The last couple days have been fantastic weather wise. Upper 60's and just totally gorgeous. I was hoping to do more then work with Chance. I was going to ride Fritzy too, but it didn't quite work out. We took my OH's mom out to lunch for Mother's Day, then came home and went to get that little stinker of a Mustang out for some training. Since it has been so warm, those mud puddles are now dry. I couldn't work on mud puddle training. But I still walked her up and down the long run, working on a lot of walking and whoa's, and just listening to my commands and body language.
Chance is getting so good at lunging. So now I am working on voice commands and gaits. I was just letting her go around at her own pace until she understood the concept of lunging. Now I want her to actually walk, trot and canter when I want her too, not when she wants too.
Chance is shedding out nicely. She still has some long hair on her back, belly and butt. She is staying a nice, rich, chocolate color. Unfortunately for me, a color I don't know what to call it. I mean, I know my horse colors, but this one has me so confused. If there are any color experts out there, what color is she?
I guess I didn't need those muck boots today. I actually could have worn my cowboy boots for the first time at home since September.
I haven't worked with the towel since Chance was 6 months old. I brought it out and sacked her out with it. She remembered everything and just let me throw it all over her.
I layed across Chance's back. She has been getting used to me being up above her. When she is eating her grain, I will sit on the gait and hang out. I reach down and pet her, climb over the gate with her right there, she doesn't mind at all. I am hoping all that translates to saddle breaking.
I am a very proud Mustang owner!
I brought the spray bottle out for the first time. I just put water in it. I started spraying in the opposite direction as her, and she was so curious in what I was doing. Within minutes I was spraying her down with water. I sprayed her up and down, under her belly, all over her legs. She did so good.
Clipper training is not going so well. She isn't bothered by the clippers or the noise. My cordless clippers are really quiet. I can even rub them all over her when they are on. But once I start clipping hair or whiskers, she does not like that at all. She shakes her head and is so irritated. So I will keep plugging away at clipper training. She is so smart and picks up new things so fast, I really thought clippers weren't going to be an issue. But I guess everything can't go as smoothly as I would like.
I just need to be thankful for how easy going Chance is, and I am expecting so much from her. The reason I am expecting so much is because she is so smart and picks up training so easily, that I think she will be like that for every thing new that comes along. But I know that isn't always going to be the case, I just need to remember that.
After the training lesson, we turned out Brandy and Fritzy to graze and decided to take the crazy Aussie's for a walk through the neighborhood. When we got home, we took a nap then I made fried chicken and mashed potatos for dinner.
Injuries for the week:
Got kicked by my first horse ever. It was my fault. I am always so safety conscious but wasn't being very careful putting a blanket back on a horse. The horse is now in a paddock with a run in shed and one of the guys turned her and her roomate out into a larger paddock. He had taken their blankets off, so we needed to get them back into their paddock and get their blankets back on. She got me in the hand and waist. Just a couple cuts on my hand. Nothing serious.
Saturday evening we were bringing the goats back in from grazing. Edgar decided to stop by Chance's gate and she was eating her grain. He decided to stick his head through the gate and into her grain bucket. I couldn't get him out. My OH ran down to help and as I was holding the bucket, he went to grab Edgar's head, as he pulled his arms back, he elbowed me right above my right eye. It hurt so bad. Now I have a small bruise, but make up covers it up so it isn't that noticable. I told my OH that it's enough that I get beat up by 1100 lb horses everyday, but to be beat up by a 215 lb human is unacceptable. I don't think he found that very humorous. Although he did say I was not having a very good week, when it comes to being hurt. Really? I have never been so accident prone in my life!
36 comments:
Chance is really starting to look gorgeous! I don't know about her coloring…looks like a nice slate grey to me, which may mean she might grey out? Not too sure.
Take care of yourself, don't get too beat up this week!
Chance is looking fabulous! She is a most unusual color with her reddish mane and her chocolatey body. It's funny, because Yalla! is a strange color too. She still has a dorsal stripe and her head is dark but her body is a dull brown. While her legs are mostly black, her mane and tail have a lot of brown mixed in. I would venture to call Yalla! almost a dun. She's not bay like I'm used to seeing. However, I don't think dun Arabians occur, do they? Yalla! has an extremely dark head but her body is lighter. She still has her winter 'wool' so it's anybody's guess what she sheds out to.
Neither Chance nor Yalla! have a light muzzle which would make a brown horse so I think both she and Yalla! have a base coat of black. Maybe Chance would be called a smokey black? I've seen a lot of "black" horses with lots of red in their coats.
This website has lots of information on mustang colors but still, it's just a guesstimate, isn't it?
http://www.mustangs4us.com/colors_and_color_patterns.htm
Val- She looks like she could be a liver chestnut. Our Morgan Sebastian was about her colour when he was born.
Chance is too cute. My pony doesn't like to be touched with the clippers either. The noise he doesn't care about but when the thing vibrates and touches him he freaks! I ended up doing clicker training with him. Every time he touched the clippers he got a treat. Hes doing a lot better.
Chance is such a cutie patootie! She does have an interesting color maybe a liver chestnut, but without the flaxen mane and tail that I've seen with that coloring on some Morgans I've had. Either way, she's beautiful!!
I'm sorry you had those injuries - KICKS = (OUCH)+ 75430 x OUCH
Ouch. Chance is coming along nicely. The other day I sprayed Gabbrielle with a hose, but not to bathe or desensitize her. I was chasing her off because she was stealing Bombay's lunch. She just looked at me, sighed, and strolled behind the barn where I couldn't spray her, but she got the idea and left his food alone.
Word Verification = horsela
Chance looks wonderful! And she is coming along so well. As for your injuries,well Ouch hope you catch a break. I often have bumps and bruises from here and there. The is a reason my name is not Grace I guess
Chance looks really really good on the lunge line. I like the way she holds her head when she is moving out.
If she has a dorsal stripe she may be called a grullo. She is not a dun - a dun is cream-colored.
Wow! She has shed out to be quite a looker! Good form on the lunge line, too. Laughing at the clipper pic - you can almost see her snort - she is very intent on checking it out.
Are you sure your clipper blades are nice and sharp? If they are dull at all they could actually pull the whiskers before cutting, which would not feel very nice to Miss Chance.
I think someone hit the nail on the head with the idea of chance being a Smokey Black. I think she is either that or a smutty version of grulla. Isn't her momma a grulla?
Lulu~ I believe my clipper blades are sharp. I just bought them recently and have only used them for a couple bridle paths and whiskers.
Yes, her mom is a grulla. I have been thinking all along she is a darker grulla, but am not very familiar with the grulla coloring. I know there are different coloring versions of grulla. Either way, I love her color!
Chance is matureing very nicely, I love that first pic of her.
In some of your pics it looks like she may have a dorsal stripe? If she does she is probably a really dark Grulla, Emmas dam is that color. If she doesnt have a dorsal stripe she is a liver chestnut, one of my favorit colors!
Reddunappy~ Chance does have a dorsal stripe right now. I have never had a horse with a dorsal stripe, so if she has one now, I am assuming when she sheds out completely, it will still be there?
Wow Chance is maturing into a beauty!
Sorry you got the elbow....ouch!!!
Take care and yep you have a permanent dorsal stripe! That means one tough horse!
She looks seal brown to me :)
Love the picture of her on the lunge line. She looks like a pro! Glad you had a great weekend. Please be careful! HUGS!
Love the third picture with her mane !
Hmmm... hard to tell from the pics, and I'm no expert, but I'd guess that little Miss Chance is a smokey black.
The clippers may be causing a bit of a tickling/pulling sensation when you use them. Are the blades sharp? Are they clean and well lubricated?
Your little Mustang sure is growing up into a lovely filly. And tell OH good jobs on the pics, his photo taking has definely improved! :)
I know how you feel about teaching your hubby to take pictures. I'm teaching mine too, but he's less inclined to practice I think.
Chance looks great and the pictures are great too! I would probably classify her color as faded black or dark bay. It's not always accurate in pictures though.
With the clippers is there any way you can clip some hair near her that doesn't actually belong to her? Or something resembling hair that will make the same sound? Maybe give your hubby a buzz cut near her? :) Might help if she gets used to the noise before you actually clip her own hair. I don't know for sure. Just a suggestion.
Sorry you were hurt again. Hope you heal up quick and have no more mishaps.
When I gave my suggestion on her color I didn't know she had a dorsal stripe. Since she does I agree with the others that she's probably grulla.
Chance is really looking nice! You are doing such a great job working with her. I've been intending to do clipper training with my two for about 7 years! Can you say "procrastination"?
Chance will probably end up being a 'soft black', like Megan's new horse-Spooks. I think now they call it Smokey Black.
Spook's mother was also grulla-one of those unmistakeable grulla's like Chance's mother. When Spooks was a baby, we were pretty sure he was going to be a grullo as well. He shed out brown the first year, so that ended up being his registered color, although I told both my mom and brother he was technically not 'brown' because he did not have the traditional faded flank or muley muzzle. He's definitely black now, but it took a couple of years for his dorsal stripe and all of the shades of red in his mane and tail to disappear.
Oh, and I do believe that all of the things you are doing translate very well into the first saddling and riding experiences. I slid off of the fence onto Shooter's bare back the other day and all he did was turn around and look at me. He is going to be so easy to start under saddle. I wished the older two I need to start were 1/2 as gentle as he is. Oh wait, if they were, I'd be riding them already-LOL
Looks and sounds like seal brown to me!
She's getting so big-and so pretty!
Wow, what a gorgeous looking Mustang, I love her color and it looks like you already have a good thing going! Saw your blog while randomly researching, we here at Parelli in Pagosa Springs, have been ask to work with a mustang in the near future to help promote their cause and set up horse and human for Success.
Totally impressed with what you have achieved - love your music choice too!
Susan
Hmm, you say the blades are almost new. Did you clean them before using them? They come with a protective coating that makes them effectively dull. It should be removed with blade wash before using the blades. (I service clippers and sharpen blades as part of my tack business.)
Hope your ouchy kick is better. I just want to weigh in on the color thing by saying that whatever color Chance is, is sooooo adorable! I love the dorsal stripe and her brown is deep and chocolate -y. She is just lovely!
You OH is going to be out-doing me on the photos soon! :)
Glad you had a sunny day to work with the baby.
NO more injuries!!
Susan~ Thanks for stopping by and for the sweet comment!
Anonymous~ Yes, the blades have been cleaned and lubed with Kool Lube/wash. I always clean them. I just used them on my Paint tonight, and they are nice and sharp!! I just don't think Chance likes the sound of the whiskers and bridle path being cut. I will keep plugging away at clipper training!
WOWZER I am sure glad you weren't injured in that kick!! Chance's progress is so amazing! She is a super smart lil girl! Well not so little anymore, she is huge!
On her coloring, my experience with black horses is they typically go through a phase through their yearling and sometimes 2 yr old years that their color can have a red to it or be smokey like that of a Grulla. Of course if her mama is a Grulla it would definitely be possible, but it looks to me that her points are all black ie head, legs.. I had a filly (4 this yr) and her first 2 summers when she shed out she literally had an orange swirl through her coat LOL!! She is unmistakably black now. Also the red in her mane and tail is most likely just sun bleached! I hate the waiting game for colors LOL!! Stone's color is still driving me crazy! As much as I know about blacks I have a hard time with him because his mane is a grulla color! But I am 99% certain he will turn full black!
Chance looks great! You're making nice progress with her. I remember being with Piper at that stage and now she has come so far. Soon you'll be there, but enjoy the journey with your little Mustang.
I love reading your blog because you always have not one exciting thing going on but usually two or three! I am sorry that your OH accidenatlly pummeled you and that you got kicked! But I gotta say, in your pictures you look stronger than ever! You are so fit, you can handle anything! I liked to see the pictures of you next to Chance because in those pictures I can gauge her size so well. I see she is still just a little baby really! When will you start to saddle her do you think? Will it be a few more years? I have never broken a pony before. So I don't know. I will be learning from you! I will also be curious to hear what her color really is. Until you find out, I will call her chocolate. Because I do love chocolate.
Hey there....just stopping in! I'll have to say that I thought Chance looked like a Grulla from the start? She's really pretty, like the first photo best! She's filling out nice! So sorry about your injuries....please stop saying you're accident prone...you are NOT! Our words are very important as to what we really believe about ourselves! You are a competent, awesome horse trainer. Have fun with Chance, she's so cute!
Woo HOO sounds like she is a really dark Gulla! Emmas dam is that color dark dorsal stripe and some faint barrs on her withers! I will post a pic of her on my blog for you to see.
I like the term 'chocolate', too. She has such a rich color and is just gorgeous. I love the last photo of you leaning over her back. The two of you together is so sweet!
I'm glad you weren't seriously injured. You're so very lucky.
Take care,
~Lisa
She does look like she could be dark grulla (which would be dun gene on black) or smokey black (creme gene on black - she would have needed to have a palomino or buckskin father for that). You could find out for sure by sending a few mane hairs in to UC Davis or Animal Genetics, FL. Both do testing for the dun and creme gene I did this to find out what color my quarter horse was because she's the weirdest dark color.
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