Sunday working on the ground, on his tail and Playing

Sunday, in the afternoon we need to be in NH but I feel like I can get the cake, hang with Duke, shower and get home in time to leave before 1pm.  It was close, we left at 1:08-ish.
I was so happy to get to the farm.  Yesterday it was still snowing and felt cold.  We got about 3+ inches and I just don't feel like driving around in the snow or slippery.  By the afternoon it was sunny.
Today was Sunday, after last Sunday I prayed that the farm has everyone yesterday instead of today.  I just want some quiet-time with Duke.  It worked.

Kanti was driving out of the farm with her little dog.  She said the girls had brushed out Duke this morning and he was back in the field.  I was surprised.  Kanti said she brushed him and Boogie.  So cute.  Amanda was working in the ring with Stetson.  I wished that those guys liked him more.  He's the farm bad boy.
When I got there Kanti was driving out of the farm in her car.  It was nice. I think that Laurie had met her and they hung out with the horses.  I have been enjoying being alone with Duke.  He was perfect today when I was taking care of him.  His tail is so nice clean and silky.  Each week I love to work with him on stuff.
This week I went to Tractor Supply and bought some very nice things.  Some oil for the latino, a New Ball,  pan for snacks, Showsheen, Apple crunch snacks, Jerky Snacks for Fletcher, and a very nice brush for his tail.  It was great I was able to brush through his tail with it and sprayed with the Showsheen and the Cowboy Magic Green remover.

Duchess and Stetson

Bobby was in the ring with Duchess today.  Amanda was working with Stetson.  She was so sweet but they both tried to charge the fence so Bobby put the electric on.  I went into the tack room and Bobby Amanda and Theresa were talking. Suddenly Stetson went running by then behind him Duchess, to charge the gate.  So cute but that is when Bobby put the power inot the gate.

In the field

Popped out to the field.  Gave it the Duke Call, he was at th end of the field with the small horse, Tulsa, Bogie, Duke, DominoTeddy were all champion away on hay.  It looked fun.  I got there bu ton the way, Blue gave me the love he always does give me.  I think he is an amazing horses.  Just staying.  Duke was his self waiting for me to attache the lead line on him.  HE eventually pulled way from eating and we walked the entire circle of the plowed trail.  It was mostly snow until I got on the other side.   Duke was able to stand on the snow and it didn't not crunch down.  He's got to way 2000 lbs and he's feet did not sink.  I was pretty impressed with the strength the snow.  We walked back to the gate. Duke showed me an easier path that had less ice so we went his path to the gate.  We walked through and down the road.  I love to walk with him.

Walking on the Road

Clean Tail

Free In the Ring

In the ring after brushing him out and getting the snarls out of this tail.  He was the best ever with me working on his tail. very well behaved I was so proud.  He didn't kick but  I know he wanted snacks.  He I believe understands that if he does good he gets snacks on the way back to the herd.  He gets it.
I let him in the ring completely free.  He felt the freedom he's walked around and I let him mosey around.

New Ball

 I then got the ball and he smelt it.  HE was going to bite it.  I thought it looked like he has played with a horse ball before.  The little mini Potatoe I think his name is came over too and played with the ball.  Duke and he sort of nudged it.  At the end of the day I gave Theresa the ball and let her know if she wanted to play with it later Id love it.

Back to the Herd, Good Boy

Tacked Duke, we hadn't ridden since early Jan 2015

Today I went to there barn and it seemed somewhat calm.  Brought my lead line and went into the barn.  It was about 40 degrees finally.  It was raining but I didn't seem worried about it.  Yesterday it was so cold raining.  Friday was warm and sunny.  Today raining but tolerable.  I wore my leather hat it helped out a lot.
I was there and Laurie was with Apache, Katie was working on a horse, Amanda was talking and April was sitting queitly a the end. I talked a little then went out to the herd and got Duke.  Walking out to the herd I realized they were spread all over the place.  I walked out with them and talked to all of them.  The gate is rigged so strange into the back field.  The snow was packed down and I was walking trying to get Duke to recognize my voice and respond.  He was busy eating like he always is on weekends.

After trying to clean him up, I went and got the Cowboy Magic and Showsheen and brushed and brushed. I had him down at the end.  I like to be alone I think with him.  That way no one talks to me while I am working with Duke.  As people went by I had to be careful because I was working on Duke's tail and I want to be safe behind him.  He was at first moving around for attention and then he became very careful with April next to him.  She sat patiently she is a sweet horse.

I was reluctant because he is not as comfortable with me and in the ring.  Some horses are better than others.  I got his tack and took my time getting him all tacked up.  He was excited to be tacked.  I was so worried about putting his bit in and placing his headstall on.  It has been months since I did this and I want to be able to do this alone.  Duke and I working it out.

He practically for put the bit in himself.    It took like 2 seconds.  He is very patient with me.
While riding in the ring today, I am giving him the wrong signals but he still tries to help me out.  I think I really would like lessons.  The English lessons from Sheila would be great.  I miss Sarah so much.

Honestly it was too muchin the ring today.  Amanda, Bryce, Amy, Laurie, Lexie Cathy myself and Duke plus, Kellie was riding Hershey pretty hard.  Trying to canter him from a stand still.   It became so busy in the ring I hated it.  Hershey down the ring into a canter just for the fun of it is not a good thing for Duke.  He was wanting to be with him.  He doesn't like the ring much and he wants to hang out with Hershey.  If Amanda had been riding him instead it may have worked out so much better.

I decided after Kellie took Hershey in front of me while I was waiting to go down around for a trot that I needed to just get him to a once around trot and we would be good for today.  After Kellie was hopped up on Hershey seemed like she dismounted and I didn't see her for a while.  As we went around Duke came around the corner and just stood next to Hershey wishing he could play in the ring with him.  I understood.

Amanda asked if I wanted to ride behind her with Duke for at least once around the ring with Duke at a trot.   She knows that Duke and I are not that excited about the ring and that Duke was never a lead horse.  Just wants to follow his friends like Domino, Blue, or Hershey.   It worked out good. Then I dismounted.  Amanda dragged Duke over to the edge by his halter and I got off on the  I wasn't that happy with the boots and the new stirrups.  My regular riding boots would have been better.  My boots were stuck in the stirrups.  I think Ill put the new stirrups in next time.  After I got out of the ring, Cathy and Taboo slipped and fell.  Sometimes I think some of the dare devils in the ring would benefit from learning how to stop or be more careful around others.

I kept the saddle but only put off the reins and then took him for a great walk down to the boarder barn.  Duke is much better at the dog and then on the way back he was comfortable coming back on the dirt road area.  I was proud he is making such good progress on his walks.  Good Boy.

Duke on the walk along is doing great.  He only stops a little.  He walked down again and wanted to smell every little thing on the trail.  He walked with me all the way to the boarder barn.  On the way we saw 3 families of deer.  It made me miss riding with Duke in the woods.
I think the family of deer was not afraid even though I was talking to Duke the whole time.  They just looked over at me from the woods.  Staring, I think Duke let them know that we were just hanging.  I was talking didn't seem to bother them at all.  The first family was in the field when I came down the road, then they walked to the left.  Then the other family was in the middle of the field and they went up the hill together and the last one was at the barn eating the side door.  They watched me then went behind the barn and then met us on the other side  at the left side.  Then they ran in the woods.

After the deer family ran into the woods, I walked Duke into the woods a little into the snow.  He was so excited he started to walk faster.  I couldn't keep up so we had to go out of the snow and back to the wider road between the barns.
As we walked I was able to walk faster and faster and then Duke felt he could trot and we trotted in the snow, ice much and puddles back to the hill toward barn.  I was very happy.

Duke at the edge of the trails as we walked in after the deer family jumped away.  It was peaceful for us both

Strange end to the day.  I was going back into the barn. So many people in there.  As I was leading Duke in the back of Katie, she was brushing Wichita, I believe that Duke leaned a little to her and she could not see, I was in her blind spot.  She kicked me.  It hurt too. In the thigh.  You know I try and be so safe and then I get kieked.  It made me thing of Cassie.  It hurt Im elevating it now and I had iced it for a little bit.  I may be limping for a day.
Strange ending.  It was snowing as I left the barn, at times it was almost bright while it rained.  so funny.  I want to come on Wednesday and spend some time with Duke.  Give him a spa day.  Go in the ring and relax a little. Duke needs to be in front and feel comfortable in front.  Its going to take some time still.  But I have time.  :)

Temps in 20s, Duke trotting in the Snow Today

Great Walk with Duke So good running up the hill near the wreckage

Duke was so good today.  He was nice as I brushed him in the barn.  He wasn't too fresh and I loved that we were alone most of the time.  I am aways watching him and Domino and seeing just how cute they are together.  Seems like they really care for each other.  I have been thinking about how much I would ike Duke and Domino to work together and go trail rides.  As I get Duke each time it seems that Blue and Domino come tot he gate and Duke is slow to walk over. I was thinking with all the attention that Blue and Hershey get what about Domino.
Today I spend my time brushing with a softer brush Duke, he responded nicely to it.  Then we went out for our walk he only slowed a little bit at he usual places.  he barely hesitated at that barking dog. I was so glad, he's grown.  We walked down on the snow, he slipped a little and we went on the crunchy snow.  He loves crunchy snow.  Then we went over to the boarder barn, he was not upset at all.  We were able to see the beautiful deer in the woods.  He even stuck his nose into som of the mteal pieces.  I wasn't happy about his nosiness. We didn't walk up th road because I didn't want to walk on the pavement but I think we should have walked up there.  Maybe even went on the trails because I think he could do it.  The smaller horses couldnt.  Anyway I felt good about his progress.  He was good at being led and also listened to me when I asked him to stop with a Hoa and to walk.
I made sure that I was walked on the proper side.  He was amazing. When we went up the back way I proceeded past the wreckage.  he was spooky but didn't stop at all he only looked a little at the metal mangled.  He felt good about me leading him.  When we passed it a little we started to trot together up the hill.  I was proud.
I walked again back he was proud, Laurie asked if I minded company. She stopped to talk to some woman but I told her that I need to keep moving with Duke he is working iwht me and I don't want to talk.
I continued and Duke again stopped at those strange places.  He walked so well, he's amazing.  Sweet to me too.  It is better when we are alone so I will come again so we can be together rand focus on his progress.  I went in the deep snow again on the way back.  Duke loves it and I can keep up both Domoino and Duke poked me in the back playfully as we walked in the deep snow.  I feel loved by his poke.  After we went back up the hill ad I could see that Apache was bothered because of the horrible wreckage but Duke was loose iwht me on the lead line, he made me proud.  He's a good listener. As we walked by Laurie told how good Apache was doing.  Duke proved himself on the walk and made me proud by his focus on me.  it was great.  I also allow him to smell stuff and to explore.  I am interested in what he stops and inspects.  He's an interesting horse.
He was a good boy, I took him over to my car to get his snacks, he was deserving.  walked the long way back to the gate.  Domino was waiting.  Then I got Domino.

Brushed out and Walked with Duke today

Brushed out and Walked with Domino after it was great

Domino was so well behaved today.  When I got him at the gate. It took him a minute to understand that I was getting him.  it was great.  I brought him in with all his glory.  He snacked the hay on the ground first. Then I lead in into the barn and brushed him out for a long time.  Then I decided to take him for a walk.  I know he didn't have his winters but he's big guy.  I was nervous about how the dostupid new dog.   He didn't have any cam with the dog he must wanted to not be near him so he quickly walked by and gave him a dirty "shut up" look.  He slipped in the parking lot and he slipped on the path by the outside ring. But when I went to turn around he didn't want to .  When we got to the part where the boarder barn horses were grazing, domino became so excited that I was almost nervous.  I decided to not chance him falling or getting excited with me leading him.  Baby Steps he hardly knows me.  so I lead him into the deep snow and he was pretty excited to walk in it.  He also pushed at my back to move along in front of him.  I was so delighted I was talking to him as we were walking.  We walked back I grabbed some snacks and brought them back to him as he was chained up the rail.  He was such a good boy.  Then I brought him back to the herd.  He was pretty dam happy.  Duke was sitting waiting by the gate.  He really loves Domino and I think I will love him too.

I had an amazing day iwht those two guys.  I can see why some people like horses and animals more than people.

Then Duke and Domino hung out

Domino is back