Pole Bending at Liberty
Many of you have probably already seen this video on Horse Agility.
Well I was trying to help my mom come up with things she could do with the ponies on the ground – since she will be getting her knee surgery in a week after her fall from Blitz. She really won’t be riding for a while, but there are still plenty of things you can do with your horse from the ground.
The horse agility sprang to my mind as something fun that both my mom and Blitz could do together. So yesterday I grabbed Boomerang and started working on some liberty leading to see if I might be able to get him to do something agility wise. He actually picked up what I wanted pretty quickly and within 15 minutes I was leading him around the arena without a rope. The next step was to bring out some of my bending poles to see if I could maybe get him to bend them on his own. Here’s our third try:
Pretty good for only his third try. Boomer already knew how to pole bend (from our gaming work) – so the hardest part was getting him to recognize that I wanted him to do it on his own and then asking to move away and to me in order to weave the poles.
Anyway I think he did pretty well and I’m looking forward to doing more ground work with him in the future. The funny thing I’ve been noticing about Boomer is that ever since he saw me working with Minnow on his Spanish Walk a few months ago he has begun mimicking it whenever he recognizes that its “trick time”. He’s been doing leg lifts randomly in order to try to get me to reward him. All because he watched Minnow do it one time….smart pony I’d say!
Molly Mutt Dog Duvet Covers
As crafty as I am, I am a terrible sewer. I don’t know how to set the machine right, the thread always bunches up, my stitches break, I just really can’t do it. I have grand images of making jackets for the Dachshund, saddle pads, or maybe even horse blankets! But I’ve come to realize this is just never going to be possible.
I can’t sew, but here is someone who can!
Molly Mutt is a fantastic online shop where you can purchase dog bed duvet covers. Simply pick a fabric (and the fabrics are oh so cool!) and it comes ready to be stuffed with an old dog bed, or even blankets and old clothes from around your home. You can even buy a nifty “stuff sack” which will hold all of your “stuffing” neatly together.
Today I purchased the robot duvet cover and a stuff sack for the Dachshund. He has this horrible habit of chewing up his dog beds – and actually sleeping inside of them. But it comes to a point when he has stuffing all over the floor that I decide its time to part ways with the bed. Except this time. I’ve decided to be ECOFRIENDLY by simply stuffing his old bed into a new duvet cover. Plus the cover is just so cute I couldn’t resist!
Ammo inside one of his beds
Own a foal by Misty II’s Henry!
Misty II's Henry
Misty of Chincoteague has a legacy that has far proceeded her life span, and her story also lives on in her offspring.
Misty II’s Henry is a decedent of Misty of Chincoteague, and the very last foal of Misty II. More information on Henry can be found on the website, Misty’s Heaven.
Before Henry was gelded some of his specimen was frozen to be used later for special breeding purposes. Henry’s owner is offering up a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a 2011 Chincoteague Pony foal by Misty II’s Henry. ONLY ONE FOAL AVAILABLE!
If you are interested in owning a part of the Misty of Chincoteague Legacy you can contact
Kendy Allen
ponycntr@intercom.net
Misty II's Henry
or you can contact me and I can put you in contact with someone.
Kyley DiLuigi
info@paintingpony.com
610-269-2424 (Studio 3 Gallery – ask for Kyley)
Don’t delay if you are interested….again there will be only ONE foal.
Photos curtsy of Misty’s Heaven
World Equestrian Games 2010
Many of you have heard me talk about my favorite equestrian sport, Mounted Games. Its sort of an obscure sport, which most people have never heard of, but all that is about to change this fall. The World Equestrian Games, held in Lexington, KY October 2 -10, 2010, will be debuting Mounted Games during their competition.
Here’s an excerpt from the website:
The United States Mounted Games Association has gone through the rigorous selection process necessary to be selected to present the sport of Mounted Games at the World Equestrian Games.
The USMGA will be presenting an International Mounted Games Association competition for one hour each day for eight days, beginning Oct. 2 until the closing of the games Oct. 10, and we will also be manning a booth for the entire sixteen days. Top level games riders from around the world, music and international announcers will provide a memorable, impressive and entertaining show.
Mounted Games is like no other horse sport that you have ever seen. In 20 countries around the world, blazing action combines with teamwork and horsemanship skills to make Mounted Games as much fun to watch as it is to ride. Mounted Games is a unique equestrian sport that combines the history of ancient warfare, the raw athleticism of the Wild West and the thrill of horse racing in a team event. At its top level, the sport demands that equine and human athletes perform intricate skills at breakneck speed and provides the spectator appeal of an extreme sport.
Minnow spins around a bucket
This is exciting news for a sport that I have been participating in since I was 13 years old (thats 13 years for anyone counting). And while I myself didn’t try out, many of my friends did. They have yet to choose the team to represent the US, but I’m excited to see if any of my friends will be a part of it. I’m actually considering maybe making the trip down to Kentucky to watch the event – this truly is a first for the sport. The competition is still one day away, so I find myself having something interesting like reading slot myths. This is a hobby of mine that very few people know, I like gambling on slots.
On the Mounted Games at the WEG website you can follow along as the countries choose their riders, equine mounts will also be announced as time goes on – ponies that will be pooled from generous pony lenders in the US (the other countries will not be bringing their own mounts). I considered offering up some of the Trick Ponies, but I decided that by October they probably wouldn’t be ready for such an important competition – they still have a lot of training they need.
KD dunks a sock on Minnow. USPC Games Rally 2007
The other really neat thing on the website is their explanation of many of the races. The have a page dedicated to explaining (with videos) the races and how they are played. So if you have never heard of the sport before, I highly recommend checking it out here.
If you can’t tell, I’m also excited to play casino and get ready for a virtual horse race in the casino universe with classic features and simple rules. – I think the end goal is to eventually have Mounted Games as an Olympic Sport. Although, I do hope that the sport will always be assessable to everyone. Right now there are organizations (like the one I belong to) that openly invite anyone who would like to participate and learn how to play – no matter your age OR skill level. I hope this will never change.
If you are interested in learning more about Mounted Games at the World Equestrian Games here is how you can get involved:
Other Mounted Games Organizations:
MGAA
United States Pony Club
USMGA
International Mounted Games Organizations
Something old, Something new
So in preparation for Ammo’s upcoming dog training classes I decided to buy him a new collar. His old one had a crack in the buckle that I wasn’t sure would hold up forever (The husband tried to crack a beer with the buckle, tisk, tisk) – and I didn’t want it falling apart in class with me trying to chase a non-compliant Dachshund all over the place.
So after a little bit of searching I found Handmade Green, a San Diego based artist who makes eco-friendly dog products. Gotta love saving the earth! I am REALLY big on shopping eco-friendly, I save tons of stuff to be reused for projects and crafts, and of course I recycle! So when I found their collars made out of old grain sacks I definitely had to get one for the little sausage dog.
When the package arrived at the shop the dachshund just knew it was for him. He began jumping up and down as I tore into the envelope. I reached down and snapped it on his neck – and the resulting video is what happened next.
Gotta love the crazy weenie.
