Good start to my morning

      There's nothing like starting  your day riding a horse. 
Went to see Kissie this morning, because I had a lesson with Lisa, it was a lot of fun. She was a little lazy today, and realllly wanted to slow everything down. I had to keep after her to keep her pace up! It's okay for today, I feel kind of lazy too. (we all have days like those!)

Lisa thinks she is really cute, and so do I, but her cuteness lets her get away with stuff sometimes! lol A lot of people think she is so cute, she has this cute trot, this cute way she carries herself, and she is just cute anyway. She found out where I hid my treats, I put them in a pocket and she puts her nose right there like she is asking for a treat its really cute. Now she expects that from me. 
My mom hasn't been there for a few weeks, and it was neat to see Kissie's reaction when she saw her. I think she likes my mom, but don't tell her I think that,  it would just go to her head. :) She calls her Kisser...UGH!

Last night Dad took me over for a quick visit.  I lunged her for a bit and then I let her free in the ring. It was a lot of fun let her go and she followed me around. I let her go by herself and she was having a ball! She was cantering around in circles it was just amusing watching her. It is so much fun playing with Kissie. I really think she is conected to me...it's kind of cool to see her reaction when I am with her. Like she feels content....you know what I mean? I like having that with her.

I made some big decisions today....I want to do it all...but I can't.
I don't know how long I will have the privledge of having a horse, so I am not going to waste any more time while she is here. I wanted to try out for the play Annie at school, but that would take up a lot of time. I also am going to cut out another activity I am in to spend more time at the farm. Right now I go there Tuesday's, Thursday's, and Saturday's and usually a Friday or Monday. I want to Start going regularly 4 days a week maybe 5. I also am going to start giving Allie some lessons. 
I am super excited about this! I started riding the fall before I turned 7, right about her age. I remember how nervous I was, but I had a really great instructor to help me!

I will go over and see her again tomorrow. I can't wait!

Happy New Year everyone!
I have so much to be thankful for!

Katie

Here is a hug for a nice walk.

Finally seeing Eye to Eye.

Lunging Lead Free!

Look Grandpa and Nanna...No Hands!!!

Here Kissie, Kissie, Kissie...Good girl.

Turn that frown upside down :D

      I had some really bad news yesterday, a horse from Pople Ridge was put down. Her name was Breezy and she was the first horse I rode and the first horse I fell off of. She was always so kind and gentle and let the little kids pet her big, soft nose. She was always so careful with people she never hurt anyone. She was my favorite horse at the farm and I miss her.
But getting a birthday present in the mail from my grandpa and seeing my horse made my day a little better.
 My birthday present was a carrot stick (which is similar to what a whip looks like but different), and a Parelli halter and lead rope.  I can't wait to use them on Kissie. I am sure she's a little rusty, but we will get her back into shape!   I'm not sure if use the carrot stick on Kissie or my brother Zack! 
 I bought some carrot treats to give to Kissie I fed her some today, she likes them. She looks really cute in her new winter blanket that Nana and Grandpa  gave me. And they sent up the her nose band for her bridle. Thanks Nana and Grandpa, I really do appreciate all that you are doing for me! 
I had riding lesson today and it was fun, we did a lot of exercises! Lisa is a really fun instructor. At the end of the lesson she let us ride bare back!  It was so much fun! Next lesson she wants to put her on a lunge line and see if she can get her to Canter, that would be so cool.  I love Kissie. I always complained about being short, but now I really want to stay short for a long time so I don't get too big for her. :(

       Kissie turned my frown upside down, I love her so much!    


Katie

Dr. Dr. Who's got the Dr.

Well Ms. Kissie....what's next? lol

Kissie decided she wanted to do some off road, rolling last week, and got a nice cut in her hind left leg.  Looked like a puncture, but we really aren't sure what caused it, and unless Kissie starts talking (which would be pretty cool) we will never know. All I know is that Sunday it wasn't there, and on Tuesday I didn't notice it, you'd think I would?? But by Thursday, my lesson day, we noticed something was up. My instructor Lisa, Debbie, my Dad, even Rach and Ed watched me tack her up, and we all didn't notice it.  It wasn't until I got on her and Lisa looked at her from behind that we noticed the swelling. At this time it was just around the area where the cut was.  So we got off  and washed it off to inspect. I then walked her to get the blood moving and put cold water on it for about 10 minutes, she was not impressed. We called Nana to report, and she said to watch it.
By  8:30 Am we were back over there, and it was worse....umm a lot worse. The swelling was all the way down her leg to her hoof.  And you didn't need to stand behind her to notice. She was limping and favoring it, so we called Nana again and she called the Vets. She didn't want to mess around with an infection, and her gut told her this could be serious. I was glad because something didn't feel right with me either.
While we were there, we repeated the walking and cold water. Then Dad held her, while I held her front leg and mom sponged off the area.  It must have looked pretty funny with the three of us out there, but I am super proud of my mom and Dad. Mom then put the antibiotic cream in the wound. By this time Rachel came out (She is awesome!) and inspected. WE PASSED ! WOO HOO!

The vet came over and shaved and inspected the area, and gave her a shot - with a repeat shot in 4 days. We repeated this process Friday, Sat Morning and Night. By the night she looked 100% different.  I am so glad.
 When we visited her on Monday, she was back to her old self. Very frisky. The vet came again on Tuesday to give her a shot. Now my lesson is on Thursday, but that depends on her. If I ride her I will take it easy.

Phew! I am exhausted...how about you!
Well..have a great Wednesday

Katie

The NEW Look

    On Sunday we went to a 4H meeting to learn about  the proper way to clean your tack. First we took apart our bridles completely, then we started with the cleaning part. We took a sponge and dipped it in a bucket of water, we squeezed the water out of the sponge so it wasn't dripping with water. We took that sponge and swirled it around in a tub of saddle soap or a glycerin bar and started to rub it on the bridle ( not the bit or the metal parts of the bridle). We took the bridle after we were all done with the cleaning part and took a conditioner oil and rubbed it into the bridle but only a little bit on your finger then you rub it in. Once we were  done with that we took a cloth and rubbed it so that it was dry, If you don't do this the oil will eat the stitching in the bridle. Then comes the fun part putting it back together. Ha, I found out that I didn't have it put together right when I went to ride....oops!  When you have completed this stage you are all done. :)

We went out to see Kissie after the meeting to measure her for her new blanket.  It was snowing really big, cold flakes of snow.  Kissie was obviously cold, so I groomed her and we left her in for the night.

Mom went and bought her a new waterproof, weatherproof blanket this week. They didn't have purple...BOOO...so we bought hunter green.  She seemed to be very happy  to have it on when we put it on her. :) Cold weather on expected on Friday so I don't think she will care what color it is :)

I rode her for 45 minutes on Tuesday...she was pretty good, except she didn't like the wall and I spent quite a bit of time working with her work through that.   

Katie

Playing in the Mud

The mud season has arrived....and its everywhere.  Kissie does not really care for mud, and didn't want to cross it to see me tonight-even when I tried to bribe her...hmph!  Well....that meant that I had to go out to get her, and I almost lost my nice riding boots in the process. 

We lunged tonight. She did well, and was pretty frisky after..so I think I should've lunged her some more.  When I go back Tuesday I may have to lunge her before I ride, but we'll see.

Spent some time checking out her legs and hooves tonight. I washed them off and checked for any scratches or injuries.  She really didn't care what I did as long as I let her keep eating the grass in the yard. But everything looks great!

Trying to get her, and me, into a routine.  I want to be riding at least 2 times a week and lunge her two times.  I really don't want her to think that everytime she sees me I want to ride her, but I need to get her, and me, into shape :) 

My lesson will be on Saturday this week, so I want to get there at least on Tuesday and Thursday to practice some more.

Have a great Monday :)

Katie

Special "K"

Well, I had my first lesson with Lisa last night, I really like her!  Its funny how different all of my instructors are in their way of teaching.  Everyone has their own opinions about horses, and taking care of them.  At first I was a little nervous about beginning with someone new.  But after giving it a lot of thought, I think I might have figured it out.  I need to listen to everyone's advice and figure out what works best for me and Kissie.. I think everyone has something to teach us.  Dad says we always should be learning and experiencing different things,  good things anyways,  helps us to learn. So instead of worrying that I might be doing something wrong.  Or that I might be doing something different than the next person.  I am going to just learn everything I can while with the person I am with, while I have the chance.  Kinda like going to school.  A lot of people say where I go to school is bad...this really bugs me...yeah it really isn't a great place.  Yeah a lot of kids do really stupid things, but I am not them.  If I put Kissie in a pen with a bunch of untrained horses she will not forget everything she knows! She has me and I have God and my parents to help me.  UGH!

The lesson was awesome, I really like Lisa and she was really nice but tough!  .  Our goal right now is to get Kissie into shape.  She is worried about her weight, but it is already going away.  I think by spring she will be in shape to do some open shows.  I need to spend time on her and work her. 40 minutes of riding or 20 of lunging.  My next lesson is next Thursday...can't wait!

We Bagged Kissie's tail last night, and clipped her bridle path. She wasn't impressed with the clippers, but Debbie helped  and we went really slow, and let Kissie get used to the sound. They all love Kissie, and they all say how calm and comforted she is when I am around. I love to hear that! I love her!

Katie

4H meeting

Allie and I went a 4H meeting last night.  Its called the saddle pals and I think it will be a lot of fun!
Rachael Lauricella was there, and Libby Atkinson and a lot of other kids!
We worked on lunging.  They put me with the little kids first, which kinda irritated me, but I guess they really don't know me or anything I know, so they were just being safe! grrr-it was still kinda annoying.

BUT, after I lunged, she had me go with the older group to free lunge.  That was really cool, I never did that before....I can't wait to do it again!
Lisa is really great, but I can tell she is going to be tough.  I will have my first lesson with her on Wednesday...I can't wait to get started.   I am feeling a little rusty!

Going to see Kissie girl tonight. Ugh, have to go to school first...it is like eating your vegetables first.  Why can't we just have dessert first?


Oh...and Allie lunged last night too! I wish I could've seen her, but I was gone by then. Mom said she was really brave and got the hang of it really quick! Way to go Allie!

Have a really great day!

Katie

Is there a Doctor in the house??

Well, today was a little...well scary, crazy, happy all at the same time.  While I was at school, probably in my boring math class, Kissie decided that she wanted to add some "drama" to all of our lives.  Poor girl had her first case of colic...not a fun thing to have in a horse. My mom ran to the rescue...actually I am very proud of her, but don't tell her that would just go to her head. :) She walked Kissie,  for quite awhile, while discussing my bad grade on my math test. :( Well anyways, the vet came and helped her out making us all very happy.

What did we learn?

Well...

• First pawing at the ground maybe a sign for her to be telling us she doesn't feel well
• Second listen to her side to hear digestion noises - these sounds are a good thing!
• Third walk her a lot and don't let her lie down
• Fourth, trust my instincts. I knew somethig was up Monday and I should have spoken up!
• Finally, I learned I have a pretty great mom who loves my horse like I do (and no she didn't make me write this)

So, I went to see her tonight.  She looks wonderful! She's back to her old self, but it still makes me have goose bumps to think what might have happened.
She did have a moment of confusion and thought she liked my mom better, but we worked that out.  Especially after we had a talk about how well my mom did in her math class.... yeah not so well.
 
So now we have a new understanding :)

I love you Kissie...stay well.


Oh and for you Grandpa....

I like the other one better.. :)

One of those days...

Kissie can be impatient....but then again so can I. (grin) She normally doesn't give me grief about grooming but last time I was there she stomped her foot, and carried on like I took away her birthday.

She was pretty good while  riding, and we rode for over a half hour in the outside ring. She was pulling to the right and left, but I didn't let her get away with that. I lovingly reminded her that I was in charge. After awhile she got the idea and followed my lead.  A lot of changes for her over the past few weeks, but she's a tough girl....but then again so am I! ;)

Welcome Kissie!

She has arrived, the beautiful "Just a Kiss", a.k.a. "Kissie".  She seemed to like it at the new farm, but time will tell.  They are going to leave her in a pen by herself until she had adjusted...I think she already likes the "boys" across the road- We will have to have a talk.