work with two young horses

It was another busy day here in Brule. The sky was still cloudy and from time to time a few snow flakes. My day started with feeding the horses. I am not used to carry many buckets of cubes so I have sore muscles. Oh well, that's just part of the game ;) After lunch and a nice chat with Lynda we went to the barn again to grab two horses. This time we took Raya (for me) and Rica (for Lynda). Raya is a nice quiet mare and it turned out she is a fast learner. I worked with her to stay out of a person's space and be comfortable with that. According to Lynda the Canadian horse is always in a person's face so they have to learn to stay away... We also worked on the beginning of lunging. Just send her out on the circle and don't go backwards to avoid work. She also learned this pretty fast :) I like a horse like that... Mercury was a bit more difficult. He kept ignore my orders in the round pen 'cause I didn't push him enough to get his attention. When I realized this and added a few more pressure I got some nice turns. We still need to work some more on that... He is a brat and know exaclty what when to do. An interesting horse !

Brule

I am in Brule since yesterday. It is really nice here. When I look out of the window in the living room I can see the mountains. We are surrounded with bush I really like that. The stupid thing is you have no idea what's around the next corner... !

My first day was not to bad. I helped feeding and we worked with one of the young horses in the indoor arena. My second day was a bit more 'interesting'. I had my first lesson in 'cowboy ground work' and the young horse I worked with had a bucking and rear up fit in the box stall ! I was just about to leave the box stall when he started... The result are three bruises on the leg.

I won't tie him up again to saddle him. Well, he was used to this last year and everyone was surprised that he reacted like this today. It came out of the blue, he was eating and I showed him the pad and saddle and he was not snorting at all.... And then he had another bucking fit in the arena.

Lynda worked with him a bit in the afternoon again and then I did a few times in-hand leading. He didn't know it before but he did just fine. :) I guess I will work with him some more so he is not that nervous anymore. So I am tired from this day and will go to bed early I guess....

lazy day

I am in Hinton at the moment and enjoy a lazy day before I'll head for Brule tomorrow. My almost final destination for the summer. As far as I know I will switch between Brule and Jasper from time to time. Exciting ! Today, I am lazy, read, listen to music or watch tv... In the evening Krissie and I will go to Walmart. I need a second pair of Wrangler jeans. Soon I am a real cowgirl :)

surprise surprise...

We were pretty busy last night. A foal decided to leave mom's belly and hit the ground. It's a black leopard Appaloosa stud. He was born around midnight and one week too early. Little man and his mom Fancy are fine. Cutie already answered his daddy, Banner, when Banner talked to another horse. I love his colour, he has a white spot on the one ear. The boy has no name yet. They are in the garden at the moment, so they have their privancy and can rest. Soon enough the whole bunch will want to have a closer look at the little boy... Fancy is a good mom, she keeps the boy away from the fence where the other horses could reach him. Mikey, the Llama was at the fence already and had a look at the foal. So cute !

I had a good ride with the bus last night to Hinton. I arrived there at 4.45 am. Krissie and Lenard picked me up at the bus station. We went to their home and head for bed for 1 1/2 hours. Around 8 am we packed all the stuff we needed for the weekend in Edson. I am here in Edson now. Tomorrow evening we will head for Hinton again. Linda, Krissie and I went to Winfield to bring Totie to his new job at the Wheale Ranch. He will be a working cow horse for the summer. We went for supper to Entwhistle. It was a surprise for Krissie, it's her birthday tomorrow. She was pretty surprised that even I knew from this surprise supper :)

I am leaving tonight

My time here in Dunster is already over. I really enjoyed the last few days, it was way too short. I will take the bus to Hinton tonight. Another sleepless night.. I will miss my friends, cats and horses from Dunster, I know I always can come for a visit during the summer. I am getting more and more nervous and I am a bit afraid of the new things which will come. People keep telling me not to be nervous, but I can't stop it.. as soon as I am there (Brule/Jasper) and settled in I feel better. First, I will have a good time in Edson again and Hinton at Krissie's place. I am suppost to be in Brule on May 4th.

days...

I am still in Dunster, BC. I am suppost to go to Alix tomorrow. It doesn't happen for some reason. Lynda can't pick me up at the bus station 'cause there is only one bus which is in Hinton at 4.45 am and she wanted to leave for Alix in the early morning. Oh well, that's not so bad. Yesterday, I went over to Reg's place so he can messure my belt. Krys invited me for supper. I spent the afternoon at Reg's place which was nice. We checked the horses and cows. There are 9 cute calves. Unfortunately, I can't take pic's of them 'cause my camera is still in Edson :( The weather wasn't so nice, it was raining sometimes. Today we went for a trail ride. It was the first one for the horses this year. I rode Miss Alberta. First she was impatient (like always...) but then when we hit the trail she was good. She loves to be in the front, there she is quiet and has no head-toss-fits. I love this horse ! Even when she is in a bad mood. In the afternoon the girls and I worked some more on the in-hand leading and I worked with Twister afterwards. I was pretty surprised how good he can move his shoulders and hips.... ! Birgit told me afterwards she had a huge discussion with Junior in January about moving shoulders and hips. I cooked supper today. It is more fun to cook for more then just one person. I still have problems sometimes to get the right amount of food so it's enough for everyone. I guess I need some more practice ;D