Movie Review -Gentling your Spooky Horse

When I got home from work tonight I had my first video waiting for me. That was quick! Giddyupflix.com is based in Washington, so hopefully it will be a quick turn around with the videos.

The video that I watched was called Gentling your Spooky Horse. It was a good video, but I knew everything that it talked about. I'm not trying to say that I know everything, but it was a basic video, and I learned the basics of natural horsemanship a few years ago. It was interesting to watch them working with a weanling. Especially since the weanling was better behaved than a certain Thoroughbred that I know. I wonder if Denali had any sort of imprinting done when she was a baby? Or if she was like a lot of TB future racers and sent out in a field to grow up and pulled in when it was time to go into training.

There was another "feature" in the video about the Dually halter. Does anyone out there use this type of halter when training? Just curious as to what you think.

Hope everyone had a good week. I'm really glad that it's the weekend. My little guy who's mom died finds out on Sunday that she passed away. I lost it tonight while my husband and I were out shopping for groceries. I think it finally hit me. My heart just breaks for the little guy. He was so good in school today. His mom is proud of him, I know that.

First Movie on it's way

I rented Gentling Your Spooky Horse from GiddyupFlix.com. I'm excited about the idea of what I learn from Monty Roberts. I have always enjoyed reading books by him, but again I can't sit still very long to read much more than that. The info on the movie says the following:

From weanlings to adults horses, this DVD demonstrates how to use desensitization to cause your horse to accept such potential "predators" as platic bags and balloons.

Imagine how a wary young horse perceives seemingly treacherous objects such as stable blankets and crunchy tarpaulins. Sit back, enjoy and learn how Monty gains the horse's complete acceptance.

For the first time, Monty will demonstrate how one of his students is able to work with his Join-Up concepts. Watch as he coaches his student through the gentling of a spooky horse using the silent language of gestures he calls Equus.

Observe the use of safe and easily obtainable aids that help raw horses accept grooming and handling, prepare for vaccination and working, and create a horse that is a pleasure for the farrier to trim and shoe. Learn about the methods Monty uses to accomplish all these goals in an environment of acceptance and trust without the use of force or pain.

Have more fund with your horse by enjoying routines that take a horse from wild and spooky to relaxed and happy. A happy horse means happy owner!

I think I'll post the movie's I'm watching as they come in along with what I think of them. This one should be here this weekend. I'll let you know what I got from it after I watch it. I did a lot of Natural Horsemanship with Denali when I got her, and that helped me to feel very connected to her. I'm hoping to be able to do that again. My first trainer did lots of Natural Horsemanship, and I learned a lot from her, but it's been a while. It is so much fun to read through all the movies. Again, if anyone has any suggestions for me let me know! :)

TGIF!

Caption Crunch

Give me a caption for this!? Someone must have something funny to say about this! I actually think this would be really cool. I'd love to be able to ride something like this and have a computer tell me if I'm doing it right or not.

Sweet Hubby

So I have mentioned before that my hubby is non-horsey. He doesn't care one way or another what I do with Denali. He does care about the money that goes into the things we do, but that's about it. We currently live in the city. I need to drive 40 minutes (20 miles) to the barn to see the girl.

The other day (pre me eating dirt) he called me asking when I'd be home. I told him, and he mentioned that he had a surprise for me, but to not get too excited. When I got home he was looking on the computer, he found a barn. (it's the first one in the slide show) :) I must say he has really good taste! He's had the link open on his computer now for almost a week and I keep catching him looking at it. I must say that although he's not "in" to horses. I love that he's into keeping horses on our someday property.

I can NOT WAIT to move out of the city and somewhere that we can put up our barn and let the beast run free. We're both from Pennsylvania and all of our family is back there. I'd like go to back someday. I think Denali would like it, but then again she hates snow.

Speaking of the devil, I went out to see her last night. The farrier is coming out today so I needed to run out a check. She was super sweet and lovey. Her lessor was there to ride, so I only stayed for a short period of time. I went out, that's a step right? Also, apparently the arena footing is getting re-done next month. I guess someone bit the dust on Sunday, so the owners are going to add some nice footing to make it a softer land. :) Gee...I wonder who that was (insert sly grin here.)

Thanks

There are a few new followers. I just wanted to publicly say thanks for coming along for our ride! I hope you don't get thrown off. Ha ha ha....sorry, that was a bad joke.

But, if you DO follow me and I'm a horrible blogger and didn't already add your blog to my links please put it in the comments!

Tired Tuesday

Today was hard. This has been a very hard week on me emotionally, I'll save the sad stuff for last. I've been at work the past two days. I didn't take off. The black n' blue marks are slowly showing up. My whole lower back, and up my right side. Beautiful. I use to be proud of my marks when I played Rugby, because I earned them by being tough. I did not earn these ones by being tough. I earned them by not being a good rider. Not real proud of myself. Maybe I should change my blog title to "Amazing super rider" and then that would come true.

My kiddos have been totally off. It's a full moon and every single time there has been a full moon the kiddo are always off. I want to do a scientific study on it someday. They wore me out. They understood the concept that I didn't feel well. They did not understand the concept of don't grab me. They're still cute.

One thing I did do today was join giddyupflix.com. It's kind of like Netflix, but for horse films. I'm not a very good reader, I can't focus for more than 2 seconds on an article, but I think I can learn a lot from watching some films. Obviously I won't be able to learn everything I need to learn from the TV, but it's a start. I put a few in my Que about building relationships with your horse. I know that I need to do more of that. I thought we had a good relationship on the ground, but I think I'm wrong. Anyone have some trainers that they particularly like? If you know the site do you have any suggestions that I should add?

I haven't been back to the barn. I got back on Denali right after it happened but I've been too tired to make it back out there since Sunday. Maybe tomorrow night. We'll see. I feel stupid, I feel defeated, and I hurt. I even discussed the "S" word with my husband, he told me to wait, he knows that I love her and I think she likes me. If I sell her I'd regret it. We'll see. Rome wasn't built in a day right? I'm going to try to do more with her before I make a decision like that. I wish I would have bought a totally finished horse to teach me everything, before I bought an OTTB with no training. I'm sure I'll learn something sometime, but right now it's not feeling like that.

Now for the sad news. I've mentioned before that I teach 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities. This morning I found out that one of my little guy's mom's passed away on Monday night. She was sick in the hospital, but I didn't think this would happen. To add to this, he doesn't know yet. They aren't telling him until some family can come to town. He'll be in school until he knows. It was hard to watch him today, knowing that his life will never be the same. He only has mom. No one else. His dad is out on a felony warrant for kidnapping him. So in addition to that sorrow, we are on high alert for his dad. Apparently he knows what's going on and the family is afraid he'll come grab the kid again.

It's a Major Award!

I love a Christmas Story. This most likely the only award that I ever get with Denali. Thank you to Kristen at Sweet Horses Breath, Frizzle at From Wingman to Witching Hour and Rachel at Dapple of My Eye for the honor! It made me smile. If I'm missing someone, sorry!

So I guess how this award works is I tell you 7 things about me and then nominate 15 other blogs. That part will be hard since I love them all! I'll try my best.

Telling you things about me that I haven't already babbled will be hard, but I'll try. Maybe if I keep it to non-horsey things it will be easier.

1. I met my husband at a bar. I was drunk and he drove me home. When we have children I'll change that story to not involve the bar part of the drunk part. On our first date my mother informed him that I'd dump him in two weeks so don't get too attached. Thanks mom.

2. While living in Denmark I worked for a bicycle shop. I did their translations and made their website. Funny thing is that I knew nothing about websites at the time, and didn't speak Danish. I somehow figured it all out. (They knew that I knew nothing when they hired me.)

3. I once buried a snowmobile in 7 feet of snow. My husband (boyfriend at the time) was working in Wyoming at a lodge and I went out to visit him. We went out into the wilderness on some sleds and the snow got really, really deep. I was on a trail sled, even though we were off groomed trails. I sank it twice (I took my finger off the throttle and it sank.) The owner of the lodge told me to floor it and keep my finger on the gas no mater what. It worked for a little bit, but when I sunk it again the owner gave me his sled. Difference? His was a 800 cc Skidoo Rev. I followed his directions and "floored it" and I came flying off the back and the sled went flying forward. Opps.

4. I've been in prison. Well, technically I worked there tutoring inmates to get their GEDs. I loved doing it even though they'd offer to "take care of"my slimy boyfriend at the time.

5. I consider myself to be fairly artistic. I like painting and making things with my hands. I owned a business called "Animal MAGNETism" I'd make magnets and sell them at local fairs. I had a lot of fun making them (and making money) but I just don't have the energy to drag everything out of my closet to do it now.

6. I played Rugby in college. I joined because my boyfriend at the time cheated on my with a girl who was trying out for the team. I knew that I couldn't actually hurt her without getting into trouble (she knew.) SO I asked to join try outs, made the team and ended up playing all four years. I was the 8 man/second row and the jumper/lifter if you're familiar with the sport.

7. I swear like a sailor. I try to NOT, but it's hard. I have a horrible potty mouth.


Now for the blogs. This will be very, very hard since I love them all! I'd like to re-nominate Rachel, Frizzle, and Kristen. I love yours!

1. Little Big Red - This is a great blog about an OTTB and his mom and dad. He and Denali share some of the same bloodlines and they are very close in age. I always read theirs and think to myself "Damn it Denali!"

2. Sprinkler Bandit A great, great blog with a lot of insightful thoughts. I love her mare, she's beautiful!

3. From Racehorse to Showhorse A great blog that give me a lot of "I hope to do this someday"

4. Memoirs of a White Trash Mom- I went to high school with her. Seriously, I laugh my butt of every time I read it!

5. Discovering Epona - Fun read!

6. Bailey Slew Bambi Crash- Another person that I know from "the real world" and the winner of "the only person from the first barn that I'll still talk to" award I offered her. :)

7. Santana's Diary - I love reading about her beautiful boy

8. NorCal Equine Rescue - I really admire their rescue, and love reading about all of their adventures.

9. Life and Horses - I enjoy her stories! Great blog!

10. Grey Brook Eventing - Great writing and BEAUTIFUL GREY HORSE!! I want him! Plus my name is part of the title :)

11. My Spots Undetectable- I love this little guy. He's super cute and I think he's going to be a real beauty!

12. Hunt Seat Cruizer - Is it okay that I am jealous that she gets to ride through the years that I couldn't?

13. AML Appaloosas - Enjoyable reads!

14. Oh Horse Feathers - Another enjoyable read!

15. You!! Consider yourself tagged! I want to hear all about you! :)