Second Day Session

      Today I only did groundwork with Booger, about an hour of the Porcupine and Driving game without any saddlework because he still seems sore on his hooves. He is improving really well, he is not trying to run me over at the door into the arena, just responding well over all. Unfortunatley I allowed him to trip himself two time with the string that I still use to bring him into the barn, I felt really bad and figured things probably weren't going to go well today. After the session, Jill asked me if I could wait around to let him out after he ate, it seemed that he was taking forever and I felt really bad for pushing him and hurrying him out of the stall. Something told me he was wanting to spend some time with me, he even laid down a couple times in the paddock with me there but I was too worried that Cameron woudl wake up and wonder where his breakfast and wonder where I am. Cameron still doesn't know that I am leasing Booger and I hate lying to him but this is the only way I can know without a doubt that Booger is my dream horse, "A City Girl's Golden Dream" (the name I would use as his registration name). I am videotaping all our sessions so 1: I can watch our improvements and my mistakes, 2: and to show Cameron the relationship between me and Booger. I just hope Booger doesn't hold a grudge the next time I see him from today.

No Doubt in My MInd

     After this morning there is no doubt in my mind that Booger is my horse, this morning when I got there and after I had set everything up, I headed out to the pasture and as I passed the outside of the arena, Booger was already heading my way. He didn't even struggle when I put the string around his neck and walked him up to the gate. I then groomed him and made him real handsome, then we headed into the arena to do some online groundwork which went really well. I videotaped our session, this time when I asked him to move his forequarters, he didn't make any fuss. It was a little more difficult with his hindquarters this time but not too much really. The saddle work went well too, we didn't do too much cantering as he was still pretty sore from going barefoot since yesterday morning. We did a bit of trotting  and did the "all systems check" first, which he did really well too. I don't care how long or what happens, Booger is definitely mine and I will do whatever it takes to have him and build our relationship.
    Today we are going over to my sister Shauna's for Caleb's birthday party, he turned 3 today. Gosh I can't believe how fast he is growing up, I really hope he likes his gifts along with Skyler and her's. Tomorrow I am going to go work with Booger again, probably the same time as today. Then my organization ( Runners United for Furry Fosters) has a meeting at 6, we are having it at Hacienda so this should be fun.

My First Time Watching a Farrier Do His Thing

     This morning I went to the barn to watch the Farrier work, Booger only had shoes on his front but none on is back. The Farrier took the shoes off and filed down all his hooves. Apparently they were quite long which was probably why he was constantly stumbling, and the shoes were too small for him so hopefully going barefoot will help his confidence and balance.
     Tomorrow morning, I won't work him too much in the saddle since he will probably still be a bit sore, we'll do a lot of ground work for a while and then I will work with him on the trot and some circling and backing up. I will also be taking the camcorder so I can record our session so I can look over it and as a memory.

Working Things Over In Head

    In just the last few days and since last night, I have been thinking extremely hard on things; especially about Booger. I don't like the idea of stupid little kids riding him, I wish I could buy him now so that they can't ride him and screw him up and dull him down. And also knowing that a lot of his "get up and go" came from fear and insecurities makes me worried that he is just as slow and "lazy" as Sparky or Buzz, or at least will end up that way within a couple more months. It is definitely nagging at me, but maybe I should just stop worrying about it and go with my heart, as long as I work with Booger and train him and work on our relationship, nothing should matter or screw this up.
     I really hope business is doing really good in a couple of months, because after a couple of months on leasing him, I am going to start the leasing to own program so that by late winter he will be mine.

Booger and Me

     This morning I went to the barn before work, as soon as I had opened the gate to the pasture and started talking to Buzz, Booger looked up and started towards me (along with Lulu and Patrick) so I definitely think I am making some headway with him; or he just expects the treats now. This evening Jill and I worked on a couple of the Friendly Games with Booger, and I can not wait to work with him on them Saturday (or tomorrow morning, but most likely Saturday). We also worked a little with the Friendly Games in saddle, his brain was definitely working now. He was not as flighty and "ready to go" once we finished the ground work and I got in the saddle, I was a little disheartened because he wasn't as ready to canter as before which was probably because his cantering was out of fear and insecurities.
     Also, I am finally leasing him as of today so I can go out there any time and work with him, of course I must call it in just in case she might be using him during that time, which is also why I can not wait to actually own him (hopefully). She said to go ahead and lease him for a couple months just to make sure he is exactly what I want. My biggest fear is the other kids getting on him and wearing him down and dulling his senses up so that by the time I am ready to buy him, he won't have as much get up and go as he did when I met him. I really wish I could go ahead and just buy him now, so that I won't have to worry that someone else might be riding him on the day that I want to.

Booger is an Amazing Horse!

    I just can not get over how amazing Booger really is, at least at the moment he seems like a "Can Do Anything" horse. During canter with Buzz I like going counter-clockwise while clockwise isn't too comfortable with him. During canter with Sparky I am comfortable going clockwise while it isn't so comfortable going counter-clockwise on him. But with Booger, either way is comfortable it seems; on Saturday his canter was getting smoother and he was able to do it either way without a whole lot of issues or problems. I am focusing on learning the Parelli Part 1 program so that I can start doing groundwork with Booger, I am so excited and there is so much to do and so little time to do it. I really, truly hope that Booger becomes mine; but I am trying my hardest not to get my hopes up.

Today Started of Good

     This morning I went to visit Booger before I headed to work, I gave him a couple of treats and then walked with him and rubbed him down. I was only out there for maybe 15 or 20 minutes with him, but I had to get to work and I am hoping to come out there this evening to spend some time with him. Tomorrow I have a lesson at 6, but I have to get there at least 30 minutes before so that Jill and I can talk about the leasing and maybe leasing to own Booger. Then after the lesson I am going to try to groom and brush him down then take him for a walk on the halter and lead around the pasture so that he can start to feel a little different about what the halter means and that he knows I am not just there for the rides. Saturday I am going to try and get there around noon, brush him down (once I catch him), and depending on if there is anyone in the arena I might try to work with him on the friendly game. If there are others in the arena, then I will saddle him up and work him for an hour and a half, maybe 2 hours and then brush him down, rub his legs down and then walk him out in the pasture before letting him go.

      Went out and spent about an hour in the pasture with Booger (and the other horses), took a lot of photos and video of them. Got Booger to come to me, and then I found his happy spot (on his neck) and he really enjoyed the scratching. Then I rubbed and massaged his legs and tendons. Then as I walked away and headed to the arena to where I had placed my camera bag and Booger followed me!!!
     I have a lesson Wednesday, so I am curious as to how I am going to catch him, probably with a rope and I will go out there and give all other horses attention first then head to him. I really would like to carry the halter and lead out there while walking around taking photos and petting him and bonding with him.
     Tomorrow I am going to start working on the lathe machine, Cameron said so hopefully I will be able to leave the shop around 4:50 p.m because I will need to go pick Shauna up and head to the Y for our run. That is if she doesn't change her mind, but oh well I don't care. I love Booger and that is always going to make my day good even with bad days, unless Cameron tells me I can not have him or something bad happens to him..... that would suck!

Another Amazing Ride

Booger is such an amazing horse, he is definitely gaining confidence with trotting and cantering since yesterday's workout. It was a little frustrating at first trying to catch him with the harness, I guess his last owner was kind of a jerk and caused him to dislike a lot of things. And then it was hard to get him to actually stand near the steps so I could get up on him, he kept moving away and making it hard, but another rider helped me. He seems like an old time cowboy and really gentleman like (not my type, so Cameron has nothing to worry about) and really helped me and Booger work things out. I learned how to get up on Booger without using the steps so that was pretty exciting. I changed my mind on using my refund money to upgrade to a new camera, I am going to use it to help pay off my jeep. So I can get a little closer to being able to purchasing Booger, I hope it is Booger that I can purchase.

I am too excited for words!

     This morning my husband began to ask me more on Booger and about boarding, I am really excited that he actually has been thinking about this since our talk last night. I know that I have to finish paying off my jeep before I can even think about buying Booger, but at least things seem to be looking in that direction now. My husband is alright with the leasing part, unfortunately but that is the only way that I can guarantee that he won't be sold, she even talks of leasing to own so that sounds real good. I really hate that it is slightly going behind Cameron's back with leasing him, but I can at least see how well it goes for a month or so.
     I am kind of afraid that Cameron is already backing away from it now, in just a couple of hours his mindset is already going back but hopefully he won't be completely stubborn and unwilling to talk about it.

My Dream Horse and Nothing I can Do

Booger is my dream horse, no other way to say it. I met him on Wednesday night, and from the very moment brushing and petting him, I knew he was perfect for me. Our first ride wasn't exactly great and as well as I wanted but today's ride with him (just me and Booger, no lessons) was great. Even with other people in the arena working with their horses, I didn't lose my confidence or nerve and we did great. He has so much get up and go, he is competitive in a good way with other horses, in a great way and wanted to keep up and even pass them (cantering or trotting). Near the end of our ride when I wanted to calm him down, he wasn't finished and ready for more, without even asking he would trot.  I don't even need a crop to work with him, it is just too perfect, he is everything I have ever wanted in a horse and so much more. Jill is willing to sell him for $1,000 but I know Cameron will not listen, he doesn't even listen now. When I try to talk to him about my lessons and riding, he doesn't care and isn't even interested, GOD I wish I could purchase Booger but I can not do it without Cameron's permission. I want to be around him and can not stop thinking about him, but I know deep down it is hopeless and that is what pisses me off, I am almost tempted to talk to Jill and see what kind of boarding pricing because we couldn't keep him here. I know it is stupid to think about it, and dream or hope for it but until Booger I was perfectly realistic in waiting 3 to 5 years to start looking for a horse..... and now since being around Booger and working with him, I don't think I can wait that long.

Today's Riding Lesson was Great!

    Today I was so happy I did not decide to cancel my riding lesson, I rode Booger who is a new horse that they just purchased. He is a buckskin Quarter Horse who has had a bit of a rough last couple of years. His last owners were a little rough on the bit and reining him, so I was a little concerned with how he would respond to me. Amazingly things went great, I didn't need the crop for maybe 85% of the lesson, and I hardly held on the horn during canter. I am so excited, but also a little let down because he is for sale and I don't have the cash for him. He tried to groom me and as crazy as it might sound I already feel a strong bond with him, I am so excited that I am probably going to ride him Friday for a couple hours, just me and him. I really wish I had the money and place for him, but maybe she won't sell him anytime soon and just maybe something good will happen.

Today Really Sucks

The Newburgh Rivertown Trail 5k was today, but not so much due to the weather but more due to the fact that I want my husband to be at my races so bad that I will let him make me be late to my race.  We live about a 10 minute drive from Newburgh, and we left about 10 or 15 minutes before 9 (the race). Parking was like 3 or 4 blocks away, so as it was 5 minutes til 9 and we were still about 5 or 9 minutes way and so I reluctantly decided to not do it because I am sick of getting there late and feeling rushed along with my nervous feelings as well. But I won't so badly for him to come to my races, but he is a pro when it comes to procrastination even with his own things to do, and it so aggravating because I like to be on time and even early to things. After races, I decide that I won't take him along or wait for him but then the next race comes along and I know that if I don't wake him up and bring him along, he won't get there until after the start or even show up to my race. This sucks, I guess I will have to make up the run tomorrow morning.

Can't Think of a Title

    Life can be extremely frustrating, and then not a minute later it can be going real well. Sometimes I just want to scream, I think I really need my punching bag back up, I need to beat on it! And tomorrow I do not know whether I am going to run in the morning when it is around 40 something degrees or go running in the afternoon around 5 when it is 65 degrees.