New feet, New costumes, and New halters!

 

Good News! The halter Mom had made for me came in. It fits like a charm and is a nice accent to my dark color. Its hand crafted and very durable, or so she says. I like it because its different than all the other show halters you see my rivals sporting. It arrived just in time for all my fall festivities. Of course Mom likes this one so much that she wants to order me another from the same creator. One that's all bead work to show off my gorgeous head! She just has to decide on a color... Personally I like green and blue.

Its finally Friday and I'm glad. This week has been a busy one! Mom had a lot going on between school, work, and play. She went to see Paramore (along with Tegan and Sara) in concert. This meant I got a day off! Though, I have to make it up on Saturday... The farrier was supposed to come out that day too but his truck broke down and he couldn't make it out until today. I've had my feet trimmed plenty of times by Mom and her mom but never a farrier. I was kind of glad I got to wait until Friday! It isn't that I was scared to get my hooves trimmed but I've heard many farrier horror stories! Mom reassured me that my farrier knew what he was doing...

Turns out Mom was right! The farrier came and gave all my hooves a good trimming. The whole thing took about five minutes (I bet that was the fastest he's ever earned his paycheck!). It didn't hurt but I don't like having to hold my feet up for some one for so long, plus I don't like the sound of the nippers clipping off my hoof. Mom held my head and played with my lip the whole time to keep my mind off things. I have to say my legs feel much better now that my hooves are correct again! I mean, they weren't bad before, Mom does a good job maintaining them but every so often its nice to have a professional pedicure!

 

Now here comes the embarrassing part of the week... Mom had been talking about how funny it would be if for Halloween I could dress up as a yellow submarine and she could be some sort of character from the Beetles movie or a Beetle herself. Well she made a trip to Target and found me this. Its a yellow submarine outfit. Its extra large dog size and fits me how they say its supposed to (Mom wants to lengthen the belly band so that its not so stretched and looks more like a submarine and less like a saddle). This isn't going to be my actual Halloween costume (Kia is going to wear this instead) but I now have it in my wardrobe! I can wear it where ever; costume parties, horse shows, just for fun. I don't exactly like wearing it but Mom likes it when I do so I'm forced... I still think Kia looks better in it than I do, don't you?? She seems to hate wearing it just as much as me though!

Mom's still working on my actual Halloween costume so I'll keep you posted on that.

Until then, I'm out!,

Getting There

I think I'm finally getting the hang of this whole setting up thing. I'm not exactly sure why Mom makes me do it but I know how to and that I get a treat after. That's all I care about! Before leaving to go run some errands for the day Mom snapped this picture of me getting into my halter pose. I was sleeping when she came out (full out laying down sleeping) so I was still groggy and tired when trying to set up. I usually do better than this and look a little more lively. The more we practice the better I'm getting and the quicker I can do it too. Of course now I'm certain that every time that some one, be it Mom or another human, stands in front of me I should set up then get a treat. I'm just plain convinced that if I just set up when seeing a human I deserve a treat!! These next couple weeks its more training, more show prepping, and getting my Halloween costume put together. Oh, and of course, lots of pictures of who else but me!

Stay tuned for more, I'm out!,

Back to School

Training officially started yesterday. Today it was in full swing more than ever. I'm exhausted! Through out the day Mom comes out and teaches me various things for 15 to 20 minutes then I get to relax for an hour or two. Its different than last year where I did one or two long sessions a day. I much rather these short sessions. I'm young and can't stay focused for that long! I retain the information much better this way too. Already I've got how to square up down. I may not do it perfectly every time but I'm learning. What I'm really after is the treat I get when I square up just about perfect and cant hold it. I can't get enough treats! Of course now that its show season I'm on a diet so I'm limited in my treats. Sometimes I get these "low fat" ones. Mom can give me more of those than the other kind. I don't notice a big taste difference so I'd rather have more of the low fat kind!

Each day Mom has made a lesson plan for me (is the teacher in her obvious or what?!). We focus on one main thing (today was squaring up) then have breaks of lounging in the round pen. I'm learning and building my up muscles (and trimming my fat!). Another thing Mom is focusing on is in hand trail. She mentioned getting me to pivot and bend my body better. Trail looks like more fun than the stuffy halter classes I'm always entered in. I get to do more than just stand there (that means more treats, right?). I heard that if I compete in trail I get to have a new halter. I love buying new halters and looking my best!

After my training was mostly over for the day (we do a little bit in the evening after Mom gets off work) and Mom was busy doing homework my good buddy, Cody, decided to open our gate and let us into the grassy yard. I knew that he was good for something! It was a good half hour before Mom caught us. I may have to work out extra tomorrow but it was more than worth it!!

I'm out for now!,

  P.S. - Sorry for such an old picture of Cody and I. Mom promises to take a new one!

The Show Circuit

Yesterday was the first show of the season! Grandma couldn't make it out (Mom wasn't sure that she was going to actually show me up until a few hours before). Amanda managed to make it out to the show with me-she even sat in the back of the car with me! It was hot during the day and Mom was worried that it would be too hot for me to show. Does she forget that I live outside?! It was cool by the time the show started. Usually before shows I'm bathed, shaved, bathed again, then fancied up. This time I got a nice cool bath and only my face buzzed (I no longer sport my majestic goat beard). I didn't even have to run for weeks before to get totally trim! Mom was saying she wished we had prepped more though because the mares there were looking good!! There's always next time, right mom?

I'm a pro at gong places and showing now. Nothing at the show really seemed to get me excited. Amanda commented on how you would never know I was a stallion because of how calm I am. Even though there were other miniatures at the show I was by far the smallest. I think that's why I get so much attention at shows, because I'm so tiny and devastatingly handsome. From the time I stepped out of the car there were swarms of people that approached me. I don't mind the petting but these strangers aren't Mom, Grandma, or my friends-they don't know my itchy spots! After all the attention it was finally time for me to enter the arena. I've had all summer off and I kind of forgot what to do in the show ring. I happened to remember what to do after the class had been pinned. Oops! Sorry Mom, I'll do better next time (and you'll groom me better too, right?)! I took second. Not bad but I know with some training and grooming I can do blue. We stuck around to watch the cart class which was actually pretty big. It had six entries. Aurthur Ramirez was there showing his cart horses. Maybe one day when I'm older I'll pull a cart. Until then I'll leave that to Avalon. After the cart class had finished we headed off to meet Amanda's parents who had really wanted to see just how tiny I was. By then I was exhausted but I hung in there. The little dogs, at least I think they were dogs I've never seen ones so small, kept barking and growling at me as if I was scary! I got a carrot as a treat then it was time to call it a night. I got into mom's car again and we headed home to my cozy stall which had my dinner waiting for me. Its official: show season has started. Training season has started.

I'm out!,

Cooler Mornings

I came from Wisconsin. I don't remember a whole lot from there (after all I moved when I was pretty young!) but I do remember it was cold. Freezing in fact! Its not like that here in Arizona. Its finally starting to cool off, even if its only at night or in the mornings. When it cools off the smallest human, Mom says he's my uncle, goes into a giant yellow box that whisks him away, nearly every day. Since the weather is nice mom takes me for walks to wait with him, my herd-members Cody and Avalon, and my grandma for the yellow box to come take him away. Today was the first of these walks in the new year. As much fun as it is to get out of the yard I would have much rather stayed in my stall eating!

There's a small horse show this Saturday (the 4th). Its one of the littel fun shows Mom likes to put me in. I'll be there if you'd like to come out and see me. It will be at West World. Check out http://www.sundustaz.com/id6.html for more information.

I'm off to go eat more now,