Patience is a Virtue

I bought the horses another bag of grain today, yikes prices just keep going up around here!

I went out and visited the girls and was in the mood for giving them lots of treat so they were pleased with the handouts. They did have to do some bowing to get them though. Dixie did spectacular with bowing today! She slipped a little bit on the ice under the snow the last time though and almost laid down on accident. Not quite ready for that one! Let's getting bowing down pat first.

I did a little Liberty with her in the corral first and some Friendly. She would come and pay attention then leave but I just waited her moments out. I had her stand on her tractor tire and then we headed out to the field to play. The only obstacle I have out there is a barrel since it isn't really our land. So we played with the barrel, A LOT! She did everything she possibly could of to it! lol Pawed it, scratched on it, lifted it, rolled it, licked it, jumped it, sidewaysed over it....etc.

Dixie had a couple RB moments which I patiently waited out all the while giggling at her silly antics. She's so cute and it's so funny when she gets riled. I helped her use her energy and we ran around for a bit, and tried to advance our rearing on cue a little farther.

Went back to the barrel and had her jump over it at a stand still to me. :) Then we just ambled all over the pasture and did some "I walk sideways and so would she" and then she would walk sideways towards me and then away. She was having fun with that. Finally it was time for church and I had to head it. I had her do one last bow for the treat she had patiently been waiting for.

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

Consistency is the Key..with Dixie PICS!

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

More Riding

Got home from church and saddled ( I know amazing..I actually rode in a saddle!) Cocoa up to go out riding with Michelle and Ace. Amanda stopped by just as Cocoa and I were walking over to Michelle's so Cocoa and I talked with her a bit! That was a fun surprise! :)

Cocoa wasn't feeling it on the ride. She was really pokey and didn't feel energized at all, she didn't even want to race Ace. Hmm...we took the trails and did some trotting and a little cantering. Finally in the end Cocoa got a little more spiced up and wanted to go.

After Michelle and I were done with our ride I had Cocoa cut through the open field by our fence and was going to cut through to get to the backroad. I was having her do some soft feel through the deep snow and then just let her walk. She started nosing the snow as she was walking so I was thinking maybe she's thirsty because surely she wouldn't think of laying down with me on her. In the next second Cocoa and I were on the ground. She laid down! She's never done that before so I was kinda shocked. I quickly hopped off and she got right back up...I hopped back on and we continued on our way..

I took her on the backroad after we got back and cantered on it a bit. She was being kind of tempermental so we did some sideways, serpentines, and spins. Then on the way home she did a nice collected slow trot until we got in the deep snow in the yard then I let her barrel the rest of the way up.

I had a 4-H meeting so I went to that with Jess and then it was Superbowl time.

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

Cantering Dixie on the backroad

I spent the morning hanging out with the horses and running around like a goon in the pasture. Finally we were all pooped and the horses had a good roll and laid down to doze in the afternoon warmth. Dixie is hilarious!! I will be standing there and she will just lay down right beside me and then start rolling. I am the one who has to move so she doesn't roll me over. She is definitely not nervous or cautious laying down by me. She has done this numerous times. She will also follow me around and lay down...I will eventually walk somewhere else and she will follow and lay down again by me. :)


So after they got down with their rest I grabbed Dixie's halter from the barn. When I walked out Cocoa immediately saw the halter and whinnied at me. I felt SO bad...it made me want to change my plans and Pick her, but it was Dixie's turn to go out and I had already taken Cocoa out for a walk. So I chose Dixie. Cocoa was not pleased. Dixie and I roamed around the yard then just walked on the road. Cocoa was running back and forth and our fence has been down lately so I was worried she was going to break something or hurt herself so we turned around and went in the pasture by the fence. I played with Dixie a bit and then decided to take her for a walk on the backroad. We walked till we got to the parking spot in the DNR then I stood on one of the stumps and hopped on Dixie. She immediately did lateral flexion and then we were off. At first she decided she wanted to go back home but I was persistant and wanted to go a little farther. When she broke into a trot I was a little taken aback..but pleased. Then I remembered I was wearing slippery snow pants and riding Dixie with her slippery stable blanket on...wonder how that will mix? But it wasn't that slippery or hard to stay on at all. Not compared to in the summer when I wear my waders and try and ride a sopping wet Cocoa at the canter!

We went down the road and trotted up the big hill to the old farm. I asked her for a bit of sideways just to see if she could figure it out..and sure enough she starts sidepassing. What a smart cookie. Then we continue down the road at a trot....I ask her for a faster trot and she complies.....then breaks into a CANTER! I am sitting there on her back shocked..she offered it and didn't even through in a buck or crow hop. WOW! She continues cantering without a falter for about 15 strides till we reach the end of the straight away and I ask her to slow down into a trot....which she does! We take a side trail and canter up the hill to that and then head back.. On the way home I ask for a canter and she canters. Controlled canter...on the way home and stops right when I ask her. We haven't done much riding and hardly any of it has been in an enclosed area...I can't believe how much she is offering and complying with everything I ask. I love Dixie's canter already! It is SO different than Cocoa's. Where Cocoa usually can't do a collected slow canter because of her back...Dixie's canter is fluid, slow, and has so much up momentum. It's like a powerful bunny hop!

I hopped off after our little canter down the stretch and gave her a treat and then walked with her the rest of the way home. Well we didn't really walk. I ran and she cantered beside me. Man do I have to run fast to keep up with her when she wants to race.

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

New Blanket!

Cocoa's new blanket!! It is working great!! Alittle big for her..but it will work for Cocoa and Dixie both!

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie