Monday, July 28, 2008

Mr. Chip Star

For the past week I have been keeping myself busy. My Nanny was able to come over everyday, so I took advantage of that. She would come over and I would leave to go and see Mr. Chip Star. He is an AQHA gelding. He is pretty neat. He is a son of Zip Chocolate Chip. He is bred out the wah-zoo, but some how he missed the boat on some things. You see, Chip, has a really bad club foot and he is really downhill. But he is a fun little horse to ride. He hasn't been really worked with for five months, and the two years before that he was only ridden a couple times a month. It was really fun riding him and finding out some of his buttons.
I found out that Chip does not like to stand on the rubber mats. I am not sure why. I can move him over so he is standing on them and he will stay there for a moment but if I walk away he moves right back over to the side. He is a funny guy. He also only wears one bell boot because his club foot is under construction.
Then we are off. Chip has the most wonderful jog. You can droop your reins from here to Texas and he wouldn't change a thing. I could jog on him all day long. You can even get him to long trot with the greatest of ease.
Such a fun boy. But then there is his lope. He falls apart at the lope. If I would keep my reins all droopy, Chip would take off at lightning speeds. Okay not exactly lightning speeds, but faster than a pleasure horse should go.
So, in order to get him framed up I have to collect him a tad. He needs to learn to use his rear end a bit more, then I think he would be able to slow down a bit and stay collected better.
Here he finally is using his rear end. I think some good old work in a snaffle bit would do him some good. We are going to work on that this week. All this should be a refresher coarse for Chip. He was at a professional trainer for six months. I have been trying hard to figure out all his buttons.
I rode with two of my friends. We also had a paint stud named "Blue" out for a ride. This stud has no idea he is a stallion. Blue can't hear either. That horse is pure lazy. The girl riding him there was trying to get him to lope off and was cuing him and kissing. We all laughed because he can't hear her kissing to him. So, I told her to let me pass by at a lope and maybe he would think he should lope off too. I know bad habit to start, but the poor girl just couldn't get the lazy boy to go. She eventually got him to lope off. There is something special about Blue. He is very willing and laid back. The girl who normally rides him wants to show him in APHA horse shows. She is going to be showing Open. That is with all the pros. I think Blue can do that, but the only problem is that Blue is trained to go around the pen like an Arabian western pleasure horse. He looks cute, but that won't cut it in APHA shows. I rode him for a little bit and tried to see if I could get him to relax his neck down. That was about as relaxed as I could get it. But Blue tried. He is such a good boy. I am really hoping to be able to ride a bit this week too. I think it's funny that I drive 25 minutes to go and ride a horse when I have a ton of them in my backyard. It is nice to be able to ride with friends.

8 comments:

TjandMark/AKA PearlandHawkeye said...

Ahh, the funny things we do. But friends are really important and sometimes just getting away from ones space helps in gaining a clearer vision for when we return. Enjoy. Tj

Mrs. Mom said...

LOL I'd be envious of your Nanny, but if I had one, I would not know what to do with myself! ;)

Ride for me! And Have A BLAST!

kdwhorses said...

You go girl! Sounds like you had a blast! I know it is alot of fun to ride with your friends!!!

I do not know a WP trainer personally, but have a good friend that has used one in the area. I will get with her and get you a name!!

BTW-we are having a Extreme Race at our church on August 23rd and then our Women's Ranch Rodeo is September 28. I will be competing in both of those events!

A nanny! Man, how nice!

Amanda said...

Neigh. That paint is a pretty horse. I love that you'll go ride other people's horses but send your own to a trainer. You're silly.

Karen said...

Girl, one of these summers I'll get on my horse and make it work like yours does. I have no idea why I chose to garden this year instead.

Chip is a good looking guy despite missing the gene jackpot.

Pony Girl said...

Pretty horses! I like that Zip. I could tell his jog was so smooth! You looked great on both horses!

The Wades said...

You sure sound like a pro! Reading all the things your try and get the horses to do, I realize what a lost cause I am!! I had no idea these were options or methods. I guess I'll stick to taking pictures of people on the horses.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

I'm wondering the same thing....why send your horses to trainers. It sounds like you are very talented and know just what to do.
Is it just because you don't have enough time?

You looked good on both horses. That Blue is handsome. Why is his name Blue?