Long time but thought I'd update

Fallon is rounding her 4 year old year! Can you believe that the little bay filly in the pictures below is now nearly 4? I hope she grows soon though. She has gone out, not up! She is still maybe 13.3hh MAX! However, she is built like a tanker with feet to fit.

Anyways, Got about 15-20 rides on her this summer before I had to help the family with Harvest season which of course lasts fron July through October, then the weather turned bad very fast.

I have since changed jobs and hopefully will only be a fill in this year on the farm, not relied upon. I am a Certified Equine & Canine Massage Therapist. See my website: http://www.victoryacresfarm.com or my blog http://vaequinemassage.blogspot.com ...

Anyways, her first ride went flawlessly. If you'd like to see the video of her first ride, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq2SB-SNlb4
... I purposely make my video's private as I don't appreciate negative, non constructive comments that people with too much time on their hands always leave. In other words, only those with a link, such as the one posted above, can see the video. So if you want to share the video with a friend, they will need the link, they will not be able to search Youtube to find it.

I had been gone for college and the summer I was home I had to have back surgery, meaning she got little handling between the challenge and her first ride. I do NOT usually start a horse this way. As in, I do weeks of groundwork and make sure they are soft, supple and ready to just step on and pretty much go. I use Clinton Anderson methods, and have for 9 years or longer and they have never failed me. I am planning on starting fresh early this spring. This winter I plan on working on her "Fundamentals" on the ground when I can make it to the indoor arena (road conditions permitting).

IF you or someone you know is interested in Fallon, I am not actively selling her but would consider it to a good home that will continue with similar training methods. Note that she is not a free, give away or cheap horse. She will have a price tag to represent her training. So if your looking for a cheap project, please continue your search elsewhere.

Fallon Update

Fallon is doing well. I wont be starting her until next spring. However, that doesn't mean she is off the hook this year. I try to work with her 3 days a week (in a row) on ground work. Longing, Round Penning, Yielding body parts, Becoming overall less sticky footed, working with her feet (which is not a problem), tying, loading, taking her places to get her out and about. She got to sit all winter so she was a bit crabby on day 1 this spring about having to work and was pulling a lot on the longe line to get closer to the horses tied on the outside of the Round pen. She soon realized that being near the others wasn't so fun as her feet had to move quickly near them and stop away from them. She's just very mellow, almost too mellow.

Once I loosen those feet up again I will start doing more 2y/o stuff such as saddling, bridling, TONS of flexing, Circle Driving, Stirrup driving etc... Getting her ready for that first ride. I will probably climb around her and do Clinton Andersons "human curry comb" this fall so that come next spring after 6mths off (while Im at school) she'll be ready to tune up and start.

I will get pictures once I get some of her non budging fur off!

Two Foot Update

Here is an e-mail sent to me 4/29/09 from Kellie (Two Foots (Maveriks) owner).

HI Jaci,

Two Foot is doing well. His name does not suit him and we are trying to come up with one that fits his personality. He is about #800 pounds now and shed out to be a smokey bay. I would guess he is about 13 hands or better at this point. He just took a growth spurt, he eats well and often. LOL His ground manners are very good if he will let you catch him. He has desided it is fun to play chase when I want to work him. He is on a Ranch with my stockhorse with cows. I have been ponying him behind my stockhorse with a saddle on him and have jumped over his back twice. He just stands there, no buck. He is really mellow and lovey. I had my trainer look at starting him for fall and he commented that for a mustang he was very good. His feet have been done and he fell asleep much to the farriers surprise. He was a bit nervous because he has had issues with mutangs. But I handle his feet all the time and all over so he could care less. I put a snaffle in him two weeks ago just to get him used to having something in his mouth besides my hands. He did really well. Starting to understand the pressure. He is not really sure what I am asking of him when we try to lounge him though. He likes the cows and stays pretty calm when out with them or on trail. I am waiting til fall to start him with the trainer cause I want him to fill out more and am trying to build some muscle in the mean time. He isnt sure of apples and carrots but loves peppermint treats and wine. My friend was helping me one nite and had a glass of wine and he tipped it over and drank it. Ha ha ha.. He has buddied up with my stockhorse and keeps his nose in his tail if he gets nervous. I have been exposing him to everything I can think of to get him despooked and it is working well as he see the big horse not reacting so he doesnt either. He plays with my dog in the fields. They play chase and are fun to watch. The trainer is a rodeo cowboy that has scene alot of horses in his day and said this young guy is going to be very easy to break to ride because he is handled so much and has had nothing bad happen so he trys to do what you ask because he isnt afraid. I will try to get some current pictures in the next week or so if possible. Everyone loves him cause he is so friendly and mellow. So we are all trying to give him a new name. Take care and good luck with the filly.

kellie

Maverik or "Two Foot"

Here is a copy of the e-mail sent to me by Mav's (Or Two Foot's) new owner.

Hi Jaci,

We have renamed him Two Foot because of his two white socks. We are waiting to see how his personality develops to really name him. He ha settled in nicely. I continue to work his ground manners and body movement. We are working on lateral flexing and walking behind my big horse, being ponied out for short adventures. He got a bath over the weekend due to the heat and he loved the water. He gets turned out to a small pasture while I work my other horse and likes to play catch me if you can. Then he gets tired and comes in to be brushed. He has turned into a big love bug. He is shedding out more and more and I think he will come back in very dark instead of a bay. I am exposing him to a variety of things to make him a very confindent horse and not be spooky later.We have gone thru a small creek, over bridges, moved him up along the fence line to open gates with my big horse and he is very comfortable in doing what I ask of him. I think he sees my big horse doing things and it reassures him that it is ok to do them as well. We are taking a equine reflexology class later in the month to learn about pressure points and relaxation on the horses, so he will get release from tense muscles once he does start getting worked when he is older. (This is a benefit to all the horses but since he is a baby I want to put him in the clinic atmosphere to get used to it. I do alot of clinics) He is very curious and loves getting loved on. He has a cat for a buddy that comes everyday to see him. And a big golden retriever that is his buddy as well. I am pleased with him and think he will turn out to be a nice mount once he is grown. I will send some pictures soon as everyone is bugging me about them. I just get out there working with him and the others and forget to take pictures. Take care and keep in touch. I promise to get some pics out soon.Thanks.

Fallons Blog

Just a note: I have started a blog Just for Fallon. http://vafallon.blogspots.com ... and my personal blog http://fulloflife13.blogspot.com.

Start to Finish!

Well competitions over and I am finally home .......... with 1 extra.... lol. Maverik, my gelding, found a wonderful home in Santa Cruz, California with a family that does showing AND search and rescue! Fallon didn't find a home so she came home with me. I couldn't bear the thought of her going back to Palomino Valley or to the Prison. She is just too sweet and nice of a filly.

Maverik placed 6th in Pro and 8th all around (tally'd points and it worked out to be 8th) out of 53
Fallon placed 8th in Pro and about 10-12th all around (out of 53)

4-7 yearlings went to the Prison to be used as confidence builders for the prisoners who haven't been around horses, and will be started next year.

About 1/3 to 1/2 of us took ours home because of lack of homes, and the rest were placed. Only 2-3 went above BLM adoption fee. The 1st place winner of Pro was adopted AFTER his trainer adopted him for $300 and she donated $125 of it to the Mustang Heritage Foundation. and the other was the 2nd place in Pro and he got $300 at auction. Both were super nice horses. Bravo was the 1st place and Windchester was 2nd. I remember hearing another but don't know who it was.





Fallon in Her Stall.


Maverik in his stall.


Our Stall Neighbors and New Friends Bob and Lea Williams.


Mav and his Hip #


Fallon and her Hip #


Fallon and I waiting to enter the ring.


Mav with his new owners.


Fallon LOVES kids we've learned. This nice family almost bought her but it was too late, they didn't have time to fill the applications out.

Competition Day Looming

Well we are here in Reno for the 2nd night. The kids are tucked in right in the middle of the action. Fallon decided leading at a walk AND trot wasn't so hard and is doing wonderful. Mav decided to become cranky and pull some Fallon Tricks hehe. Oh well, They both are being good. Some of the babes are nervous and loud but Fallon and Mav settled in the second they got there. Didn't spook at a thing, and when I put them in their pens they fell asleep and acted like they've been through this commotion a million times before. It was a good feeling for me while some of the others were pacing and nickering and getting hot about it.

There are 9 of us in Professional, 13 in Youth and about 24-26 in Amateur. Go figure. lol. It doesn't seem like the pattern is too hard. I'll get some pictures of the kids in their stalls and some videos of us competing and also some of them with their new owners. BUT I can't upload em until I get home Monday.