Getting out and About

So last weekend it was beautiful weather.... so mom and I decided to take advantage of it since it might be the last. Saturday we took the horses (both of them :) to an open show in Elkorn. We met up with some friends there from Whitewater and the show was a benifit for a friend of mines mom, Dan Grunwald he was also a trainer in the MWMC this past April he trained a little black mare named Trust. Anyways... ariving at the show around noon I was able to take Nash in a Sr. walk trot class (spur of the moment thinking). I was more nervous than he was like always. There were 16 other horses in the class so it was a full one. Nash did everything that I asked him to do, he went right into the arena, worked on the rail or off, moved around horses and let horses move around him with no attitude. When the class was being placed Dan had me step out of line and said a few nice words about the Mustang that I was riding and about the Challenge. So even though I didn't place with Nash, I promoted the Mustangs again to new people. :) I only entered into one class but for the rest of the day he tied to the trailer with Shone and stood like a rock. And I had to show off a bit with him by having him bow and lay down on comand!!!

Standing so well at the trailer

After a long Saturday of being proper and clean at the show mom and I met up with some friends at Horsemans Park in Palmyra. People can camp there with horses or just day ride like we did. It was a great day and we rode for 4 hours! Shone did great for mom and Nash of corse was great as well. He is ok with being in the front of the group leading the way, the middle or bringing up the rear. Jessie also came with Rem and we went for a little run it was great to stretch their legs and let them just go. When we were back to the trailer and unsaddled Jessie and I let our 2 boys roll in the deep sand they love that... then Nash and Shone got cooled off with a bath.

Hi Mom and Shone
Nash is thirsty!!!
The group minus one... mom's taking the picture
THE MIDWEST MUSTANG CHALLENGE MUSTANGS

NASH AND REM

WHERE THEY ARE MENT TO BE!!! THANKS PATTI:)

Hey Yall

Hey I just got back from Fort Worth Texas. I was invited to go to the Extreme Mustang Makeover by Patti. I flew on a plane for the first time ever and went to Texas it was great I loved it. There were a lot of horses and the facility was huge. I saw a few of the trainers that I met through the Challenge in Madison this past April. It was nice ta catch up with everyone and give back to my fellow trainers. It was breathtaking to see all of the things that can be done with the Mustangs in only 100 days. bridle-less riding and jumping through a hoop of fire... CRAZY!

I got to go to Billy Bobs in down town Fort Worth its a huge bar with a live band and a mechanical bull.. fun fun!

Then Sunday night after the adoption everyone went out to dinner at a great Mexican resturant!! The hole experience was amazing!!!

Long Long Long Time

Hey, not a lot new to report I have been really busy with work and other training projects but still always find time for my Nash. For a while there I was giving lessons to a young lady... So has horses but she just needed a boost to work with them. Then I was asked to work with a Walking horse... the owner does field trialing with him and wanted him to get used to a few things before going out. I have tought Beam to park out, stay in gate, ground tie, and get used to a cap gun and a wistle. He is doing very well with everything so far.

I have been working with Mr. Nash on liberty work we had touched on that a bit befor the competition but it was not enough. He is also working on his spins and flying lead changes and bath time.

We are also workin on his head set... not so bad with a loose rein

Its Been A While

Hello to everyone it has been a long time since I have blogged and I appoligize for that... Everything has been going well with Nash and my other creatures. He and my mare Shoshone hae been getting along a lot better and Nash took to the goat without hesitation. Which supprised me a bit. He has been able to be out in the pasture without me supervising all the time which is nice not to worrie and he is out in the round pen all night with the others.
I have just been working on our transitions and head set, he is still a little rough when it comes to loping from a walk but thats ok it is getting better and for the time that I work on it he is coming along great!!!! I have also been working on pulling tires and playing with barrels...
And oh for the first time Nash got a bath with soap and everything he liked it, it was a nice hot day and everyone got a bath. He is also fine with the fly spray (everyone knows we are using alot of it this year the bugs are horid) and fly mask!!!
I am hoping to have pictures this weekend!!!

Great Day

Nash and myself Shoshone and my mom went for a trail ride today. It was great I love the trail and so do my ponies!!!! It was so nice because the bugs and deer flys are not to bad yet! Then when we got back from the trails I thought it was time to let Nash out in the pasture...it went well actually I was shocked that I didn't have to fix fence lol!!! He touched the electric and didn't do it again, he is a smart guy!!! Here are some picts from today nothing to exciting I think that he was more interested in eating instead of running around!!!
OH YEAH CHECK OUT THAT WILD MUSTANG!!!!!!!!

Lots left to do

The biggest battle is over I have Nash home with me for good but there are still of bit for me to teach him. Last weekend my mom, dad, and I srung a new top fence line and set up the round pen. Lately I have been lunging Nash and then letting him be out in the round pen...as long as he can see the mare he is fine but if she is out of his sight he starts to act up a bit, and by this I mean mostly paw and nicker for her. My mare went into heat the day befor the Horse Fair so Im sure that didn't help any, Im pretty sure she is out of it now though. I have yet to introduce Nash to the electric fence and I don't really know why I am procrastinating on that but I would like to go for a long trail ride and then turn him out in the pasture, so he is good and tired. I think that his time will be this weekend even if there is no long trail ride. He needs to get out and stretch his legs.

I would just like to once again thank all of my friends and family, everyone in the Mustang Pride Group, Patti and her husband, my mom and dad, and expecially Nash he is everything!!!!!!

Guess what happened!!!

I don't even know where to begin... Nash was amazing!!!! He was a bit nervous but never got naughty. He walked calmbly throught the crowds and all over the grounds. I as well as he was a bit nervous going in to our in hand class and Im sure that he fed off of my nervous. He did well the pattern was trot through cones, stop pick up all 4 feet, walk over polls, load and unload in the trailer, walk into shoot and back out then 270 turn to the right and trot to finish. I was happy to see that that was the pattern I thought that was great we can do all of that. But I guess when you have to do it in front of hundreds of eyes it is a bit different. So we walked through the cones, stoped picked up the feet with a half turn, walked over the polls, he loaded very well and backed out calmbly, walked into the shoot and backed out with out tapping the polls and trotted to finish with a little head toss. Then the crowed clapped and he got a bit nervous. (I was 11th in the in hand to go through the pattern I believe that I placed with 78 points)

Then on Saturday I was drawn #1 to go throught the horse corse. Wow that did not make me feel any better, that made me more nervous. The pattern was: lead in and mount, trot over polls, pick up right lead at cone lope circle, switch leads at cone lope on left lead to the next cone, turn to the left lope right lead to "L" walk into "L" and back out, turn 270 to the right and trot through cones (like a figure 8) trot to bridge and walk over bridge then you had 2 minutes to do a free style. To tell you the truth I really don't remember how we did in the pattern I was so nervous. But for the freestyle I spun both directions and backed, loped both directions , and when I had 30 sec. left I got off and asked Nash to bow the crowed loved it. Then he stood like a rock for me to get back on out in the middle of the huge arena. I was so proud!!!!
But I guess after I was done I could say it was nice to go first because I was all done and I could watch the rest of the preformances!!

I ended up placing 23rd out of 53 horses I thought that was really great for Nash. He could not have done a better job for me.

Sunday... The worst day of the weekend.... I was drawn #51 for my hip number so that ment I went through the adoption with Nash 51st out of 53. So I was close to the end. As I sat watching some of the horses go through the bidding my heart sank it sank hard and fast. I was so nervous and I didn't know what to do. On friday of the weekend I filled out an aplication and recieved a biding # of 19 so my mom had the job of biding on Nash for me I told her my limit and said what ever happened happened!!!!! Even though I wanted to say, what ever it takes I need him to come home with me. I couldn't watch any more of the auction so I went to the barn to saddle. Nash and myself and Rem and Jessie (hip #53) made our way down to the arena, slowly for I really didn't want to go at all. After a few minutes it was my turn to go into the auction... I was riding Nash and we had to go through a gate that was close to the crowd and there were banners hanging on the fences (very scary to Nash) I asked him twice to go through and he steped each time but we wern't making much progress so I got off and led him through, as soon as my feet hit the ground he was just fine, at this point the bidding started and I was crying like crazy. the bid went up and past my limit and the hed of the Mustang Heritage Foundation came out and put her arm around me and spoke into the microphone..........she gave a little speech about me and how proud she was of every thing that I had done with Nash, and she continued to say that Nash was sold......to Colberg Ranch and GIVEN BACK TO HIS TRAINER!!!!! Thats me his trainer Patti Colberg boght Nash and gave him back to me. I could not even speek I was so happy and amazed that I couldn't even speek.

I would like to say THANK YOU to every one that has ever supported me through this hole 100 days...I would most of all like to thank Patti and her husband for giving me My NATIONAL TREASURE!!!! I can not even thank them enough for what they did.

There is a lot left to do with Nash but I have all the time in the world now, he is HOME!!!

Better late than never!!!

I was so intrigued with the 12 inches of snow that we got last month I had Nash outside for a little photo shoot and I never posted any pictures......well here they are!!!!

Holly RAIN

Wow I guess if its not the snow its rain! Nash lives in a stall in an indoor arena soooo its is really loud for him. Today after work I was nervous to work him because of the noise level. But not to my supprise he did great we worked on a few old things and he listened to it all. He is truly an awsome horse!

"National Treasure" you are a true treasure!!!!!!!!

Trail Riding

Last Saturday Jessie and I took the boys (Rem and Nash) to Palmyra to ride on the trails the guys did great. The dumpsters, cars, roads, gaits, signs and everything else they were champs. They were both a bit gung ho in the start of the ride but twards the end they were tired little boys.

The Kettle Morain trails hold there name well there were tuns of hills. The weather was awsome but in some of the shady areas were still a bit snowy. But the sure footed Mustangs placed their feet safely. I was so glad to get Nash out of the areana where there are no fences he and I really enjoyed the day.

When we got back to the trailer we unsaddled and let the beasts roll in the sand Nash sure loves to roll thats for sure. He was so tired he needed help getting his feet in to the trailer it was cute he tried so hard but he just couldnt get his feet up that high. lol

What a nice day

Hey all today was the last of the nice days we are supposed to get more snow tonight or tomorrow just a few inches at most but still I don't want any more snow!!!! I worked Nash quite a bit today in hand I was having a GOOD TIME making up showmanship like patterns and working through them.

This afternoon I was focused on working Nash on his turns and backing through the "L" in saddle. He is getting better but still a bit rammy (if thats a word)!!! I need to slow him down a show him where his feet need to go. But on the up side he is geting very responsive with picking up the canter from a walk. Although he picks up the wrong lead sometimes he is trying I guess. I was able to ride outside today in the front arena right bye the road. He does good even with the traffic noise. I had been out there a few times befor but today he worked very well. He only scooted once this time.

There was minimal mud in the middle of the arena so that is were I focused our circles. I trotted figure 8's and once he relaxed I asked him to canter, well I found another thing to work on STRAIGHT lines we would deffinatly win the zig zag contest...lol!! Nash also loves to roll expecially in the back pasture in the snow!!! The past few days I had been taking him for a walk after our ride and like clock work the nose is on the ground and 1, 2, 3 down he goes. Happy Horse!!

Here are a few photos!!!

"Friendly Fred" NAUGHTY NAUGHTY

NO NO sun don"t go down!!!! Please NOOOOOO :):):):)

Oh yeah Mr. Mr. wanted so splish shlash in the puddles!! I wound much rather see puddles than mounds of snow!!!

NATIONAL TREASURE A TRUE GENTALEMAN!!!!!

Down to the Wire

I can't even believe that there are only 25 more days. It seems like there is so much more that I need to work Nash on and there is just not enough time in the day. Not only is it down to the wire but Nash is fighting off a cold or something I think that all this crazy weather is getting to my tough Mustang!!! But he is still working strong and moving along well we have been working on transitions loping from a walk and walking from a lope he is getting better but still not where I would like him to be for April. I have also been working on his back through a "L" in saddle he always seems to step over the polles. I haven't been able to get any new pictures really my fan club is gettin slim I guess the nice weather that we had been having and with the Holiday people have better things to do but I hope to get some pictures this coming week. It is my 21st birthday this Sunday so Im sure Nash will get a day or so off:):)

I hope every one had a GREAT EASTER!!! Mine was filled with more SNOW!!! The neighbors were sledding on Easter!!!!!

This is my new audiance the barn cat Friendly Fred and my new dog Tank. He is a 5 year Great Dane he is my birthday present....

Nash likes Tank TOO!!!!!

Last weekend so much fun

Last Saturday Jessie and Rem came down from Milton to ride with us. We had a grea time setting up obsticles for an inhand corse and a riding corse we also worked the gate. It was awsome Both the horses did great. We both know what we need to work on but I think that it will only take a little bit of work and then they will be great. Jessie posted some pictures and videos (because I am video posting challenged) so if you want to check them out go to........
www.jessieandremington.blogspot.com

Busy Busy

THe past few days with Nash have been busy. I have been working him for at least 2 hours after I get done with work. Long day for me but I think that it is paying off with Nash. He is getting softer with the bit and with his transitions. I have also been working on teaching him to jump and he loves it, although he is only 3 I have only been jumping him about 13 inches. But he clears it every time with room to spare. I am hopeing to get a few pictures of him jumping and cantering but the motion shots are hard. I would like a video but I don't know how to upload one.

I hope everyone is doing well with their Mustangs!!!!

Oh the canter

Today Nash cued easily into the canter, with no bucking. I think that once he knew that is wht I wanted him to do then he realized it was ok. I have been very luck with him he has picked up the correct leads every time. At least that will be one less thing to drill if he does it naturally. He has a very easy canter to ride the horse that I own is a bit smaller and I thought that Nash's canter would be large but it is very nice to ride. He is also getting good at his roll backs he is very responsive to my leg cues I barley have to use any rein on him.

Sorry I havent had any picts up latley but I will be taking some soon and posting them. I hope to get some good ones of us cantering...

Mustang Play Day

Yesterday three of my fello competitors andI met in Union Grove at Signature Arabians and set up an obsticle corse for our horses to go through. It was good to get together and meet some of trainers who had the same great idea as I did training in the dead of winter!!!lol Every ones horse got along great and so did the trainers it was nice to talk and exchange ideas with eachother.

After we all worked through the obsticles on the ground we rode throught them. All of the ground chrew was great too they acted as the audiance and hooted and holered and clapped. All the horses stood great.

My friend Jess and I were incouraged to canter, Rem and Nash did well with the exception of a few bucks from my man but hes new at it so Ill look past it for now. But thanks to all that participated in the Mustang Play day and well try and set up another one.

It was nice to get Nash out of his same environment and out with more horses. I am looking forward to the next play day.

Traveling

Nash and I worked on cantering again today and he did well on his left lead but still needs work on both. I also worked on trailer loading and non to my supprise he went right in. So...... I decided to take him for a little spin around which ended up an my house and he got to meet my special lady and Boo the goat. They were very good to eachother and loving all of the attention. Nash never hesitated once today walking on the road, down my driveway and the new environment he LOVED every bit of it. Nash is an awsome horse he is very trusting and he shocks me with his attituded about things he just takes it all in thinks about it then does it, nothing has ever fazed him. He has yet to disapoint me he is doing awsome!!!!

AHH THE SUN!!!

Doctor's Note

I had the vet out today to look at Nash's teeth because he wouldn't stop chewing and chewing at the bit. And little to my supprise he had one wolf tooth and a lot of sharp points. So after the inital exam we gave him a little sedation and put on the mouth gag. He did very well with the hole operation. He got his wolf tooth pulled and the rest of his teeth power floated. Then when the vet was gone I clipped his bridle path and his muzzle. Nash was very good with the drilling noise and the grinding. I wish I would have had my camera it was a codaic moment!!! So back in his stall he went, and after a few hours when he was "awake" enough I gave him his evening dinner ans I could tell that his mouth was a little sore but not to bad. But none the less he got the evening off of working he had a "doctors excuse" lol!!! Back to work tomorrow though and I haope its not so darn COLD!!

Easy Day

Today all Nash and I did was work on the usual. But repition repition repition. He did well, we also worked on the cue for cantering, we had minimal bucking this time!!! I started giving Nash grain and he LOVES it. We played a little game in the areana with a bucket of grain, follow the leader!!! I like to play games with him I think it stimulates his mind...

Here is my man bafor we made our way back to WI. "National Treasure"

Outside Adventures

Today was a beautiful day the sun was shining and the wind was barely blowing and it was 27 degrees out. It was such a good day to work Nash out side. He worked well in the deep snow, this was the first time that I have seen him breath a bit heavy for just walking and trotting. He rode very well always placing his feet smartly. He is a sure footed ride. We went all over the property today past the neighbors house (as he was chopping wood with a chain saw), around the back pastures and in the front pasture by the road. Nash was ok with the cars and all the noises, I think that he was just enjoying the snow too much to care about any thing else! He is still chewing at the bit but he no longer backs up when I bridle him so he will just have to get used to it I guess. The newest thing that Nash and I have been trying is the CANTER oooh ah. It is the new and exciting thing although it has only been a few days and he is begining to know the cue very well. We are supposed to get more snow tomorrow so that should be fun for Nash to work in ha ha ha!!!

Nash made a snow horsie!!!!

We are both getting our work out!!!!

"CAUTION"

Oh yes you guessed it I brought out the caution tape, and a bag full of trash, oh yeah and a bottle full of rocks!!!! First the bag of trash... well he just wanted to play with it he grabed the strings and threw it around, scared himself but then went right back to it.

Second the caution tape. We took it slow but soon enough he was all over it. I stared with the strands pulled to the side like curtains then slowly let the sides down on him. Every time I walked him through I was supried that he never hurried through he was cautios but never ran through.

And third the bottle of rocks... he was like what the heck that sounds like a rattle snake but after I rubbed it all over him he didn't mind it much. I have been working a lot with his ears, and having him lower his head when I halter him or when I put the reins over his head. He is getting to the point where all I have to do is lift my hand and he lowers his head. I also took a hand warmer out to the barn today and used it to warm up the bit before I put it in his mouth and it seemed to work well. His new trick though is to back up when I try and bridle him so I have that to work on but other than that Nash is doing every thing and more that I ask of him:)

So Much

Nash and I have been doing a lot latly. There was a lot of comotion in the barn on Thursday I thought "oh yes this is good." We continued to do our thing while people were coming in and out of the areana with their horses and wheel barrows. He stayed focused on me the hole time and did everything that I asked. I also had a friend of mine ride Nash he did very well listening to another rider. After we were done with our normals I took Nash into the barn and let him hang out with the group of people he enjoyed it so much, every one petting him and paying attention to him. Hes a big attention lover!!!

Today was SOOOO GOOD

I was so proud of Nash today he was back to his old self, after his episode of being skidish the past few days. He worked so good this afternoon. I am pretty sure now that there is no more mud any where on his body, he let me take the shedding blade to his belly and down his legs (which he didn't like before) I show sheened his mane and tail so he is my pretty pony now:) Then I work some more with the flag and the clippers he stood for everything. I also rode him for a good half hour and to my suppries he didn't get ansey wich I was proud. Walking and trotting, neck bending, piviting on the front and the hind. He did very well! I aso introduced him to Mr. copper D ring bit. He just chewed and chewed at it. But when I took it out of him mouth he moved his head to grab it again lol?! I think that he liked it!

We are RIDING Now!!!

Today I decided to get down to business. I worked Nash the usual, ground manners, his ears, lunging, and with the saddle. After our short work up I got up and we did some walking and figure eights in the round pen. Then we moved to doing some rail work walking and TROTTING!!!!! He has an awsome trot it is so smooth and he has a very nice natural head set. He is moving forward very well in his training. I love the weekends it is nice to be able to work in the daylight. Yesterday he and I went on an adventure... we walked through the barn, I know very exciting. Nash seemed to enjoy seeing new things and all the other horses he was very interested with the concrete floor covered with hay yum yum.
If any one knows how to upload videos and could help me, that would be great!!!! Thanks

Who can forget

The Mare is gtting a bit jelaous of the Nashmister. She thinks that ever since her colic surgery in December I dont love her any more...well that just isnt true so lady's and gentelmen here is my 11 year old mustang mare of 9 years Shoshone.

(2007 Midwest Horse Fair, Madison WI)

Looking so good!!!!!!!!!

Wisconsin State 4-H Horse Expo 2006

Grand Champion Western Pleasure:)

(I am a proud mom!)

Deep Breath

Today Nash and I were not only one as a team but one as horse and rider we took our firts steps together with me on his back:) He did so well. We worked on simple neck bends, walking forward, backing, and whoa! It was such an awsome feeling I cant wait to work on all the things that we do but from "up top!"

Nash is a very trusting horse I have yet to find something to really challenge him with...ok ok yeah I know the clippers were very scary but still he was "ok" with them.


Yes and the flag he was a bit nervous but after a few minutes of it he just wanted to play with it.

Today I set up a little obsticle corse for him to work through, a tarp with cones, a bridge and poles to walk and trot over. I think that he enjoyed something new. He did everything very well.

Although yesterday afternoon when I went to work with Nash after work he was very cautious of me almost like I was someone he has never seen. Which I found to be very out of the ordinary. I would walk up to him and he would get tense and back away, he has never done this even since I started working him. So I went back to the bascics went slow with my motions and worked him throught it. By the end of the evening he was fine with me again but I still wonder what he was thinking?!

Lots of Things

Well this weekend was full of fun and new things for Nash. Jessie came down to give me a kick in the butt with the saddle. After a few pep talks I got the saddle on Nash all cinched up and everything walking and trotting. Well that was Sautrday....its not over till the fat lady sings. He did so good with that I decided he needed a chalange so I got a tarp, a flag and the clippers. He did very well with the tarp didn't even think twice about walking and trotting over it. He was a little nervous with the flag but after a few minutes it was all around and over him. The clippers on the other had were very scary I got him to the point where I could rub them on his neck, with them on, but he was still a bit tence. Oh yeah and today being his third day with the saddle on his back I was able to stand in the sturrip from both sides. Not a hole lot seems to bother him as long as he knows it doesn't bother me, he looks at me when I introduce new things and he seems to ask is it ok if I like it. He is such a lover, and very trusting. I am very happy with the progress he has made in this short time, it is so awsome to have the conection that he and I do.

Thanks to every one that has been suportive of me and Nash!!!!!:)

So cold

Tonight it is spposed to be -30 degrees so.... I decided it was time to introduce Nash to a winter blanket, and to my supprise he took to it like a champ. I had been working with him a bit with a blanket yesterday just to see what he would do with something covering his whole body and he did fine. I was reluctant to leave it on him without supervision because it did not have any leg straps and I didn't want it to shift around on him. So today I borrowed a blanket from a friend and put it on him, lesg straps and all, he never even thought twice about it I walked and trotted him with the blanket on and I think he actually liked it. I guess we will see in the morning if it is still in one piece, I have no doughts that it wont be!

I also tried walking him into the barn from the indoor where he lives in his stall and he was a little cautious about the hard concrete flooring. But with time and patience he was walking and turning on it like it was nothing different.

Late Start

Hi my name is Jessica Schmitt, and I have been accepted into the Mid West Mustang Challenge. Sorry I am getting a late start on the blogging!!!:) I picked up my Mustang on January 9th with my friend Jessie (she is also in the contest) I recieved a dark bay 3y/o gelding. After a lot of brian storming for a name we chose National Treasure; Nash. As I get more used to using this sight and my computer skills I will post more pictures and videos. I have a lot to share with everyone and please feel free to contact me.