big clinic day

Holy farmer's tan! Whew are my arms red. But it was well worth it. I think a lot got accomplished today. Jaime's aunt let me borrow her trailer and I got up super early to pick up Shyloh and head to the clinic with Terry, Jaime, and Kyle.

Peeking out the window

First up was braiding manes and tails. For draft manes, a special ribbon is used to make a type of braid called a mane roll. The draft tail gets a braid and a bun. Shy got a tail cut because her tail was as long as it has ever been and was hanging on the ground. I knew I would have to cut it at some point, so no better day than today. Becky used Shy as the demonstration pony, which was good for me since I have been incapable of doing it on my own. Lesson one: It really does require two people. Lesson two: my attempts at the mane roll had me using sections of hair that was too thick. Lesson three: Shyloh can really clamp those butt muscles! Wow. She showed some of her best clamping during the tail bun demonstration. Lesson four: Becky can do some tight braids! But when all was done, the results were very pretty. Becky did a fantastic job.

Pretty tail!

After that, we had showmanship and halter practice. What I learned in this part of the clinic is that you are not supposed to let your horse fall asleep while waiting for your turn. Shy always falls asleep.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

She must find it boring. . .I also learned a little bit more about showing showmanship and halter, so I will be able to put that to use come showtime. . .if I can keep my horse awake in the line up.

Our lunch break included a discussion on Scotch bottom shoes. While I will never put those shoes on Shy, it was interesting to learn about them. I did not stay for the whole discussion, about halfway through I went to check on Shy. As I was petting her neck I found a tick! I am not looking forward to starting this whole tick thing again. Yuck.

Up next was safe harnessing and hooking to the cart. Beth was awesome and helped me fit the new harness to Shy, which included many confusing buckles and punching new holes. I may have to get a new saddle piece, but this one will work for now. Good thing for Beth, because she knew all these tips and tricks to get the harness to fit Shy just right. 

New harness!

Next she hooked Shy up to her cart and took her driving. This horse messes with me so bad because she was damn near perfect for Beth. They had a great start and Shy was doing very well. Then I got in the cart. I don't know why I am such a bundle of nerves with her. It is frustrating to me, but there is not much I can do about it, except keep on practicing. There was a point today where I was questioning myself and Shy because I have no confidence when it comes to riding or driving her. While I still don't, I think now that maybe me and Shy can make it work,

Cruisin'

When Beth was driving her, we discovered that the ball bearings on my wheels are shot. My new wheels. The wheels I have never used until today. What the hell? So I got out of the cart and Beth drove her back to unhook her. When Shy saw she was near her trailer spot, she started acting up. She would not back up for Beth and was giving her a hard time. I would have had a meltdown myself, but Beth handled it like it was no big deal. After Beth got Shy to do what she wanted, we unhooked her and  Beth went to hook Art.

I think Skylar liked it!

Beth also took her new puppy, Skylar for his first cart ride on Art. How cute are all of them?  Art took a couple kids around for some cart rides and I watched Curly. . .or Moe. He has two names. I have mane envy when looking at him.

Look at all that on Moe/Curly!

Art!

By now, most people had left and it was just a bunch of us Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit people still at the clinic. Jaime's aunt had found a saddle and she brought it for me to try on Shy. So I did and it seemed to fit pretty well. Haley was volunteered to get up on Shy and try it out. Shy was actually very good for Haley, quick, but good. Haley had Shy super trotting and turning and said she would be good at barrels, haha!

Then, I got on Shy! I haven't really been on this horse since October. . .well no one has aside from me sitting on her bareback a few times. As usual, I was a bit nervous (just because I know what she can be capable of), so I asked Haley to walk next to me. Shy was actually very good for me. We walked a bit, then I just sat on her and chatted for a while. It felt good to sit on my horse!

When I got off of her, this little boy asked to ride Shy. I said yes, but that I would walk with him. Shy was perfect for him. Absolutely perfect. *Proud pony moment*

Shy and her new buddy. She really liked him!

By now, we all were sunburned and tired, so we packed up and headed home. Shy seemed so happy to be home, she nickered when she stepped off the trailer and wanted to trot to her pasture. Once in there with the halter off, she took off towards the back where the rest of her herd was. 

On the way home after dropping Shy off, I drove the truck with the trailer. . .first time ever towing anything! And I did awesome. Now I am about to fall asleep dreaming happy pony dreams. Shy was a good pony today!

the kick

Shyloh has left me pretty much speechless today. . .

We started out by putzing around, just enjoying the weather. I attempted the mane roll again. I think I did a better job than the other day, but even after watching tons of YouTube videos, I still can't quite get it. I think I need a third hand to do this. The one good thing about the mane rolls is that I can now hop up on a bucket quickly and without giving Shy notice and she is fine with it. She used to always move away or if I got on the bucket quickly she would get scared. Small victories. . .

After I gave up with the mane roll, I took Shy to graze in the little bit of grass that is coming up. She was eating grass like she hasn't eaten in three weeks (clearly that is not true).

Then I put Shy back with her herd. Which is HER herd now. She takes her job as boss mare quite seriously. As I was walking around with the horses and talking to a lady who owns Rainy Day, I noticed that Rainy Day had a cut (in the shape of a hoof) on her butt/back leg, near her tail. I said something to the owner as I approached Rainy Day to take a closer look. She had another cut in the exact same spot on the other side. It looked like a double hoof kick to the rear end. The owner walked over, moved the mare's tail and saw bloody swollen lady bits. 

Ouch!!

I am pretty sure this would have been Shy's reaction to this. . .

Hehehehe!

Hahaha!

Bahahahaha!

Moo hahahaha!

Rainy Day is a little sore, but okay. We are pretty sure Shy did this to her sometime today. My sweet little pony. . .a vagina kicker! Shy sure has turned into something else since she thinks she is the boss. She used to only kick after she was provoked repeatedly but another horse, like when she first moved into the herd. Now, she pins her ears the the horses, snakes her head, and away they run. Expect Tony. . .he either doesn't care that Shy thinks she has gone big time now or he is oblivious. 

I left Shy to get ready for her dinner. I told her she needed to rest up and I packed a bunch of her stuff in my car. Shy has no idea what we have in store for her tomorrow. . . 

Shy says, "All the foods are mine!!"

a bunch of b's. . .

And by B's I mean birds, bugs, bites, breaks, braids, boards, boats, bulls, barn animals, and best friends. 

Let's start with best friends. My husband's best friend is visiting from Tulsa and staying with us. Along with his dog. Maggie generally does not get along with other dogs, but she is doing really well with this dog. Lucy is a beagle mix and much smaller than both of my dogs. But she does not let them bother her. So for the next week, my house will be a mess of dogs and best friend belongings. My escape will be the barn.

While his best friend is in town, my husband decided to buy a boat! Exciting! We live right on the intersection of Lake Erie and the Detroit River so a boat is something my husband always wanted. I got a horse, he got his boat. 

Soon I will be sailing the open seas. . .think Shy can fit?

Looks like me and Shyloh will be spending a lot of time working on our line driving. Beth broke her foot when Bob stepped on it the other day. Ouch! But today, I took some much needed advice and did some fun things with Shy. I taught her a new trick! Of course, I forgot my video camera, but I will get it on tape.

When I took Shy down the aisle to show Kathy and Terry, I rubbed the top of Shy's mane as we were walking. I felt something hard. I picked it off and was like what the heck is this? Terry, science, animal, and horse person extraordinaire, took a closer look at Shy's mane. Then she pulled something else off it. . . it was a bug, specifically a tick! Ugh! Makes me shudder just to think about it again. 

Where the tick was. Yuck, yuck yuck!

How did I not see this before? I have been to the barn everyday this week and I groom Shy every time I go out. How long has it been there? Could this tick be the reason she has been very "eh" this week? Questions abound ran through my head. I shook them out and cleaned the area, then but some anti-bacterial stuff on it. Terry could not find a lighter to kill the tick, so she smashed it to pieces. She promised me it was NOT a deer tick. Even more scary is two of the horses at the barn have been tested for Lyme disease because they are having otherwise unexplained problems. Scary!

After the tick removal, I somehow managed to do a really good mane roll on Shy's hair! I am getting better. Then I put Shy in the arena to play around. As I was walking in, I saw a baby bird in the sand. Poor guy fell out of his nest and he was hungry. Robin had just rescued two other baby birds yesterday!

Hungry birdie

And yesterday. . .the bull that hates me broke out of the fence! I am so glad I was just left the barn when this happened or who know what that bull would have done! Attacked me for sure! Ha!

The bull in all his glory. See his ring and chain?

To end the day of all things B, Shy broke another 2x4 on her quest for grass. This horse will stop at nothing for a blade! What a day! Can't say going to the barn is ever boring!

Glad she didn't go through!

Barn cats, Barney and Bubba

Random smashed snake I found in a flake of hay!

breaks, braids, and barrels

We started the day on a bad note. . .I had Shyloh running off some excess energy in the arena before her lesson. Since she just wanted to hang out the barn doors and eat grass, I had to make her run. Once I got her going, she was running and bucking and having herself a good old time. So good that she continued running straight through the 2x4 that that blocks the barn doors and off into the deep, deep grass. I got her corralled into a pasture and went to get her. 

 Crazy horse, who does she think she is? Haha! I'm glad that she did not get hurt though!

Before the lesson, I worked on my mane roll. This was the best one yet! Still needs a lot of work and it kinda fell apart near the end, but we are so close to getting it right!

For the lesson, we decided to do something fun. The barrels were out for Markie, so Beth wanted to see if she could make Shy a barrel racer! Fun! But going into this, you have to realize. . .1) Shy can't pick up correct leads consistently; 2) Shy has not yet been taught lead changes, and 3) Shy has never gone into the canter from a stand still.

I present to you: Shyloh the Barrel Racing Haflinger!

I think it is safe to say that she prefers dressage over barrel racing, haha! But it was fun and she was a good sport about it.

I got on Shy next. She was so good, again! I walked the barrel pattern, but attempted the trot at the end. Oops, I had the reins to loose and Shy took full advantage as she tried to exit the arena on her own accord, head in the air. I did get her to stop and we worked on some more turns on the forehand. And I did get her to trot again! She is hard to control when she is trotting. Beth agrees (but Beth has so much more experience, she can handle it) and said it is just something we need to work on. . .balance and control at the trot. 

I am so surprised at two great days in a row riding Shy!

sabotaging the clueless

Oh Shyloh. . . what am I to do with her? Today, she was the first horse brought outside. After she was let loose in her pasture, Kathy realized it was a grass pasture day (not a barely grass pasture day) and went to get Shy's muzzle and put her in the pond pasture. Well, this mare was having none of it. Shy would not let Kathy catch her to put her with the rest of her herd, so she ended up spending the day in a large pasture by herself. She could have cared less. However, she did manage to somehow do this:

What the heck?

. . .all by herself in a pasture with barely anything in it! How? The answer is clear. She somehow knows that we are going to a show on Sunday and she is sabotaging me. Maybe it is my constant clipping of her excess whiskers and one long chest hair. Maybe it is my awful attempts at putting a mane roll in her hair.

By the way, can anyone do a mane roll? I have watched YouTube videos all day trying to get the concept. I even played/paused a video while trying to get this think in Shy's mane! Unsuccessful does not even begin to describe the disaster that came out of Shy's mane.Somewhere between my brain and my fingers a connection has gone awry. Try as I might, I just cannot get it! Luckily she is a mare and does not NEED a mane roll for the show, but I kinda want her to have one. I am sure if she did, it would look very pretty. 

Got the mane to go on one side!

With the show coming up, so is the anxiety. I have zero idea what I am doing. Basically, we will be winging it and hope we wing it well. We are going to attempt four events and none of them involve me riding Shy. Ha! Maybe one day, but we need a lot more practice for that! I just hope we don't make a total fool of ourselves. . . You know, because when I try to use a stick to move Shy's legs to square her up, she waves. . .

The good thing is that we are doing the draft class and it seems to be more laid back than other shows. Win or lose, as long as we both are having fun, I plan to keep doing the shows. It is a great experience for us. 

We did practice our line driving a bit today. Of course, Shy, true to her inner-Halfinger, gave me a hard time to start. Why is it when I ask her to whoa, she does, then moves to the left, the whoas, then moves to the left, and by the time she is done, she is 90 degrees from the spot where she was supposed to stop? Then, she refuses to move forward. 

But after a obligatory hard time, Shy did great. We did cones, figure eights, circles, back ups, and more whoas. Robin even took a turn line driving her! Then we went outside to practice. Awesome again! Even with Beth's dad moving the lawn!

Tomorrow is going to be clean Shy up as best as we can day! I hope the weather is nice enough for a bath. . .