Today comes an announcement.

Paisano goes home to Simrat. We are currently looking for someone traveling through Arizona on their way to the Pacific Northwest (through Oregon) who may have an open spot in their horse trailer.  We would like Paisano to travel around the middle of June.

Why do you ask, especially those of you who frequent here solely to see whats up with Paisano?  Because we are not a match.  One of us or both of us would have to change innate parts of ourselves in order to build a true partnership.  Paisano put his best foot forward, gave it his all and tried to become my horse.  Alas, I am broken where it comes to horses so it’s no fault of his.  I recognize that just a pretty face or a sweet spirit is not enough for me any more.  Some of it comes down to economics, I need a horse for a specific function in my life, and I can’t afford to feed one who misses that mark.  That does not mean that Paisano is less horse than any other horse. In truth he is more horse than most horses you ‘d meet.  He just is different from my expectations.  I tried to change me and my goals for him because a horse of his calibre deserves every possible effort on my part.  Every horse does actually. This only made me step away from him, because I could not be who I really am and be his person.

Of course I didn’t say anything publicly, but if you really read my blog posts you would have spied a few disappointments here and there, with more adding up as time went on, with phrases like, “working my ass off”, “Pai getting angry with me”, etc.  These are not phrases depicting harmony. I won’t do this to Paisano and I wont do it to myself.  I hit my wall the other day when the tree obviously did not fit. I just am not willing to spend my money on almosts anymore.  I’m financially a poor girl, Spiritually I am richer than most. Emotionally I am resilient and have had to be due to all the losses in my life over the past 5 years.  I’m afraid though that Kindlewood took my last breath away. 

Not sure any other horse than Pro can fill any spot in my heart for awhile. 

I had hoped that Paisano’s sweet and gentle spirit would have broken through and that new things to explore with him would bring fresh and welcomed change to my life … but it didn’t.  Lesson learned.  Do not enter into relationships until you have mended from past ones.  Where it comes to men I have mended and am open for someone special to come into my life  again, yet those  same rules apply, we must be a fit without changing who we are innately.  As for horses, I’m still broken.

You may have noticed a different horse in my blog banner above. The end photos are of Pro, but the inner three are of a filly that has been offered to me. I have wanted this filly for a very long time…

…here comes the rest of the story…

…yesterday I went to a friend for a third guided imagery session.  This was another one of those blown away moments.  What I wanted to work on was my willingness to be open minded and ready for change, and to flow with what Colorado offers me. Leaving my preconceived notions, and control freak attitude behind.  What I discovered was that I am a free spirit, and am of the earth, that water is very important to my spiritual well-being.  That’s why in Arizona I hung around swimming pools, before that sailboats, before that fishing boats, and swimming spots at favorite creeks.  I love long baths, long showers, spa’s…  water. Incredible discovery for someone who had loved this desert beyond anything imaginable.  I rediscovered my need for water.  I also remembered that once upon a time 30 some years ago I was living on a sail boat in the Sea of Cortez, saying to myself  if I didn’t want HORSES so badly I would live here on the ocean forever. When I get my finances back in order and am settled down in Colorado, I’m buying a canoe or a kayak, or both. I’m going to spend my money on water for awhile and not horse feed, well other than what Pro eats.  Heather has shown some interest in Pro, so maybe we’ll will geld him after all and grow him up to be a family shared horse we can all afford and enjoy.  Maybe I’ll go seek out mountain meadows, deer, rock canyons,  rivers, and eagles.  Pro could come along as a hiking buddy from time to time while he grows up. I still have the dream of doing the 800 mile ride in Arizona and to build my Hope Santa Fe 1800′s saddle but maybe this time it will be Pro who wears it.  He is gaited bold and ambitious with the fire I like in horse so maybe down the road I can still show my home bred SMR horse in FOSH gaited shows. One horse who maybe can do it all if he stays sound. If he doesn’t he has family until that day.

What of the filly you ask? I’m turning her down.

For all of you who have supported me on my saddle endeavor hold onto your chairs, I’m not done with the research and posting on saddles and saddle making. I’m thinking now of buying an older saddle and tearing it apart to build a saddle on the tree as a learning curve experience.  I’m not done. I still want to build saddles.

If you are traveling through Arizona on your way up through Oregon in June, remember Paisano needs a ride home.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Today’s Thankful Thursday

Todays Thankful Thursday has been an exercise in how to be thankful in the face of adversity.   It’s all in how we view it. Amongst the wonderful things are also the challenges and these too we must find thankfulness in.

For more thankfulness take peek at these blogs:

Akal Ranch

Tired Dog Ranch

Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch

Popularity: 5% [?]

Just an update on how Paisano and Prophecy are coming along with their  ground driving and outings.

Humble Pai

First off Paisano found his walk the other day.  I took him out on the lunge line instead of the drive lines, thinking we needed some side by side time for commuication.  He literally out walked me. I mean I was gettin’ a get-a-long to keep up and a few times he out distanced me on the lunge line so I laid it over his back and let him walk it out.  He seemed to really enjoy the sense of freedom while he walked along. The process to get to this walk has been painful in terms of me having to work my butt off to get him to show some incentive.  The other day when I took him out Sophie was in heat, apparently a number of mares in the area were in heat, as when we passed them Paisano had to act like he was still a stallion, this got him lots of “knock it off’s”  and a few reprimands.  He reared, he kicked out and bucked up, but it got him no where with the only place he could go being forward with enthusiasm.  Once he got that down he began to walk  out.  We came up against a green filly (in heat) being ridden for the first time out on the road.  It was a disaster waiting to happen, so Pai and I stood for 10 or 15 minutes while the guy inched his upset filly down the road a block or two. In the meantime while that’s happening a girl comes racing her (in heat) mare over a hill and nearly knocks the poor filly off the road.  All of this in front of Pai who is beside himself by now.  The girl on the mare could hardly keep the mare off Pai as she road by.

Sigh….

Paisano was good if not overwhelmed, but behaved, and found his walk.  We had tons of compliments on how beautiful he is. People would slow down in their cars to appreciate his animated beauty with big smiles on their faces and nods of approval.  He did put on quite the show.  He truly is a beauty. Now if he can just keep his walk, he just might make a get’r done horse too!

Pro Rodeo

Prophecy has improved as well. He has had two outings since his tantrum.  The first one he threw a bit of tantrum rearing and kicking out at me. Which got him lots of backing up and circling then a long stand still.  Oh and my boot in his butt for good measure. It’s like “Do you really want get into a kicking fight”  Bluff… Bluff…   He wasn’t sure I couldn’t whoop his butt so he declined.  His tantrum was short lived this time and we went a little further down the road than he had gone before.  He walked, for the most part, back at a very nice clip.  It was pretty good so I tried to keep low keyed and get him back home with a few good boys and a treat.

The second trip out Rebecca walked with us and brought Sophie along trailing behind us.  I ground drove Pro and he walked pretty much the entire time up and anxious but mannerly the entire one mile walk.  We had a few dissussions about his manhood appearing here and there.  “Put that away!”   Generally though he heard nothing but how good he was and how proud I was of him.  He even did a few quality stops and stands though sometimes with an occassional head shake. He looked magnificent too. Gaiting off and on. Showing his potential stallionism in the arch of his neck and strength in his stride.  His gait was quick and animated, it was just breathtaking to watch.

This week brought some breakthroughs for both boys.  It was a good week.

Popularity: 3% [?]

THE SADDLE

The last couple of saddle posts have generated some good questions, so I decided its time for me to produce my Sunday Historathon – 1800′s entry and Arizona Trail Ride research piece on Paisano’s saddle.  I had planned to post it Sunday, however, WordPress thought otherwise.  So it’s up now.  Go ahead and enjoy it.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Here is one prototype I came up with for Paisano’s saddle, this time on our new Hope tree.  I pieced it together in Adobe Photoshop from several saddles that had elements I liked. Now that I am looking at it I made the saddle a little large on Pai with the stirrup leathers needing to be longer and stirrups needing to be larger, but you get the idea.  There is no skirt or blanket yet. I’m thinking either a black with white trim Navajo double blanket or a red Navajo double blanket. I would have added a skirt but I didn’t have one that would work with this saddle in my photo library. If I continue with this prototype, I’ll go online and search out a skirt that fits.  This saddle has no screws, buckles or rivets. The only nails used will be in the seat, and rigging and skirting.  In the rigging there will be two rows of nails (3 in each row) on both the front and rear rigging straps (each side) as they go up over the fork and rear bars.  The nails will serve dual purpose to secure the rigging and act  as an understated style element.  The conchos are both leather underneath and antique stainless steel on top.  I’m using rawhide for the strings which will tie the skirt, tree and rigging together.  All areas where a buckle or screw or rivet would be used I am lacing the pieces together.  I think this version is in keeping with my 1800′s goals being rich enough in color and flashy enough in character without being gaudy or over powering Paisano’s color.  What do you think?

There may be several of these protoypes before I finally settle on one this winter when building the saddle begins.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Not a lot to say here, except that it is gorgeous and it was shipped out today.  We expect about 10 -14 days for arrival.  Can you see why I would want for most of the tree to be visible.  It is just a piece of art!  I’m going to have a hard time drilling holes in it for the strings, or screwing anything into it.  Rod did a magnificent job spacing the tacks/nails perfectly and the stitching is beautifully done.  What craftsmanship and well worth all we have been through to achieve. This tree could easily last two life times and I am guessing if a tree is kept in perfect condition it could last many more lifetimes. Obviously Pai’s tree will live in the house and the saddle will be carried in a water proof saddle bag at all times.  I think in  the saddlebags I will keep a saddle poncho as well for any surprise storms.

I am going to name this tree and refer to it by that name. Much like a swordsman names his blade. A name to be carried on throughout its lifetime.

I have waited 16 years for a tree that will fit one of my horses properly.  This tree Rod, Denise and I have been discussing for well over a year and half now.  It started out with me wanting to have a saddle built for Kindlewood well over two years ago.   When she died, I lost hope or sight of having a tree made, but when Pai arrived with his particular needs, the dream was rekindled and now he is only days away from having his own tree upon which I will be build my first saddle.

Popularity: 6% [?]

All photos for this post compliments :   Wojtek Kwiatkowski

I took Paisano out for a ride today. The plan was to ride him for about 2 miles then come home  to take Pro out for about 1 mile walk later this evening.

Best laid plans… I should know better, I have had horses how long?

The first part of the ride Pai was exceptional, so exceptional that I thought hmmm…?  Karen McClain from Twitter lives right down the road from me, I’m thinking I’ll just ride down to her place and check in on her. That would lengthen our ride to about 3 miles round trip.  About two thirds the way to Karen’s place Pai began to spook at things, obviously calculating his spooks well ahead of time which brought my attention to the game he was beginning to play.  After a short visit with Karen, we headed off and it looked like it was going to be a relaxed ride home.  Yet something told me that if I went back the way we came that Pai would start looking for his spook spots and start playing his game again, thus we went a different route.  Everything look as though we would have a nice quiet ride home, but then I’ve been wrong before. I have to admit I think Pai kind of lost his focus.  I’m use to horses having a much longer focus. Pai reminds me of someone who is sheltered and wants to be careful not to get into iffy situations.  He seems like he wouldn’t have a clue about how get himself out of a nasty situation unscathed.  You know soft.    Kinda of the soft guy on an adventure hero’s journey. I’m certain this is just a developmental stage he is going through, but it flared up today smacking us square in the face when a dalmatian dog ran up to the fence line across the road from us on the way home.  It had to be the most frightening sight Pai had ever seen loosing it all together.  I decided he had had enough so I dismounted to calm him down.  Guess I’m going to get that one mile walk in today without Pro in tow.

You know how to offend a Spanish Mustang owner don’t you?  Call their horses a BLM  Mustang?  Nah, that’s just a good way to get them fired up to teach  you right from wrong.  You can call their horses ponies, cute, plunky, nag, even plug.  But don’t ever call their magnificent Spanish steed and Arab!

I have to say that Pasiano did an unforgivable thing today.  He shamed me something awful.  First off he was mad at me for making him go down this new road, then he was certain he would be eaten by the ghostly dalmatian, and then once I’m afoot an Arabian came charging across the paddock next to us tail flagging, snorting and looking quite grand.  That was it, Pai fell apart, but then he caught himself and thought, “Oh no way!”, he would not be outdone! My Pai would not have any of that!

Oh and in public  too!

We had our share of this…

oh yes we lots of this and tons of deer springy trot and stiff legged pouncey walk…

Oh and when I suggested to Paisano that he might want to act more like a Spanish horse in public, this is what I got.

With this as a threat, if I didn’t like his highly refined Arabian impersonation.

I’ll tell you that Arab had nothing on Pai today, and the neighbors, to my shagrin, just had to come out of their homes to compliment me on my rare colored Arabian.  How low can I hang my head?

All photos compliments :   Wojtek Kwiatkowski

Popularity: 3% [?]

Well guys it’s almost finished drying and will be shipped off once its varnished.

Here it is before the rawhide was applied. 

Paisano’s Tree

Rod and Denise will send me another picture of it once the varnish is dried just before shipping.  I am in a state of disbelief. After all these years finally a tree that fits my horse.  Paisano will have a saddle that offers him the most comfort and I will have a saddle that fits me fairly well. 

So now we have a tree, so let’s talk style.

First off the horn cap is not as large as I had originally planned on.  Rod and I talked for quite awhile about how I ride and what functions this saddle would have.  Yes it will be an exhibition saddle representing the 1800′s period style Hope saddles. But it will also be my daily riding saddle and see many, many miles in all different types of terrain. Each Hope’s tree style was dictated by the locale in which it was made and used.  A Texas Hope from a very early age may have a very large horn cap, if its a Mexican saddle that horn could be very large in deed. If the saddle tree maker was from New Mexico or California the horn style would begin to vary.  I told Rod to build me the horn that would best suit my style of riding while maintaining Hope credibility.  So with that we see some variance between the horn style of my tree and those trees we will be viewing below.  Also the angle of the cantel was dictated by Paisano’s length of body and my thigh size. which made it sit upright a bit steeper to accommodate my thigh than what you may see on one of these other saddles that accommodate a longer bodied horse and possibly narrower legged rider.  It took some Rod Nikkels magic to get a 15 inch seat on Paisano’s bar length.  We also see a more accentuated curve to the bottom sides of the bars which accommodate Pai’s very flat wide and well sprung ribs.  Being cut away that much will also make for more comfort for my thighs as well as provide for more contact with Paisano.  Which brings us to the saddle style itself.

Original Model

Here you see my original model for Pai’s saddle.  It has changed a bit since then.  I’m going with less leather is better. I have no idea what color the rawhide dried out to be so that will be a deciding factor in leather color.  That and I have decided that I love Paisano’s blueish black coat in russet so we’ll see.

Saddle #1

Saddle #2

So here we see two saddles that give us two different rigging options.  Before I actually build Paisano’s saddle I will buy some latigo and basically tie the rigging ring to the saddle reminiscent of the saddle #1 .  In other words run the latigo around each side the of the pommel/gullet and tie off at the ring. Repeating on offside. I can adjust to Paisano’s needs and get a good feel for where his rigging will go before I  cut expensive high grade leather for the final build. When I get around to building the saddle I want to do the variation that’s on the saddle #2.   Basically running the strap around the pommel to attach both ends  to the rings and have and additional latigo go up over the front the pommel to attach on both sides between the smaller straps. 
As for back strap or “jockey” that goes over the back of the bars behind the cantel I plan on using a basic latigo strap initially and tie it off to the ring to complete the prototype rigging.  I will maintain this theme into the finished saddle as I have no plans on build jockeys that cover the rear bars. Instead I will cover the latigo rear rigging strap with saddlebags as seen above.  This helps to cut down weight and work while making the saddle highly functional for those “long-rides” I plan to be taking  Pai on. I.E. the Arizona 800 mile trail ride.

Drawing

Saddle #3

Now for the stirrup leathers. Yep that’s it folks straps with the old time buckles will be what I use for now. Later on I plan to use the stirrup leather style minus all the tooling that you saw above on Saddle #2.  One piece leathers cut to allow for fenders and old style buckles. Of course the stirrups leathers will attach at the slots you see in the bars of Paisano’s saddle instead of running over the entirety of each bar.  I will cover the seat with a simple 1/2 seat over a steel retainer.  As for the skirting I will have to let Paisano decide how that will go.  It will be a rounded skirt but it’s size shape will be dictated by Paisano. If I go with a skirting like  saddle #3 I may choose to use ring guards which are perfectly correct for the period I am shooting for.  However since the rings will hang lower as on saddle #3  as opposed to what you may see in some of the saddles above, I may build my skirt to come down low enough to come between the ring and horse. Pai has so little room to work with in this area, that I will have to let him dictate how the skirt and rigging come together. 

I figure about one hundred more dollars and Pai’s saddle will be serviceable.  I will get a good feel for how the tree will ride and how Pai responds to it. Probably my winter project will be putting the final saddle together at an estimated additional cost of five to six hundred dollars.  There will be long tie strings, the fenders to make, the seat to make, the permanent rigging, stirrups, conchos and medallions to add, plus having the saddle bags made.  I will having a breast collar and headstall and reins/romal made to match as well.

More updates will come when the tree gets here.

Next spring this boy will be decked out!!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Another update on my move to Colorado can be found here.  Hope you enjoy!

Popularity: 2% [?]

So I take Paisano out today for his turn at driving.  He had his nose stuck in the halter before I could get it untangled.  It didn’t take much time getting him use to my style of driving so off we went clippity clopping down the road.  It took some work though to get him motivated, which once he had the notion of what I wanted he trekked right along at a good clip.  He would take advantage though of me fiddling with my reins or adjusting my position slowing down to his usual moping pace.  What I thought was going to be a training session in get a get-a-long, turned into a lesson in get-a-stop.

He walked through nearly every stop I asked of him and spent most of his time backing up and standing.  I’d goose him out into a good fast walk which he got right away and did very well with, but when it came to stop he was like “Huh?”.  So we played walk three steps stop and stand, walk ten step stop and stand, back back back, walk ,stop, back, stand, until he finally paid some attention to me.  Guess we need to put a stop on that boy.  He was very good, just all about everything else around him and not about me.

Now if I made gentle contact on the reins he would stop instantly so its not like he was pushing his way through a stop.  But to stop in unison with me without the aid of the reins he was all like “would you just cue me with the rein so I know what you want?”   My answer was “well if you were paying attention to me back her behind you instead of lolly-gagging up there you’d know I wanted to stop”.  In the end he was getting it and put a good effort into it.

A man in a pretty blue Ram truck (I love Ram trucks ) stopped us along the road who had heard of Spanish Mustangs but had never seen one. “Wow, my first bonafide Spanish  mustang!!”,  he exclaimed.  He had an Apache reservation mustang and a 1/2 mustang (I’m assuming was a foal of the reservation mare) at home. We talked for quite awhile while the guy ogled over Pai’s color.  Paisano was perfect of course, stood there like a gem.  When the guy left we came on home  at a very nice clip with  Pai getting his usual snacks from the pellet bag and a few minutes running free before I put him away which included tons of hugs and kisses.

I know what work is cut out for me and Paisano now.  Stops and back ups and quiet feet are foremost in my foundation work.  Paisano is nearly perfect now with his feet. They are extremely quiet which really pleases me.  What we need now are a few more of these get-a-long and get-a-stop lessons under our belts and we’ll be ready for some trails.

Popularity: 2% [?]