Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
More of The Same
We are having another blizzard with snow predicted through Saturday.
Last weekend was nice. The roads were clear and started to dry up so Amigo and I had a nice outing. I spied some llamas hiding out in a hay barn at the Robinson's horse ranch down the road and decided to see if Amigo was bothered by them. For some strange reason, horses are innately afraid of llamas and more than one rider has been thrown from their horse when meeting a string of llamas on the trail. I asked permission of the caretaker that was out there doing some chores and she asked me if I could round them up and herd them away since they belonged to the neighbors down the road anyway. Not knowing what was going to happen, I pointed Amigo at the llamas, gave a good kick along with some clicks and he went straight in after them. No fear. I get the feeling this is not the first time this horse has worked livestock. He seemed to know just what to do and how to keep the llamas headed out and from going back into the barn. In fact he became more than a little excited and I had a hard time checking him up when I decided the llamas were headed home and there was no reason to chase them any further. He really wanted to go with them.
That's one more step in my confidence with him. In fact, all three (Amigo, Smooch and Sara) are making good progress with their gun training. All three are not bothered by my shooting while they are eating and stand there while I fire off whatever I feel like bringing out. The only thing I haven't tried yet is a high powered rifle. The next step will be to start some separation training so I can get them alone and work on getting them used to gun fire and loud noises while being tied up. Amigo, I think, is ready for me to shoot off his back. I've already tried 22 pistol blanks while riding him and he is fine. I also know that he is fine with a rifle being fired off in close proximity while I am on him. So I think I will try shooting the 44 mag (very loud pistol) off of him soon. It is a two handed gun, so we probably need a little more work on getting him steadied with the reins dropped so that he doesn't take off on me.
Last Saturday was also vet day. It was a good thing I got up early for my 10 am appointment. The gang (specifically the horses) was a little difficult to get loaded into a trailer by myself and it took some doing. Next time should be better.
Last weekend was nice. The roads were clear and started to dry up so Amigo and I had a nice outing. I spied some llamas hiding out in a hay barn at the Robinson's horse ranch down the road and decided to see if Amigo was bothered by them. For some strange reason, horses are innately afraid of llamas and more than one rider has been thrown from their horse when meeting a string of llamas on the trail. I asked permission of the caretaker that was out there doing some chores and she asked me if I could round them up and herd them away since they belonged to the neighbors down the road anyway. Not knowing what was going to happen, I pointed Amigo at the llamas, gave a good kick along with some clicks and he went straight in after them. No fear. I get the feeling this is not the first time this horse has worked livestock. He seemed to know just what to do and how to keep the llamas headed out and from going back into the barn. In fact he became more than a little excited and I had a hard time checking him up when I decided the llamas were headed home and there was no reason to chase them any further. He really wanted to go with them.
That's one more step in my confidence with him. In fact, all three (Amigo, Smooch and Sara) are making good progress with their gun training. All three are not bothered by my shooting while they are eating and stand there while I fire off whatever I feel like bringing out. The only thing I haven't tried yet is a high powered rifle. The next step will be to start some separation training so I can get them alone and work on getting them used to gun fire and loud noises while being tied up. Amigo, I think, is ready for me to shoot off his back. I've already tried 22 pistol blanks while riding him and he is fine. I also know that he is fine with a rifle being fired off in close proximity while I am on him. So I think I will try shooting the 44 mag (very loud pistol) off of him soon. It is a two handed gun, so we probably need a little more work on getting him steadied with the reins dropped so that he doesn't take off on me.
Last Saturday was also vet day. It was a good thing I got up early for my 10 am appointment. The gang (specifically the horses) was a little difficult to get loaded into a trailer by myself and it took some doing. Next time should be better.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Still Winter
Yes, I still have lots of snow. Here are some photos from this weekend.
Caught napping
Caught napping
More snow.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Mounted Patrol - 1st day
I attended the first Mounted Patrol class last night. I found a place to board Amigo short term in Jackson for only the cost of hay, so it looks like the logistics will work out. He only needs to get clearance from the vet so that I am reasonably sure he won't hurt himself during training. Classes don't start until the end of April, so I have plenty of time to see how he's doing this spring and make sure his foot problem isn't bothering him. The meeting went well. The instructors, who are experienced mounted patrol sworn officers, seem to be nice. They went over all the requirements, what is expected, etc. The training is a total of 40 hours, two sessions a week for five weeks. Then you have to pass a test to get certified. I also need to be certified in CPR, which is this weekend. In return for the training, each student needs to volunteer at least five times throughout the summer, or as often as they want thereafter.
The one thing I am worried about is that my equitation skills aren't developed enough. Strictly speaking I am a novice. I hold my own the trail or whatever, but when it comes to equitation I am lacking. I kind of put off lessons for the sake of money. There are only a few areas I feel I am defficient in, so we'll see where I'm at next month when I show up for the first class. For some reason I still have problems side passing, and they do a lot of that stuff while riding in formation. Also, Amigo doesn't like to whoa, at least not without a correction bit in his mouth (with a correction bit I can get a 10 foot slide out of him!). In mounted patrol, much of the training takes place in a rope halter with no bit. Should be interesting. The last time I tried riding with out a bit, I fell off. But I was bare back and it was my fault so that's another story. In the mean time, I'll work on what I can.
Wish me luck this weekend. The CPR course is a law enforcement course, which means it is abbreviated and it has been 20 ahem something years since I was last certified in middle school.
The one thing I am worried about is that my equitation skills aren't developed enough. Strictly speaking I am a novice. I hold my own the trail or whatever, but when it comes to equitation I am lacking. I kind of put off lessons for the sake of money. There are only a few areas I feel I am defficient in, so we'll see where I'm at next month when I show up for the first class. For some reason I still have problems side passing, and they do a lot of that stuff while riding in formation. Also, Amigo doesn't like to whoa, at least not without a correction bit in his mouth (with a correction bit I can get a 10 foot slide out of him!). In mounted patrol, much of the training takes place in a rope halter with no bit. Should be interesting. The last time I tried riding with out a bit, I fell off. But I was bare back and it was my fault so that's another story. In the mean time, I'll work on what I can.
Wish me luck this weekend. The CPR course is a law enforcement course, which means it is abbreviated and it has been 20 ahem something years since I was last certified in middle school.
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