Turning A Giant Horse Into A Cow Pony





     My birthday had just passed and my friend Erin, as a gift, offered me a riding lesson at her ranch to practice penning calves.  She had organized a jackpot ranch sorting event that was coming up in a few weeks and I thought it might be fun for Autumn and I to try out (if you are local and want to enter it's going to be Sunday April 14, 2013 at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds, sign up at 9am.  You can email me for more information at jacksonhillhorseygirl@aol.com). 

     I didn't think that the calves would bother Autumn too much.  I figured once she realized that she could boss them around like the chickens, dogs and horses on the ranch she'd be in heaven.  Cindy and I got to Erin's, saddled up the horses and went over to the pen where the calves where huddled together at the far end.  Erin had us enter the pen with me leading Autumn from the ground.  She told me to walk Autumn towards the calves.  Autumn dragged me over to the calves and I thought piece of cake.  Then all of a sudden a calf slowly looked towards Autumn and that was it!  Autumn jumped out of her skin and wheeled around me.  We tried it a few more times and it happened again and again.  She was fine when she was driving them away but if they went a direction she wasn't telling them go she got the heck out of dodge. 

     Now, holding onto a 2,000 pound horse  hightailing it past you on a leather rein, you begin to feel that you have a really good chance of becoming an unintentional speed bump. Erin quickly changed the game plan and decided we were going to let Autumn get over her fear of the calves on her own free of speed bumps but with our guided encouragement. 

    I unsaddled Autumn and let her loose.  Erin asked her to move toward the cows.  At first, Autumn protested being asked to move anywhere.  Autumn would dart from one end of the arena to the other with Erin guiding from behind. 

Erin probably wishing she got me a pair of socks for my birthday instead of  a self inflicted Sunday morning workout.

      Autumn quickly learned that it was a lot less work not running herself around the arena.  She began to figure out that she could take a breather and get a good pet by Erin if she stood closer and closer to the calves.  In giant horse baby steps Autumn began to slowly stomp out her fears and mosey on towards finding her confidence.

 

 

 

And her comes the break through.  Autumn's got her game face on.

Autumn moving those little doggies along.

    What this last photo didn't catch was Autumn giving one of her signature snapping turtle nips towards the calves before doing a Fabio toss of her mane and throwing a big buck as she took off in an exalted canter past the calves.  She was pretty proud of herself and having a fun time to boot.  We ended the lesson right there.  We decided to hold off on the ranch sorting event until we had some more lessons with Erin.  Even though my daydream of riding the county's biggest cow pony in the competition had to be put on hold, I still had a great time.  Erin taught me a lot that day and I'm excited to learn a lot more.  I forgot how fun it is to learn something new and I think Autumn felt the same way. too. 

2013 HERO Ride for Life

  Autumn and I are participating in  The HERO Ride For Life horseback fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  The ride takes place on Saturday, May 4^th at the Ferndale Fairgrounds.  The goal of the HERO Ride For Life is to raise money that will aid in finding a cure for cancer and to help fund support services for those afflicted with cancer.  Autumn and I would like to ask for your help of meeting our goal of raising $1,000 for this great cause.  For everyone that makes a donation, in any amount (even if it’s only a dollar), we will proudly carry, in honor, the name(s) of those that you love that are surviving or have had cancer (yourself included) or someone that you have lost to cancer. 
Please mail in your tax deductible donation by May 1^st.  Please make your check payable to the American Cancer Society.  Be sure to include the name(s) of those that you would like Autumn & I to dedicate our ride to.  Please send your donation in as soon as you can so we will have it in time for the ride. 
Thanks for helping us support a great cause!
Margaret & Autumn
Margaret Hague
P.O. Box 1356
Blue Lake, CA 95525

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Copyright (c) 2013 Jacksonhillhorseygirl.com  April 10, 2013