Time to Shine-Wk 2

Even though Shine has been my quickest mustang to be able to ride.

I still like to be very thorough with my groundwork and like all of my horses to be able to be ponied and to pony other horses.

So much of Shine's second week was spent working on the ground, desensitizing, driving, and being ponied as well as developing her riding skills.

Even though Shine is very sweet and willing she does seem to have a heightened sense of fight(really wanting to kick or bite while riding) where other horses are concerned and a definite sense of flight where plastic is concerned.

We are working through these issues this week and included a couple of pictures of me flooding her senses with both horses (with the help of my best friend Ann and apprentice Ryan) and she and I working on the mustang eating tarp!

Shine-Day1-5

I don't even know where to begin!

This little mare is what I would call "wild light."

Yes, she is a wild mustang but only because she was born that way, not because of any of her own natural tendencies.

This girl is protective but wants to be with people! Hallelujah!

In the first day after pick-up I am able to accomplish stroking almost her entire body, leading, lunging, and had my apprentice Ryan (who has springs in his feet) lay and sit on her bareback.

That's what I would call a good day!

I am very big on the idea of the horse being able to accept the human bareback before even thinking of going on to the idea of riding in the saddle.

In the next few days I establish more ground work including hip control, moving the front end, backing, feet handling, desensitizing, etc.

By day three after much preparation I know she is ready for the saddle and she accepts it very willingly because of all the prepatory work.

We then go on to step ups from both sides and before you know it I am on her and our journey as horse and rider has begun!

Now, I am off to Norco, California to see my mustang girl Jesse Jane and her wonderful owner Ann Hutchison and to volunteer at the Norco Trail Challenge.

I am so happy to be leaving knowing that I have a mustang waiting at home that has a wonderful start and mind!

Extreme Supreme Mustang "Time to Shine" The beginning!

Although I'm starting this blog a little late this time because of my hectic schedule this summer, I decided "better late than never."
The horse I chose was Lot # 20, a dun mare from the Sinbad Herd-UT.
I made the decision early on that I would be bidding on a mare for the Supreme Extreme competition.
I did this for three different reasons.
1)Because I have a gelding who is the love of my life named Sky and wanted him to remain my #1 man.(yes my husband Robert knows he's #2!)
2)Sky has duked it out with both mustang geldings I have had for competition.
3)The best competition mustang that I have had so far was a mare, who I adore, named Jesse Jane who helped me to take the title of Co-Champion at the Norco Extreme Trail Challenge in 2009.
I was attracted to this mare because of her natural carriage, nice hip and balance, and calm demeanor on The Superior Livestock video.
I second guessed my decision briefly and was leaning towards another mare but came back to my original decision pretty quickly. I'm soooo glad I did!
At pick-up I was a little disappointed to see that she was smaller than she looked on video and was cow-hocked.
But, her eye was soft and kind and she was one of the quietest loads of the morning.
After getting her back to Corpus Christi about 8:00pm we unloaded and let her have a rest then started up with a little groundwork.
I was able to get my first touch and a little rubbing on the jaw and that was good enough for me!
Let's let the girl settle in to her new life and see what tomorrow brings.