Spa Day for Tango:)

So I decided I've been neglecting my "special" big boy and though since the weather was so gross and I had hardly anything to do on Sunday and it was pouring down rain, that I would spend some quality time with the Lishy-Monster. He seemed genuinely glad to see me, and I was really glad to see him after 3 days.

It has become extremely warms overnight, as what is being called a "pineapple express" (an extremely warm, wet front) moves in from Hawaii. We are expected to have over 3" of rain in the next couple of days, along with wind, thunderstorms (yay!) and flooding. All of our rivers are under flood advisory. Luckily for me both Tango and Ellie are in places that are high and dry. Well...to the best extent that you CAN be in Western Washington!

Anyhow, I decided since it was so warm, I'd strip Tango and groom the heck out of him, and since two of his braids had come undone and subsequently become linked together in a knot of epic proportions, that I should probably unbraid, brush, condition and rebraid his ridiculous mane. I closed his outside door because I had just stripped and rebedded his stall and the torrential rains were being blown so far sideways that the rain was actually reaching nearly to the front of the 12x12 stall!

So I had him stripped and his mane down, and since I haven't gotten any pics of him this way since he's been home, I decided to snap a quick picture for all of you...it is not a good picture, or even one that shows much of anything, since I had to take it from the corner of the stall, but as you can see, he is fat, shiny, and thirsty:) Enjoy!

Tango: The Swamp Thing

My life with Tango is not very blogworthy right now. I don't have a place to ride, and since I am concentrating on Ellie right now, I don't get to spend as much time with him as I'd like.

That said, I'd like to discuss why I've kept him despite my doubts about our future together. I know this horse inside and out. I know exactly how he will react in every situation. I know he won't kick me if I bump into him while cleaning his stall, or stick him with the pitchfork on accident. I know that he will stand tied, for hours if necessary. I know he'll pretty much hop ON a trailer, but he gets nervous if you ask him to back out. I know he gets a little snorty at new places, but after a few walks/longes in the arena and he is fine. I know I can touch him anywhere and he won't get pissy. I know when I take him on a walk, it's best to have a stud chain.

He is my pony and I love him, and even if I could never ride him again, I don't think I could bring myself to sell him. Especially when he banishes himself to the pouring rain so that I can clean his stall, and then stares in the stall at me longingly, dripping wet like it was *MY* idea for him to go out and stand there. Doofus:)

Tango Makes a Friend

So until yesterday Tango has had the only matted stall in the barn. Yesterday they were able to finally get a second one matted, and so the mare moved over to the other side of the barn (the stall Tango had been in, because he was leaning on the movable wall and knocking it off the track) and he moved two stalls down, which put him in between two horses as opposed to none previously.

He was, of course, thrilled about this development and he and the horse next to him, Icky, proceeded to become the best of pals...and played all day...prancing, biting, licking, tearing at eachothers blankets, biting, rearing and bucking. Here are two videos of Tango and Icky playing today while I was cleaning Tango's stall. Enjoy!:)

I Missed You Mama!

So I have been gone for a week on vacation, and for the two days prior to my trip we were slammed with a snow/ice storm. I have missed my pony and couldn't wait to go see him this morning. I knew he probably didn't even notice I was gone thanks to the wonderful care of my friend Jennifer who cares for him, but I sort of secretly hoped he would be happy to see me.

Let me tell you how nice it felt when I walked up to the barn and he turned his head to me, perked his ears and nickered. And then I said "Hi Lishy, did you miss me?" and he nickered again. And did that cute whuffling thing horses do when they want to talk but are being too lazy (you know, when you can see they are still talking, but can't hear anything?). I know, he just thought I was coming to feed him, but alas, he'd already been fed and watered that morning, and so he really truly WAS just happy to see me.

A Year of Nothing

So I was updating my other blog here (Ellie's Road to Recovery) and realized how badly I've neglected Tango's blog. So I figured I'd get it up to speed, and start updating it regularly again.

So since the last post, I suddenly became a total wimp about riding. I put Tango in part time training with Lindsey and started taking lessons on her "steady eddie" dressage horse Rudy. After getting to a point where I was broke, and still too much of a wimp to ride my own horse, I decided it best to lease him out to someone who would use him over the Summer. (see pic to left of us dropping him off, and yes, I was crying lol).

I leased him out to a wonderful gal named Jessica who just absolutely adored Tango. She thought he was great, weird faces, licking, destructive behavior and all. And so my friends Kat and Melissa and I took a road trip to Spokane to drop Tango off....thats right. Spokane. Six hours away from me. He traveled well and we had a fun road trip, where we encountered all sorts of weather and I got some wonderful photos!

He stayed with Jessica for six months, where he learned to be a horse, including living in a pasture, taking road/trail rides, and just basically being spoiled. She taught him to jump, and had a neat photo shoot with her friend who was a photographer They did very well together, but eventually Jessica got too attached and wanted to buy him. She and I worked out a tentative deal, but when all was said and done, her finances were just too up in the air to commit to a purchase.

And soo....Tango is home!:) He came home a couple of weeks ago and it has been very nice to have him around again. I haven't ridden since he got home due to terrible weather, and the arena not being finished, but he is happy living at my friend Jen's place and making friends with her horses, and eating:) Here is a pic of him during our recent snow, trying to figure out what the deal is!

Our Day Alone

So today although it was GORGEOUS out for a fall day (especially after the torrential downpours of yesterday that flooded our airport and freeways) there was next to no-one at the barn! It was super quiet but for the light breeze and the upbeat spanish music on the radio (hey, they are the ones who clean up after my spoiled boy--so they can have their music lol!)





I forgot to wash Tango's tacky purple polos that he won for being Top Five in Reg V HA Hunter Pleasure Jr Horse. But hey, they were free! Anyhow, so I wrapped him in his dirty polos and went and hunted through his paddock for his missing bell boot (found it!) and groomed him all up. I also clipped his nose, eyes and bridle path by myself with no extension cord. I opted not to try the legs and ears on my own...I didn't have much range on my clipper cord and Tango was trying to suck on the cord. It was sunny and remarkably warm for a fall day in late October for Washington, so I left the cooler behind. I longed him for maybe 2 minutes each direction (he wasn't feeling very forward today) and then proceeded to lead him around the outdoor arena with the jumps etc. He was very unconcerned with the jumps, and decided the water that was settling on top of the faux stone boxes (wood painted like stone) was a perfect thirst quencher. He also attempted to pull the (not very scary, although I thought it might be) outdoor umbrella over on top of us. We trotted over a few ground poles and cavaletti in hand, just for something different.

Then I took him back up to the barn and got tacked up. This last week I had ridden him for the first time ever (he has always been in a twisted snaffle when I've ridden him) in a smooth snaffle. He was a tad heavier, but really took to it quite well. Anyhow, put that and Lindsey's Grand Gilbert saddle on. I led him to the mounting block (in the freshly drug indoor with nobody in sight) and got Tango to stand nicely next to the mounting block, threw my reins over his head and got on...right away he felt unusually unresponsive. I was pulling his head to the right and he kept resisting and turning it left...got him to finally pull right and I had crossed the reins. DUH! Off I got and back to the mounting block and got them right this time. We had a good ride with no naughtiness (I don't know if hes even capable of being naughty under saddle) and even schooled the first part of the Training Level test #1. As I was cooling him out, we worked on yielding to the leg...steering him strictly off of leg and getting him to move out at the walk. I got off and led him out.

Still nobody in sight. Wow, should I ever get hurt riding, I wonder if anyone would know? I untacked, cleaned and replaced all the tack I had used. I groomed Tango again, and unbraided his mane and tail, which haven't been done since he got home. Brushed, cowboy magic'd them both and rebraided. In the photo next to this you'll see Tango's annoying but beautiful mane in all it's glory. I didn't get any pics of his tail. We'll leave that for when it's clean and pretty:)

So all in all a successful, beautiful Sunday ride. Can't ask for much more! Maybe by next Spring I'll feel confident enough to ride in the outdoor by myself. I think maybe this winter I'll ride out there even! It's such a pretty view, and so quiet!

Tara

Our New Chapter

So as you read below, Tango is home and we are getting to know eachother again. Yesterday I went out for my first dressage lesson with Lindsey. She likes Tango, but like most dressage trainers would, is encouraging me to stick strictly with dressage. She says his best natural gaits are his walk and canter. She thinks his trot is a "6" but she says that is okay because as you move up in levels, you get the most emphasis on the canter which he is naturally cadenced at.

I have a lot to learn. For instance, I don't know what a 20, 10, 5 meter circle is, or what my touch points should be for a circle or serpentine. Pretty basic stuff. I am a western rider...the only thing you need to know is slow and steady. Now I'm doing a "pattern" and trying to teach myself about lengthenings, extensions, speeds, collection, going to the bit, cadence and trying to do it all so that it is pretty and my horse and I look like we have "harmony".

I have to say, Tango was so considerate and did everything I asked of him. I could not be happier with the job Ron and Josie did with him. I also couldn't be happier with Lindsey's teaching methods. I feel like I get praise all the time, and really great visuals. I think our biggest obstacles are going to be getting Tango to get a true extension and using his back. And of course I'm going to need to do some studying of tests and watching some videos to get an idea of what I'm up against! I really welcome the challenge though, as Lindsey thinks we will be very competitive at training and first level. I hope she's right!

After our lesson was over and Lindsey and I were discussing how it had gone, and she felt that he was a very well trained horse who will be very patient with me while I am learning. She thinks that he will do well in the training level this year, and that during my lesson she thought he had an "8" canter, and his walk is pushing that as well that we may perhaps have the ability to score in the mid-seventies this year, which would definately give us a shot at a Top Five at regionals, and if we continued to progress, may even be competitive at Nationals!