The Boys At Play

After two very chilly, snowy, and windy days we finally got a beautiful sunny day for the horses to go outside. It would be safe to say that I think Ollie and Sherman were happy to get out, as they started running around like maniacs before I even opened the gate! Here are a few pictures.....

Who is a Spanish Stallion? ;P

THAT MANE!

Who do you think was more photogenic? Give me your answers in the comments below!!

~Alyssa

Riding Ollie...After 1 Month Off

Hello everyone!

I rode Ollie today. The weather here has just been horrible, and snow has not left the ground for over a month now. We have another snowstorm coming into tonight. So, I decided to use one of the nicest days we have had this month to ride my little boy.

It was almost as if he never had one month off.


Perfect. He was honestly perfect. Collection is coming along very, very nice. Picked up the right leads, stopped as soon as I sat back in the saddle, and if I sat back more he would backup without pressure for the reins or clucking. Tap lightly with my spurs and he would collect, rounding his back. He would canter off from the walk, with only at maximum two walk steps in between gait changes from the walk to the canter. A good attitude and very willing. His bends were perfect and his lateral flexion was on point. Disengaging hindquarters, spinning, neck reining.....just fantastic.

Ollie is a hard worker who loves to work. It was almost as if he was saying "YAY!!!! I WAS SO BORED!! Ride me, ride me!!"

I have always said it, but I am going to say it again. I am so blessed to have this horse.

~Alyssa

*I have no riding photos so here are some of the liberty pictures I took today. Ignore the halter...I wasn't paying attention to it and forgot to tuck it in*

Bath Time/Liberty Pictures

Nose picture. All his freckles are so cute!

Hello everyone!

Be prepared to get swallowed in pictures. I took over 200 today!

Billie and Ollie (and Sherman, but I didn't get to him today) needed baths, so after school I went outside and did just that. The pain of having a white horse is that when they are dirty you really notice it. But you also realize how clean they are afterward.

I started with Billie.

The boys watched.....

..and while Billie dried I washed Ollie.

Random face pic. 

Dirty shampoo sitting for 5 minutes. 

The difference between a clean and dirty horse. 

As Ollie dried (slowly) I groomed a now very clean Billie and put her sheet on. 

Waiting to go out to pasture. 

After Ollie dried, I took a few liberty shots. This boy is so pretty when he is clean and when he has has no green manure stains!

Headshot

Headshot #2

Then Billie went out...

...she is still going in the 1 1/4 acre front pasture by herself because we want to be better safe than sorry with her being older and Ollie rough housing with her. Hopefully soon she will be put out to pasture with the boys. 

Sherman watched her from his pen......and as soon as the two boys were let out...

..zoom they went! 

The boys stay in the second pasture but in one section they can see Billie, so now Sherman always rushes to that spot. A true herd leader. :)

~Alyssa