Finishing up!

It is very sad that it has been almost a year since I first received Siren. The program that I am in is coming to a close. I feel blessed to have been able to partake in such an amazing experience that has opened so many doors for me and taught me so much. Most importantly, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to meet Siren. She has created a spot in my heart for her that will never go away. I love her so much! For part of the program, I had to make some videos on horsemanship. Things such as saddling, bridling, brushing, and leading. You can view this video here - AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program video. Thank you for watching and following along with us for this past year! I hope that you continue to follow our  journey as we continue developing our relationship and knowledge throughout the years to go.

Better and Better!

Today, I lunged Siren with her bridle on again. She was so much better! She chomped on the bit for a minute, as she did yesterday. However, after about one minute, she completely stopped and went about lunging perfectly calm! I was so excited! Also, today I saw a trick horse trainer do a demonstration for out 4-h. I am inspired to work with Siren to expand our trick knowledge. 

Chompin' at the bit!

Today was a big step for little Siren! She is slowly being submerged into the world of adulthood. Whether we like it or not, we all grow up. However, there are many steps that that are involved in this growing up process for a little filly. Today, Siren got a bridle put on for the very first time! She had a smooth snaffle placed in her mouth. She most definitely was not a fan of this unfamiliar devise at first. While she did willingly accept the bit at first, she soon began to think that this was a mistake! She was chomping on the bit  for quite some time. This was most definitely a strange feeling for her. She seemed to quickly get used to the feeling as the chomping slowly subsided. My next step was to lead her around. I tried to simulate how the bit would be moving and feel feel in her mouth while a rider is on her back and steering. She was surprisingly alright with this new sensation. She turned, stopped and backed. Then I wanted to lunge her with the bridle on. While she had no reins attached at this time, (I attached the lunge line to her halter which was on under the bridle) she still had to get used to moving forward with the bit. She had the hardest time getting used to the concept of "forward motion". Her reaction was almost comical! She acted as if it were impeding her ability to move! She was okay at the trot, but she was very hesitant to canter. Once she did canter, she dropped her head into the bit and was bouncing around! She quickly realized that this was not going to hinder her movement or ability to  continue forward and settled into her normal, casual canter around the lunge line. I am so proud that she is learning quickly and growing up so wonderfully. While I am sad that she is no longer my tiny little baby, I am happy that she is growing up well and will soon be old enough to explore a many new aspects to life.

Siren at the Fair!

I decided to take little miss Siren to the fair a few days ago to compete in a trail in hand class. I was very excited to compete since I had been practicing for quite some time. She was a little nervous coming off the trailer since this was her first experience trailering alone, and only her third time at a show. I was very impressed with how quickly she calmed down! She quickly put on her game face and was ready to compete! Before she could do that, she was to be assessed by an AQHA professional horseman. Lisa Mathews, our local professional horseman was at the show judging. She agreed to assess us, which I must do in this program, before the show started. Siren was wonderful and I think that miss Mathews really liked her! Soon after, Siren and I entered the arena to compete in our class. She was wonderful and won her division! I was so excited! She was then invited to come back the next day to compete in the championship class! This was her first experience spending the night in a new place. She did not seem to mind at all! The next day, prior to the show, we had our 4-H closing ceremonies where I was recognized for my work with Siren. I was thrilled! I received so many compliments on her. The championship class consisted of a pattern that Siren had never seen before. She was AMAZING! The judge asked me if I was the one who has done all of the work on her. When I informed her that I was, she seemed extremely impressed. She also informed all of the competitors that she is very experienced with the in hand trail class. She even gave us a minnie demonstration. She stole Siren from me and did the course with her. She was very impressed, as was I, that Siren responded to an unfamiliar handler. Siren ended up winning her championship class!!!! I was ecstatic! She received a large ribbon and a lovely embroidered bridle bag. As much fun as we had, we are both happy to be back home!

A very spoiled Siren!

Baby Siren was very spoiled yesterday! Here she can be seen with her new mint flavored treat, and standing in front of her fan. She loves mint! Shortly after this photo was taken, she was escorted to the pasture which she enjoyed overnight with all of her friends. She is too cute not to spoil! 

A Party!

There was quite a party in Siren's stall the other night while she was trying to nap. I went in to cuddle with her because she was just too cute! Then, the barn kitty, Ginger, crawled in and wanted some attention as well! Then the barn dog, Pants, came in to make it a complete barn animal party! I am not sure how Siren felt about her sleep being disrupted, but she sure did like all of her friends' company.

A very traumatic show!

Yesterday Siren partook in her 3rd show, and 4th ever halter class. It was her first show at this particular location. Siren was perfectly calm at the show! I was so impressed! She stood in a stall all day, never calling out or acting nervously. She went into the halter class and walked and trotted off with me and stood very quietly in her line up. At this particular show, there was no 2 and under age division class. That means that we had to compete with the adult horses! She ended up getting 4th out of 8 horses. The judge talked to me and said that she was very impressed with Siren and had to put her in the placings. She said that she could not place her higher because it was hard to compare a young horse who is not leveled out and filled out yet, to a full grown, and filled out adult horse. I am pretty happy with this! Siren is competing pretty well with the big horses!

Well, here is where the "traumatic" part fits in... First off, the night prior to the show, I had to get Siren ready, this included bathing her. Siren had been so good all summer at getting hosed off. For some extremely odd reason, Siren freaked out (There were a few people there and no one can figure out the reason for this) and she ended up breaking a cross-tie and falling down! I was so scared! She was shaking because she was so nervous after what she did. Luckily, she was OK! She only had one tiny cut on her upper leg, about the size of a dime. Unfortunately, the bad luck did not stop there! On the morning of the show, I backed up my truck to the trailer, only to find out that the balls for the hitch were left at home! We had to scramble to retrieve them and barely made it to the show on time. Unfortunately this started the day impacting our moods to that of worried and stressed. Then, somehow, even though the hay bag Siren had in the trailer was up high, she got her front hoof stuck in it! She luckily, once again, came out of this unscathed. Poor baby! She deserves some rest and relaxation after those rough couple of days!