Progressing nicely...

Just a quick note- we now have 5 rides under our belt, and she has done amazingly well! Her timing and balance are coming along wonderfully- Pixie figures things out very quickly. The funny thing is, I think she really enjoys being ridden. We are walking, trotting, "whoa" and standing, and backing both directions.

I didn't think breaking horses was supposed to be this enjoyable or easy...

Ride #2- Check!

Just a quick update- Pixie and I completed ride #2 this AM. She did very well today also-- we even worked up to trotting the entire straightaway today. She is so smart, I think my biggest challenge with working her will be to keep her entertained. Pixie really seems to enjoy new things... Anyways, just a quick note to say YAY she's doing well!

Pics from the first ride (Yes, I wore a helmet... I hate them but I was not going to be the brave, stupid one... I have to use this brain awhile haha):

(you can tell I was slightly nervous... I do not usually tilt that far forward!)

Officially BACKED!!!!!!!! :-D

Well, we did it.......



Today was the day. Actually, it didn't start out that way. I've been saying all week that Pixie is ready to ride, she is ready to ride. But the farrier is not able to come out until early next week, and I really did not want to wait that long to begin with Pixie under saddle. So this evening I headed down to do my usual evening routine: feed ponies, then cats, then goats, then pony in the far field, and then return to work with Pixie. I got out all my grooming accessories and my long-lining tack, caught Pixie (which has turned into a LOVELY game btw... need to research methods of catching a filly who delights in making you chase her for about five minutes, and then decides 'Okay, it's MY idea now, this sounds good' and walks right up to you very nonchalantly), and started work. I got Pixie all groomed up and Travis helped me. We got to talking about my game plan for Pixie, and I said, "Yeah, I think I'll ride her tomorrow or Saturday..." And he replied, "Why not tonight?" Well, why not tonight?


So, we did it tonight. I saddled Pixie up and spent about twenty minutes practicing getting on, laying over, and standing (on the arena gate) over Pixie's back. She's so smart, so after a few minutes of this her face literally said, "What the crap, this is nothing to stress over". Obviously, she was ready to ride. I got on her back with Travis working as my handler (and my mother taking pictures on her phone, LOL--which I'll get from her tomorrow and upload). He walked with us for a minute, but she did WONDERFUL and we were soon off the leadline and on our own. Primarily, we just walked around the arena at a very relaxed pace. I let her feel my weight move in the saddle as well as my legs at her sides. She did quite well-- we even trotted around half of the arena. She was unsure about moving forward very fast (which is TOTALLY preferable to the other extreme hahaha), so this trot was more of our long-lining "jog" pace, but I wasn't going to ask for more speed today. After about 15 minutes of riding time, I called it a successful day and dismounted.


I'm pretty darn impressed with Pixie. No funny business, no fussing, no nothing- she took today like a champ!!

Voila, a pony who can even do vacations!

So I went to Destin, FL with my younger sister last week for her post senior year trip. I was not sure exactly how Pixie was going to handle an entire week off (I've posted before about the attitude thing...), and I wasn't sure WHAT was going to occur when I returned. So today, exactly 9 days after the last time I worked her, we barely missed a beat! She lined like a champ, and we even achieved more relaxation for the most part today than we have ever had in the past! I was so so excited, because I have to admit... I had been somewhat dreading this first day back. And I tried very hard not to be, because I really think horses can sense that kind of apprehension and react accordingly. We did have more get-up-and-go today, which is to be expected with that long of a break... although she was out in her field, so it's not like she got no exercise. I had planned to ride her for the first time this week, but until Miss Priss gets her twinkle toes done--I'm not so sure. She's very due for a farrier visit, so hopefully I can get that lined up and maybe ride this weekend!?! I think she is ready... we have steering down absolutely pat, and our whoa-ing is 100% better than it was. As I mentioned, Pixie has gotten quite a bit of "go forward"... which is good, I suppose. She is getting increasingly game, so I've tried to keep everything very slow and relaxed---but I really believe this filly has show horse in her. Maybe by the end of next summer...... ;-)

Riders up!! ;-)

We are wearing a saddle!!! Along with ground-driving well (now that I've finally found a couple of bits that fit her mouth correctly... had to buy them in Shelbyville!), tonight we added to Pixie's resume by adding "will wear saddle". If I had not been seeing it myself, I never would have believed how easily it went. She let me saddle her up like an old pro. I had expected at least a little bit of attitude, since she has developed into quite a little diva, but I could not have asked her to be any better. Unfortunately, I do not have a saddle with rings large enough to fit my long lines through them, so I attached a loose/stretchy pair of side reins to the saddle and off she went. I let her jog around in the arena for about fifteen minutes or so, and then I untied the stirrups and let them flop at her sides. Pixie handled it like a pro, even when her little yearling neighbor over the fence decided to try to take bites at her and her "back appendage" as she went by... I even acted like I was going to mount up and added weight to both stirrups--she was picture perfect.

She did NOT, however, want me to put the fly mask on... of course, it was most likely a new experience--probley NOT as many flies in NY!! But she quickly got over it and it became old news...

Wearing a surcingle and a bridle!!! :)

Pixie is officially back to wearing a backpad (surcingle) and a bridle! We have not yet combined the two--that's a project for this week-- but she is doing so well! She is a very smart little cookie, this Miss Pixie... And, something that I absolutely ADORE-She LOVES to work!! I'm trying my best to give her 'rein' enough to be her own horse without feeling trapped- and I think this approach has attributed alot to her great attitude. She is the first to come up to be caught now, and she gets jealous when anyone else gets work (to the point where she stands at the gate and paws out and nickers until you pay her attention!!). She's still figuring out lining to the left, but I figured out a two-person system that helped her figure out circles yesterday... Once Pixie catches on to something, she absolutely remembers it. When I put the backpad on her for the first time, she got in about three bucks and then stopped. I rewarded her, and thus far we have had no further bucking episodes or really even a foot out of place. Something Kiersten told me once though I have found to be very, very true-- if she does not understand what I am asking her, she shuts down. I have found that its best when she does this to simply stop, reassure her, and then begin again. So far, this seems to be working... Stay tuned, by next week we'll be long-lining/ground driving!! :)

It's PRINCESS Pixie nowadays...

Pixie "molting"... and needing a haircut

Well, its been awhile since I updated this. Pixie is doing very well- she has gained weight and is (FINALLY) somewhat shedding her NY coat... She and the yearling have GOT to get with the program, everyone else is shiny and slick already! She doesn't know it yet, but she and I are about to start our 'summer fun' together in the next couple weeks. She might not be too impressed though- I think she's rather taken with babysitting "her" yearling now. Miss Priss definately has personality though- She is developing a bit of a princess-y attitude, although she may have always had it but she's now comfortable enough to express it... I must admit, I do find it a rather fascinating aspect of her -- But I have been trying to keep it in check while still letting her express her personality. We'll see how this alters her training... I do enjoy working with mares with attitudes (most likely because I tend to be somewhat similar in my approach to life!!)-so we'll see how that goes. Hopefully, she will at least be backed by summer's end, maybe with the hopes of doing some shows sometime next season...