We're Home!!!!

A little late in posting this, but we are trying to recoup from a extremely long trip. 17 hours; each way, driving time pulling a horse is not fun. Actually Patriot was a real trouper. He did excellent the entire trip. Kirstin and Patriot finished in the top ten-Tenth to be exact. They went into the finales on Saturday and placed 9th overall. Patriot decided that Saturday afternoon in front of everyone, he was going to act like a 2 year old. He did not want to stand still or walk-trot was great, even got a lope but not what Kirstin was wanting. So she was not able to do most of her finale's performance, but they did well just the same. Patriot is now back home and happy to be out of a stall. Kirstin will start training him to ride in the near future so keep watching for updates. She now has a job of getting Dyno back to riding. He is a little difficult to ride right now, not enough time spent on his back. But he is well trained and it should not take long to accomplish this.

Tennessee Makeover 2010

The inhand trail course and showmanship are over. Kirstin and Patriot did really well. Patriot just didn't want to back today. Go figure, it is always something. Kirstin was the only youth trainer that could call her horse to her in the catch and release. She walked into the pen after letting him go, stood there called his name and he came straight to her which the judge had told them at the beginning that would be bonus if they could do that. He did all of the course great with the exception of backing-he backed, but she really had to cue him. Ground tied for picking up the hooves, loaded right away into the trailer and trotted like a champ. Went over the poles without a single click on the hoof. Showmanship came and he wanted to sleep-trotted but not great, set up prefectly and stood like a perfect gentleman during the question portion, but Kirstin forgot to back. She thought she blew it. But, I think the judges could really see the connection between the two. It was very apparent that they had something that not all trainers share with their horse-a true connection. She made the top ten again this year and will once again be performing a free style routine tomorrow afternoon. We are so proud of these two!!!

Kirstin & Patriot's busy weekend

Part of Kirstin's job as an American Mustang Representative II requires that she give a presentation to both a youth group and an adult group. This weekend Kirstin gave the presentation to both groups. As about a 10 minute speech on the mustang, their plight as well as some training tips, Kirstin took Patriot out to the arena to run through what she has planned for a possible finale. He did fantastic of course.

Kirstin answering questions after their performance.

Kirstin showing one of the guest how to cue Kryptonite for leg reining.

The RyKo Wilson Band(half of it anyway) was the entertainment for the afternoon! Great music! Derrick is the lead singer and just happens to be Kirstin's brother. And Ryan is like Kirstin's second brother. So we are very lucky to have both of these guys around.

Kirstin and Patriot doing part of the finales that they plan to do if they make the top 10.

Isn't he gorgeous!!! For those of you who have followed Kirstin for the past 3 years, you know that she has always put her yearlings up for adoption. Not this year, she will be bringing Patriot home with her. As her parents, we feel that she is ready to finish her first out completely and Patriot is the perfect student for her to learn on.

Kirstin also did a short reining pattern with Kryptonite. The people there could not believe that a year ago, he was a wild horse. So many could be heard saying "He's a Mustang" Like a mustang looks any different than a domesticated horse. But, I think what was more impressive was the way both Kryptonite and Patriot behaved. They were awesome, both of them. We had a couple of other Mustangs there as well and all of the attendees were able to ride afterwards if they wanted to.

Kirstin explaining to the crowd about the freeze brand on Mustangs.

Took Patriot to the vet yesterday to get his health certificate and to have some bumps checked out. He did great, didn't even flinch when they took his temp. Turns out that he has rain rot. I have never seen rain rot before and we have 5 other horses. I thought that he got bit by some insects such bees. We are treating that condition now, but he will have spots still showing when we go to the show. Bummer. He is such a beautiful horse, I hate to have those bumps all over the place. The vet was impressed with Patriot and how well behaved he was. Also got the papers signed for the title to both Kryptonite and Dynamite, so they will be officially ours shortly.

Patriot and fire!

As you can tell, he really could care less about the fire. Maybe it is because Kirstin is next to him. He trust her completely and knows that she will never put in him in harm's way.

More saddle practice. This is a child's saddle so it is perfect for him. He is really starting to accept having something on his back.

More tarp work. Kirsin wants to make sure that he is ready for just about anything.

Blanket. Not sure of where Patriot is going from the show, but we are pretty sure that a blanket will be need. Kirstin thought it best to do that work herself so that he is ready for whatever happens after the show.

Kirstin has one problem and that is with trailering. Not getting him into the trailer. He walks onto a trailer without any cueing what so ever. The problem is getting him off. He just does not want to leave the trailer. He truly likes it in there. He doesn't back out yet, so Kirstin would turn him around and lead him out. Before his last outing that was never a problem, but ever since it is. I think he likes to go places and we don't take him places often enough for him. That will end as the next couple of weeks will be on the road each weekend.