More Lunging with saddle

Howdy again.

Before I say anything else, FYI there is a post I just posted about yesterday below this post. So PLEASE read that BEFORE you read this post if you haven't yet. And please leave a comment on one of these posts. :) Thanx!!

When I got home from church today, I ate lunch, then I went out to feed the horses. I was going to work with Valley again, so I got all my stuff together and went outside. I fed them horses of mine, and while Valley was eating, I put a saddle pad on her, and attempted to put the western saddle on her, but it wasn't working for some reason, can't remember, so I put the English Saddle on her. I took her down to where she normally grazes, flexed her, and started lunging her to the left.

I made Valley start with a walk just so she could get used to the saddle. Then I made her trot. She did pretty well the more I did. Then I stopped her, flexed her on her right side, then sent her off to the right. That is her, and my worst side to do ANYTHING with her.

First I couldn't get her to walk, then when I get her to trot, every time she got to the same spot every time in the circle, she'd slow down, or jump, or pull, or buck, or all at the same time. She kicked out basically every time she got to that spot. But I think it was because there was a tree almost in her way, so I moved over, and she didn't kick anymore, but still did the rest. I FINALLY got her to go one and a half circles fairly well.

When Valley finally did it fairly good, I let her stop and eat some grass. She was sweaty, and happy for a break. I had planned on lunging and turn Valley in different directions, but we had worked a while on lunging her to the right, I've decided to do it tomorrow instead.

I put my helmet on, and lowered the stirrups on the saddle. I put my foot in the stirrup, and put pressure to get on, and the saddle slipped to the side I was getting on. It was pretty loose. The girth wasn't very loose, but I couldn't tighten it anymore, and I couldn't get on without the saddle slipping, or someone to hold the saddle straight for me, but I didn't have anyone right then, so I decided to just take the saddle off and put her away.

I took Valley back up to the shed, and tied her up. Then I took the saddle and pad off, and put them away. I brushed Valley where the saddle had been, untied her, and took her to the water hose. I turned on the water, and started to spray her Valley off. She did pretty good, but moved around some, especially when the water was on her hind legs.

When I was done spraying Valley off, I turned off the water, and walked Valley in a few big circles to cool her down. I should have done that before I sprayed her off, but I didn't think about it. Anyhow, I put her back into the pasture, and she cantered off I think. Well, maybe she didn't. Honestly, I don't remember. I just had to say something. I couldn't leave the sentence saying 'Anyways, I put her back into the pasture'. See? That would have sounded bad.

Anywho, I'll type later!
Sarah

Lungeing with saddle

Howdy ya'll!!



Guess what? YESTERDAY I SAT ON VALLEY WHEN SHE HAD THE ENGLISH SADDLE ON HER!!

Lemme start from the beggining:



So I was sitting inside, when I had the sudden urge to canter across the pasture on Valley. I thought to myself, the only way I can do that anytime soon, is to go work with Valley so I can get her trained. So, I grabbed my helmet, handy stick and string, and my Clinton Anderson leadrope and headed outside. I decided to go ahead and feed both horses since I was going to have Valley out anyway, and I didn't want Chloe standing inside the pasture doing nothing. So I grabbed Valley's other leadrope and halter, and headed towards the shed where I feed Chloe and Valley.



After I fed them, I left Valley tied up, but shortened her leadrope. I got a saddle pad and put it on her. Then got the English saddle, and put it on Valley. After I tightned the girth as much as I could, I untied her, and took her down where she usually grazes.

My dad was there watching, and I started to lunge here, and she was doing small bucks. They wern't exactly bucks but close to it. I wanted to get her 'bucking' on camera, so my dad went to get the video camera. It wasn't charged, so we had to wait till it charged some.

When the camera was done charging, my mom came down with it. She filmed, my dad watched, and I lunged. : ) Valley 'bucked' here and there. I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing. I wish I had a round pen, so I could put here in there and let her buck, instead of my attempting to lunge her while she was bucking.

After a bit, I stopped lungeing Valley, and called my dad over. He held Valley close by the leadrope, and I lowered the stirrups. And then I put my left foot in the stirrup, and I..

*drum roll please* thank you

..mounted!! That was the first time I'd ever been on Valley while she had been wearing saddle. My dad s..l..o..w..l..y.. led Valley a few steps. I felt like I was a little kid riding a pony for her first time. It kind of was actually. Valley's a horse, but pony sized, I had someone leading me SLOWLY, and it was my first time for being on Valley with a saddle! Lol. So kind of the same. Not really. Nah.

Anywhoo...

I then told dad to hand me the leadrope and step away from Valley and I. I took the leadrope and flexed Valley on both sides, then I practiced turns with her. She did great! It felt really weird for me to be sitting on her while she's walking with a saddle. Before when I've sat on her bareback, she would walk around to graze, but it felt different with the saddle. She did great on her turns, and I was HAPPY! I'm glad mom got that on film. :)