trotted and had such a blast. Three or four years ago, I would not believe I would be saying that. I mean, I always knew that we would get there, but it was 'out there.' Well, now we are 'there' and it feels pretty amazing. <3 Eddie is such an incredible horse and I cannot imagine how his previous owner thought he was stupid. He's the smartest horse I have ever ridden!
Anyway, that was on Wednesday and I just beam every time I think about it!
Oh yes, I also trimmed Diesel too! His feet look amazing!

~Lea & Eddie~


Psalm 119:130
The entrance of Your words gives light;
         It gives understanding to the simple.

Just a Quick Post

It's late and it's been a busy day, but I couldn't help but post this.
Eddie and I JUMPED today! Over the barrels!!! YAHOOO!!!  He was so amazing and I can't even describe how much fun we had today. We cantered, jumped, trotted, and did everything. Sidepasses, you name it.

Here is a video of what we did and I will post all about it tomorrow. <3

I am just so excited. And so blessed. After 4 years, we have made such huge progress and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us!!

A New Video!