Comet's Next Stop is Indiana

Well it's not for another 2 months, but I never update this thing! There's my old barn owner's fun show in Laporte, IN which is about a 1 1/2hr drive from the barn. I'm really hoping to bring the C man. The thing we need to work on is loading since his last loading experience wrecked him and now he's scared to get in the trailer all together. So the majority of the next 2 months will be working on trailer loading and some gymkhana patterns. And now that his new bit came in today, we can finally start! Some other exciting....well not so exciting news about Comet is we're finally getting back into work after taking a tumble about 2 weeks ago. We were just playing a game with one of my barn buddies and he either just took a bad step or just didn't move his legs quick enough. He face planted and almost somersaulted, but he managed to not go all the way over. I "dismounted with style" off to the side since I thought he was going to go all the way over and I was pretty much on his neck so I didn't want to push his face further into the dirt. He was perfectly fine afterwards, I just walked him around the rest of our ride and gave him some time off just in case. Although he proved just how good he was feeling when we had our first major snow ;) We both had a blast running around in the field in the snow on Saturday and my friend got some awesome pictures which I'll be sure to post when I have them! That's about all that's happened recently so I'll end this post with a happy riding to everyone and my newest video staring a familiar face ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctWu8o5a6AU

Together, We're Unbreakable...

Hey guys! Just a little update on the C man. He's doing great and really getting the hang of collection and moving much slower (but not to the point of dragging around!) and I'm happy with the pace he moves now. The only thing he struggles with is headset. It depends on the ride, if I haven't ridden him in a while he wont keep it too long, if I consistently ride him then he'll usually keep it level for the majority of the ride. And stupid me broke my training fork when I slid off and it got caught on my pants pocket (it was looped around the horn because I usually take it off for cool out). But I was going to start riding him without one anyway. Anyway nothing interesting or new to add, but just finished my first video of him with my new editing software and just wanted to share and see his progess!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOZspFh42wA

Just another update....

Sorry I don't get on here too often. I figure you guys would probably get sick of hearing the same things over and over. Comet's doing good and is pretty solid at the walk jog and lope, just need to work on keeping his head set at the lope. Today was his first day riding out in the larger field (about 7 acres or so). He was his usual ADD self and couldn't keep much focus on me and was too excited about the other horse galloping around and the other horses at the barn. But we did lots of large/small circles and figure eights to keep his mind busy. We only had 2 tweak outs both of which were just "im running whether you're on me or not" moments which was expected since he's never been in that big of space before (the closest to an open area was the other 3 acre field). After a couple more rides in there he'll be more relaxed and good to go! Well that's about it, enjoy this quick clip of Comet grazing in the pasture (:

Comet Goes Back to His Old Trick....

Well it's been a while since I've updated on here. Comet's always been picky about his rider, either he likes you or he doesn't. However, most of the time even if he doesn't like you he's pretty tolerant. Well, about 2 weeks ago I had one of my friends ride him (she's a horse person) and about 20min into it he decides he doesn't want her on his back anymore. So instead of bucking someone off like a normal horse Comet just went back to his ''trick'' of laying down...but this time he actually rolled. After that she got back on and was fine. He hasn't attempted again since and he wasn't sick. That's basically the only big thing that's really happened since I last updated. He's really slowing up to a nice relaxed pace that's slower than english, but not so dragging like a western pleasure horse. He's still having some issues with the tarp, but making steady progress. That's about all I can think of for now so until next time happy riding!

Comet vs Tarp

Well Comet got to experience the wonders of a tarp today. It went really well. This is the 2nd time he was exposed to it. Had him walking over it in less than 5min, while he was still shakey when I was waving it around but definately a major improvement from the start. Give it about a week and he'll be going like a pro! He's going to hate me because he also got to taste the yummy dewormer paste today and tomorrow he gets a few needles in him from the vet for Spring shots! In other news I've been working on his 3yr video and so far I like the beginning, hate the middle and hopefully going to like the ending but we'll see how it comes out! That's all for now, I'll check back with you all in about a week! Happy riding!

Lori

Comet Update

Well it's been a while since I've uploaded this thing, been busy lately with school and ACT stuff! First and foremost I would like to wish my one special granny horse Starlight a happy 24th birthday today, I could have never asked for a better first horse! But Comet has been accelerating at everything we've tried! He's really starting to set his head a lot nicer, relaxing his pace more and he's also getting better at turning around the barrels. He went to his 2nd show on May 14th and did well with the exception of being curious about everything and a little nervous about the trailer. I rode him completely bridless with just a neck rope for the first time last week and couldn't have been more proud! He's also gained a lot of new friends who love him just as much as I do! Seeing them so happy on him and giving him compliments almost makes me want to cry. The closest I ever got to a compliment with him before was he was pretty and now I have a lot of people that see his video and actually just want to come meet him. I really don't care if he never places at shows, just being around him everyday makes my day. We may have days where he pushes my buttons and I do things that are wrong, but he still trusts and protects me. We still have a lot to work on, the biggest being ground manners, but still I could never repay for what this horse gives me everytime I look at him.


Here's a sneak preview of his barrels (still needs a lot of work on that 2nd barrel) and of him bridleless, I'm starting to gather up some clips for our 3 year anniversary video coming out June 26 (dang can't believe it's been 3 years already!) it's going to be one of the longest descriptions ever, but I mean every word of it.



And here's a picture of him and some of his new buddies, Jessica (standing on him) and Sam (on Starlight)

These are the horses that built me....

I could never be anywhere if it wasn't for all of the horses that have been in my life. Obviously not all of the horses are in this vid, but most of the ones that I currently ride. So to them, this is a thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_teU4EiowjU&feature=channel_video_title

Sorry for the vids lately, but a little update on Comet: Boy is he lovin this weather change! He's a hyper little 2yr old I'm havin a hard time keeping him still! I've been riding him english lately because my western saddle doesn't fit. But I do plan on getting a new one so he can at least be a walk/jog western pleasure horse, although I doubt I'll ever be able to bring his canter to a lope, but I'm always optimistic! Well that's all for now!

Comet goes off property for the first time!

Saturday I took Comet over to my boyfriend's barn for game night. I thought knowing him (especially since he tried to kill me Friday) he'd at least try a little bucking. But nope, he did perfect. With the exception of him kicking the hell out of the trailer I couldn't have asked him to do better! The people would have never guessed what he used to be. He stayed overnight and we brought him back yesterday. We both had a blast and Comet made some new friends! I've been thinking about taking him to a fun show in IN, it's about an 1 1/2hr drive, but if I can get a ride I WILL be bringing him, it's on October 16th so we'll see! Here's a little picture of him from Saturday, he enjoyed the big roomy stall he got for the night!

Comet starts his training!

I started Comet in his western pleasure training yesterday! Got his head down much more than usual and I think that's the first time he was actually using his body correctly, he was collected for the most part, was balanced and it was much smoother than normally. Obviously he's not gonna be a western pleasure star his first day but got him down to a much slower/relaxed pace and got his head almost down to be even with his withers, ALMOST ;) We'll see what today brings, been riding him later in the day due to the heat!

Comet's Story

Hey everyone and welcome to Comet's blog, this will be mainly about Comet, but will throw in some guests like my other horse Starlight and all their friends at the barn! Let me start off telling you a little bit about Comet. When I first met Comet it was on a trailer with 4 horses pulled up at the auction, I could only see a little bit but I saw a black and white paint with a little white diamond on his nose. My barn owner bought that black and white paint for his son. When we brought him home we soon found out why he ended up there. Comet had a serious problem, he layed down with riders. Everyone hated him, but I saw something most people didn't, I saw a horse that needed someone to love him. But the day I got him, June 26, 2008, all that changed. Comet and I were trotting and he suddenly took off, did a big bronco buck on the hill and I swung off and ate the dirt HARD. I got back on like any other rider but that didn't change, Comet reared 3 more times and I was already light headed so I got off and walked him around so he wouldn't think that he could go in after that. Well Comet then trampled/got away from me twice. I absolutely hated him and cried everynight about bringing him to auction after that, I also never really rode him again after the accident. But when my barn moved on January 23rd, 2010 I discovered Comet was different, he was actually moving. And from there on we only progressed, now we can trot by clucking and canter by kissing, jump over 2'3", gallop in the open field and much more. I highly reccomend to check out Comet's Story on youtube (posted below), it is a very moving and inspiring video. Comet and I have been through so much in these short 2yrs and I hope we will have many more journeys together! I'll be taking him on his first trail ride tomorrow so wish him luck! Take care everyone! :)

Lori