More Maverick Time

Monday night I decided to let Maverick into the bigger drylot. I locked him in so that he couldn't escape out into the pasture. I needed to fill both his water tank and the mares' water tank while I was at it. I prefer to lock the horses out of the drylot when I'm filling tanks. Chaos is too hard on the hoses otherwise.

I will need to put a breakaway halter on Maverick when I do finally let him out into the big herd. I don't know that I'll be able to walk up to him to catch him. I can't catch Rain or King so why would it be any different with Maverick. But I do want to be able to just walk up to Maverick without him walking away. So we'll see. I didn't have him out in the big drylot for very long.

I also moved the pony pasture to where I was planning on putting them while we were on vacation. The mosquitoes were too bad in the other place I had planned. This way hopefully the grass will be back and lush enough for them to enjoy while we are gone. The creeping charlie/creeping jenny was actually taking over. So I guess it's a good thing I'm running the ponies in there for now. If the grass doesn't come back I'll have to get their permanent pasture built a little bit quicker and a little bit more secure.

Last night Mike had to work late so it was just me and the four legged babies for the evening. I decided I'd better ride Maverick. It's been awhile since I've been on him. The days are getting shorter so there isnt' as much riding time.

Whenever I put the saddle on Maverick he turns into a different horse. For the life of me I can't get him into anything but a very SLOW walk. I like it but I'd really like to get a wet saddle blanket out of him at some point. I'd like to either move him to the big dry lot and work him in there or bring in some obstacles to work around in Maverick's drylot. It's getting boring just riding around, not even in circles. I'm still trying to figure out how to get him to respond better with turning.

I'm actually thinking I may switch bridles again. I just bought a regular snaffle bit. So I may put that in a bridle and give myself some long spit reins instead of the single reins. I need to be able to pop him on the butt with the reins to get him to move quicker. Also, the bridle is set up for Chaos who I think has a bit bigger head. I'd like to keep the bit loose for now since Maverick is still learning but he fiddles with it so I'd like to try something different. I want to have a bridle for each horse so I don't have to fiddle with readjusting every time (and because I can't remember how each horse fits the bridle). This way if I ever do decide to take both Maverick and Chaos out for a ride at the same time, I'll have enough tack to go with.

Lord knows I have enough tack to outfit almost every horse. I swear all the horses combined have a bigger wardrobe than I do!

When I got done riding Maverick, I decided to give him a better grooming. I need to start fiddling with him more. He's really a hands off type of horse. So instead of letting him get his way I groomed him down and braided his mane. He actually stood like a champ. I was impressed. I still need to convince him that when I come with fly spray he doesn't have to walk away from me or be tied up. He's not fond of flyspray even if it does help with the flies. Not sure how to convince him, if I ever will. Darn Maverick.

After I finished fiddling with Maverick I did normal chores. I wish I would have had the camera earlier in the day. Sam has taken to following Bob in the afternoons around grain time. They were both up, standing in the leanto waiting. They both popped their heads out over the gate. I sure wish I would have had my camera. The scene would have been picture perfect.

As the sun was setting I decided that I needed to get the alfalfa bales moved into the hay barn. Mike wasn't home yet and the dogs needed some time to run. So what better way to kill some time than to move alfalfa bales. I had to move the 25 bales that were wet into the hay shed instead of the hay barn. Letting them sit on pallets single file really did seem to help out quite a bit. Some were still pretty heavy so I hope there's no mold. I guess I'll find out this winter. Still makes me angry. I should have insisted on getting a different batch.

I must be out of shape because moving 25 bales was a workout for me. But I now have the bales in the barn and that freed up some space in the hay shed for the 150 idiot bales we have waiting for us. I'd like to clean out the area again where the hay bales will go but we'll see if I have time.

I'm not sure when we'll get up to get the hay bales. I'm sure the hay guy is getting anxious for us. But Mike has been working long hours. He'd hoped we could go up tonight but the flatbed is still loaded down with big sheets of tin that we'll use for either a wind break or for an open front (I'm hoping we can still build an open front this fall in the small drylot where Maverick is at).

I'm not sure were we are going to put the tin but I need to unload it tonight. I guess that'll be my project for tonight. I guess that also means Maverick gets a repreive from my fat butt sitting on him. We'll see how it goes though. I'd really like to get up and get those hay bales. I feel so much better with hay sitting in anticipation of the winter months. It's a secure feeling. Maybe once the hay is in the barn this panic feeling I've been having will go away.