What DJ and I have been up to (with pictures)

[KarinUS]

Actually this thread will contain ZERO pictures of my horse but be all about him nonetheless...

I finally feel like I am able to ride. We are cantering and DJ really loves to go! His trot is unbelieveable now. I wouldn't dare wear a whip or spurs now.
Next summer we will try ourselves at our first jumping show!

But in my time away from DJ this is what I have been up to:

I have been shredding my arms and my jeans, removing the barb wire from the fence around our property. The fence itself is nice 5' high no-climb horse fence, but it was lined below and on top with dangerous wire...<br>
http://www.freewebs.com/karin72/wire.jpg
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We are also trimming all the trees to get more light to the soil and grow better pasture and hopefullt to keep some mane and tail on these horses...
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http://www.freewebs.com/karin72/treetrimming.jpg
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We are also building a road to the barn:<br>
http://www.freewebs.com/karin72/road.jpg
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Here is where we staked out the barn:
<br>
http://www.freewebs.com/karin72/barnsite.jpg
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The barn will basically be a covered structure with 4 12'X12' stalls. Only two of these will be horse stalls though. The other two will be tack and feed rooms. It should look like this:<br>
http://www.freewebs.com/karin72/futurebarn.jpg
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Of course we couldn't have come this far without our helpers (NOT! They are there to sabotage all efforts!): <br>
http://www.freewebs.com/karin72/helpers.jpg
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And here is an adjacent piece of property I got my eye on... I'd love to buy this little triangle and have an outdoor arena there. Of course I am going to be too broke for anything once this year is over...
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http://www.freewebs.com/karin72/arenaarea.jpg
<br>

So that's what I have been doing on my weekends... :)

[KarinUS]

Oh and if the pics don't work, here's a link: http://www.freewebs.com/karin72/index.htm

Also for those that don't know why I am doing all this: I am currently boarding my horse but hopefully by next Christmas he will live in my backyard! :)

[galadriel]

Very impressive. You're handling the barbed wire removal much better than I did :D I ended up with a huge tangle. Thick suede gloves essential, miraculously destroyed no clothing, and I only got one new scar.

Wonderful, wonderful about the cantering :)

[Mehitabel]

great work karin (and your dogs are lovely)!

glad the riding is coming on and you are cantering - did you have to push the instructor?

[KarinUS]

Thanks!
I am not sure what made her decide she would let me go ahead but a little before Christmas she suddenly said:
"I think you are ready to start cantering and DJ obviously has been ready for a while ;) so next weekend we will take him into the round pen and see how it goes."

At first it was difficult to get him to canter -or once in canter keep him cantering- because for over a year now whenever he offered to canter I had to hold him back.
So I practiced with him on the longe line and now he falls into canter 90% of the time on first request and stays cantering until I ask him to slow down.

[CityGirl]

Love the pics! Barbed wire removal - :eek: Good luck with it!

Great news about you & DJ!

[FRED]

Good luck,Im wondering by the size of the barn will there be plans for another horse too.
By the way, it seems one of the dog photos has vanished into cyberspace!

[kedwards]

It sounds like everything is coming along well! Good luck with the yard preps.