Spring.....?

I am getting tired of all of the snow. For the past few weeks Colorado has been gracious to us, and we have had some really nice days. However, the snow came back yesterday, and we now have over 1ft of fresh powder.

Of course, this means that I cannot ride Ollie, or any of our horses, until it clears up again. Spring, I thought you were going to bring warmer weather! :(

Even though it still seems like Winter, the horses are acting like it is Spring. Ollie is particularly being a pest. Poor Sherman.

Sherman: "Don't touch my blanket!!"

Ollie: *trips*

Ollie: *comes over to apologize* 

Ollie: "Haha!! JK!"

Hair goals. 

Sherman: "Get away from me."

Ollie: "In your dreams!" 

Ollie: *notices Sherman's cocked leg*

He is so photogenic

Billie: "Stupid boys."

 ~Alyssa

Reflections

Today I woke up and decided to make a "Ollie Calendar." Going through pictures from early last year to the present made me realize how much Ollie and I have changed. From our bond to my posture in the saddle, everything is different. I made collages of most of the changes and I thought y'all would want to see them.

Left: January 2015. Right: January 2016

My posture improves: Left to Right: April, June, October, December.

Collection at the trot! Left To Right: April, December

Starting Collection at the lope! Left to Right: April, November

Ollie's mane: Left To Right October 2014, December 2015

Ollie's Weight Gain: Left to Right: May, November

Look at how much his facial markings have changed! Left to Right: October 2014, October 2015

The changing herd: Left to Right: May (Half Pint, Ollie, Sherman, Tucker, Rosie) July (Cheyenne, Sherman, Ollie), September (Billie Jean, Sherman, Ollie).


Looking at all of these Reflections makes me very thankful and happy to see where Ollie was, and to where he is now. I am very blessed to have a horse like him, and I am excited to see what the future holds. :)

~Alyssa

Silent Sundays

Riding With Mrs. June

Hello everyone!

Today Ollie, Billie, my mom and I all were trailered (well, we rode in the truck...the horses were trailered) by Mrs. June to her house where she has a big track and 35 acres. We worked on lots of stuff, like flying lead changes, passing horses on the rail, the cloverleaf pattern, collection, bending....etc. I also saw Rusty again, who was the horse I learned the start of my Natural Horsemanship with. I thought y'all would probably enjoy some pictures, so here you go!

"Mommy wait! Let me pose for the camera! 1, 2, 3....tongue!!!"

Mom and Billie Jean

Ollie and I trotting. 

Trot race!! 

In sync. 

Canter Collection-after only his 2nd day doing this I think he did really well! 

Random Saddle picture

Ollie and Rusty

I have a few more exciting things to tell you, but they will have to wait!! :D STAY TUNED!

~Alyssa 

Ollie/Billie Riding Update

Hello everyone!

Today our horse trainer came over and gave my mom and I a lesson. Billie is perfect for my mom, and she loves her so much!! I am excited to see what the future holds for the two of  them. :)

Ollie is REALLY good at his ground tie. Never moves!

Talking about proper mounting. 

I got on Ollie, and we rode with my mom doing some basic stuff in the round pen. 

Starting a bend. 

Then my mom got out of the round pen, and I worked on some collection. 

Not collected

Collected

When I bought Ollie he was unfinished, and knew no collection. Over the past few weeks I have been working on it with him, and being the smart Appaloosa he is, has made great progress. I still have got some things to work on, but we are both improving! My seat is much better also, which makes me very happy!!!

I also got some random pictures of Ollie today while I was waiting for my mom to tack up:

Tongue Pic #1

Tongue Pic #2

Tongue Pic #3

I will post tomorrow also. Stay tuned!!!

~Alyssa