ACTHA ~ Wild Bunch Meets Hole in the Wall Gang (Part 1)

 

Last week was super-duper busy preparing for my first American Competitive Trail Horse Association CTC.

The theme for the “Wild Bunch Meets Hole in the Wall Gang” ride was 1880’s costumes. I decided to be Dana Crockett, a trapper gal. I cut the tail off of an old coonskin hat and pinned it to my riding helmet. And I bought some fringe and sewed it to a brown jacket that I took from my closet. Then I hot-glued white mohair from my angora goat and wool from my black karakul sheep onto a strip of old white sheet, so it would look like animal fur/skins. I realized I should test it out on Apache before the ride just to be sure she was ok with the white sheet and black and white fur flying all around behind her.

  

I took her for a walk, with the gusts of wind helping me flap the furs up and down and back and forth and she wasn’t concerned in the least. When we were through, she gave me her honest opinion, that my worries over her being spooked by the furs, were just plain silly.

  

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Jenna and I also decided it would be fun to use some of her paint to leave a handprint on Apache’s rump, as if she had been an Indian pony trade for some of “Dana Crockett’s” furs. It also fit in nicely with this week’s Sunday Still’s Challenge of ‘Hands’.

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Something else we were busy working on last week was overcoming Apache’s trailering issues. She and I spent several hours together every day working on getting her to step into the trailer willingly. In the beginning it was very frustrating making the outside of the trailer very uncomfortable for her and the inside of the trailer peaceful and inviting. But she’s a sensible horse and very smart and it didn’t take too long for her to ‘get it’. I am now able to walk her quietly and calmly into the trailer, but my goal is too teach her to self-load, so we still have more work to do.

I was still a little concerned that Apache might not load for me on Friday, when I planned to drive her down to Cedar Hill Farm for the CTC ride on Saturday, so after talking with my friends Colleen and Renee, they offered to help if I needed it. So at least knew I had a safety net. In fact, Renee offered to swing by on Friday afternoon on her way down to Cedar Hill Farm, just in case I did end up needing any help.

And on Friday morning, after getting all of Apache’s tack, hay, feed, buckets, and supplies loaded, I was a little concerned because, on the other side of our paddocks, we are getting new neighbors and they were busy making lots of noise with front end loaders hauling dirt and a semi-truck bringing in their modular home.

(The view from my bedroom balcony)

(The view from our backyard)

But apparently the noise didn’t bother Apache, because we all had a good laugh after I haltered Apache and she and I simply walked right into the trailer quickly and easily. Renee teased me by saying, “And why am I here?” lol!

Apache says, “No problem. I like it in here now. My Mom leaves me carrots, apples and treats for me to eat”

And then we were on our way!

  

To Be Continued…….