Videos...Pasture Time & Barrels

Well Lindsay is now turned out in her big green pasture. I am personally a nervous wreck when it comes to getting horses adjusted to hot-wire and as much as I wanted to get Lindsay turned out, I really dreaded that aspect of it. We have the hot-cote fencing, which I really do like, it is white coated electric fence so it's very visible, but still holds current. I started by putting a strand up in the round pen for her to test out...I feel like such an awful person when she walked right up to it out of the curiousity that we had both worked so hard to cultivate over the last 100 days...and got zapped! Ughhhh hated that...but she has to know what it is if she is going to be in the field, so life goes on. It didn't take much of a zap for her to decide that every type of fence must be hot...including the round pen! She was even nervous to walk through the gate at first...she has adjusted now though and is currently out in a 3 acre field surrounded by other horses in pastures beside her. I can tell she wants a buddy, I will work on that next...must do one thing at a time to try and keep things as safe as possible. It is so very nice to see her eating grass out in the field. I know she must enjoy it...I've never seen a horse crave grass like she does...I guess she was used to eating everything she could all day long out in WY to maintain enough calories.

I have still been riding her..not twice a day as before! lol ...but at least every other day. I am actually pregnant and honestly Lindsay is one of my best mounts to sit on! My body feels so much better when I ride, it's just what I am wired to do..no telling what would go on inside of me if I stopped...mentally and physically I'd be a wreck!...It's sure not for everyone..(riding while in foal )..it is a personal decision whether it is right for you, but I know without a shadow of a doubt it is right for me and I am so thankful to have Lindsay to help my mind and body stay in a good place during this 9 months of excitement!

We actually have started slow loping the barrel pattern and man is she a natural. Turning the barrels comes very, very easy to her. My husband, Mike, has not run barrels before, but I'm hoping maybe he and Lindsay will be a team in the future. Mike is so incredible to go with me to barrel races and is always so supportive...I think it would be really neat if he could participate too. Lindsay is so balanced and collected naturally, I think she will be a smooth running horse when she's finished. She may even end up being "Filleigh Kay's" ride too (that's our little girl currently swimming around in my belly :) I am so very thankful that with the Supreme we were able to adopt up front...I have all ideas I would not have been able to afford her had they auctioned them off after the 100 days....I even had folks coming up to me at the Supreme asking me how much I wanted for her..trying to buy her! Well, maybe the next one..sure can not keep them all, but thankful she's not going anywhere!

I posted a few videos from the Supreme on youtube ... here are some links to them ... you should be able to cut and paste them to view or visit www.youtube.com and our channel is highcottonhorsefarm, you can find them that way too.

Reining----->>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcrP9RznN-w
RailWork---->>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkSIxqh4xd4
Trail------->>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc07LlcYpnM

Thanks again for everyone's support!

THANK YOU!!!!!!

The Demo went fabulous! We were so honored that so many folks showed up even with such short notice!

We did our freestyle for everyone and Lindsay was such a good girl. She was very relaxed...so relaxed we even drug that back lead a few strides for our flying change...oooooppss! She rarely does that..I think she was still asleep lol .....not sure who all noticed, maybe I shouldn't have said anything hehehe...she was great though..I pulled off her bridle and then jumped her fences..three bounce outs from both directions, then did a few spins and climbed aboard the pedestal again...she was great...she didn't want to get off the pedestal! hehe..She just kept trying to step back on, I think she likes it up there!...Folks clapped and it startled her at first, but after a bit of getting adjusted to it she was soooo good. By the time it was all over she let me ride her up to the rail and let folks hang over the railing rubbing her face neck and ears...she just went to sleep!

THANK YOU again to all that have supported us throughout this process.....

Alex Hartner's family...Dr Marcy...Dr Sandy and Heidi...R'Assta Tyme Farm and The Whiteheads...The CCHA...Sue King...Magnolia Farms...(a special anonymous person :) My Parents and Family...Lindsay and Judy Miller, Barbara Arntsen, Dr Sybil Burgess...The Browns for feeding...Tracy Murray for packing us awesome travel food..Mike's Grandmother for creating such an awesome Costume...Golden Gaits Farm for letting us layover twice!... Triple Crown for providing Lindsay with such fabulous nutrition...Soft Ride for taking care of her feet and legs..the HACC for letting us buy a day insurance policy for the demo..the Boys Home for letting us have the Demo at their awesome facility...the MHF and Patti Colbert for putting on such an awesome Show... Jim Thomas and Chapin for their help in Texas..my BF Kim and her significant other Billy for there support (they flew all the way to TX to support us!!!) ...Filleigh Kay for being along for the ride but not coming out to visit to soon....My AMAZING HUSBAND Mike for being truly one in a million and being my better half enabling me to be ME.....and allllllll of you that have sent us kinds words of encouragement..positive vibes... and thoughtful prayers...We have felt each and every one of you and feel so very blessed to know there are such amazing people in this world!

God is Good All of the Time!!!!

I can not wait to do this again next year..I am ready to see the videos of next yrs prospects right now!!!

Loving having Lindsay here at home. I'm been dying to turn a barrel, so slow loped her through yesterday and she acted as if she'd done it a million times! It's like she reads my mind...better be careful what I think of next huh!???!!!!

I may keep posting on here as time goes on..it's kind of addictive..and I've got a feeling I'm not going to run out of things to talk about anytime soon!

~Listen to what the voices inside your head tell you...and do what they say (assuming they are positive thoughts!)...it's an awful lot of fun and very rewarding...Promise!

Demo @ Lake Waccamaw Expo Center

Just wanted to let everyone know we'll be doing a demo at the Lake Waccamaw Boys and Girls Home exposition Center THIS Sat Aug 21st at 6 pm. Everyone is welcome *Free admission* We are accepting donations to the Boys and Girls Homes Horseback Riding Program.

We will be re-enacting our Freestyle that we preformed in Texas for our local horse community to see. We will also do some demonstrations on how we went about developing out relationship and learning together over the past 100 days. We will be answering questions as well.

This is a special THANK YOU for all the incredible support our horse community has offered us as well as a Thank you to Triple Crown Feed and Soft Ride Boots, our "Product" Sponsors. They were both a huge asset to Lindsay's comfort and success.

We look forward to seeing everyone! Please contact me at high.cotton.horse.farm@gmail.com for further information.

WOW...

What a jam packed day... Sat. after the Reining/Maneuvers class we did the Cow work... This was our first time in the Coliseum where the Freestyle would be. Lindsay was definitely a bit out of her comfort zone in there. It is a HUGE building with seating that goes way up to the ceiling and a big round top to it. She was nervous walking in, but still did exactly as I asked... When I called for our cow he came flying out of the gate. She certainly wasn't afraid of him, but wasn't really sure what to do with him either. We were supposed to keep him "boxed" down at the end of the pen..well he shot past us...just caught us off guard he came out so quick, but we caught up with him and turned him back down the fence...once we did that the first time Lindsay started to get a feel for what was going on...We ran him up and down the fence a few more times and turned him back. Then pushed him up the other side of the fence through the cones and into the holding pen. That part actually went quite well. I did see our score card on that class and we scored really well on the cones and holding pen part..pretty good on the turn backs too. Unfortunately all that flying around chasing cows got Lindsay quite excited...plus that Stadium seating had her really uneasy. I really got to thinking that if we make the freestyle I'm going to need to really get her mind back quiet...she got rather worked up running all over the place.

Well at that point it was around 2pm and they weren't going to post the freestyle finalists till 4pm...I was able to ride her in the coliseum again and she was pretty tense, but she really settled good after 45 minutes or so. We took off to grab a bit to eat and as soon as we came back I hear that all trainers are called into the arena... Well, I wasn't expecting any formal announcement..I figured they'd just post results....but I guess with this being a "Show"... not just a horse show it's quite different. they called out the top 20 randomly and #48 was on the list! Everyone had their hats on and looked like they should have been in the line up...I had no hat on .. just stuffed a cheeseburger down my throat and was tucking my shirt in as I was walking across the pen to the line up... oooops...just glad to have made it in though.

I was thrilled to be in there, but really saddened for the folks that weren't. Every single one of these trainers and Mustangs have accomplished so very much and put so much heart and soul into this. ..and believe me there were some super nice, super well trained talented Mustangs that did not make it. This competition is the first of it's caliber...the best of the best showed up for this deal. Just about every Trainer in the Finals has competed and won or placed really high at multiple Mustang Makeovers in the past..These folks not only know horses, they know how this deal works...and believe me it's a type of competition all to its own. I've never been a part of anything like it! Just amazing and a huge learning experience. To have made the finals was such an honor in itself for us.

We drew numbers and I drew up fifth, we then had a meeting to discuss music and props and then at a little after 5 they turned us loose to get ready for the Freestyle at 6 pm!.. Talk about over load! I just did my best to stay calm and not rush. Lindsay and I were going to do a Native American theme, so I went in her stall and tied her feathers in her mane and tail, painted her Indian Symbols on and attempted to get ready...I do best in high stress competitions just to focus on my horse and the task at hand..small talk is extremely distracting for me...that's a bit tough when you've got spectators swarming the barns, but I somewhat stayed hidden as we got ready...had one guy with a foot long camera want to come in the stall with us to take photos!...he was not with the folks filming for the TV series either...I nicely offered to him to take photos from the outside of the stall..goodness, not used to this kind of stuff.

Mike was SOOOO incredible he got all our props and set them up for us to practice over. We had 3 jumps set up as bounce outs and a pedestal. We schooled over them a bit and she was perfect so we headed to the Coliseum.

It was so loud as we approached. This is a huge production, they turn a bunch of Mustangs loose in the arena as part of the show...they drove the 6 Judges in on Ford Mustangs...they had a "Extreme Mutt Makeover" going on at the same time and the dogs did demos too...I was supposed to go in to do a dance on our horses where we side passed and backed and turned to the music then picked folks from the crowd to join in...I missed that, hope it wasn't to big a deal..I just didn't realize it was starting already, it all happened so fast. When I got up there they were on horse #2 and I was #5. I rode around in the little warm up area and Lindsay really stayed very relaxed. The trainer before us was shooting a pistol and she was great with that. You could sure here it. As he finished up they sent us in..and sent us in quickly.. these spectators paid $30 a pop and their $ is much of the reason this is happening...the MHF was serious about putting on a serious show. That was way different for me...I am used to "Horse" shows being all about the horse and what is ideal for them...the NBHA barrels races go to great lengths to keep the ground perfect and conditions ideal for the horse..this was more like a huge Rodeo..it was designed for the audience. Of course it all comes back to the betterment of the Mustangs, but somebodies got to foot the bill..that somebody is sitting high in the stands screaming and snapping pictures and wanting a SHOW...

So they quickly open the gate and Mike drives the truck in the arena to set up our props..a section of the crowd starts "booing" because apparently it was taking a little longer than they wanted and some management folks ran out to help saying the crowd was getting impatient. Mike is out there doing his best to measure these jumps so they are the correct distance apart (a VERY important thing!) and having to hear that...he held his own though and got it done (Much thanks to Mr. Thomas and his son Chapin for their help!) Mike has been unbelievable this whole time, there is No way it would have happened without him...

Then out comes the truck and they start our music as I enter the gate.

We walked in and there are people in the audience all the way to the ceiling..the roof was dome shaped and the arena was decent size, but not huge...the stands took up most of the space. I could feel Lindsay's tension, but even with the crowd she followed my lead. We half passed at the walk back and forth until we reached our pedestal. We stopped and I stepped her up on it. She willingly stepped up, but once she was on the crowd screamed and she scooted to the side stepping off...I asked her to step on again and she did..I then asked for a 180 pivot on the forehand with her front feet on the pedestal and she was perfect. By all means nervous, but relieved that I was giving her something to focus on. We backed off, did a 180 pivot on the haunches and stepped into a trot to the center of the ring. We then halted as the music gradually picked up into a native American drumming beat..as the drums started, we started our spins...two each way, which she did very well (actually better than in the previous maneuvers class that morning @ 8am) After the spins we stepped into a right lead canter where we cantered a 20 meter circle. She was so very good about letting me help her along. She was so nervous, but did not become tense, she really would relax the more she realized what I was asking her to do. It really seemed to give her comfort to have something to focus on in the midst of such a frightening place..We circled to the right once more, then did a clean flying change to the left..proceeding to circle twice in that direction. As we came out of our second left circle we cantered up the long side gaining a little speed, then sat down to stop. She gave me a nice stop, we then backed which she was pleased to do and at that point we were done with the "required" movements...we went on to our next step which was jumping through 3 cross rails set up for her to land once between each one. She was perfect with that and stopped on the other side promptly when I asked. (At this point my plan had been to drop the bridle and jump back through with the neck rope, we've done it at home a bunch, but I felt she needed my help to much, she was so worried over the crowd..they really screamed as we jumped and I could so feel her anxiety) So I jumped back through with the bridle. On the other side I picked up the neck rope at turned her a bit to be sure I had her attention. Even though she was anxious over the crowd, so was as in tune to me as ever. So in the midst of the cameras flashing and crowd roaring off went the bridle. I walked her forward and stepped into a spin..starting slow and speeding up gradually. She really did well with it, but the crowd Loved it..the more we spun the more they screamed .. when I brought her down she was definitely still anxious, but still desperately looking to me for guidance. My plan had been to walk her back to the pedestal and step her up on it without the bridle (again she knows how to do this well) ..as I asked her to walk straight forward and it was as if she just got lost. The crowd was still loud as she seemed to desperately want me to ask her to do something, spin...back...something, but simply walking forward just was not "direct" enough to comfort her, she was just stuck and it really showed, it was obvious she was very tense at that point...obvious to the judges I mean..she kind of danced around as she tried to understand what I wanted..just grabbing at straws for me to give her a clear request and the more I simply asked for forward the more she danced.. before I knew it time was up...so we started off great, even through her anxiety she performed so well, but when we reached a moment where she felt like she had lost my direction her anxiety just become painted all over us. I stepped of and even though we were not being judged I still asked her to bow...which she did very quickly..almost with a sigh of relief as if to say.."Thank goodness this is familiar, finally" The judges hold their scores up on cards for everyone to see. .. Her maneuvers scores were incredible, mostly 10's a 9.5 I think and an 8...I knew it wouldn't stay that high though...it couldn't with our ending...and it didn't, the overall presentation and horsemanship scores were way low..6 and 7's...hind sight I wish I had hopped off after the spins and bowed and been done, she would have understood every bit of that and her anxiety would have been more hidden...but that simple forward walk was , just that..simple..it did not give her enough clear direction.. and she just got lost. of course I'd really have rather had her more prepared for the crowd, but honestly I do not think anything could have prepared us more than simply doing it...I certainly know now. .. and I'll have the next one prepared better :)

So after our scores we exited the arena and prepared to wait until the end for the awards presentation. I started to put her in a stall for a moment, but she was to anxious (Stalls do not typically bother her, she been amazingly quiet everywhere we go, but the tension in the air was to much) I went back in and she just stood with her head at my chest and relaxed again. She started to come back to how she had been all weekend and went to sleep as we waited. We had been interviewed many times during this process and she had the camera man an inch from her ears more times than I can count..they interviewed us again and of course I had nothing but good things to say...how could I not, I have never had a horse that put the degree of trust in me that she does...the only reason her anxiety even showed was because she felt like she had lost my direction. As soon as she had it again she was fine....I just wish I had realized that in two seconds rather then 15 seconds, but at least I realized it. To have such an amazing individual put that degree of faith in you is a very humbling experience. It makes you put even more pressure on yourself to do right by her, I felt like I let her down a bit by dropping her scores from a mistake I could have prevented, but I realize that there are certain things we can not always prepare for. Sometimes we simply have to experience them to know...

We had to wait for what felt like eternity for the other horses to go and the dogs to do their freestyles as well..(There were Extreme Mutt Makeover champions crowned that night too...all from a Euthanasia Fort Worth shelter and adopted out at the competition...what a wonderful program!!!)..we finally all entered the ring and accepted our awards. We received custom trophy halters for making the freestyle which was really nice. I knew she'd be super nervous with the clapping and noise, and she was..especially because she was having to stand...I just backed her when she got to restless and after a while she really started to relax. She ended up 17th over all...her presentation scores were some of the lowest, but her maneuver scores were well on the top. Again, made me a bit sad I did not give her a better shot...if I had realized she was leaning on my help so much I would have continued to ask her to do deliberate things during the end of the performance when she was the most tense from the now roaring crown, spin, back, side pass..she needed something like that, but I didn't know until it was to late. That doesn't change one bit how amazing she is..and her maneuver scores prove she was right up there with the best of the best. I could not be prouder of that. This competition was only ~80 horses, but just about every trainer that had made the finals in previous makeovers was here...some didn't make the Supreme Finals (even though they were incredible trainers with very talented Mustangs)...most of the folks in the Freestyle were previous winners...it was amazing to be in a line-up with the Top Mustang trainers in the Country! What an honor...and to score right there in the top with the maneuvers was icing on the cake. I feel like I know so much more about what to expect for next time. I would approach the training the same way...some trainers push their horses faster and many of these Mustangs can take it, but I would use the same approach as I did before. Lindsay proved to me she had the know how to get the job done .. it was simply the noise of the crowd that stood in our way. I will be sure to give our next Mustang a proper chance to adjust to that better before the competition. After standing 30 minutes under the crowd for the awards I think Lindsay was ready for the Freestyle we had practiced!

Speaking of next year...there will be another Supreme Makeover! It really was a huge success. More horses will be available and more $ will likely be on the table (of course I am no MHF employee, so do not know details or definite plans, but that is what I was told)

My plan for next year is to incorporate a partner in this next adventure. I want to continue this each year, but I can not keep every horse. My plan is to partner with an individual that wants a Mustang that will be trained similar to Lindsay, but training tweaked to the needs of that horse of course. This individual would basically pay the costs involved, but would not be charged actual training. The Mustang would be theirs after the competition and I would definitely work out a transition time to help horse and new partner to develop a relationship before the Mustang went to his/her forever home. If you have interest in this please contact me.

I am planning to do a demo very soon, maybe this coming Saturday .. I am working on details now. I want to have a public opportunity to thank EVERYONE! The support has been so amazing...Thanks to Triple Crown Lindsay has been drinking wonderful on the road. I have soaked a small amount of Senior with her water at each stop and she sucks it down each time..even when she turns her nose up to regular water. She has not been tucked up or looked dehydrated once this entire trip...which considering we traveled 2200 miles in 100 plus degree heat...riding 3 or 4 times every day..hard..it's just unbelievable how good she looks. She was by far one of the best looking Mustangs..that was a factor in her scoring and it showed. I can not count the compliments she received from other Trainers and individuals on how fabulous her condition was.....And her Soft-Ride boots could not have been a better asset. Her stall was literally concrete. Those boots were her only relief..I kept them on her religiously.

As for Lindsay's future..I have many plans. We are going to become very active in the NCTHA (Competitive Trail) Proceeds from NCTHA will benefit Mustang adoptions, it is a wonderful group. We also plan to do some Extreme Cowboy Races and some Reined Cow Horse events. The inaugural "Project Cowboy" is this year in Oct... I will be a bit tied up then :) ...but I have all ideas they will have another next year and if so Lindsay will be my partner in that for sure!

I can not thank everyone enough for the support...everyone of you have made a difference for us, your prayers have been felt. My Daddy and step-Mom Judy came to Texas as well as friend Kim and Billy...we were so appreciative of their support. Jim Thomas and his son Chapin helped set props for us. The Mortons of Golden Gaits Farm have let us lay over for both legs of the trip. My Mom has stayed at the farm and Deanna and the rest of the Brown family have feed critters while we were away. We simply could not do it without each of you...and so many friends, family and even acquaintances have supported us..emotionally and some monetarily..it is simply over whelming the support the horse community has offered. We are so appreciative and humbled by everyone. There are many amazing souls out there with warm hearts...that goes for people and horses...

I will let you know as soon as a Demo date/time is confirmed. ....and will get photos and videos up as soon as I can. :)

Friday~ First 2 Prelim

Not sure how long I'll have to write... I am fixing to do our cow class in a bit...but yesterday was amazing!

Lindsay was an angel for trail...ground tied for me to pick feet up, stood dead still for me to bridle/unbridle...she handled the poles, the gate, the pole drag, the serpentine, the back through and lope off and halt like a perfect pro..I just sat there and let her work :) She ended up 4th in that class...tied for 1st under BF Yeates (the Cowboy Hall Of Fame and AQHA Judge!!!) ...

The riding rail class was almost perfect as well..we showed in Hunter Tack and I braided her up..she looks so good like that!... Our only hiccup was when we did a rollback to change directions then were asked to trot off she started to grab a canter...typically rollback then move forward means lope off....so she was simply doing what she thought I wanted.... She let me pick her up quick and smooth though...ended up 8th overall there...was 2nd under one judge and 5 or 6 under another...then the 3rd tagged us pretty low...guess he cared about that canter depart a bit more than the others...so over all in Riding it set her 8th...

I tallied everyone above us in both classes and she's sitting 4th over all as of last night...we did reining this am ... we were the first one! ... She did her 2 tracks great, stop and back was great...canter depart quick and smooth and she got both flying lead changes :) ... She stopped good on the rail (when she went to slide my hat sailed off lol) ...but we had to side pass to get off the rail to rollback...which she did...then another stop and roll back and into the center...at that point she was pretty hyped up and I should have dropped her into a spin, but asked her to stand a bit and she kinda anticipated a leg yield...anyway I went ahead and asked for the spin anyway b/c I knew it was time and she did it, but it wasn't as clean as it could have been...the second way was better though... She just really got into that class and had a good time... I'm sure I could have ridden her better, but I was so pleased at how she handled everything and she did everything I asked...what more could I want??...

Now waiting on the Cow Class... it's running at the same time as the Maneuvers/Reining class...I am super excited about the cow class with her, i think she'll love it!

They will announce the top 20 horses by 4 pm then freestyle at 6 pm! The people here are amazing as well as the Mustangs....What a ride! LOVE IT!!!!!

Wed & Thursday ~The Time has Come!

Well it's been an eventful few days....as of yesterday morning when I pulled Lindsay out of the stall to tack up and ride I noticed a huge swelling just behind her left elbow....RIGHT were the Cinch Must Go!!! Ahhhhhh.... and it was even more sensitive than it looks...when you would touch it she just winced like it was pins and needles... Oh my lordy, what to do what to do....

We went ahead and checked in to Will Rogers that morning. Got her settled in her stall. She was an angel, unloaded in the parking lot perfectly..walked into the big loud barn and waited quietly in line like an angel for the MHF to read her brand and get her number painted on her.... She was a bit wiggly for the guy to paint the number...she is so much better about strangers, but not so much if they start to do something to her, but she held her own. After she settled in for a bit I figured I'd try to put the saddle on her easy and leave the cinch loose, we had to figure out how we were going to get through this. well, i sat the saddle on and lightly cinched her up... she BLEW! Went straight up like a hyper-reactive baby that's never been cinched!.. Well...as all of you know this was NOT her, Totally out of character!..She had to of hurt so badly... She did settle and might would have pushed through the pain, but we were not doing that. So once she stopped for a moment I pulled the saddle off, I was Not about to ask her to work through that...she has given me to much for me to do that to her.

Well, at that point all I knew were two things... I was NOT asking her to do anything that made her be in pain...and we WERE NOT DRAWING OUT of this deal...so how to make both of those things happen???? I decided I'd try her bareback... I sat on her bareback in the stall a couple months back, but have not been on her bareback much. When I went to crawl up yesterday she was pretty tense at first... She has so many "buttons" and "cues" along her sides with my leg laid across her bareback she just felt everything...it was like an over load, she just was doing her best to figure out what I wanted...to back, to spin, to lope off???... I just stayed quite and reminded myself of how quickly she learns things if I explain them correctly. I just sat on her and gradually started to move around, letting her know that she did not have to jump off my leg at any movement...surprisingly, after only 15 minutes or so it seemed she was catching on and had relaxed into this new riding style. So we took off to the Show Arena.

You wind down this long deep tunnel to go from the stalls to the arena. This facility is practically in the city, so the barns are connected by tunnels to the arenas. She walked past the huge fans in the aisle ways and psst the stalls filled with other Mustangs and people and down the ramp to the arena. The arena has banners all along the rail to advertise sponsors and had quite a few Mustangs working and folks in the stand watching. Well, she was an angel...took everything like a Pro! They pulled some trail type obstacles out for us to work and she did everything I asked...Honestly after I'd been on her for a bit I started to like riding her bareback more than with a saddle. I am able to communicate with her so much more clearly. I can totally see why Stacy Westfall does her bridle-less demo bareback...yes it looks good and I'm sure that's part of it, but I bet she prefers it... at this point I started to feel better, because I figured I could do the whole deal bareback if need be, I asked management and they said it would be ok, but she the judges would Not be giving me "Extra credit" for it...which of course was not my motive, but I guess other competitors may have assumed so....

The only issue that arrised with the bareback option was we Had to drag a log in the trail course! Well, there was no way I could drag that thing without the saddle horn... It would snatch me right off her if I tried to hold it! The only other option was a neck rope, but lordy I've been explaining to her for weeks that the neck rope means whoa! The last thing I wanted to do was teach her to push on it ...argh, back to square one.

Well, I failed to mention I did call the vet that am and they were coming to see her, just took a long time for them to arrive. (In the meantime I spoke with Dr. Marcy and she was a huge help!)..They finally rolled in at 4 pm. They gave her some medication for it...and notified show management so all is well there...then it was wait and see. Well, I am no good at waiting...on anything!...but I did. I also borrowed a fleece girth cover from a new Mustang friend. At around 9 pm the swelling did seem better, it was still sore, but majorly improved. I figured I could give it another shot...I cinched her real slow and stretched her front legs really good to try and pull any bunched up skin out from under there.. I hand walked her and trotted her...and she seemed fine! ..So aboard I climbed.

Well after spending all day telling her to be less reactive, I had to ask her to be more reactive again seeing as we had layers of saddle pad and leather between us again... It's a good thing she is so brilliant...she figured it out. She I think we are back on track..when I checked on her this am it seemed like it hardly hurt at all...and where she is still a bit sensitive is far up in the crease of her elbow, I think I can keep the cinch off of that.

We had a meeting yesterday and met the judges. They are filming some sort of tv series this weekend..I don't know details yet, but will keep everyone posted. There are camera guys all over!

Trail is first tomorrow, the pattern consists of a gate, elevated trot overs, drag log, serpentine, halt in box, back through L type deal, lope of from halt...We walk through w/ judges at 7:30 then it starts at 8 am..we are the 55th horse up.

I was a bit frazzled yesterday with the cinch deal, but the more I do with this mare the more she proves to me just how truly spectacular she is!... Onward and forward we go...

Day 93 ~ Home on the Road

Well we did make it to Fort Worth last night. Traffic wasn't to bad and we ended up pulling in to the facility at around 11:45 pm. It was a nice place, HUGE indoor arena (Cover-all..my dream indoor :)We met with the barn manager and she promptly takes us on a walk to our barn... She didn't seem to thrilled at the late hour, but at least she did let us in!... As we approached our "stall" my stomach dropped. It was a shelter with a run... all that sounds fine and good...and it would have been, BUT there were horses on both sides of us! ...NOT double fenced off as the Stallions were at Golden Gaits Farm, but right there...and there was only a two row, very thin metal pipe fence separating them from each side of her paddock. Now that may not seem like an issue for some, but I personally become Very protective of any horse in my care and all I could see was "eking" and pawing as Lindsay (a Dominant Boss Mare) informed her two companions of how the totem pole works out on the range. Any time you have horses getting to know each other for the first time there is a chance of injury and throw in a pipe fence between them...I just think it would have been asking for it. It was just not going to happen...even if Mike and I had just hauled 12 hours and we really ready to settle in.

I asked the barn manager if there was a place where she would not be over the fence with another horse and she said no, this was the only option. I informed her (very politely :) that I had spoken with a lady about a month back in regards to setting up this layover and she had told me I could have a stall for Lindsay...well the "new" barn manager's eyes are now glazed over as she tells me that "She is no longer with us anymore" ... I had to chuckle inside, because it made me think to myself..."I guess there is horse drama everywhere you go." It seems many of the boarding barns in Wilmington were always changing managers when I used to travel around training and there was always a bit of drama in the midst, guess it's the same way half way across the country! But after my brief silent chuckle I did get a bit perturbed at the realization that I had set this up a month in advance to ensure Lindsay with a safe resting spot and now it is almost midnight and this "barn manager" whom looks all of 18 yrs old is telling me there is no other option other than the one I simply was not doing.

I quickly scanned the property and spotted a round pen. I asked if we could use it for the night.... well she did not like that idea at all, but after a big sigh she said, "Fine" ... So at least we had a safe spot for Lindsay for the night .. and she settled in quickly and quietly as usual. I figured we'd crash and come up with a new game plan in the morning.

The morning rolled around, rather quickly I must say.. I immediately got on line and found another stable that took layovers near Fort Worth. Called them up and there was room..and it was a stall to ourselves! Sweet relief, we packed up asap and got the heck outta dodge..after I left cash for our nights stay in the round pen...The other facility has an indoor arena too, but it is steel and not insulated and HOT... I mean really HOT, but that's ok, she has a very safe box stall that is as cool as any stall is going to get in 100 degree plus weather. She seems very content in there. She has really been drinking and eating great, she is not tucked up in the least! So excited about that! I have continued soaking her TC Senior, just because it doesn't hurt to get extra fluids in her and she seems to enjoy that mushy stuff.

After she ate her breakfast, she layed down and took a good nap..she has been so quick to settle at these new places..I am really loving that! Mike and I then did a bit of running around in Fort Worth. There were a few things I needed to get for the competition, so we got that done and headed back to the barn in the afternoon.

After it finally started to cool down I took Lindsay for an easy ride. This stable borders a park..which is crazy to me being right in Fort Worth, but it does..so we took off on a little trail ride. She is so funny when we go ride somewhere new, she really gets into it checking stuff out and walks forward and free.. like she is excited to see what is around the next corner. It was pretty hilly and we winded up and down little trail trough the trees. We even came across a stream! Of course I jumped at the opportunity to ask Lindsay to go in...and she did :) We walked up and down it a bit and she kept wanting to drop her nose down all the way under water and toss the water everywhere! She was having a blast...I do think a Pilot Mountain Yadkin River trip is in this gal's future!...After we played in the stream we started making our way back to the barn. When we got up to the main road we came upon a family taking a walk ..Mother, Father, little kid walking and a baby in a stroller. Lindsay was slightly unsure at first, but was very willing when I asked her to walk on by. She does still look at new things...it's not like she is oblivious to the world, but she is so quick to follow my lead if I simply ask her to..even if it involves approaching something she is uncertain about. We spent some time riding around the barn and in the indoor ring...she was curious and wanted to check stuff out, but willingly went everywhere I pointed her. She has become such an enjoyable ride!

Oh, and another Mustang arrived today at our barn! I remember him and his adopter from pick-up. They are all the way from Wisconson! He's a pretty little guy, super flashy. A sorrel with a snow white flaxen mane and tail, 4 stockings and a wide blaze. He seemed pretty quite in his stall too and didn't flinch when I walked by. It's really neat to see these guys again after meeting them as wild, untouched Mustangs. I am So excited to see all the others and the progress I know they have made.

Of to bed for tonight, Lindsay is tucked in her stall and we are in the horse trailer, literally 6 feet from her :)

Day 91 & 92 ~ On The Road Again

We got all packed up and headed out Sunday around 11 am. It was pretty smooth sailing other than some stand still traffic in the Mountains of Tennessee. Lindsay was all comfy in her Soft Ride boots (Thanks to www.soft-ride.com ) ...she had (has) the entire front box stall to herself so she can turn around and ride however she pleases. She has hay and water at all times and every few hours we stop and I give her some water that has a bit of Triple Crown Senior soaked in it...if she's not feeling like regular H2O, some Senior flavored H2O does the trick :) ..and it soaked up so fast that once she drinks the flavored water the senior is mushy and water packed too. Dehydration is about the toughest thing to fight on a long trip so I try to do everything in my power to keep her super hydrated! She rides like a dream. We packed her hay in the back of the trailer which leaves only a narrow space for her to load, she steps right in like she knows it's her house :)

...oh before we left I had almost forgotten I wanted to shoot a gun near her b/c I'm sure she'll here it in Fort Worth...so after a ride Mike pulled out the pistol and shot towards the woods about 30 feet from us...She jumped a tad bit, but not much...all my other guys scattered like chickens!..He shot one more time and Lindsay jumped less, her body just barely "hiccuped" in place ..and everyone else seemed to flea more...I figured we better stop before they got to carried away, but I was thrilled to see Lindsay was so relaxed with it. I know she is going to see and hear so much that I could not have possibly prepared her for, but I do believe once given a chance to see it's no big deal she'll be fine...

We got in to Golden Gaits Farm in middle Tennessee at ~11 pm last night. Lindsay walked off the trailer and into the stall like she was right at home. The Mortons' two prize Stallions were stalled on either side of Lindsay. (There was a stall in between each one and her) It was quite funny, they both seemed to think she had arrived especially for them....Bandit (the older Stallion) settled quicker, but RJ was determined time the night was over he'd have her sweet talked into sneaking off behind the grape vines. Well, she totally ignored him...didn't even reply and I tell you it was if she said "Been there, Done that, Got the Tee-shirt"...she just didn't pay him any mind...toooo funny. I really was pleased and still amazed at how well she settled, she was totally quiet and relaxed. She drank good through-out the night and ate her dinner and breakfast.

We went on a morning ride today just after the sun peaked over the hills. What Beautiful country middle Tennessee is! Especially at Golden Gaits Farm..Wow it was just amazing. There were Friesian mares and foals romping in the pastures and the hills were dotted with colorful Spotted Saddle horses. Grape vines line the property and critters are happily lounging around everywhere you look. It is truly God's Country and it could not be occupied by a more deserving family. Drs. Wendy and Bryant Morton started up Elizabethtown Vet Hospital in Bladen County, NC years ago. They are not only wonderful vets, but also two of the most sincere, caring folks you'll meet...towards people and animals. They have 2 sons, Alex and Bart and the 4 of them occupy this piece of heaven in middle Tennessee. We feel so blessed to consider them friends! www.goldengaitsfarm.net

We are now back on the trail, headed to Fort Worth, Texas! We should get in around 10 pm tonight.

If you would like to see more photos I have quite a few posted on Lindsay's Facebook page, you do not have to be a Facebook member to view...just click this link (or cut and paste) if you want to check it out :)

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lindsay-Roan-Mustang-Mare-competing-in-the-Supreme-Extreme-Makeover/105660732810287?ref=ts

Day 89 & 90 ~ Getting packed up!

We are close to being ready to pull out and soooo excited! Things have been coming together all week, new tires on the truck, Mike has changed the oil and all the filters...gonna re-pack trailer bearing tomorrow and I think our rig shall be Texas bound. We've been getting other stuff together too, props for the freestyle (thanks to the help of quite a few friends and family) and all of Lindsay's traveling gear in order.

She threw a shoe a few days back, it needed to be re-set anyway, it was one I had glued on and only put two nails in...well, she was just a star for me to re-set it. No glue this time, just nails and I could not have asked for her to stand better. Didn't even have Mike hold her, I pulled a "Billy Murray" and put her lead rope in the belt of my chaps and had her basically ground tie and she didn't budge. So proud of her.

We've been riding lots still, morning and night some days and she is holding her own well. She is a pretty fit gal these days and will need to be to go through this next week. 22 hours of hauling is hard on any horse, then competing in 4 different preliminaries, plus warming up...and (Lord willing) the freestyle..all over only 2 days is a lot. Her weight is really really good too, I am so thankful to Triple Crown for sponsoring her. She has gone through quite a bit of feed, I've had her on the TC Senior for quite some time now @ 4 pounds twice a day! Plus hay of course...that's a lot and it's not that she's a hard keeper, but with all the hauling she did to get here, then the consistent work she been doing non-stop, she really did need the calories. If anything she is a little on the thicker side, but she is certainly fit and it seems they all drop a little when you haul that hard, so it will be good for her to have a little buffer.

Mike picked up some round bales yesterday and put tarps over them...Lindsay eye-balled them a little at first, so I took the opportunity to ride her over and check them out...it didn't take much encouraging at all and she let me shake the tarp all around beside her...once she figured out hay was underneath she was especially interested!...At one point Mike was burning feed bags and I asked him to hand me one while I was on her. She didn't even flinch...it's amazing how educated she has become and a lot of it, especially that type thing..new people and inanimate objects....has evolved almost on it's own. I mean, yes of course I have tried to desensitize her as much as possible to things, however we did hit that rut at one point where we just got stuck, the more I pushed to get her desensitized the more she thought she really should be afraid of the scary object...especially me picking things up from her back, that was a biggy. I did do quite a few things like hanging everything imaginable in her stall to spending hours in her stall tossing a plastic bag filled with cans all around until she stopped jumping out of her skin each time they hit the ground...but that said, I also just got to a point where I stopped worrying about it so much and just road her, it seemed like in hindsight that was the best thing to do, because the things she is accepting of now are so drastically different from the things she would accept before. I think many times we need to explain things and then just give those things time to sit in their minds...they keep thinking and remembering long after we do...just giving her time for it all to soak in can make all the difference. 100 days seems like not much time, and it's not, but it's amazing how much they are capable of learning within that time frame. She amazes me everyday.

We will load everything up Sat. and pull out Sun as soon as we can. The Brown family as well as my Mom will be staying here on the farm, feeding and watching over everyone. I can not thank them all enough...there is no way we could do it without them. We have to many critters that need an eye on them at all times to be sure they stay safe and sound to take off without someone here all the time. We are so thankful that they will be in such good hands.

We plan to layover with the Mortons of Golden Gaits Farm Sunday night. Please check out their site if you are ever in the market for a Friesian, a Spotted Saddle horse or a gaited Curly..they have some incredible horses and a gorgeous farm. www.goldengaitsfarm.net

Then Monday we plan to arrive in Texas and stay at a boarding facility about 20 minutes out from Fort Worth until Thursday morning when we can check in to the Will Rogers center where we'll compete. I am excited to have a little time to let Lindsay settle and re-coup from the haul, plus maybe have a moment for Mike and I to check out Fort Worth! Lots to see...but I am certain my focus will stay on her the majority of the time! We'll compete Friday and Saturday then head home Sunday.

I will do my best to keep everyone posted along the way. We are so very thankful for everyone's encouragement and support, without each one of you this would not be possible! THANK YOU!

***A special thank you the the Carolina Classic Horseman's Association for becoming a recent sponsor. The CCHA is a wonderful open horse show association based out of Wilmington, NC. The have classes for all types of riding including Western Pleasure, Hunter Jumpers and Gaming. Check out www.theccha.net to see what they are all about.***

Day 87 & 88 ~ Dragging Stuff

Well I had asked the Mustang Makeover folks a while back if we would need to drag anything..I just received a reply that yes we would! I wasn't really thinking we would need to, b/c it wasn't in the description of required tasks so I really hadn't thought much of it. Goodness, there are so many things to do as it is...well, after I received that email you know what was next on my to do list :) So to the round pen we went...

I had previously let the lounge line drag behind us and had done some ground driving initially. It's hard to even remember those days it feels like so long ago..but I do remember that Lindsay sure was not crazy about anything around her back legs at first, she has some bucking talent no doubt... but she has adjusted to that thankfully. So we started off just dragging the rope...that went well, so we added a fly mask to the end of it...hehehe...I know, not very inventive I guess, but it was close and I figured it was light, soft and would be a good step up from just the rope. She sure has taught me that it really pays to cover my bases and do everything in small steps, it's amazing how quickly she'll figure things out if you explain it clearly and in a gradual process. So I wanted to take baby steps, she did notice the fly mask be-bopping around behind us, but was ok with it, so I then tied our rope to her feed tub...again she was a little more aware, but still pretty much ok, she had a few moments of scooting forward when she felt like the tub was chasing her, but that didn't last long. We then moved out of the round pen and into the arena where we could move around better. I started with a tire...man that was heavier that I thought, I had to wrap the lounge line around the horn in order for her to pull it, but she did amazingly well...(I did not tie the rope to the saddle horn, just wrapped it so I could quickly un-wrap if need be)..After the tire we drug a pole, which I think is the most likely thing we'll drag in TX, but do not really know. She was great with it. Glad I did that before we went, something that she can be so confident with if done in stages can go to the other extreme had I just went right to dragging the pole.

Lindsay's news story aired today on the 5 pm evening news! WECT channel 6. I was really pleased with how they pieced the footage together. You can see the video on their site... here is a link... http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=12924477 It will air again tomorrow morning. I still can't believe how good she was for the camera man, he was really getting some funky angles to get the shots he wanted and she was just an angel!

We are getting all our stuff ready to head to Texas soon, I am so very excited!...So thankful to my Mom as well as Deanna, Kenny and family for feeding and farm sitting for us. It is such piece of mind to know someone is always here keeping a watchful eye on all our critters :)

Day 85&86 ~ Falling into Place

Sat and Sun went great. We didn't haul off the farm, but we rode in the morning and afternoon both days. I am continuing to do lots of slow work, keeping both of our minds settled and relaxed. It's amazing how beneficial slow work really is..in any discipline...when I do slip in moments of asking her to pick it up a bit...ie spin a little faster or step up her speed to prepare to stop and slide a bit....it's as if she's more mentally prepared from the slow work and the moments of asking for a bit more become so much smoother. Even that left to right lead change seems to be benefiting from me scaling back a bit!

We have been popping over little fences and she is such a natural at that, I am certain she could jump much bigger stuff down the road, probably could now. I have never had her refuse..a fence or anything else for that matter. I've been trying to ride her around as many unfamiliar, possibly scary objects as possible and she is not oblivious to them, but she is very cooperative and brave when we meet scary friends. We ventured into the woods today and walked over lots of logs on the ground...she really really seemed to enjoy that, she loves going new places. She has a tremendous work ethic and will hold her own with me as long as I ask her to, but she really enjoys work outside of the arena. I think she would LOVE doing Craig Cameron's Extreme Cowboy Races. That is on the list to do for sure!

I just about have our freestyle routine planned out...and as much as I'd love to talk about it in every detail I feel like I must leave something up for surprise!...I do not plan on loading her in the back of our pick-up truck though if anyone is wondering..hehehe...even though to be totally honest, I do not think at this point it would be hard to teach her. When I ride her up to something new she typically assumes I am going to ask her to step on it...I've had to catch her from stepping up on some things that really would not be safe, she just seems to assume this is another trail bridge I've concocted....hopefully when we see the competition trail bridge she will feel the same way!

Wed. pm and Thurs. am she'll be on the news! Channel 6 in Wilmington, NC. I am hoping they do a video on the WECT site so I can link to it for those of you who might not be able to see it broad-casted.

So very excited about this entire process, it is a wonderful life to live and I am soaking up every aspect of this journey we are on. It's not the destination, it's the ride that builds memories and character. I hope to always appreciate and continue creating journeys my entire life. There are trainers in this competition that are 60 plus years old...70 plus too I think...what an inspiration they are! I plan to never stop living, it is never to early and never to late to start following your heart and living your dreams. I truly believe God intended us to follow those strong feelings we have inside...the voices in our head. Those feelings are individual to each one of us. It is our job to listen to them and follow their lead. Who's to say 70 yrs is to old to train a wild Mustang? Who's to say that 10 yrs old is to young to know you will always live and breathe horses?...I haven't hit 70 yet, but I'm sure people will question my motives then as they did when I was 10. I can not tell you how many people would say..."You just wait 'till you are a teenager, you'll start liking boys and cars before long and you'll forget about those horses" Sounds like a minor comment, but it infuriated me. How dare someone tell me what I felt in my heart.. they had no clue of this desire and dedication that has burned inside of me since before I can remember. On my 13th birthday I made sure I was sitting on a horse at the very moment in time I "officially" became a teenager and took a photo of the horse's ears as proof! HAHA.. It brought a smile to my face when I stumbled across that photo the other day. I have always known horses were my passion, when I was in school I would draw them..all day.. when I should have been taking notes. I wore Cowboy boots EVERYWHERE...even to the beach as a little kid...and I did not grow up in Texas, I feel sure I was the only one wearing boots on the beach and at school. I have been horse obsessed my entire life and I do not see it stopping when I'm 70 plus...I am so blessed to have family and friends that have helped my passion become reality, but it can happen for anyone if you just follow when you hear in your heart. I think the happiest people are those true to themselves, living the dreams they have created...living for themselves, which to me is the same as living for God. The only way we can support, inspire and lift up others is by being true to ourselves and following our dreams. I can not think of a single positive role model who did nothing with their owns lives and had no aspirations. It is not selfish to follow your heart, it is selfless, because you are following God's guidance by doing so and therefore fulfilling the aspirations God has for you.

I have always been a fan of listening to the voices in my head, they have never steered me wrong :) Try it, if you never have before just give it a shot..it is easier than you think.

Day 80-84 ~ Getting there

Well this week we have been trying to mainly re-iterate things in Lindsay's mind and my own so that hopefully all will go smoothly in Texas. She is such an intelligent girl and is packed with all this new knowledge now. I am just trying to keep her happy and quiet as we put this new knowledge to work. She can get a little "up" when we do a lot of lead changes, stops and spins..so I try to still remember to work in a lot of low and low work in between. That really settles her, the stretching seems to relax her mind and body.

We have continued to practice stepping on our pedestal and..other than taking a too large step and stepping over it from time to time..she's got it pretty much figured out. When she does step to far though, it does not seem to frighten her to slip off it. I am hoping that will be a plus when we cross the trail bridge in the preliminary course, hopefully she'll be pretty confident stepping up onto whatever I ask her to. They tell us there will be 2 bridges, one typical to a trail pattern and one that has multiple elevations for more points..I'd love to do the later, but we'll have to see what it looks like I guess.

They have posted our judges and wow what a panel! There are six..they include Craig Cameron (Extreme Cowboy Race entrepreneur), BF Yates(AQHA Hall of Fame), Richard Winters (Won Road to the Horse), Barbra Schulte(Cutting horse trainer and motivational writer/speaker), Tom Saunders(Director of Ft Worth Stock Show) and Tommy Garland (Arab Trainer and Clinician) We will actually have the opportunity to meet and speak with all the judges! What an experience in itself!

For those of you that do not know, there will be 4 prelim rounds beginning with the trail on Friday. Trail will consist of backing through cones and a "L" opening/shutting a gate, crossing a bridge, crossing elevated poles, crossing a bridge, removing bridle, picking up feet and jumping. Then Friday afternoon we will have a riding class that is on the rail with other Mustangs, walk, trot canter both ways of the ring. Sat. morning we have a maneuvers class, which will include slides, spins and lead changes. We will also have a cow class where we track a cow into a pen as well as turn them back on the fence. Our lowest score of the 4 rounds will be dropped and the top 20 Mustangs will get to ride a freestyle that night at 6 pm central time.

I think I counted 83 horses on the list of entries submitted to compete, so 20 horses of those 83 will make it. I am excited and feel like I have done everything in my power to prepare Lindsay and I, but this is my first competition of this sort so I am certain there will be surprises for me. It will be an amazing experience to meet and get to see some of these Mustang trainers compete. Many of these trainers have competed and won at the previous Extreme Makeovers and I have watched some videos on line...Wow what an amazing job they have done. It is awesome to witness what these horses are capable of in only 100 days, I just can not wait.

I have to give a very very special thank you to Sue King, Sandy and Heidi Ergas and Magnolia Farms for Sponsoring us recently!!! It is going to cost quite a bit to get half way across the country and we just could not do it without the wonderful support of our friends and horse community! Also, Dr. Marcy came out this week to draw up Lindsay's health certificate and donated her services as part of her Sponsorship! We were not expecting that and it was a wonderful surprise!!! Thank you all so very much! If anyone has an interest in Sponsoring Lindsay feel free to call 910-471-2658 or email high.cotton.horse.farm@gmail.com

I have had many folks want to come visit Lindsay and I wish I could have had everyone out, but we have stayed so busy it just has not been possible. I do plan on doing a demo with her sometime after the competition, I will be sure to let everyone know when and where so hopefully you can attend. I have all intentions of keeping her and continuing to compete in various disciplines in the future. I feel like I have been blessed with a tremendous gift of having this amazing partner willing to do so much for me..I owe it to her and all the other Mustangs to represent the breed well and show the public what amazing partners, companions and competitors these horses can be!

As for now I am anxiously awaiting Fort Worth!!!

Day 79 ~ Play Day

Well Lindsay had a day off from riding today. I know she needed it...sure deserved it as hard as she's been working! Instead we played a bit in the round pen with our new "Toy" I begged my husband to make... It's a pedestal :) It's every bit of a foot and a half tall and only 2 by 2 foot wide. It is actually much taller in person that I was expecting it to be! When I first asked Lindsay to step up on it she willingly sailed over...over the whole thing! Did not miss a beat just cleared it from a stand still, well I asked a few more times and I believe all I was doing was re-iterating to her that I wanted her to sail over this new object versus step on it. hummmm what to do what to do. I tried picking a foot up and setting it on the stool..when she would start pawing I would really praise her, because she was trying to figure out what I wanted...just like when a baby is figuring out how to load on a trailer they will paw it first...I always encourage that because typically it's a sign they are thinking and exploring and before long they step on up. Well, she'd paw, but each time I asked her to step up she'd sail over again. I was happy to see how easy it was for her to do so, but that still wasn't what I wanted. It kinda had me stumped for a bit, she was doing exactly as I asked...I said go forward over this new object and she did just that, getting her to realize just "HOW" I wanted her to cross it was a different story. We started this last night and I stopped once she was pawing and being inquisitive, but had not yet stepped up. So today when we tried it I managed to build the dirt up just a hair on one side so that it was not such a huge leap up. I picked her foot up again and set it on the stool then at the same time I asked her to shift her weight forward by pushing the lead forward...just as I would do to load her into the trailer or ask her to go anywhere in hand...Well she lifted right up and before I knew it she was standing with her front feet up high on that stool. And high it is!...she looks like she is looking down on the world up there! I think she kind of liked the view once she was up there, she was very comfortable just gazing around. I asked a few more times and each time she figured it out quicker and quicker. I then asked from the other side that was flush with the ground, thus a bigger step. It took a little while to figure that out..and she did jump it once again...but then she put the two and two together and stepped up once again! We practiced it a few more times on that side to be sure she had the idea and I do think she's got it. It's amazing how much reasoning skills she has, she really can figure things out quite well when given the proper opportunity.

Also, tonight when we went out to the round pen to work on our new toy I turned her loose first in the round pen and I went to nail a non slip rug on top of the stool to be sure there was plenty of traction. So there I am in the dark...lite up pretty well by the moon...nailing a rug on top of this pedestal and what does the wild Mustang do? Well she is determining to see exactly what I am doing...she watches over my shoulder the entire time ..and I mean right over my shoulder..and then decides to try and sniff the hammer...as I am swinging it to drive the nails in! ...and if that wasn't enough she drops her head in the container of nails and tries to have a taste!!..Well I managed not to whack her in the nose with the hammer and also managed to keep her from eating any nails, but oh my what a personality this gal has! I know it has been there all along, but she is really showing it now, she is such a character.

After playing with our new toy I decided I'd better try the bull whip out around her. I do not personally plan to incorporate one when I ride at the competition, but I know many folks will so I figured I better give her a chance to see what it was first. Well, that went great...she stood perfectly still and did not seem the least bit afraid that the crack the whip made was at all intended to land on her. I do think I'll be leaving our bull whip at home though, I bought it off of E-bay just to use to desensitize her and I think if any cowboy saw it they would laugh at me big time. It is shiny black leather with some sort of metal rivets on it...it looks like it should have been packaged w/ handcuffs hehehe...it really doesn't look at all like the real deal, but it does crack and got the job done...I bet Lindsay was laughing at me big time cracking this toy of a whip around her. I imagine she laughs at me lots these days...hopefully she'll laugh again when I shoot some blanks around her, that's another thing on the list I want to do, we'll see!

Day 78 ~ COWS

Fun night with the cows! Ed Lewis Sr and Ed Lewis Jr are two of the kindest folks you'll ever meet. They had some folks out for to rope at their "Roping Hole" pen in Currie, NC. We brought Lindsay over and what a fabulous experience it was. She was excited at first...I think more from a horse running laps close-by in her pen than the cows, but she settled quickly. We spent some time just pushing some cows around. They had a good 30 head or so and these were very much awake so it was a bit more of a challenge, but Lindsay was a star. She doesn't really get that it is about following the cow on her own, but she is very willing to put herself where-ever I ask her to be and she's not scared of them at all..so as long as I do my part, she'll do hers...that's the way it always seems to be.

After they started roping we stood at the shoot at the other end of the pen and opened and closed the gate and pushed the cows through that had just been roped. I really still have not made a big deal about shaking metal panels or picking things up that make lots of noise when I'm on her back because it just seemed to be setting her back if I made to big a deal out of that stuff. My backing off seems to have helped her realize that there really is nothing to worry about after all. She let me open and shut the metal gate while I was on her back! We did it numerous times to let cows in and out and she really got the hang of it. We even got to push the whole herd up the long side of the fence b/t the panels to move them back down to be roped again...one was laying down and we just about had to step on him to get him up...when he finally sprung up Lindsay tossed her head up a bit in surprise, but that was it. She is so incredibly confident I just love it.

We loped some circles as well and I was so pleased that she was not bothered by the rope horses and the riders swinging their ropes. She honestly seems to enjoy going places, she loves to watch what's going on. It's as if she is taking it all in and processing every little move that everyone makes....probably wondering if I'm going to ask her to do that next!

A big step was made for us when we first arrived. Mr. Ed Lewis Jr. walked up to us while I was sitting on Lindsay and went to shake my hand. She started to shy away from him, but held her own! I shook his hand then he rubbed her neck and she was totally fine! That may seem like a minor thing, but it has been one of the biggest hurdles to get over, she is just not sure about someone she doesn't know approaching her. It was so awesome to see how she has begun to broaden her comfort zone. Before it was barely big enough for me to fit in and no room whatsoever for anyone else...or any plastic bottle friends for that matter...but for her to open up the comfort zone to include so much more of her surrounding..including a strange tall man, that was just huge for us! It was such a productive night, that she really seemed to enjoy.

I don't know if they'll see this, but a HUGE Thank you to the Lewis' for letting us out. They have such an awesome facility and are truly wonderful people!

Day 74-77 ~ On the News

Well we have been doing quite a bit of bridle-less practice lately and Lindsay is taking to it so well. We can turn, stop and back at the walk really well...she is good at the trot and canter too, but maintaining our speed can be a little tough at the faster gates...Lindsay is no plug so it's not like she is a horse I have to push every stride..she likes to go forward , so we are working on getting our speed more and more steady without me using my hands, just my seat. She has gotten really comfortable with her bridge though and lets me ride her across it using just my legs and neck rope, no bridle.

WECT TV 6 came out today and videoed us. Lindsay was so good! Bob Townsend and the camera man both got really close to her and she really did not seem to be phased by them. The camera man even was doing some fancy camera work and shooting at funny angles from the ground and almost up underneath her and she was ok with it..ignored him really! We even did some of our bridle-less work crossing the bridge, stopping, backing, a few spins....At one point the camera guy was crouched down at the very edge of the bridge right beside (with in a foot) of where I was asking Lindsay to go...she did widen her eye at him a bit, but never veered off track and calmly went right where I pointed her ... without the bridle! I just could not have been more proud of her...no matter how talented and smart I think she is, she does something to out-do herself again....Now if I can just keep up my end of the deal we'll be set, she sure has her part figured out!

It will air August 4th and 5th, so two weeks from now...on channel 6 out of Wilmington, NC. I'll post a link closer to the time. Mr. Townsend wants to call us after the competition to see how it goes...hopefully I can tell him good news! If it was all up to Lindsay I am certain the news would be good...but I will have to do my part too...and I am no where near as good as her...I'm working on it though :)

Days 69-73 ~ Getting Excited!

Well, Lindsay actually got a day off Wed.. It was my husband's birthday and we had family in town. It drives me crazy not to be on her, but I know she appreciated the rest. I did still take her for a little hand walk to check out our visitor's and she was a brave girl.

Thursday it was back to work.. must practice, practice practice...She had thrown a shoe in her stall, so I had to reset it before we worked. She was good, even though she does still get a little tired of waiting on me...I do not drive nails in as quickly as some, but she hung in there and I got her re-set. No glue this time, just clips and nails.

We've still been working lots on our changes and we have times were we are super consistent with them...then lapse into little spells where we are not. When she gets tired it's a little tougher to get them each time and I have a tendency to want to just keep on and keep pushing. She's plenty tough and hangs with me, but I'm trying to be good and limit the amount of times I ask for her changes now. If she gets them a couple times each way I am good with that. She is getting that flying change left to right now which really excites me. Sometimes the hind lead will still lag, but she's gotten it clean quite a bit. Just the fact she is able to do flying changes clean at all at this stage still amazes me..it is a true testament not only to her "try" but also her physical talent, it just doesn't come that easy for many horses.

We've been popping over fences too here and there and she is very good at that. Very round and tight knees, that has certainly been an easy task for her.

We hauled out to a friends Sat and worked in a really nice, huge arena with incredible ground. We have been working on our stops and our dirt at home is just too deep. She stops great, willingly and with her hind end, but once she plants her hind feet she slides ~ 3 feet then sinks in the dirt and has to pop back up with her back end to finish the stop. We have tried to get our ground to pack, but it's simply to soft to really hold a slide, it's perfect for pretty much everything else I do...especially barrels which is wonderful, but the same dirt just can not always do it all. It was fabulous to have the opportunity to work on some better sliding dirt and I think it will help Lindsay learn she can float across this ground better. She still had a tendency to pop up after a few feet, but got better the more she got the feel of the new dirt. It's amazing how much ground really does affect a horse. It is very apparent in running barrels, but other disciplines as well. We can not expect them to give us the same ride in beach sand vs. packed dirt. They have to use their bodies differently to accomplish the same task. It's really amazing how well some horses can adjust to the feel of different ground, but they still have to be given a proper chance to feel it to be able to make that adjustment. I think working on this dirt will help her a lot, we'll see after a few more rides on it.

We had a low key ride tonight under English tack, lots of long and low...really practicing rhythm and consistency. We popped over a few jumped throughout our ride and she was hardly even sweaty when I stepped off. She was very relaxed the whole ride. I am trying to make a point to help her understand when I want her long and low and steady, versus when I want her more elevated and "reactive" so to speak for her stops and spins...and when we are going to be a little less reactive and work on slower maneuvers of her body, like turns on the forehand..backing through poles...opening gates etc. She is catching on to the different types of "feel" and degree of responsiveness I am asking for. It is very easy to wake her up and get her more responsive, so I have to be sure to not forget to continue to remind her that it is ok for her to be less reactive too.

We are getting so very excited about Texas in August! It is coming up so fast! We still welcome anyone interested in Sponsorships...no matter how small, anything and everything helps. It is going to be quite the expensive venture to get ourselves halfway across the country and back. I am so very thankful for those that have Sponsored Lindsay in the beginning... Ms. Jane in memory of Alex, Dr. Marcy, Dr. Burgess, Lindsay and Judy Miller....Triple Crown has provided Lindsay's feed and Soft-Ride has outfitted her with a fabulous set of boots. We are so thankful for each and every one of you. Without the support of our wonderful horse community and friends this would not be possible. We are just thrilled to have to opportunity to show folks how special and unique these wild Mustangs truly are.

They truly are an integral part of our history, not one of us would be here, living the life we are blessed to live without them. Their direct ancestors carried our ancestors across this great country..they fought battles and died for us, simply because we asked them to...they ran across the nation carrying our mail, many times running almost non-stop as the "Pony Express"...they carried heavy loads to build our rail-roads and were the primary means of transportation for all for many years. They worked our fields growing our food and herded the cattle we ate...the list of what the wild Mustang has given to us is infinite. They have shaped our heritage and history in every way imaginable. Now that they are seemingly not as prominent in our survival it seems some have forgotten what all they have given to us. There are now many more wild Mustangs roaming the west than the land can support. The Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) is such a blessing to us and to the Mustangs. They work constantly to create programs like this Makeover to promote the diversity and magnificence of these incredible horses and the aid in their adoption and support. By supporting these programs we are all supporting the wild Mustangs. The MHF and the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) work to support the adoption of these amazing beings as well as support them in the wild. Without the MHF and BLM these horses would be extremely over populated and be forced to fight for survival and face starvation for lack of grazing land. I am so proud to be a small part of it all...I want to do anything I can to help the public become aware and give credit to these wonderful beings that truly shaped every aspect of our life....hopefully in turn we can make their life better, by giving them loving homes and by supporting them in the wild on the range.

If you would like to offer any help in Lindsay's upcoming travels this coming month please feel free to give us a call or drop an email. 910-471-2658 or high.cotton.horse.farm@gmail.com

We appreciate every one's kind words and support in this process. It truly is an amazing ride....also if you are interested in adopting or training a wild Mustang feel free to contact us as well. There are many really wonderful programs the MHF offers to help these horses find good homes. If you ever have one you will see what I mean. They form a bond with their partners like no other. It is as if they have a capability to trust that runs deeper than most. It is a true blessing to have the opportunity to develop such a relationship with such a majestic being.

Day 66, 67, 68 ~ Air-time to Ground-time

Well Sunday we tracked the steers again. It went well...Lindsay isn't the least bit concerned about them. I'd love to find another place to haul with some new cow faces for her to see. I think it would help us to track some new faces...or tails, but these have been just perfect to get her used to them.

Monday we worked at home and all went well. Worked lots on stops, changes and spins.

This morning I decided I better start jumping her if I am going to...keep forgetting that! I put her in the round pen to let her free jump a time or two and get used to how to carry herself over a fence. It was absolutely hilarious! I have not done any round pen work in a very long time, seems like ages ago! Lindsay was a different horse in there...way more confident in me than before and she wanted to play big time. It was such a trip..I would send her out to the rail to work then bring her in to me to "join up" and she got soooo into it she'd bounce all the way to me...rearing, dancing on her hind legs, bouncing all up in the air...now don't get me wrong, she was not being aggressive or disrespectful of me at all, she was just having a blast while still doing as I asked. She was having so much fun, it was awesome...I really am in awe that this is the same horse that seemed to have no interest in any type of "play" activities before..she was always so proper and to the point...now it's like the little kid in her has emerged and the personality has exploded out :) I love it! ...One might thing she would appear "broken" from this "domestication" process, but it's quite the opposite...she's more full of personality and charisma now than ever before!

I did send her over the jump, amidst her leaps and bounces on her own, she poped over the fence easily and willingly, no hesitation. So after a bit more playing we tacked up english and set out to pop over a jump in the arena. She was a star, very quiet and just hopped right over, lift has sure never been an issue for her so it makes perfect since jumping would be a breeze.

We also practiced our rope gate as well as the wooden bridge Mike so kindly built for us. I tried to make the bridge scarier by putting fake flowers on it on both sides, but it didn't phase her. Here over the past week she's really become much better about the whole inanimate object thing. She still gets tense at some things, but way better than before. That night I spent tossing the feed bag filled w/ cans over her back a trillion times really helped I believe....not sure if I remembered to write about that...I was probably so tired of thinking about that bag of cans I didn't even want to write about them! It took a loooong time for her to stop jumping each and every time I'd drop the bag or toss it, but eventually she did...and ever since other "friends" have become less terrifying....I sure hope her new friends will not be to scary for her in Texas!

We also worked more on holding our bow. Sometimes, she'll want to pop back up out of it sooner than I asked for, so we worked lots on holding it...poor thing, I think I wore her out...she finally just laid down!!! I guess that was easier than holding that bow forever and she knew she wasn't supposed to get up. I'd love to teach her to lay down as well as bow, but we'll just take our time with that... even though I was tickled to see she was willing to today. I do not plan to use any ropes or hobbles to do it, and have not thus far...so she will need to be very comfortable with what I am asking to figure it out consistently.

So between cows, jumping, bowing, stops, spins, changes, gates and bridges we've had quite the diverse few days. Anyone that ever thought horses were "stupid" is truly an ignorant person. Her level of intelligence and ability to have a diverse dialogue with me through simple body language is simply astounding. It really is like she is excited she has found these new things she can do. I know of course she always could do them w/o me, but just watching her play in the round pen I can tell her body is so much more educated and in control than it was before. She was doing this little uphill canter just about in one spot in the most beautiful self carriage, w/o me or a saddle on her back...it was like she was showing off all her new tricks for everyone :) It makes my heart smile to see her seem to really enjoy life and her new lifestyle...watching her in the round pen today I tell you she seemed much more of a "free spirit" than she even did when she arrived...it's like she's just now really been able to start to be her true self and her true self is Full of PERSONALITY!!!!! I just Love it!!!

Day 65 ~ Short n Sweet

This horse just amazes me more each day. I can hardly imagine how she was 65 days ago...no interest in her grain what-so-ever...terrified for my finger to simply rest on her neck...no interest in anything at all, but doing her best to keep a safe distance from everything...especially that Pig they call "Samantha P" ... now she calls for her dinner as soon as she sees me arrive, She has decided she not only doesn't mind the touch of my hand, but it actually makes quite the good scratching post...she is intrigued by everything and when uncertain typically wants to explore the new object rather than flee...and Samantha P ..well it's hard to be afraid of a pig that takes a bath in your bath water underneath you every day :) ... She just amazes me, it really is hard to imagine her the horse she used to be. Which of course she is the same confident, strong willed mare she is today, she's just allowed many new doors to open in order to share her talent with me and it is a truly indescribable feeling when she really lets me into who she is. It is not to my credit that she is seemingly becoming "Domesticated" ... I have done nothing but listened to her and done my best to be as clear in my requests as she is in hers...and offer her the same patience she offers me in answering the questions correctly. She is a fabulous teacher and I am still learning more each day...and as far as being "Domesticated" it is hard for me to really see it that way, she is as much a free, unique spirit as any horse I've ever met..I just can not imagine her ever being "broken" She is much to confident in her own skin to allow anyone to do that.

We had a short ride tonight after the storm rolled through. Her flying changes are really developing. Her right to left is almost solid and the left to right is developing steadily. I find the best thing to do is simply ask nicely and wait patiently...it may take her a few strides, but she figures it out on her own. She does not need me to add pressure if she does not get it right at first. She puts enough pressure on herself, if I add more, it's to much. I am so thankful she is so physically capable. I have been on horses with plenty of try, but lack the physical ability. I always commend the try, but there is typically a plateau with those that is difficult to surpass. Her abilities seem infinite. It's as if she can do anything with her body she wants and will willing do so for me if I can simply explain my request. If only I was so perfect in my explanations every time :( But I strive to be and she is thankfully forgiving of my mistakes.

We also worked on opening and closing the rope gate and thankfully that went well. We still have moments where she gets tense when I begin to pick something up, but she is much more comfortable than before. I just do not think it makes much sense to her why we should be grabbing inanimate objects and carrying them around. She is still much more comfortable with anything alive, like a tree branch, than she is a water bottle. It's like she can feel the difference, even when things look very similar to the eye. I think there is a lot to be said for that. For example; there is a "feel" you get from leather or horse hair that is simply impossible to simulate with man-made products. It seems she already has this figured out....She has lots figured out that I have yet to...thankfully she's still willing to teach me as long as I am willing to listen and learn.

Day 63 & 64 ~ Kids n' Cows

Fun field trips over the last two days :)

Yesterday we hauled to the
Boys and Girls home and rode with some super fun kids and amazing
horses. We practiced riding around with the group of horses and Lindsay
was really a good girl with the horse "Traffic" and She even warmed up
to Julie enough to let her rub her neck! She actually really enjoyed it
once Julie started rubbing and leaned into her and stretched her neck out for Julie to get the perfect spot. Lindsay had met Julie a time or two before and I am certain she remembers her.I think she found a new friend!

Today
we hauled out to a friends house to play with some steers. (A HUGE
Thank You to Brandy and Jonathon!!!) I was pleased to see that Lindsay
was not to worried over them at all. She was intrigued, but not afraid.
We practiced walking and tracking them up and down the fence line a
bit. They were not to afraid of us and I kinda felt like I had to get
right up on them to get them to move. Lindsay didn't mind, but I was a
bit to close to efficiently change direction when need be. I'm going to
have to work on my cow skills, but I think Lindsay has her part figured
out...so long as I can do mine.

When we were warming up we even got some flying changes right to left!!! I was so excited :) Our left to right transition isn't quite as smooth yet and we lag that back lead sometimes, but she gets it if I just wait on her a
bit. I am super excited she seems to be figuring out what I'm asking
for though. I can not wait to see what she remembers tomorrow!

Day 61 & 62 ~Slidin', Spinnin' & Stoppin'

Well I do not consider myself a reining trainer, even though after my experience w/ Lindsay I might have a new discipline to explore :) She really is a fabulous teacher. We've been practicing lots of lead changes, she's got her simple changes down pat and has become pretty consistent with getting the lead I ask for...we are working on flying changes and we get them sometimes...sometimes not, but with her natural "uphill" canter I do believe she is fully capable. It's just a matter of time for her to figure out where to put her feet at all times. We have done some flying changes over poles and she gets those well, but I do not want to become dependent on that so I ask for them just on the flat as well. She is so smart and athletic, I just have to do my best to stay consistent and let her learn and figure things out in her own time.

We've worked on our stops too, out of a decent forward canter. She is still stronger on her left lead, but the right lead stop is coming along to. When she gets a good slide it is just an amazing experience! What a feeling..it's like you're floating across the ground...I can see why so many people love to show reiners!

We worked on speeding up our spins by me kissing once I asked her to step over. That went well, but we got a little ahead of ourselves and started loosing some of our cross over in the front...especially turning left. So today we backed up a bit (Figuratively) and went back to 90 degree and 180 degree turns really encouraging forward motion. She remembered well and started crossing over again. I imagine we'll do a lot of that as well as full spins to try and hold that cross over. She is very capable of it, but when we spin a full 360 sometimes we get a little stuck and loose our forward. When that happens I try to go back to getting that forward motion and cross over again.

Today it was soooooo incredibly hot, I was not in the best mood when I went to ride and I really anticipated a not so perfect ride. I mean Lindsay can only be as good as I allow her to be, if my moods and emotions get in her way it can not help but hold her back. It was odd though, it was if she took the wheel for me tonight. She was very relaxed and did not anticipate as she sometimes does. I actually felt much better after stepping off her..she really gave me a nice ride. I wonder if she'll take the wheel in Texas if need be? I sure hope so, I am certain I will not be the most relaxed person there!

Day 58, 59 &60 ~ New Nikes

Well Ms. Lindsay now has a new pair of hind shoes on. Still barefoot in the front and plan to stay that way. Her feet are as solid as can be with very thick hoof walls and an incredible toe callous that makes for a very sound horse even over gravel. However, due to her ability and desire to really drop her back end and sit in her halts (thus slide) I was really concerned about burning up her bulbs and hurting her, so I knew we needed protection on the back. My plan was to glue her shoes on the first time, just because she has never had them nailed on and I wanted it to be a gradual process for her to adjust to. She has done so well with me picking her feet up, I did not want to push my luck by asking for to much to soon. Seeing as I was planning to glue I needed clips pulled to help stabilize her shoes. Thanks to Greg Roach and Mr. Paul her shoes now have beautiful quarter clips. (Thank you Both!!!) After the clips were pulled Sat AM I went home to put these new kicks on our girl.

Mike held her for me most of the time and that in itself was very good for her. By the time we were done she was practically sleeping in his lap. I've been trying to convince her he really is a good guy, but I think she's a bit like me..she has to make up her own mind. I do think now she agrees though :)

I had already trimmed her hind feet pretty well and just needed to shape her shoes a bit to have them ready. I curved the heels slightly, just behind her bulbs to offer her plenty of heel and bulb protection (as Mr. Paul recommended) I had to clean her soles out really well to remove any dirt so that the glue would hopefully stick. I layered her shoes with glue and set them on. It was quite time consuming due to the fact that the glue takes a while to set up, but she was very tolerant. As a matter of fact she did so well I thought I'd try to get a nail or two in as well. I did manage to get a nail in both sides of her feet, so with the clips, glue and nail on each side they feel quite secure. I believe when I re-set I will use a minimal amount of glue and leave the nail holes open to nail through. She really was a very good girl.

So of course I could not wait to ask her to stop with her new protection. I had previously been afraid to ask for a whoa out of anything more than a slow lope. She naturally wants to drop her hind end and I was afraid she would go to slide and burn her bulbs, not only hurting herself, but also discouraging herself from wanting to to slide the next time. I was thankful to see that she adjusted well and seemed to have plenty of confidence sliding on her new shoes. I certainly had more confidence asking for a good stop out of a forward canter now as well. Her stop is exceptionally good on her left lead...it is not quite as strong on her right, but she is figuring it out. It really is a huge benefit for her to have this protection.

I am an advocate of shoeing as well as barefoot trimming and I believe there is a time and place for both. This is a good example of a horse that has exceptional feet and can continue to benefit from a good "barefoot trim" as she will on her front feet, but did need the added protection only a shoe can provide due to the high degree of abrasion in the maneuvers she is capable of doing. It is not typical that out on the range a wild mustang would run at a pretty good canter then chose to slide to a full stop as a reining horse does. Of course they are obviously capable and the fact they naturally work off their hind end is a testament to their durability that has been a necessity to their survival, but there is a difference in a horse sitting down and working of their hind end in necessity...versus the slide we so love to see in a reining pattern. That slide requires not only the ability of the equine athlete to work off their hind end, it also requires protection of the soft heel bulb from us as care-takers. I was pleased to be able to offer Lindsay that protection and to see that she was so quick to adjust to the new feel.

We worked Sun and Mon as well. We have been practicing lots of lead changes, mostly simple, but some flying here and there :) We have also continued work on our stops and our spins. I have started to ask for a little more quickness in our spins and Lindsay has done quite well. She is extremely athletic and the more she learns she is capable of the more she can get a little hyped up when doing certain maneuvers. I try to be sure to always encourage her to settle after wards and she is figuring things out. If it wasn't for her degree of sensitivity and lightness there is no way she would be capable of doing the things I ask of her...so a "Busy mind" kind of comes with the territory. I personally love a horse that is always thinking and trying to guess your next move, but I do have to be cautious she does not anticipate the next move...there is a fine line between light responsiveness and to much anticipation.

Day 54-57 ~ Simple Lead Changes & Pecan Orchards

Well I must say I have dug up my half chaps and breeches and that makes for a much more enjoyable ride in my hunt seat saddle. There is a reason those things were invented. I still feel the burn every now and then, but it is way better than that first day in slippery jeans! We have ridden english a few times and I really enjoy it. I can feel so much and stay really connected to her. We have been working lots on a rhythmic medium trot and still our canter departure..we even started some simple changes of leads too! Lindsay is so light on the forehand it comes quite natural for her. It is as it's always been...if I can explain it she will do her best to do it...I am loving the feel of her canter more and more each day. I still have to be careful of letting it get to "up" so to speak..when she is feeling good she can bounce like a bunny rabbit just about in one spot at the canter! So we still incorporate lots of long and low.

We trailered to Lake Waccamaw today and yesterday for the NBHA barrel race. What a fabulous facility to ride this time of year. The entire place is sheltered by huge pecan trees, it was a cool day anyway, but with the added shade it was just perfect!

Yesterday it was really quiet, not many horses there and Lindsay was really good. We rode in the indoor and she was a bit looky as they were unloading the panels and barrels and setting up, but she held her own and really seems to enjoy just watching everything.

We even walked over and meet a donkey that lives on the grounds. Lindsay Loved him! She perked her ears up straighter than I've seen them yet! She would have jumped in the pasture with him had I let her I think. Wonder if any burros ran with her in the wild? She sure appeared to recognize him...she didn't snort and try to run off, she wanted to go see him!

We crossed a bridge too...a real one... she was a star with that, no hesitation at all. I am always seatrching for things to walk her over and this was perfect, it had rails and was ~20 long crossing a deep ditch. I've had many colts at this facility and they typically do not cross this bridge as well as she did...it's amazing to me how much confidence she has.

We trailered back out today and there was a much bigger crowd..Lindsay could feel it. She was really on edge at first and was even antsy to mount. I still remained consistent with my plan of always having her stand after I mount, so we did..even though she was way ready to go see the sights. At first in the warm up pen she was quite jumpy at everything...the horse trailers..the stalls...it's the people coming in and out of nowhere that bothers her. It's like she thinks they are all a bunch of little gremlins creeping out of every corner to personally attack her! We moved over to a quieter pen and I really put her to work...trotted lots and loped lots. She was so fresh she even tossed her head at the lope and soooo wanted to play and bounce around, but we worked through it and soon enough she was loping great..we practiced some simple changes with a trot stride or two in between the leads and she did wonderful. We miss a lead every now and then, but for the most part she's getting it..and is by all means good at it when we get it right..it is quite the fun ride!After she had settled and was more focused we went back in the warm up pen and trotted and loped around. She was still very aware of the surroundings and the opening and closing stall doors and people sitting under their horse trailer awnings, but she let me work her through it much better and once we stepped up to the canter she really became more focused on her job. She was far from being oblivious of her surrounding when we finished up, but we were at a much better place than before.

We then went in and stood in the holding pen while they were running exhibitions, she was exceptionally good at that and seemed happy to get to rest and watch some other horses work. One horse loped circles around her passing her face with in a few feet each time and she did not even flinch...it's never been the horses that she's worried about anyway, but it was still good for her and I was thrilled to see her be so mature.

We headed home and hoping to do it again tomorrow!