Norco Extreme Mustang Trail Challenge Blog

Riding Magazine Article EMM Norco

2009-07-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

First article to go to print about the mixups at the Norco Extreme Mustang Trail Challenge.

http://www.ridingmagazine.com/riding_onlinemag/articles/2009_07/gallop.htm

More Norco Pictures!

2009-06-13T09:45:00.001-07:00

<-----My favorite picture!

Here are some more pictures from my friends Jim and Lani Muche of the Urban Trail Challenge and of the dreaded auction!

Oh the relief, she is mine!

More truth revealed by BLM.

2009-06-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

I guess while running the freeze brands again, it turns out my horse "Sheeza Hottie" was previously adopted out. She was reposessed due to "lack of ability to care for" so that could mean anything but it doesn't sound pleasant to me. There are various degrees of "lack of ability to care for" I am just wondering if this helped or hindered my chances? Does it sound like my horse had "limited gentling" I don't know but it doesn't sound like it was done at a professional trainers facility or by a professional or they wouldn't have had to reposess her. So, there you are for some reason both possibilities of adoption happened to me. A horse I had in training competed with me and then my horse was reposessed due to "lack of ability to care for". I can't even begin to believe it the odds of it! I can tell you she wasn't easier due to her prior experience she was difficult just the same but that could explain her stubborness! It could have been human taught by someone other than me. Woo hoo, scapegoat!

Back to the website for me!

2009-05-30T12:11:00.001-07:00

I started this blog for my Extreme Mustang Makeover experience with Sheeza Hottie. It is complete now so I will venture back to the world of website maintance!

You can see my future adventures at www.reedperformancehorses.com

Thank you all for you support and following my accomplishments with her. It was an awesome ride!

The NORCONIANS are mad! Here is the truth as I know it.

2009-05-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

I was asked to not speak about this situation but it is getting out of control!

I don't know who is at fault, BLM, Mustang Heritage Foundation, or Buzz Riebschlager and it is not my place to say. All I know is "my story" and it began 06/12/08.

My friend Caren, Mom, Amber, Sydney, and I went to BLM in Ridgecrest. It was a day to say the least! We were going to pick up the infamous Valcore (see his story on my website) and 0377, go get her if she is still there, a little sorrel mare with a huge white blaze and 4 socks, extremely friendly. In the big pen of 250 horses she came right to the fence to see us. My daughter Amber picked her out and I was going to challenge myself to see if I could apply to do the Extreme Mustang Makeover after I had seen it in Sacramento! Note that the date was just after last years event! I was very excited to challenge myself to see what I could get done in 90 days. Mom had other ideas, she saw a beautiful black bay mare she had to have! So Amber doesn't get 0377 and grandma comes home with Jewel. A 2 year old! What am I going to do with a 2 year old? I can't ride it yet! So I do ground work and there goes my 90 day challenge.

I got her to like humans, being groomed, picking her feet, lunging, and wearing a saddle and bridle. She loved my kids! What else is there to do with a 2 year old except repitition so there we were. Then my parents decide to get a divorce and have to sell the property where all of our horses are housed. At $350.00 a head to board we had to cut way down. We gave 3 to good homes, sold 1 and knew we could give Jewel back to BLM and they would take care of her no questions asked. Since she was just 2, she could sit for a little while until things got better for us and we could go back for her if she hadn't been adopted. She had rubbed out a fair portion of her mane so, I roached it. I figured if someone knowledgeable came in they would see she had been somewhere already and give her a chance. I also while crying told the BLM employees that she was an awesome horse that had all of her groundwork done and if someone came in to tell them about Jewel. I really wanted her to have a chance to get out of the pens at the BLM. That was October 08.

Move on to The Norco Extreme Mustang Trail Challenge May 15 - 17, 2009! I had a great time! So many wonderful people for a wonderful cause. The horses are amazing! The concept is unchallenged and it is run extremely professionally. I really like the people of the Foundation that I have met. I brought Hottie of course! She is my black beauty! The first day we did fair. Not great but fair. My scores were fine I was not there to win, I was there to have a great experience with my horse and stay on while doing it. She had dumped me hard 2 weeks prior at the same huge rock where we had to start the rural challenge. With that challenge behind me it was cake from there on!

Standing on the rail after competition on Friday I noticed something very familiar! A bay horse in the arena that moved like a donkey! Just like Jewel! I was so excited! I ran to BLM to see could this be my horse? Could she have really gotten a chance out of the pens at the BLM? I was so excited it was her but now her name was Windy! Little did I know how much strife, distention and anger this would cause many people. Many things would go tremendously wrong with my realization. I am very naive about people and things. I amaze myself sometimes, I really want people to be good so I go with that! Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't!

I cried when I realized, I had said it on the rail outloud in front of fellow competitors and that it could be something not everyone should know. I went directly to Buzz while crying. I told him I think I have done something wrong. This was my horse and I trained it and I said it in front of other people. I was crying because I didn't want to ruin his experience and his work with her. SHE WAS IN 3RD PLACE! I was so happy for Jewel. Then other people started telling me he had to have known when he got her she had been worked with. He asked me had I told Patti and Randi? I told him I had not I had only told a worker at BLM. I told him I would keep it quiet and ask my mom not to talk about it to anyone while the competition was going on. I did I kept quiet until after the auction. Little did I realize, he was going to win! Wow, now there is even more pressure I had trouble sleeping. After the auction I told Randi about it while I was paying for Hottie. She had no clue and asked me to send her all information pertaining to us having Jewel. I did and they verified it was for sure her. It is not my place to say there was conspiracy I have no clue if anyone conspired with anyone. I will say the Heritage Foundation was nothing but professional with me and have never been anything but nice to me and my mom regarding this situation. Remember this is for the horse! I was proud of Jewel and so happy to see her out of the pens! If this was her vessel for a happy home so be it! She has a life now and a legacy! She has a event to show up to next year and the following, which means she will be trained for 2 more years not standing around in the hot desert sun waiting for a home.

I don't want the event to be harmed from gossip and I certainly don't want anyones career to be effected! The horse had some work but that does not take away from the fact BUZZ DID TRAIN HER TO DO THE THINGS SHE DID AT THE COMPETITION! The playing field was not level, no. Other people had rank horses for sure! Im sure Hottie was not as rank as some of the other horses in the competition (gidget) but that doesn't take away from what I did with her. I hope this helps to curb some of the gossip and ill feelings regarding the situation. I DID NOT RETURN HER BECAUSE SHE WAS BAD OR I COULDN'T HANDLE HER! The horses still need homes and we have the talent to make them marketable to the public, lets use our talents for the good of the horse and hope we all learn from our experiences! We all make our own decisions in life, lets make good honorable decisions from here on out!

Anyone for the Wild Horse and Burro Expo in Reno?

2009-05-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

I have decided that the Mustang Makeovers are not for me, I had decided that the politics of showing in my area (Arabians) had gotten too bad, I decided to try the makeovers thinking it was a level playing field with everyone on the same level. That proved not to be true so I have decided to go in a new direction with the wild horse. I am going to take Hottie up to the Expo in Reno and see what Wild Horse Shows are all about! My goal is to put together a small show circuit of 6 shows that will be for Mustangs only and they will offer day end high points and year end high point prizes. I happen to come from a promotional background so I have the experience to put it together I just need to do a bit of research first! The class list for Reno is available and looks fun! www.wildhorseandburroexpo.com

Who would like to join us in Reno? I would love to meet some of the other Mustang owners there and have a great time with our great animals!

I am still going to take part in the Trainer Incentive Program, I do think it is a excellent program that will give the horse an advantage to being adopted!

A trip planned to Ridgecrest!

2009-05-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

I met a very nice man in Burbank at the BLM Adoption who really wanted to buy Hottie at the auction this past weekend but kept his word that he would not bid against me (thank goodness finally a person who keeps his word) I am going to pick up a Trainer Incentive Fund horse in Ridgecrest for him on June 16th, I have room for one more to come back if there is anyone out there that is interested in having a mustang trained and the Mustang Heritage Foundation paying for the first month.

Let me know!

Hottie picutres from the EMM

2009-05-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

A special thanks to Jim and Lani Muche for not only their pictures and event coverage but their awesome support of Hottie and I!
Trot poles

Pick up feet

Load? Hottie only loads in private, absolutley no public loading!

Pivot turn both directions in the box

Off to the trail!

HAPPY TRAILS!

URBAN TRAIL PHOTOS TOMORROW!

Not top ten but one of the high sellers?

2009-05-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

What a day.
First I want to start off by saying I had a great time! What an experience. I am not sure I can handle that again, emotionally speaking!

I was a complete wreck today at the auction. Like it said in our rules and regulations I showed my horse to her best at the auction by riding her in. Not everyone who wanted to keep their horse did that. I started out crying telling them I wanted to please keep her and be kind by letting her come home with me and my kids. The gentleman in the red shirt was not kind and when the bidding got up to $2000.00 I was hysterical but still showing my horse to the best of my hysterical ability. I could not afford $2000.00 let alone for it to go much higher. People in the stands were bringing down cash and handing it to me. Many people were crying right along with me. I was not even in the top ten but for some reason he thought she was worth more than most of the top ten horses. The Champion went for $3600.00! HELLO MR. RED SHIRT? When the bidding got to $2300.00 Patti Colbert (executive director of the Mustang Heritage Foundation) decided that was enough I guess and had someone outbid the guy and closed the sale, I had stopped bidding and was sobbing literally! I think he was not going to stop until he got her. I heard her say sold for $2400.00 and going home with her trainer! Somehow, I bought my horse for $2400.00! Whatever happened I dont care. We brought Hottie home and I am happy to have her. I think I need to borrow some money and I sure hope they dont put that check in tomorrow!

What a great weekend! Thanks to everyone for their support!

Having a blast!

2009-05-15T17:42:00.003-07:00

Those are all mustang butts! 2 Challenge horses and Roxanne (Becky's 15 year old mustang mare)

Rodeo Burger tie up! I hooked my reins on my

noseband. Of course being Hottie she pulled back and broke the noseband but it was fun anyway!

We are having such fun! Yesterday we went riding all over Norco! I tagged along with Jennifer White, Mary and Jenn's mom Becky. They showed me all around the town of Norco. We even stopped for a drink at Rodeo Burger. This town has pens and tie up areas everywhere so you can do your shopping while riding. They showed me the beautiful river also!

Today was our first day of competition. I didn't do great but am happy with what we did. Hottie didn't get in the trailer. Im sure she could sense my doubt of if she would do it so just took advantage of that. Then remember a couple weeks ago when I trailered out her and got dumped by the huge rock? Of course thats where our rural challenge started! Woo hoo so it was almost a goat rodeo but disaster avoided and away we went! I am so proud of her she did awesome. The judges scored me low but who cares? Thats their opinion and I am stoked about the fact that she was AWESOME! We saw a huge black lizard soaking up the sun on a rock and a non venomous snake of some sort. I had a wonderful time and my mare has an enormous heart. She was not really in the shape to do some of the hills we did. She just went. I realize I really needed more than an hour a day with her but what can you do with a 2 year old to care for? You make due and thats what we did!

By the way Lanny Leach has an awesome horse named Soso that is currently 1st! I am very happy to say Jennifer is currently 9th WOO HOO and if Mary was allowed to be scored she would sit 10th. Way to go my friends! You kick ass!

One day left....

2009-05-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

I was going through all of the pictures yesterday that we have taken in the 90 days I have had Hottie. What a great experience this has been, I laughed, cried and laughed some more. I really want to thank my sponsors again! Damoors Feed and Tack in Burbank, CA., just down the street from the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, please go pay them a visit if your near by! Caren Bramhall for believing in me and making it possible for me to actually achieve a goal that I had set last year when my mom and I attended the Extreme Mustang Makeover at the Western States Expo in Sacramento (coming again in June). I had no way of making it come true without the generous use of her facility and housing of Hottie for the 3 months she has been with us! Karen Monroe at Wells Fargo Equine Insurance for believing in my ability and putting her name behind it! Virginia at Great Western Insurance for taking on the risk of a wild horse (no claims to date)! Then of course my family for being patient with me and babysitting when I needed it!

I am happy to say that I have many people who love me and are going to try to make sure Hottie comes home Sunday! From as near as sitting on the couch next to me, to as far as my amazing family in Arkansas (love you all), Hottie and I have reached many people through this experience and I appreciate their support! I am excited to say the only thing I am worried about now is doing our best and showing people what AWESOME HORSES MUSTANGS REALLY ARE AND THE AMAZING THINGS THEY CAN DO FROM WILD TO 90 DAYS! Lets hope we make it to the finals!

Again, I will be updating throughout the event at www.twitter.com/showbrat feel free to add yourself if you are interested in what is going on this weekend!

We are happily progressing!

2009-05-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to say that I have been cantering on the correct lead quietly and willingly both directions. The gait is not as pronounced but that is ok she is taking everything in stride and doing very well. I have been practicing trail obstacles for the horse course and trying to figure out what to do if I am lucky enough to make the finals. I found the press kit for our competition online and it says there are 27 horses coming out of the 36 that originally started and that 5 of them have foals at their side. From what I understand those 5 will be competing seperately from us. For those of you attending they will be auctioning the mare and foals as a package and will be having a "Baby Shower" for them and "Mommy and Me" classes!

That leaves 22 competing in my category so almost half will be in the finals. I realized I needed to come up with something! My little gaited mare is not going to be doing any reining patterns but I will think of something cool! Mixing the music is challenging I am not in any way technically inclined. Hopefully I figure it out! I really love this horse and as the days grow nearer to our competition the auction is very scary. I really hate the idea that I may lose my horse due to lack of funds. I hope there is a fairy godperson out there somewhere or a good deed I have done will come around and help me out here! I really want to take her to Reno to show her at the big mustang show there! God willing........ Hey Jenn and Mary wanna go?

Twitter

2009-05-08T16:50:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have been following but will not make it out to Norco. I will be tweeting about what is going on during the event. I know I appreciated any blog updates and twitter updates when I was following the Oregon and Gatorland EMMs!

You can follow at www.twitter.com/showbrat also Extreme Mustang Makeover uses Twitter during the competition www.twitter.com/extrememustang I will have my computer with me there so I will blog about everything going on!

It is going to be a very fun event! I am so excited to meet everyone and see the mustangs! If you are coming please introduce yourself and please don't bid against me for my horse! I really want to bring her back home with me but have limited funds after Sydneys broken foot!

It all clicked!

2009-05-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

Today was an awesome trail ride. I decided to change saddles the other day and put my moms Tucker saddle on Hottie. Wow, what a difference that saddle makes! It is one of the most comfortable saddles I have ever ridden in. It doesn't move on my horse at all. It sits me about 4 inches more forward than my roping saddle. I had such a great ride today we started on the bridle path went up under the freeway overpass, across the hands free bridge, up the fire road took a steep little goat path with a bunch of rocks back down and she was awesome! She has learned to tuck her butt down hill with me on her. I was worried about that! We then went down the middle of our stream back around to the freeway again and home. Nothing bothered her she was amazing and she actually had a great time too! We gaited all over and even cantered 6 strides. That was the first ride where she actually didn't fight me at all about anything! I am so proud of her! I really needed that ride, I was starting to doubt if we are ready or not, I am confident we will do fine! (that doesn't mean win, just means middle of the pack) I am extremely superstitious about jinxing myself!

A very fun day!

2009-05-07T08:01:00.001-07:00

We went out to Ingalls Arena in Norco yesterday. Jim and Lani Muche came out to take some follow up pictures for their article in The Equestrian News. As always it was wonderful to see them and the great photos are attached!

I got to finally ride with Jennifer White and her mare Ruger and Mary and Striker, I am amazed at what Mary has done with Striker. Those horses are awesome! I was able to also meet Madelyn Wagner and her mare. That is a very athletic horse! She has done a bunch of good work on her mare! She can move diagonal across the arena at a floating trot like a dressage horse. Very responsive mare!

Hottie was there just gaiting around and wasn't thrilled about the bucking shutes but otherwise she was Hottie, trot, trot, trot, stop, beat, beat, beat! I really am torn between making her canter or just developing her gait. I know people who ride gaited horses want the horse for the gait. Well see what happens!

Finally we canter.

2009-05-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

My baby girl Sydney! She loves her Hottie girl! No more cast!

I am so lucky to have good friends! I was able to use Sue's arena today which is bigger than Caren's and finally was able to get my little black gaiting mustang to canter! Woo hoo. I also had another bucking disaster on Sunday so I have changed into a short shanked snaffle bit for a little more leverage if it ever happens again I will be able to pull her head up. We actually had a nice ride on Sunday at Ingalls Arena until the bucking incident! I will say that the incline they told us we are going to have to ride up is a friggen rocky hill. I was a little discouraged after the bucking incident but am good now. I have put it all in perspective in my head and realize that any other horse I would be training at this point I would not be pressing this hard and this little mare trys her heart out to learn what I want from her. She had caution tape all over her today and tin cans tied all over her also. Around her neck is just a remnant to remind her to behave or for people to stay away!

Good times!

2009-05-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

Decided to take Hottie out on the trail today by myself for the second time. We were much improved from the first time. It is pretty active today with gunsils running down the yuppie trail. So a few times I had to get off to prepare her for the oncoming ding dongs! She still thinks horses running at her means something really bad must be chasing them and we must go too! She is really doing well, I am very proud of her. It was cool and breezy. She was very brave! We for the first time met some squeaky mailboxes. I didnt dare open it while mounted alone! So I opened it from the ground and she still ended up jumping 5 ft away from it! It all ended up good though! She got used to the mail and the mailbox so hopefully next time will be easier!

I opened Sue's mailbox today! I want to thank her for the use of it and let you in on some EXCELLENT JEWELRY! Visit her website for awesome Poni Girl Jewelry!
www.poni-girl.com

Happy again!

2009-04-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

She is back! Everything I threw at her today she accepted and never ran off. When the tarp started falling off she stopped. I am so excited that she is using her brain again!

After caution tape, chaps and blue tarp we worked on sidepassing over to pick up the tarp!

She was pretty good. I carried it around for a bit and then threw it down and she walked on it.

We also worked on sidepassing over a pole. She has a little bit to learn there but tried very hard.

Back to the ground driving.

2009-04-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit worried and decided today to really get back to basics with Hottie. I saddled her tied. (thats a first) Because she has been know to dump my saddle for no reason. Then I decided I needed to get out the long lines and really enforce WHOA no matter what. WHOA DANG IT! I untied her after I put her saddle on and proceeded to add a curcingle to the equasion and like a flash she was gone! Bucking and Squalling all the way to the other end of the arena. I retrieved her and threw it all over her and got it hooked up. I added her bridle and then the long lines and like a flash she was gone! Bucking and squalling but UH OH, I said WHOA DANG IT and she leap into the air like a gazelle and reared and fought me and went to work. I hate that! I hate that her flight response is soooo violent! She was awesome though and after the long lining I got on and she rode great. Mission completed! Again tomorrow with a few more elements added for shock value and hopefully we can get her to stop overreacting!

Away for the weekend.

2009-04-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

I was away in San Diego for my cousin's wedding in San Diego. Yesterday I moved Hottie back from the Roping Ranch she had a gelding next to her that thought he was a stallion so everytime I took her from the stall he would scream and holler. I couldn't get anything positive done there.

Hopefully she will settle down because we really need to get some good work done in 2 weeks. She has a bunch to learn before we compete. I hope we can get it done! THANK GOD IT IS ALL MARES IN NORCO! I am not sure how she will be with the foals though. Remember the mini incident!

Good thoughts everyone! Any advise on how to handle the stress of the deadline is welcome! Tracy, Michelle any thoughts?

Round pen

2009-04-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

I have just been working Hottie in the round pen for a couple of days to get her to settle down waiting for her to go out of season. Regu-mate is on the way. The vet didn't have it on her truck so she is mailing it to me. I am thinking with continued training she will train out of the lack of concentration, I don't see her on it forever just don't want her coming in to season during Norco.

Sydney tripped in a gopher hole in the backyard yesterday and broke her foot. Poor baby has a tiny pink cast! It is amazing how well she gets around on it!

Can you say REGUMATE?

2009-04-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

I decided to push my luck I guess yesterday and take Hottie to the roping in the evening. She was in season and showed everyone in view by stopping every 3 steps to squirt at anything that moved. They wrapped the cows and let one group out to go down to the other end. It was all over from there. She thought she should be able to run after them with no regard to what what I was telling her to do! So, I very carefully left that arena and went to the small one. She was acting like such a pig I didn't want her to think she could just behave like that and get put up. So we proceeded to walk 3 steps and stop all over the other arena, by this time I am just plain angry but not taking it out on her. I am just wanting her to concentrate on me and do what I say so I can end on a good note and put her up. NOT! About 80 circles and me kicking and kicking, she is going no where. I kick out of my stirrup by accident and all hell broke loose. You would have thought a mountain lion had attacked her. She bucked and squalled, I bailed off, and the attitude adjustment began. This is the first time I have implimented tough love on Hottie. She took it in stride and FINALLY was back to her normal self! I have the vet coming to do teeth today on my other horses so I am going to get her some Regumate because its about Norco time next month when this will come again! She is staying at the Roping Ranch and I am going to put her through "hell week" until the end of the month!

Solo down the trail.

2009-04-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

With our latest update from The Heritage Foundation regarding the competition it was made apparent that we will be working in the arena first then leaving the arena to go by ourselves down the trail in 5 minute intervals. So, I practiced today alone. Im really glad we will be in the bridle path because if we weren't I would be like a one man parade down the middle of the street! I am very proud of her though! She was great once we got into the bridle path area so not a problem for us.

I also added my spurs today because Stacie at BLM was laughing at my two mules for sister sarah routine and told me to get my spurs on, so I did. AWESOME! She moves off my leg and is super good and responsive with them! 2 birds with one stone today and did I mention it's really hot? 102 her in Chatsworth yesterday and today about the same. Is this APRIL or AUGUST?

BLM adoption

2009-04-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

Hottie and I went to the BLM adoption today! Caren came with Valcore also! We had a great time. I really enjoy Stacy and Art from the BLM Ridgecrest Facility, I like the others also just don't know their names (sorry) If anyone needs a yearling or burro there are some great prospects there! I really like a pony (yes a mustang pony how awesome it that) that they brought! Palomino with 2 blue eyes and a blaze! So cute! It was all I could do not to buy him! I wish I could give them all homes.

We saw the presentation of 3 palominos to the U.S. Marine Corp. Semper Fi! It was really cool!

Back to my sweet black mare. Of course she was a hit. People wanted to know where they could buy her and I told them in Norco but I have full intention of taking her home! They were really nice and said they wouldn't bid against me! SWEET! I led her in first to judge her temperment in the new place. Not a problem, she has a tendency to want to get in strangers laps though looking for some form of food. All was fine and we went back to the trailer and tacked up. Got on and showed off to the spectators what you can do with a wild horse in aprox. 65 days! We showed them her cute little gait. She was awesome. What I enjoyed most was the BLM employees coming to say hi to her, very proud to be part of what was going on with her, mustang people are a nice group to be associated with.

Off to find a steer!

2009-04-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

Today Mom and I hauled Hottie to Gibson Ranch in Sunland, CA. This is a great roping ranch! I am leaving her there until Sunday when we are going to ride in a poker ride through Hanson Dam.

She loaded up all by herself! No prickly broom this time. So I knew it was going to be a great day. We got there and she unloaded like she had been there all her life. I put her in a stall and went to get some lunch. Came back, tacked her up, lunged her for a second and got on. We went into the big arena and she was very good. We got a steer out and she loved it! No one could believe she had just over 60 days training from the wild. She laid her ears back and just went after him. She looks kinda ugly with her ears like that but she was all business she is very cowy. I was pretty happy with her.

Tomorrow we are going to Los Angeles Equestrian Center to the adoption and they want Hottie to visit to show what can be done with the mustang. Which is really cool! I am excited to show off my shiny little black mare!

2 huge paints and a little black mustang!

2009-04-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

My mother in law is visiting the grandkids from Arkansas this week so I have had a little more help with Sydney! I got to go out on a 2 hour trail ride. It has been a long time since I have been able to relax and not worry about getting back within an hour. So many thanks to Elaine!

Today Hottie and I rode out with our friend Karen Van Pelt she had two to work. We had a great time! We went up and down hill considerably better than we did the last time we went out. We trotted out and cantered a bit. It was too much fun! Slowing down going down hill needs work but with most babies down hill takes a bit of getting used to. I am very happy with her behavior she saw a shopping cart and walked right up and put her nose on it. Very cool! We did almost get attacked by a piece of flying cardboard because it was windy today. She took 2 steps that I thought could have turned into a bolt but came right back as soon as I asked! We went the whole length of the creek in the water as to avoid the quick sand that has arrived since the fire and rains. Im happy with my horse! Did I mention how good my little black mare was? AWESOME!

Very exciting!

2009-04-15T12:47:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to say I have found a facility that will accomodate me to train Mustangs from! It is hard when you dont own your own facility to get someone to let you bring wild horses in. Especially when they have other boarders to be considerate of!

It is a semi large facility that has seperate levels. The level I am going to have has its own arena a roundish round pen and my own tack room! It has 8 stalls and is seperate from the rest of the boarding facility so I won't bother anyone and they wont bother me! I am so excited to start bringing in more horses for the Trainer Incentive Program. I am making a run to Ridgecrest soon and if you are interested in coming to see and possibly pick out a prospect let me know!

Finally a competent photographer!

2009-04-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

HOW CUTE IS MY MARE! I don't quite fit in the saddle backwards. I quess its diet time. Today was our first day with the bridge that my dad built. She was awesome. Mom got to see all my neat tricks! Now all I need is some guns and balloons and I am set! After all of our fun riding today she got her first soapy bath which she enjoyed! She like the smells of the soap and curled her lip at them.

Excellent adventure!

2009-04-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

We hauled to Santa Barbara, Ca. to Rancho Oso Guest Ranch and Stables. It is amazing there. No cell phones, no computers, just family, friends wildlife and horses! What could be better? Our trip was cut short due to a family tragedy. My great grandmother passed away and her services were last night and today. So we were only there overnight, it was still great.

Hottie settled right into the stall like she had been there all her life. We got there late in the afternoon so I just fed and went to our cabin to play with the kids. Friday morning I made an attempt at tacking up outside of her stall. She dumped my saddle in the dirt twice (I HATE WHEN SHE DOES THAT), she hadn't done it in a few weeks so I figured it was over with. She sometimes can be a pill about the saddle. She is smart enough to know how to just dump it and stand there like nothing happened. Her goal was to graze on the grass there and not wear a saddle at all! NOT. So, I tied her to the hitching rail there which I was reluctant to do because of her confinement issues. SHE DID NOT PULL BACK! This to me was great because I was really leary of her tying outside of the backyard. I got the saddle up on her and much to her dismay we started to walk away from Dixie and out towards the round pen. There were no mule stopping moments at all which is another weight off my shoulders! She got into the round pen that was quite a bit away and went to work just like we were at home! I was so happy with her. We went into the large arena and saw some beautiful baby sheep outside the arena. She went all around the arena no issues. We weaved some poles they had set up and called it a day! I was very happy with her confidence with me away from the security of home! Actually she was better than she is at home! Amber was my photographer and she was no where to be found while I was riding but we have pictures of the ground, turkeys, flowers, and herself! Leave it to an 8 year old!

Steady progress

2009-04-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day. We worked on holding the arc of the circle without the help of a rail. She tends to want to carry her head cocked to the right. I really worked hard today to have her equally bent each direction. She needs help lifting the left shoulder and she is learining to be respective of my legs as her guide for the circle. She did great no leaking out of the circle. I tried to go without the crop today. NOT A CHANCE. She hasn't gotten to the point where she is ready to get out there and willingly go forward. I am totally not used to such reluctance. Oh well I guess its better than her running off. So, I stood up in the saddle today, sat behind the saddle and slid of her rear end. She didn't move a muscle. So here we go with the trickery.

What an awesome day.....

2009-04-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

I set up a trail course in the arena today. We weaved cones, jumped a jump, walked on a blue tarp with a piece of white lattice on it with the wind blowing the corners up! Thats when I got nervy and decided to figure out what gimmick I can come up with if I make the Top Ten Finals. Lets just say come harvest time, I am ready! (apples, oranges, avocados, apricots, bring it on) If we need to rope got that covered too! I can swing over her head no problem, both sides no problem! I think if I were at all talented as a trick roper she would stand there with the big loop going round and round! She also learned how to stop with my feet and travel in a straight line. Good times!

Starting to push....

2009-04-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

Syd loves to sit up there! She always yells HAT, HAT, RIDE! Hottie lets her sit there as long as she wants and doesn't move a muscle. Sydney has been Hotties favorite person from DAY 1 at the BLM when we picked her up. Thats her baby!

I am starting to push Hottie a little more. She is doing great and handled it well! Yesterday was the first time she was actually winded from working hard. I am really happy to know she can handle being pushed beyond her comfort zone and takes it in stride.

It is spring break here and my daughter starts being off of school this Thursday so we have planned a trip with the horses to Rancho Oso Guest Ranch in Santa Barbara, CA. It's an awesome place with cabins to stay in. Cattle to rent, miles and miles of trails with an awesome creek (real creek). Hottie is going! She will be exposed to cattle, turkeys, sheep and the huge creek you can swim your horses in! It should be fun and hopefully, I will get good pictures!

Trailer ride!

2009-04-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

Today was a very good experience! Hottie is still pretty dependant on another horse to give her the confidence to move around and today that confidence was VALCORE! Yes Valcore! (for those of you that don't know his story it's on my website http://www.reedperformancehorses.com/ )not only was it Hotties first horse show it was Valcores first encounter with the public also!

We started off putting Valcore in the trailer. He was great. He hasn't been loaded since we brought him home from BLM about 10 months ago. As we all know BLM doesn't lead them in they load them through the shutes so even though Valcore had been gentled before he was taken back there, for the wranglers safety they must treat every horse as if its wild.

Hottie was not so eager to get in but with the help of Caren and a prickly broom she got in. I guess we had better work on that again. We got there and there were lots of things to see and plenty to be scared of but neither horse was afraid!

Hottie was more nervous than Valcore but never acted on it and eventually just settled in to watch what was happening around her. I was very proud of Caren she went in and signed herself right up for the in hand trail and showed her horse! AWESOME! He was great for her and I was very proud of the progress they have made together. After the in hand class the wind started to pick up and wanting to end on a good note Caren was fine with the decision to call it a day! They loaded right up and home we went! What an awesome day. Next weekend we will be taking a trip somewhere else!

Arena today!

2009-04-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

Today we rode with Caren and Valcore in the arena. I am so impressed with the progress Caren has made with Valcore! Hottie (mustang horse not me) was very good. It was the first time we rode with another horse in the arena and the second time we rode in the arena, not the round pen. We worked on following our nose, circling with outside leg pressure, continuous forward movement and not trying to get to Valcore for security! We walked and trotted! No problems, she still requires a lot of encouragement to keep going and of course like all green horses she leaks to the outside, but not for long! She could be a candidate at some point for spurs, not sure yet. I feel like two mules for sister sarah with my crop wacking her every three steps! Im a spur girl, not a crop/whip girl. I dont abuse my spurs I have a quiet leg and use them as an aid, not torture devices. (For the anti-spur society not interesed in hearing about your feelings, so save it please) Pictured is my National Top Ten Champion Western Pleasure Horse, Kenos Braveheart - We are at the Region One Championships in the photo where we were Champion on all 3 judges cards! I had to buy new spurs at that show because someone stole my silver engraved show spurs the day before my class. They became my lucky spurs after we won and I had them tattooed on my back so I would always have them for good luck. I carry them in my purse with me, thats how much I like my spurs!

40 Days left!

2009-04-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

I am feeling pretty good about where I am with 40 days left. I sit and study You Tube and watch the Top Ten Final Performances from past Makeovers. I have never been the kind of person that runs mach 10 around the arena while cracking a bull whip, bareback and jumping through fire hoops. Even good reiners have control of their speed and are framed up in the big fast! I am more of a finesse, collection, frame, transitions, etc. type of trainer. It is easy to run fast it's hard to collect up and lope! I am hoping that in the end tricks and glitz dont overshadow traditional training. I haven't ever had to load a horse into the bed of my truck and hope I never have to! I don't want to offend anyone but I think in the end what we want are useful marketable horses, there is not much call for changing a lightbulb while standing on your saddle aboard your horse. Although it could be good for harvesting apples and oranges? Do I really have to come up with a gimmick? (CRAP) It goes against everything I stand for!
Anyway about today! I hooked on to my friend Karen and her client Ashley as she went down the street to work horses she has in training. I want to thank Total Equestrian Experience for allowing us to come in and visit! They offer a great lesson program here in Chatsworth for all level of riders and can be found at http://www.totalequestrianexperience.ning.com/ . I also got to see an old friend from the Arab shows. She owns the facility that the program works out of! It was great to see her and talk with her! She is now a realtor in the area so for all of your Real Estate needs call Courtney Surfas in Chatsworth!

Hottie was great all the way there and even passed through a covered carport with many scary things under it. I got off of Hottie and all was well. Hottie was grazing on the lawn while I was watching Ashley long line her gigantic PMU horse when all hell broke loose behind me. (thats where Hottie had been grazing) She got spooked and ran bucking and squalling through the yard to where the yellow wagon was (if you look carefully you can see a hint of yellow in the picture) and then stopped. She didn't hurt anything or run into anything or anyone. I went and got her and we went back to standing on the rail observing! She was perfect for the 2 hours we stood there watching horses get worked!

The trip back was uneventful. As you can see I am again in the middle of the street while the broke horses are by the curb!

The Equestrian News

2009-04-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

I wanted to thank Jim and Lani Muche for writing such a nice article about Hottie and I. I also want to thank Nancy Cole at The Equestrian News for making Mustangs a important part of their paper! We can use all of the publicity we can get! Jim made sure to include my sponsors that make this possible for me to do! Without them, I would not be able to afford to compete in this event!

I want to thank my sponsors again! Caren Bramhall who allows me to keep Hottie at her facility, Michelle at Damoor's Feed and Tack in Burbank, CA who supplies all of Hottie's food, suppliments and anything else I need! Karen Monroe at Wells Fargo Equine Insurance Division who has insured Hottie, and Virginia at Great American Insurance for taking the risk of insuring a wild horse! I hope they will be with me again if I am able to compete in any future events! This is for sure a team and if you want to join the team go to www.cafepress.com/reedperformance and join TEAM HOTTIE!

Crappy video, cute mare!

2009-04-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

This is Hottie in the arena today. This is the first time she has been out of the round pen at the trot. She is so cool! You can see her cute little shuffle jog. It is so smooth to sit! After the trail ride yesterday it all clicked for her and she is doing amazing! Forgive the terrible quality and random talking by my mom to Sydney! Grandma is baby sitting and videoing at the same time. I am going to have to figure out a different video source than Mom's blackberry. It sucks!

WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

The famous "yuppie trail" we were awesome! Mom is riding Dixie and I am comfortable enough to be taking pictures!

This is the Ronald Reagan Freeway we have to go under it to get to the trail! We again were AWESOME!

They call this a park because it has 2 little informational building thingies.

We came across 3 groups of people. NOTHING rattled Hottie I am so proud of her. We even came across another horse of the opposite direction on the yuppie trail that had a man riding with a big hat and she passed like she had been doing it forever.

This is our famous "hands free bridge" it has NO railing and you see how far down the drop is. NO PROBLEM!

Our "creek" my husband is from Arkansas and has assured me this is NO CREEK but it is all we have! Again NOT A PROBLEM! I think Hottie wanted to roll in it but that wasn't an option so we moved on.

I am very much looking forward to Sunday and the little show I think she is going to handle everything very well!

More stuff!

2009-03-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

Hottie got her feet trimmed today! I had to walk her 2 blocks away to my house where the farrier was. I again was in the middle of the street when thankfully a person I knew rode by on a horse! Thanks Mary! She lead us all the way to my house and in the gate. DONKEY BUTT! She is mule like, she plants herself and thats where she stays. So to get back, I brought Dixie as moral support to Hottie's house and both my girls were awesome. She just needs more experience outside of the backyard at Caren's and she will be ok eventually by herself. Tomorrow I am hoping that mom will come ride Dixie and I can ride Hottie on the trail so she gets more confidence. Hopefully, I will get some pictures too!

Lovin the cute black mare....

2009-03-31T12:08:00.000-07:00

I have the cutest black gaited mustang mare! Yesterday I didn't write about her because she was behaving like a "donkey butt" (sydney says that) I was riding her in the round pen and she would walk 3 steps and stop, walk 3 steps and stop, walk 3 steps and stop. She decided her shadow with me on her is something she won't walk across! DUH... I kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked. I never got too mad but was really frustrated so I took her in the big ring out of the round pen and she walked 4 steps and stopped walked 4 steps and stopped. So I put her up.

Today we didn't go anywhere near the round pen. We just rode in the arena. I took a little bat with a hand shaped noise maker on the end for some extra encouragement and she went around! She was awesome today. She has the smoothest little jog I have ever sat. She is for sure gaited. She is going to look so fancy with all that black forelock and mane. I can totally see that hooky neck with the mecate and bosal! She is going to be a awesome little western pleasure mare down the road!

She loads!

2009-03-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

When I got to Hottie today she was at the back of her stall looking at the property next door with her head up as far as she could get it! She then started running around the stall and back to the same spot. I got her halter and went in caught her and looked over to see what the fuss was about. MINIS! I know there are no wild miniature horses so I guess these are very interesting to her. Im not quite sure what she thinks they are but they do put her over the edge. I proceeded to take her from her chosen viewing location and she protested by trying to drag me back. When that didn't work she reared up and struck out (not at me) to show how displeased she was with my choice of her having to leave. Then we got to the door of the box stall and she tried her best to get back to her viewing spot. To no avail she gave in and went to the arena. I proceeded to lunge her to try to get some of the adrenaline out of her she was worked up about the minis! Once she realized that she was no longer going to be able to act up over the miniature horses she decided she was tired of running around in circles and calmed down.

I then took her and she loaded right up in to the trailer, we casually backed out (mine is a step up, not a ramp) she had no problem with backing down! So we did it about 4 more times and called it a day. I have put in a call to my BFF Teresa and asked to borrow a mini to let Hottie view up close! Maybe then she will see they are just little horses and nothing to get all worked up about! BTW she doesn't like goats either! I have seen Camels walking down the street in Norco. I sure hope they don't break those out during the competition!

Amber works with Hottie!

2009-03-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

Today I brought my 8 year old daughter Amber with me. She groomed Hottie and picked her front feet. She also lead her around and backed her up.

Then I tacked her up and rode her in the round pen, she was great. She was very forward today! She didn't want to suck back like last time. She was walking around like she was having a good time, turning, stopping when asked and looking at the cars passing outside the gate. I brought Amber in and showed her how you put a foot in the stirrup and stand up. They both did great. Sydney has sat up on Hottie but Amber isn't ready yet.

I then proceeded to the trailer. We got 2 feet in on our own 5 times and quit on that! Tomorrow we will get all 4 in and be ready to go to ETI Corral 118 show next weekend to show in halter and in hand trail! (I HOPE)

Friday day off. Today trailer loading again!

2009-03-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day of rest for Hottie and I. Today we are working on the trailer! Tying and loading. We shall see. This is when Hottie turns into a "donkey butt" I have all day so she won't not load today. I really want to haul her to a ETI show next sunday that has in hand trail classes so I really want her to get in and out well because I have to go to the show alone. I will take Dixie for moral support. My paint mare is worth her weight in gold! She will do anything I ask she will never be a champion in the show ring but she is awesome to me! She works cattle, babysits my girls, ponies the babies, she is for sure party of our forever family! She even had a model made of her! Stone horses made a model of her for a model horse show they did in California!

Beautiful sun shiny day!

2009-03-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

Thankfully we have overcome some of her fears and are making good progress now. Hottie did great today no one watching on the rail for me today, mom likes to be there just in case I come off and she needs to call 911 or rush me off somewhere!

I am really happy with the progress she is making. I forget sometimes about the little things she is doing that you just take for granted. She saw the clippers today and they got to touch her nose! She was in the barn isle, which isnt like a real barn isle, its more like a L shaped barn with a covered patio type situation out front. There is no turning around in it, she has to walk in and either walk straight out or back out, the roof is low and the floor is concrete. So, when I say she was in the barn isle she is IN and if she gets scared of something its going to be a problem! She doesn't live in the barn with the barn isle either so she isn't used to the noises there. Luckily she has only backed out once on her own accord and it was very carefully.

She long lined really well today and is learning to not overreact when she is scared. I haven't seen the "checked out blind run" in a few weeks, so thats cool. Knock wood she has not overreacted with me on her back but she has done it in the lines and with the saddle. She now looks to me for how she should handle situations. Which is great! She is still a little stubborn but she certainly is making great progress. She is getting her first trim this week. I will post pictures when I have someone to take them for me!

Learning as we go!

2009-03-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

So, thats the ugliest picture I have ever seen of myself but admitting it is the first step! I had been wearing my helmet and forgot to put my hat on after I took her saddle off! But, she is so cute I had to post it!

Hottie was great today! I have learned with her you have to show her that what your doing not going to hurt her and that it is her idea! So today with the help of my mom she learned that it was her idea to go forward with me on her! She has turning and backwards down pat! Picture a cutting horse working the flag and that was Hottie and I chasing my mom with a bucket of goodies. We went forward and turned and learned it was ok for my legs to encourage her to go forward. With any other breed of horse I would have by now totally said "get your ass moving" but with her you cant break that trust and she can be really stubborn if you do. She has to be shown that it is ok and she will do it everytime after for you, as long as her trust is not broken! I sure do like this little black mare!

Wind died down!

2009-03-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

Lucky for me the wind died down this afternoon! So, I worked on using the whole arena to lunge Hottie. She had in the past at the canter pulled loose when I had the saddle on her. We have been working in the round pen for about 2 weeks, so I decided to test the arena today! BREAKTHROUGH!!!! Perfect at the walk and trot. When I asked for the canter she ran off as usual but didn't get loose and almost looked like she was thinking why did I do that? Then she proceeded to NOT run off and canter!!!!! For those of you following her progress she also has NO problem with the white ropes anymore! So with that I got on her in the large arena and worked on turning and backing (because thats all she would do) just making her feel comfortable out there with me on her and she was awesome! I am so excited! (hence all of the exclamation points)

Wind....

2009-03-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

If you haven't experienced the Santa Ana winds all you have to do is visit Chatsworth where all things to an extreme happen! GOTTA HATE THE WIND WHEN YOU HAVE A DEADLINE!

If you know me well, you know riding is my thing, groundwork NOT SO MUCH. I used to think in hand classes were for people who couldn't ride! So, now I can be found perfecting my ground work since we have to compete in hand at the competition! We are trotting and stopping straight, backing through poles, around cones, not quite sidepassing but she is trying very hard! She is a good girl! We got fly sprayed in the barn isle without running backwards or away! Hard to get much riding done in this wind. I think it is supposed to quit Thursday! I sure hope so!

Now I am sick!

2009-03-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

I always get sick when the kids do! I feel terrible so didn't get much done today except turning Hottie out and chasing her around for some exercise. Hopefully, I feel better tomorrow and can get more done.

Good times!

2009-03-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

Today Hottie had a breakthrough as yet another rope bites the dust! She fought so hard until the rope snapped in half. Brand new rope literally snapped in half, then Hottie hit the ground all on her own doing. I was innocently standing by. I retrieved her tied her back up and she never moved again. Of course thats until tomorrow! After all that drama it was like a calm came over her. By the end of todays work I was bouncing balls off her and the saddle and was riding her bareback! Hey Jennifer notice, NO MOUNTING PHOTOS! You gotta wonder about some people! Is it wrong to run up behind your horse and jump on over the rump? Do they teach that in books? What about laying your horse down and getting on that way?

For those of you in the dark go read the comments from Jennifer and Becky Whites blog from yesterday where they got up in the stirrups on both sides of Gidget (the one that couldn't be touched without trying to kill you last week) and someone had the nerve to say they were doing it incorrectly! As you can see it hit a nerve! Where is the duct tape when you need it? Again I say AWESOME JOB GIRLS!

Finally decided we should tie.

2009-03-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

I decided we should brave being tied up today. I knew she would have a problem as she doesnt really like restriction. First I tried the fancy Blocker Tie ring, marketing is such a marvel. I have no use for a ring that teaches your horse to get away if they back far enough. So once she learned that if she backed up enough she was free next came hard tying and full blown sitting down mouth gapped, striking in the air, etc. Three leadropes went to heaven today and with no fancy gadgets, Hottie ties for fly spray, showsheen and being tacked up. Someone on Ebay will get themselves a fancy gadget cheap because tying is tying and has been for hundreds of years. So like Jennifer White says "pull up your big girl panties" and teach your horse to tie!

Which way is home?

2009-03-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hottie is still mending from her dentistry. I decided to take her out for a nice walk off of the property, outside on the Yuppie Trails of Chatsworth! For those of you from rural settings, Yuppie Trails are bridle paths put in where horse property used to be and non horse keeping property has come in and taken over. They put Yuppie Trails in to get the non horse keeping zoning passed through the City. The bridle paths act as a way to still gain access to the trails through the streets. It is not pleasant because it brings non horse people into a community with strong horse culture and then it threatens the life span of horse keeping in the community. It also threatens the safety of the horses and riders. Non horse people have no clue of the flight response in a horse, not only wild horses but domestic horses alike. They think you should not have your horse in the street where there are no bridle paths. Little do they know that horses were in Chatsworth long before they moved into their new yuppie homes and it is they who should respect the right of the horse to be in CHATSWORTH. Sore spot you think?

Done ranting, back to Hottie! She was very good about most things, today was trash day and the trash trucks didn't bother her. School was in session so there were big yellow buses going by! Bikes are a little scary. People jogging are not a problem. Cars zooming by were not scary although they do make mom MAD.

The only problem we had was directional. She would not go East. She only wanted to go North or South. The only way to get home was EAST! It is obvious to me she has no sense of where home is as a matter of fact when we got back to the gate to the yard she was so determined to show me that it was the wrong direction she backed into the street! A nice man in an oldsmobile stopped to tell me she has a mind of her own. I said not really she is a Wild Mustang and has only been out of the wild for 30 days, so I think she is doing pretty well. He looked at me like I spoke no english. Like what is a wild horse? Can you say "LETS EDUCATE THE PUBLIC" There are still wild animals in the United States and they are not all in Zoos! I think I will write my local paper to see if they can slow down on Chatsworth Street when they see a small black mare in the street! I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today I think!

Bye bye big bad wolf teeth!

2009-03-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

Today Hottie was amazing! She was great for Dr. Sullivan. She had her sharp points rasped off and her wolf teeth removed. He was impressed by her at just 31 days into her training!

We are all ready for the bit.

Very tired after her dental work!

Reschedule!

2009-03-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

We had to reschedule the Doctors appt for Hottie. Dr. Sullivan had an emergency which was good for me because Sydney has come down with a cold or something like that. Fever, coughing, stuffy nose. It sucks! She is such a good girl, its ok for her to be sick every once in a while! Mommy's baby!

Hottie Day 27

2009-03-12T21:33:00.000-07:00

Today was a very laid back day. I took Hottie out and groomed her in the barn isle. She had never been in that confined of a space and with me moving all around her. She stood great I didn't tie her just looped her rope and she never moved. I picked all 4 feet with no trouble.

Tomorrow is a big day for Hottie! She gets to see Dr. Kent Sullivan from West Coast Equine, of Somis, CA. She has a stinky mouth so I am having him check her teeth and also she has a sore leg from getting stuck in the arena fence when she rolled. So, we will have that looked at too! The leg has set me back a few days but thats ok, we will be fine im sure!

Hottie day 26

2009-03-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

Today was Hotties first day off the property! She was awesome! Cars didn't bother her, people and gardeners didn't bother her and the only thing that did bother her were dogs barking and trying to kill her through the fence. The good thing is it really didn't bother her much at all!!!!!

Wooo hoo I feel like I have made a huge breakthrough. My trails are NOT like venturing out into the woods as you can see. I have to go out onto a semi major street that is 2 lanes and no bridle path for a little bit. People think that a horse will be fine with them coming by 6 inches away at 40 miles per hour. Then we ride next to the "L.A. River" which is not a river at all. It is a huge flood channel with a 30ft drop as you can see and the barking dogs are on the other side! Im pretty sure she never encountered this in the wild! Things can be quite scary. I am so proud of HOTTIE!

Dixie was awesome also! Thanks to mom and Buster for moral support and the always handy camera phone!

Buster boy, mom's rope horse. He is worried because I am trying to get Hottie into the trailer and thinks that we are taking his mares away. She didn't get in. Oh well next time! She was awesome none the less.

www.equineactionphotos.com - Jim and Lani Muche

2009-03-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

I met the nicest couple today. Jim and Lani Muche. They came to photograph Hottie and I.

I really enjoyed the time we spent today learning about them and them about us. Not to mention the pictures are amazing! Lani has a great eye obviously by the photos attached. She took 228 photos and said only 3 are throw aways.

WOW!

I can't wait to see some more! I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do!

Hottie Day 24

2009-03-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

These are pretty much the only kind of pictures you can get with a camera phone by yourself!

A truck drove by the round pen today which was nice so I asked him to honk for me! NO reaction!

A view from where I sit!

Pretty good day.

Team Hottie

2009-03-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

This is my husband Robbie he is awesome, He is cleaning the stall for me! He also fed her carrots. Im pretty sure Hottie got her fair share of carrots this weekend thanks to my dad, Teresa, and Robbie!

Team Hottie!!

Get your Team Hottie wear at www.cafepress.com/reedperformance

Jay VanPelt Photography Sheeza Hottie pictures

2009-03-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

This is the one going to Bridle and Bit magazine.

Sydney is at almost every session that I work Hottie! This is a great picture, LOVE IT!

Sweet eye!

Pearly whites!

Grandma watching Syd! Grandma has her Hottie gear on!

Hottie day 20

2009-03-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day. We had company my friend and fellow trainer Karen Van Pelt came over with her husband Jay who is a great photographer! Lucky for me because we needed photos to send to another magazine!

I will post some of Jay's work as soon as he gets them to me!

I had to go out of town for 3 days so I will not be posting until monday afternoon. I have my awesome friend Teresa going over to pet Hottie and feed her carrots so she doesn't feel abandoned. While I was waiting for Jay and Karen I sat down on my favorite mounting block and Hottie decided she should lay down and roll with me! That was pretty cool, I guess I am not a predator!

Rain Rain GO AWAY! Day 19

2009-03-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

Not much that could be done today. I used to like the rain but now that I have a deadline, I need all of the good weather I can get! I came to clean the stall and try to direct the rain out so she doesn't have standing water. She was happy to see me! She followed me around sniffing my hair just being a busy bee. I decided to take her out and groom her since she seemed like she wanted to do something besides stand there. So she got her feet picked out for the first time! I had just been lifting the feet for a couple of days. She has gotten past defending her legs from harm which means we are breaking through some of her wild instinct. She still has the flight instinct sometimes but at least we have trust with the legs now. She also got all of her beautiful hair combed out and a good curry because she is shedding out! She is going to be so sleek and black when she is done.

Hottie day 18

2009-03-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Today we worked mostly on voice commands. She is doing good. There was a lot of commotion at the barn today. Shoers and hay delivery! She had never heard the grinder and banging of the shoes. She was very interested in the truck until it started to make noise! I was impressed that she could concentrate on me and working with all of activity going on!

Sheeza Hottie Day 17

2009-03-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

THATS MY HOTTIE GIRL! We picked up all 4 feet today! NO PROBLEM! We also got bit up for the first time today. Not tight at all but still enough to feel the restraint and she did awesome!

www.cafepress.com/reedperformance

GET YOUR HOTTIE GEAR TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS GREAT HORSE IN NORCO! SHE IS A CONTENDER FOR SURE!

Hottie day 16

2009-03-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

Dixie and Hottie! I brought Dixie to pony Hottie she wasn't quite sure she wanted to go with Dixie but she did pretty well for it being her first time!
Dixie is great at teaching horses confidence. She also showed Hottie it is ok to get a bath! LEGS AND ALL! So Hottie had a great bath today!

Not too sure she wants Hottie tagging along!

Hottie day 15

2009-02-28T13:39:00.001-08:00

Excellent day! Huge break through with the rope, gotta love that round pen! I picked up all four feet with the rope and she is doing great with the flagging we did today. She is learing of seeing things out of her right eye but is trying really hard to deal with it! I am feeling much better today about her progress!

CORRECTION ON THE SPANISH MUSTANG. I was informed today that there are no more pure spanish mustangs in the wild. Although she really carries the characteristics she is of "spanish type" NOT a spanish mustang. She sure is beautiful to me and is more spanish looking than some of the "REGISTERED PURE SPANISH" horse pictures I have seen. Maybe there was a paso in the woodpile?

Day 14 Trials and tribulations

2009-02-27T17:02:00.000-08:00

This is the standoff. It went on for about an hour. She was mad! Really mad! Did I mention MAD? If she could have thrown herself down and had a tantrum I do believe she would have.

The round pen went up after the standoff! There will be no more standoffs thanks to Caren. I should have let her put it up over the weekend but I just hate to make a portion of her arena unusable for her. For this I must say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU CAREN! (and mom for her amazing superwoman strength)

Standing with the ropes behind her. They are not hooked to her, they are hooked to the saddle horn. She just hates the fact that they are even there and kicks with great accuracy when trying to kill them. Amazing how each and every time she kicks exactly in the right spot to kill the rope!

When I first got Hottie I thought she looked like a Paso or something along those lines. She looks gaited every now and again. I googled it and sure enough there are gaited mustangs. I am thinking she is a Spanish Mustang, they are naturally gaited from what I read. I guess we will find out more as she progresses with her training and movement. COOL!

Zeus the 3 legged atomic wonder pit bull! He has had hard workout chasing Hottie and the ropes around the arena!

He is an awesome dog!

Hottie day 13 Things went a bit sideways today!

2009-02-26T18:11:00.000-08:00

The one good thing we learned today was to back! Woo hoo the back is down pat. Dragging ropes off the saddle in a larger area NOT SO MUCH! I decided she needed to drag ropes in the big arena and she used the whole thing to bronc, kick, spin, whirl, twirl and run like hell that was only one rope tied on to the horn! The great thing is she is very level headed about the whole thing in a scared kinda way! This is the first time we have done something that she didn't like so much that she broke into a sweat. So she got her first bath. She was fine with the body although she did move around a bit, loved drinking out of the hose but HATED THE WATER ON HER LEGS! So something to work on tomorrow along with more ropes. Today was a 3 session day. I went in the morning and worked on the ropes, then went back around noon and just hung out with her so she didnt hold a grudge! Then I went back around 3:00 to do some groundwork. Hence the backing!!!!! I could work with her all day she is so willing to learn new things and always seems like she is fresh minded to move on to the next task. She is shedding out and wow is she beautiful. You get past the large head (as large as my torso) and she is just gorgeous!

Hottie day 12

2009-02-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT ARE GETTING YOUR "HOTTIE GEAR"! LETS ALL BE READY TO SUPPORT THIS GIRL IN NORCO!
WWW.CAFEPRESS.COM/REEDPERFORMANCE

It was a great day today. Hottie let me pick her front feet. (she did bite me and got in BIG trouble) I turned her loose in the big arena with the saddle on and she was a bronc and spinning fool. Somehow it is different in the large arena than the small! It flops more! In one picture she is trying to pull the saddle off by the stirrup.

We mastered walking on the tarp. We also went and saw some traffic from the gate on the property. That was scary only because the other horses on the property were far away from her and she is herd bound a bit. We learned to be sprayed with Showsheen and have our tail made beautiful and full! We got a bridlepath (with scissors) we are not ready for clippers yet!

Hottie day 11

2009-02-24T14:01:00.001-08:00

DONT FORGET TO GET YOUR HOTTIE GEAR! www.cafepress.com/reedperformance

Today I set up a obstacle course in the arena to gauge where we are on leading, backing, etc.

Hottie did well, she does not want to trot with me or sidepass yet but she did go over the jump, walk on the lattice and ran away very fast from the blue tarp! Woo Hoo, you skeptics to the fact she is actually a wild horse with no previous handling needed to be there to see that!

Sydney playing on the hay waiting very patiently for mommy to be done playing with Hottie so she can go home for a bathie to wash the mud off of her.

TEAM HOTTIE WEAR!!!!!

2009-02-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AT THE COMPETITION IN NORCO OR JUST AROUND TOWN!

YOUR PURCHASES ACT AS A SPONSORSHIP FOR HOTTIE AND ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

WWW.CAFEPRESS.COM/REEDPERFORMANCE

THANK YOU TO JENNIFER WHITE AT STICK PONY DESIGNS! SHE IS OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY TALENTED IN GRAPHIC ARTS AND A FELLOW NORCO COMPETITOR!

Hottie day 9

2009-02-22T15:11:00.000-08:00

Ground driving in the real tack. Hottie has graduated out of the cruddy saddle to a nice one with a back cinch and a breast collar neither of which bothered her. She also wore her bridle today for the second time. Me obviously being really obnoxious about crawling on like a monkey! I did not get on carefully at all. I want her to know someone WILL drag their foot over her rump and some point in her life and it is OK! I dont have anyone hold my horse or restrict her in any way. I let her react and deal with what ever happens. You see the end result in my photos. She obviously didn't go anywhere when I got on because that dang mounting block is in all of my pictures. The one to the right below is me saying ok you saw the right leg now see the left one and don't wack me in the face doing it! (I had no idea I did that with my right hand )

It was a great day! Other than the frumpy sweatshirt and silver helmet! We walked to the rail and let Sydney and mom feed Hottie carrots and then I got off and called it GOOD!

Hottie day 8

2009-02-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

We had a very nice visit by friends today while I was working with Hottie! 3 horses she had never seen before all tacked up! She didn't want to make anything look easy for me today! So she dumped the saddle off and ran like it scared her (yeah right) a few or more times. When they left and she went back to work. I ended up being able to step up and put weight in the stirrups! Very cool!

Hottie day 7

2009-02-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

My phone was the only camera available today!

I went back yesterday afternoon to work Hottie I had a nagging feeling that I needed to do more. So we started ground driving in the back of her stall. She now turns and stops.

Today I introduced her to the mounting block. I only did that to get her used to different sounds (she tried to stand on it) and to see me above her head. It went really well. I layed over her back and rubbed my arms all over her sides and rump. Nothing bothered her with the way I went about any of this. I decided she needed more today than just that. She learned how to lunge both directions in the large arena at the walk and trot she also has whoa down. So I opted to end there and finish her off with some beautification. I braided her mane and forelock so I can preserve their fullness. She really has a beautiful mane and forelock!

Pretty is as pretty does and Hottie is Americas Next Top Model so far! I didn't start this out thinking I would want to keep this horse. I like her more and more everyday!

Hottie day 6

2009-02-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

WE NO LONGER WEAR OUR HALTER WHEN WE ARE NOT WORKING!
HOTTIE IS A POCKET PET!

We are ready to start long lining as soon as the round pen is in. She is doing awesome!

DAY 5 Press photos

2009-02-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

As you can see we have made it from the stall to the large ring! Round pen goes in this weekend! Thank you, thank you CAREN! We were doing photos for The Equestrian News which is a local Equestrian Publication that would like to do a story on the Mustangs. This was brought to her attention by our wonderful sponsor Karen Monroe at Wells Fargo Equine Insurance! Thanks Karen and Nancy! Can't forget Damoor's Feed and Tack in Glendale, CA. when mentioning our Sponsors! They are providing all food and suppliments for Hottie up until we go to Norco!

Day 4

2009-02-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

Grooming in the rain! Grooming is pretty much all I could get done in the downpour today. Still it is a step forward!

Day 3 Rain Delay!

2009-02-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

Its pouring!!!!!!!

Sheeza Hottie day 2

2009-02-15T20:08:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day! We made good progress. Hottie wore a saddle and pad. She got to be turned out in the big arena with her new friend Valcore. He is also a mustang! She was no problem to catch and lead all over the arena. I wanted to let her out to stretch her legs before the big rain they are forecasting for the next couple of days!

Sheeza Hottie

2009-02-15T07:21:00.000-08:00

This is Hottie at the BLM Facility in Ridgecrest on February 13th when I picked her up!

Sheeza Hottie day 1

2009-02-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

No more dreadlocks in the mane that was our goal for today! We far surpassed that and got brushed all over and learned to lead!

Big day!

2009-02-12T15:16:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the day for pick up of my challenge mustang. I am very excited! Will post photos as soon as I have some!