I Did It!

I am proud of myself again, this has happened twice in one week! What are the chances of that happening? One night last week, I started thinking, and yes, once I start thinking, who knows what will happen! What do we have here? A saddle on Fritzy? Could it be? Could I possibly be riding Fritzy? Oh yeah, back to the "I was thinking I should ride Fritzy" part, Yes! I did it! I rode Fritzy!



I started thinking that it was time for me to cowgirl up and take Fritzy for a spin. I haven't ridden Fritzy in almost 2 years, I think. It's been so long, I can't even remember how long it's been! So I brought her out, saddled her up, which can be an issue, one of our biggest problems is saddling Fritzy. She will not hold still! She anticipate's the saddle pad as soon as she see's it, same with the saddle. I have been working with her on the saddling issue when we are at the trail head. She had been doing very well there, so I was pleasantly surprised that she stood STILL for saddling at home! Good girl Fritz! I take her to the arena. I longe her out first. Than I get on! For those of you that don't know, I have serious confidence issues with Fritzy, if you'd like to read the story, please go here. I have ridden Fritzy numerous times since the accident the year it happened, but I have spent most of my time riding/training Brandy in the last 2 years. I think I have used my fear/confidence as an excuse to not ride Fritzy, and since I had set a goal for myself, which is riding Fritzy this summer, I felt I just needed to get out and ride her. And ride I did! Of course before I got on I started thinking I should wait for my OH to get home from work. I was alone. But I decided not to let that stop me. Yes Mom, I wore my helmet!

How often do you see me behind a black neck? I was liking it! It had been so long since I last rode her, that I forgot how long her neck is and how big her ears are! I could tell that Fritzy really needed a tune up. She has only been trail ridden in the last couple years. She seems to have lost the arena "mentality" that she was trained for. She minded well, but she didn't respond to my leg at all. She also didn't remember that slow western pleasure jog that she had learned so well. So I worked on getting her memory back. It didn't take long for her to remember that slow is good. After about 20 minutes of some refreshers, I worked on sidepassing. She barely would sidepass to the right, but when I went to sidepass to the left, brick wall! This started to remind me of our groundwork lessons! But we worked through it, and I got her to respond to my leg and sidepass to the left! Obviously I need to spend more time on Fritzy's back. I know my OH doesn't use leg on her, not in the way you are supposed to. But we did buy Fritzy to be a trail horse for my OH. I just need to get some more rides on her in the arena more often.



Here is more proof that I rode Fritzy, that would be my hand in the picture!!



Here is my chunky girl all saddled up after our ride. She got quite the work out. Fritz, you need to go on a diet, I think!



Here is sleepy Fritz. I think she was done for the day.



I had to hose her down when we were done. Than I let her eat some grass for awhile. The flysheet is to keep her semi-clean. FLY UPDATE- Since we started using fly predators, we haven't had flies. In the last couple weeks, we have had some flies, but they aren't as bad as they usually are. I still have not had to put the horse's flymasks on, which is not normal. So I would have to say that the fly predators are working. We might have some flies, but it is WAY better!! I am still a believer in fly predators. I will keep updating as the season goes on.



Here is Sadie, the Painted Creek Supervisor. I think I need one, since I am now retired. I am used to having someone telling me what to do, and a crazy Aussie can get the job done!



The next day my sister was coming up so we could go trail riding. I had made up my mind. I was taking Fritzy on the trails. I hadn't done this in over 2 1/2 yrs. I wasn't even nervous. My sis arrived at my house and we went to get the horses. While my sister was switching halters out on her boy he pulled out of his halter and took off. It took awhile for her to catch him. My sister's boy is a hard to catch horse at times. What I have heard about him from previous owners is he was terrible to catch. Thankfully my sister has only had a few issues catching him. And today was the day. Also this was the day my friend called about the horse that was given to them, and wanted us to go pick that horse up. So we were going to be running out of time. Once my sister caught her boy, we decided we'd just ride through the neighborhood. I have never ridden Fritzy through the neighborhood before. But my trainer has ridden her twice and my sister once through it. So I probably was a little nervous. Fritzy was really looking at stuff, there is so much to see, boulders, mailboxes, brick driveways, vehicles etc. But she actually settled in nicely and so did I!



As we were rounding the corners to home, Fritzy really picked up the pace. She knew she was going home. I stopped Fritzy so my sister could catch up, and Fritzy's impatience kicked in. She hates standing still. So I had to work that out with her.



I wasn't even nervous dealing with her impatience. I just made her do it.



Now she is standing still. Look! I am smiling!



I am very happy with myself. I rode Fritzy 2 days in a row. I have felt that my confidence was getting better by doing groundwork with her, and now that I have a couple rides on her, I am feeling much better. Hopefully I can get her out on the trails soon!