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.
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A story for you, one of the most exhilarating things I did on horseback...
I was maybe 13 at the time, riding Thunder. We were out in in the far corner of this HUGE field across from where I lived, past a grove of trees and blackberry patch, when we were approached, not in a friendly manner, by two dogs that lived down the road. They were barking. Thunder was totally calm, and I just walked her away from them. Well they pursued.... So I figured well heck, let's mess with these dogs. Thunder was good at herding cows, so I turned her around toward them and urged her forward. They were just big sissies, they turned around and trotted off toward home and I trotted Thunder after them. The "oh crap" expression on their faces was priceless. They took off RUNNING as fast as they could, and I kept her right on their tails all the way across the field til we got in sight of the neighbors' house. Oh man, I was in pain from laughing so hard! I was never approached by those dogs again though!
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