Sorry I thought I already made an October discussion thread.
Rain Rain go away - I was just getting used to the nice fall dry cool weather. I have been able to play with my horses just about every night for the last 3 weeks and it has been very nice for a change. Although they are as out of shape as I am so we have just been trail riding a little to get some flexibility, stamina, and lose some fat. I should be ready to get back on the patterns about the time the weather turns bad and the ground gets too hard. Time to start dreaming about the indoor arena in my backyard:)
Susannah


Welcome to the group Nancy!

I wish I had an indoor arena near by too....

Anyway, just wanted everyone to know that Terry Wilson's Level 1 clinic has 1 spot left, the level 2 is full, and there are 2 or 3 spots on the online/liberty. The online/liberty is Oct. 30th, Friday. The Level one is Saturday October 31. Ella at Maple Swamp Farm in Waynesville, KY is hosting and organizing the clinics, and her contact number is 661-331-0063. Her website is mapleswampfarm.com.

At least it will quit raining today---I just got a new bolty Icelandic given to me and I'm wanting to go fast this afternoon. Fall is my favorite time to ride, its cool and the bugs are almost gone.

I still have bugs. I've been riding up in the woods the last couple of weeks and these tiny mosquito things swarm you and the horse if you stop for more than 3 seconds. It is very annoying. I guess those are better than horse flies though since the horses don't seem to notice them.

Glad to hear Terry's clinics are filling up and Carol Herring is having a good response. We have had a couple of slow years on Parelli events in this area. I remember the one year there were so many they were here all at the same time.

I hope the fall weather lasts for awhile - it is my favorite time of year too. Even though we have had some rain it seems like the ground is drying much faster than normal.

Is anyone going to the Extreme Mustang Challenge?
Susannah

I like this cooler weather too because the horses love it. They play alot more and when they run they are so pretty. Something was around the pond yesterday and Domino was over there of course she has to check everything out and she was trotting back a forth with her tail up in the air and she was beautiful. I went over to see what she was fussing about and I couldn't see a thing, but she sure was pretty. I just hate the fact that it is getting colder and darker that part i don't like. I think we are going to have winter sooner than we want. Everyone have a great day.

Keep it savvy
Debbie

I like the colder but I wish it didn't bring the winter coats. I need to find a good cooler this winter to help with the drying.

Last week my one horse was crazy. When I went out to feed he was running and bucking and leaping and jumping and slinging his head around. He has Ringbone in two legs so he rarely does more than walk around. Then the one I have been riding bareback just about every day for the last 3 or 4 weeks started to be more and more horse each day. I was smart and put a saddle on right on the right day. He got to jumping and playing and I was extremely thankful I had a saddle. I guess that is all of the bareback riding I will be doing with him for awhile.

Mine are starting to switch from the grass to the hay so I guess the grass is about gone for the winter. I haven't even started thinking about hay. I usually have enough to get me through the next May by now. I think I have enough left over from last year to get me through December though. Where is my prior and proper preparation this year?
Susannah

Boy Susannah you talk about bucking last night I went to feed and my middle horse (Patches) was so full of it she was running around and bucking like a bronco I mean straight up in the air and kicking out she was crazy and having the best time. Taz was playing with her but not to that extent but she would run her around when she got close to her and she would take off again and jump around. Domino just stood and watched her as if to say you are nuts and I am not going their. I just love to watch them then are so funny with there different horsenalities. I have not got hay yet either I will have to call my man. I had some left over from last year, but my hay man hurt his back last year and we put the hay in one of my stalls on pallets so we wouldn't have to throw it up in the loft and when we had that big rain
it flooded my barn. It got my hay, my mule and the lawn mower had to take both to them to the shop and have them over hauled. It was a mess, took the road out going up to my moms house and we had to get a backhoe in and fix that. This was the same week that we were leaving to go on a cruise and my son had to take care of alot while we were gone, he was great thank goodness he was able to do that. I was ready to cancel the cruise and stay home but he said just go mom I will take care of it. He is a good kid. Oh well got to get to work. Have a great weekend.

Keep it savvy
Debbie

Wow what a mess that must have been. Things always seem to happen at the worst times too. Glad you didn't have to miss your cruise.

Every year I say I am going to find some round bale feeders. What was everyone doing today? laying in the round bales. I think they think I buy those so they have a nice soft bed when the weather is cold. I guess I will try to find a feeder again. Those things never look safe to me though.
Susannah

Someone at work has asked me about riding lessons. She has been taking lessons and her children, 3 and 6, have also been taking lessons with her. She was getting ready to buy a couple of horses from the instructor when the horse she has been riding started stumbling bad, almost to the point of losing her. Her instructor told her that there is nothing wrong with the horse and she needs to continue her lessons. She is beginning not to feel safe (bad thing for anyone). I don't think she has a lot of horse experience. Does anyone know of a good place to take lessons around the Lexington area? I wish she could find a good Parelli person that would take the time to make her and her family feel more confident and safe. She seems like she really enjoys horses, but just needs the help and patience of someone to help her.

I would really appreciate any recommendations that anyone has.

Thanks.

Becky

Susannah, I never used feeders until this year, and its definitely worth it. I figure I save at least 25% on hay costs on each bale I feed. In Casey county they consider it the gate capitol of the world, and so there are some great deals on gates and feeders down here. I got my two for $75 apiece new.

On another note, I just tried out a bitless bridle on my Icelandic horse yesterday, and it worked great. He was doing some head shaking, and I thought why not try the bitless. Its the Dr. Cook version. Anyway, I was amazed at the difference. He was way more forward, and there was no trouble with stopping. The only thing I noticed that I didn't like was it's harder to turn left or right, you really have to teach the horse with your body. So in the long run it might actually be better. This is a laid back lazy horse, and I think it increased his impulsion by about 50%.

Anyone else use the bitless bridle?

Becky, I would talk to Shelby Hume about lessons. I would be very leary about buying a horse from an instructor without shopping around first. There are too many nice horses out there to settle for one that isn't a great match.

Crystal - thanks. I definitely need to try a feeder b/c I have been wasting way too much hay. I think I am going to go out to the North American Livestock expo and check them all out in one place. That is interesting about the bitless bridle I will have to go look it up.

I rode my sisters horse last night in the smooth snaffle Parelli bridle and bareback pad. He was much more impulsive than I thought he would be. I think he has been at my house for 15 years and that is the first time I have ever ridden him. It was fun. Every now and then it is fun to work with a new to Parelli horse.

Susannah