July has gone by fast and I can’t believe we have just one more month left in our program. The fillies have both grown so much over the past year and I know we have a lot of good times ahead of us.
I was so happy to learn that my in-hand trail class at my 4-H horse show during the county fair would meet the show requirements for this project. My in-hand trail class included trotting over logs, opening a mailbox, left pivot, backing through a L, and walking over a bridge. Before the county fair, I took the fillies to the fairgrounds several times to get used to other surroundings and to lunge in the round pen. I also sat up obstacles in our arena at home. The fillies handled the show day very well, both received blue ribbons.
One of my goals for July was to work with the fillies so they stood during baths and when being sprayed with fly spray. Every day that I was home I would spray them with fly spray a couple of times a day. I would start with their front legs and move up and then back and down to their back legs. It took just a few regular lessons and they were standing still every time I would spray them.
I used the same strategy for bathing them. I would turn the water on very slowly and start with their front legs. Then I would move up. If they spooked I would go back to the spot I was getting wet. They were soon relaxing and standing for baths. It might have helped some that it was so hot we were working under the shade tree and they could both eat during their baths while my mom held them.
I was in West Virginia for sixteen day for the National Scout Jamboree, I left the day after I showed the fillies at the fair. While I was gone my parents took care of the fillies for me. When I came home they were both noticeably taller. I’m always surprised by how much they can grow in a short time. The area where Faith had the cyst removed also continued to heal and you can barely see where the incision was made and the swelling is all gone.
I only had a few days to work with the fillies after getting home from West Virginia. I tied them up daily to brush them and spray them with fly spray. I also would place a saddle pad on their backs.
In July I met two of my three goals. I did not update my blog and will do that during some of our down time in the hotel while we are on vacation. We are at the ranch in Kansas and will be going to Oklahoma City to watch some of the Youth World Show and then out to Colorado to see my grandparents. While in Colorado I may get to meet last year’s AQHA High Point Open Ranch Horse, Lavish Love, and to meet with her trainer. I really miss working with the fillies when we are gone but I know that they are doing just fine. They are both so smart that when I do get back to working with them they pick right up where we left off.
My goals for August are:
1. Complete the project workbook
2. Meet with AQHA Professional Horseman Paul Adix
3. Continue to track expenses relating to Faith sand Dakota
4. Work with the fillies each day that I am home, even if it’s just grooming and basic leading skills
5. Develop a binder with all of my project materials to wrap up the program and submit it for judging
I was so happy to learn that my in-hand trail class at my 4-H horse show during the county fair would meet the show requirements for this project. My in-hand trail class included trotting over logs, opening a mailbox, left pivot, backing through a L, and walking over a bridge. Before the county fair, I took the fillies to the fairgrounds several times to get used to other surroundings and to lunge in the round pen. I also sat up obstacles in our arena at home. The fillies handled the show day very well, both received blue ribbons.
One of my goals for July was to work with the fillies so they stood during baths and when being sprayed with fly spray. Every day that I was home I would spray them with fly spray a couple of times a day. I would start with their front legs and move up and then back and down to their back legs. It took just a few regular lessons and they were standing still every time I would spray them.
I used the same strategy for bathing them. I would turn the water on very slowly and start with their front legs. Then I would move up. If they spooked I would go back to the spot I was getting wet. They were soon relaxing and standing for baths. It might have helped some that it was so hot we were working under the shade tree and they could both eat during their baths while my mom held them.
I was in West Virginia for sixteen day for the National Scout Jamboree, I left the day after I showed the fillies at the fair. While I was gone my parents took care of the fillies for me. When I came home they were both noticeably taller. I’m always surprised by how much they can grow in a short time. The area where Faith had the cyst removed also continued to heal and you can barely see where the incision was made and the swelling is all gone.
I only had a few days to work with the fillies after getting home from West Virginia. I tied them up daily to brush them and spray them with fly spray. I also would place a saddle pad on their backs.
In July I met two of my three goals. I did not update my blog and will do that during some of our down time in the hotel while we are on vacation. We are at the ranch in Kansas and will be going to Oklahoma City to watch some of the Youth World Show and then out to Colorado to see my grandparents. While in Colorado I may get to meet last year’s AQHA High Point Open Ranch Horse, Lavish Love, and to meet with her trainer. I really miss working with the fillies when we are gone but I know that they are doing just fine. They are both so smart that when I do get back to working with them they pick right up where we left off.
My goals for August are:
1. Complete the project workbook
2. Meet with AQHA Professional Horseman Paul Adix
3. Continue to track expenses relating to Faith sand Dakota
4. Work with the fillies each day that I am home, even if it’s just grooming and basic leading skills
5. Develop a binder with all of my project materials to wrap up the program and submit it for judging