Heart on Fire

And I Though it was Over...

Until all of this came...

All it did was pour and pour and pour.  It's so hard for me to stay inside for even a day- heck even hours.  So, this snow started taking its toll on me, I didn't know what to do.

 

I thought the Winter was going to be over before this, we didn't have much snow left and everything was melting!

But of course, it had to snow again...

And again and again, almost three days straight.

 

But like everything else, it came to an end and cleared up for a bit.  And when I mean a bit, I litterally mean like twenty minutes.

 

Luckily someone enjoys all of this.

 

Toulouse even made an attempt to go outside for a few minutes, I don't think he minded too much either.

 

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Things have been okay in the household, animals are doing fine and so are the people.  Ava has been well too, I had the vet come to check for any lameness, but he said that she was fine, which was such a relief!  She and I also are starting back on the Clinton Anderson method, we tried endurance last summer and... it.. well, didn't work out...  It kind of mentally messed her up..  So, we're starting from the beginning again.

I quit my job at one of the local coffee shops in hopes to find something better and a few other circumstances.  I applied at this other coffee shop that paid about $12 an hour and it would've been a dream come true to work there, I could afford Ava's board, extra little bills every month, and even actually save up for a car!  But, they turned me down, I guess I'm just not worth to be paid that much, of course they said stuff like: "we'll keep your resume close" and "you were a very strong candidate" and "we'd like if you applied again in a couple months to possibly work in the summer," ha! Yeah right, if you didn't hire me now, what makes me think that your going to hire me in a few months, what's really the difference?  Whatever, I'm so stressed out with this whole thing, it doesn't matter anyway...  I now regret leaving my other job, even though the pay wasn't even minimum wage, at least I got something, and I had friends, I actually had friends for the first time.  I am so stupid for leaving and not having anything else lined up, I'm never making that mistake again.

Anyways, hopefully, hopefully things will turn around and let up, I can't take it anymore...

Out For a Walk...

My brothers, my grandparents dog, and I all went on out a walk yesterday.  We traveled through our woodland that is set right down our street.  Prissy(the dog), I don't think has ever been in the woods before, so she was kind of confused and became tired very quickly.

 

The trail we wished to walk on.

 

Down by the river bank.  Prissy surprisingly walked straight into the water, I didn't see that one coming!

 

Headed back.

 

Now, you can see on her face that she is tired.

 

Back shot...

 

Some grass.

 

In the garden,

Anyways, sorry I haven't been posting, I have been really busy with so many things and we also have a huge karate tournament coming up, so we also have to prepare for that...  Ava and I are also training for endurance, then hopefully by September we can compete in a ride, I am crossing my fingers, their are so many things you need to know about this sport, it will be a challenge!

Movie Monday!

Blanking Right Now...

I have been having a total writers block, I cannot think of basically anything to write.  I know I will though by next Sunday, Ava and I are going to be in a little Hairy Horse Show and we may be possibly riding in it, depending how much practice we can get in.  Hmm, let's see, what else can I get you guys up to date on?
  Oh!  Okay.  Ava's blanket was totally destroyed when I went out there the other day, the stable manager took it off the day before and when I saw the inside...  I was blown away at how torn up it was, and wet!  Luckily Ava still has some Winter coat left and it hasn't been too cold out so I think she will be okay.  I don't know if we will be able to repair it, it looks totaled...
  Ava and I also tried a little bit of Parelli's method and liked it at the beginning, but after the next few sessions Ava was starting to get very disrespectful, so disrespectful so totally plowed through me when she was free running the arena, and I was like "that's it, we're going back to Clinton's method..."  When we went back to Clinton's method Ava was okay but she was totally "full of beans" as he says and would go crazy while doing Lunging for Respect, but this time I actually had control of her!  I posted an article on the No Worries Club and asked how I can keep her from pulling away.  Everyone said to bump, bump, bump on the halter and it totally worked, even though she would speed up, rear, snort, and even kind of buck, I had control of her and she actually started to respect me after a while!  YAY!
 

In June there is going to be this world-wide karate competition and where you can train with Mario Higaonna(I can't remember how to spell his name).  Anyways, my sensei(teacher) wants me, the three other black belts, my cousin's, and brother's to all go, along with a few other people as well.  It is supposed to be this huge thing and it seems pretty cool.  I wouldn't want to spar, I'd only do the class with Mario and then do a kata class.  I am nervous about it but it would be really neat to say that I trained with him, he is like the head guy of karate right now, he's like seventy-two and has a ninth degree black belt, isn't that impressive? (Tenth degree is, I think the highest)

There was also going to be a Wahl Walkabout Tour down in Nevada that we could have hopefully gone to in June as well but since that stinkin karate thing got in the way I won't be able to see Clinton Anderson live...  Their is also another another in Oregon that's in April and we might, just might go to that and oh boy do I hope we do!  Meeting Clinton Anderson is a life goal for me and if he signs my book too ;)  Also, I am thinking through out the year I will be building up to apply for an apprenticeship with him as well.  It sounds like a great deal except that you couldn't take any animals, I am still going to ask and see if we could work out a deal somehow...  I don't know, I couldn't leave ALL of my animals.  Because working with him down there is going to be like college on scholarship, you also get payed to learn, he provides housing for you, and they have a 401k and health insurance.  Of course they have more but that was all I can remember for now.  Anyways, I would be totally blown away if I got accepted and would be speechless for weeks.  Also if you wanted to you can take a look at it here.  My goal is to have the video made for it by the end of Summer or the middle of Fall.

Anyways, I guess I don't have a writer's block, haha.
~Happy Trails

Movie Monday!

Friendship is Built on Respect

While reading through Downunder Horsemanship by Clinton Anderson, I found this very helpful article.  He made a great point and I will always try and remember it.  Let me type it up for you so you know what I mean.

Friendship is Built on Respect

  In general, the more you spoil your horses, the less they respect you.  If you only love them, pat them, feed them, but never ask them to respect you or move out of your personal space, they will never believe that you are equipped to lead them.
  Soon, these horses don't appreciate anything that is done for them.  They begin believing they control the situation.  They want to spend less and less time with their owners, who they perceive as weak.  The owners want to treat a 1000-pound animal like a big pet, but what they don't know is that, a friendship without is respect is dangerous.  many situations--jumping a fence, walking along a busy road, or working cattle--rely on the horse respecting your judgment in order to keep both of you safe.
  I'm not saying you can't give your horse a treat or that you can't love him/her.  Of course, you can.  And you should.  A treat is useful when you have already taught certain behaviors and you want to reinforcement for a job well done.  Just remember that treats are a bonus.  They are not bribes or payoffs.

Powerful right?  I think I had sweat dripping down my forehead after reading that!  It really made me think about how I should be training Ava and how it would improve our bond.

Sorry for such a short post.  I can't think of anything to write!  I'll try my best to be more active.  Anyways,

Happy Trails!

Movie Monday!

Movie Monday!

My Present from Pony Girl!

Oh my gosh!  Look what came in the mail, Pony Girl's giveaway present! Let's see what's inside.

I took a knife and then slit the box open and what did I see?  A cute cowboy boot looking at me.

Then I placed it on the ground so you all could have a better look.

Unwrapped the the bubble wrap

 

How pretty!  It goes in my house so well, I put snowflakes all over the windows so it will fit right in .

Next...

This chocolate was SOO good, I finished it the day it arrived, yummmm!  I am going to have to find some more of this kind.

A pretty red wrapped gift, what can it be hiding?

 

Gorgeous!  I have been needing a beautiful frame for I don't know how long.  Thanks so much!

And almost last but of course not the least, the card.

 

How sweet!

*Drum rolls* Anna's Blizzard!!!  Woo Hoo!  I can't wait to start reading this.

Everything together.  I can't thank you enough Pony Girl, I love my gifts!  They will be put to good use.

Happy Trails
~Emmi

Wordless Wednesday