Cativa Cativa Cativa & Ferrary Enzo

[Pony Pony Pony]

Gill, if you're close to the library (or wherever you guys have your media/computer center) at your university they should have a card reader where you can upload your pictures... May be worth a try

[happilyeverafter]

or perhaps it will go in my comp! I'll have to have a look....I never thought of that


Okay today was a HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE DAY for both Enzo and Cativa!!

We did some chores when we first got to the barn, then brought the horses inside. I groomed Enzo first so we could get him done before the lessons started for the day. He was really well behaved when we were walking around so Sandra put Christina on Jaye and then she put me on my stomach on Enzo. We walked around once and then halted and I did the turn around to get my leg over the back!!

We waited for a moment so Enzo could figure out what was going on and then we started walking!!! Enzo walked twice around the arena with me on his back, and I even got to sit up in a 2point-ish position! YAY!!!!!!


After that I cleaned Enzo's cut (its getting way better!) and cleaned all my tack. Then Sandra told me to go get Cativa ready.

Got her out in the arena, walked around for a bit...it wasnt too hot so we did lots of work! Sandra put me on and we did about 10 minutes of steering exercises, then rode on the track (following Balzano) for about 5 minutes.

then Sandra got Christina to come out...she was in a decent enough mood to run! haha yay!

So christina stood behind us, and we all told Cativa to "trot!!", Christina clapped her hands and I squeezed my legs and clucked-- off we go!!!!!!!!!!!

We trotted down the long side and then walked the short side....What a star!

Then we did it again, except this time I just squeezed my legs and off we went trotting! We trotted the WHOLE WAY around the arena and Cativa didnt even bat an eyelash!

When we stopped again I jumped off and gave Cat a HUGE hug and everyone was clapping and cheering for her. It was super adorable

Sandra said "yay gillian! you're the first to trot cativa!.....too bad you're leaving soon". It was kind of a sad moment. I wish I could win the lotto and bring Cativa home with me

yayyyyyyyyyyy pony!



Cativa's trot is just BEAUTIFUL. So smooth and comfy- and she has such a nice long stride haha today I was riding in jeans with my half chaps...I laughed to myself and figured we must look like quite the hunter princesses....not the dressageys that everyone else is



Anyway, I'm going up again tuesday/wednesday/thursday so I will update then! Now I'm off to check for a card reader on my comp!

[happilyeverafter]

HALLELUJAH! I HAVE A CARD READER....

pictures in an hour or so, folks!

EDIT: Pictures posted in the picture place

[happilyeverafter]

Today was a great afternoon at the barn

Got out there, did some chores, then brought the kids inside. I groomed them both and then tack Enzo up- we walked around once with me on my belly and then did leg over. we walked around a bunch of times with me half sitting up. Enzo was really well behaved! This bird flew twice at our heads, and he spooked but only jumped and then settled down right away!! He didnt bolt like he has before! Yay Enzo!

Cativa was a star, as usual....today we practised steering at the walk; halt; rein back; trotting ANDDDDDDDDD steering at the trot!

At first she wasnt sure she could do two things at once (turn and trot at the same time) but I think she will get the hang of it.

Sandra says we are about ready to come off the lead rope! YAY

too bad I am going home in a week.

...I need my pony

[Sarah]

happilyeverafter said:

At first she wasnt sure she could do two things at once (turn and trot at the same time)

Tehehe this made me laugh.

[happilyeverafter]

haha I was laughing the whole time we were doing it!
You could almost see it in her expression...

trot trot trot TURN trot trot TURN trot trot walk. Cativa: "Huh, What?? oh ok" trot trot trot TURN trot trot walk Cativa: "No I dont think so."

[Joan]

aww sounds like she is doing soo well!!you need to bring her home!!hahah i'll send up my suitcase,ahahait gigantic!

[happilyeverafter]

haha If I could fit her in a suitcase I would leave all my clothes here and bring her home for sure


Okay update from today!!!!!!!!

Got to the barn, hung out for a while chatting with sandra and christina! then the vet came to see Cassey who has been off (from riding at least) for the past 9 months or so. She had a shot in her leg for her arthritis ... the vet is really nice and very funny. I liked him a lot and felt that he really knew what he was doing, which is nice!

Got Enzo and Cativa inside, groomed and tacked Enzo!

Today I got on like a real horse! Enzo was a superstar- he just stood there while Sandra threw me on For the first few minutes we walked around with me half sitting up (kind of jockey or two point-ish)...then I sat all the way up! Enzo was a great boy and followed Christina and Jaye around the arena for 10 or 15 minutes! yay boy!!!

Put Enzo away and got Cativa all groomed and tacked. Sandra threw me on and we walked once around...then she took the lead rope off!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I rode for about 20 minutes with no lead rope. Sandra stayed within 10 ft of us. We practised steering and halting and rein back. Cativa doesnt quite understand backing up yet After that we went back on the track with Sandra close by and we trotted...all by ourselves! it was pretty exciting, Cativa was such a good girl- it didnt take too much coaxing to get her going

We only did one long side because we didnt want to fry her brain too much. So after that we just played around with steering...with Sandra standing really far away!

Cativa got a little confused and wanted to follow Sandra. When she gets confused she just stands still! Yay! Haha I was a little worried she might throw a fit when she didnt know what to do

Anyway....
I'm going up tomorrow afternoon and MAYBE once more before I go back to Newfoundland.

I cant wait to go home but I'm really upset about having to leave my babies

[Joan]

aww..you will have to put video's alll over the barn so you can watch her from home ahaha,sounds like she is really coming along,and it is soo great for you to be working with a young horse(x2),can't wait to see you!

[Pony Pony Pony]

Gill, If I can get Bonnie at Rainbow you are welcome to play with her for the summer!

[happilyeverafter]

Thanks Tessa

[happilyeverafter]

Okay here is the Final update from Apple Hill Stables. I think yesterday was my last day


Got there around quarter after four. Sandra had to teach a lesson so Christina and I dumped all the waters, refilled the pails, gave hay out to everyone and put down straw in the stalls that needed it. Then we brought our 4 guys in, and I gave hay to the 4 left in the field.

We groomed all our horses (haha we each had 2 to do...) and then Sandra was ready for us so I tacked up Enzo. Sandra put Christina on and then me- she gave me a regular old leg up and I sat up straight right away!

Enzo was super relaxed yesterday. He followed Jaye for at least 20 minutes around the arena. Enzo isnt too sure of himself tho...he doesnt know how to stay on the track and tends to get really close to Sandra. We spent most of the time laughing at him, but I think he was catching on by the end of the ride


After that Christina had some fun playing bareback with Jaye while I got Cativa ready!

We tacked up quickly and went out to the arena. Sandra decided that we were going to leave the lead rope on today because Cativa got really confused yesterday and we wanted to have a good non-confusing ride!

We did all the usual stuff- practised steering (cativa is getting so good at it, yay!), woah, walk on and rein back. Then we did some trotting! haha Cativa's trot is soooooooo nice I just love posting along up there! She was really really forward yesterday which was fun...her stride is HUGE

Elaine, who rides Bella, came in time to see me ride Cativa and she was very impressed at how well Cat is doing! Yay

After the trotting we walked around for a bit and did more steering and then I got off!

Basically, my horse is a superstar.
haha


as we were walking around after the trot, Sandra said "So I've got people coming to look at the horses [for sale] on Monday". I kind of gave her a worried look...she turned around, laughed and said "Only the geldings...not Your Horse!"

I'm pretty sure I've never felt more relieved in my life


It would be really nice if Lucci found a new home. He doesnt really have his own person at AH, but he has so much potential that it is kind of a sin for him to be sitting around only getting ridden occasionally. We are really hoping that these people who come to look at the horses will buy someone...preferably Lucc tho!

Sandra was also saying that in the end of September they're going to a show in Devon and she is going to need me...I will probably end up staying at her house for the weekend (thursday-sunday) and taking care of the barn YAY!

I dont know if she's taking horses to the show or not but either way it should be fun!

Anyway that was my last day at apple hill stables...I doubt I'm going to get up there again before I go home. As I was leaving I said good bye to Cativa and Enzo and I definitley teared up, especially when I was with Cativa

I'm gonna miss my little Diva!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Gillian<3Cativa

[nat]

aww gill the babies sound like lil pros..and you made me tear up..lol!!just before i'm heading to work too..lol..ruin my makeup..haha anyways cat is progessing so quickly, i know how proud you are..she's such a pretty girlie!! enzo sounds like a character..haha i wanna meet them both!!maybe some day i'll surprize you..=)!!can't wait for you to come home..see me and sid!!

[happilyeverafter]

Got an email from Christina tonight that I think would be nice to share- a little update on everything happening at Apple Hill!






Hi Gillian

They're great!! Thank you so much for sorting and sending. I know we need a
new computer, and have been thinking about replacing ours for ages, except
that it still is perfectly functional for most of what we want to do, so it
seems such a waste. Well, these 8 images took 50 (fifty, 5-0!) minutes to
come in. So I guess we should bite the bullet. Or maybe it's so slow because
we have dial-up; I don't know enough about computers to know.

On Monday Sandra was wailing: "I MISS Gillian! She hasn't even gone yet and
already I miss her!" We do. As well as being a pleasure to have around the
barn, you have done a splendid job with Enzo and Cativa. We've worked with
Enzo twice and Cativa once. Second time on Enzo Sandra sat right up (first
time belly over) and he was fine with Sonya leading. From my vantage point
on Jaye it was quite comical to see the "OhMyGod!" expression on Enzo's face
and watch his back sag (well that's what it looked like - it may not have
actually sagged) and his legs scramble to rebalance himself when Sandra
landed on him. Not that Sandra is all THAT large but as she explained to
Enzo: sorry, she isn't tall-slim Gillian. I think he already knew that.
He was clingy and a bit worried, but SO good. We went round several times.
Cativa was just a pro. The only thing that puzzled her was Sandra's voice
coming from the wrong place. I made much fuss of her when I brushed her
(didn't attempt legs or feet; Enzo was fine with everything) and tacked her
up (beautifully easy thanks to you) and when I was leading her, so she has
decided I'm a pretty good second best. She reminds me so much of her mother,
Grace, when she hangs out of her stall and begs so prettily for attention.
Gracie was an attention sponge an a real ham about getting you to do what
she wanted. Even worse than Bella.

On Saturday John leaned "back up". After some initial hesitation he did it
first time I asked. (I used to ride Western when I was your age, so I did
know how to ask.) Second time he was a bit confused, third time he had it.
Much praise. On Sunday he did it pretty well twice, except that he turned a
bit rather that straight back. I could feel him almost begging: "ask again.
I can do it!" so I asked and he did. Perfect one step back. On Monday,
however . . . with Sandra watching, of course, he decided that since going
backwards when asked resulted in such extravagant praise, he would just keep
going backwards. Hey, this is what's wanted and I'm really good at it. About
ten steps! I thought it was funny. Sandra was not amused. _THAT'S_ why we
don't teach the young horses "back"! Ooooops. So John and I, by ourselves,
had a little remedial session about Whoa-stand, Whoa-walk-on and Whoa-back.
He got it right every time, so, although she has a point, I don't think
Sandra needs to worry about him.

I gather you are safe-home - hope your flight was O.K. - and glad to be
there? Thanks again for the pics. I'm looking forward to sending a couple at
least to my far-away friends.

Christina

[happilyeverafter]

Unfortunately I got news today that Enzo has gotten sick and is on medication a couple times a day for the next 10 days or so...the vet has already been up twice and is going up again today or tomorrow.

Jingles for Enzo!