Whispering Rain Farms

I know have pics from Monday's roll backs!!

It was dark and my photographer went home before Trouper and I shared our first canter on Monday, but I do have some pics from our canter on Tues!!

This time, we did it all by ourselves without anyone else in the arena!

Ok, so it wasn't easy to keep him moving and I had to keep smooching to him, hence the money face in the next pic, but we did do it!

I used Jamie's bridle and reins and BOY, did Trouper respond better!! He was actually working off the indirect rein and neck reining more!! The bit is also a snaffle, but it is a tiny bit smaller (thinner) than the snaffle I've been using.

After I worked Trouper for a little while, I asked Jamie if he would hope on Denny bareback and ride with me in the yard a bit. Trouper did great!!

He was doing so well that we headed out down the dirt road!! We road up to my parent's driveway and turned to come back. There was a dead copperhead at the foot of their drive, but Trouper didn't seem fazed by it.

Here we are riding back home with dogs in tow!

Trouper was so relaxed and just plodded along.

I even rode Trouper up the front steps into our yard!!! Twice actually because mom wasn't able to get a pic the first time. LOL

Today, Thursday, I bought Trouper a black breast collar that matches his saddle, thanks to a generous donation from an avid blog follower and new friend. The breast collar was on sale at Valley Head Saddlery and they knocked it down a little more for me, so I only gave $15 for it!!! I will hopefully have pics to share soon of him being fitted for it and wearing it today. It looked great on him and matched his saddle great! Now, I'm on a mission to find him a cheap, but nice, black headstall. I want to have him dressed in black for the EMM. Maybe even a black rope halter. I was given one by some friends in FL, but it didn't fit his big ol head! LOL

I used my Kimberwick broken snaffle bit on Trouper today. I think we've found our bit!! He did great in it! His stops were even better and he was backing really well!! I am working on backing Trouper in a straight line, stopping, moving his hip over 90* and then backing a straight line again. Trouper will now move his hind end around while holding his front feet still. It is so cool!!! Now, if I can just get him to move his front end while keeping his back feet still, we'll be doing great!!! HA!

It had been raining off and on all day, so my arena was slick. I just walked and trotted Trouper for a while. The wind was blowing and the arena was drying out VERY quickly, though. I worked with setting Trouper's head at a trot. This is something we've struggled with as Trouper has a very hard mouth He doesn't fight me when I ask him to give vertically, but he acts like he doesn't feel it at all. LOL Well, today, we had a major breakthrough!! He was actually trying really hard.

After I evaluated my footing in the arena, I went ahead and asked Trouper for a canter. He went right into it and kept a steady gate!! I wasn't having to push him like I have been!! It was so lovely!! He goes to the right really well. He struggles to the left a little bit and wants to make his circle really small for some reason. He did very well, though!! 

Tomorrow (Fri), the farrier is coming to trim Trouper's feet again. I cannot believe how quickly his feet are growing. We have him on SafeChoice feed from Nutrena and we think that's what's doing it. It seems to be doing the same to our other horses also. It's a good thing, though!

Saturday, we have a big trail ride planned!! Weather permitting, we are going to haul to Walls of Jericho near Scottsboro and Stevenson, AL. This will be mine and Trouper's  first real outing and I am so excited!! It is a beautiful ride that goes down a mountain, through some creeks and stops in a beautiful valley for lunch. There is a hiking trail that leads by beautiful streams and water falls to a gorgeous canyon, The Walls. Then, you take another trail back up the mountain.

If any one you are interested in following us or meeting us there and riding with us, let us know! You can comment here or email me at WhisperingRainFarms@hotmail.com or call me at 256-605-0786. I would love to share Trouper's first real trail ride with you all!! Just bring a camera! :-)