2011 In Rewind (oops I forgot to post this)

2011 was quite the ride (literally).  P and I struggled a bit more than I would have liked, but we also saw some wonderful changes and put ourselves on a good path.  Here's a quick recap of what exactly we managed to do:

January 2011
We got off to quite the start when P finally threw me into the wall as a rather loud protest to trot work.

P, wondering what the hell I'm doing on the ground in a lump

so the mare got thrown on Regumate.
My back kept me out of commission for a while, but Super-Mom came up and saved the day (again) proving that P was capable of not being a total mare-wolf

worked well for Supermom..

We continued on, P got shoes put back on, I got an air vest (thanks Dad!) and we played in the snow.  I got in a fight with the BO, and we took P for a field trip to go ride at SuperMom's

Total field trip success.

February:
We got back to work (in our air vest) on the buckle.  P was a lover, tried hard and we moved forward.  P was my valentine.

The Barn had some fun tack room upgrades (love) and added slow feeders (also love)

P started some body work, which seemed to help her attitude under saddle and we played in the snow (again).

March:
P tried to eat her farrier, caused a general ruckus at the barn, and was a gem under saddle

We stayed on the buckle and focused on forward.  sometimes we got it.

April:
We prepared to come off the Regumate high and see how P was.  She was.. the same.  Still sticky, still unhappy undersaddle and still... totally sound.
The barn had a baby, a CCI**** eventer moved in and P started throwing shoes.

In an attempt to find out what was making P unhappy, we had a full physical... and she passed with flying colors.  Yay for a healthy horse, boooo for a continuing mystery.

May:
We got a second opinion and found our new vet.  It rained. it rained some more.  We decided to move P to Summer Camp.  It rained some more.  I bought boots for a horse I wasn't riding. It rained.  P and I hand walked, grazed and worked on Targeting.
 (it rained some more).  P looked like a tank

we dropped her off and I said goodbye

June:
P adjusted to life at Camp and started her work of playing with others

after not even a month, the bodywork and hoofcare was showing itself in massive muscle changes on P

we have withers!

July:
P doesn't understand why she's so dirty, but she's did great.

P worked on being in the herd and on her ground work.  Even The Boy had his turn:

August:
P learned how to be a trail horse and was ponied allllll over the place.  I got to ride Wendy :)

eventually she started getting ridden on the trails.  (big P!)

September:
Dad flew me to see P (cute as ever) and we went for a trail ride.

P is doing great on trails, and getting more forward but still hates saddles

P gets lots and lots (and lots) of bodywork.

October:
P gets good at her join up work, and I don't need a halter!

we go for lots of trail rides, I make a tack section in my garage and... MOUNTAIN TRAIL ADVENTURE

P gets ridden in a field, walked across bridges, and investigated ditches

Oh yeah, and I RODE MY HORSE AGAIN.  Out in a big field, yahoo!

we had a really. good. outing.

and the boy had fun too...

November:

Life got in the way and I hardly saw my horse (sad).  But I did see her and P started working more under saddle with harder questions. Creeks, patience, beaches.. all very exciting.

Also, we got a cat and I found old pictures of my first pony.

December:
I start seriously horse hunting, the dog is diagnosed with Wobblers and I RIDE P ON THE BEACH

P even goes for a night ride on the beach (without me) and starts to spend some of the nights with the herd.  She looks like a yak, but her feet are fantastic (and 2 sizes larger than 6 months ago) and she is adorable.

Oh yeah, and we added Prairie to the mix.  (just barely squeaked that one into 2011)

Whew.  I feel great about what's teed up for 2012.  Hopefully its more riding with both the mares.  Onward we go.
Happy New Year