Bucking Tradition

Good Morning Friends!

I think K may be having some sort of a crisis. When she came to visit me yesterday she changed out the irons on our saddle for new ones with sparkly stones running up the sides. She seems strangely excited about having "bling" as she called it.

If you know K as I do, you'll know she generally favors tradition when it comes to Sweepit's and my care and equipment. We have brown tack, standard grooming supplies (no fads) and simple, workmanlike saddle pads. Okay, okay Sweepit does have the cheetah-print boots, but she's a girl so she get's to be fashion-forward.

I'm at a loss! Has your human ever added something crazy to your wardrobe?

~Polo

Here's to New Partnerships!

Good Morning Friends!

I have much to tell! I have a new partner! Her name is C and she and I met last week and hit it off right away.

Shocking news this! Am I right? Never fear dear readers. I still live at Paddle Stone Equestrian Center in Lexington, Kentucky and K is still my mom. C and I have formed a lease partnership so that K can focus harder on finding work and growing Off The Track Designs without having to worry that she's neglecting me and my training progress.

I am so happy that C came to meet me as my being able to stay on the home farm was in doubt. Last Wednesday I had a meeting with someone who was looking to buy a new horse. I was surprised and very unhappy that K was letting strange people ride me. I was also upset by the Very Scary Event!

As K was tacking me up, the mobile home that anchored the end of the riding arena disappeared! K tells me it had been sold and hauled off the property to its new site. To think that I would be sold and hauled away like the mobile home! I shudder.

K assures me that I would have been placed in good home and reminds me that I'm very well traveled as it is. But she also tells me how happy she is that C and I found each other. She says she didn't feel that a partnership between myself and the prospective buyer would have been a productive one, whereas she could see right away how happy C and I are together. She also says that this way she still gets to hug me whenever she wants. I hope she doesn't do so in front of Molly and Dominique. How embarrassing!

So here's to new partnerships, new adventures and more hugs!

Green slobber kisses to all!
~Polo

Chickens and Liverpools, oh my!

Good Morning!

I've had quite a bit of excitement over the past week. We've had some lovely breezes that have given everyone on the farm an energy boost. They've also given the farm chickens wanderlust. The chickens moved to a new morning roost sight in the treeline alongside the arena and frequently strut right on into the arena while we were working. Very distracting! But I am proud to say that I worked through it in a professional manner.

K also switched up my workout routine, giving me a break from dressage for a few days to let me practice my jumping. I'm not sold on this jumping thing yet. K typically points me towards small, airy cross rails that I can just trot right over. Why exert more energy than I need too? Apparently K thinks I should exert more energy so she's started introducing me to other types of jumps. Last week I learned about Liverpool jumps.

A Liverpool is a jump set over a pool of water, or in our case a blue tarp. K led me over the tarp, jumping it herself to show me what to do. Nothing like a good demonstration, right? Anyway, my very first lesson in Liverpools was with K on foot and just a rail sitting on the tarp. My next introduction, a few days later, was under saddle and K had built a cross rail over the tarp. I admit, this one fooled me and I stopped and looked, hard. Unfortunately this maneuver caused K to end up on foot, prompting another rider-demonstration. (Truly, it is an excellent learning tool!). Then K got back on and I jumped it! On our final attempt for the lesson I even landed on my left lead!

Go me!

~Polo

Workin' It

K has been taking my introduction to Dressage pretty seriously. In fact, I can't remember the last time I wore the close contact saddle!
My workout routine has been fairly consistent over the past few weeks. I walk, a lot! K has me incorporate lot's of changes in directions, circles and I'm even learning to leg yield.
 Next K asks me to trot and we go through much the same routine of circles, serpentines and transitions in gait. I have noticed that my trot sets are getting longer. K tells me that this is how I build up my strength and balance.
K has left canter out of our routine for now, preferring me to improve my walk and trot work first. I'm okay with this. I don't really see the need to go fast anyway.
Speaking of training. K keeps mentioning the word lesson. Do you suppose that means more work?
~Polo

Rockin' Dressage...or at least trying to!

Here's me, mostly decked out for training.

Hi Everyone!

K and I have been taking this dressage thing seriously. I'm working on my balance and flexibility a little longer each day. Today K increased the frequency of our changes in direction and also had me work in a few more circles. For variety I was asked to trot through cavelletti. You know. Those poles on the ground. K is always very encouraging and tells me when I've got it right. I do like to get things right!
I'll be working on basics for quite a while to build up my strength and perfect my balance. So far my toughest challenge is relaxing into my work. It is work, so how do I also relax?
Dear Readers, do let me know your solutions to this dilemma.

~ Polo

Back to Basics

Hello!

I've completely recovered from my heel cut, had my six-week pedicure and gotten back to business! K and I have been working on basics as I try to improve my strength and balance. We work on moving off of K's seat and leg using transitions between walk and halt and between walk and trot. K also asks me to change direction frequently; usually in a curvy, serpentine pattern.

This week K has changed up my usual "uniform" and outfitted me with the dressage saddle and the white brushing boots and bell boots. The dressage saddle helps K be a little more mindful of her position and lengthens her leg so that I can receive her cues better. Have I mentioned how short K is? The boots help to protect my legs from bumps and scrapes and the white color helps K and any of our eyes on the ground to assess my way of going. I'm told that this is The Look for horses in training.

K has been keeping our exercise sessions short because it has been super hot here in central Kentucky. In fact, we missed a week of work because of the heat. Typically we work for about 20-30 minutes and then I get a shower and a chance to replenish minerals by licking my Redmond Rock. Have you tried the Redmond Rock? It's mighty tasty!

I'll see if I can't convince K to arrange a photo shoot of our dressage look. In the meantime, keep cool and your mineral intake up!

~Polo

Recovering...again.

Hello!

I hope that everyone is well and that you are keeping cool in this scorching heat. My pasture mates and I have been drinking lots of water and trying to stay in the shade of the tree lines bordering our field.

I haven't been working for the past few weeks. First, K took a temporary job helping an Arabian horse member organization with their horse show. She worked very long hours and was only able to come and visit me during meal times. Just as K's job concluded I got a very bad cut across my right hind heel. I know, I know. I just can't seem to stay out of trouble! K has been helping me recover by cleaning out my cut and applying medicine. I am almost fully recovered thanks to K's help.

My other news is that I have switched fields. For some reason other geldings bully me and, in addition to my heel cut, I received several bites and a kick to my other hind leg. Bullying is wrong! To keep me safe, K and S, the farm owner, moved me to a neighboring field with mares Molly and Dominique. Molly, Domi and I are getting along great! My bites and scrapes, cuts and kick are healing nicely and I don't have to wear my full-body fly sheet, aka body protector, anymore. I didn't really like the fly sheet anyway, it got in the way of my dirt rolls. It's also much too hot (101 degrees!) to wear anything this weekend.

I had my feet trimmed yesterday and K says she's going to ease me back into work next week.

That's the news for now. I am going to try very hard to stay injury free and to keep cool and hydrated. Please be sure and try to do the same.

~Polo

My First Horse Show!

Hi Everyone!

I made it through my first horse show! I don't know why the humans fret about them so much, it really wasn't too stressful. Although getting onto the trailer at dawn...well, let's just say I don't care for enclosed spaces. But that's another story.

K has been working with me on show preparation for a few weeks, planning to show me in a special class sponsored by The Jockey Club. Unfortunately, circumstances didn't quite go in our favor. Apparently I need a copy of my registration papers as I don't have a tattoo on my lip. Due to very strict rules K was unable to secure a copy in time for this show, so we participated in a different class instead.  This was actually for the best as I didn't exactly manage to stay blemish free. You see it's hot and the biting flies have been out and I managed to go after one a little too hard and, well, I bit a hole in my chest. I'm fine, really! It doesn't hurt and K has been helping me keep it very clean. I'm healing up nicely.

Back to the show...I got to ride over to the host farm Friday night for a preview. K let me walk all around the show grounds, sniff the judges stand and sample the grass. Then on Saturday morning, K came and got me extra early. I had a quick bath and then we were on our way.

K and I got dressed as soon as I got off the trailer. My tack had been cleaned and K wore shiny tall boots and a fancy jacket with the number nine tied to her back. We walked all around the show grounds so that I had the opportunity to reacquaint myself to the smells and to stretch my muscles.  Just before our class I got to go into the ring for the first time and trot around all of the fences, see and hear the spectators and check out the other side of the judge's stand

I participated in the Green Horse division.  My first two classes were "over fences" in which I had to trot over a set of cross rails twice, one class for each direction. The third class was called "under saddle" or "hack", in which I showed at the walk, trot and canter. K and I were surprised by the canter request as it's not commonly asked for in this division. I tried my best, but I still need a lot of practice, especially because they ask for the left lead first. As you know, I don't know my left lead yet!

Other than the surprise in the hack, the show went very well. K tells me she's very proud of me for behaving so well and that I should be proud too.  I don't know why I wouldn't be a good sport, this horse show thing really isn't too bad. Now if we could just arrange a way to get to them that doesn't involve trailers in the very early morning!

~ Polo

New Duds

Hi Everyone!

This past week has gone by in a flash!  I've been working with K daily on my in-hand and under saddle lessons.  K tells me I am making great progress.  I've got the turn on the hind foot down and have picked up on trotting beside K, although I still find it awkward.

K has really been taking this horse show prep stuff seriously.  She has been fussing with my mane some more, thinning it out and then adding braids.  I'm not too sure about the whole braiding thing... Fortunately she took them right out, but I suspect I'll be sporting them again. 

K has also been fussing with my coat, trying to coax my hair to grow back over some bug bites and rubs.  I get a daily curry and brush, followed by ointment on my fresh bites, then the yummy, coconut-smelling Micro-Tek Rebuilder on my bald spots.  K then went a step further and purchased me a full body fly cover!

Personally, I think it's kind of silly-looking.  Fortunately, I don't have to wear it right away as the front closures sit right on one of my raw bites, so K is letting me stay sheet-free until it heals a bit more. 

K also presented me with my very own dress halter! 

I just knew there had to be a reason for trying on Sweepit's halter.  This, I can do!

And so with all of the new duds and extra grooming, I believe K is hoping I'll be the best dressed horse at the show.  Personally, I'm content a good dust-coat and a few burdocks.

~ Polo

Running Hard on Derby Day

Hi Everyone!

It's Derby Day and K did a lot of running.  I think she deserves a rose or two, she was pretty tired when we ended our training session this afternoon!

K and I worked under saddle for about twenty minutes.  We started with our walk and walk-halt transitions and then moved on to trot.  It's very warm and humid today so K and I didn't work very long under saddle.  Instead K gave me a refresher lesson on work in-hand.

K tells me that work in-hand is what we do for presenting me to be judged.  In other words, I'm supposed to show off.  I'm learning to walk smartly beside K, stopping when she stops and standing squarely while she moves to various points in front of me and at either shoulder.  She tells me she is supposed to stay with the judges without blocking their view of me.  It's hard for me to stand still when K moves in front, because I want to give kisses and receive pats.  But by far the most difficult part for me is trotting in hand.  I know how to trot of course, but I'm supposed to walk beside a handler while I'm being led.  If that weren't enough to confuse me, there is also the fact that K is very short.  She can run quite fast and I can still keep up at a walk! I eventually did trot beside K, but it just didn't feel right.

I suspect I will get used to it.  K has a plan for us to practice work in-hand in the coming weeks.  She has finally picked out a horse show she feels is appropriate for my debut.  Guess what?  I'll be showing in-hand!

~ Polo

Thinking Caps and Good Luck Charms

Hi Everyone!

K and I have gotten back to our exercise regimen this week.  We're starting slow with a lot of walking.  K has been asking me to walk circles in each corner of the arena and in both directions.  Then we work on directional changes, moving across the diagonal and also in serpentine patterns.  After working at the walk and limbering up, K has me do a number of walk-to-halt transitions which remind me to listen to her seat and legs. 

Next we move into trot.  K doesn't ask me to do as much bending at the trot just yet.  For the time being I am asked simply to trot at a consistent pace around the entire arena.  Occasionally K will sit my trot, asking me to collect just a bit and then send me forward again by resuming posting. Each day I am gaining a little more confidence and strength.  In fact today I didn't put a foot wrong!


K has only asked me to canter a couple of times.  She told me Tuesday that I had a beautiful departure into canter from trot, but that I was on the wrong lead.  What is this "lead" thing?  Apparently I favor my right lead too much.  In order to help me to tell my right from my left, K attached a charm for good luck to the left buckle of my breast collar.  It's a little horse (who looks like me!) that K found under my hoof a few weeks back.  This mini-me is positioned in a lovely trot with his left foreleg outstretched.  I'm beginning to see a pattern.  Are you?  Left buckle, left leg, hmmm...

"Mini-me" for Good Luck!

In addition to my mini-me charm, today I also got to sport a "thinking cap."  Truly, K had me wear an ear bonnet!  She said that this was to help me concentrate on my job and not on the farm owners' laying of a water line beside the arena.  While I think it was a little ridiculous, I will admit that it kept the flies out of my ears and eyes and did not impede my hearing.  Personally, I think K was just having a silly moment and dressed me up for fun.

The "thinking cap".  I look pretty professional now!

Charms and thinking caps  aside, we had an excellent workout this morning.  K added the cavelletti back into the workout and even had me trot a small cross-rail.  Progress!

~ Polo

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hi Everyone!

Today is my birthday!  I am now four years old!  K gave me a couple of cookies today in celebration.  Yum!

K had me lunge for a few minutes today to ease back in to my exercise program.  I worked at walk and trot in both directions and at both ends of the indoor arena.  When we were done, K let me off the line to explore.  One of the walls is shiny and there was another horse there!  He looked and moved just like me.  I admit I had to study this other horse for several minutes before K finally explained that the other horse was me!  Apparently the shiny wall is made up of mirrors which shows us our reflection, just like looking at water.

After my exercise I received a nice grooming session, had my toes painted with Keratex Hoof Hardener and ate my dinner.  After dinner K had me try on one of Sweepit's halters for size.  Do you think she's picking out my birthday present?  She's mentioned shopping at some big shindig she calls Rolex for several weeks.

Speaking of birthdays and presents, tomorrow is Sweepit's birthday!  Happy Birthday Sweepit!

~Polo

Friends and Strangers

Hi Friends!

I trust I find you well.  I can't believe it's the end of April already!  I've enjoyed the early grass and just yesterday my field at Hodge was full of buttercups.  Very pretty, but not nearly so tasty as the grass.

The past two months have brought both positive lessons and a few challenges.  About a week after my last post, where I filled you in on my jumping lesson and photo shoot, I suffered a setback.  I bruised the sole of my right fore hoof.  It was very painful that first day and created a scary swelling around my knee!  Fortunately the swelling went away as K helped me back to the barn, where she soaked and bandaged my hoof.  After two weeks of padding and a visit from Jamie, my fabulous farrier, I was as good as new.  But, I was very unfit.  Again.

Once my foot healed, K and I started working on fitness once more.  We went outside, taking trot and canter sets with our pals up and down the hills at the front of the Hodge property.  This is great fun! 

I've also started working with K in the arena by myself.  K says this is to get me used to one-on-one time.  I don't like being without my friends, but it isn't so bad that I can't do my work.  I must say that if I must work without my friends, I prefer it to be just K and I.  I worry about strangers in the ring with me.  K tells me that I will get used to it.  She says it's good practice for going to horse shows.  Horse Shows?  Are they like races?  I keep hearing about horse shows, but I've yet to go to one.

Speaking of strangers, I'm now in a field full of them!  I have moved to the same farm on which Sweepit lives.  This way both Sweepit and I can enjoy equal attention as K no longer has to commute between two counties.  I shall miss my friends; Sarah, Buttons and Oreo, but I am looking forward to new friends and new adventures too.

I shall endeavor to keep you posted on my progress.  In the meantime may you enjoy the buttercups and green grass.

~Polo

Workin' It

Hi Everyone!

First I must send heartfelt thoughts and prayers to everyone who was affected by Friday's storms.  Hugs and slobber kisses go out to you and to the rescue crews and volunteers helping with cleanup efforts.

And now, to catch you up on my new fitness regime.  I mentioned in my last post that K and I had started working out at trot.  We've gradually increased the duration of the trot sets and K has started to add difficulty to my workouts by asking me alternate between walk and trot, incorporating multiple changes of directions and varying the length of my stride.  I'm working very hard at all of this and my strength is gradually increasing, as is my confidence!

Yesterday, K and I worked out using the walk-trot transitions and stride length variations.  After several sets of those and a walk break, K re-introduced me to caveletti.  Do you remember me telling you about them?  They are poles on the ground that I have to walk and trot over.  They help me with my striding, pace, balance and foot placement.

After a few passes over the caveletti, K let me jump over a small cross rail a few times.  Wheee!  And then, as if that weren't enough fun, the whole gang of us (Buttons and T, Oreo and B, Sarah and R and K and me) went outside on a mini trail ride!  We walked and trotted up and down the long hill of the driveway a couple of times, relishing the sunshine and slight breeze.

After our ride, we all got our daily meal and a good grooming and then I had a photo shoot.  I've posted my favorites below.  Thanks to R for hanging out with me while K played with the camera!

Enjoy!

~Polo

Back in the Saddle

Hi Everyone!

I'm back in the saddle!  Well, K is and I'm under saddle.  The abscess in my hind foot is all better and it's time for me to get in shape.  Summer sheet season will be here before we know it!

K tacked me up yesterday and we worked a lot on walking around the arena getting a feel for the different views.  The cattle path runs along one side ending in a chute that divides the roper start boxes at the in-gate end.  Also on this end is the announcer's stand.  Lots to look at!  I was a bit nervous as I had only explored the whole ring once before and there were children and dogs running around while we were working.  After I got a little more comfortable K had me pick up a trot and we worked on that for just a little bit.  I must admit, trotting is definitely work when one has had a few months off!

I had another workout today.  This time with just as much trot as there was walk.  Phew!  K gave me lots of praise and has been encouraging me to relax and stretch my neck as I find my balance.  I must admit that it feels good to stretch every once in a while.  As we cooled down I got to check out the start boxes for the roping horses.  They are just like open fronted stalls!

K tells me that I get tomorrow off as it's a roping practice night.  She says she'll see me again on Thursday and that we will work some more on re-building my fitness.

Until next time my friends!

~Polo

Whinnies and nickers and Slobber Kisses

Hi Everyone!

I understand that I missed Valentines' Day yesterday, so I'm sending love and extra slobber kisses to all today!

I have new turnout sheet to wear.  It is light blue and made from a more durable nylon than my first sheet.  I really like my navy blue and red sheet, but it got torn so K has taken that one for repair.  Unfortunately K didn't have her camera today to snap a picture.  My new sheet is no longer clean as I just had to scratch my back right after K turned me out. A good test of durability right?

I would like to send out whinnies and nickers to Kentucky Equine Research.  They helped K pick out a new supplement for me called Bio-Bloom.  This will help my coat recover from the winter elements and will also help my hooves strengthen.  Hoof strength is very important and young Thoroughbreds like me need a little help now and then.  Help is especially welcome this year as our winter has been so wet.

Speaking of hooves, my abscess is getting better daily.  I still have to have my foot all wrapped up by K on a daily basis to keep the mud and muck out of it while it heals.  I hope to be back on my exercise program soon.

And now, for some hay.

~Polo

A Wrinkle in the Plan

Hi Everyone! 

It has been a week of ups and downs for K and me.  Last week started with the two of us sharing a lovely, quiet ride around the arena for the first time.  On Thursday I had my feet trimmed by my fabulous farrier Jamie and then K and I spent some quality time hanging out together.  She even gave my mane a makeover!

Friday wasn't so good.  My right hind foot was hurting very badly and I didn't want to walk.  K tried to help but I couldn't tell her what was wrong.  Saturday morning light allowed K to see a weak spot in my hoof, which prompted a repeat of our summer bandaging routine.  The padding felt good and makes walking on the frozen mud much more manageable so I've been leaving it on.

On Sunday K and I had a bit of a disagreement.  This was the first time that K and I have worked together in the new facility without our friends being around.  I was nervous and I'm afraid I didn't help K very much in her task of bandaging my sore foot.  I just couldn't stand still!

Tonight we had a better night.  Our group was together and my foot is feeling much better!  I have an abscess.  Yuck.  The abscess broke through the skin at my coronary band, relieving the pressure within my hoof.  K had me soak my foot in warm water and Betadine solution and then wrapped it up again to keep it clean.

Sadly, my relief from the abscess is overshadowed by the possibility that I may soon have to find a new home.  K has not had any luck in securing a new job and has become increasingly concerned about her financial capacity to care for me and also for Sweepit.  I love K and my friends and I really don't want to leave! 

Dear readers, please help me help K!  I have posted a link to K's LinkedIn profile, on which you can view K's resume and references.  K is an energetic, creative marketing professional with a background in catalog circulation.  She takes initiative, tackling projects as needed, such as prepping feed while my foot soaked. She is organized (you should see how neat my grooming and medical boxes are).  She knows how to plan and manage a campaign and she excels at reporting on various points of data.  K is also a fabulous scribe.  She makes sure that my blogs are clearly written and are posted properly.  She also has a great eye for photography.  Finally, I think K is a good teacher.  She does her best to make my lessons stress free and we always end our lessons on a positive note.

If you are hiring or know of a position to which K should apply, please let us know!  You can send a message to K via LinkedIn or by posting a comment on my blog.
K's profile:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlycornelius

Many Thanks!
~Polo

More Strange Devices and Snacks

Happy Super Bowl Sunday Everyone!

My lunging lessons continued this weekend.  R worked with me yesterday while K was helping out at Sweepit's barn.  I worked on walking and trotting and building my confidence in moving out on my circle without a lead.

K was back today and she brought more equipment for me to try.  She put a saddle pad on and then, instead of a saddle, she fitted me with something called a training surcingle.  It's got a padded top side that fits over my back and sports all sorts of rings.  This top part stays on with a girth-like piece that goes around my belly.

K had me walk and trot in each direction wearing the surcingle.  I didn't find it too distracting. In fact, K said I was doing well.  When we stopped, I thought I was getting off early for good behavior.  But K had other ideas.  Instead of early dismissal K added another level difficulty by introducing me to side reins. 

The side reins run from one of the sets of rings to my bit.  K attached just one side at first, on it's longest setting.  She explained that the side reins are meant to help me stretch out my back and neck.  K called it strengthening my top line.  She had me walk my circles just a few times with the side reins on to get used to the lowered position of my neck.  We ended on a good note, following up with some brushing and dinner! 

Dinner consists of alfalfa pellets and grain soaked in water.  I wasn't so sure about it at first so K sweetened the deal with a little Karo syrup.  YUMMY! I get one scoop of alfalfa pellets and one scoop of my grain.  This sounds like a lot, but I get this only in the evenings.  The rest of the day I have grass and hay to munch on.

K and R were talking about human treats today.  I hear there are special treats that are prepared for the Super Bowl. One of the more enticing treats they talked about is something called beer bread.  I like the smell of beer, so I bet this beer bread stuff is pretty yummy.  I wonder if K will bring me a sample.

~Polo

Strange Devices

Hi Everyone!

My lessons in balance and in respecting others continued last night with my mom, K.  First K continued my lunge lessons, this time introducing a contraption called a lunging cavesson.  It's like a bridle without a bit and there are multiple rings on the top of the noseband.

In my earlier lunging lessons, K attached the lunge line by running it through the bit or halter ring on my inside, which corresponds to the direction in which I would be traveling, up over my head and clipping it to the bit or halter ring on the opposite side.  In using the lunging cavesson with the rings I no longer had such a clear sense of direction.  To help, K and I walked the circle she wanted me to track together several times before I was sent out on my own.  It took a little longer for me to grasp, but I got it!

We are still working only at the walk and K didn't keep me on the circles too long.  I think she gets bored and truthfully, so do I.  So after that short lunge session K had me work on something called showmanship.

For showmanship, K had me wear my lead rope and worked on walking beside me from a very specific position at or just in front of my left shoulder.  She and I also worked on turning my body away and halting.  A few times while at halt K moved to stand out in front and also on the right side. K explained this practice of repositioning herself as "showing" me to a judge.  It wasn't bad as an exercise, but the game would have been much more fun if I could have rifled through pockets for treats!

Treasure Hunt Showmanship!  Now that is an inspired idea!  I think I will mention that to K.

~Polo

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Hi Everyone!

Mom says I have to learn something called "respect".  She says it means I must be on my best behavior around her and others.  She explains it as standing still for grooming, tacking up, mounting, watching cows - any time we're together and not working.  It also means that I have to be aware of where mom is in relation to me at all times and to move away from her when asked and to never, never step on her or otherwise force her to move.  This is A LOT to remember!

If that weren't enough, mom also says I had a lesson in respect for my environment just the other day.  Do you remember my mentioning The Hill in my last post?  Well, um, you see as I was galloping down with my friends, I hit a slippery spot and fell down.  It's VERY embarrassing!  So my lesson was to be aware of the conditions and, if it's slippery, I should slow down.

I sure do respect the Grouch (llama)!  He might eat me!

Mom says I did display respect during my lunge lesson yesterday.  It was only my second lunge lesson ever and mom said I was a champ!  She had me walk in a circle around her in each direction.  I'm not sure why yet, but I know mom will tell me.  It did give me something to do and it let me get a feel for the arena in which we'll be working.

Once we were done with that lesson, mom fussed with my mane and tail.  She sprayed them with her favorite de-tangler (Vetrolin Shine by Farnam), and then combed out the tangles.  I gather she didn't like the twig and mud look.  And here I thought I was displaying good fashion sense!  Apparently a neat appearance is also a show of respect.  Who knew?!

~Polo

Headline News!

Hello Everyone!  I hope I find you well.  I apologize for my extended absence, but other than the occasional visits from K and R there just hasn't been much to tell.  Until now.

Yesterday B, K, R and T loaded Sarah and me onto the trailer and took us to a new facility called Hodge Arena.  K and R stayed behind with us and we took a walk around to see the sites.  There were plenty of rather small horses there that K said are Quarter Horses.  I'm almost 17 hands and Sarah 16.2 so horses that average about 15 hands seem small to us.  But I digress.  As we were walking, we came across this very oddly shaped animal that came over to the fence line and spit at us!  It was black, had a round body set on spindly legs, a long, thin neck, small head and big ears and it was mean!  K called it a Llama.  I call it a Grouch.  Grouch continued to pin his ears and spit at us the entire length of it's paddock fence line.  A fine welcome, that!

Following our walk, Sarah and I followed our humans inside the arena to check it out.  After being introduced to the sound of the tractor and drag we settled down for some grooming.  K kicked up a fuss because I have developed a seasonal skin condition called rain rot and the hair on my back was coming off in clumps.  It was a little painful while K was addressing it, but it's not nearly so bad as my wither wound from last summer.  I will heal and, in the meantime, I get to forgo my raincoat [sheet] unless it is actually raining or snowing. 

We had just about reached the middle of our grooming session when the cows wandered in.  COWS!  It turns out that Hodge is a host facility for a sport called calf roping!  From what I've observed the calves are shot out of chute while two of the Quarter Horses chase them down and the riders throw ropes with the goal of catching each cow by both the horns and the hind feet.  How strange.  The cows don't seem to mind and the people and horses seem to enjoy it.  Me?  I'm not sold on the idea of cows yet.  They make funny noises.

At about the same time that the cows came in, B and T had arrived with Buttons and Oreo.  After they had had a chance to walk around and see the sites, and the cows, all four of us and our humans went out to check out the pasture.  Buttons, Oreo, Sarah and I are now pasture mates rather than neighbors.  We are in an eleven acre field with plenty of grass, thanks to the mild winter, and water.  It's a hilly pasture and, well let's just say that I learned to respect the hill.  Besides the four of us, there was one other horse and three donkeys in the field yesterday.  That horse and the donkeys were clearly a team and they weren't very welcoming either.  But we reached a truce and kept a respectful distance.

This morning the donkeys were moved and two other horses were turned out with us.  This afternoon, when K and R came out to see Sarah and me, the new horses confused us.  We didn't know if we should stay with them or go to our humans.  K caught up to me and offered me a treat, which was nice or her.  And so after Sarah agreed to go with R we walked up to and around the outside of the arena again before heading in on the back side of it.  When we walked in we found more cows and roping horses at practice.  I stood and watched closely and K kept telling me how good I was for standing.  But then R took Sarah in to ride and I was not okay with that.  Sarah is my best friend and I got really nervous when I couldn't be near her.  I'm afraid I aggravated K with my fretting.  I think she had hoped to groom me a little more.  Instead, she and T walked me down the aisle and put me in a stall!  I had to stand there for a long time and while Sarah, Buttons and Oreo got to explore the inside of the arena itself. I try to be good.  Really, I do.  I can't help it that the new surroundings and all of the strangers make me nervous.

Anyway, K eventually forgave me and fed me dinner.  Then Buttons, Oreo, Sarah and I were turned back out in our new field for the evening. 

I like the field but I'm not so sure about the arena itself.  K says this is only a temporary move to give our paddocks at home a rest and to let the grass grow again.  I hope we have an early spring.  I'm just not sure that I'm cut out to be a cow pony. 

~Polo