Day 20 out of 105

Still not feeling the best today, so I didn't stay to long at the barn again today. We did more of the stopping from the trot, and then from there we backed up. I picked up all four of his feet today with out him putting up a fight. The last thing I did with Upendi was take him outside with all the cars and trailers. He was good with all of the new things and he listened to me the next thing we will work on is trailer loading.

Day 19

I am feeling a little bit under the weather, so I didn't spend very much time today out at the barn. We mostly worked on the same things as yesterday. However, I did get to pick three hooves out today. We also worked on stopping from the trot.

Day 18

To see videos of my speed events from yesterdays 4-H show go to http://www.facebook.com/kalynmarisa. 

I got a new saddle today and I tried it on Bunny. It fits her nicely. The only problem right now is that it creeks when I ride. 

Upendi was kind of naughty today and that was a little frustrating. When he was in the shade he didn't want to go in the sun and when he was in the sun he wouldn't walk into the shade. I can defiantly tell that Upendi is testing me because everything I ask him to do he would try to not do it. We worked on trotting today and Mark said that that looked pretty good. I think the next thing to do is to get him in the trailer.   

Day 17

Today Bunny and I went to a horse show for 20 bucks. But at the end of the day when I added up all my paybacks I only payed 7 dollars for the show. After the show I brought Bunny back to the barn and I worked with Upendi. First off I had him trot. Then I tied him up so I could brush him. After I brushed him I picked up all 4 feet. I was able to clean out his front feet. Then I braided his hair so his neck would be cooler. The rubber bands I used we multi colored and they looked pretty darn good on him. 

Day 16

Today I was getting ready for a show that is tomorrow. I washed Bunny and while she was drying I grabbed my rope to work with Upendi. After going over all the basic stuff we practiced backing. Then I made a big loop with my rope and put it on Upendi's back. Soon enough he had a rope around his belly. I led him around. When I wanted him to trot I would pull on the lead rope, cluck then pull the rope on his belly. By the end of today I had him trotting on lead with no rope around him belly. YIPPEE!

Day 15

Today I tied Upendi up outside his stall while I brushed him and picked up his feet. Then We walked him into the arena. Mark helped me with starting to lead him at the the trot and back him up. I can back him up now. Mark got Upendi to trot but I couldn't get him to. I will have to work on that tomorrow. When I rode Bunny I left Upendi in the arena tied up. It was funny to see him watch all the horses while they were being ridden.

Day 14

Today I brought Upendi out to the arena again. We walked down to the end and turned around and walked back. People were riding in the arena and it scared him a little bit when a horse cantered toward him. Then we walked him out toward the tacking up area. He did great.

Day 13

When I got to the barn today I tied Upendi up and then tied  Bunny up facing him.  While he was tied up i picked up his feet, we still need to work on that.I also braided his hair,brushed out his tail. Then I brought him to the round pen again to kick up his heels. This time I left him in there While I rode my other horse, Bunny. While I was riding somebody needed the round pen so my mom lead him to his run. She said that he was good for her. Then I put his fly wraps.

Day 12

Today Upendi and I worked on lead on his right side. He likes everything more on his left, so I need to work more on his right. When I lead Upendi I stop him a lot. He stops on a dime. We also worked on our turns. Then I brought Upendi out to the round pen to run around. It was funny to see him bucking and kicking. When he was done running around I brought him back to his stall. Then we worked on fly wraps on all four feet. When I left Upendi had all four fly wraps on.

Day 11

Today was a great day Upendi accomplished many things. There was a new pile of dirt that was in his pen. I used a big rake type thing to spread it out. I could move the rake around right next to his feet. The next thing we did was venture out of his stall to be tied up. I tied him on to his stall so it wasn't that drastic but it was a change. While he was tied up Sarah walked by with a wheel barrow full of hay. He didn't care about it. It might have helped that Sarah walked by with it before we went out and got tied up. When he was tied up I braided his mane. After being tied up we took another little journey and walked into the arena. It was Upendi's first time seeing this part of the barn and he acted great. He was very interested when another person in the arena started to lunge their horse. The last thing I introduced Upendi to today was the fly boots. I played around with the vel-crow then put them on. And that was the end of day 11.

To see the two videos from today go to http://www.facebook.com/kalynmarisa.

Day 10

Today wasn't very eventful, we just reviewed everything. The first thing that we did was turns. Upendi understands my body language, that tells him to turn, a little more. The next thing I did was tie him up. Upendi has this terrible habit of chewing on his rope and I was working to correct that. I fly sprayed him again, no big deal, but I would like to put fly wraps on him tomorrow. Next I picked up his feet, that still needs some work. Then I walked him around the walkway outside his run. When we walked all the way down I would stop him and work on his turns. And that is all Upendi Bay and I did on day 1o.

Day 9

The first thing that I did with Upendi today was lead him on his right side and tie him up. He really understands the whole tying up because through out the whole grooming process he didn't move an inch. I picked up Upendi's feet today we are getting a little better with that. I am thinking that he might be more cooperative if I am picking up his feet for a reason like cleaning them out. We fly sprayed Upendi again today and he doesn't care about fly spray one bit. Next we reviewed his turns. He understands turns on his hindquarters more than turns on his forequarters. Next I tied Upendi up again in a new spot in his stall and brushed out his mane. Then I brushed out the dreadlocks in his tail. I tried braiding his tail bit it looked pretty pathetic because his tail is so thick and short. The last thing that I did with Upendi is take him out of his stall and walk him around in the walk way. We would stop and work on both our forequarter and hindquarter turns on one side. Then I would switch sides and walk him back down and do the same thing. He did so good out there, we were out there for about 10 minutes.

Day 8

Today we played around with raincoats, ponchos, umbrellas and different noises. Then I took Upendi to the round pen. Mark helped me get him to run around and then to stop and face me. He also showed me how to make him pay attention to me. Upendi also learned how to do  turns on his hindquarters and forequarters today. When we were done in the round pen I walked him over a little to see the the arena. He seemed interested.  

Day 7

I brought Upendi out of his stall today and into the round pen. I was nervous about how he was going to act because of the last time I took him in there. So I let him go and inspect the pen before we started to work. I got a flag to get him to go forward. Once I got him to go around a few times I cut across to get him to switch directions. I kept doing that until he stopped to switch directions. Once he did I wanted him to face me and pay attention. After that I let him mosey around a little bit and he got to check out the flag. It was funny to watch him he was curious about the dog and he bit and pawed at the flag. Then Upendi and Bunny switched stalls because we thought Upendi was getting too attached to another horse. 

I got him a new halter that is like a teal blue color that looks really sharp on him. Plus it is much easier to control him with it. Today I also sprayed him with a different color fly spray bottle and he didn't care at all. I was thinking tomorrow maybe bring a rain slicker to play around with.

Day 6

We have an official name for my little mustang, Upendi Bay. Upendi means love and I got it from one of the Lion King movies. And Bay because he is bay.

Today channel 7 news came to our barn and interviewed everyone that had a mustang. Mark Lyon was interviewed first, then Sarah, then me, then Carissa, and the other ladies that have mustangs. When I was interviewed Upendi didn't care about the huge camera. He was a total star. But I was shy and didn't talk a whole lot. Even though I was shy I thought being interviewed was a really cool experience.

Day 5

The first thing we  worked on today was picking up feet. He was a little better than yesterday. Next we worked on stopping and backing up, I think we might need some help with that. Then I led him on the left, which was pretty good. The next thing we did was work on tying. I haven't actually tied  the lead rope onto the post, I have just wrapped it around. But he looks like he is getting the idea. Te last thing I did was lead him around his pen while I am on his right side. We defiantly need to keep working on that. Looking forward to working with him tomorrow.

Day 4

Today we didn't do much. When I got to the barn I fed him carrots. Then I picked up all four of his feet. He picked all of them up pretty easily, but he fussed a lot when I was holding them. Next I lead him out of his run, away from other horses and into the round pen. As soon as we got into that other room he wouldn't quit talking to the horses down the walkway. It was really hard to get him to concentrate, and he wanted to run around in little circles to try to find the other horses. After awhile the talking and the running around in circles were frustrating me and my mom had to remind him that it was only day four. But some positive things are that I picked up all four feet and got him to calm down in the round pen.

Day 3

Today we mostly worked on things from yesterday, like leading, brushing, and putting on a blanket. But I also added putting on a saddle blanket and touching all the way down his legs. He can also drink out of a water bottle and after he was done drinking i poured some water on him and he was fine. I have to go out to the barn later tomorrow because of my job but I cant wait. We still don't have an official name for him yet.

I also rode Bunny in English and she was awesome. There was so much going on in the arena I am surprised she wasn't fazed by it.

Day 2

Today we worked on the same things except I brushed him, sprayed him with fly spray, and put a blanket on him. We also worked on tying today.

I am so glad I got this horse he is so calm about everything I cant believe I even touched him let alone fly sprayed and put a blanket on him today. Unfortunately I don't have a name for him yet but I think I have a nick name for him: Bay Bay. I am excited to go out an work with him tomorrow.

Day 1

Well I got my mustang today it is a gelding, he is about 16 months old and he is a bay. Today we loaded him into the trailer after the people there put the halter on him, he just stepped right in to the trailer no problems. On the way home we took a few rest breaks and each time we looked at him and he was just standing there.

When we got back to the barn we pulled up to the round pin and unloaded. He just walked out of the trailer and into the round pin.I worked with him in the round pin and Mark helped me. I got him so that he could turn both directions and lead a little bit. I also got to touch him and rub him all over. When the other mustangs arrived they opened the garage door and he was fine with it. We also had to lead him to his pin when they arrived.

Next I rode Bunny and worked on slowing down her canter and making her strides shorter.

Then I went back to work with the mustang. I got his halter on and off, feed him hay, feed him grain, feed him treats and taught him how to use the automatic water tank. I am so excited to show off my horse to the rest of my family!

Listen to what the guy says at the end of the video: That wasn't even a challenge!!

Tomorrow

I am picking up my mustang TOMORROW! I cant wait to see if it is a boy or a girl, what color it is and how old it is. When we load it up we will head back home so i can start working with my mustang. :) i will post pictures tomorrow of my mustang.

Soo soo excited!

So today I am headed off to work and tomorrow I am headed off to Elm Creek to pick up my mustang. Last night we got the trailer ready for the horsey by taking out the divider and folding the tack room. We are going down to elm creek on thursday so we can get a good nights sleep instead of having to wake up early and drive the three hours. Friday morning we will pick up the mustang and head back to the barn. and from then on i have around 100 days to work with it. 

Underwood Hills Focus School

today we brought Bunny to my sisters school for show and tell. We unloaded here from the trailer and brought her to the black top. The kids came out form the third grade classes and they got to come up in table groups. When the groups came up they got to pet, brush and feed Bunny a treat. Bunny was loving this all of the kids were giving her treats, grain and hay; and she way getting brushed. By the end of the two classes she was full and taking a nap.

I thought this was a really cool experience and even though it took a while to work out the details I am glad we made Bunny the show and tell. Plus, it was an awesome experience for the kids I bet most of them haven't even seen a horse before in person. This also made me realize how much I can now do with my horse, a few years ago I hadn't been to a show or even known what loping or back on the rail meant. 

Underwood Hills Focus School Underwood Hills Lions Bunny getting loved on The kids feeding her treats

Mustang: Okay for the mustangs arrangements they have changed again back to where I first wanted it to be, in the first row of runs in the run next to my horse Bunny. So I am pretty happy about that.

almost here

8 more days until I get my mustang. Now we have a definite place to keep it and now we are just get getting ready for it. 

Tomorrow we are bringing my horse Bunny to my sisters school for show and tell. I dont know how well it will go but it will sure be interesting. Before we take bunny to the school I am going to give her a bath because she is dirty! I will post pictures of the event tomorrow.