Giving back

So, we are giving Foxy back, which really sucks. We're going to try and save up the money, then buy him back with the cash. When we were paying for him every month, $500 went to board, but only $75 went to paying him off. To do that with $4000 to pay off, it will take us forever. So, hopefully he will still be there when we go buy him again. If not, then he will have gone to a good home. Oh, I really hope he will still be there!

Pony Club

Okay, so I haven't really written on here, since forever, it seems. Last Sunday, I was riding Foxy and he didn't want to do anything...As usual, right? I even tried working him with cones, trying to improve my 'steering', and maybe get him used to my aids. It was really hot, so we didn't get anything accompished. Eventually, my mom walked in the ring with the lunge whip. The whole point of me riding him is to get him used to me and give him some exercise. Neither was happening, so we decided to lunge him. Now, this is maybe our second time lunging him. As soon as she walked in the ring, Foxy took off to the outside and started trotting around the ring. So, obviously, someone has worked with him before. Neither my mom nor me have ever lunged a horse, so we didn't know how to make him slow down. We were just trying to get him moving, so he can get some exercise. Well, it was working. Sometimes he sped up, but most of the time, he was in that rough in between transition between the trot and canter. I was concentrating on my position the whole time, since I didn't have to guide him. I was holding onto the mane, because I was riding bareback, and was still to scared to canter. Soon after a few minutes, he became out of breath, so we stopped and let him cool down before grooming him, and returning him to his stall. So, we're thinking that he is out of shape. 'Course, it was extremely hot out.

I just looked into the US Pony Club website, and found that it was everything I was looking for. I have always looked for the perfect equine 4-H club, but with no luck. The club I did end up joining, turned out to be more focused with steer showing. So, I quit after a few meetings. I just decided to get some lessons as soon as I get a job. Well, Pony Club apparently is what I was looking for. I can take lessons, show, and meet new people who were just as horse crazy as I am. The only problem, would be the cost and Foxy. I have to pay Foxy off before I can move him, and get a trainer for him, to fill in the gaps of his training. Then, I can maybe join. But, at this rate, it might be a while.

Groggy Day!

Well, I went riding again today. I really don't think the owner wants to get rid of Foxy. My mom asked one of the owners if Foxy's previous owner will sign some form so we can move him, and he told us that she won't sign it. Ugh! I don't want to lose him. Anyway, I mounted him outside the ring, because mom suggested to work outside the ring today. I wasn't exactly ready. See, when I was taking lessons at my school, I had an accident. I was in a two-point position working at the trot. I had been riding Scarlet, a 4 yr old chestnut thoroughbred. She is known to have a very fast canter and spooks easily. She almost got me thrown off a couple of times.
I got her into a steady trot, and a couple of ravens landed in front of her. She spooked, and cantered into the middle of the circle. Before I knew what was happening, I started slipping and hit the ground hard. Immediatley, I put my hands over me, because she kinda went over me. Her hooves almost collided with me. That fall took the breath out of me. Ever since then I have been afraid of cantering. I couldn't even do it on a 14 hand pony.
As soon as I got on him (and he is extremely tall), my fear flooded me again. He started walking toward his "stall" because he is barn sour.and I couldn't control him. He has a habit of fighting you when he doesn't get his way. He has spooked on me once and cantered with me back to his stall, and I don't want that to happen again. My mom decided to lead us out into the trail. That got me even more terrified because that is when he likes to bolt.
All in all, I got upset because he felt like he was going to rear or buck and he really didn't want me on his back. So, we took him back to the ring and I actually got him into a running walk. Now, I just have work on him getting out of his lazyiness. We had to stop early because it started raining.

I got my birthday present today! I am so excited! We went to Ballards and got a nice, navajo (spelling?) print bareback pad. It even has the bumpy rubber on the bottom, so it shouldn't slip. And, we got a matching, non-slip girth to go with it. I can't wait 'till we try it out.

Life really sucks!

Today, I just found out that we are going to have to give Foxy back to Sun City because of money issues. Just after everything seemed to be going alright, something like this happens. Our plan is to save up the money, and in six months, go back and buy him. That's great, because then we can get him out of their in six months and he will be officially ours, instead of three years. But, then he could be bought in that time. Mom sees no problem in that, 'cuz then he will have gotten out of their anyway. But, I really love him and hate the whole idea. I know it is better for him, and yeah, I'm probably being selfish, but I can't just get rid him.
We only have one hope left. If the owner will allow us to board at the Sherrif's stable without collateral, then we can still keep him.

Finally!

My grandfather is a cop and jus recently told us that we can board Foxy at the Sarasota County Mounted Patrol Unit. I am so thrilled! I cannot wait until that day comes when we load him into the trailer. I will be so happy when we put Sun City behind us. Mom says that I probably shouldn't go with them on that hauling day in case something happens, but I want to so bad!

I rode Foxy last Thursday and got farther with him. Mostly, we were working on getting him into the running walk and staying in that gait. Even though we only got a few paces, we are starting to work as a team!

After I rode, we tried giving him a bath. We turned on the hose, and he freaked out. So, that is the next thing we have to work on.

Ughh!

Okay, so today didnt work out to good. Foxy was a little stubborn and I don't blame him. I think both of us was about to die of heat exhaustion. We cut todays lesson in half so we wouldn't get overheated. He wasn't doing anything I was asking him to anyways. I actually got him going a little faster (he's lazy), but he would just turn in tight circles otherwise. So, needless to say, it was just too hot to do anything today. =(

Foxy!

I have just started riding my Tennessee Walker horse, Foxy, bareback. I have never ridden bareback before and it was actually a great new experience. I still have to get my balance a little because he is a little narrow near his withers. Although, his past owners trained him completely wrong and harsh.

I went last Sunday and had a lesson with his past owner, Cindy. She taught me how to ride him, and apparently you have to pull tight on the reins and kick him too hard. It was really bad. Then, she handed me a stick to use, because I had forgotten to bring my crop! I felt really bad. She was sitting there, watching me the whole time, so I had to ride him like that!

This Sunday, I will work on softning his mouth and try to get him responding to neck-reining. My mom said that we should get some cones to practice with, so hopefully I will have them by next week. Anyway, I will try to regain my confidence and try trotting and maybe even cantering on him bareback.