Spanky Challenge – Week 4

Already week 4, that snuck up on me!

Tue Jun 21	4	1	22	180	1	11787	Hank and I rode around the perimeter of the bean field and back.
Wed Jun 22		2	23
Thu Jun 23		3	24
Fri Jun 24		4	25
Sat Jun 25		5	26
Sun Jun 26		6	27
Mon Jun 27		7	28
Total Week 4				3	1

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Spanky Challenge – Week 3

Week 3 – blew right by me.  I’ve added steps from my pedometer – really shows the days I ride!

Tue Jun 14	3	1	15	60		6234	I’m really slacking this week…
Wed Jun 15		2	16	60		8679
Thu Jun 16		3	17	240	1	19063	Hank and I rode out on our own on the trails, along the road and through the bean field.
Fri Jun 17		4	18	60	0	5890	>90 Too hot to ride.
Sat Jun 18		5	19	30	0	3790	Event in Mechanicsville
Sun Jun 19		6	20	60	0	10758	Business…
Mon Jun 20		7	21	45	0	5210
Total Week 3				9.25	1	59624

Spanky Challenge – Week 2

Here’s the chart. My weeks start on Tuesdays.

Tue Jun 7	2	1	8	180	0	5596	Worked with Sharon’s horses and Hank got front shoes.
Wed Jun 8		2	9	0	0	5118	Oncology appointment and lunch with Sharon
Thu Jun 9		3	10	180	1	19043	First trail ride with Sheryl, Erin and Ozzy. 17,044 steps for me!
Fri Jun 10		4	11	360	1	11462	Trail ride with Erin to East Post Road via North trail.
Sat Jun 11		5	12	30	1		First ride in the Parelli bareback pad.  LOVE IT!  Just had a halter on Hank and he was busy calling to his pals.  Cut the ride short because I had to get to work and put him in the barn for 15 min after the ride before taking him back out.   He didn’t misbehave – looked after me, but wasn’t listening very well.
Sun Jun 12		6	13	0	0
Mon Jun 13		7	14	0	0	1682
Total Week 2				12.5	3	1682

8 Week Total Body Makeover

Now I’m motivated – joined this online.

I was mildly mortified seeing the fat person on my new horse, the least I can do is get stronger so he is confident enough to carry me at a canter without thinking I’m going to topple off.

Spanky Challenge

The challenge: 12 Weeks, 40 horsemanship hours, 30 rides.

Week 1

Horsemanship Challenge
				Horsemanship	Riding
Date	Week	Day	Days	40 Hours	30 Rides	Notes
30-May						Sheryl and I picked Spanky (Hank) up in Elgin and brought him home.
Tue May 31	1	1	1	1.75	1	Rescuing Autumn from being tied to the tree.  First ride, Hank is stiff and he rides western, while I ride English – we’re working on it.  Short ride with no reins, eyes closed.  Small spooks.  He is suspicious of the Parelli ball, so we’ll do some ground work.  He likes to be in your space, we’ll work on that too.
Wed Jun 1		2	2	2.5 hours	1	2nd ride. A little more awkward than yesterday as no one was holding Spanking at the mounting stump. We worked around it 10-15 minutes until he figured out what I was asking and I got my nerves under control. Foot in the stirrup, half way on and he walked off, then the saddle slid off from my weight. He stopped and looked at me, I got us straightened out, saddle off and back on. Finally mounted and we did better today. More loose rein and some no rein, hands out at a walk, some trotting. Erin came out and took him for a little ride, trimmed his feet. He got an apple, grooming and loved on. A good 2nd day overall.
Thu Jun 2		3	3	2.46	0	Ponies had a spa day.  Autumn stopped chasing Spanky and all 3 have been building a herd foundation today.  At together; Autumn won’t let him in the shelter yet, but she isn’t chasing him at all.
Fri Jun 3		4	4	2	0	Spa day for the horses
Sat Jun 4		5	5	0	0	Oncology appointment and errands all day.
Sun Jun 5		6	6	2	1	Short ride, Izzy bandages on leg, Brave needed meds.  Teaching a WWOOFer (guest) about horsemanship.
Mon Jun 6		7	7	0.45	1	Rode Flashy in the pasture and Sheryl rode Hank.  First time with a bridle here.  Used her Parelli bridle with the sweet iron bit.
Total Week 1				10.75	5	Nice end to week 1.

Tuesday May 31, 9:05 pm  It’s pouring rain tonight.  The boys are out in the pasture, Autumn is in the dry lot.  Spanky is smitten with her.  It’s pouring but they are healthy adult horses, a little water won’t harm them.  Thinking of our ride this afternoon, feeling grateful and looking forward to tomorrows ride.  Erin is coming out to trim so maybe just some ground work.  It will be a “horsemanship day” and some grooming.  I need to apply the oils again.  He has such a lovely, smooth trot and his canter ain’t half bad either!  sigh  I heard someone walking by the house tonight yell at someone else “Did you see Deveri’s new horse?  He’s gorgeous!”  Yes, he is.

Thursday June 2   The horses got a spa day today. Essential Oil treatment and massages. I let Autumn out to mow the yard and give her some extra hugs. They are all together in both pastures and it’s been very quiet. I’m adding Rose Hips to Pete’s diet after reading a number of articles on the health benefits. I have powdered, ground and whole. He snacked on 5 whole ones this morning and seemed to enjoy them. Here’s the article that I found interesting (and yes, I did see the cautions about sugar content and diarrhea on other articles so I am starting slow). Hank didn’t care to try them but I’ll add a tiny bit to his grain and watch for any health response.Charles Abraham will be here tomorrow for health check and spring shots; 2 of the foals are not feeling good. Izzy has tore up her right front leg pulling it through something and Brave is colicky. We’ve ramped up the DigestZen for him and treated a puncture on his shoulder but his coat is dull and he’s really cranky about touching his belly

Spanky aka Hank

Join me for a 12 week journey getting to know my new therapy partner. Inspired by the Northwoods Farms 2016 Horsemanship Challenge on facebook.

I entered that challenge on December 31, 2016 thinking I could use Pete as my partner, shortly to realize that with the shoulder injury he could safely carry 100 pounds. I switched to Autumn as a partner – groundwork only and it has been beneficial to both of us and our relationship. Yesterday I brought Hank home as my therapy partner and figure what better way to get to know him that to participate in a micro challenge of my own.

I will track my progress on that challenge here.