Eating some grass, loving life :-D
On the hot-waker, with some friends!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
I've found my calling!
It might have taken me 16 years, but today I found my calling in life!
Today was my first official day as a pony horse! Emily and I hit the track at 8am this morning with another pony horse "Socks" from the barn next door. We walked onto the track and galloped (cantered) around so I could take in all the sights and sounds of a real racetrack. As we were galloping (counter-clockwise) around the track, the racehorses were beginning their morning routines as well. I was surprised to see a racehorse galloping up behind me, but I was more interested in keeping pace with Socks. Its good practice to be calm on the racetrack, so after our gallop lap we stopped near the gap (the opening to enter the track) and watched the racehorses strut their stuff. Emily made me stand still (having Socks their helped a lot) and watch so I understood that my job was NOT to gallop at full speed around the track.
After a few more trips with our racehorses back and forth from the track to the barns I was beginning to get tired. I was behaving well on the track so Emily decided it was time to try the real thing and actually pony a horse on the track.
(Emily and I had ponied a few horses around the barns, but we had only ponied at a slow trot. On the racetrack the point is to get horses in shape for racing....therefore we must gallop while we pony.)
We walked back to the barn and collected Incendiar (a quarter horse). He is relatively calm, so he was a good test run for me. Things were a bit shaky in the beginning, but after I realized my job things calmed down. Incendiar on the other hand was crazy! As we galloped he would randomly freak out and buck and kick the air. He apparently likes running! He also tried to bite at my neck and almost took a chunk out of Emily's thigh. He is a goofy boy, thankfully Emily kept him under control and I still have all of my neck! The three of us galloped 2 laps and then slowed up (making sure to pass the gap before we stopped). We walked back to the barn, dropped Incendiar off and then headed back to the track with a few more horses to make sure everyone stayed safe.
I was exhausted and worked up quite a sweat. Emily untacked me and reminded me how good of a boy I was today! After a quick cool down and brushing I ended my morning by getting my feet trimmed by the farrier! I felt all sorts of special :-D
It was a great day! I can't wait until Friday when I can hit the track again with Emily!
Today was my first official day as a pony horse! Emily and I hit the track at 8am this morning with another pony horse "Socks" from the barn next door. We walked onto the track and galloped (cantered) around so I could take in all the sights and sounds of a real racetrack. As we were galloping (counter-clockwise) around the track, the racehorses were beginning their morning routines as well. I was surprised to see a racehorse galloping up behind me, but I was more interested in keeping pace with Socks. Its good practice to be calm on the racetrack, so after our gallop lap we stopped near the gap (the opening to enter the track) and watched the racehorses strut their stuff. Emily made me stand still (having Socks their helped a lot) and watch so I understood that my job was NOT to gallop at full speed around the track.
After a few more trips with our racehorses back and forth from the track to the barns I was beginning to get tired. I was behaving well on the track so Emily decided it was time to try the real thing and actually pony a horse on the track.
(Emily and I had ponied a few horses around the barns, but we had only ponied at a slow trot. On the racetrack the point is to get horses in shape for racing....therefore we must gallop while we pony.)
We walked back to the barn and collected Incendiar (a quarter horse). He is relatively calm, so he was a good test run for me. Things were a bit shaky in the beginning, but after I realized my job things calmed down. Incendiar on the other hand was crazy! As we galloped he would randomly freak out and buck and kick the air. He apparently likes running! He also tried to bite at my neck and almost took a chunk out of Emily's thigh. He is a goofy boy, thankfully Emily kept him under control and I still have all of my neck! The three of us galloped 2 laps and then slowed up (making sure to pass the gap before we stopped). We walked back to the barn, dropped Incendiar off and then headed back to the track with a few more horses to make sure everyone stayed safe.
I was exhausted and worked up quite a sweat. Emily untacked me and reminded me how good of a boy I was today! After a quick cool down and brushing I ended my morning by getting my feet trimmed by the farrier! I felt all sorts of special :-D
It was a great day! I can't wait until Friday when I can hit the track again with Emily!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Catching up!
Well hello everyone! I apologize for my lack of posts recently. I got a little extra time this afternoon from my busy schedule so I figure I should update ya'll on the happenings recently in my life.
We are officially moved in at the track!!!! (We made the move to the track a little over a week ago)
I now reside at Mount Pleasant Meadows Racetrack! I easily adjusted to my new stall and much to Emily's surprise I didn't get an upset tummy! The barn currently is full of 25 of my new friends and my neighbors are a few 2 yr old quarter horses. They moved in a few days ago, so I showed them the ropes of how to behave at the track (they were a bit nervous). I live on a very precise schedule so everyday is pretty similar. This is good because as a horse, routine is important. Each morning Emily comes into work around 7am and gives grain to all of us. Some of us get more grain than others (I am at the low end of the feeding rations), but at least I get a small handfull of grain with a supplement and coca-soy oil. I feel pretty special! After everyone has their breakfast we all go outside for exercise and a leg-stretch on the hot walkers. I get led out to the hot walker and exercise with 3 other horse friends. On the hot walker I can be as silly as I want and can either walk or run, depending on what my friends and I decide we should do. I look forward to my daily exercise and returning to a nice fresh stall with hay and fresh water waiting for me. My friend Poison (you remember him right?) is especially silly on the hot walker! He gets very excited to be outside!
A few times a week (when Emily isn't up to her elbows in homework) I get to help Emily with the daily going-ons of the barn. I got a new bridle and bit this week as well, so I was excited to try out my new gear. (I love my bit btw.) This week I got to help Emily "pony" one of my friends around the barns. (The actual track opens this weekend for horses to exercise) Emily wanted to see what my ponying skills were like, so she grabbed my fellow pony-horse friend "Dell" and the three of us went for a walk/trot around the barns. Emily says I did PERFECT! It was a lot of fun! After my ponying experience Emily and I went for a long ride up the road to an Amish Auction (what a crazy experience that was). I enjoyed getting out of the backside and basking in the sun for a while. We rode to the auction and looked around for a while. I was perfect the whole time and liked looking at all of the amish carts and HUGE draft horses. While up at the auction Emily and I took advantage of having an arena to ride in so we did some "arena" work (sooooo boring, I don't know why we waste our time with this stuff like bending and leads). The arena work went well, we even got a small audience of amish boys! After our workout we strolled back to the barn (Emily MADE me walk through a huge puddle. I though it would be a better idea to walk around) and I got to finish eating my lunch.
On Monday I got to pony an actual racehorse for the first time! What do you know, I got to pony Poison :) Emily and I ponied Poison and his rider around the barns, we also ponied my friend Zena and her rider. I did everything perfectly again! Emily is very pleased :)
This weather has been incredible! I am almost fully shedded out and am shiny as can be! I am starting to get "muscles" and Emily thinks I look pretty darn good for 16 years old!
Hope everyone is having a good day! I am currently relaxing in my stall, munching on hay and chatting it up with my buddies! Dinner should arrive in an hour or so.
Until next time, (which will be sooner than later!)
Zach a.ka. (Boo, Boo)
We are officially moved in at the track!!!! (We made the move to the track a little over a week ago)
I now reside at Mount Pleasant Meadows Racetrack! I easily adjusted to my new stall and much to Emily's surprise I didn't get an upset tummy! The barn currently is full of 25 of my new friends and my neighbors are a few 2 yr old quarter horses. They moved in a few days ago, so I showed them the ropes of how to behave at the track (they were a bit nervous). I live on a very precise schedule so everyday is pretty similar. This is good because as a horse, routine is important. Each morning Emily comes into work around 7am and gives grain to all of us. Some of us get more grain than others (I am at the low end of the feeding rations), but at least I get a small handfull of grain with a supplement and coca-soy oil. I feel pretty special! After everyone has their breakfast we all go outside for exercise and a leg-stretch on the hot walkers. I get led out to the hot walker and exercise with 3 other horse friends. On the hot walker I can be as silly as I want and can either walk or run, depending on what my friends and I decide we should do. I look forward to my daily exercise and returning to a nice fresh stall with hay and fresh water waiting for me. My friend Poison (you remember him right?) is especially silly on the hot walker! He gets very excited to be outside!
A few times a week (when Emily isn't up to her elbows in homework) I get to help Emily with the daily going-ons of the barn. I got a new bridle and bit this week as well, so I was excited to try out my new gear. (I love my bit btw.) This week I got to help Emily "pony" one of my friends around the barns. (The actual track opens this weekend for horses to exercise) Emily wanted to see what my ponying skills were like, so she grabbed my fellow pony-horse friend "Dell" and the three of us went for a walk/trot around the barns. Emily says I did PERFECT! It was a lot of fun! After my ponying experience Emily and I went for a long ride up the road to an Amish Auction (what a crazy experience that was). I enjoyed getting out of the backside and basking in the sun for a while. We rode to the auction and looked around for a while. I was perfect the whole time and liked looking at all of the amish carts and HUGE draft horses. While up at the auction Emily and I took advantage of having an arena to ride in so we did some "arena" work (sooooo boring, I don't know why we waste our time with this stuff like bending and leads). The arena work went well, we even got a small audience of amish boys! After our workout we strolled back to the barn (Emily MADE me walk through a huge puddle. I though it would be a better idea to walk around) and I got to finish eating my lunch.
On Monday I got to pony an actual racehorse for the first time! What do you know, I got to pony Poison :) Emily and I ponied Poison and his rider around the barns, we also ponied my friend Zena and her rider. I did everything perfectly again! Emily is very pleased :)
This weather has been incredible! I am almost fully shedded out and am shiny as can be! I am starting to get "muscles" and Emily thinks I look pretty darn good for 16 years old!
Hope everyone is having a good day! I am currently relaxing in my stall, munching on hay and chatting it up with my buddies! Dinner should arrive in an hour or so.
Until next time, (which will be sooner than later!)
Zach a.ka. (Boo, Boo)
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