Horse stuff
Life is good.
I recently completed a horsemanship clinic with a great trainer. I also recently completed an eight week class sponsored by 4H and the agricultual cooperative extension service. I am a master horseman now. (Or horsewoman but I don't really care much about the gender issues. ) I spent the past several weeks working with a horse named Skipper. He is a 16 H chestnut Thoroughbred. Skipper is very smart and he and I both learned a lot.
I am especially proud of the trick I taught Skipper at the recent clinic. They have a very large beach ball at the arena which is used to train police horses to push into a crowd. When I say large it is about 6 foot diameter. Anyway most of the horses didn't want anything to do with that ball when they brought it out. Skipper wasn't too crazy about it either but he still did what I asked and approached and touched it with his nose while I was on the ground. A little later when I was in the saddle I was able to steer him up to the ball and get him to push it. He pushed that ball all around the arena before it was over. I think he was having fun. Skipper may have missed his calling as a cow horse.
I did so well at the training that the trainer invited me to his ranch for an intermediate class. Since I don't have my own horse yet I will be using one of his. The intermediate class involves all kinds of obstacles water crossings and even some small jumps. I am excited about this class. I do need to remember to bring a change of clothes. I have been warned that there may be swimming in the lake with the horses.
Here is a couple of pictures of Skipper.
