Sold

Sold Aspire today... sad to see her go since we've developed so much relationship.... But I have to look forward to a horse I can use for the Fast Track.... If you guys have one in mind shoot me an email!

Winter!

This autumn has been unusually beautiful and warm this year but it seems it is finally time for the horses to fuzz up and the waters to start frosting over.  Aspire is just a little yellow fur ball right now, fat and happy on her Dynamite vitamins and grass hay :)  The pastures are on rest right now so she's only been in her pen the last few weeks which I think is making her antsy to get out and stretch her legs.   Might try and turn her out for a few tomorrow while I do some barn chores.  I'll definitely have some new pictures of Her Fuzziness up here soon.  She seems to be getting taller - maybe it's just me, but the little girl is growing up! :)  I'm hoping for a mild winter this year so I can keep putting time on her over the next few months...but we shall see.

Some Goal Setting

Aspire was really delightful to play with today! Great with the bag and dragging it behind her - I think we're ready to move up to dragging a barrel or something different.  Great with circles - even a few trotting laps on the 22' with her thinking toward me the whole time.  Stellar sideways at about 13', kept a nice, slight arc toward me but was overall very straight for the sideways.  Yo-Yo was excellent!  A light phase 1 to back out 22', let her think/wait out there for a minute then she'd either offer to come into me with two eyes/ears to wait politely for a slight suggestion and then she'd come right in.  Porcupine was good, nothing to write home about yet there.  Squeeze was great - more confidence over the barrels today for sure.  And, big news, I was able to pick up and clean out her hind feet today!!! I should have set my mind to accomplishing this months ago, but it wasn't really a priority in the big scheme of things.  But today I really made that a goal of mine, so I did lots of friendly with her hind legs then picked them up with a rope, when she was soft and wasn't kicking back and forth I changed the rope out for my hand and was able to proceed in cleaning them out!  I've had them up with a rope once or twice before, and briefly have been able to pick up/hold her hinds but not ever long enough to clean them out. :)  Trimmed up her fronts a bit today as well, the backs weren't bad looking so I think I'm going to play with them a bit more before trimming them.  It was really sweet, at the end of playing I put her in her pen and fed her.  I left to go into the barn to get something and when I came out she was standing at the fence looking for me, pacing a little until I got there, then stuck to me like glue around the pen and back over to her hay!  What a sweet girl.  :)

Also ordered some Dynamite vitamins for her and got some minerals as well.  Need to get some apple sauce and a syringe so we can prep for de-worming when the first frost comes.  Wish I had a nice warm arena to play in over the winter!

Some personal goals when playing with Spy - GET OUT AND DO THINGS!  I've always been a person to go play in an arena, round pen, square pen, or if lucky enough on a horse-playground when available.  I have been making a special effort to play with her out of the round pen and in the pastures instead.  Great chance to improve our communication and keep things provocative!  Other goal - USE ALL OF MY 22' LINE!  It's not 22' long so I can hold it at 15' if I don't need to.  I really need to increase the distance on-line so I can bring us closer in our language, leadership, and trust.

Overdue Play

Aspire was just little miss energy today!  As with my last handful of posts, it's been a while since I've played with her and, once again, you could tell.  I started with some friendly game, taking her out to graze, brushing her, etc and then moved on to attempting the figure-8 pattern on a 22ft' line.  She couldn't help but blast around the barrels, miss the changes of direction, and continue to gain momentum.  At one point she just took off as fast as her little feet could run.  One one note I was not impressed at her impulsiveness, on the other for as fast as she was going she kept her ear on me the whole time was not not dragging out and pulling away on the circle. 

I wanted to match her energy and then exceed it but being that we were playing in the pasture it wasn't the best environment to push her faster without potential of losing her.  Instead, to meet and exceed her energy I moved our circle to a part of pasture with a steep hill on either side of this rise which created somewhat of a bridge.  In this way she had to run up and down on the one side and up and down on the other side, while navigating bushes, stick, rocks, etc.  It really helped, I just let her work it out herself, and pretty soon she decided that running up and down the hills was more work than it was worth and she just stopped and came right into me and rested her head on my chest.  It was really sweet! 

After that we just played with some stick to me, sideways, yo-yo - all the games here and there.  When we did try the figure-8 pattern again she offered to change directions and was really looking for and reaching into the pattern.  She just looked lovely! Her whole topline came down, she was breathing deep, and just wonderful.  I also played with some driving from Z3 and Z5. 

Building on what we did last, with that day of really good circles, I can tell she's really getting it and finding comfort in being with me.  When I was done playing with her I turned her loose in the pasture while I put my stuff away and as I was walking toward the barn she looked up, saw I was about 100 feet away and neighed to me and came galloping over to follow me the rest of the way!  Very rewarding :) 

I would like to work on more driving games and more squeeze games.  Also more saddling and bridling and work up to laying on her from a mounting block. 

A Couple New Pictures

These are from last night... had a beautiful sunset and enjoyed relaxing with Aspire will she dined on beautiful locally grown grass hay!

Best Circles Yet!

I played with Aspire again a couple days ago.  It was our first real play session in about a month... You could tell she has had a lot of time off but she was really, really good!  Still so light and responsive, definitely had a little more energy but lots of draw and she took lots of comfort in being with me.  We played some on hills, jumps, a wonderful yo-yo, and... a REALLY great circling game too!  Our first time trotting on-line, in a pasture (not a pen), without her trying to blast off!  We did figure 8's, basic changes of direction, and some transition.  We did circles at the end of our play and she was so relaxed, her whole topline got rounder, and she had an ear on me the whole time.  Wish someone had a video camera.  I have some time off the next couple days and can't wait to get back out there and play with her some more!  Check back for updated pix. :)

For Sale

Sweet Savvy Lena, 2008 AQHA Filly

Sire: Nic O Lena Gold (15.2h) / Dam: Rombo Sweet Darby (15.3h+)

Reminic, Sonny Dee Bar, Three Bars, Jet Deck, Doc Bar, Doc OLena, & Poco Bueno

Click for Pedigree!

"Aspire" is a personable, athletic filly with a great foundation in natural horsemanship.  Lots of ground work, saddling, bridling, and been sat on a few times.  She's easy to handle, good with flagging/tarps, light on the halter, good feel, respectful of your space, tries to please.  On-line: changes of direction, figure 8's, transitions among gaits, side passes, some driving, beginning spins and bowing.  Liberty: good draw, some change of direction, side pass, beginning spins, backs by her tail.  Yields well to a feel.  Most Level Two ground skills of Parelli.  Can fill out a levels chart and email.

Very correct conformation, clean legs, sound, UTD on everything, nice bare feet.  Easy keeper, gets along well with other horses, goats, dogs.

This girl has the potential to excel in a variety of disciplines with her versatile pedigree, willing nature, and athletic abilities.  Light on her feet, quick, sharp over jumps, and shows an interest in cows.

Delivery is possible.  Asking $1000 - may consider trade for round pen panels, horse trailer, or western saddle.  Considerations given to NH or 4-H students.  Motivated seller.

See archive for additional photos, especially MAY.