Trail ride down to JAW'S

Friday the 13th is always a worrysome day to go on a new trail ride. I started early as just last week Kalae decided not to load. Usually she walks right in. I am wondering if there is a squeak or noise I dont know about happening in the trailer. She always loads pretty well. Well we made it to Haiku just on time. A beautiful sunny day with minimal wind. Annette,Margot and Jen arrived shortly afterwards. Off we went heading toward the ocean on old pineapple roads now quite overgrown with grass. We came to a small park overlooking the ocean. Kalae was unsure of the sound of the waves and did not go near the edge. Next we decended into the valley just north of the park. Soon we were riding through a canopy of tall trees on motorcross trails which were wide enough. A little ducking under branches and one spot to dismount and we were at another look out almost infront of Jaw's surf break. It was cool in the shade and quite beautiful. Still heading north we climbed out of this valley into another one. Here the ride got more challenging. Stream crossings with boulders and some water. As we crossed and recrossed the stream Kalae was letting me know she did not want to cross to the other side. She was shaking and backing while everyone else was on the other side.
I had gotten us into a situation, returning by ourselves was not an option. "Only one more crossing" Thank you God! But when we got there it was clearly the most challenging crossing. It was a deep pool with a steep entrance and exit. The other horses were pawing and having fun while Kalae was reversing down the trail and shaking. She is afraid of water... I am so lucky she didnt take off and run. As I approached the pool I slipped into waist deep water (camera and cell phone actually survived (always put your electronics in zip lock bags). I dont know what happened next but she was surging through the pool, I let go of her lead as she ran past me scrambling and slipping on the steep slippery bank as I watched in horror as her belly was on the ground, legs splayed. She got up and stood still with her left hind cocked, boot askew. She walked off sound. The final exit of the valley was up a narrow rutted dirt bike track where the horses were scrambling and any miss step would not have been good. Oh MY a bit too radical for the neophytes we are. We survived the 3 hour ride. The gals helped load Kalae and we were soon home safe and sound.

Dresage Lesson With Tom Poulin

Where does the time go? I find it hard to believe that 2 years has gone by in what is seemingly the blink of the eye. That was the last time I have trailered in to the Haku Baldwin Horse Center, just up the road from me. This past Saturday Tom judges a half day show and I was fortunate enough to be able to have a lesson in the indoor in the afternoon.
Kalae was not so keen on the idea and would not load. 45 minutes later, just when help was on the road she finally got in. Not without air's above the ground, striking, kicking and taking off. She galloped out of her glove boots. So uncharacteristic of her. Good thing she got those ya-yahs out before the lesson because she had plenty "GO" when I was riding her.
A bit late for our lesson but still with some time left we started with transitions walk=halt, then trot to walk, then within the pace at trot. Keeping her active behind. SI and hen canter work. Collecting the canter to 10 m circles to 8 meter circles and walk. The focus on our changes which are late behind. If cantering on R lead, go across the diagonal, whip in L hand. Ask for the change w/ only the R leg and R rein at the same time a little tickle with the whip behind the L leg so she jumps through. Worked well!
Then half pass work - more off the L leg please! And we were done. Great lesson. First one since October.

Makani Olu trail ride on Valentines day

I was invited Belinda and Jim to go on a trail ride for Valentines day. The destination was Waikapu at Makani Olu Ranch. The start of the ride involves a stream crossing. Kalae has never seen a stream! I did not know if I was going to be working on water crossing while the rest of the ride went ahead or going along with them. Sure enough everyone trooped right through the water except Kalae. She was trembling she was so scared. I tried to encourage her. I got off and went into the water myself... no way. Finally after 10 min I told the group to go on with out me. Jod was patient and suggested I walk her over the foot bridge. Nope. Annette came back over and led us over the foot bridge. Success! as we rode out of the valley Jod paused and said OK now at the top of the hill are the long horn cattle. Kalae spotted them and up her head went. Fortunately they just stayed laying down and we went by with no big deal. The rest of the ride was relaxed as we enjoyed the panoramic view from the north shore, Haleakala and south shore. Up the hill we climbed into the eucalyptus forest. More long horn cattle and their baby's, long haired goats, zip line riders and a reservoir.
an hour and a half later we were back at the stream. Jod recommended Kalae go over the bridge to avoid a water crossing battle. We will schedule some water crossing lessons after we build a small blue plastic/ water obstacle at home and get the herd through it. More training idea's yeah! A very fun day!
http://www.makanioluranch.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Dht69rKws&feature=email

Beautiful Winter

The weather for January and February has been fabulous. Minimal wind with many days of light Kona wind. Beautiful blue skys. After the cold December deluge the trees and chickens are all confused. The golden Oaks are all in bloom when they should be blooming in April. There are over 30 chicks.

Happy New Year

We survived a harrowing New Years Eve. Normally at 11:30 I throw flakes of hay for each horse. At 11:40 I put on Kalae's halter and hold the lead rope. This evening as I sat in my recliner at 10 pm I hear loud booms, followed by whistling and saw big huge fireworks display blossom directly over head of the pasture, just 30 feet away. I could hear the thundering hooves, panicking whinnying as I bolted out the door. OMG the booms continue. 10-12 total. The neighbors are setting the Ariel fireworks off on the street but the wind is putting them right overhead. !0-15 minutes later the pattern repeats. I now have Kalae haltered, hay spred down for everyone. I am torn... I dint want to let go of Kalae but I need to ask the neighbors to stop. More incoming. it ends and I dash next door. I must have looked the sight, Helmeted, back brace around my neck to keep out the cold, riding coat and boots. Oh and the whites of my freaked out eyes must have portrayed my fright. Please do not shoot the Ariel's over my horses, shoot toward the empty lot! The gentleman said he would let the party goers know. The next few rounds did indeed shoot away from us but by this time the horses were so fried 100 feet did not make a difference. I felt like I was in the "War Horse" movie. I was dreading the midnight on slaught. I could hear the horses down the road whinnying in despair and hoped Monica was there. I can not imagine the barn across the gulch and how all those horses were fairing. At midnight the noise and booms was unbelievable. We survived nearly 3 hours of hell. It was the worst New years ever... you would never know Ariel's were illegal.
The next day we were all tired!

Winter has curtailed our riding

Yes, it is winter on Maui. The last 3 days were quite nasty. We trailered up to the top of Haleakala on Friday Morning. Six horses and a pack mule. I had not been into the crater on horseback for a decade. We were to go on a volunteer service trip to repair trails. When we got to the top the wind was gusty, the rain coming sideways and the wind chill at 24 degrees. Burrrh it was really cold. We all laughed "we don't do cold", jumped back in the trucks and headed down the hill. This was 3 hours of trailering. By Hawaii standards this is a lot of road time. Most of our jaunts are less than 15 minutes. On Friday evening the wind really kicked up a notch and the rain started. I blanketed my herd at 10pm. Saturday morning and Kalae was shivering even blanketed. Thank goodness I was here to blanket them. It rained all day for .63 inches. On Sunday it got worse. My arena was flooded and as the rain pelted the picture window I was so grateful I was not riding out of the crater as we would be doing. I called Wilfred : Can you believe this? We were laughing. "You can not imagine what a licking we would be taking! Stay dry. Sunday we had 1.10 inches of rain and the temps averaged 65 degrees in Makawao at 1,800 feet. 39 degrees at the top of Haleakala at 10,000 feet. wind chill 24 degrees.

John Lassetter Clinic

Everyone had some great rides with John. Peter and Jessica were the bravest by having lunge lessons. These focused seat lessons imporved their seats by the end of the lesson. The gallery watching the lessons were stretching their arms high, rotating one forward and the other backwards. Jessica sais she really likes the lunge lessons as they focus on her seat where the other lesson focus on training the horse.
I rode Freederic the first 2 lessons. Whew I had to stop frequently for air. I had not ridden Freederic in a long while. He is such a trooper. Kalae was awesome as usual. We were able to work past a sticky point and proceed. Linda and Bailey did well. Marilee rode 3 different horses and was very pleased. Belinda and Bella also did remarkably well.
All in all a fun week with friends and horses.