Honor My Memory (aka Cruze) Measurements

Date of Birth 05-10-2020

15 hands tall as of 08-22 (27 months old)

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His string test said he will top at 15.3.

Tempting Fate

I rode Jagger today. Not just a few times around the round pen. We rode places where "attitude" kicks in. Yes, we tempted fate and temper tantrums. Through the gate out into the back pasture, he stopped on me. When I gave him a heel nudge, he picked up a back foot and kicked (like kicking a fly off his tummy) and I "EH EH!!" him.

He was like "I'm not going."

And my leather over and under strap said "Yes, you are."

And he was like... "No.. Really. I'm not." As he backed up several steps and stomped his foot like a diva.

And my leather over and under strap said "Beg to differ... you goin', bitch."

And he was like "WTF! So it's like that now???? OK OK I"m going." And he went. Quite huffy about it. But he went.

We circled each pasture, then back to the barn, then back out again and didn't stop until there wasn't a hint of "Oh Hell No." When I aimed him through one of the gates.

Then after a hay break, I took him out to the obstacle course in hand where he did everything without a single complaint and didn't even reply to Lexie when she screamed "But where are you going!!!!???" from the barn.

There may be hope for the boy after all.

My Horse Tale for the Day.... "Let the Puppies Breath"

So I'm taking Jagger to the St. Jude Ride this weekend (Nov 21) and I thought I'd like to use my treeless because it is so comfy. I've always used the hornless endurance saddle with him. There is a lot of activity going on as we have a dump truck, a Caterpillar, a tractor and a golf cart running around in our back woods which is visable from the round pen. I let him watch until he was bored with them. Then I saddled him up and lunged him. So far so good. I drug a bucket to use as a mounting block instead of my usual mounting block (first mistake). The treeless saddle is very high. It has a high pommel with a tall horn and a high cantle. So it takes a little more umph to get into it swiftly WHICH is why I always use something easier to get into with the young 'uns at first. Well I go to get on and he moves. So we do a little standing lesson until he's standing still when I step up. The bucket is shorter than my mounting block so I'm having to put some arse into getting up. I go to mount again and the "umph" pulls on him a little, he moves. I don't want to hang off the saddle so I lean forward to balance, decide to step back down rather than swing my leg over because I want him to stand still when I mount (second mistake - I should have mounted, dismounted, then made him stand as I mounted again). As I step down, my shirt and bra hook on the high saddle horn. I'm thinking to myself --- "Oh Shit!!" He's still moving so I pull his head around with one rein to stop. At this rate, he knows something is weird so instead of stopping, he yields his hindquarters away from me. My bra snaps, my shirt rips wide open, he bolts forward a few steps and stops at the railings of the round pen. Since I'm free now, the momentum takes me right into the railing. I get to my feet pretty quick, wrist stinging, side stinging and "puppies" flapping in the breeze. Luckily I had enough shirt left to pull over them and no one saw it happen!! The ONE time I don't video tape a session -- Hahahaha! I remove reins, leave him in the round pen while I run up to the house and get a new shirt and bra, inspect the damage. Gonna be sore on my side and neck tomorrow and I have a righteous goose egg on one wrist. Otherwise, I'll live. And I knew what I had to do. I went back out to the round pen and for the next 15 minutes, I mounted, dismounted, mounted, dismounted. Then I rode him for about a half hour or so. Then dismounted, mounted, dismounted, mounted. He stood like a good boy. So all in all, it was a good session and no one saw my boobs!

Wasps Suck (ok sting)

My foot brushed a patch of palmettos today while riding and there was a wasps nest within. Got stung a few times on my foot! It hurt! But thank God they didn't sting Alexis. She is in hard heat and squealy... but not misbehaving (other than sticking her butt in everyone and everything's face)

My foot is itchy!!!

Driving Mr. Jagger

Jagger got his first ground driving lesson today. He was excellent. Didn't take him long to figure out I didn't want to go in circles. We quit then with a lot of praise.
Then he got a bath, followed by Alexis and Cody. Cody decided to act like he'd never seen a lawn mower before and broke a halter (rolls eyes). Really?? So silly.

They Can't Always Be Good...

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Alexis was naughty yesterday. I rode her around the pasture and when we turned back toward the barn she wanted to GO GO GO. Any attempts at slowing her were met with resistance. She stopped but then started hopping in place. When I turned her away from the barn she just started going forward with her head to the side and hopping. (like little rears).
She was being very fresh. And I did realize it was the first time I'd ridden her at home where I didn't lunge her first. (she'd been in the stall all day). So.... I rode her up to the barn and around it a few times, then dismounted and we went out to the round pen and she worked good and hard until she was quite ready to walk. 

Then back to the barn, where I mounted her then worked her around the outside of the barn for a bit. Then we went out into the pasture for a circle or two and called it a day. First time she's been naughty with me in THAT way! BUT I wasn't really surprised because she's been testing the waters lately with not wanting to go into the trailer. Takes all of ten minutes or less to convince her otherwise but ya know, those babies gotta try.

On the bright side the bolting is better!

Alexis at Little Manatee River State Park