Today was another fun day here on the ranch with lots of learning.
Melissa and I got up and did our normal chores and then headed down to the barn where we moved around panels and dragged the arena to make it softer. We then worked on our roping with lots of tips from Zach. I was able to get both my heel shot and trap shot pretty well. We then watered the arena. Jenn brought in Nutterbutter, whom we got to work with on some groundwork.
After that we headed to Granny's for lunch. She made sausage, potatoes, and green beans. I ate way more than I should have, like always. After lunch we worked the arena again while it was raining. In our hour or so of downtime, we watched Jenn ride Nutterbutter, played with the new kittens, and threw a few hoops in the new "basketball court". It's basically just the basket and backboard hanging over the edge of the tack room and Zach's office. Once the rain lightened up a bit, Calico went and got the saddle horses in.
I went out to catch Dino, which I was able to do in less than two minutes (which is a huge accomplishment in my books) and saddled him up. We had a great ride today, and everything I've been learning is starting to really come together. I was able to guide him around the arena with just the placements of my feet, he moved out a lot better than previous times I've been on him, and my timing is getting better and better each day. Calico, Ty, Melissa and I were all riding and Zach was coaching us. He had us working on our leg yields and moving the haunches in. At MSU, they teach the leg yield differently, so I asked Zach what exactly I was supposed to be doing. He explained that you have to get a soft feel and ask using your leg for the horse to move to one side or the other. At MSU, they just had us pick up the inside rein and then ask for the horse to move. Zach's is a much better way of getting the horse to move because they are both prepared for it and aren't just being pulled and pushed to do it. Moving the haunches in uses the same rein technique, just the opposite leg. By working on the leg yield and haunches in, it sets the horse up to pick up the correct lead.
After riding for a while, Melissa and I went out to try to fix the fence that Cisco ran Nutterbutter through while we were riding. We pounded on of the posts back into the ground and tied the barbed wire back onto it, but would need more tools to finish the rest.
After feeding our calves and cooking pasta for dinner, it is now time for bed as we have an earlier wake-up call to be horseback by 7:30am and out to bring in some dry cows.
Melissa and I got up and did our normal chores and then headed down to the barn where we moved around panels and dragged the arena to make it softer. We then worked on our roping with lots of tips from Zach. I was able to get both my heel shot and trap shot pretty well. We then watered the arena. Jenn brought in Nutterbutter, whom we got to work with on some groundwork.
After that we headed to Granny's for lunch. She made sausage, potatoes, and green beans. I ate way more than I should have, like always. After lunch we worked the arena again while it was raining. In our hour or so of downtime, we watched Jenn ride Nutterbutter, played with the new kittens, and threw a few hoops in the new "basketball court". It's basically just the basket and backboard hanging over the edge of the tack room and Zach's office. Once the rain lightened up a bit, Calico went and got the saddle horses in.
I went out to catch Dino, which I was able to do in less than two minutes (which is a huge accomplishment in my books) and saddled him up. We had a great ride today, and everything I've been learning is starting to really come together. I was able to guide him around the arena with just the placements of my feet, he moved out a lot better than previous times I've been on him, and my timing is getting better and better each day. Calico, Ty, Melissa and I were all riding and Zach was coaching us. He had us working on our leg yields and moving the haunches in. At MSU, they teach the leg yield differently, so I asked Zach what exactly I was supposed to be doing. He explained that you have to get a soft feel and ask using your leg for the horse to move to one side or the other. At MSU, they just had us pick up the inside rein and then ask for the horse to move. Zach's is a much better way of getting the horse to move because they are both prepared for it and aren't just being pulled and pushed to do it. Moving the haunches in uses the same rein technique, just the opposite leg. By working on the leg yield and haunches in, it sets the horse up to pick up the correct lead.
After riding for a while, Melissa and I went out to try to fix the fence that Cisco ran Nutterbutter through while we were riding. We pounded on of the posts back into the ground and tied the barbed wire back onto it, but would need more tools to finish the rest.
After feeding our calves and cooking pasta for dinner, it is now time for bed as we have an earlier wake-up call to be horseback by 7:30am and out to bring in some dry cows.