Robin's Misty Lady

Not sure how this happened, but I now have another horse! (But no, unfortunately not the guy in the first photo). I went to Rocking G Ranch's first production sale last weekend. I really only went to see how the horses were going to sell. I picked up an auction number -- mostly because I wanted a chance at Jae's Blue Shocker - the blue roan colt started last summer at the Martin Black clinic that I had named "Socks," and that I kind of bonded with(pictured left). Once I found out his registered name, I started calling him BlueJae. I really didn't think I'd be able to get him/afford him, but I got the number just in case. I ended up bidding about $2-300 more than the limit I set for myself, but still didn't get him. Sigh... I also bid on a really nice buckskin filly, but didn't win her either.

Toward the end of the auction, a couple other nice colts went through... I bid on a grade filly who was really sharp looking, but then Amy also bid on her, so I stopped. Amy ended up winning the bid, but it was challenged by someone else, so she let her go to the other guy. Then came this other nice blue roan filly that I hadn't really looked all that closely at. Kev encouraged me to bid on her (he figured she was as nice as BlueJae, plus I think Kev hates to leave any auction empty-handed!), so sure, what the heck? Somehow I ended up winning the bid! So I am now the proud owner of a cute 2-year-old blue roan filly named Robin's Misty Lady (pictured above, and she's the 2nd horse running past in the clip below). She's a lot lighter now than in the photo. Kind, friendly and easy-going. The best part is that the purchase price includes starting her at the Martin Black clinic this September at no additional cost. Woohoo! After the auction, I went out to have a closer look at her. I walked up to her and said, "well, I guess you're mine, little lady." She responded by nosing/nuzzling my shirt. So I guess that's a good sign, right?

I haven't given her a name yet. We've tried on "Robin," "Ladybird," "Bluebird," (all closely related to her registered name), as well as "Saphira". My daughter likes Saphira (or Sapphire). Another friend suggested simply "Misty" (or maybe Misty Blue?) ... it might grow on me.... I'm not completely sure yet. Shiloh is another possibility (that's the name of a Neil Diamond song I've always liked). Anyone out there have any suggestions/votes? :-)

Skittles' first trip to Blackfoot

Today was Skittles' first trip to the Blackfoot. I've been looking forward to this all spring. Last week I took Skittles to Sunset and rode with Amy through the fields. We started in the arena and because it was so windy, Skittles was a bit jumpy, but manageable, then we moved to the fields. She was pretty prancy, but again, relatively manageable and I was pleased with her. So even though it was kind of a trail ride, it wasn't really on a trail, so I'm going to call today her first official trail ride. :-)

Amy met me at Blackfoot this morning. We let the horses wander around the staging area for a bit first to get acquainted with the area, then headed onto the trail. Amy took the lead first. She started by walking Sugar for a bit, then eventually got on once Sugar relaxed. Skittles followed no problem. I asked Skittles to take the lead a few times, and she did, but reluctantly. We moved so slowly while Skittles was leading that Sugar got fed up and passed us, then gave Skittles "the look" every time she tried to pass, so Skittles stayed behind.

There was one point on the trail that was a bit washed out which neither of the horses wanted to cross. We let them come up, then retreat several times, but they really weren't too sure of it. So Amy got off and led Sugar over it. I stayed on at first to see if Skittles would follow, but she still wouldn't, so I also got off and lead her across. She still hesitated, but each time she tried, I backed her up and rubbed her face, then asked again. On the third attempt she LEAPED over it. And we continued the ride. Once we turned around to head back, Skittles had NO issue whatsoever with leading! And she started giving Sugar "the look" this time when she tried to pass! Too funny. Coming back over that washout, Skittles still hesitated, but only once and then leaped over. I didn't have to get off that time! The rest of the ride went really well. Skittles and Sugar took turns leading on the way back. We stopped lots to let the horses graze (what a nice change from dry hay!) and drank in the beautiful day!

Very successful ride with Skittles and I am once again thrilled with her confidence and her progress. Yay!

Last Week - Riding with Tania @ Fultonvale

Time to catch up on my blogging again. I've been riding Skittles tons lately, but just haven't blogged any of it. I do want to write about my ride last week at Fultonvale with Tania though. She came with Jack. I rode Skittles, but I also brought Sherlock. It was kind of last minute decision. He was standing at the gate and looked so eager to go do something, so I decided to load him up just so he could have some fun and associate the trailer with something other than a trip to the vet! So once we got there, I tied him up next to Skittles for a bit, groomed him along with her, picked his feet, etc., then turned him loose in the arena. It was interesting how protective of him Skittles was. She made a point of keeping herself between Sherlock and Jack as much as possible.

After riding around a bit and having Sherlock frolicking around, it became apparent that the little guy was going to be more trouble than he was worth! So we ended up moving him to the small corral at the end of the arena and let him trot around there (photo). At first Skittles didn't want to leave him and kept trying to turn back to that end of the arena. I let her circle at that end for a while and slowly built the circle until we were able to ride at the other end as well. She settled relatively OK. Although there was one point when I asked her to canter while we were turning away from Sherlock and she objected. I asked harder and she bucked and turned back at which point I found myself on my butt on the ground! After that Skittles got to canter online for a few minutes and once I got her back focussed on me, I got back on. After that, she didn't have any issue with riding away from Sherlock.

Tania - on the other hand - was spectacular! She impressed the socks off me by showing me how Jack could walk, trot, canter, turn and even spin with only a savvy string around his neck! I bow to the master! WOW! I took a couple photos with my phone, but it's a bit far, so you can't tell she's only using the string, but she was! I was SO IMPRESSED! What an inspiration.