Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

Spring is here! We went from subzero temps to 76 degrees. Welcome to South Dakota. Don't like the weather? Wait a day and it will change. Although, it sounds like everyone has been dealing with unusually cool temperatures for this time of year. Just think in another couple of months, we will all be complaining of the heat.

Well, with nice weather, comes the workload. And it's time to take inventory of what should be at the top of the project horse list.

Without a doubt at the very pinnacle is VooDoo...
AKA...The Giraffe, VooDoo is a solid 16H and is finally filling out his frame. He was way too gawky and gangly to start his 2y/o year, although he was saddled a few times. I suppose I should have started him last year, but since he was still very gangly and mentally immature, it didn't seem overly important. This year, though, I need to get rolling on him before he gets too stout. He has the sweetest personality and is as light as a feather on the end of a leadrope. The slightest pressure gets an immediate response. I don't have a feel for what direction he might be good at, except Hunter/Jumper keeps coming to mind because of his size and frame. He's running blood through and through though. The goal is to get him riding well and looking fabulous. After that, we'll see.

Right there at the top is the sorrel gelding I did all the ground work on last summer. I don't know what my funk was that I didn't just get on and ride him then, but I'm over it. He is pictured in my header photo, between the black, blazed face horse and the buckskin. He may end up being started on barrels, but I am leaning toward making him a pole bending, breakaway roping and heeling horse.

Below are the two sisters, Electra...

And Watch(I hate that name, note to self...rename this horse)...
These two girls were sort of started years ago, but then melted into the herd. Electra has some speed to her. Watch has none. Everything Electra does is quick and decisive. Watch prefers to stand in one spot and let the world pass her by.

And then there is my big pet, Roan Dog...
I was putting out hay one day and got out of the tractor to take the twine off the bale, as I came around the bale, I spooked RD and I had an epiphany moment. I stood there watching this horse pull his whole body back, every inch of him wanted to leave, but he was stuck in one spot because he couldn't seem to move his front feet. No kidding, I could see the panic rising in him and it hit me...I know why this horse bucks!! He gets startled or scared or unsure and he cannot seem to figure out how to move his whole body. He's stuck and that panics him. There is no way for him to release that energy, so he blows up. I'm not quite sure how I am going to fix this problem, but I know that there is not a mean bone in this horse's body, so we are going to keep working at it until we get him fixed. He luuuvvvsss me! He'll wander over to check other people out, but I am the only one who can touch him or catch him in the pasture. I guess we have a bond now-hopefully that will help.

Everything looks so crappy right now. Big hay bellies, starting to shed, muddy and they all need their manes and tails washed and their feet trimmed. Gahhhh! Well, ya gotta start somewhere.