Playing in the Creek

I haven't had many chances to ride lately (usually once a week) but when I do, it's usually on the trails and in the creek.  Saturday was the hottest day of the year so far and T and I took Rooster and Zip to cool off in the creek.  The best therapy in the world!

Becoming a Solid Citizen

Rocky has been coming along really well.  Once he healed up from gelding and having his wolf teeth extracted, we turned him out with the herd (after checking with the vet to make sure he would be ok around the mares).  No studdish behavior or even any aggressive behavior at all.  The introduction to the herd was a total non-event.  Maccabee tried to get him to run around a bit but that was about it.  He mostly hangs out with Rooster and Rosie and all of the horses eat around the round bale together and hang out in the shed together.  He totally gets herd dynamics and the older horses are teaching him a lot.  He comes in daily for grain and has free choice hay/grazing in the field.  T started him under saddle.  Now the real work begins...

View video of his first ride here

Training Session

My friend Michelle asked me to take some pics of her and her assistant working with two young Thoroughbred fillies so we could send to the owner.  I put everything together in a slide show.  These girls are headed for the race track.  It was a lot of fun and I got to practice taking pics from some different angles.

"Miss Tea Party & Miss Ribit"

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4H Show

T's 4H club, Timbertalk Trotters, asked me to take pics at their pointed show on May 21st.  This was a challenge since they run over 70 classes in two rings at the same time.  Craig manned a second camera for me and T assisted (she didn't show since she had another local gymkhana the next day).  We took over 600 pics and I was really happy with the results.  This is a slideshow for the club's website:

"Timbertalk Trotters 4H Show 5/21/2011"

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The weather was beautiful and the kids did a great job.  It was fun to take pics but exhausting at the same time.  You can see the entire gallery of 500+ photos here.  Any opinions are appreciated!

Fun in the Snow

I finally got a chance to ride on Sunday.  I wanted to make sure that all of the soreness was gone.  The sun actually came out and we had a slow melt (dropped into the teens again at night).  So I tacked Rooster up with the sheepskin bareback pad.  I was bundled up - fleece breeches with quilted breeches over them, Columbia snow boots and my big parka.  Combined with Rooster's winter hair, we make quite the pair :)

Walk/trot/canter in the ring.  We mostly trotted in the snow.

Watch out - wide load

Heading up the hill

Up top in the deep snow

Down near the barn

I let Rooster have his head but the snow was pretty deep and he didn't really want to go much faster.  And then we trotted back down.  Not a terribly long ride but it was awesome!

What a Team!

After the trail ride on Saturday, T worked with Zip on the track.  These two are becoming quite the team!

T & Zip 11/13/2010 from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.

In Memory - September 11th

I posted this video last year.  It makes me tear up whenever I see it and I think it bears repeating.

In this day and age of instant communication, sometimes words are just not needed. Budweiser ran this ad just once, not to sell product but in tribute to all those that lost their lives on September 11th (click to view).

Never forget...

Riding Annie

Annie is settling in well and seems to be relaxing more each day.  Our first quick ride was kind of stressful and she obviously didn't like the bit.  A couple of days off and a tack change did wonders.  We are getting used to each other and figuring out how we work as a team.  She really seems to want to work and seems to enjoy having something to do.  We are doing some basic walk/gait and whoa stuff but nothing fast until she builds some muscle and we have some more rides.

Craig took this Thursday night.  Annie was really good with Zip in the ring and one of the arena doors being completely open.

Riding 7/8/2010 from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.

I can't wait to get her out on the trails.

Fly Like a Bird

Every time I watch this it makes me laugh.  Jet thought she was taking off.  He's such a good guy!

Fly Like a Bird from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.

First show of the season is Saturday so we will all be busy little bees until then.

A Good Gallop

T is very much enjoying the conditioning track.  It gives her the chance to really work Zip at a gallop and it has the added benefit of giving her parents gray hairs  ;)

A Good Gallop from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.

Yee Haw!

Daisy Cantering from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.

T having a blast with Daisy

September 11th

I grew up about 15 miles outside of New York City with regular views of the New York skyline. The Twin Towers were constructed when I was a kid and, for me, they were always part of the skyline. The area was devastated by what happened since it was a suburb of New York and people commuted daily for their jobs. There was signs in the days that followed in every business and store in the area with "Have you seen me? Last seen at the Twin Towers". It was heartbreaking. My stepfather and brother-in-law were both police officers and brought supplies in.

T had just turned 5 and started kindergarten on September 11, 2001. I was at work when Craig called me to tell me that a plane had just crashed into one of the towers. He called again to let me know about the second plane. I immediately called my mom who still lived in the same town where I grew up. Work was buzzing with everything that was going on and one of the IT guys set up a TV in the conference room. We all watched in horror as the towers fell. No work got done that day and everyone just wanted to go home and be with their families. T asked me innocently that night "Mommy, that person flew that plane into the building by accident, right?" How do you tell a 5 year old that there are just some evil people in the world? I was honest with her and told her that there are just some not very nice people.

In this day and age of instant communication, sometimes words are just not needed. Budweiser ran this ad just once, not to sell product but in tribute to all those that lost their lives on September 11th (click to view).

Never forget...

Montero's Walk

Last week, we got a small break in the weather and T and I got the chance to ride. Our saddles are home so we rode with bareback pads. Montero has been great since we switched bits so I decided to tempt fate and grab the camera. Picture it - bareback holding the reins in my left hand and the camera in my right. The thought crossed my mind about what I should do if I had to bail but it turned out ok. Montero was actually kind of lazy and turned with the neck rein just like he should. This is the view of his walk and running walk. I'm still amazed to see how much he bobs his head since I don't really notice it was much when I'm riding. The background noise is T being a nudge making noise since she knew I was filming. The clicking is me trying to get him moving. He really is fun to ride.

Wordless Wednesday - Donkeys

A Symphony of Fireflies

We were driving home from the barn the other night just after dark. A symphony of fireflies were blinking over the soybean field. The quality of the video isn't great since it was dark but you can certainly see the fireflies. I don't think I've ever seen so many in one place.

Riding Montero in the Park

I never realized how much Montero bobbed his head when he walks until I saw this. It doesn't feel like a big head bob when you're riding him. The trail ride was very peaceful.

Trail Riding in Green Lane Park from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.

More Horseplay

Jet and Montero are both pretty mild mannered but tend to play hard in the pasture. Jet usually starts it off but Montero gets a few good shots in. T was trying to replace Jet's fly mask but he wanted nothing to do with that. He would rather chase Montero around. It's great that they get along so well.

Horse Play 6/27/2009 from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.

Scenes from the Trail

The weather was really great this weekend and we managed to get a trail ride in. It was perfect riding weather. We met Penny and Razzle at the trail head and headed off. We rode in the woods, up the hill in the meadow, and also rode the end of the Perkiomen Trail to the Equestrian Campground. The path up to the campground is a long windy hill so, of course, T and Jet had to run at full speed. Montero was kind of tired at that point and cantered about half way and then settled into his gait. Penny and Razzle brought up the rear but kept pace with the other 2. It was a really great ride! I did manage to snap a few shots and quick video while on the ride but wanted to give my attention to Montero since it was only the second time that he had been on that trail.

Some of the photos in the video:

Running Montero

Since we don't have a riding ring, we regulary ride our horses in our pasture. The pasture has a slight slope to it which is great for conditioning. T is working with Jet and Montero for the next gymkhana. This is an uphill run on Montero. It was very windy so the sound quality is really bad. Don't you just love the fashion statement too?!?

Conditioning

Since show season is starting, we are working with Jet and Montero more and more to get rid of the winter flab and get them back into condition.

T and I use hill work to help condition the horses. We have just started working with Montero to get him fit now that he has gained some weight.

This is from last Saturday when the weather was so beautiful.

Hill Work 4-19-2009 from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.

T got new reins for gaming and we finally got them adjusted to the right length on Tuesday so she just had to try them out.


Pattern Work with Jet 4-21-2009 from CTG Ponies on Vimeo.