A Royal Wedding and Rolex to Celebrate Jill's Birthday

Well I'm told that today is my birthday.  I'm also told that there was some Royal Wedding today and some big event in KY called Rolex!!  They both sound pretty important to me and I think it's only fitting that they both are happening on my birthday.  I spent a quiet pleasant  albeit a chilly day hanging out with my friends. I don't remember it being this chilly the day I was born.  Thank goodness it is suppose to be sunny and warmer tomorrow.

The big news, besides cantering with Kyle earlier in the week, is that they opened up another pasture with plenty of lush grass.  And because there was so much grass they decided to turn us all out together; all nine us!  I heard something about us eating enough of it so they don't have to mow it before the horse trials. Hey, we may like to eat, but we are not lawn mowers. I keep hearing things about this horse trials; I guess it's another one of those things that I will find out about in due time but there seems to be a lot of stuff going on around here trying to get the farm ready for it when the weather cooperates.

It was kind of interesting with all of us turned out together.  Kyle and Jackie seemed pretty happy that there was no drama.  Actually, with the exception of Diamond & Blaze, we all knew each other and if Diamond or Blaze got the wrong idea there were plenty of horses to put them in their place;)  I kept wandering off by myself to check out the new pasture with three little ponds in it.  Kyle calls me bold and independent; I say that's just me. To begin with we stayed in our own groups but after a day; we were all hanging out together. 

Jack and I are getting our feet trimmed again tomorrow so they look good for the Future Event Horse class coming up.  Kyle has been spending a lot of time grooming me and Jackie started to trim up my mane.   They're getting me all primped up for the big day.

That's it for now.

Jill

Happy Birthday little sis!  You may be bigger than me right now, but I'm still older. ;)

Jill pretty much summed it all up. Being out with the whole herd is nice and for the most part everyone is getting along. Blaze and I are becoming pretty good buds but I don't cling to him like I use to do with Jill.  I guess I'm growing up a little.  But this riding thing is a little confusing.  I was ridden with a bit in my mouth in a bigger area with this little white fence around it called a dressage ring.  Too many different things for me to deal with at one time.  I almost reverted to donkey mode.  On the bright side, I practiced jogging next to Jackie for the upcoming show and I did pretty good.  I hear there are seven horses in my class, the most for the FEH classes.  Jackie tells me she doesn't care how I place as long as I do my best.  I think I can do that. 

Things are getting pretty busy around her, it may be awhile before you hear from us again.

Jack

Happy Birthday Jack & Jill Gets Ridden Outside of the Round Pen

The boys and a Visitor

Finally a nice sunny day yesterday and a perfect day for Jack to celebrate his birthday and a great day for just hanging out and enjoying life.  Since we now have a new paddock fence we all can go out at the same time or if we have a visitor like we did last weekend he can go out for awhile without worrying about getting mobbed by the boys.  But yesterday Kyle and Jackie were busy putting up this little white fence (that certainly wouldn't keep any self respecting horse in) called a dressage ring and since it was a nice day and we really didn't want to come in just yet; they turned out the boys in the paddock and left us girls out in the pasture.  Well that was all well and good but what about nap time?  Well that's when we decided that a little sun bathing wasn't such a bad idea.

Girls Napping

We had all sorts of trailers coming in yesterday and I got to see a bunch of new horses and watch a few lessons but that got kind of boring so I went off with the girls to  munch on some more grass, take another nap and hopped up onto the bank to check out the grass on top.

It was well after lunch time when we were finally brought in for our breakfast!  But I didn't mind since it was such a nice morning albeit a little chilly.  I'm usually really good about going into my own stall, but when I saw that the door was open to the stall that has the straw piled in it along with the hay I took advantage of it.  You see since we have more horses than stalls right now I sometimes get put in the bedding stall while the night shift comes in and the day shift goes out.  The other day there was a miscommunication and I was left in the bedding stall for a couple of hours and I had the best nap on a big pillow of straw...so when I saw the stall open yesterday I took advantage of the situation and enjoyed the big pillow again!

That's me napping on my big pillow

Last night Kyle rode me again and for the first time I didn't have to be ridden in the round pen, yeah!!!  But since it was my first time in the open so to speak (we were in that funny looking little dressage ring) they hooked me up to the luge line.  It felt so good to be in a bigger more open area that I just trotted & trotted & trotted without needing to be reminded to keep moving.  In fact I even took a few canter strides ;)  I heard Jackie say something about me practicing my 20 meter circles.  Don't ask me what that was all about.  I guess like everything else I'll learn about that soon enough.  When we were done I gave Kyle a ride up the hill and he gave me bunches of pats & scratches and told me what a good girl I was and again kept saying how laid back I am.  I guess the 2 red heads he rides aren't so mellow ;)

Well that's it for now.

Jill

Well they say that yesterday was my birthday.  I don't quite remember what it was like when I was born except it had to be warmer than it was yesterday morning!  It sure was chilly in the morning.  But as Jill said, it was a nice sunny day and a good day to just hang out with my friends.  Yes you heard that right; I have friends now.  That little guy Blaze and I are hanging out together and playing and running around.  Some may say that I'm getting too attached because the other day when Kyle brought Blaze in I blasted through the new fence to be near him.  I won't do that again, that fence has a bit of kick to it that he other one didn't!  But since Blaze only goes down to the round pen to work and comes right back out again I don't worry so much anymore when he leaves.

I got ridden in the round pen again this week and Jackie just stood in the middle and didn't encourage me forward with that funny clucking sound or lunge whip so when I stalled out Kyle kicked me with his legs.  I didn't like that very much and I gave a funny little jump a couple of times until I figured out what he wanted.  So if Kyle closes his legs on me I'm suppose to go forward and if I don't he kicks me a little harder.  OK I think I get it, but I may need a reminder.  When we were done I gave Kyle a ride up the hill.  If you have ever been here before you know that is a pretty big hill and they were laughing at me calling me a drunk sailor.  I'm not sure what that's suppose to mean; I was doing the best I could.

I was going to get ridden in that funny little white fence yesterday too, but it was getting late and since it was my birthday I was told I could have the day off.  Then I got my favorite, rubs on my forehead and telling me I was a good boy even when I was just hanging out in the pasture.   I was a nice day; I really like it here!

Jack

Let the Riding Begin & Two New Horses Come to Stone Gate Farm

Sleeping through my first ride

Wow, I can't believe that it's been almost 2 weeks since we posted last.  Things have been pretty busy around here and then a lull in the action while Jackie was out of town.  But the new little redhead showed up and stirred things up a little. Then a small dark 3 year old gelding arrived the other day.  Since the mares and geldings go out separately I haven't had much experience with him other than him blasting into the wash rack where I was cross tied waiting to go out while the geldings came in.  That guy has to learn some manners!!

The first night Diamond (that's the redheads name, guess what marking she has on her head...original huh) was here she just got all of us running and running in big circles.  By the next morning I was whooped and that's when they decided to have Kyle get on me for the first time.  They didn't even wait for us to come in for breakfast and take a nap.  They said something about having to get going before it rained.  I don't care if it is going to rain; a girl needs her breakfast and rest but my vote didn't count.  Anyway it was no big deal, I almost fell asleep while Kyle was sitting on me.

After the short ride we came in for breakfast and I finally got to take my nap.  I don't know how long I was sleeping for when Kyle came in to visit.  He was scratching all my favorite spots when he got on me for the second ride of the day.  I didn't mind at all. Kyle says I'm kind of an easy going kind of  gal.  I like the sounds of that.

The weather was really nice over the weekend and we got to hang out and relax all weekend because Jackie was out of town and Kyle was busy with work and helping around the farm.  Too bad that nice weather didn't last.  Boy did it ever rain, that meant another couple of days off.  Finally today the weather got nice again and it was time for another ride.  This time the boys were out in the pasture and Jack came over close to watch.  I showed him how to trot around and around the round pen on the lunge line.  Kyle really seemed to be happy with me and again said how easy going I am.  I guess that's a good thing.

I hope I can get out of the round pen soon; it's getting pretty boring. At least it's back to boring in the pasture again as Diamond is settling in.  It's kind of nice not being the new one anymore.  And it's really kind of cool that I'm the biggest of the four mares and the only non chestnut!

I'm looking forward to another nice day tomorrow.

Jill

Things have been a little crazy around here with two new horses coming for training .  The new little redhead Diamond goes out with the girls so I have only had brief meetings with her but a new guy named Blaze (guess what marking he has on his head) has been added to the guy group.  He's kind of a cute little guy and I was hoping for a new friend but that's going to take a little time. He is a bit nervous being out with all the big boys.  I definitely can relate and I tried to give him some advice but he wouldn't let me get close enough so he could hear.  So when he was rolling I thought it was the perfect time to get closer but that little bugger got up from rolling and kicked me square in the chest.  Well that did it, I wasn't going to try anymore!  All I've got to say is that he's lucky that Jethro isn't here anymore, although Gopher did a pretty good job of taking Jethro's place if you know what I mean.  It's nice not being the new one anymore and finally I'm not the smallest in the group!  

I was ridden by Kyle again on Mon and I had to walk right past all the girls on my way to the round pen.  I wanted to visit but I had work to do.  I did a little trotting for the first time with Kyle and it felt kind of strange so I trotted a little slower than usual.  I was told I was a good boy and got lots of pats; I like that.  I got to watch Jill work today and she looked pretty good. She did a fair amount of trotting on the lunge line with Kyle.  It seems he likes Jill better than me, but I'm ok with that me because Jackie is my human and Kyle is Jill's. Anyway I did get to do a lot of trotting today and I even got taken off the lunge line and Kyle rode me around the round pen.  It actually was easier turning with Kyle than it was with the long lines.

I'm with Jill, the round pen is getting a little boring but it did have a nice big puddle in it today so that was fun.
I think they have big plans for us tomorrow as it is suppose to be a nice day again.

Blaze also got to work in the round pen today and he seemed pretty good although he has to work on that joining up stuff.  He's starting to relax a little and we're beginning to hang out together ;)

Jack

A Shout out to EN & Jack Has a Video Posted

I hear that  Eventing Nation ran a nice story about us and that's no April Fool's joke (unlike that nasty white stuff this morning). Jackie says that whenever EN posts a link to our blog we get a lot more visitors. Maybe you should become regular followers so you won't miss any of our posts.

Thank you Annie and EN. Go Eventing! I hear John ends a lot of his posts that way so I thought I would too ;)


                                                                Jill

Look at me; I'm almost all grown up.  Check out the video of  be being lunged with a bit for the first time.  Actually it's not the best example of my work because I was too busy trying to spit out the bit.  I'm usually much more forward than this. Hopefully Jackie will get a better one soon.

After the video was taken I worked with the long reins again.  I'm getting this turning stuff pretty good.  Then Jackie stopped me by the mounting block . Mounting what I ask?  Anyway she was way up high and leaned on the saddle.  I'm not sure why she did that but she said the it was to help me with the next step of my training. I'm not quite sure what she was talking about but it wasn't too bad.  The best part is that I got my favorite: rubs on my forehead and a lot of good boys.

Jack

PS - I just found out what the next step of training is... I gave Kyle a couple of short rides today in the round pen.  No big deal, a lot of rubs & good boys!!