Away Ride!! July 21st 2013

 
      The night  before the AWAY ride, I can't sleep! I'm so excited and nervous !!

   The morning comes and I start to get ready. I can't even eat breakfast I'm too nervous! It's not long and Kaaren arrives with her trailer! Surprisingly enough Kizz loads fairly well! I was pretty surprised since he hadn't been trailered since coming home from when he was boarded at Dena's to get started to saddle.

We get on our way! Once we turn into the driveway at Greenfield Stables, my belly starts to churn! I'm so nervous he is going to get off the trailer and whinny and spin around and not pay ANY attention to me! We unload the horses and walk them around the farm a bit. We take them into the barn and into the indoor to check everything out. Other than him walking pretty fast he was very respectful and not as nervous as I expected!

We lead the horses back and I tie Kizz to the side of the trailer. He gets busy looking around at the cows and horses. Kaaren takes Odin off to get his hock and leg hosed off as he kicked at the trailer partition (when he was trailered from his house to mine) His hair on his leg was rubbed off some.

As Kaaren and Odin walked off, Kizz started to Whinny some, but they stayed in our sight and he wasn't too bad. I got him brushed off and saddled up fairly well. But time Kaaren and Odin got back and saddled up, Kizz wasn't too bad! not screaming or spinning like I expected!

We lead the horses into the riding ring and I use the mounting block to mount. A friend of mine - our guide to the trails for the day, Carole is all mounted and waiting on a cute little half Arab mare.

We head out and are on our way!! Kizz is wanting to be close to his buddy so I let him go up in behind Odin and the new mare and Carole come in behind us. He keeps putting his ears back and turning his head a bit to see her, but walks along fine! We get through the fields and come to the trails! The trails are great and there is lots to experience.  There are some small puddles and mud holes that we hug the trees as much as possible and go around. There is a very steep incline that he does well on!

As the ride goes on, he is very good! He doesn't spook at anything, or refuse anything. The only thing he does is avoids the mud and such as much as he can. I can tell at this point he starts to get a little nervous and sticks as close to Odin as he can. We get out onto some fields and he settles in better! We cross our first beaver pond! it's not deep but far across and not clear but muddy but he goes in without much fuss and crosses fine!! After some more trails we cross back across again. This time he walks right in and crosses with no hesitation at all. With us at the rear he is much more grumpy. He is worried they are going to go on ahead of us ... Coming out of the stream they pick up a trot and we do as well, they get a bit ahead of us, and he hops and bucks a bit. we get him stopped up and then on we go again and he is fine after that. He doesn't seem to like to be in the lead or in the rear, but in the middle.

At one point we stop in a field (where he pees basically on command lol) and as they're munching a bit, the little mare walks a few paces away from us towards the trail.. He backs up and squats a few times like he is going to rear . I yell at him and he stops. (We aren't sure why he did it at the time but after we realize it is because the little mare was leaving us)

Farther along on the trail, Kizz seems to settle in even better and even trots and takes the lead up ahead! We lope a little bit and he does well.

                  A picture of Kaaren & Odin on the right, and Kizz & I to the left, on the trail that Carole took :)




On the way back we trot on a head but see we've left Carole and the little grey Arab mare behind. We go back and she is walking (to give her knee a break) we stop and let the horses eat. I mention to Karen that I think Kizz acted up back on the trail because the mare was walking away... she suggests we wait and let them walk on ahead and see how he does.

As soon as they get out ahead of us, he stops eating and I can tell it's upsetting him that she's going on with out us. He even whinnys a bit. We give it a while, then return to the trail and head off. We trot a bit and going up a little knoll I let him pick up the canter. He bucks a few times, so I pull him up and give a shout. So we return back to the woods where the field started and walk back. He again takes off a bit trotting so we stop turn and trot back to the woods and return at a walk again. This time he walks fine and although we can both tell he's excited to go , he doesn't speed up. We arrive at the stables and decide to ride in the ring a while!

It's a huge beautiful ring with beautiful footing. It's been so long since we had anywhere nice like this to ride. I ask Kizz to trot around and we do some figure 8s. He does well. Kaaren canters around a bit and then we dismount and chat with Carole some. Kaaren asks if I cantered. I say, No. I'm nervous to ask for a canter in that big of an area! on the narrow little trails with no where for him to run off to I'm much more comfortable!

She says we are here and it's at the end of the ride, we should do it. I know she's right. but of course it takes some encouragement for me to do it haha She says, just choose one lead even! just his good lead, so I give in.

I mount up again and we trot some circles, I choose his good lead.. I kiss and ask for it and he picks it up after only 2 tries. We canter at least a good full circle. She says are you going to do the other direction ?

I feel much better about it and say, YUP!

The other lead takes a few more tries, and at one point he picks up the wrong lead but is jumping in the air with his front end to switch leads and I pull him up. So I ruin that try! but after a couple more tries we get it!!

both leads done! yahooo!! Thanks again to Kaaren we end our ride on a perfect note!

we unsaddle the horses and let them roam around the arena and roll and relax while we chat.

After we return to the trailer and wait for Kaaren as she hoses off and wraps Odin's leg, Kizz is almost sleeping beside me he is so relaxed!! I'm so excited and happy !!

I can't believe we did it!! I'm still on Cloud 9.

Next hurdle to cross is me riding out by myself and meeting Kaaren on the trail!! I'm so nervous that he's going to be upset riding out alone and dump me. He's very dependant on the other horse , but I know we need to get past this and be a team just the two of us!  It would be much nicer for Kaaren to ride out and meet us on the trail to ride together rather than riding up the big hill alone and coming to ride with me!

I get belly bubbles just thinking of it!! but I know it's coming and need to get over it!!
Also our ACTRA Judged Pleasure ride is coming up soon and that's awesome!!

wish us luck we survive the ALONE ride and I'll never complain about being nervous.... no I can't promise that.. lol!

"Dirt bikes and 4 wheelers" July 18 2013 ride

Kizz and I had a wonderful ride last night! Kaaren came up and rode Coby with us. We did one of the first trails we ever did. The ditch that Kaaren had such trouble getting Kizz to cross that first time, he walked right over it! (Coby went along ahead of us though) most of he way he was uncertain and stayed in behind Coby.
We came out onto the road and went down along it some. We only had one car go by and one truck , he didn't mind at all.. It's one of my fears - that he'll jump out in front of a car because he's concentrating on something new and scary away from the road. He has serious tunnel vision sometimes!

We turned in on the old dirt road that circles back behind my house and takes you into Millville. The whole way Kizz was staying right behind Coby and wouldn't take the lead. So we walked most of it. Any times we did trot, he would shy away and scoot left or right whenever we came to a puddle he had to go around or a rock in the road. I kept my seat well and am a little better prepared for these things now I think! Yahoo! Some dirt bikes and a 4 wheeler came along behind us and he didn't mind at all! we just pulled off to the side to let them pass!

As soon as we got to the trail that he is familiar with, he immediately took the lead and wanted to trot! We trotted more then, once we got to where the trail was very nice footing, he wanted to race home! he was having a blast at that point! the trail was nice and has even been mowed! nice and wide and perfect! Any of the muddy spots on the way home, Kizz hesitated but went right though not waiting for Coby to take the lead. It was a great ride, the first time we left home one way and came home another.  We went for almost 3 hours!

next up is our Away ride!! so nervous and excited for it!!

we got this!! (our new motto) July 6th,10th&14th

- July 6th was to be mine and Kizz's first real accomplishment

 Kaaren arrived on Odin her young endurance horse, I was already mounted and waiting (I was worried how I'd mount with Kizz prancing around looking at this new horse! ) She said she'd like to hose Magic off so I dismounted and got the garden hose hooked up and going.

After when I went to mount Kizz surprised me and stood quietly for me to mount!!

We headed out to the new trails, we did the muddy puddle area without as much fuss but was right on Odin's butt going through. (no tree hugging this time haha)  we trotted some more on the trails and eventually found the way to that logging road that goes to Kaaren's house.  We got onto that road and trotted a bit. Kizz was excellent! he was having a bit of a hard time keeping up with Odin's trot (he's like a trotting machine haha) but he just kept at it but felt he was pushing himself and wanted to canter but didn't break into it (and I was too nervous to ask!)

 We came to a spot on the trail up a slope that Odin cantered and Kizz immediately picked up a canter!! He did great and felt very under control and felt much less stressed! I was sooo happy!! This was the first time I had cantered him since the indoor arena over a year ago! What a feeling!


 We had some trouble later on the trail getting him to cross some tiny ditches that I found his stubborn streak lol ( he just stops and cocks his leg and says NO ) after much dismounting and crossing and mounting and crossing we got over them a few times. (I had a good work out, burned over 1100 calories according to my HRM haha )

It was a Ground breaking ride in my issues and I think he clicked in that this is what we are going to now be doing!! He might even like it!!
We rode 2 hr, 45 min and did 9 miles!


- July 10  our next ride was great too!  Kaaren rode Coby while I rode Kizz, We went out the trails and later crossed the road and went along it for bit across the road first time . He spooked a bit at the trot at some ant hills and was scared of the gravestones as we rode along side the graveyard, we had a car go by us on the pavement and he didn't mind at all!

We had trouble crossing a fairly big ditch that he couldn't jump but would have to go down and up over it.. She had to lead us over it (grabbing a rein and riding along side me) but he went through it after that, then on the way back over it -he went but after a bunch of prodding and Coby coming back and going through it with us.

We rode on the rail way bed which is lovely footing and wide open and straight ,Kizz even wanted to take the lead and trotted right along! (we were with Coby so we left Kaaren and Coby in the dust haha ) it was really easy to tell this ride that KIZZ is LOVING it!!! yahooo!!!

Kaaren said she can tell Kizz and I are starting to become a team and she can really tell both of our confidence is building!! we did 7.7 miles

Kizz and I on the railway bed

-July 14th, Kaaren again brings her younger Endurance horse (as that is who she'll be riding with me in the JP in Aug)

We head down the trails to get to the rail way again where we can do some trotting. On the way Kizz lead the way through the narrow rocky path that he usually has to follow a horse through! I was pleased!

 We trotted a lot down the trails TO the railway bed, Kizz enjoyed himself, we picked up a canter again on the nice road to keep up with Odin's trot. He seems much more comfortable at the canter.  We trotted almost the whole way into Millville, then crossed the road, on the other side we went up the tracks some until we came to the stream ..there was a nice little trail that takes you right to the stream (It had a huge puddle that you couldn't get around that we had to go through but kizz went right through it, he rushed and wasn't happy but we did it! At the stream Kaaren and Odin had to come back and LEAD us again into the stream but he went.. It was his VERY first time standing in water like that!! he sloshed hiimself with his wet tail and scared himself but he cooled off a bit , had a drink and stood still. Once I gave him the go ahead to leave, he bounded out of the water and through the trail back to the rail way. (it was like he said, I'm gonna DO it, but i ain't Gonna LIKE it! lol )
Kizz took the lead and even cantered off and on on cue coming back on the trail some and he did great, we had a great ride! I'm feeling really like we can do this JP coming up!!

We did 11 miles!

our next plans are to trailer out this upcoming Sunday to a stables where we will see how he reacts to being somewhere new and ride! Hope it's as fun as all our adventure so far!!

Happy Happy Happy!!!

So it happens..   Kaaren came up and rode Coby and I rode Kizz! I was nervous but not bad!

 We went out the same trails we had been going on but tried to find a way down to the old woods road that would connect my trails to her trails to her house! We couldn't find the way, on the way back in the big pasture Kaaren told me to trot away from her and Coby and see how we do. Kizz was fine and then we tried some more on the way home! I was so very happy!! Slowly I was gaining my confidence!! .



-Our next ride was Canada day - my birthday Kaaren came up and rode Coby with me.

We found a new trail off another pasture to try! we had to cross a rock wall in a skinny path that Kizz wasn't happy about, he did go though, after Coby and Kaaren went through, it also had some muddy wet parts, and she and Coby walked through but Kizz was having none of it!! He backed us into some trees where 'I became one with the trees' we said haha  but after some fuss and Kaaren & Coby coming back and riding right beside us, he went through it!

We rode around and even trotted to get away from the flies on those trails and had a blast!! Kizz did wonderful!! the way back he went through the muddy wet spot much better but still had to be on top of Cobys tracks to feel safe enough lol

best birthday I've had in a long time!!!

Kaaren and I started talking about trailering the horses out for a fun trail ride (and would be great to see how Kizz would react to it all! ) and as we got discussing it, she comes back later saying we might as well do an actual ENDURANCE ride!!! There is a Judged Pleasure ride coming up on a weekend (Aug 3&4) that she would ride with me (she'd do the CTR that Saturday and then do the JP with me on Sunday) and she thinks we can get Kizz ready in time! It's not far away for trailering and it's only $20 to enter, also it's not a timed ride. It is 14miles long and at a beautiful farm and there is even a lake to swim in after (If kizz can get over his fear of water lol)

So It's decided.. we are going on an actual ACTRA trail ride!!! not in 2015, but in 2013!!! Can I do it?! we'll see!!

a picture of Kizz , myself & Coby from our July 1 ride ,

At this point I have lost 23lbs and many inches! I have my own endurance saddle now too! 

Kaaren to the rescue again

A few weeks later, I get thinking.. I can't leave it at this! I just Can't, we've come so far!! Maybe I should board him out again, use a ring and do more ring work, or have a group of people to go out on little trail rides with.

 I ask Kaaren if I could hire her to trailer Kizz somewhere for me. I explain to her I need to do something to help me with my confidence.  She mentions she doesn't think the key to getting over my fears isn't boarding out. She asks if there is anything she can do to help?

So I swallow my pride and ask her to come up and ride Kizz herself!  She says she's not sure how it will help me gain my confidence on Kizz, but if its what I'd like she will do it!  I think seeing someone doing things with Kizz that I am too nervous to do will boost my confidence that he CAN handle those things!

June 19th , Kaaren comes up and we saddle Kizz  up and lunge him. I tell her he is very good and never bucks or acts foolish, the only thing he does is he will race around at the canter when he gets towards the open part of the field (out of the corner)
boy did he make me out to be a liar!! he bucked and pulled and acted Foolish!!! What a horse!

He eventually got settled down and used to her (he's very sensitive to where you look and how you move!) she brought him up to where I ride at the top of my driveway and got on him. She rode him around working on bending and she did some things he hadn't done before. After a while, he of course- as always got bored of that stuff and started to ignore her. She kept giving him pressure didn't let up and kept at it more and more until he paid attention and moved!  It was good to see how he reacted to being pushed (rather than me just pussy footing around him and quitting before he might get upset)

It all went well, she said she had a good time! We made plans for her to come back soon as we'd go out on a trail with her riding him!

So on June 23rd, Kaaren came up again, and this time we saddled right up and went down the driveway, along the road and out the access road to the fields.. We got to the trails and we went for 2 hours! we came to a very small ditch in the trail that kizz would NOT step over.. she pushed and pushed him ! It was so good for me to see that he wasn't going to BLOW UP over being pushed a little! After some hard work on her part, she got Kizz over the ditch a few times and the rest of our ride went well!

Back in the fields she asked me to stop and wait and she trotted Kizz out into the big open field! He did great, no bolting off into the sunset , no foolishness at all! HE did it!! it was so good for me to see!!

another great ride came to an end and I felt so good about it!!! we had went for 2 hours!

We made plans for our next ride ..

The next ride we went for another nice long ride, She trotted Kizz in the pasture on the way out this time and he was perfect. We explored some new trails, went up and down some steep areas (where kizz had Kaaren holding on his mane and he didn't mind at all ), he really seemed to start to enjoy this!!!


  I told Kaaren , I was now ready to get back on my horse!! I was still nervous of course but I felt it was time. I didn't want to leave it long enough that I was working myself up to be nervous about it more! so we made plans for the next ride!!

my next hurdle

Winter comes and snow gets deep quickly.. no more riding for me!

Kizz and Coby luckily are back to being buddies and get along great!!  it's a blessing!!

I groom and love them lots over the winter, I even get out for a few bareback snow rides on Coby and I decide its time I get brave enough and hop on Kizz bareback!! It goes great! We just walk around and he avoids puddles left from some warm weather and melting snow. I just love my boy!! I am so much happier! my whole life shows it too, everyone can tell!

Over the winter I have decided it Is time for me to get into shape. I've been overweight for a long time, I can't get down on the floor to play with my kids, my knees hurt, and my back aches at night. I need to get in healthier shape! In the spring I join a boot camp 30 minutes away. I go 2x a week and work out with a lovely group of ladies.  I start to loose some weight and feel great, I LOVE this!!

Spring arrives I'm feeling so much more confident in myself and happy, I invite Nicole, a childhood friend who always had horses up to ride with me! She can ride Coby and I'll ride Kizz.. I'm so excited to show her my horses, she's never seen them.

I haven't rode Kizz since my short bareback ride in the driveway and a little tune up ride the night before but I'm feeling some false confidence haha

Off we go! Kizz is feeling quite excited and hyper I can tell from the way he is stepping off , about halfway out the pasture along a turn in the trail along the field, I suggest we trot a little to help them blow off some steam. I touch Kizz's sides lightly and cluck (Been riding Coby too much!! I normally ONLY cluck to kizz!)

Kizz jumps forward then puts his head down and starts bucking ! Even quiet calm Coby kicks up his heels a bit!!  I'm unseated and realize I'm going down .. I pick a side/spot empty of kicking hoofs and bail!

Kizz of course stops as soon as I'm off , looks at me really funny.. then as I'm getting up to grab him... he seees his chance and takes off galloping and tearing around the field. GREAT

A half an hour later , Kizz runs out of steam and slows down, another 10 minutes or so he stops and lets me catch him. Now that he's all worked up, sweating and even more excitable than he was before I'm nervous to get on. But I know we can leave it that way. I remount and we continue on our way. A few more times he starts to crow hop a little but I yell and we get over it. The branches laying on the trail touching his legs makes him kick and dance ..We don't ride very far and turn around and head home. Once my friend has went home and I'm alone, I get thinking..many things run through my mind.. I can't do this! I'm not brave enough (or obviously smart enough) to start a horse! He's never going to make a good trail horse being scared of branches and puddles, He's too much for me, I'm a timid rider, we just aren't going to work out :(



I again give up ..

still new to this! Kizz & I trying out trails

I 'm feeling so good about this.. No less nervous about our next upcoming ride but at least I got 1 trail ride in and survived! surely Kizz wasn't going to kill me on our 2nd ride! lol

December comes and we get in another ride, It goes great! I feel like I'm just sitting on Kizz's back and am a passenger though. I let him move and go where he wants basically. I am scared to touch his sides for fear he will jump ahead bolting off.  We got through the fields and went into a trail . We did fairly well! Kizz was hesitant to do new things and luckily there were no puddles or ditches for us to encounter !

We chat more about endurance riding, and I start to wonder if maybe in a few years Kizz and I could do it! My daughter would be in school in a couple years and I would surely by then be riding alone and confident and could get the miles in needed to get us in shape!? What fun would that be!?! My new goal has been set!! by 2014 I plan to be riding on trails getting in shape for some actual endurance rides in 2015!! Kizz would be 9 and I'd be 37! would we be too old? we were going to see!

On the way back along the tree line Kaaren suggests we pick a spot and pick up a trot, I stick close to Coby and the woods on the other side I feel prepared. I cluck (with no pressure from my legs) and he picks up a nice little Trot! First time on trail! We trot to a turn and slow down. We survived!!!

another great ride, not long but I felt we accomplished a alot! met Hubby on the trail with the 4 wheeler and he graciously grabbed a pic of Kizz & I and Kaaren & Coby