Cold, wet, and beautiful!

Today was an interesting day. It's the third day that I feel 'over the hump' with that wicked flu I had. I've been able to take Dakota for a walk yesterday and today we played a bit. I think I confused her a bit with trying to get her to move around the pen. But I think I figured out a way to be unconfusing in my messsages! We both continue to learn, me as much as her! Then we spent about a half hour in her run in waiting for the hay truck to arrive. She is soooo darned sweet. I stand with her and scratch her and she gets closer and closer. She is extremely affectionate with me at such times. We get more and more familiar with each other, and easy in the relationship.

This ground time with her, man, I can't even imagine not having this as a foundation. We are getting to know each other on rather profound levels. More than with any other horse I've ever had, trained, or ridden, save for perhaps my experience with Grey, the horse I rode on my vision quest. I could have had this kind of connection with him. Both Quarter Horses. I started with QHs when I started to get really serious with horses at 13 yrs., then it was all Thoroughbreds and Warmblood mixes. Now, I'm so grateful to be getting to know Quarter Horses again. They are smart as hell, solid-feeling, athletic. I don't really know how Dakota will turn out physically. I think she'll be a big, athletic girl like her dad. But I am getting to know her personality, and I love it and I LOVE her!! Okay, enough prattle. It was another good day with Dakota. I daydream (and night dream) about what she will be like when she's all grown up and what it will be like to ride her in the mountains. Until then, we get to know each other and play and take long walks...

Poor Dakota

She has been abandoned by her human mom, ME! I've had a really bad flu for almost two weeks and have hardly been able to see her. She definitely seems to miss me and the attention (and the grass) I give her. Today I'm starting to feel more like I'm getting well, so I hope to take her for a short walk and play with her a bit more than I've been able to. We had a nice rhythm going, training and walks in the morning, grooming, handling of feet, then just hanging out, eating grass, spending time together in the evenings. I hope I can get back to that. Harder too now that the weather is cooling rapidly. There is snow in the mountains around Ashland and it's been cold in the mornings and evenings. Dakota has her woolly winter coat, which is good.

Post rattlesnake...

After our rattler encounter, we decided to play it a little safer for a few days. So we hiked around a canal and turned off to find lush grass and this pond, where we stopped and played a bit. Mila had a great time splashing in the water and Dakota greatly appreciated the tall green grass. Still on the lookout for rattlers, though...







In this photo, you can see how 'downhill' Dakota is! She's on a slant which makes it look worse, but still... This is very typical of youngsters her age and, judging by the height and legginess of her hind end, she's going to be a big girl!! She already is, topping out at over 750 pounds! Of course some of that is due to that grass/hay belly of hers and a year of lounging around on pasture made up of the most excellent quality grass!

Rattlesnake excitement!!

We walk often in the foothills around Ashland for long periods of time. One day, my dog, Mila, stumbled over a snake. I turned to see it kind of jump and then turn and coil as it started to rattle! I said "Mila, COME!!" and, fortunately for us all, she did immediately. John was trailing behind and shot this photo, just as I turned to see the snake and Mila stopped to look at it. The next moment would have looked quite different than this as Mila, Dakota and I sped up the hill, away from the pissed-off snake!! A close call to be sure!! I'm presently researching all I can about rattlesnakes and rattlesnake bites!!

Where we walk

Some photos of the foothills and mountains around the stables and around Ashland where we walk:

Had a visit with a trainer

Her name is Della and she was so helpful!! I'm very psyched about connecting with the Parelli community in Ashland! Parelli, for those that don't know, is a method of natural horsemanship that teaches both human and horse how to build a cooperative relationship, a partnership really. It requires that the human partner learn to speak 'horse,' not verbally of course. What is interesting about speaking horse is that it is mostly body language that is involved! And connecting with the horse through the body, hers and mine. The training aids merely help us connect up in a way that the communication can happen. Such interesting stuff! I joined what is called the Savvy Club and there is a great local community in the area Della invited me to be part of. Can it get any better than this??

Dakota is definitely showing her age. I mean her young age! She can be pretty bratty at times, but she is also sweet and confident and very smart, which I love! The Parelli work really suits her and she is responding to it well.