New barn

We're at a new barn! It is like night and day. He's now at a show barn with an amazing trainer and gorgeous facilities. He gets grass turnout for 12 hours every day and goes out with another horse that he gets along fabulously with. He is seriously like a different horse. He is so happy and relaxed!

He starts training board on June 1st. I am so excited for this. I am hoping to be able to go to at least one or two shows by the end of this year. :D

Scatterbrained

It's been a while since I've updated. Lots has happened lately and I am totally scatterbrained. Here are some updates, in no particular order.

Bourbon had his feet trimmed and he's super sore on the hard ground again. I am trying a new farrier next time. I am not happy with the one that has been doing Bourbon's feet. It's going to be so awkward though because his current farrier lives on the property. Ugh.

I found a little trail off the back of the property the other day. It's really short and kinda crappy, but it's something different and both Bourbon and I enjoyed ourselves. Danny came out with Bruschi and walked with us.

I have been researching feeding a lot and I am doing a total overhaul of Bourbon's diet. Tomorrow morning 800 pounds of alfalfa is being delivered to Bourbon's pen. I am so nervous about all the extra protein all at once, but the barn owner didn't seem worried since the hay he is on now is orchard grass and alfalfa.

I'm going to be switching him to a ration balancer from the loads of grain he is on now. I'm just not sure which one I'm going to use yet.

I'm almost afraid to say it, but he hasn't had a single injury since he's been in his new pen. He actually seems to like the mare he lives next to. I caught her reaching through the gate to eat off Bourbon's hay pile, and Bourbon continued eating happily. I have never seem him so relaxed around another horse and his food. It was wonderful to watch. It gives me hope that one day he will be able to be turned out with another horse. :)

I tried a friend's western saddle tonight. I loved it! It was quite awkward and Bourbon was such a trooper, but man that thing stuck me in there like glue. I felt like Bourbon could throw anything at me and I wouldn't budge. It was great! I'd really like to get a western saddle (or maybe australian?) saddle when the budget allows for it.

I was looking into getting into endurance riding. They offer 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mile courses. I am thinking about starting out with a 10 miler in October. I am super excited! Plus, it gives me a deadline to have a trailer by. ;)

Bliss

Bourbon's eye is pretty much all healed up. The boots I was using rubbed the bulbs of his heels, so I can't use those anymore. He's still pretty sore on the gravel but he's fine on soft ground like grass and the dirt arena. I hope his feet toughen up soon so we can go for a trail ride. Either that or maybe there is some other kind of boot that would work for him without rubbing his heels.

He is in his new pen now. It's 26 feet by 40 feet (1040 square feet) and has a covered area. He seems to love it. He has room to roll and even trot around a bit. Knock on wood, he hasn't injured himself since he's been in there.

I lunged him for a bit today and sent him over a small vertical a couple times. He really perked up and seemed to enjoy jumping. I put a saddle on him, got on and trotted him around a bit. He was super responsive but he did keep looking at the jump. I pointed him towards it and he jumped it perfectly and confidently and cantered off, ON THE RIGHT LEAD! Not only the correct lead, THE RIGHT ONE! I couldn't have been more proud of him. No bucking, just a happy horse enjoying jumping and cantering off beautifully on the right, correct lead. I was in heaven.

It seems so simple looking at it, but it's a huge step for us and it was an incredible feeling.

One thing after another

Of course right when his left eye heals, he injures his right eye. *Sigh.*

His feet were still pretty sore today on the gravel and hard ground, so a friend at the barn let me borrow these.

They worked like a charm and he walked with no issues or soreness on the gravel. Sweet! I don't think I will ever go back to regular shoes again. I am going to borrow these for a while. Hopefully his feet will toughen up and we wont need them, but these will work great if not.

The barn is putting up new pens at the end of the arena that are supposed to be huge. I talked to the barn owner today about moving him in one on the end next to Snowbell, a mare at our barn that Bourbon doesn't seem to mind too much. I am excited for him to have a bigger pen.

I'm also going to get him one of those huge square bales of alfalfa for him to have free choice hay. Hopefull that will help him gain some weight. I'm not happy that he is still a tad ribby.

Headed in the right direction

Bourbon's eye is pretty much all healed up.

He got his shoes pulled and his feet trimmed and his feet look a lot better. They aren't perfect, but we're headed in the right direction. He is really sore on the hard ground, but seems fine on soft grass and sand.

Puncture Wound

Bourbon is so freaking accident prone. I have no clue how he did this.

I'm flushing it with betadine and putting antibiotic ointment on it every day. I hope it heals soon. :(

must.stop.spending.

I really need to stop spending money. I just need so much stuff! I think I am done buying crap for a while though. I just ordered a Roma Front Lift Wither Relief Pad, Wintec Webbers and Grand Hoof. I don't actually need anything else, but of course I really want a sheepskin girth, sheepskin half pad, and a horse trailer. No more spending. No more spending. No more spending!

My stirrup leathers that I currently have are brown, old as dirt and stretched unevenly. It was definitely time for some new ones that actually match my new saddle. I ended up going with Wintec Webbers because a saddle I tried a couple months ago had them and I really liked the way there was no bulk from the buckle under my thigh.

I am going to start Bourbon on the Grand Hoof that I ordered. I ordered it from Smartpak so I know the barn will give him the correct amount every day. It ships to me every 28 days so I never have to worry about running out. His feet look like crap, so I want to give the Grand Hoof some time to see if it helps. I really hope it helps... Here are what his feet look like now.

Did I mention I've got Bourbon on a joint supplement? It's in treat form and he absolutely loves it. I'm not sure I'm going to continue it or not though. I've got two bags with 60 treats each, so it's 4 months worth of joint supplements. His joints were clicking a lot and he seemed a little stiff at the beginning of our rides, so we'll see if I notice any improvement when I get to the end of the second bag. I read some studies that basically said the supplement I am using (Glucosamine in HCL form as the main ingredient) is worthless and not absorbed by the body. I guess we shall see.

On second thought...

On second thought, maybe the saddle does fit.

Yesterday Bourbon threw a bucking fit so I immediately assumed the saddle didn't fit. Apparently my dog Bruschi had run under his feet right before he started bucking. I didn't realize it until my husband mentioned it to me. I am guessing that is why he was bucking.

It appears to fit quite well and man it is SO comfortable. I love it! I ordered a Roma Wither Relief Pad with front lift that should make it an absolute perfect fit.

I rode Bourbon twice today. Lots of trotting both posting and in two point. I also asked for a bit of leg yielding at the walk.

I am trying to get a bunch of the girls at the barn to ship out for a trail ride next weekend. It would be so much fun to get off the property with Bourbon.

I give up.

The saddle doesn't fit. I give up and I am going to ride bareback forever.

It's here!

The saddle is here! There is really nothing wrong with it at all! I found one tiny barely noticeable scratch on the flap but thats pretty much it. The SMB boots are here too! Hopefully the girth will come tomorrow. I am so excited!!

Lesson #2

I had my second lesson with Tracy today. We worked on lots of bending and moving Bourbon's shoulders.

I told her I had started to incorporate some canter work into our riding so she had me canter him to the left (his good side) and it went pretty well except he really wanted to lean on the rail.

I then tried to canter him to the right and it was a total disaster. I couldn't even get him to pick up a canter at all. She told me to hold off on the canter work until I get my saddle so that I can get up out of his way at the canter so he can effectively use himself and actually pick up a nice right lead canter.

Chiropractor

The chiropractor came out to adjust Bourbon today. She said he was absolutely gorgeous and that she wanted him. :P

She only worked on him for about 15 minutes. She made a few adjustments and Bourbon heaved a sigh of relief after each one. I am a definite fan and will be having the chiropractor out again in a few months. I was really happy with the price. It was only $50!

I cantered him again the other day and he was perfect! I am finally overcoming my fear of cantering him bareback. :D

What a day!

I picked up the saddle today, and I am 99% sure it fits! I found it at Statelinetack.com on a scratch and dent sale for $629.99, and the tack shop wanted $895.99. So now that I am almost positive that it fits, I am going to return the saddle I have to the tack shop. I just ordered the one from Stateline. I hope it's not in too bad of shape.. I don't mind a few little scratches, but if there are any huge gouges I will return it.

In other news, I cantered Bourbon bareback today twice!! I have been so nervous lately because he has been bucking when I ask for the canter (most likely due to saddle fit) but today I was feeling brave. I asked for the canter and he didn't buck! I was so excited and so proud of him and myself that I asked for it one more time. He was SO good! I am so pleased with our progress!

Saddle

I got the call tonight that the saddle arrived at the tack shop! I am going to go pick it up tomorrow. I am almost jumping out of my skin with anticipation. I hope it fits!!

Mats!

Today Danny suggested we go get the rest of rubber mats for Bourbon's stall. I was pretty shocked that he was willing to spend the money, so I said yes before he could change his mind. We also got Bourbon a new water tub. I spent all day today leveling his stall and laying the mats. I am irrationally excited about them. I need one more mat, so I am going to go pick one up tomorrow.

My mom ended up ordering me the correct SMB boots and told me to just return the ones I have and get whatever I wanted since the SMB Elites are on their way. :D I am going to get him a peppermint scented Jolly Ball, I'm going to get me a saddle stand, and that still leaves me with about $50 to spend... hmmmm... what should I choose?

Presents!

I got so many amazing things for Christmas and Hanukkah. I got brushes, 2 hoof picks, a grooming tote, bell boots, a fly ear net, socks for my tall boots, winter riding gloves, a figure eight nose band, a saddle cover, a stall plate with name, emergency contact, and feeding info, 2 lessons with my trainer, and SMB's. I got the SMB III's instead of the elite ventech, so I am going to exchange them.

I also got a gift card for Statelinetack.com, so I ordered 4 months worth of a joint supplement that is in treat form and a paint on hoof conditioner.

I went to Tractor Supply today. I got Bourbon a feed bucket that hangs on the wall of his stall, a 50lb salt block and a 50lb mineral block with trays and a rubber stall mat.

The barn manager suggested a rubber stall mat for under his hay so he doesn't eat the dirt. I'd like to put rubber mats in his whole stall, but since his stall is 15 x 20 feet and the mats are 4 x 6 and $40 each, it isn't going to happen for a while. I still need to get major medical insurance for Bourbon, pay off the truck and buy a horse trailer and saddle. If the saddle I ordered fits then at least that much will be checked off the list.

Lesson

I had such a great lesson today! Tracy, my trainer is AWESOME! Today we worked on walk-trot and trot-walk transitions and bending. She told me to think of Bourbon like a tube of toothpaste. When I want him to do a downward transition, I should tighten my back and ab muscles and squeeze the toothpaste towards his hind end. It made so much sense the way she explained it and Bourbon picked up on what I was asking very quickly.

She also told me that I should not keep my leg on him at all times because it will make him dull to my leg aides.

All in all it was a great lesson and I am really happy with her as my trainer. :)

Lazy

Bourbon was SO lazy this morning. He didn't want to move at all. I have never seen him so lazy. I could barely get him to trot. I turned him out in the little arena and Mellisa asked me if I wanted to ride her horse, George. He is a little 15hh Quarter Horse and he moved a lot like my old mare Allie minus the speed. He was really fun to ride.

Later I pulled Bourbon out again and he had a lot more energy than he did earlier this morning. I walked and trotted him around the barn a bunch, then brought him in the barn and started pulling his mane. I still have a little bit to finish tomorrow, but I'm almost done.

I have a lesson tomorrow morning. I am so excited! I am going to get my ass kicked though!

Saddle and Parelli

Yesterday Danny and I spent the morning going to different tack shops with my tracing since the website I linked in an earlier post said they couldn't do anything with my tracing through email and that I needed to snail mail it in. I was going to snail mail it if I didn't find a saddle yesterday, but I think I might have found one! It's an HDR Pro Buffalo Dressage saddle. I know it's not top of the line or anything, and I really wanted to spend that money on a better quality used saddle, but I'm sick of the searching and waiting. This saddle was really comfortable and had a nice grippy seat and big fat knee blocks. Unfortunately they didn't have my size, so they had to order it. And because of the holidays, it probably won't get here for about a week and a half to two weeks. Boo! I am so anxious, but I don't want to get my hopes up in case it doesn't fit.

My new friend at the barn, Melissa, was there yesterday when I was playing with Bourbon. I was riding him (bareback of course) in the little arena and Melissa was saying how nice of a mover he is. Melissa is a great rider, so I asked her if she wanted to ride him. She was excited and hopped right on him. It was so great to actually be able to see him move with a good rider on his back. Melissa was right, he is a nice mover! :D

Once I got off, Melissa could tell I was having a little trouble with him not respecting my space and being nippy. She asked me if I'd ever tried Parelli. I told her I was really interested in it but couldn't bring myself to spend that amount of money on a distance learning program. I am very hands on and I need someone to show me exactly what to do.

She told me she has some of the literature for the first level and some of the equipment and that she would let me borrow it. She grabbed her carrot stick and showed me how to play a few of the games, and by the end of the hour Bourbon was really listening and responding to me. I love it and can't wait to continue!

Tarp

What a silly boy. I was trying to desensitize him to a tarp, but he pretty much showed the tarp who's boss. :D

I love my Zebra. :D