Hello Everyone! I'm Carrie and my best bud is Joker. Joker is an American Quarter Horse who will be 20 this year in March. I have owned Joker since May of 2014 and I can't imagine my life without him. He has been an amazing first horse for myself and has taught me so much about horse ownership and riding. He was a steady companion in 2015 when I tore my ACL and had to have surgery to replace it. Our first ride after 2 months on the ground was the best day of my life! He has taken amazing care of me ever since! I'm looking forward to 2016 with lots of riding to make up for our lost time in 2015. My goal this year is to reach 100 miles and to meet more DD riders. I'd like to venture to new trails and try horse camping. I'd also like to improve my riding skills and become a more confident rider. I look forward to hearing all of your stories and following your journey's!
January 16th .37 miles (logged) Did a lot more ground work than saddle time. Joker was still acting a little different so I didn't want to push my luck in the saddle.
February 14th .68 miles (logged) A Valentine's Day ride with the best Valentine ever!
February 20th .77 miles (logged) Great ride with no fighting to get away from the barn. Super high winds but a warm day in February can't be passed up!
February 21st 1.11 miles (logged)(late though) Good ride, beautiful day for February.
February 28th .87 miles (logged) Good ride away from the barn. Joker's listening skills are doing well. He was a little stressed as we lost a special part of the farm the week before so we kept it easy.
March 6th 1.12 miles Still working on listening skills and willingness. I'm thinking I'm going to start taking a few lessons as I feel like I might be missing something when it comes to my own cues with Joker. (Just a general observation) I have noticed that I am becoming more aware of my own body position while riding and what is happening with it which is a big bonus. Now to just work on my muscle strength so I can get better control of my body. It was a good ride with my buddy and I'm learning new things all the time!
Hi Carrie. This is Laura from team #54 (super trooper). Great job on your riding this year. I am just getting started! I love your monthly goals, and will probably steal your idea for myself! Where do you live? I am in Grand Haven.....
Hi Laura! I live in Caleonia which is just south of Grand Rapids. Thanks for the compliment, I try to go every weekend for my own sanity and thankfully my work schedule will be changing soon so I'll be able to start going during the week now too!! I think I'm just shy of of my goal for March :( but oh well. Keep at it! Do you have a trailer? We'll have to get together and ride. I love riding with new friends!
Hi Carrie. This is Laura from team #54 (super trooper). Great job on your riding this year. I am just getting started! I love your monthly goals, and will probably steal your idea for myself! Where do you live? I am in Grand Haven.....
March 20th Birthday Ride 1.11 miles (logged) My birthday is the 19th but it wasn't the best of days for riding and my family wanted to take me out to celebrate so I held off till Sunday. Joker was a toddler to start out with! Knocked over my grooming tote, knocked everything off the fence rail that I put up there and then proceeded to untie himself and chew on his lead rope! This horse may just drive me crazy! I decided lunging was in order before a ride to knock off some of the energy. He lunged beautifully and our ride was pretty good too. I'm happy to report that I'm getting better at trotting and feeling more confident with it that I actually will do it out of the arena!
March 26th 1.25 miles (logged) Beautiful day! Rode in short sleeves for the first time! Joker had to stop at every fresh blade of grass that he saw which made for a choppy ride but I was sure thankful for my new workout regimen and stronger thighs. I had him trotting along and suddenly he would stop and put his head down. I could have easily gone over his head if I wouldn't have been hanging on! It feels good to know that my working out in the gym is paying off in my riding :D Happy riding everyone!
April 9th .62 miles (not logged) Horsemanship Clinic Had a good time learning new things at the clinic. Joker got some schooling in lunging as he doesn't do well once you ask him to go above a trot. Larry did a lot of work with him and he was starting to calm down but it would take a lot more time then we had. Joker was one tired boy! He couldn't get rid of me fast enough once we got back to the barn too. Still a great day of learning!
April 17th .55 miles (not logged) Trailer Loading/Obstacle Training Took the trailer out and worked on trailer loading. My wonderful friend and barn owner Toni helped me out. She showed me that the problem wasn't Joker it was me and I had to be a better leader. It's a work in progress but it was an eye opener! We did some riding and walked over some poles in the arena. It was a hot day and he was already a sweaty boy from our trailer loading so I didn't work him to hard.
April 24th 8.00 miles (logged) Ionia State Rec with Wendy and Colby. We had tons of fun at our first trip to Ionia with our new riding partners. Joker and Colby get along great! We got a little lost but just enjoyed the adventure and the time with our horses. Joker was very trotty at the beginning and we even loped for our first time! After 8 miles my boy was super tired though. Can't wait for more adventures with Wendy and Colby!
Wow I really fell off the wagon on keeping up with my blog. Summer has been good and we have been getting some riding done in between the heat waves. Joker and I don't really do heat so we'll pick back up in the fall again. We got out last weekend and did 7.32 miles at Silver Creek. I'm excited to get out this weekend and try his new hoof boots on! Hoping they fit and will keep him more comfortable on gravel. Happy Riding Everyone!!!
Hello Everyone! I'm Carrie and my best bud is Joker. Joker is an American Quarter Horse who will be 20 this year in March. I have owned Joker since May of 2014 and I can't imagine my life without him. He has been an amazing first horse for myself and has taught me so much about horse ownership and riding. He was a steady companion in 2015 when I tore my ACL and had to have surgery to replace it. Our first ride after 2 months on the ground was the best day of my life! He has taken amazing care of me ever since! I'm looking forward to 2016 with lots of riding to make up for our lost time in 2015. My goal this year is to reach 100 miles and to meet more DD riders. I'd like to venture to new trails and try horse camping. I'd also like to improve my riding skills and become a more confident rider. I look forward to hearing all of your stories and following your journey's!
ReplyDeleteWoo-hoo! Got some miles on the board for 2016 already! I'm super excited for this year if you can't tell :D
ReplyDeleteJanuary 3rd
1.53 miles (logged)
normal ride in the arena and then out to the corn field for a little jaunt :D
January 9th
.22 miles (logged)
very foggy and Joker was crazy, had to dismount before getting to the barn to ensure my safety
Happy Riding!
January 16th
ReplyDelete.37 miles (logged)
Did a lot more ground work than saddle time. Joker was still acting a little different so I didn't want to push my luck in the saddle.
January 23rd
ReplyDelete.59 miles (logged)
A good ride with lots of listening skill practice. Joker seems to have settled down some.
January 30th
ReplyDelete.93 miles (not logged)
February 14th
.68 miles (logged)
A Valentine's Day ride with the best Valentine ever!
February 20th
.77 miles (logged)
Great ride with no fighting to get away from the barn. Super high winds but a warm day in February can't be passed up!
February 21st
ReplyDelete1.11 miles (logged)(late though)
Good ride, beautiful day for February.
February 28th
.87 miles (logged)
Good ride away from the barn. Joker's listening skills are doing well. He was a little stressed as we lost a special part of the farm the week before so we kept it easy.
March Madness! A Goal for each month
ReplyDeleteMarch
Ride 5 miles for the month
April
Practice for Judged trail ride
Teach or figure out Joker's side pass
May
No injuries at judged trail ride :)
Ride in Memorial Day Parade
June
Take Joker to Western Week (town function)
Ride at 1 new trail system
July
Go swimming with Joker
August
Ride 1 new trail system
September
Teach Joker a trick
October
Try Horse Camping if not done before
November
Ride 5 miles
December
Finish out year with 100 miles hopefully on the board and celebrate Christmas with my best bud!
March 6th
ReplyDelete1.12 miles
Still working on listening skills and willingness. I'm thinking I'm going to start taking a few lessons as I feel like I might be missing something when it comes to my own cues with Joker. (Just a general observation) I have noticed that I am becoming more aware of my own body position while riding and what is happening with it which is a big bonus. Now to just work on my muscle strength so I can get better control of my body. It was a good ride with my buddy and I'm learning new things all the time!
miles logged
DeleteHi Carrie. This is Laura from team #54 (super trooper). Great job on your riding this year. I am just getting started! I love your monthly goals, and will probably steal your idea for myself! Where do you live? I am in Grand Haven.....
ReplyDeleteHi Laura! I live in Caleonia which is just south of Grand Rapids. Thanks for the compliment, I try to go every weekend for my own sanity and thankfully my work schedule will be changing soon so I'll be able to start going during the week now too!! I think I'm just shy of of my goal for March :( but oh well. Keep at it! Do you have a trailer? We'll have to get together and ride. I love riding with new friends!
DeleteHi Carrie. This is Laura from team #54 (super trooper). Great job on your riding this year. I am just getting started! I love your monthly goals, and will probably steal your idea for myself! Where do you live? I am in Grand Haven.....
ReplyDeleteMarch 20th
ReplyDeleteBirthday Ride
1.11 miles (logged)
My birthday is the 19th but it wasn't the best of days for riding and my family wanted to take me out to celebrate so I held off till Sunday. Joker was a toddler to start out with! Knocked over my grooming tote, knocked everything off the fence rail that I put up there and then proceeded to untie himself and chew on his lead rope! This horse may just drive me crazy! I decided lunging was in order before a ride to knock off some of the energy. He lunged beautifully and our ride was pretty good too. I'm happy to report that I'm getting better at trotting and feeling more confident with it that I actually will do it out of the arena!
March 26th
1.25 miles (logged)
Beautiful day! Rode in short sleeves for the first time! Joker had to stop at every fresh blade of grass that he saw which made for a choppy ride but I was sure thankful for my new workout regimen and stronger thighs. I had him trotting along and suddenly he would stop and put his head down. I could have easily gone over his head if I wouldn't have been hanging on! It feels good to know that my working out in the gym is paying off in my riding :D Happy riding everyone!
April 9th
ReplyDelete.62 miles (not logged)
Horsemanship Clinic
Had a good time learning new things at the clinic. Joker got some schooling in lunging as he doesn't do well once you ask him to go above a trot. Larry did a lot of work with him and he was starting to calm down but it would take a lot more time then we had. Joker was one tired boy! He couldn't get rid of me fast enough once we got back to the barn too. Still a great day of learning!
April 17th
.55 miles (not logged)
Trailer Loading/Obstacle Training
Took the trailer out and worked on trailer loading. My wonderful friend and barn owner Toni helped me out. She showed me that the problem wasn't Joker it was me and I had to be a better leader. It's a work in progress but it was an eye opener! We did some riding and walked over some poles in the arena. It was a hot day and he was already a sweaty boy from our trailer loading so I didn't work him to hard.
April 24th
8.00 miles (logged)
Ionia State Rec with Wendy and Colby. We had tons of fun at our first trip to Ionia with our new riding partners. Joker and Colby get along great! We got a little lost but just enjoyed the adventure and the time with our horses. Joker was very trotty at the beginning and we even loped for our first time! After 8 miles my boy was super tired though. Can't wait for more adventures with Wendy and Colby!
Wow I really fell off the wagon on keeping up with my blog. Summer has been good and we have been getting some riding done in between the heat waves. Joker and I don't really do heat so we'll pick back up in the fall again. We got out last weekend and did 7.32 miles at Silver Creek. I'm excited to get out this weekend and try his new hoof boots on! Hoping they fit and will keep him more comfortable on gravel. Happy Riding Everyone!!!
ReplyDelete