Rosa is a 7 year old thoroughbred that belongs to my Wildlife Ecology professor. I have taken her on as a project, and am hoping to have her show-ready by the end of November. She is a wonderful mare who is very willing, but still, she is a thoroughbred. And other than racing, she has never really been ridden. Not that I haven't had my share of project horses in the past, but they have all been slightly more, well, developed under saddle. But that's the point of what I'm doing. I want to challenge my riding and my skills (and my patience) in order to better develop my understanding of how horses think. They all think differently, but once you understand how to tune in with a horse, you can use that to benefit the other horses you work with. So what better way for me to learn than to start with Rosa, a horse who has no idea what to do when I ask her to use her haunches, back and neck?

This road will be one that will not only teach and develop Rosa, but me and my character as well. Every minute with Rosa will be one that teaches us and tries our relationship. So lets get it started! I'll document days that I ride or work with her- I go out there all the time just to see her, and the riding days are slightly more... eventful.

Day 1, September 29: I went with Dr. Marcum to go see Rosa for the first time. We got her out and brushed her, wrapped her legs, and took her to the round pen. No saddle and bridle today, just getting her back into working and being handled. We had a makeshift long line- she has a rope halter with a lead rope attached, so we clipped another to the knot at the end. It worked well for it's purpose. Rosa was a little energetic, to say the least, and definitely confused at being put to work all of a sudden. But she wasn't awful. We just need to work on her staying at the end of the rope and not trying to run over me...

Day 2, September 30: Well she was good yesterday, so I rode today. Dr. Marcum did a short video so we can track her progress. And progress there will definitely be. Especially if she keeps this willing (and surprisingly calm) attitude!

Day 3, October 3: I rode Rosa again before the rain came in, but not until after I lunged her, which was definitely a good decision on my part. With the cool weather moving in, she was definitely a little happy today. She was so good when i was on her! I even got her to canter under saddle today. I know, it seems like it would be natural to run for an ex-racehorse, but after bowing her tendon twice, I guess she was afraid to. We tried last time, but she didn't understand what I wanted her to do. So I brought my crop today and used it to urge her on. (Me and spurs DO NOT mix, with very few horses that are the exceptions to that rule. Let's just say I like to go fast... like leave a stride out in a line fast. Yeah.) Anyways, I got her to canter successfully both directions. Now, we're still working in the round pen, just until she is used to me asking her to listen. And when she answers that with a correct movement or action. I'm quite surprised that she has put up such little resistance and been so willing. No episodes of anything like the lunging. After we were done, I decided to unlatch the gate to the pen so we could walk around. While I was still on her. On any other horse, that would not have been a good idea. Actually, now that I think about it, it wasn't a good idea to do on her, seeing that I've barely known this horse for a week and there is hardly any trust or relationship at all between us. Oh well. She was good and stood still as a statue even when I pushed the gate open and it sort of jerked. And so we walked around the property. To be honest I was a little nervous, not knowing if she had any little plots to plop me on the ground. But again, she exceeded my expectations and acted like a seasoned pro. We walked over towards the gate, I hopped off and turned the water on so I could wash her once she was untacked. We walked back to the barn. I hosed her off, gave her some apples, and turned her back into her pasture.

Day 4, October 8: Cold weather is on it's way in, and it was really windy. Now for anyone who doesn't understand all the factors going into this: an ex-racehorse trained to run, weather changing from warm to cold, and me not lunging a 1200 pound, only lightly trained animal are all wishes for injury on their own, and I had all three together. It's a death wish. Not to mention Rosa was already running around the pasture like a maniac. So what do I do? Let her have a day off? Nope. I decide to ride. Without lunging. Aren't I smart? Tacking up today in itself should have been enough to give her a day off-- I could barely wrap her legs because she was prancing around so much. And trying to get the bridle on? We were at the other end of the barn by the time I got the bit in her mouth. And yet I persisted. So off to the round pen we go. The neighbors dogs are barking and going nuts just like always. The pen is still the same shape. But this little thing called wind can really get this mare going. So I get on. Dr. Marcum's sister drives up and comes over to watch for a minute. And Rosa is going nuts. Dancing sideways and acting like she has never seen the place before. So we try a different environment- yet another one of my brilliant ideas I isolated while riding a hyperactive horse. So we go to the square pen. And we trot about halfway around when Rosa plants all four feet firmly to the ground. I urge her forward. She resists and doesn't move, other than a slight temper tantrum of stomping her foot and tossing her head. So I ask again. And she moves forward, with choppy strides, and then I feel myself leaning forward and up. GREAT. She's bucking. Oh, wait, here comes a rear! Oh crap. This is gonna hurt tomorrow. But was I going to let one tantrum make me quit? Nope. I finally calmed her down and petted her, and she stood nicely. So I ask her again to trot on. And the previous scenario repeats. We trot back around to the exact same spot and forward then back I go again, only this time she added a few more to get the point across. She did not want to work. And I knew that as soon as I got there, but that didn't stop me. But believe me, after the next morning, my previously injured back was killing me.

Day 5, October 20: I finally get to ride again! There has been so much rain that it has been too wet to go work with Rosa. And I learned my lesson last time and I lunged her-- definitely a good idea. She was great today! She even kept her head nice and low at the trot for a while, something I haven't really been asking her to do. I just want her to listen to my aids, and she did that and more! She is doing so well! I wish I could have recorded it today, but I didn't have my camera tripod. And her canter was fairly smooth today, other than a few bucks when I asked her to open up a bit. She gave to the bit nicely, but still doesn't understand the whole idea of flexing, which is fine for now. Unfortunately it's supposed to rain again tomorrow, so it probably won't dry up again for another few days, and I go home to visit this weekend. I'm glad I got to ride today and I can't wait til next time!

December 12: I haven't ridden since Rosa since October.  The ground has been too slick to ride on. And now that it's cold, water is just sitting there. It's too cold to evaporate, and the ground cant absorb any more. And there's no arena to ride in where Rosa is. I'm trying to convince the manager where my horse is boarded to let me bring Rosa over just to use the arena. He still hasn't gotten back to me. This is so frustrating!! I did go see Rosa on Tuesday though. She was excited to see me and trotted up to me, but confused when I didn't take her out of the pasture to get ready. I can't wait for the ground to dry up! Until then, I'll be working with my horse to get him ready for a show.