Riding Galore!

Mercy really needs to be ridden daily so we can work out some issues. So far this week we have ridden everyday. My sister and I started off the week (Tuesday, lol!) by trailering the girls over to the Landsburg trails. My sister and I use to ride these trails when we (and Star) were younger. It was great to be back. We picked up some Subway for lunch and headed out. I grabbed my old saddle bags that attach to the back of the saddle. Star's saddle doesn't have any strings or D-rings, so it was Mercy's time to shine. I have not attached anything to the back of her saddle before, but she handled it like she had done it forever.

We hit the trail and not too soon after we left we heard an animal crashing through the woods up the hill in front of us. Mercy and Star stood and stared that way for a while, but it didn't take long to refocus. After an hour into our ride we stopped for our lunch. Once we were done, we loped up the hill to the next trail system. I was so proud that Mercy wasn't fazed by the large saddle bags banging on her sides as we made our way up the trail. What a good girl!

Then, on Wednesday, my sister and I headed out back on our trails for a quick ride to the lake. Mercy and I followed Star and Kimberly down the trail quiet and relaxed. This was great because Mercy really doesn't like to bring up the rear. Scary things follow her, I guess?!

Thursday morning we headed out again out back, but this time we did the 'big loop,' riding on the old train tracks and wandering back through the woods. Everything started out great. We got over to the tracks and loped a little before heading into the woods. After a few switchbacks we headed down to the creek on our way home. Unfortunately, that's where the fun ended.

Star went down to her knees for reasons we still don't know. Kimberly stayed up, but I don't know how. Star was able to right herself once she got her hind feet under herself, a tough achievement when on flat ground and harder even yet when facing downhill on a gravel service road. We jumped off to address the situation. Both of her already arthritic knees were bleeding, as well as her fetlocks. I grabbed the vetwrap and a tissue out of her saddle bag and wrapped up the worst of her bleeding wounds, her left fetlock. I offered for Kimberly to jump on Mercy, but she insisted on walking with Star back to the house. Luckily, we weren't more than 20 minutes away.

After getting back, we washed her legs and applied some swat. Star's no good at keeping bandages on her joints, so we just apply a fly barrier. Poor girl. We just don't know what do think about all of this. Her toes were a little long, but not bad at all. And she has arthritis, but generally it only bothers her in the winter when it's cold and we don't ride as much. The only other thing I can think of is that her back was sore from all of the riding we had been doing. This really doesn't make sense to me though because I palpated her back for soreness before that ride, only to find nothing at all. IDK...

Since Star was not going to be ridden for quite a few days, I took Mercy over to a friends place instead of trail riding yesterday. I rode her for a little over an hour practicing rail work. We worked on a nice collected jog, leg yields, and eventually we got to loping. I usually ask her to take the lead she has problems with first, so that we end on the easy lead. This time I wanted to shake things up and start with her left lead. This is the one we that we rarely have problems getting. Not so. Mercy decided the right lead was her idea of fun. After catching the wrong lead she immediately went into a series of weak crow hops. *Sigh*

I quickly brought her back to a walk and tried again. This time we got it and were much happier about it. That whole series of event was quite interesting. I remember thinking, once we were loping on the correct lead, how at the last show Mercy kept taking the right lead, even though we had circled to the left and practiced all of our maneuvers to the left. Weird, but whatever. Now was the time to fix it. I brought her down to the jog several times and again asked for the correct lead. Once I has satisfied, we switched directions. Of course she preferred this lead, now, and took it each time I asked.

After a short break, we practiced some pivots and side passing. Then we headed back to the rail. We jogged out and when we came to the straightaway, we rounded a barrel that was in the middle of the arena. I visualized my pocket and guided Mercy with my hand on our new reins. She needed a little more guidance lifting her shoulder, but overall I was really pleased. We did this on and off for another half an hour. Then it was cooling down time so I jumped off and walked her around for a while until she found some weeds to munch on. What a great way to prepare for our next gaming show... hopefully tomorrow!

btw, this was too cute to not put up. The wildlife around here is as lively as ever. Here is one of the new twins- s/he was trying to reach the water. It eventually did, with the help of a rock to stand on! The tree and violet-green swallow babies have left the nesting boxes. Only the barn swallow babies need to take permanent flight now. However, they are flying, just not leaving the nest! LOL!!

Sunday Gaming

Mercy and I ventured into the great unknown this weekend. Kinda. Sorta. We went gaming by ourselves! My dad did tag along in the morning until I got registered, but then he headed back home to finish other chores. We loaded up and headed out early so that Mercy would have plenty of time to get warmed up. Good thing we did because she was a handful. She loped nicely enough when I was in the warm arena. Once I got into the main arena, however, she could barely walk. There were too many distractions: horses zooming past, or stopping mid stride right in front of us and completing a rollback, the tractor moving the dirt around, and guys setting up the first course of the day. I finally got her to walk calmly when the called for the arena to be cleared.

Waiting for me to sign up for the day

Keyhole was first, so while waiting for our turn we practiced stopping and rollbacks. Things were going well and when our number was called we headed over to the course. I asked Mercy for her left lead while making a circle and the little bugger picked up her right lead! I didn't have enough room to correct her, as we had already crossed the timer line, so we changed plans. Unsuccessfully unfortunately. Once we got into the chalk outline Mercy didn't stop. Yup, we got our first No Time ever! Grrrr....

Eating the 'good stuff' at the bottom of the bag during a break

Even though we NTed and didn't place, we did make up some good time. This was the case for all of my other classes. Figure 8, Cal Stake, Flags, Barrels, ans Key Race were all run on the right lead, even though every time I had asked for and had practiced on the left. It worked out for barrels since that is the one event we go right first, but it sure was a pain. I knew I needed to correct her, but I just didn't want a fight yet. We are finally loping. I am alright with that. I know she can pick up the correct lead, but for now I let it go. Next time I will be more demanding. That should be fun, lol!!!

My dad came out again to drop off some Subway sandwiches and check on things. I really appreciate him doing this for me. It sure makes things easier. And other than the loose pony (who was "caught" by Mercy) and the loud, earthshaking, scary diesel trucks and motor homes driving by (which she got over with by the time we left) things went smoothly riding solo at the show.

Watching the scary motor home that had just passed

Anyway, here are our times for this latest show:

Keyhole~ 15.742 NT
Figure 8~ 18.007
Cal Stake~ 13.076
Flags~ 23.871
Barrels~ 22.136
Key Race~ 15.691

Overall, it was a great day! We bettered or equaled out run times since the last show and no one got hurt. I'd can that a day gone right! ;)

Mercy peeking around that corner to see where I had gone... to find shade

Bucks and Gains

Last Sunday was Mercy and my second gaming show. The morning was moving slowly from the start. I got up around 6:30AM and was ready to leave by 7:00, but we didn't even go out to the barn to get Mercy until 7:45. She loaded fairly well and we were on our way. I drove the trailer down the main highway to the saddle club putting on the show. What I didn't realize is that they were doing road work and instead of leaving signs up warning drivers about the 5-6" drops they ground out of the pavement up ahead, we simple fell into them without notice or time to slow down on our way down the road. Thanks pavers, my already not-so-easy-to-keep-happy-while-trailering horse is now even more nervous, thanks....

Anyway, we get to the show and pull in under a giant tree. That would have come in handy if the sun had ever broke, which honestly I am glad it never did. Gaming in extreme heat is not fun or me or my horses. I unload Mercy and tie her up, then head over to the show office to sign up. Once again, the morning is crawling along. The office was running really slow and it took quite a while to get out. By the time I left, the first event was set up and the riders were finishing their warm-ups. I quickly tacked up Mercy and headed over to the now abandoned warm-up arena.

She was ready to go and responsive. I usually trot quite a bit and don't bother loping her. This day she was having a little trouble circling to the right, which is not unusual for her. I continued to circle her until she loosened up a little and became more responsive. Then I turned her to the left and loped her out with ease. Her willingness led me to believe she was ready to join the others.

I rode her over into the arena and found a spot to relax until our turn. Mercy and I are only qualified to ride in the 'D' class, so we had to wait until 'C' was over with for keyhole. When our number was called I pointed her out and asked her to trot a circle. We trotted to the left and then I pointed her straight. She suddenly decided, as we passed through the timers, that it was more fun hanging out with friends than working or running. So, she picked up a lope on the left lead (the one she usually bucks on) and started to buck a little more than she even has with me before! Thank goodness a great 'arena mom' was yelling at me to sit which broke my disbelief that this was happening. I needed to act, not daydream!

Once I had control again, we backed and backed until she relaxed her head and broke at the poll. I wanted to finish the run, but I couldn't remember if I had gone through the timers. Once I got my answer I continued down and back, finishing keyhole. After a run I usually reward my horses by heading back to the trailer for a snack. Nope. Not this time. I took her straight to the warm-up and worked her butt. We did serpentine, transitions, lots of circles to the left, and leg yields. Anything to keep her busy. Once she offered a super smooth 'whoa,' I jumped off and walked her back to the trailer.

Figure 8 was next. I decided not to warm up too much because we were going to trot this run. I also didn't let her just hang out while waiting. I kept her moving around, zigzagging around horses and stopping at random. Our number was called and we headed out. I circled her twice this time and trotted her out. She kept trying to pop up into a lope, but I kept her calm and trotted the course, got off, and returned to the trailer.

From then on, things went much better. Cal stake was quick because it's not only a down and back type event, but I also let Mercy lope. She was finally figuring it out! Flags was next and my grandma had come out with my dad to watch us. Flags is easy when your horse is use to them, but I have not had to experience riding a horse that still needed direct reining while carrying a flag. Mercy did great! I grabbed the first flag with my right hand and bunched the reins in my left hand. She got a little confused when she tried to cross the course, but once she figured out this wasn't Figure 8, we made some good time.

Barrels was going to be our last event for the day. I was getting a little sore and didn't want to wait around at the end of the day to pay up, with everyone else. This event takes a long time because you can only have one person go at a time, instead of running two events at time. We had a long wait before my turn, so I unsaddled Mercy and let her graze under the tree while we all watched the other riders. Some mischievous boys came along at some point and were playing on the tree, throwing stuff and yelling off war chants. Or something...


I got Mercy saddled up and headed out. I wasn't expecting much spectacular, so we quickly warmed up and headed out. When it was our turn, I let her loose. She loped out like pro. I don't know on which lead, but when we got to the first barrel she rounded it on the correct lead. After making it around we headed to the next one. She momentarily got confused and tried to go around the wrong side, but she was easy to correct and we continued on. Over to the third barrel and we were loping home! Loping! Woot!

She did very well and with the help of the arena moms, we got a great time for our first barrel run ever! Here is the break down of our times:

Keyhole- 31.970
Figure 8- 25.069
Cal Stake- 14.559
Flags- 19.328
Barrels- 23.847

To see how we have (or have not, lol!) progressed, look back a few posts to find our previous times. We had a break this weekend and I will be not going this coming weekend, but expect us back out there on the 27th or 28th! Can't wait to do it again! ;)

Fun in the sun

Last Sunday was Mercy's big debut in the (local) gaming world. We loaded up at about 7:30 in the morning and headed out to Green River Saddle Club where the first PSHA Cascade Region show of the year was being held. I decided to go Sunday instead of Saturday because the real first day is usually HUGE! We rolled up around 8 and there was plenty of parking still. We unloaded a very 'up' Mercy and I went to the show office to check in.

Once I placed my Cascade Region number (C-188) on my saddle pad, I saddled her up and walked her over to the arena where they were working the ground. Mercy was still not really paying attention to me, so I did a few ground exercises with her before I got on. We headed over to the warm up arena, which is REALLY rocky and us many unidentifiable objects stirred into the dirt, so we took it slow and only walked and worked on rollbacks and stops. Once she softened up and was responsive to my slight cues we left the warm up arena and headed out to the main arena where there were a few other riders warming up. I let Mercy walk and trot around on the super soft dirt and get a feel for the large, open space. After the timers were set up and the start line was marked, the show began.

Since this was Mercy's first show, we entered the D-class, for slow pokes. Fine with me! My goal for the day was to stay on if she tripped, prevent any bucking, and let Mercy get use to the busy environment, not win. I preferred to walk and jog, but if she offered a controlled lope I wasn't going to discourage it. The first event was Cal Stake, and event where a single pole is stood at the end of the arena and you simply run down the arena, around the pole, and back through the timers, pretty simply. When it was our turn, I circled Mercy once, just to get her use to a routine, and asked her to jog. She decided otherwise and tried to lope, unsuccessfully, and started a little crow hopping. *sigh* I asked her to trot, which she took her time to respond to, and rounded the pole. She tried to take off again but I held her back and made her jog. What was I thinking taking her to a gaming show...

We rode back into the middle of the arena, between the two gaming sides where everyone stands waiting for their turn, and found some friends to hang out with. This is the time when Mercy shined! It really didn't matter what was going on around her, she stood still and quiet. Other horses would bump into her and she would just look at them. I love social horses! She never once tried to kick or bite anyone, but she also didn't buddy up with any one horse either. Sweet.

At some point I headed over to the trailer and offered Mercy a drink and some hay. While I was hanging out for the next event, I determined that my barrel saddle did not fit Mercy very well at all. She just doesn't have any withers, and being built downhill, the saddle was not staying in place. I hauled out my old breast collar for her and tightened it on. Until I can find a better solution, the saddle will just need to be held in place. We heard the buckaroos (lead line, basically) riding, so we bridled up and headed back up to the arena.

The next event was keyhole, another down and back event, where there is a "keyhole" shaped chalk outline on the ground. You have to run into it, perform a rollback, and get out without touching the line. This time Mercy was much more behaved. I momentarily thought we would get down to the keyhole and she would stop to inspect the chalk, but I kept my body language forward and she didn't even glance at it. I was quite impressed and almost forgot to roll her back, lmao! After the successful controlled jog down I decided to let her lope back through the timers, which she did beautifully! No silliness what-so-ever! One more down!

After another quick break, in which she stood at the trailer like a pro, we headed back up to the arena. This was going to be my last event for the day because I had to head over to a different show to help with the 4H kids. Figure 8 was another event I had not practiced at home. Really, only barrels is the only one I have set up, but that will change soon as I have finally pulled out my cones and poles! It took so long to do because my motivation to practice on my rocky pasture is less than anything else. Anyway, Mercy really settled in for this event. She was responsive to leg, seat, and reins. We actually got a little lope going again too! We definitely had more trouble turning right around the pole than left (very slight, however).

Once we pulled up to a stop, we were done! I jumped off, loosened all the gear, and walked back to the trailer. The breast collar had helped keep the saddle in place, but I had to keep it tighter than I like to. I have a new saddle pad being shipped to me that I think will help a lot with this (if it ever gets here... it's been two months now...). I took off her tack, brushed her down, and headed to the office to pay up. It was only $13 for the three runs and haul-in fees, nice! I also got our times. Not too shabby for a few problems and our first time out:
Cal Stake- 21.665 sec

Keyhole- 17.431 sec

Figure 8- 21.002 sec

She loaded up like a champ and we headed home. I wish we could have stayed for barrels, pole bending, key race, and flags, but I had prior commitments. I plan on heading over to South Seattle Saddle Club next weekend for another show. We'll see what we can build on from this show!

Obligatory Picture of Mercy being cute while I try the barrel gear on her for the first time a few days before the show:

A Single Blue Ribbon

I had butterflies in my stomach the moment I said yes to a friends invitation to a playday being put on by the Tahoma Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen. Not only was it going to be Mercy and my first time doing any kind of competing that wasn't performance, I was also going to pick up my friend, Chrissy's horse, Luna. I have never loaded Mercy and then picked up a strange horse too. My Saturday morning my nerves were about all I could handle.

It was trying to drizzle, but for the most part it was just cloudy. We were going to be late because I had a hair appointment, oh well. My parents helped me out by hooking up the truck and trailer while I was gone. When I was out of the salon, I called up Chrissy so she could get her horse ready and ride down to the road I was going to pick her and Luna up from. Then I went to grab Mercy.

Oh boy... we had 'appy-tude' from the get go. She didn't want to stand still for grooming, didn't want to leave the front pasture, and walking up to the trailer she had that mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Well, sure enough she didn't want to load. It has been about a year since I have trailered her out alone, but really? I didn't expect that at all. I had my mom stop watching so Mercy didn't feel so pressured or threatened by a bystander. Sigh...

After a few 'kinda' tries I demanded she get in. She did, but didn't stay. After a few circles and half-hearted rears and freak outs, I got her in again. This time she moved all the way to the front like she usually does and I started to close the divider. She hit it, but moved forward off of the pressure. I probably should have lead her out and in a few times more, but we were really running late at that point and it's not like she hasn't done this before. Get over it! :)

Star was exercising herself in her paddock and screaming up a storm as we drove away. We finally reached Landsburg and I pulled over on the large gravel shoulder to load up Luna. More fun... she didn't want to load either. Mercy got a little nervous while Chrissy and her mom worked on getting Luna in, but once she was, both horses acted like they knew each other forever. Not a peep or kick the whole way out to the Double B. Nice.

We quickly unloaded the horses, saddled up, registered, and entered the arena where maybe another 20 horses (and a mule) were halfway through one of the events, keyhole. We made our way to the end of the arena where we got up and were promptly moved to the actual end of the line. I really wasn't to sure about doing this event since I had not warmed up myself or Mercy, and it had been a challenging morning already. I wasn't sure what to think until it was too late and my name was called. Mercy was feeling good, a little too good, and was dancing around a bit, but we just walked circles until I got a nice walk, then we headed down the run. I asked her for a trot before she headed into it herself. We went through the four upright poles with no hesitation, performed a kinda good spin to the left, and headed back down the arena toward the finish line. Took another circle or two to get her to a walk once we finished, but man! What a great first run!

Didn't win in that event, but that's OK. Most of the other BCH members were going all out, or were letting their finished gaming horses go all out! The next event was barrels. While they were setting up the course a baby pigeon fell from the rafters. He was moved out of the way into the corner behind where Chrissy and I were waiting our turn. After half of the riders had gone, the bird waddled (hmm, do pigeons waddle?) out into the arena. Not wanting it or any horses who spook to get hurt, Mercy and I attempted to herd the pigeon back to its corner. Unfortunately, I think Mercy would have just stepped on it, or bit it, so I got off and herded it myself. Too bad, pigeon herding could have been the next great equine event! NOT!

When it was our turn at barrels we got right to it. I have practiced barrels at my friend's place whenever I trailer out to ride, but I don't 'let her go.' We work at the walk and trot until she gets the point of rating and pockets, then if she's lucky, I let her lope a go. I started out here at the trot by she was responding so well I let her move into the lope. Coming out of the third barrel she stumbled a little, but still got around and did a great job listening and feeling for me to stop her. Sorry the pics are so blurry. It's not operator error, I had it on the wrong setting. Sorry mom! :)The next event was 'Simon Says,' but Mercy thought it was 'Mercy Says.' We were walking along great, then we were trotting. First ones out too, sigh. It actually worked out fine because that meant I had the whole end of the arena to practice standing still and pivots.

The walk-trot relay was where Chrissy and I shined this day. There was a barrel at the end of the arena and the first horse had to walk over to it and around it without breaking gait. After crossing the finish line the second rider leaves at a trot, goes around the barrel, and trots home. Fastest time wins. Chrissy was my race buddy and volunteered to go first. Luna and Chrissy were off and (kinda) soon made it back to the finish line. I had Mercy in a trot long before she got back and crossed the line as soon as Luna's tail was past. She tried breaking into a lope a few times, popping up, but never completed the lope stride. I can get her moving pretty well and going home I past the horse in the other lane. We waited for the awards. I thought maybe 3rd or 2nd cause we did complete a clean run at a decent pace. When they said Chrissy and my name, we both must have looked almost horrified! There was no way we won! Really!?! Naw.... but here they came with the ribbons. Wow. A blue ribbon. A silly blue ribbon. I was ready for more!

TP race was next, another partner race. Unfortunately, Chrissy and I were already in trouble cause both of us were riding green horses and only mine *kinda* knew how to neck rein. We didn't run into trouble until they asked us to turn left. I told Chrissy to let me push her horse around cause I knew Mercy would turn for me. Well, we made it around and Chrissy decided to keep Luna turning. In order for me to catch up I had to trot, so we were out. Never broke the TP though!!!!

We participated in the baton race, but Luna had a little melt down so that was that. I think Chrissy did a great job handling her little mare and all ended well. The last event was team flags. So many teams had DQed, so all we had to do was complete the course. Luna went first and it took some time getting her positioned correctly to pick up the flags cause she just wanted to eat them, but after that was worked out Mercy and I were off. Now, I have never practiced flags with her, but I do use a flag around her in training, so I wasn't expecting a big deal. She just went past it like she didn't even know it was there. I reached over and picked it up, carrying it to the neck barrel. After dropping that one and grabbing the next flag we headed for home. I let her lope and she travel straight and true, so I got it in the barrel and flew across the finish line. At thins point most people had left the arena and were packing up. Before we left, we were informed that we had been awarded 3rd place, a white ribbon! Yup, that's right! Persistence and green horses do, in fact, mix!

We decided not to hang around and ride in the free arena just in case they wouldn't load. We loaded Luna up first since, supposedly, she has really only been trailered up front. Of course, it didn't take long and I loaded Mercy up like we had for the past year: point and load. Automatic. Since Mercy was in last, we dropped her off at my place first before heading to Landsburg to drop off Luna and Chrissy for their ride home.

All I have left to say (er, write...) is driving an empty trailer is a real treat! ;)