THE INCREDIBLE INVISIBLES, PART ONE: In Which We Introduce Ourselves

[Mariequi]

I was having a tough time trying to figure out who was in it besides Matthew because you said a weird accent. He's just a good old Texas boy. Now how come when I lived in Austin I don't remember anyone like him! Think that's why Sandra Bullock moved there as well, to be with him and now that she's married to Jesse James or whatever his name is, I think she still has a place there.

[zbarxfarm]

Yup.. I was born and raised in Texas, Never heard an accent like that. Just really deep southern I guess. WOW now I feel really stupid! LOL!

Z

[jazzrider]

I never thought much of him until I saw "Contact." And then pow -- you cannot deny his charisma. Though I tend toward the darker, weirder types, he's definately worth looking at...

Now off to the barn to bring in the boys!

[cosmos mom]

I never thought much of him until I saw "Contact." And then pow -- you cannot deny his charisma. Though I tend toward the darker, weirder types, he's definately worth looking at...

Now off to the barn to bring in the boys!

I totally agree with you-he is not generally my type, but Theres just something

[karassa]

I've been following the World Cup... My parents being both from Brasil, that is who I always root for.

Although they are playing exceptionally sucky futbol this year.

[jazzrider]

Go USA! And if they don't do well, Go Italy! And if they don't do well, Go Holland! (Cause you know they'll do well!)

[moonriverfarm]

I have found a FUN new game called Cranium. Anyone played it?
You can't be invisible though, when you do. You must step into visibility to do the charades part.

[Mariequi]

Cranium sounds fun, but you're teasing, huh? Not from here?

[moonriverfarm]

My cranium is half empty and tired at night but still it is a fun game and actually has some horse questions on it!!!!

[Jessi P]

Daughter got the Cranium game for Xmas, have played it a few times, its fun! We need to make more time for fun "family" stuff like this without horses. We DID play tennis yesterday. And daughter Lauren has made great strides in her fear of riding Nappy in the open. He bolted for home with her the last time she rode him - 5 or 6 times. And it was my fault, I should have lunged the spunk out of him first but didn't, and once very smart Nappy knows he has your number he feels totally in control. Lauren has been putting off riding for weeks. So this time I lunged Nappy first, and exchanged his fat snaffle for a kimberwicke. He was going so well on the lunge after just 5 minutes of trot each way that I went ahead and put Lauren up, still on the lunge. Let me explain that the ONLY place we have to ride is on a slope in a large grassy area about 1/4 mile from the barn. We do live in the Mountains - in fact we walk down to get into our back porch, and come down another 9 steps when leaving by the front - it's that extreme a slope at our house, 3 miles from the barn. Lauren got on, and couldnt even get him to move forward. Not with squeezing, kicking, etc and so on. He went backwards and even offered to go up in the air with her. Nappy is a 20+ yo haflinger who is very smart and very lazy when he wants to be. If he thinks he has control of his rider he will do whatever he pleases. And he sometimes intimidates intermediate rider Lauren.

Anyway, after about 5 mins of this I get on the rotten so and so myself. I expected resentment, belligerence, and attitude. But he did everything I asked him, as soon as I asked it. I rode him up and down the field, did fig 8s, cantered both directions, found a mowed 4 wheeler path at which he offered only a token resistance before moving right along. So, in short, I couldn't MAKE the pony do anything wrong. He was very cooperative and willing to put his faith in me as the leader. And I sat the canter without too much horrific pain. So, Lauren got on again. I realized after a few minutes that she was so nervous and scared she was choking down on the reins and actually telling him to stop with her hands while saying go with her legs. I told her to take the reins in her left hand and hold the neck strap and a piece of mane, and tap him on the butt with her stick. She had to lengthen her reins 4-6" and get a nice loop in the rein - no great need to steer with him on the lunge line. And without her hauling on his mouth he stepped right out into a canter for her. She tried it again and again, and got the vunderponie to do whatever she asked as well. She couldn't believe how she was causing the problem by riding defensively, until she actually pieced it together in her own head - what she was doing physically (have tight hold on reins in case he tries to bolt home again, and kick and kick trying to get the canter) had to do with his response (go anywhere but forward, and fast!). It was great to see her come to that realization and actually implement it in her riding. Then she pushed it to the limit, practicing transitions at all gaits and had the pony nice and responsive. Her equitation was not the greatest but she achieved good results. Plus Mommy needs to get a few more holes in her leathers... I told her to practice her dressage riding! She did a great job of leaning backwards and driving with her seatbones when coming down the slope. It was great to see the difference in her riding and how quickly her confidence in herself and her pony came back hand in hand. And just like that! <snaps fingers> she was once again singing and dancing around the house like her normal, happy self afterwards. She says maybe next time she will feel confident enough to go off the lunge. Meanwhile I am working on getting another horse - a grand old retired warrior, earner of $600k+, to have as my riding horse as possibly a stable lead pony. We only have 3 horses at the track, and the most ever pony is one a day. Or I just go out on him to watch my horses train. He will live a very cushy life and I am trying to make it all happen - if I can pull it all together. I would love to take this guy and ride with my daughter Lauren!

That is my update since my last posting. Oh and I got a new horse to train - a 2 yo Ohio bred out of a Rollin On Over mare. He is BEE YOO TEE FULLLL according to hard to impress Mr Hobie. Details and pics later. If I can make the deal happen with the retiree he will have a buddy to accompany him around the track to set a good example. What fun!

Jeepers congrats on achieving visible status!!! Big congrats to both you and your trainer - you go girls!!

Go USA in world cup soccer! IF not them, then the underdog.

Back to your regularly scheduled news............

[zbarxfarm]

Hobie- how old is your daughter? I wish my daughter could come to a realization such as yours. Congrats to you and her! I get so depressed sometimes that my daughter has given up...but I try not to push her..I wish she would just get on and sit there with out crying these days..she really is a beautiful rider she is just scared since she got dumped.

I always wanted to be one of the pony girls at the track or even an outrider but I have really never got my hands on the right horse to do it with. I guess I will stick to the backside next to the vet.

We played cranium once and then put it away to collect dust..we didnt like it so much and the clay dried out.

Z

[Jessi P]

Hey ZBarX!

Lauren is 11.... http://community.webshots.com/photo/...56365630HOVqGY
and she is so proud of herself tonight! How did your daughter get dropped? If she has email maybe she and Lauren can correspond thru email and talk about it.

And here is a pic of Mom on said evil monster pony who is really a wuss deep inside: http://community.webshots.com/photo/...56365630VmvZss

The trip to the barn had Mr Hobie wanting to kill me. We pull out and realize we forgot the kimberwicke I wanted to try on Nappy. Called Joey at home and he runs it out the front door. Circle block to head to barn (less than 3 miles) and realize we have forgotten the SADDLE!! Call Joey back and he dutifully drags it all out from Laurens room, including the cheater neck strap she has been asking for since she got run off with. He and Dylan were excited to stay at home to try out the new video games they got for the XBox. So, we get to barn and I realize we dont have a noseband for Nappy on that bridle, and I say the HECK with it... which is why Nappy isn't wearing a noseband. LOL

[cosmos mom]

Hey ZBarX!

Lauren is 11.... http://community.webshots.com/photo/...56365630HOVqGY
and she is so proud of herself tonight! How did your daughter get dropped? If she has email maybe she and Lauren can correspond thru email and talk about it.

And here is a pic of Mom on said evil monster pony who is really a wuss deep inside: http://community.webshots.com/photo/...56365630VmvZss

The trip to the barn had Mr Hobie wanting to kill me. We pull out and realize we forgot the kimberwicke I wanted to try on Nappy. Called Joey at home and he runs it out the front door. Circle block to head to barn (less than 3 miles) and realize we have forgotten the SADDLE!! Call Joey back and he dutifully drags it all out from Laurens room, including the cheater neck strap she has been asking for since she got run off with. He and Dylan were excited to stay at home to try out the new video games they got for the XBox. So, we get to barn and I realize we dont have a noseband for Nappy on that bridle, and I say the HECK with it... which is why Nappy isn't wearing a noseband. LOL

Nappy really is very cute for an evil monster wuss pony, really

[Jessi P]

Thanks Cozzy's Mom!

I was afraid I killed the thread again..

Maybe I should go back to invisible...

[Mariequi]

Reminds me of the pony they gave to me use when I was an outrider at an event. Tried his darndest to get rid of me. Stinker! Cute though (yours!)

[zbarxfarm]

No this thread will not die! Hobie.. sorry it took a while to reply I have been very busy with the mare. Her incision site has opened up and is really draining. We have been trying oh so hard to keep it clean and try to keep the flies away. Its not easy. The vet also had to come out yesterday. I love haflingers! We are not really sure how my daughter came off I wasnt watching and the trainer had her eye on someone else. She was practicing for a games rally so really anything could of happened. She broke her arm and has never been the same since. She does not have email but is welcome to use mine. She did get on a horse yesterday we are so proud. And of all the horses it was a OTTB! But she was led around on the leadline. But hey its a start!. She even trotted a bit!

Where is everybody?Are we invisible again?

[jazzrider]

I'm here, and if you like I'll take on the title of "thread killer" -- though I'd hate to see this one die!

I've not been on the BB much this week because I have a nephew visiting and he's monopolizing my computer! Not to mention that my ring is going in and I'm spending time wandering around in the mud imagining the wonderful work we'll do there whenever Jazz recovers from his never-ending fetlock injury... If I get a new ring and can't ride on it until August I'm going to shoot myself (not Jazz, never Jazz!). Or I'll sit on the side watching everyone else enjoy it (pity party for me).

Or maybe I'll invite Josh Lucas over and not care.

[moonriverfarm]

Sometimes we Invisibles disappear for a day or so but we are technically Still Here, just trying not to become Visible.
I'm so invisible that several the locals get together at the woman's house I used to board at (right up the road) and ride a time or two every week, but I am Not Invited. And I am the one who introduced them to the barn owner...... I was very visible then but faded into obscurity as soon as I moved to my own place. Out of sight, out of mind.......

[Jessi P]

ZBar PM me your email addy, Lauren is so EXCITED about having a new email pal!! Sounds like the mare is doing well - drainage is good! Better out than accumulating along her belly. And now Lauren is bugging me about playing Cranium!!

Jazz I just kicked my kids off to get on my puter. How is the ring going? And how is Jazz's ankle coming along? Did you get those awful storms that we got here w of Pittsburgh? Amazing storms.


Thanks for all the "cute" compliments on Nappy. I would have posted more pics of Lauren riding him but she wouldn't let me because of her equitation. Specifically not having her heels down..... but she accomplished what she was supposed to accomplish (cantering and transition work in the wide OPEN), and Mom still has to put more holes in her leathers, so I told her EFFECTIVE riding is better than PRETTY riding if Pretty doesn't get the job done.

Moon sometimes I feel that is my life - out of sight, out of mind. :P Dont you HATE being on the uninvited list? I knew today was going to be a bad day when I woke up.

[Bluesy]

Robert Walker? William Powell? I tell you, Bluesy, we're on the same page. Or screen.

It would be funny if you also played computer games

Hobie - Cute pony! Cranium is a blast to play! I like creative cat (except the drawing with your eyes closed bit ) and the datahead catagories.
Outburst is pretty cool too - one time we got one with silent movie stars - guess who got all of them? Yep it was me. I'm such a geek. I also enjoy that game where you roll the die, set the timer, and have to write down words about subject given that start with the letter you rolled. I can't think of the name, but I love using horsey terminology/breeds/riders in it.

I also think Nick Stahl (Carnivale, Sin City, Terminator 3) is pretty cute. He has really nice eyes.

Oh yeah - I got 100% on my last assignment! Yay! And I'm done! No more studying! Horah!