Summer

Recently Maria came over so we brushed Missy then played with her mane. Maria took the pictures.

Winning Key

Took a trip to Winning Key Farms to look at the foals and a horse. I got to pet a couple young foals that were in the barn. I also took a picture of one that was in the paddock with it's mother.

Rode bareback thursday. The snow was deep and Missy was frisky. It was a lot of fun.

Rode Missy on this warm winter day. It was nice to ride where I didn't have to wear a million layers!

Complete Barrel Pattern

Today I rode Missy around the barrel whole pattern (now that I've gotten all three of my Christmas barrels). She may make a good barrel horse, though we probably wouldn't get any winning times. lol. I was just asking her to walk since it was the first time, but she wanted to run them. I held her back but she did a trot for a little while. She was very forward and perky, really happy to be out. Doing a fast walk she seemed to really be enjoying herself. Missy didn't chomp on the bit very much and her head was not stretched out. Her neck was just a little higher than a western pleasure horses'. This amazed me because I haven't ridden her in a while. She was very responsive to my cues too! Even my neck reining cues that I'm teaching her. It's a little slippy out now but I hope to eventually get her to lope them. After I was done I let her graze. She diggs in the snow with her hooves then eats. Her whiskers got frozen from burrying them in the snow. There was some grass for her to eat when she got to it though.

Missy's been wearing the blanket the past few days and it's staying on fine. I gave her one of the molasses cookies I made and she loved it!

A Year of Missy American

A year ago I was 13yro and 7months, and got Missy. Today I've had this great girl for a year. She's really improved. When I first got her she had only been ridden twice for short periods of time. Before that she had aborted a foal. Missy now turns off of leg cues and responds really well to the bit. She has jumped up to about 1' 6", has done the trails, and is now starting on barrels.

Barrels

For Christmas I am getting barrels. So far I've gotten one. I started Missy on it and she did really well. I just walked her though.

Sky's Blanket

Missy tried on the blanket from Sky. I think it fits really well. She wasn't scared of it one bit, and didn't think it was strange either. I wonder if she's had one on before. I fixed the front, and I think it will work well. Thanks Maria!

First Ride Totally By Myself

Today was the first time I got Missy ready, mounted, and rode all by myself. She did great. I didn't need anyone to hold her, and was even able to open the gate. Missy is so well behaved; she didn't even care that people were siting in their guns for tomorrow.

Friday

Katherine and I rode Missy around the yard. She did amazing. She still chops on the bit but not nearly as much as she used to. Her head set is also much better, as well as her responce to leg aids. Missy American has accomplished so much in the past year with her training.

A pic of Missy's dad American Winner

Sunday

I went on another trailride Sunday. Missy was great. Really calm, but when I asked her to go she would.

Today I rode Missy around the field. She was a little spooky and wanted to go go go. It was a trot and canter day! It was fun. But she spooked once and I did an emergency dismount and grabbed her reins. I got back on and worked on calming her down.

Bareback Ride

I rode bareback today. My dad taught be how to mount and how to sit. It was really fun. We trotted a little even though Missy didn't really want to. My legs might be sore tommorow though. Missy's coat is looking darker again. In spring it turned a chocolate brown, now it's almost black other than her white star and orange nose and the rings around her eyes
.

Saterday&Sunday

I rode in our front yard on Saterday. Missy bucked a few times but settled down after awhile. On Sunday I rode around the back yard and then took a trailride. It was fun, though it would be nice if I could ride with someone sometime. Today I went out and Missy is covered in mud. I'll have to brush her tomorrow. It gets dark so early now.

I went on a trailride again. Missy did great even though people were shooting in the distance. We rode all around. We're also working on hill work to build up her muscle tone. She's doing great and is at her best weight ever right now, she's not skinny, nor is she fat. She really seems to enjoy trail riding and next time I ride I think I might put up some ground poles to go over. I haven't ridden in a couple days but I've groomed her for the past couple days.

Saterday&Sunday

On Saterday I rode Missy and we took a trailride. We even cantered up a hill! Which is awesome because I'd never been able to canter her that long before. Also, we rode in the quarry in the field, in the woods, and all over the place. It was a lot of fun. Sunday we trimmed Missys hooves.

I rode Missy tonight. She didn't want to trot right off and bucked. I got her to trot and didn't have any trouble after that. We also worked on moving off of leg pressure. She gets better every time.