She's Got LEGS!

The other day Ali took a short trailer ride with the family to the horse stylist to get primped for her big debut. Thanks a lot for your help Amy and Lonnie Bezona! (Amy is Kelsey's hair stylist.) Amy and Lonnie both compete in rodeo. Ali wasn't too sure about the clippers but Amy got right in there and shaved up her muzzle. Ali did just fine. The briddle path was the next shave and she seemed to be a little more nervous about the clippers above her head. (Before this day her bridle path had been cut by scissors because it was a little less intimidating for her.) Her fetlocks were next. Lonnie did a great job of cleaning her right up. I had to hold Ali, she seemed to be more relaxed if I was right up next to her. She looks great now. We appreciated the help from the Bezonas!

Flag Day

Bathing

Tracking Cows

Fun in the New Arena

Staying in a gait on a loose rein.
Side Passing--a work in progress
Ali is one cool horse. She has a gentle spirit about her. She still has some quirks, but so does every horse. We got our arena in this week at our new place. It's been a lot of extra work doing things on weekends and after work but it sure is nice when it gets done. I should have my water system to sprinkle down the dust going here soon. And maybe the lawn can get put in as well! That will be nice.

Branding

I had a great opportunity to take Alli to a local branding. We gathered the cattle from the field and Alli wasn't sure what to think of the pivot that was irrigating the field. She was a little nervous, but with some encouraging, we rode under the pivot while it was irrigating. Once we had all the cattle in the pens, I was going to just let her sit in the branding pen and let her watch all the action with the ropers, ground crew and calves on the end of the ropes, but we were told to just heel the calves and bring them in to be branded. I thought if the calves were heeled, then there wouldn't be too much of a comotion so I just started roping and she didn't have a bit of problems with anything. Normally, a green colt will not want to walk through the ground crew, but Alli didn't have any problems with that. Also she did very well getting me into a good heel position when someone else had a calf by the neck. The buford has really helped her not be so nervous to get up to the calf. Before I decided to put Alli up for the day I roped a calf by the neck to see if she would get excited with the bawling calf on the end of the rope, but it didn't bother her at all. All in all it was a pretty positive experience.

Buford

Ali was learning to track on Buford the steer the other day down at a neighbor's house. Yesterday I started her tracking on real calves. It's been a long couple of days but she is learning pretty well. Today she was tracking off the shoulder. That is just what I want her to do so you can rope easily off of her.

The Muss-ing

Posted by Matt's Wife:

I walked around the corner, and found our little girl who is almost two, playing really wild. I asked her what in the world she was doing and she said, "I MUSS-ING." That's what she calls Ally. Her imagination cracked me up, so I went and grabbed the camera to show her dad what kind of influence he has on our kids. They are completely brainwashed to think HORSES!!! (He doesn't know I'm posting this...we'll see what he thinks!)