| Subject: A Day At The Barn And Working All My Yearlings! |
Author:
Helen
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Date Posted: 10:38:53 10/14/02 Mon
“BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP” Helen rolled over and pressed the button on her alarm clock. Then she stood up and went to the closet. She put on a pair of chaps and an American eagle long sleeved T-shirt with an eagle on it and “American Pride” written beneath the picture. She tip toed down stairs and started the coffee when it was finished she had a quick cup while she scanned the news in the paper (which the dogs brought in through the doggie door). She then grabbed a banana and went to the door. She pulled on her boots and headed out to the barn. She walked out of their drive way and onto the GRF road, passing the welcome sign and Susan’s drive way. She breathed deep and the cold morning air made her feel full of vigor. She buttoned her light jacket (she didn’t need much she liked the cold) and walked into the barn. She picked up her lead rope and walked through the barn to the last stall on the left. She ran into Susan on her way into the barn and said “Morning I guess we’re both up early. You gonna help me take out the horses?”. “Sure” Susan replied and walked past to get HER lead rope. They chatted as they walked out to the pastures. After about 5 minutes Alli, Jess, Jon & Suzie showed up. “Well almost everybody is here” Susan said “where are Laura and Jacob I know that Eric and Mike are working on the fences at the west side of the property”. “Laura & Jacob went to get some stuff from town” Jon replied. Susan & Helen nodded and gestured and the lead ropes. Everybody grabbed one and in 20 minutes all the horses were out.
Jacob & Laura showed up with some more supplements, several new halters(Temptress, Travis, Kent & Chance had lost their halters in the last few days and it was also convenient to have some spares), a new set of feed buckets for the new horses and a few other useful oddments. After the stalls were mucked and the other chores done. People dispersed to do different things.
*CAT BURGLER* 
Helen went into the tack room and grabbed Cat’s tack. She set it up in the aisle and went out to the pasture where Cat, Belle, Zoe & Glacier were running about. With some time and the end of a carrot she caught Cat and led her back to the barn. The spirited filly pranced lightly as Helen tacked her up. She flung her head and took some cooing and gentle petting to get her to lower her proud head and take the bit. Helen strapped on her helmet and led her out to the arena, carrying a longe line. She clipped on the longe line and put cat through her paces in both directions until the feisty just turned 4y/o filly was calm and comfortable. Then she called to Alli as she passed “Can you hold her steady her while I get on?” “Sure” the willing teen replied and held Cat’s reins. The filly was used to being ridden and Helen and given her about 5 workouts off the longe line. So she was quite comfortable.
Helen walked her around the arena once each way and then nudged her gently, Cat sprang away in a VERY energetic trot. Helen slowed and collected her to a normal forward gait. Cat trotted perkily around the arena. Helen brought her back to a walk and walked her over one of the smaller jumping fields. There were several 12” crossrails that Cat had done before very well. Helen pushed her into a trot and Cat willingly obliged. She trotted easily towards the first of the crossrails. Helen urged her on to a little more energy and squeezed at the foot of the jump and Cat sprang over it! They ran the 6 rail course twice and Cat had no trouble. She was going to be an excellent hunter/jumper! Helen took her in and gave her a scrub with a warm damp towel, b/c it was to cold to give her a bath. Then she gave her an apple and put her out in the pasture.
*BELLE OF THE BALL* 
Helen put away Cat’s jumping tack and got out Belle’s Dressage stuff. Then she got her lead rope and went to bring in her TB/QH filly, Belle. She brought the gorgeous chestnut filly into the barn and began to groom her silky coat. The filly was calmer then Cat but more playful. She nickered and tossed her pretty head, while prancing about in a sort of 2 step. Helen settled the saddle pad and saddle on the filly’s broad back and tightened the girth. Then she bridled her quickly and headed out to the arena! Helen swung into the saddle and nudged the filly to move forward. Though Belle was younger then Cat she was more experienced and less flighty. Helen did a light warm-up and then brought Belle to a halt she sponged the reins lightly and applied slight leg for bend until the filly was soft and on the bit then Helen squeezed her into a trot. But Belle threw her head and lost the contact. So Helen brought her back to halt and softened her again. They continued to do this until Belle would move from halt to trot without loosing the contact or coming off the bit. When Belle had done this twice. Helen brought her to a leisurely walk and praised her for doing so well. Then Helen urged her back to trot 1 last time. Belle chomped the bit and followed Helen’s signals attentively. Helen sat her trot gently and slid her outside leg back, asking for canter. Belle had only cantered once or twice. So confused she sped up. Helen calmed her to collected trot and asked again. Getting the point Belle moved into a long striding canter. It was a bit helter skelter and uncontrolled, but Helen had expected so much. She brought her back to walk. Very satisfied!
She walked Belle back to the barn, untacked her and groomed her. Then she gave her a horse cookie and put her out.
*MAGIC TEMPTRESS* 
Helen led Temptress in from the paddock and groomed her quickly. Temptress only tried to bite her 3 times while she was picking her hooves and tried to amputate 1 of Helen’s hands as she was bridled. The filly was not very used to tack though she did everything wonderfully when she wasn’t trying to mutilate you. The Friesian filly was quick, clever & evil. Helen led her out to the arena and attached the longe line and put her on a circle in the middle of the ring. Helen clucked to Temptress to trot. The obstinate filly stood still as stone looking very sulky. Helen flicked the end of the longe whip at her heels she moved 1 step and stopped again. Helen Said in a stern voice “TROT” and taped her with the whip. Temptress burst into a canter and flew around the circle. Helen sorted it out, but it involved a lot of bucking, stampeding, etc. In the end Helen got her sorted out and put her through her paces. Then she was groomed and put away. WITH OUT A TREAT!
Helen went upstairs to the lounge/office and got her drink and lunch out of the fridge and sat down while she ate them. Susan walked in and got a drink and they chatted. Then Helen worked out some training schedules at her desk and got some show entries ready to be mailed. Then…..
*FINDING FAYANORE* 
Helen walked out to the pasture where Beauty & Carol & Joyous & Faya were romping. She clipped her lead rope onto the petite halter of the 6m/o filly and led her slowly back to the barn. Faya stood quietly looking around. Helen got the tack box she had gotten for the filly and let Faya smell the contents before getting out a soft brush and groomed the filly lightly. She stood and occasionally turned her head and sniffed at the brush. After Helen had groomed her. She led her out of the barn and to the open trailer. Suzie was waiting. “OK” Helen said ”you know the drill”. Suzie nodded and went and sat in the back of the trailer with a sugar cube in her hand. Helen unclipped the lead rope and let Faya stand in front of the trailer. Faya looked around at the trailer suspiciously and then ventured a few feet in. She continued and took the treat from Suzie while being petted and praised. She went in and out a few times then she was led back to the barn. Helen put her back out with her mother and went home to take a shower and relax for a little while!:-)
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