Summer Riding — Chasing Cows and Learning to Turn
Hi! Sorry for being so quiet lately! Guess what I’ve been doing? Riding horses and chasing cows! I’m been having so much fun. You know, chasing cows is a lot like longing horses, putting pressure on the hip speeds then up and pressure on the head slows them down. Piece of cake right? Pffft!
I don’t have a bunch of time to write because I’m behind on everything, but heres the quick summary:
- Turns out Leo is super supple and I’ve done “a great job” there
- I “get” the cows. Does that mean I’m cowy?
- Leo and I are horrible at turn-arounds, which means, it’s really me thats horrible at turn-arounds.
- We did our first flying lead change. Woooooooooo!!!! It was ugly, but we did it!!!
- I have a riding instructor/amazing horse trainer that is a total keeper
- Leo is going to his first team-roping this weekend. This is a pass or fail for him so keep your fingers crossed.
- Best news of all! Leo is coming home after the roping next week. (Of course, if he does horribly at the roping, he’ll probably only be home for a short time, but I’ll worry about that if it happens.)
I hope everyone is having a great summer so far! Hows training going? How are the horses? Whats going on?
I was very busy at work last week, couple people were off, so guess who has to cover for them… Al’s right too, Mea’s been getting her hair rode off. Rode her 4 days in a row last Thurs-Sun. Can’t remember the last time I did that, but it was all because…..*drumroll*…..I have my first show this Fri & Sat!!! Surprisingly I’m not nervous…yet…anyway. It’ll really hit me when I walk into the Coleseum, I’m sure. Going to maybe show Friday in the Green class & definitely Sat in the green class at the IL State Fair show in Springfield. I was nervous at my last lesson because Doug said I could show but, personally I didn’t think I was ready, wasn’t quite solid on the lead changes yet. But he said, you have to do it sometime & this is pretty much the last show for this year. But over the last 4 days she’s been doing great on her lead changes, only taking maybe 1 trot step in between, which to most sounds bad, but for us its good. Will keep everyone posted on the outcome….but only if its good, hehe.
07 Jul 2008 at 2:43 pm
Ok! What happened? How did you do? What was it like?
15 Jul 2008 at 6:39 pm
Well it’s good to hear the ponies are getting some exercise. Sounds like everybody is doing real well this season.
Sure is fun ain’t it. Seeing the horses just get a little teeny bit better everyday then all of a sudden you realize you got a pretty darned good horse.
They get to doing things you thought they’d never do when you started. From a skittish colt or ornery ‘ol cuss to an athletic partner.
Brandy and I are going to a reining clinic/show at Heidi Green’s place on the 26th. We been trying to get alot of time in riiding to get her ready. And throw in that because of her age (5) she is being transitioned from the snaffle to a curb bit. Real fine line of trying to get things done and not do too much. But she’s a good girl and handles it all pretty well.
15 Jul 2008 at 7:47 pm
Before I write my show info, Al, I did that clinic last year. It was good, but hopefully they won’t try to cram in a bunch of people in it so you have more time. Seemed like they really didn’t have time to work on things very long with us.
Ok. The show went good. Got into Springfield Thursday about noonish. Got Mea in her stall & unloaded everything. Awesome stalls there by the way for only $20 stall fee. They are all brick barns & we had some pretty bad storms Friday night & I wasn’t worried at all. Went to lunch, came back & rode. Mea did really well. Its funny how when they get into a big arena they just seem to free up & move out great. Brought her back to her stall & she seemed very irritated. Paced back & forth & started rearing up & banging her front feet on the top of the stall. I *think* she felt she was alone in there because the stalls have solid walls on the side, so you can only see out the front. There were horses across the alleyway, but I don’t know if she didn’t see them or what. Doug said don’t worry, by Saturday she’ll be standing there with her head down. This was her first time being stalled away from home too. We went & ate dinner & came back & rode again. Both Fri & Sat the green classes werent till last (Thank God) I registered in the morning, rode again. Then got her ready in the afternoon. I wasn’t really that nervous, maybe a little. Here’s the first go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLtySK20Iwo
We got a 59 1/2. I was happy. I was shooting for the low 60’s, but another student of Dougs said her first show she only got a 43. I watched the video back a bunch of times to see what I needed to work on. Saturday I didn’t warm up til the lunch break, then had my 2nd go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FZeesgmUg8
A big, fat 0! 5 spins! Grrr, I forgot to start counting & didn’t think I did a full spin when I did start counting! I was so mad because I wanted to do better than Friday. Doug said I rode better than Friday, but I didn’t feel like I did. He said not to worry about it, everyone does 5 spins at some point. So all in all, everything went good. Next show is Sept. 20, not a NRHA show like this one, just a small one. I’m looking forward to it. Oh, & yes, by Sat Mea’s head was hanging in her stall. She finally realized being out of the stall meant work & in the stall meant rest!!
16 Jul 2008 at 8:01 am
Hey Al,
Why do you move up from a snaffle? I mean, if a horse is great in a snaffle, is there really any reason to move up?
-MJ
16 Jul 2008 at 11:42 pm
MJ, I posted about my show, but it has links in it, so it’s waiting moderation…
17 Jul 2008 at 7:01 am
I only moved her up from the snaffle because the clinic/show requires it for her age (5). I don’t agree with the curb bit rules but the NRHA says 3 yo have to be in a curb.
Even though Brandy is older now she is still young in ride time because of being bred and her mothering duties with Jack.
I’ve tried a Tom Thumb, Shanked Snaffle, and a Billy Allen with her so far. The Shanked Snaffle seems to work the best for her. I’m off work all next week so we’re going to try some refinements and different adjustments with bit placement, curb strap, etc. I’m also going to try a correction bit that I have but don’t really think it’ll be any better.
She works well in the shanked bit but will sometimes throw her head at the beginning of a cue. I think just too much happening all at once for her with the poll pressure and all. Everything just has to be very light and slow right now until she gets accustomed to everything.
We still go back to the snaffle quite a bit as she learns and refines a few things. She is really responsive and doesn’t need much bit at all….just enough to “explain” what I’m looking for.
We’re starting to get just a little bit of hip control but it seems to be a tougher one for her to pick up on. Her spins are coming along nice as she’s keeping her form more soild and it’s getting smoother. She keeps a nice low head through the spin and seems to understand it’s a forward motion maneuver.
She has a nice stop form and will shut it down with just a shift in weight. But we have to work on her straightness in the rundown quite a bit to get things working a lot better for her slides.
So on the 26th we’re goin to town to put it in front of the public. Next week will be getting a warm up routine worked out to get her settled when we get there. Refine a few things just a bit. Get the “pretty tack” out and tuned up. Start working her with the pretty saddle. Bathing, grooming, primping and all that silly stuff.
18 Jul 2008 at 12:57 pm
Amanda, Where is the Sept 20th NRHA show at?
The Heidi Green clinic is being limited to 10 riders. I think that’s a new thing so maybe other folks thought the same thing about being crowded.
Nice thing is it’s close to us…only about 40 miles. And it’s been so busy round here and we been supporting the oil companies this year so we don’t get off the property too much.
We got some new pictures and stuff on our website if you all care to take a look. Got a few horses for sale. Hate to see em go but I can’t keep up with all the young ones.
24 Jul 2008 at 5:31 am
It’s at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds in East Moline, IL. No showbill yet as far as I know.
24 Jul 2008 at 6:30 am
Hey! I’m still here! I’m getting Leo back in a week and a half! FIIIINALLLY! Then I’ll start bloggin away like a mad woman. I can’t wait to hear about how you guys are doing with your training.
Al, the trainer suggested that we keep Leo in an Argentine snaffle for roping. There isn’t much difference between that and a Tom Thumb right? He said the correction bit, “just pisses him off.” Corrections bits seem really popular with ropers. I still ride him in that elevator bit, which I absolutely love. He works so well with it. I think he gets enough pre-signal with it that he doesn’t get nervous. He knows whats coming.
Last weekend I had a roping lesson from a PRCA roper. He said, “You know MJ, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but you throw really good for a girl.” LOL. I’m going to take that as a compliment. Earlier that week I had a Cattle Sorting lesson. You know, that is SO much harder than it looks. I wish I knew cow behavior as much as I know horse behavior. I think things would work so much better that way. Yeesh!
Amanda…I have to ask. So I’ve been complaining that no one around here shortens their horses’ tails like they used to. Then I saw your awesome photos and noticed some shortened tails. Is that the style out there? I love it! I wish it was that way here. And, not to be too girly, but have you seen those patterned overreach boots? I saw some with polka dots the other day and was TOTALLY jealous that I didn’t have a pair. (just ignore me Al. hee hee)
02 Aug 2008 at 12:37 am
Anybody that works cows, hangs out with a Turtles roper, and throws a loop pretty good can put polka dots on their horse and I’ll like it. Shoot they can wear English boots too. “It ain’t what you’re wearing, it’s what you can do.”
You musta done a real good job developing Leo’s mouth if he can rope in an Argentine. It is pretty much same thing as a Tom Thumb. Pretty mild bits. Good idea to work him in that elevator bit.
03 Aug 2008 at 7:21 am
Apparently my gelding thinks that shortened tails are in (& also likes the taste of them), because he’s the one who took it upon himself to shorten it last winter & now I’m slooooooowly waiting for it to grow back!
I have a fake tail that I put in before the show, but it just looked stupid because you could see where her real tail ended & the extension started. Everyone kept asking how old she was, because she’s small anyway (14hh) & with a half a tail everyone thought she was still a baby!!
04 Aug 2008 at 7:19 am
Amanda - DANG IT! I want that tail style to come back! I’m waiting for the comeback! Your gelding is a trendsetter.
Al - I’m so glad you approve. I found them in the NRS catalog. Also, about the Argentine, Jim says he was blowing past steer on Saturday so he wants a bigger bit. The trainer says that a correction bit pisses him off and since Jim rides mostly with the bit, it’s not sound like a good combo. We talked about it and decided that I would work him out a little with the correction bit and he would be sure to give him his head a lot more than normal at first til Leo builds some confidence.
It’s possible that Jim will rope on him this coming Saturday. He’s going to ride for the horse, not for the win if he does, which seems like a great strategy.
Did I ever show you guys the site I put together for where Jim ropes? http://www.weststarranch.com The Open Roping and Pro Am are coming up. Jim is going to rope with Trevor Brazile in the Pro/Am. It’s on the 27th of August! Leo and I are going to ride around in the arena with all the big time ropers! This might be the perfect occasion to break out the polka dotted overreach boots!
-MJ
05 Aug 2008 at 12:57 am
Have you two gone to anymore shows?
05 Aug 2008 at 12:57 am
You can try the correction bit but it’ll probably just piss him off again. How’s he stop in the elevator bit? A lot of time “less is more” with bits. As I recall you got a Billy Allen you can try too.
He’s young and new to the roping thing so blowing by steers is pretty common. They get all hyped up on adrenaline from the chase then get to forgetting things. All part of learning.
When you get him back, really go after his stop. Start at the walk again. Stop means “come back”. At the walk, when you give the stop cue perfect is only good enough. It’s dead stop and back with no hesitation. Get it to where you can throw the bit over the fence and do it…..just a shift in weight or “whoa” should do it. Make sure his form is perfect. Pretty much same thing at the trot.
At the lope and run give him a split second to get everything situated but stop still means come back. Once you get speed the backing will be mostly a thought for him and gets his body in position and makes him stop hard.
Speed kills. I know how things get with a green horse and a show or event coming up. I’m the king of stupidity when I got a show getting close and a horse still training. Try and listen to him….he’ll tell you things as you try a million different things at the last minute.
When you get to the roping give Jim some help. His adrenaline will be pumped too. Make sure all the cues, body position, etc. are consistent just like in practice. It’s real easy to try and get that last little bit out of a horse in the warm up pen. But the training is over for the day…gotta go with ya got.
05 Aug 2008 at 5:13 am
The WestStar website is amazing! Excellent work.
05 Aug 2008 at 5:21 am
WestStar webside is GREAT! Perfect. Awesome! Wow!
GREAT pictures too.
“Turns out Leo is super supple and I’ve done “a great job” there. ” Good for you and Leo MJ.
09 Aug 2008 at 10:18 am
Been pretty darned quiet around here lately.
14 Aug 2008 at 3:48 am
What is a “Turtles roper” anyways?
15 Aug 2008 at 2:22 am
The PRCA was originally called the “Cowboy Turtles Association”. Something about they were slow to organize so they called themselves turtles.
For some reason they don’t teach that in history class in high school.
15 Aug 2008 at 5:03 am