Welcome Luna! Day One.......

Welcome back! Savannah and I thought it was time to re-name the blog. It's a twist on Ms. Manner's and the movie The School of Rock. This was the best we could come up with! If you have a better title, please post it.

Savannah has been looking forward to Luna's visit all week. The first horse Savannah rode was a bay mare with a star named Lone Star. She fell in love with her and it's become Savannah's dream horse. So, when Savannah heard that Luna was coming over she was excitied!!

Now Luna heard about all of the excitement happening over here and asked her mom, Susan, if she could come for a sleep over. Susan agreed and here she is!

Luna will be with us for a week. Savannah's goals this week are catching Luna in the turnout and backing out of the trailer.

We went on a nice day trail ride with Susan and a few friends today. It was a great day! Thanks for coming Susan!!!!

Without further ado.......here's Luna!!!

Luna was feeling her oats and thought she needed to trot circles for a while. Savanah held on until Luna decided it would probably be less work to stop running!!!

WHEW!!! Okay, I think she's done!

After Luna relaxed, Savannah put her halter and lead rope on Luna. It has a few more knots on the nose band and a snap so Savannah has a little more control.

Savannah hanging out with Luna. Luna figuring out she could just stay in the same spot and relax.

Next Savannah worked on backing Luna. There was a lot of tail swishing going on.....

After Luna took a few steps she thought she was done. She pinned her ears when Savannah asked for more......

So, Savannah thought Luna needed to back a LOT more!

Next was backing through the wash. Luna was a little unsure but caught on really fast! Savannah started backing Luna at the bottom of the wash and up the other side.

She did it!!

All the way to the top of the wash! Yea!

Luna wasn't too sure backing up when her front feet were almost to the top of the wash.

She did it! Savannah backed Luna from the top of the wash, down it and up the back side. Good girl, Luna!!

More loving!

Next was backing on the bridge. One foot......

Two feet.........

Two feet together and relaxed!

Asking Luna to back more:

Try, Luna!

Half way on the bridge and relaxed!!
Just hanging out, being quiet.
Good girl, Luna! Savannah called it a day. Luna tried really hard backing on the bridge. It was hard work for Luna to think about where her feet were on the bridge. Savannah wanted to get Luna all the way across but decided to end this session on a positive note.
And of course, Luna got a spa treatment afterwards. Luna enjoyed getting fussed over!!! She fell asleep and Savannah had to wake her up for the picture! (You can see Susan's saddle outline from today's ride! Don't worry, Susan, Savannah cleaned Luna up and got all the sweat off her!)
Check back tomorrow for more of Luna's training. We are hosting an obstacle clinic and Savannah will be playing with Luna.

Spice - The Next Grand Prix Champion!

Today is the last day of Boot Camp for Spice. She might be relieved but I know she had a great time with Savannah. Savannah is a jumper at heart and thought it would be fun to show Spice how to pick up her feet over a jump. Granted the jump is 3" to 10" high, it's still good practice.


Trotting over a plastic water pipe:

Spice picked up her back feet pretty high in the beginning:

Then she figured out it was a small step over and did great!

I was out with Savannah riding my horse, Hollywood. We trotted around together and Spice kept a nice pace behind and in front of Hollywood. She wasn't concerned when I loped Hollywod and she had to stay off to the side and watch.

The rest of the pics are ear cams from Hollywood.

Still trotting over the pipe:

Savannah put the pipe up a bit higher. Guess what, Keith?.... Spice ground ties!

Hollywood was wondering if he was going to jump, too! He has convinced ME that he is a Quarter Horse through and through.....NO jumping for him!! But he hasn't convinced Savannah yet....

Trotting over the jump:

Spice knocked over the jump a few times. Each time Savannah got off, set up the jump again and tried again. Spice likes to watch Savannah work! Ha Ha!

Heading back to try again:

Spice did a HUGE step over with her back feet and knocked down half of the jump....

But she went into nice lope afterwards!!

Savannah and I called it a day on the next jump. Spice didn't make a HUGE step over and tried to remember where her back feet were. She did great today and is very willing to try.

Thanks to Keith for letting us borrow Spice! She is a very sweet girl and learned a ton!

Savannah's next Boot Camp Trainee is a beautiful bay mare named Luna. Check back late next week to meet her. See you then.....

Day Fifteen - Lime Green is the New Black......

It was another fun day here at Savannah's Boot Camp. Spice's owner, Keith, came over to ride Spice again. While we were waiting for Keith, my youngest daughter, Melanie, decided to give Spice a try. She thought Spice was "big feeling and had a long neck".

Savannah finally received her Fed Ex package filled with her new lime green tack. Here she is with her horse, Cowgirl, all decked out in lime green.....

Keith showed up and got to work!! Savannah wanted to see how Spice would react with another rider and horse. Spice did great and didn't get upset. Although, I think she was secretly jealous of Cowgirl's new tack!!

Next, Savannah and Keith worked on trotting together. Spice wanted to walk and not keep up but Keith kept her in a nice trot.

Savannah and Cowgirl are a bit speedy so Savannah had to slow down and wait for Keith and Spice.

Keith wanted to see Spice's reaction when he took her off the property so he walked her up the driveway and down the road they went!

I didn't hear from them for a few minutes so I went to the end of the driveway and saw Keith riding Spice back. Way to go Keith!!!! Spice did great!! The neighbor's dog barked and tried to run after Spice but Keith got Spice under control quickly and all was good.

Heading back to the turnout:

Following Savannah around a bit more. Keith was working on keeping Spice at a nice pace behind another horse.

Melanie is our official "cool down" kid. Here she is cooling down Cowgirl for big sister. Melanie thinks Cowgirl was "kinda tall and very sweet".

Next, Savannah helped Melanie cool down Cowgirl.

Keith going through the wash before we untacked the horses and fed everyone. Good job Keith and Spice!!

One last picture of the girls and Cowgirl. Awwww, aren' t they the greatest??

Day Fourteen - We're Back......

Hey Everyone!!! We took the weekend off (horses, too!!) to enjoy the last of our Christmas Break. I have to admit it was really hard getting out of bed early this morning and feeding the animals. It was pretty cold out there!!!!



Savannah has decided that lime green is her new horse's color, so needless to say, she has puchased A LOT of lime green tack. She is still waiting for her leg wraps to arrive via Fed Ex but bought a new saddle pad over the weekend and was dying to try it out today. Since Spice was on the menu today, Spice got the first ride with a new saddle pad.



Little Ms. Spice was feeling a bit frisky today after having 2 days off so Savannah lunged her. After about 2 minutes, Spice decided it was too much work NOT to listen. I did get a pretty neat picture of Spice being naughty.......

After lunging, Savannah gave Spice a pat.

Trotting around:

Next was loping. Spice loped 2 circles today in both directions at a nice speed. She was pretty tired but did really well!

To the right:

To the left. Wrong lead Spice!!!

To the right again:

Spice will be going home this weekend so Savannah will be working on Spice's cruise control, some more backing and tying this week. I know Spice's owner, Keith, is looking forward to having her back, but we will miss her.

Check back tomorrow!!

Day Eleven - Savannah Tested, Owner Approved!

Happy New Year!!!! We had a great day with friends and family. Spice's owner, Keith, even came over today for a visit after a long trail ride with his other horse, Phoenix.

Phoenix and Spice saying hello.


Savannah showed Keith the progress they have made in the last few days, trotting:

And then loping:

Now it was Keith's turn to try!

Over the bridge to say hi to Phoenix again:

Rounding the barrel:

Over another bridge:

And back:

Keith got Spice into a nice little trot:

Then went for a lope:

And headed back to us:

I think Keith approves!!!! And please excuse the pink saddle pad and halter, Keith. Savannah thinks it looks cute on Spice. And besides, tough guys wear pink!