Snip takes a trip

So we took a ride to AR... to the Walker Charlois Ranch in Springdale, AR...we were returning an Angus bull we leased to breed to our Gelvieh cows and decided to take a couple of colts to ride in the indoor arena.  Aaron met a client and rode her horse, and then another client horse.  I brought Snip along.  He stood in the old show cattle barn alley for several hours...still wearing his cozy blanket. 
  When it finally came to his turn, he was very excited.  The indoor arena was a first for him and the deep cutter footing can make things interesting for a young horse. I moved him around on the lead at first and then around the whole pen.  Chasing him around got me breathing hard and warmed me up...the footing is REALLY DEAP!!!  The new environment made Snip tense and it took him a while to relax out.  The kink in his tail was a good indicator that he wasn't all that certain about this new place. 
  After a while I felt comfortable and got on.  I rode around working on keeping him lively in his feet and soft in his neck and body.  He did well and we ended on a good note.   The sand was hard for him to work through and he will probably  be tired and sore today.  I will probably only scratch him and feed him goodies today. 
  He is really a smart and willing little horse.  I am thankful for the way God has fashioned him.  It is hard to know how a colt will be and Snip being the first colt for me to "start" in 3 years was going to be interesting. Its a real blessing to be able to do what I am  doing:)

Line Dancing!!

And, the explanation . . . ?Well, here it is me probably lost in the Swamp Thing or the Criss Cross or is it the Funkafied Blues....hmmmm.  My gymnast days sure hinder me in going with the flow.... I think my cousin expressed it well when he said "You look like a 2X4 trying to dance:)"... hahaha.  I really have a good time, and helps with the after baby chub:)

Gyp Olectric

Gyp Olectric, otherwise known as "Snip" is a coming two year old (two in april I think) that we raised.  He is by our stallion and out of a mare we had in training for several years back in Cali.  Snip was born at the Carona ranch in California, his mother had injured her leg severly and he was a dystocia early in the morning.  He was such a cute little baby.  We shipped him all the way out here from cali. 

   He is quiet the combination of his dam and sire.  He got Gyp's (his sire) beautiful legs and feet, but boy do his bug eyes and skinnny neck and head remind me of his mother.  He seems to have a great mind and really has done well with all the starting ground work, saddling, and initial riding.  God has made him a very quick learner and really fun to work with.  We are hoping to sell him at the end of february in a fancy shmancy horse sale in OKC... we will see what  God has in store for us:)

follow me as I attempt to train this horse and take our first "Diamond M" bred horse to the sale pen:)

Late night blanketing!

Well, the two year old that I started a few weeks ago.... only a handful of rides on him... recieved his new winter blanket in the mail yesterday.... Just in time too, The snow had just strarted to really come down and so I headed it out...... I fell that I have the upper hand on some rain rot he got in the fall rain, and so I am trying to prevent in further growth or developement of new fungus areas... best thing is to not let them get wet.  Anyway, the snow was lightly falling and with a little grain in a bucket he was more than willing to be messed with in the glow of the security light in the middle of the night. I was very thankful, the blanket fit him perfect...he now looks like a giant yellow marshmellow with little black stick-legs:)

Some Dish Art....and tiles

I have been trying my art on ceramics such as tiles mugs and plates.  I am hoping to sell a few, maybe a "home" business?  For now I have only given them as gifts and in November, I donated several sets of plates and mugs to the finals of the NEORRA (North Eastern Oklahoma Ranch Ropers Associations)...in which Aaron won some, hahahaha.  I also did a custom gift set for a friend and neighbor.  Plates, bowls, mugs, coasters and trivets.  Pretty fun....I have done mostly western (vaquero/californio), but I may venture into cabin type decor....we will see what God has in store for my "spare" time.

Had to start somewhere

Well we are back from a grain run....time for tacos and line dancing as we await the forecasted 1-3 inches of snow:). Winter in Oklahoma is a real treat!