Ice storm

We had a ice storm last night. Everything is covered in a layer of ice and its not fun trying to go anywhere. When I got up this morning and looked out I saw a guy doing this weird ice skating like slide down one of the side walk. Thankfully my school is good about scraping the side walks otherwise it wouldn't of been easy to get to my final today. I did go out to my car to grab something and there was a very thick layer of ice and I could barley get my door open. At least I didn't need to go anywhere. Here are some pics of everything covered in ice. You can click on the pic to get them bigger.  

More snow cold and crazy horse.

We got a larger snow storm early this week and I didn't get down to the barn until Tuesday. Of corse he was out in pasture as far away as possible but I was able to catch him and start to bring him in. As we were trying to cross the creek he got away from me and went galloping around in the snow. I could tell he was just having fun and probably needed a good run but I was concerned about him hurting himself but there was nothing I could do. He then went up to one of the other younger horses and got him going so both of them were running around in the snow. They were having so much fun. I really wish I had brought my camera down with me but didn't think about it. He did finally let me catch him and thankfully the lead I had grabbed had a chain on it so he didn't get away again. 

He looks suspicious 

 I then let him out in the indoor arena for a bit to make sure he had all of his crazness out. (sorry about pic quality the indoor lighting isn't great for pics)

I then got on him for a bit and he was very good for me. I ended up half way through the ride taking the saddle off and getting on bareback because I was getting cold riding. He has been very forward and not listening to me so I think his little gallop helped that. 

     Yesterday I went down again and had another very forward ride but it was OK. Hes good at the walk and trot but rushes at the canter. I did talk to my BO about switching his grain because I think that might be causing some of it. He has also been either in a stall or the snowy pastures so I don't think he has been getting as much exercise on his own. It was kind of fun the first few days to have a forward horse compared to what he is normally but now its getting old. Unfortunely I am heading home for three weeks so wont be able to ride him more but I am glad to be heading home to relax and see family. Some of my horse friends back home have offered to let me ride their horses so I wont be completely horseless but will miss my horse. 

Banico in the snow pic overload

It is finals week so I have been busy with studding so haven't had  much time to post but here are a bunch of photos I took today. I have my last final tomorrow so I will do a post about my crazy horse tomorrow or Friday. So here are pics:

 yes my horse is spoiled.

 My carrots.

 Who me?

Will Look Cute for Carrots. 

My horses new moto. 

Ah bribery.  

Snow

I went down to the barn today to ride and it snowed. It wasn't in the forecast but its been cold and cloudy. It was enough to turn everything white but wasn't  sticking to the roads so I got home fine.

 

     Banico was still very forward today but I used a different pair of spurs so he was listening to my leg much better. He didn't do any thing bad he was just very quick and just wanted to run around the arena. I kind of like the change from having to push him all the time. Unfortunly we are supposed to get another storm in the next few days so he will be inside more and I might not make it out there to work him.  I did finally pull out my sewing machine and fix his fleece blanket liner/cooler so he has that. He got sweaty again after our ride and its so cold out I feel better putting something on him while he drys off.

Winter

      I went to a friends house in eastern Tennessee for Thanksgivings and had a great time. Had lots of good food and just relaxed and didn't think of school at all. It was a very nice weekend and I had a great time seeing everything. I have never been in that area so it was interesting and beautiful. We also went to visit her horse who lives at her grandparents. He hadn't been ridden in a wile so we just visited and I had fun looking at some of the old tack they had. There were a bunch of  old draft collars and some old harnesses that were neat to look at. 

      This week has turned into winter. I woke up to it snowing but it didn't stick very long but it was close to freezing all day. It has also been raining so it was a muddy mess. Banico had been inside most of the last few days but when he is out he finds a nice mud hole to role in. He also turned a bit pink from the new red shoulder guard. 

I'm so glad he has a blanket on otherwise it would be to much work to scrape off all the mud to ride. He is still a muddy mess anywhere the blanket doesn't cover. 

Pink horse!

And just because he is so cute. 

He was a bit crazy today when I rode him probably because of the cold weather and being in a stall because of the rain. He was very forward and didn't want to listen to my leg. He just wanted to go. He was very sweaty after the ride despite it being freezing but I did finally get him listening to me better. I put a blanket on him and worked on his feet a bit.   

Some Pictures

Tried the bridleless riding again today a bit and Banico was great again. There are defently some stuff to work on but he seems to enjoys it and doesn't take to much advantage of it. Actuly got some pictures today but since no one was available to take them I took them from his back. So interesting perspective but still good. Found out the sideways pics are because I have a canon camera and some how something doesnt quite work with blogger. Havent really found easy solution so here are sideways pics. 

 He really likes stretching down and started it almost right after I took the reins off.

 There was another rider in the arena outside whos horse was apparently running into barrels. Heard a few crashes.

 Him giving me the "what the heck are you doing Mom" look.

I do really love him even tho he gives me crap sometimes.

I love my horse.

      I have been having a really crazy, stressful and emotional week so haven't made it down to the barn as often as I should so haven't had much to update on much less the time to update but some how am up to 4 followers so some people read this. Today I went down after my test and because of winter it was dark. I am so glad this barn has a lighted indoor arena so if I can make it out there I can ride. The pastures were a soupy mess from the recent rain but Banico was blanketed so he wasn't to dirty. Its about time to break out the muck boots. I talked to the barn owner a bit about Banico's weight and some other stuff. Banico had lost a bunch of weigh on the trip from CA and just the change in food and climate. He does seem like he has gained some of it back but still not where we would like him going into winter but we are keeping an eye on it. I then went and got him tacked up and went into the indoor to ride. He did try to go for the hay that had blown in one of the doors but a few kicks got him going. He is SO food obsessed. Poor starving horse. He was very good for the warm up and I took the jump down on the one side to poles so we could use the entire arena. It is a bit small for him but it is ridable and I am just glad to have somewhere to ride in the winter. Part way through the ride I decided to unclip my reins and put them around his neck. He was amazing. He did just about everything I asked but bridleless. Well he had a bridle on but no reins. I have played around with it a few times but never completely. But really I don't have to have to use my reins much anyways during his normal rides so it wasn't much of a step up. The only real problem was coming to a complete  halt but I think he just wanted to keep going. Downward transitions were great and he even did some lead changes for me. I love this horse. He has his moments but we have such a connection now.  My barn owner has told me a few times that she would love to ride him some time but is scared to because of some of the stuff he did when he first got here and he is a challenging horse to ride at times but "It is the difficult horses that have the most to give you". He was a VERY difficult baby especialy through his 4 year old year. He has dumped me more than just about every other horse combined but I can do just about anything with him now. I think this also applys to life in general where getting through the difficult times make you grow so much more as a person than if you just have it easy all the time.