Ben's 2013 journey, one step at a time.

So tomorrow, bright & early, you will be working on this, correct????

Errr no it's going to be -15*f tomorrow, and -29*f on Tuesday, probably won't be riding for a day or two. Also I have to get brave enough to ride out in the snow fields, I don't have anywhere else to ride.

I'm going to have to find the best way to work on this until spring comes

And yet , in that photo you are wearing only a long sleeved shirt?
Was it that warm? It's only about 40F here today, but I would not be comfy with just waht you had on.

LOL today it was all the way up to the 30*s in F, I only had my sweater on and I was sweating buckets in the arena, but they have heating in there as well.

I choose to see today as a victory, although it didn't turn out as planned.

The plan was for my friend to pick up Ben and I in her trailer and haul over to the arena for a play afternoon, in reality that didn't happen.

She arrived in her warmblood size, 2 horse straight load and Ben didn't like the look of it over much, he did jump in after a few minutes of messing about, but before she could get the butt bar closed behind him, he shot off backwards, nearly fell over on the ice, and sacred himself. After that the little B would not load, 2 freaking hours it took, I could get the fronts on, sometimes the backs, but everytime he would shoot off again. In the end I got him on and off 3 times without him panicking, so the last time I gave him a small feed on the trailer, then unloaded him and checked him back in he field. Far more important I thought to make his last thought of the trailer a positive one, rather than haul him today.

Instead I grabbed Willow and threw her on the trailer, and she was a total star. Did I ever mention I love this mare? She just walked around the strange arena, marched right up to all the scary things gave them a good checking out, and after that simply ignored them I led her around, lunged her and long lined her, and did some work at the mounting block, then just sat with her watching my friend ride.

I have a lesson with Ben on Sunday, and I'm taking Wills over for an assessment with the trainer to decide what our future will be together. I would rather hurry up and lose the weight rather than lose that mare.

Oh, and my short chaps fit, that might not mean a lot to you, but last time I wore them they were like sausage skins, I was scared they were going to split, now they simply fit, and that little statement means a lot

Yay congrats! Are you riding with Cassie from Ace Ranch? She's just down the road from my aunts place. There are a few open shows this summer in the area- shoot me a message if you're looking for any! Vice versa if you know of any. My cousin and I have been googling and looking everywhere for more shows.

Some days you just gotta take what you get! LOL Im glad you where able to work with him, traileringa nd loading and unloading has never been easy for my little Oliver. I truly think somthing must have at some point happend to him...

COngrats on fitting into your chaps!! Me on the other hand..Im so small tryingto gain weight and muscle that my XS breeches and 1/2 chaps are a little loose. So as much as its a goal foryou to loose weight, gain muscle Im tryong to GAIN anything I can....

How about you just send what you don't need to me?! This could be a WIN WIN!

Looking forward to more pictures! Your boy is so handsome!
Keep up the good work!!!!!

Yup, just started with Cassie and so far so good, let me know of any shows, I was hoping to go to Moose Jaw for the Dress Rehearsal show, March 23 & 24, 2013, But I think I'm going to be in the UK

My first show isn't until may 11&12 in Moose Jaw for the app show. Ill msg you the shows we've found so far!
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Caught Ben no problem this morning, BONUS

Loaded him on the trailer at first ask, good boy Ben.

Took my stirrups up one hole this week, and it made life so much easier. Today we worked on walking straight, he was great on the wall, but gets lost in the middle of the arena, then we have all sorts of wobbles. We persevered and managed to get some good turns own the centre line and halts at X. Then we had our first really awesome trots, I started to feel what he could really do, it is just an incredible feeling.

Then I took Willow in for an assessment ride, and there is good news and bad news.

Bad news I have to lose at least 50 pounds before I do much with her

Good news, she is worth losing the weight for, I had the HUGEST smile on my face the whole time I was on her, she is just so nice to ride, I love her.

Then Ben ruined the day by being an absolute pig to load to go home, I mean seriously BAD, he dragged my trainer face first through the snow for a while, and was seriously awful. We had to put him in a pen, and then I reversed the trailer up to it, with much help and advice from the crowd, I really must learn to reverse that damn thing better. Be popped on as good as gold once all his escape options were closed to him. The general consensus is that he is just smart, and takes advantage of any out that he can see when he doesn't want to do something.

Overall though, this is the first day when I really really know that Ben is worth it, I can ride him, I can ride that huge trot, and less is more when riding him, I have been trying to do to much. We will be in the dressage intro class this spring.