Phew! Fantastic Rodeo!

Back from the rodeo. Wow what a weekend. A lot of fun, and quite tiresome.

Heres the long and the short of it:

Saturday performance went well with a few spacing issues, but overall not too bad. Milo performed his best in this one.

We also did two sponsor runs:

Video from Saturday performance:

Thunderbird Rodeo Saturday 2010

Sunday our performance overall was much better, however Milo did his worst in that one.

Sunday was our day to move the cows out of the arena in four events. Milo absolutely loved it. He was a spitball of energy!

Not the greatest of photos, they dont show off how well Milo actually did with the cows, but I do appreciate them anyways! Oh yeah, and my boyfriend's truck was the pick up truck for the barrels both nights. Here is Sunday:

I have more photos, but Im short of time. Maybe I will get a photobucket album of them and post them on there.

Rodeo Time!

Tonight we are hauling out to the Thunderbird Pro Rodeo! This is my third year, and Milo's second (technically third as well, but first year he wasnt used in the actual rodeo).

So, I will be gone ridin this weekend. Posts to follow after the rodeo next week!

Have a fun weekend!

Rides and muzzles

Its so funny how Milo knows the difference between rodeo/drill practices, and general riding.

For instance: last Sunday we had drill practice, with mostly lope throughs now that we only have three practices left until the rodeo. Its funny, at practices, Milo can ge heavy on the hands, throwing his head in the air, slow to respond on neck and leg aids, and flipping his nose away from the bit when asked to slow down. He just gets so excited. And than when we ride at home, he is perfectly listening, rounded, and content. Its not good. He knows at practices that I cant really make him do otherwise being one handed and holding onto a flag, and needing to keep/set pace with everone else. I cant just stop him and school him in the middle of a "run through". Its been a bit nerving.

But on a better note, Milo was a dream yesterday. Rode him on a loose rein, he felt great. Listened well, rounded, and worked. It was a fantastic ride.

Switching topics, as Ive mentioned Milo is on pasture now. Which is great. But in just the last few days, the grass has grown remarkably. Plus, he only eats his grain, ditches the hay, and goes back out to eat more grass. Im a bit concerned about Milo over grazing the delicious spring grass. So Im considering getting a grazing muzzle to put on before work, and take off after. Im looking at something like this:

It attaches to the halter, so no real worrries about him being able to get it off. What is your take on muzzles? Have you tried a certain type that works better than another?

Just a Quick Update

For just a quick update, Milo and I attended flag team practice this last Sunday; it was Milo's first time back after 4 practices missed. He did well and felt pretty good.

I did some warm up with him and worked him a little bit. To clarify a bit, I can ride him at a w/t/c and can give him a work out that way, but need to limit any and all collection or anything that may cause some torque to his hocks. No small circles, no rollbacks, no sliding stops. It putting a halt on our cow horse training, but Milo's well being is certainly worth it.

So I rode him in warm up and through three trot "run threws" of the pattern. Not that I expected anything differently, but Milo made a Mom proud that after a year of not carrying a flag he didnt bat an eye at me carrying one. What a good boy.

I can tell he is happy to be working again, if only just as excersise.

Viking Fest 2010

This past Saturday Milo and I attended the Viking Fest parade with the Thunderbird Cowgirls. This was Milo's and my third time in the parade. He was a trooper.

Great Strides CF Walkathon 2010

With Milo being at least capable of walk-riding, I was able to take him to the 2010 Cistic Fibrosis Walkathon this past Saturday. It was a five mile walk for a great cause, and a beautful day to top it off!
Some of us Cowgirls that came to the walk: Myself, Harmony, Lisa, Kristen, Stephene, Melissa, Lisa, former Cowgirl Michelle, and Jen.
In waiting for the walk to begin, Milo was loving on his new found girlfriend, Gracie, and chomping on her reins.

Milo and I, Melissa and Grace, and Kristen & Rylee Jo.
Milo being antsy and jigging in the beginning needed a repremand in which I backed him up. Unfortunetly, we were on the concrete and for some reason, his back end went down. He scraped the front of his hind left hoof but no other cuts were found. I was concerned about his hocks after the incident, but he hasnt shown any signs of anything from it.
On another note, I got Milo's Ortho-Chon II supplements today, so he will get his first dose tonight. Hopefully this will be the golden ticket for him.

In need of updates...

Last Monday the Thunderbird Rodeo Drill Team that I am a member of had out first practice of the year. It was a lot of fun as they always are. We have a few new members this year so the practice helped everyone get to each other and their horses better. Our pattern should be pretty awesome this year, its got some cool elements to it.

Milo did well. My concerns this year is that I dont want to compromise any of his training. Ie not staying round and moving correctly. But we will see how the next few practices go...its hard to train at the same time as going fast and holding a flag...

I ordered a set of mecate reins and quick change slobber straps today. 22' mecates so Im waiting for those and am excited for that.

Milo had a retard moment and pulled back in the crossties on Monday and ended up breaking his rope halter. So I had to buy a new one of them too. Strange, Milo wasnt even spooked as far as I could see (or at least any good reason to spook). In fact, I was just starting to take him out of the crossties when he freaked. I dunno...its puzzling for sure. And frustrating to have to buy another halter....

Anyways, more later.