Calling all Horse People!

<span style="color:#FF00BF">I know this is a dog site, but I know we have a good bunch of horsey people out here. <br>I'm just curious as to what all of us horse-people are up to. (Especially with show season not too far away!)<br><br>Two summers ago, July 09 I started working with a 4 year old Quarter Horse named Megan.<br><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/DSCF2261-1-1.jpg"; alt="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/DSCF2261-1-1.jpg"; class="bb-image" /><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/vpmegan.png"; alt="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/vpmegan.png"; class="bb-image" /><br>I started riding her in the lesson program at Duke's (Won't say full barn names on here). Kim, my riding instructor had the more developed riders on her, since at the time she was only 4 and could be quite the handful at times.<br>I had a really nice summer with Megan, rode her once a week every Monday in the lesson.<br>That fall, Kim had moved barns and started teaching at GN. Megan's owner also rode with Kim, so she moved Megan as well to GN where I was able to continue riding her.<br>Megan's owner was a fairly green rider. Kim had advised her not to buy Megan, but she did anyways, and had some troubles afterward. She was only able to handle Megan at a walk, and somewhat at the trot. This is when she offered me more freedom with Megan. In order to keep Megan more manageable for her owner, I was allowed to come out and ride her whenever I wanted, even outside of lessons. This is when I started learning how to train.<br>From then on, I spent hours and hours with Megan and fell in love.<br>She was my first horse for going bareback, jumping (it was Megan's first jump too!), trail riding, and participating in clinics.<br>Things were fabulous, I was learning how to 'fine tune' a horse, and we even started learning reining. <br>But, this October Megan's owner moved her to a stable closer to her home.<br>I was heartbroken. I cried for hours.<br>Megan was the first horse I truly bonded with, and she's so special to me. I can't even begin to tell you guys how much I still miss her, it's only been about 4 months.<br><br>However, this lead to me being without a project horse for the year.<br>Loretta wanted me to work with one of her younger horses, but was willing to let me pick any horse out in the field.<br>Even though people warned me not to, I chose Wildfire, a 6 year old QH mare. She was super difficult to handle, hated people, and had been a pasture horse for the last 3 years. She was green broke before her old owners just left her there. Wildfire became Loretta's after they missed the board for 6 months.<br>Loretta said I could take her, but I also needed a rideable horse. So I also have Jamileh, a 5 year old Arabian.<br><br>When I first brought Jammie in, I realized I was in for more than I bargained for.<br>She was rude, pushy, had absolutely no manners.<br>She tried stepping on me, running me over as I led her in, she was spooky, tried to pin me in the tie stall, she pulled back, and would try biting you when you tightened the cinch.<br>In the last 3 months we've worked through A LOT, and we're at the point where she at least tolerates me now. lmao<br>She's actually been really good lately, and gives me an awesome effort. I think she'll be a great lesson horse when I'm done with her. Plus, her manners have improved SO much. I can even saddle her now without tying, and she stands very nicely.<br><br><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/Jammie2.jpg"; alt="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/Jammie2.jpg"; class="bb-image" /><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/Jammie.jpg"; alt="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/Jammie.jpg"; class="bb-image" /><br><br>And now Wildfire. <br>This horse I at least KNEW what I was getting myself into.<br>People told me not to work with her. They said she had a terrible mentality, and that she was dangerous.<br>To kick us off, I took her into a training clinic. It was the same one I had taken Megan into, but had a VERY different experience. Paul focused a lot on teaching me how to work with her, while protecting myself. Because Wildfire had the potential, as she's demonstrated, to be a very dangerous and unpredictable horse.<br>She had no manners, didn't trust people, was completely head shy, doesn't tie, spooked at EVERYTHING, and would stressed and anxious whenever she was away from the herd. Even if we were doing NOTHING, she would work herself into a sweat.<br>Now, she COMES to me in the field, I can touch her head and put a halter on it with no negative response from her, she nickers to me, and doesn't mind coming inside at all. We're at the point where we're starting to enjoy our time with each other. I can't trust her yet, but she's starting to trust me.<br>She doesn't scare as easily, and it showing me a lot of respect towards me. People say her mentality has almost done a complete 180, so I'm fairly proud of myself. <br>This may be wishful thinking, but she may even be able to be started undersaddle by Summer!<br><br><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/wildfire.jpg"; alt="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/wildfire.jpg"; class="bb-image" /><img src="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/wildfire2.jpg"; alt="http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w236/Horsegirl7/wildfire2.jpg"; class="bb-image" /> <br>Clearly, she's ok with my touching her face now <br>"Is that Wildfire??? Wow..beautiful picture. You are doing so much for that horse Jordan. A year ago she was so difficult. You are turning her into a horse that loves human companionship and trusts people. That is such a wonderful gift to give her!" - A very encouraging comment I got on the second picture, from a lady who has helped me SO much with her training, especially at first. I'm actually taking a clinic from her tomorrow with Wildfire. <br><br>Now that you all know what's going on with my and my girls, what are you all up to? ;P</span>