April 14th - I played a little
today with Jewel. She did well but was a bit unsure about some of the sights and sounds. I decided to hang a blue
tarp from her pen as well as throw two swimming "noodles" in the pen. She stayed away from all these items
but I know in time she won't bat an eye at them. April
18th - I worked Jewel in the round pen and found out she is a FAST learner. With the wind blowing
she didn't want to go next to the tarp and also went around the "noodles." By the end of our 45 min ride
she was more comfortable with the tarp. The "noodles" were a comical thing as she didn't want to go over
them. When she finally trusted me enough to do it she didn't know what to make of it when she kicked one.
The nice thing about them is they are soft and will give under her hoof should she step on them.
April 19th - Jewel was great right from the start. She wasn't
concerned about the tarp and she went right over her brightly colored "cavalettis" the first time I asked her to.
I also took them and ran them all over her body to which she was a bit flinchy at first. We practiced our stops and
rollbacks which were very nice. I think we are getting very comfortable with each other. She is quite willing
to please so should be a joy to teach.
April 21st - Jewel was a champ when I took her to the New River gymkhana. She was well
received and liked by all who saw her. We had many positive comments and well wishes in this new endeavor. I trotted
her in the barrels and poles for fun. She seemed quite comfortable out there. There was one little startle later
in the night when we were working the gate as one rider came racing home and stopped right at the fence where Jewel was.
She must've thought they were coming thru the fence. She worked nice in the warm up arena even with others running
past her. Just gonna take it one-day-at-a-time!
April 29th - I took Jewel out to Stephanies race at Empty Acres and she was very
relaxed. I just led her around for most of the time but I did saddle her up and rode by the warm up arena and the
stalls. She also stood nicely for the water truck to go by like she did at New River.
May 6th - I worked Jewel while Stephanie rode Jet. It was a good practice
day. Got a few new photos of her as she is all shed out. She's looking good.
May 12th -
I decided to play with Jewel at SSC and we rode in all 4 events. Her barrels were like a 30sec.
run. It seemed like she set up for the 3rd turn and, as I kept her loping, it felt like she was getting her
rear end under her. I think she was 5th in one event. I thought she did quite well in the poles
and I even opened her up a little coming home. Overall she did great and we had lots of fun! That's what it's
all about.
May 22nd - Since I had the day off for family in town for Christopher's graduation we all went to the weekly
NCBRA jackpot. I think one of Jewels barrel time onlys was a 27 second run and we also got a 33 in one of her pole bending
time onlys as well. Just taking it easy and having fun for now.
May 26th - I Did
some round pen work today just to get her some exercise. She sure is a pretty mover.
May
28th - I did a bit more riding on Jewel
today. I almost think she may pick up the poles faster than the barrels. She seems to like the weaving part and
with her fast stops and roll backs she did some phenominal turns on the end pole. Hmmmmm, we'll see.
June 1st - Stephanie
& I practiced some this morning. I tried a different bit on Jewel. Don't like it. She really seems
to be a fast learner. She gets under herself for barrels 2 & 3 but is still a little off on 1 (right turns).
I did some Figure 8's. I think at the next event I will open her up a little more on the barrels and poles.
Stephanie would tell me what she saw (my hands too high,etc) and I would adjust accordingly.
June 16th - Jewel had a very nice evening at our event. I only rode her in the
barrels and poles. She actually got a 22 second barrel run already! We were very easy going around barrel one
then we picked it up for 2 and 3. She feels really nice and does have some get-up-and-go in her. Her poles were
pretty descent too with a 32.2. Obviously that is about 10 seconds slow of a phenominal run but considering that she's
really only been at this 2 months I am extremely pleased. She looks quite nice on the video and I opened her up even
more coming home. She is very responsive and I hope that maybe by the beginning of 2008 she will be quite competative.
June 23rd - Jewel progressed even more at this evenings SSC event. In barrels she improved her time
by 2 more seconds from last week getting a 20.760!! Then she came back in the President Race (basically a weaving pattern) with
a 12.849 and that got her a 2nd place ribbon! Her Poles also improved from last week by 4 seconds gettinga 28.368 for
a 5th place. She is really doing well.
August 4th - I took Jewel along when Steph went to the NCBRA event this evening.
I decided to do a run on her just to see how she is doing. Steph has been exercising her some for me. She got
a 21 second run and I still feel that is really good considering she has been doing this only since April. Once things
slow down at work I can get more time in the saddle on her. She gets many compliments on how pretty she is.
August 12th - Did a little riding of Jewel today. It amazes me how
nice she is even when not being worked as much as she should. Just took it nice and easy. We'll see if she
can get a 20 in barrels on Saturday. Think I might want to practice the streaker poles. Hmmm, wonder how she'll
do on that one.
August 18th - Jewel continues to amaze me. With very little practice these last few months she still does a great job!
In barrels she pulled off a 20.496! I am amazed when I watch the video and see how tight she turns and how nicely
she drives with her rear end. Still not asking for the speed so much til we head home. She did a 15.354 in Big
"O" then a 28.688 in Poles. She was a bit feisty like she wanted to run out a bit. THEN the "Streaker
Poles," she didn't even flinch! I held her up thru the first set...let her out a bit more for the 2nd then
opened her up for the last set bringing home a 10.310. I was seriously impressed. She has a good heart!
September 15th - I was so happy with Jewel and Stephanie seemed
to enjoy riding her as well. She got a 20.5 in barrels for me and it felt a little smoother than before. Gotta
figure the right amount of rein that she needs. It takes very little for her to respond which is fantastic. Steph
was getting a good feel for her so she took the barrels easy, but, she did say she liked it. For Poles Jewel got me
a 28.2 which actually beat my own time on Jet. Stephs run started to get a little back and forth so she slowed up and
got a 40.849. Jewel is sooo different to ride than Jet. I think it will be a good experience for Stephanie to
ride her more. Jewel is very light on the mouth and Steph needs to get back to learning to take it easy. Jewel
has turned out to exceed my expectations on how quickly she would catch on. Once again there were numerous compliments
on her from how well she's progressing to how nice looking of a horse she is. Steph is gonna do some of the exercising
of her to keep her in shape while I focus a little more time on Jet.
September 29th - Stephanie rode Jewel as her point horse at SSC
tonight. They did pretty good. She got a 20.883 in barrels. A 5th in Barrel Keyhole with a 7.022. In the
Poles, Jewel started to go straight at the end and Steph got her turned around but they did break the timer. It's
only their 2nd competition and Steph has only ridden her a handfull of times. The Scottsdale gate was a 14.978
I only rode her in the Barrels and Poles. We got a 21.086 in barrels as she was a little off at barrel #1.
Her poles were pretty good with a 29.121 She really wants to go after that first turn but she'll learn in time.
Her previous owner was there and thought she was coming along really well.
October 20th - Stephanie rode Jewel as her point horse at New River and did very well.
She received a 20.858 for 4th. In Poles she got a very nice 29.080 for a 5th and the Cats Cradle was a 20.094 for 5th
place. Then they got an 11.812 in Single Barrel cow horse for a 5th.
October 21st - Today I rode Jewel as my point horse at SSC. She is doing great!
I am looking for that 19 second run before the end of the year. We creeped closer with a 20.318. This is her fastest
time to date. In Poles she actually got a 27.260 and received a 2nd place. This is ALSO her fastest time to date.
The Cats Cradel was a 22.481 which would've put us up there in the placings but my knee did catch the last barrel for
a +5 penalty. Her speed barrels was an 8 something. She is very consistant but still unsure. She is so ready
to turn if you move those reins in the slightest bit. That's good but we gotta get in synch as to how much of a
cue she will need. It is appearing that it will be very little.
November 3rd - Today was a little practice at home.
I got in a little better synch with Jewel today in Poles. Now if I can just do the same thing at our next event we may
improve our times again. She can be a bit clumsy but once she understands what we want I think she will be just fine.
November 11th - Jewel was my point horse today and she did pretty
well. We got a 20.12 in barrels so that was very impressive. I still hold her up to barrel one since that is her
toughest turn. Not pusing her extremely hard either. In the longer more complicated "Ross's Run"
she did really nice ending up with 3rd. We got a little squirrley in Poles and ended with a 29 something.
The final even was the Mountain Cowhorse and had like a 10.2 that held out for a 5th (I think). Pretty nice night I
think.
November 17th - WOW!!!! Not much more to say then that! Jewel totally outdid herself
this time. I rode her as a non-point in barrels and poles only.
Well, she came away with a 19.892 in barrels. My goal was to get a 19 before the end of the year and she did it.
I noticed she starts anticipating her stop at the end before the timer so I may need to carry a crop to push her across the
line. THEN she comes back with a bang in Poles getting a 25.101. That came out of nowhere. She bettered
her BEST time by 2 seconds. I did carry the crop and used it on our run home to push her across the line. I
am very shocked and quite happy.
