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Retraining Cheyenne
 By Holli
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18th Sep 2010 •
2,650 views
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6 comments
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I've been extremely inspired by the great Polo the Weirdo to share about the training of my two mares. To be honest, this series will be based on one of them in particular, Cheyenne. Cheyenne is a 10-year-old American Quarter Horse. In all technicality, she belongs to my neighbor who lives 2 doors down from me.
Tracy is the official owner of the horses, and she lives with her dad, Dave, who is in his mid-sixties. My neighbors are really great people who have had their extreme share of bad luck throughout the past 3 years. In 2007, Dave's wife (and Tracy's mother) passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. It hit the family extremely hard. Linda was the only one in the family who encouraged the training, riding, and special care of the horses. She took Tracy to the fair, and other shows as a child and the two still rode every chance they could when Linda felt up to it. Less then a year and a half later, their business, a car and truck design company, along with several other services, burned clean to the ground after the explosion of a heating furnace.
During these three years, Cheyenne, her "sister", 16-year old bay QH, Sprit, and the family's three goats were nearly forgotten. Aside from daily, inconsistent feedings, the saddles, lunge lines and other training items lay unmoved where they were last dropped years earlier.
When I was younger, age 6, I remember my best friend at the time, Logan, and I would beg the neighbors to let us help out so we could enjoy the simple pleasure of sitting on the horses. Seven years after that, I returned to the barn in the dead of winter. I didn't like what I saw. The horses' summer coats had not been shed out in order for their winter coats to come through. In fact, the winter coat from the previous year looked as though it had been left to naturally shed out. Mud caked them from their coronets to their knees and hocks and their backs were covered in it as well. Hard, frozen manure up to their pasterns was the only type of "bedding" they had outside. No grass, or soft snow. I offered them both some carrots. Nervously, they looked at one another and snatched the carrot from me. Cheyenne laid her ears back, snapping at Spirit, who obediently dropped her carrot to give to Cheyenne. Spirit, head lowered began to trot away, tripping over a hoof print that was embedded into the frozen ground.
Both horses’ ribs stuck out from their bodies. I sighed and vowed to do something about it. I am ashamed to say I didn’t. Not until the summer of 2010. I was finally free from all obligations until September. Summer gym was over as well as a volleyball conditioning camp I wish I had never signed up for. July was still at it’s beginnings and I had all the time in the world. I visited the barn with a good friend of mine who used to ride with me. At this point, I was seriously considering quitting at another local barn because I was tired of the hassle I’d been getting. We spent some time just sitting outside the horses’ fence.
Originally, we had big dreams. Shows, trail rides, things I knew deep down would never happen. It was still fun to scheme though. Eventually, I plucked up the courage to talk to one of the two, Dave or Tracy, and see what I could help with. I went down one afternoon and talked with Tracy. She was extremely grateful to have some help and I was working by the next Monday. I did get to ride later on and it’s been about 3 months now. However, it was in the past few weeks that I’ve had the horses to myself while the neighbors have been away. I’ve decided that I want to begin training both to eventually barrel race. And how best to start out then ground work? And how best to see my own progress then by sharing it with you all? Now, why, you may be asking, will I not document Spirit’s progress? I will slightly, but Cheyenne isn’t as trusting as Spirit is. Not by far. Spirit and I have something special, she’s an amazing mare as well. But my goal is to have something with Cheyenne as well. So, I think I’ve introduced quite enough. With that, I’ll say I’ll have weekly or bi-weekly updates. |
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lifes a risk
nice story cant wayt for the next one xxx
nice story cant wayt for the next one xxx
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Sep 18, 2010
• 2,017 views
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ImaCoolCowgirl
Nice...Holli!! When do I get to meet them??
Nice...Holli!! When do I get to meet them??
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Sep 18, 2010
• 2,014 views
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Sep 19, 2010
• 2,044 views
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Holli
Awesome- thanks guys. :)
And Shoeh- I'm having Laurel over I think Oct. 1, maybe you could come then?We might be able to get on alittle if you would want... :)
Awesome- thanks guys. :)
And Shoeh- I'm having Laurel over I think Oct. 1, maybe you could come then?We might be able to get on alittle if you would want... :)
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Sep 19, 2010
• 2,063 views
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Dreamer100
Please tell us how your training with her goes.
Please tell us how your training with her goes.
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Sep 19, 2010
• 2,038 views
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ImaCoolCowgirl
Holli...I am baby sitting Rae that evening! Shoot me some dates (via e-mail) you can come ride my babies! Sunday afternoons work better for me!
Holli...I am baby sitting Rae that evening! Shoot me some dates (via e-mail) you can come ride my babies! Sunday afternoons work better for me!
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Sep 22, 2010
• 2,013 views
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