Cantering Dixie Pics...hopefully Video soon!

I hopped on Dixie and took her out on the backroad. We were walking along and met our neighbor on the backroad so Dixie wanted to stop and say 'hi'. Well then the little bugger decided she didn't feel like going any farther so I hopped off and walked a ways with her. Hopped back on and just walked along.

Then mom and dad came on the snowmobile with my camera. I wanted them to go alongside and get a video of one of Dixie's first canter. Well Dixie didn't know what to think of the snowmobile going beside us...so she was a little distracted but for the most part just snotty. Where as yesterday..she offered everything today all she offered was to back up. She just didn't feel like going at first and was giving me attitude. She trotted on fine but when I asked for a canter she would do this mini little crowhop it was so cute...it was so tiny. It made me laugh cause she's never tried to buck or anything and it was just so little. Eventually her energy came up and she had some fun. On the way back I had her cantering and mom and dad were going with the snowmobile in the ditch alongside the road and Dixie I could tell was trying to race them. My dad goes faster and Dixie speeds up. We were cruising!! I've never gone that fast on her before so that was a thrill...and I know she is competitive now too! haha She stopped when I asked her too just fine so I was really pleased. I hopped off and ran beside her while she cantered the rest of the way.


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

Pictures!!

It all started with Dixie........


I got home from school to find Dixie laying down and sleeping. So I bustled inside to get the camera...and ran out there and hardly got one picture before she got up.


Cocoa and Dixie
In pursuit. Trotting After ME!
Cocoa and I
The girls...

Here she comes!!

And the Attitude comes out...Cocoa trying to tell Dixie off and to stay away from me..


The girls were being SO cute and spunky! I couldn't get rid of them. I wanted them to run out farther so I could get pics. but they stuck right to me...especially Cocoa. She was doing close range circling in the pasture which was great!!!! But doesn't take very good pics. lol It was a fun day....and even with my wader boots I still got snow in my boots and was soaked!

Even more pics. on next post!!

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

Even More Action Photos!

Cocoa REARING!! She was having a blast..and I got her all riled up and see even started to cut with me and then gave me a playful rear that I somehow managed to get a pic. of!! Who's a wild pony now? :) Just look at her! I love this pic.

Cocoa's so pretty...

One of my favorites!! Action shot!!

Going somewhere in a hurry?

Trotting! I love Dixie's tail!!

Watch where you are going Cocoa!

Mid Air...Mini rear

Cocoa getting kisses...

Dixie trying to give kisses..

Dixie being naughty....they know the electric fence it broke...little buggers.

Blurry but I thought it was a super cool pic!

The End!

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

This I believe...

Another English paper....Horse and Parelli related of course!! It is about patience especially when teaching horses! Enjoy.

(Again..it formats it really wierd on here..no paragraphts..hmm..)

Count to 10

“Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead,” stated Mac McCleary. Tension is thick in the air and you can just about feel the anger radiating out of the stream of drivers behind you, horns blaring, fingers flying, and tires screeching, and yet the red light still refuses to turn to green. Waiting in traffic and driving resembles one of the many instances where there always seems to be short fuses and a major lack of patience. It seems like so many people today are trying so hard to scramble and rush to their destinations, that they are completely forgetting to enjoy the journey along the way. We want everything handed to us right this minute, now, instantly, immediately! There are many distinct signs that portray how truly an impatient generation we are today. After all, “How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young,” questioned Paul Sweeney. Today in our growing and booming society, everything appears to be a race and we take so many and so much for granted in trying to win that race. But for what reason and why are we always in such a hurry? I believe that patience is truly a virtue. It was once stated, “Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at the small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.” By eagerly devoting your time and embracing the quality of patience, I believe you will have the key to unlocking the secrets to success. The longer you have to wait and the more time you invest in something or someone, the more fulfilling, satisfying, and rewarding it is in the end and the more you will learn and walk away with. Along with patience, comes quality. I believe in doing things right the first time, no matter how long it takes. “Take the time it takes so it takes less time,” states Pat Parelli. People have the time and tendency to always look for a short cut or a quick fix. They have the time to fix it over and over again, instead of just taking the time and doing it the right way the first time around. This applies to horse training as well. One of the major things people complain about is that it takes too long to prepare your horse on the ground and see how your horse is feeling that day, and with that kind of mindset you can really begin to see what their horses mean to them. If they can’t devote and put enough time aside to prepare their horse mentally, emotionally, as well as physically on the ground, and just want to merely hop on and ride then frankly they shouldn’t own a horse, they should own a motorcycle instead. When you take the time and allow things to come about instead of pressuring, being impatient, and demanding snappy results, you will begin to notice the finer details you hadn’t before. Horses require an abundance of patience, especially when you are trying to teach them something new. You can’t simply make a horse do something, if you want its dignity, confidence, and respect for you to remain intact. However, you can allow you ideas to become their ideas, this will create a desire for the horse to want to perform the task for and with you. Your horse will not only trust you, but will respect you and not because of fear or force either. Edmund Burke stated, “Our patience will achieve more than our force.” Your horse will know they can depend on you to be the best leader you can be for them and that you are committed and in it long run, not just the short ride. Patience is an important quality to have, illustrate, and exercise everyday. You just have to recognize that even of the littlest things count and mean something to someone. Though it might be hard to sit back and wait, there is a healthy alternative we can try to contain our impatient impulses with. Simply remember to breathe and count to ten because “Patience is the ability to countdown before blastoff.” So next time your are stuck in traffic just sit back, put your feet up, relax, and enjoy the ride because after all “Life is a journey, not a destination.”


Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

Bareback and Bridleless Ride with Cocoa

After taking Dixie out and about it was Cocoa's turn. I grabbed my savvy string and carrot stick and Cocoa and I were off - "like a dirty shirt" as my Grandpa would always say. I had Cocoa sidepass too the bed of the truck so I could hop on and then we ambled around the yard for a while plowing through the snow drifts and then headed on the backroad. We cantered up the hill right away but then we had a stretch there on the road where we had to have a conversation and do some serpentines because she was set on trying to take a shortcut trail. After we got that ironed out that we were going straight ahead she responded beautifully and perfectly the rest of the ride. We cantered another long stretch and she was responding just off of my seat! We did some stopping, sideways, and backing up every now and then too. We continued trotting and she was mirroring me at what speed of a trot I wanted...I trot slow and she would then I would bring my energy up and so would she and trot faster. It was just perfect. When we got back to the lakes I asked her to canter again and then we did some canter...trot..canter..trot transitions till I finally asked her for a gallop. We were cruising along the convoluted backroad and I was surprised we hadn't run into any snowmobilers yet....haha Well we came running around the corner and there was a snowmobiler with some little kids parked in one of the parking spaces drinking hot cocoa. Cocoa skids down to a jarring trot for two strides while we both catch our breath from being taken by surprise and then I urged her into a fast canter again and we went on our way! I bet they were just as surprised to see US out there as we were to see THEM! We continued our canter and trotting till we got to the trails. Cocoa cruised down the trail and we got a bunch more trotting and cantering in...and her responding right off my seat...didn't have to use the carrot stick at all...and the savvy string was only of minimal use. We continued along and went to check out the BIG sledding hill..ran into a couple more snowmobilers..with kids mouths gaping wide open and pointing and saying "look it's a pony!" lol That just makes my day....nobody expects horses to be out on the trails in the winter with all the snowmobiling..and Cocoa and I always are. Element of surprise. :)

The rest of the ride went just as well...and we made really good time on the way back too. She wasn't even sweating much at all and we went at a pretty good clip through deep snow at times too. The back road thankfully was beautiful to ride on because it wasn't slippery like earlier and had a nice cushiony layer of snow on top. We were cantering along on the way home when we ran into Michelle walking Bundy so we talked and I hopped off and walked the rest of the way home with them. Overall an ah-mazing ride! Cocoa and I haven't done much bb and b riding lately but she sure didn't show that! She did great.


Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

Dixie's First Canter - Riding!

First off...Dixie decided she wanted to play around first. It was snowing a bit earlier and Cocoa managed to get her back wet (?) and Dixie was dry...Hmmm. So I let Dixie in the barn to roam and just munch on the hay in the back while I put a cooler on Cocoa so she'd be dry by the time Dixie and I got back. So Cocoa got some hay and I took Dixie out for a stroll. We played in the snowbanks and she walked right into my neighbors snow hill from their driveway that is like up past her chest. Silly girl. She strode in there and then spun around and out. I had her go dashing through the ditches that were up past her knees and then jump some of the other snow banks! haha Her jumps were so priceless, she usually gauged them wrong. Oh..Dixie! Then we continued on our way on the DNR backroad all the while keeping watch out for snowmobilers. Quite a few of them passed us today...luckily Dixie has no problem with that at all. I did some Yo-Yo on the road and Sideways with her. She did really good! Then I was working with her high energy and even got her to wheel around and 'cut' me a bit...and when I ran back on the 12 ft. line come cantering towards me. She was wheeling and dealing..and had so much energy since the cold snap we had..and they couldn't do much more than eat to stay warm!

Then we did some trotting and walking and stopping transitions. She was mirroring me beautifully and would stop on a dime. She was trotting and I was running beside and skidded to a stop and she literally put on the brakes and slid to a stop and stopped right beside me. She was definitely on her toes and paying attention! :)

Farther down the road I had her CANTERING right beside me! We did that for aways till I couldn't do it anymore with all my snow gear and big boots. haha She was so cute and pretty to watch, running beside me. We stopped in the ditches and I let her eat the seeds off the tall grass..only part that was left since the snow is so deep! I asked her to do some circling and she had a snotty LB 'no' for an answer when I asked her to go left. Went cantering around on the 12 ft. and kicked out. A few minutes later she came out of her RB moment and licked and chewed. I presumed to ask her again and she went with no problem. I love it when she's spunky...she's so fun to play with when she's sassy and has attitude. lol Most people don't really like that...but I guess since Cocoa never really gets like that anymore I really enjoy playing with Dixie when she does.

We got to one of the parking spots and I had her come sideways and I hopped on. We did lateral flexion and then walked on down the trail..She really wanted to trot down the hill...but this horse has hardy any withers, big butt, still growing, lots of butt momentum, and not even half as much mane as Cocoa, so I decided I didn't want to slide off the front of her so I asked her to walk. I still can't believe how good my baby is coming along. She hardly resists, and listens to everything I ask her, and we haven't even done much riding because she's young but she acts like she's a natural! :) We did some trotting UP the other hills..that pleased her. Then started heading back home. We trotted for about 300 yards! :) Loose rein, slow trot, Dixie totally at ease, down the road. After that we took the trail by my neighbors that had like 2 ft. of snow that nobody had gone through yet! haha...so...guess what we did?!? I asked Dixie to start trotting and of course she did....and then she CANTERED!!! She cantered while I was riding her bareback through the snow, first time ever! I felt it coming but I was still shocked...then I was expecting her to stop after one stride but she kept going. Dixie must have cantered about 7 strides or so...this is the first time I've ever cantered her...and we did it out in the open and on a loose rein. No bucks, resistance, nothing. I love her! Then she I asked her to slow and she slowed right away and I hopped off to Congratulate her! I walked the rest of the way home. :) We stopped and said hi to Michelle's horses from the road, they even stopped eating from their new road bale to look over the fence and nicker at Dixie.


Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

Another Woodburning

I did this woodburning up tonight. Enjoy! This one is also for sale. It is a 6 by 6".



Picture I looked off of to woodburn it.

My Wolf Head Woodburning.

Up close shot.

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

No School!

Yay! No school for us again. Last night it was posted 2 hour delay..but then this morning they cancelled it for us! Thank goodness. Now it's like having a 5 day weekend since we get Monday off too! Gonna try and get my crafts done this weekend. And try and keep the ponies warm. I went out to feed the horses this morning and Cocoa was shivering a bit. Dixie had the blanket on so she was fine. I brought Cocoa in her stall with a bunch of shavings down and threw her cooler on, gave her a bunch of hay, and her grain and I have her beet pulp soaking now. Poor girl. I wish I had ordered that blanket sooner..but I just couldn't decide. The thermometer read -17 F in the BARN! It's like -22 F outside today without windchill. BRRR..

UPDATE: Cocoa is feeling much better. Spunky now that I let her out! I had them run around with me a bit in the pasture. They were rolling and having a good ole time. Then I was just scratching them. Dixie apparently had a VERY itchy neck. She loved it...sticking her neck and head way up and trying to lean against me while I scratched. Then, it was so cute she rested her head on top of mine with a little pressure while I scratched her. That would have been a funny picture.

Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

Snow Day!

School is CANCELLED! Woot Woot! First day this year. It is so cold out like -20 F without windchill. Yikes. I have the blanket on Dixie and the Cinderelly blanket draped around Cocoa but of course it won't stay on. I ordered the Viking blanket..I wish it was here NOW! Cocoa could use it. Horses are getting a LOT of hay and beet pulp mashes. Just trying to keep them warm and comfy.



I woodburned today!! I did something other than horses or of Cocoa and Dixie so I can actually give them up and sell them! lol So I did a wolf. Hopefully am going to do some more tomorrow since it's so cold out.



Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie

Horsin' Around

I got home from school and immediately went out with the horses..still in my school clothes and shoes! lol Couldn't do much! I let them out and they went barreling through the pasture and down into the backyard. I stood by the barn and just watched them run all around! It was so pretty to watch. Cocoa was watching me so I kept smooching and clucking and they took off again and did some more rounds around the whole pasture. Dixie was trotting no Prancing up and down and had her tail sticking straight up..she looked a heck of a lot more than only 1/4 Arab! haha Cocoa was having fun snorting and you could literally SEE the steam...her breath in the cold! Then Dixie took off to come back up to me. Cocoa was just standing there staring at me from the pasture and then realized Dixie was gone and barreled after her. She just spun on a dime and took off at a gallop. :) Then they came up by me and were mock rearing at each other. Cocoa made herself big and was trotting around me not wanting Dixie to come by me. They did some more rears and were having fun then finally calmed down and stopped snorting and strutting their stuff. I gave them some hay and left them to play and eat!


Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie