Mr. Weston

What a power house or have I already said that. Whew. He knows so much and still has so much to learn. I love him just the way he is. Did I intend to find a great partner, no. Have I , yes. We had another great work out-still keeping them short. Then we tooled around-trail plunking. He is so alert and careful but safe and easy to ride.

I like his scared but totally inquizitive attitude. Well all you blog fans-come meet Weston and hear our story, and what you may have missed at our 1st open house this Friday. 6pm hosted by Lynn Honey at River Bottem Stables right behind Tack Box in Corvallis. We will have Team Weston sweatshirt for sale too. I am so excited for this weekend!

Pate and Weston

We went up to work in the arena and I am still limiting my workouts for Weston's sake, at least until he finishes his antibiotics. He was dead on with everything I had asked. 30 minutes in, he was working bridless, and did 4 perfect lead changes in the frount (not rear yet), so we stopped. He is very athletic and very sporty. I am so glad he is off his forhand and balanced on his hind. He has so much speed and power. We headed out for a great leisurly trail ride with Miss Vikki and her rock steady stead-Patriot. We wandered our 80 acre pasture in the break betwwen hail, snow and rain today. It was great to head out and change pace for a mellow ride. I love it when a horse can change gears and put it away. Use the power and speed when ness, and have the head oh him to be quiet when asked.

I had developed a fear of MUD-muddy slippery down hills. This fall I took hank up a slippery hil, he rolled down it, over three times landing with me pinned under him. By the grace of god-and kindness/trust of Hank I am still alive. I was dismounting for every muddy up or dow hill.

I can tell you I held my breath on a few muddy spots, but Weston (and Pate) took things very easy and slow one great step in frount of another. Weston has great balance and is very careful for a baby. He is also very strong which helps too. He made it easy. I am so proud.

 

Then we headed out frount and let them graze by the road! It was amazing.  Stitting watching trucks fly by. Then we rode over and checked the mail. It was not there yet. We had a few gaits to open and close. I felt like I was rushing him, and once I was hurrying him he was not quite sure what I was looking for. They are kind of obscure gaits and he did them just fine.

We shall see if I get time to work him tommarow-I have palns in my head I would like to see happen. Friday we have our open house, and our beautiful sweat shirts will be in......Yippy. By a sweat shirt all proffits go to Mustang Herritage Foundation.....

Weston hits the beach...

The weather has been so nice we are all pretending it is summer here. Cool in the eves, but what beautiful days. I decided to take the family to the beach-of course this includes Weston. I have never seen his eyes so big, and him so tense, wow. We rode for a couple of hourse, but the first thirty it was hard for him to comprehend anything of where we were, and what was going on. What was most scarey-a burnt log. The dog that came to chase us was really fun to turn and chase.

He moves just like a dressage horse, what power. He tracked beautifully, and had even some nice relaxed lopes. He was easy to get into the water, but not sure about the rushing water, we went in there backwards. I tried another hard spot, and Weston turns tail like a normal horse would, but then start to back himself in. Weird horse, but a great horse. I cannot say I have been on a horse with his strength, and stamina. He did not even break a sweat. It was a great experience for us.

I am glad we are getting back to work. I am not sure the beach was my best idea after a day off, but he was great. He was really tense when a hellicopter passed over, but as he does when he is scared he stood stock still until it was gone.

I cannot wait to get over to see Kim this week I hope. Weston is starting the passage as she said he would, he gives a kick up with both hinds and then the frount. It is amazing to feel a horse love what you are asking. Kim says horses love passage if they are taught right and they get all excited-he does, he is not sure what it is, but he loves it.

We ran into some horse people on a horse less vaccation from Lebenon who were blown away. It was great talking to them. Weston is so handsome, and tall, very beautiful, he surprises people. His manners are also amazing, however I am seen a bit of the pushy treat monster, as he gets treats from every human that comes by. He does a great pitty the mustang face, what can I say.

I am so excited for Expo!

Here is a group trail ride shot-Weston on the left. Bree was so smart to use the timer and get us all in!

Jasmine&Weston.....

The sweat shirt designs are in and I will blog them in here soon for sweatshirt orders!!!! Team Weston!

Opps I forgot!

I forgot I was going to give you our link to the Mustangs before pics..

http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro/northwest_extreme1.html

Weston Thinks he is special and so do I!

I have a funny story about a wild horse, who let's himself out at night of his stall, and runs back to his stall when he hears us coming. He let's himself out, eats grass in our yard. Then the dog hears him and rats him out, we go out to see what is going on, and it's nothing. Nothing until I caught on to the drill and secured the stall tonite after an escape, however it is with a heavey heart I had to do so. I hate to take it away form him. Oh well, soon enough this too will be over.

He was great today ready to work, super willing, low and belhold as soon as we picked up a trot-COUGH! So I returned to walk work and kept it very simple-we need to spend time on this too. Easy one step at a time, (the boring stuff). We worked on backing though poles, and bridges, and his bow. I am not sure we will use our bow, or how. I am also not sure we will use our mounting trick either. When I get up high he comes over and gets under me on the rail-he does it every time, but he decides how long it will take to get there and what route he will take.

I have a song for our finals-I am so happy. I started this quest before I met Weston and finnaly I have a song! SO all you Extreme Mustang Makeover Oregon folks-I claimed it first and it's my song-go find your own! I just think every horse person should hear this song-it is deffinatly written by a man who loved a horse woman. It is "between a girl and a horse", by Carbon Leaf. I first heard it on itunes. If you have the equiptment I recomend the 99 cent download. I am so thrilled to have something set in stone. I just have to make it to finals so you can see our big plans!

Well Coughing Wess will have to see the vet again-I wonder if it is an allergy????? AHHHH.

It's a good thing I love the boy.

Weston the powerhouse....

What a motor, the dressage movement balanced him-really got him off his frount end. I do have to find a way to slow down in work outs. The poor boy tries so hard, and I am putting on the pressure and teaching so much. I can't believe an animal with no proir training could have such a desire to please, and try. He gets confussed, but never angry. To error is human, and to truely forgive is equine. I heard that once, and now I get it.

We are now getting flyings with consistancy in the frount.

Check out the BLM site for Oregon-you can see great before pics of all the horses, along with trainers name.....

Mark your calendars Feb 13th Weston and Jasmine will give a talk about our journey so far, and the program. Show you were we are at in our training and where we are heading. It will be at Lynn Honey's-River bottom Stables in Corvallis behind the (Tack Box). 6:00 pm. I will have team Weston shirt for sale there-a must have for Expo. I am selling the shirts to fundraise to purchase Weston if I can dredge up what I am worried this horse will go for.

We will have an open house at our place soon too, but with more inside info too.....Wanna know what your missing on the blog?

Weston dressage clinic and a cup of JOE!

What was my favorite part of today? It would be hard to say. Our dressage clinic was incredible. I got him so forward, and traveling up hill. Here is the amazing part-Or trainer today wants to bid on him. She is a top level dressage rider and coach. Wow. I added the dressage whip in soft taps to the hindquarters. It was great. I had so many more gears. I have to work on consistancy in these new powerful gaits. She loves his build, and natural movement. ALso her fav dressage horse was a little mustang, with huge movement. I am so proud, and amazed with this horse and mustangs in general. My eyes are open.

I can't believe the eyes we are opening along the way also. I hauled Denise and Gabriella to the lesson also, so we hung out for a long time. Weston tied to the trailer like a champ. (He did have a hay bag to stuff his nose in). While waiting Denise and I decided to ride through town and get coffe and a snack at the coffee shop! Weston was great, cars wizing past, people walking dogs. We steped on the bell to ring for service even. He is too funny. I was able to sidepass over give her my money, get change and our drinks. Here I am taking hot coffe and passing it over to Denise and then off we went riding back coffee's in hand. He was so good.

Our lesson was a great work out for me and more for Weston. Kim helped us start Piaffee work today, and says he has great talent for spanish walk. Hmmm. I am tierd enough to hit the sack now! Whew. He was so easy and nice to be around, it is weird. He shows me waht heck my other horses give me, and what I put up with. Hmmm. What a huge forward trot we had today. Kim was also impressed at the factr that we pushed asking a lot of him in a double session and he was sweet all the way through. His mind is incredible. 

No comment.....
Weston is such a good boy, I am working on something big. I am in the early frustration stages and he sits and looks at me then tries old answers that worked elsewhere.....it is gonna be big!

Weston tries a curb.....

I found a great short shank curb with a beautiful soft slow curve to the mouth piece. He loved it. Acted the same as he always does. I am having some problems with over achiever and thinker. He is not anticipating, but trying too hard at this point. If I flinch he is trying to do what I ask. I think it is all the reinless work. He is just that kinda guy though.

Weston is making people laugh. I am still working inch by inch on his body clipping. He is to funny standing there loose and enjoying being clipped. I am working on our finals surprise now-I am not sure when I will get picks up. He is so cute running up when I whistle.

Weston rides like a cotton tail today!

He has so much energy and drive now that he is feeling better! Wow. I asked for a canter and he has been trying to pick up 1st step the last few days, but this was funny. He was like a huge bunny on lift off. I think he planned of leaping through the atmosphere. He has so much power he is surprising himself. His over attempt are funny. He has the work ethic of my Jacob-and ride bridless like him, as he is paying close attention like Jacob does too. He has the power and sit down of Hank. He is starting roll backs and whew. He flies to the right, left is a touch sticky, but we just started. He rides and loves food like Pooh. He has the power of Nitro in the power house trots. He would love to be a rearer like Muzzy (we are not going to go that direction). His face and down hill skiing reminds me completly of my very first horse Sean. He has attitud and willingness. Maturity and immaturity too. Collection and clumbsyness.

I can tell you I was so excited to try this competition, no idea what I was getting into. I have loved it more than I though I could. I also never intended to love this horse I knew was going to be sold the last day! I do! I cannot believe in one animal I can find the best of all the horses I have ridden. The memories I hold of so many training horses. He has so much yet to be tapped talent. How do you open so many petals in such a limited time. Two month left-where will we go-what will we do. In history we will know. I am so excited already.