My cousin Archie told me the other day to come get Butterbean. Barry said for me to ride him this past weekend at Ebenezer so that is what we did.
Red was more than happy to stay home - he didn't even come up to the gate. Sarge would have had a cow if we would have left him! He hopped right in the trailer and off we went. We stopped at Archie's and Butterbean was super easy to catch. We had a little trouble getting him up the ramp but he came for food! The ramp is a little off putting to horses at first but he will learn. When we got up to Ebenezer and backed him out he was hilarious. His hinney was all tucked under, he was up on his toes looking for the step down and he was super cautious. LOL he made it though.
We cleaned the trailer out while they settled in to the pens. We visited with Kellie and Randy and laughed and cut up with them. Mr. and Mrs. Miguez came up and we got to talk to them about Rocky Mountain Horses. If Butterbean doesn't work out - it will be a Rocky Mountain Horse for me. I'd love to own Dan!
I gave poor ole Butterbean a bath. He about came uncorked over the green hose - don't know if it was the water or the coils of the hose moving or both. Anyway, I gave him a bath - he didn't look real dirty - that is the advantage of a roan! but he had witches knots in his long mane that needed to be cleared out. I soaped it, conditioned it and then used Cowboy Magic on it. Pulled out a lot of mane but it was now clear. Didn't do his tail though. Barry saddled him up and got on him and Butterbean acted like he had been rode yesterday. I checked with Archie - he rode him about 30 minutes not to long after he got him and I think Butterbean went to Archie's in May. I know that he came up lame on November 1st last year when we were riding up at Ebenezer. Not a bad limp but Margaret and Ronnie said he was lame and that is why they gave him to Archie. So he hadn't been rode in nearly 11 months to amount to anything.
I got on him and we went for a very short ride...down the trails to the middle - across that wide trail we went down 2 weeks ago that contects back into the road through the fence area. He stumbled several times - kept wanting to walk off the trail and go hither and yonder. He did go down the deep little hill that Red loves to run up and down. Butter did a good job on it - slow and methodical. His canter is not near as smooth as Sarge's - Sarge feels like he is floating - but not near as rough as Red's either. His trot is ok, his jog is very smooth.
I told Barry the stumbling was an issue for me. We will see tomorrow how it goes. We went to Archie's with Kellie and Randy for dinner and we had a blast.
Next day - got Butterbean up and saddled using Barry's Billy Cook saddle. I like my Aussies!! Anywhoo.....I put Butterbean beside the asphalt and I was able to mount by myself! Wow Wee! Randy and Kellie cheered for me!!! Butterbean moved around a little wanting to go but he minded very well. We finally took off and omg is he tender over the rocks....super duper tender. We followed behind Ann Miguez riding Dan and Butterbean surprised me because he was extremely forward in motion - he was keeping up with RMH and doing a great job. He stayed on the trail this time! We rode all over - we made our on trail for awhile - going over trees, brambles, downed trees next to more downed trees and Butter just kept calmly going through EVERYTHING. He was sweating like a Trojan. We went up and down hills, crossed creeks and he couldn't have been more fantastic. It is hard to believe this horse hasn't been rode in nearly a year and is a BABY at that. Butterbean is just 4 years old and a young 4 at that. We went down to the lake and he went to the water and backed quick and skittered to the side when little waves were rolling in. He soon discovered that other horses were in so it must be ok. In he went up to his knees in no time, pawing in the water and having a ball. We came up from the water and headed up the hill.
My knees were starting to hurt because I didn't have the crooked stirrups or my Aussie so knees were letting me know they were very unhappy. We got to the road (we left to come home to go to the Dwight Yoakum concert) and I walked some but mostly trotted the almost 2 miles back to the park. When I got to the park after riding for 4 and 1/2 hours Butterbean wasn't breathing hard, he was soaking wet with sweat, his saddle pad was soaking wet with sweat, and best of all, Butterbean wasn't hot. He was getting a little tired before we stopped at the water but he recovered that quickly. I hosed him off and OMG he was as cool as a cucumber right then! Wow....that is amazing. No stumbling that day - that little fellow didn't put a wrong step all day. He finally figured out to pick up back feet going over trees when the front feet were picked up! LOL
Everyone knew I was riding Butterbean on a trial and that he had come up lame before. Mr. Miguez said if all that riding didn't make him lame - he wasn't lame and he'd buy him from me! LOL He is a mess...I said Butter isn't even mine quiet yet!
Kellie generously offered to bring him home with her and let him stay there so I could vet him and if I decided to keep him he could stay at her house until I could bring him to the ranch. So I left him there with Kellie and she said he was a perfect little doll.
No comments:
Post a Comment