Ima Your Horse

Mountain Valley Murphy looking for a new home

2009-10-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Everyone circle Saturday November 7th on your calender as the day a little mustang gelding in a plain brown wrapper could change your life. Mountain Valley Murphy is one super guy and he will be up for adoption at the Heber City, Utah MMO contest. I can't say enough about what a fun horse he has been to train. I usually never have a problem letting my young (equine) students graduate to new owners and new lives, but Murphy is definitely an exception. He is one easy guy to be around. He has a great work ethic and loves to have a job. He took to roping like no horse I have every trained. Within 2 days of seeing his first cow I was roping then and he would face them up and hold them. He loves to dig in and drag a log or calf. Will trot down the trail all day. He gets along with everyone and everything. PLEASE email if you are thinking about adopting him. I will gladly trailer him back to California or drop him any where between Sacramento, CA and Heber City, Utah after the contest.

Here are some 'glamor' shots of 'Murph the Snurf'. He stands a solid 14 hands tall and is almost as wide and long. I keep thinking I should have named him Sherman ( after the tank). He has 4 very solid black feet, massive bone, very correct legs, not one scar or blemish anywhere on his body. It doesn't matter if he is coming or going you either get lost in his big brown eyes or the size of his hindquarters

Day 70.....

2009-10-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

Mountain Valley Murphy checkin in to say Howdy on day seventy of 90 days training for the Heber City UT, Mountain Valley Mustang Makeover Contest. I am very tired after a wonderful weekend training with the world renown Richard Winters from the Thatcher School in Ojai, CA, so I will turn the keyboard over to Sue. I don't know why Ima liked to blog so much guess it is a girl thing I have no interest in typing when there is hay I could be eating.

Thanks Murphy. Well now that he is out of earshot, I can tell everyone he is one awesome horse! I really feel blessed to have been given such a wonderful creature to transform into an enjoyable human companion. Murphy is everything you could want in a great riding horse. He is quiet and easy to be around. He gets along great with all animals from sheep to cows, mini horses, etc. He is still wary of dogs as his mothers words that they will eat him still ring in his ears. Although he has never shown any aggression towards them, they still worry him a little bit.

woops... I'll finish later...

Time Flies!!! It is day 50!!

2009-09-27T18:19:00.001-07:00

Wow here we are at Day 51. I am so sorry I have been too busy to keep you all posted. but actually being gone for 5 weeks there was nothing to say! Now we are well over half way there. Murphy is doing as best as can be expected considering his very little training. Today was a big day we went to a Western Horse Show at the Sacramento Horseman's Association. I also took my number one leadline student, who graduated to riding her 3 yr old Kiger Mustang filly alone today and had the most picture perfect rides in the trail classes I have every seen for any age! Earning her a 1st and 2nd in trail plus 2 -8th's in the riding classes.

To bring you up to speed on Murphy's culmination today riding in a real arena with other horses, loud speakers, etc. Here are his statistics: He has been 'captive' for 51 days. He has worn a halter 21 times, He was saddled 6 times before I climbed on. Today was the 8th time he has ever been ridden. Today was the 3rd time he has been taken off the ranch.

His first trip was the 3rd time I saddled him when I took him to a regional park for a ride, his riding companions were a donkey and a mule! He saw back packers, hikers and had to cross narrow 'person' bridges over the irrigation canals.

The 2nd trip was Friday night to a local team penning where I ponied him through the cows.. He loved it! He is going to be a cow eating machine! He was a little too 'goosey' to ride, so I just ponied him off "MY " mustang Walley.

And today's outings started with us entering the Halter classes.. Murph has only worn a rope halter so I was surprised the transition to the show halter went so smooth. I used a long lead rope with no show chain, in case he did one of his 'turn and burn' I'm outa here moves. But he never batted an eye. Not even at the miniature horses that attended the show and did a good job of spooking lots of horses. With a 5th place win in Halter, non-color, Open and a 6th in Halter 3 yr olds and older, Open. Murphy said he was ready to try a riding class.

After lots of preparation in the near by round pen, we headed to the trail course. I train from day one on lots of obstacles, but Murphy is very careful of anything new, bordering on spooky. They had lots of fake flowers in the arena, so I kept my nightlatch close by. LOL

The course started with opening the gate which went smooth until the closing part which we gave up on. I see I need to get the lateral work started. He just didn't understand sidepass.

Trotting through the brickwalls was touch and go, just a little narrow for Murphy's taste. Trotting over the jump was flawless.

But then the lack of lateral training reared its head again as we made a disaster of sidepassing over the pole.........

Trotting into the box and the 360 turn was quite nice... all considering

The trot serpentine through the flowers got a little dicey, as they were VERY close together. But we did not miss a one. Yea Haw!! Was I proud!

The second time at the gate was much better. It took a few tries but we did the whole thing!!

Three Cheers for Mountain Valley Murphy!!! WHAT A GUY!
This is one incredible horse. I have never in my life tried to do something like a trail course in a public arena on a horse with 8 rides. This horse is priceless!!

Day 3 for Murphy

2009-08-11T22:13:00.001-07:00

Murphy is definitely going to make me a better horseman. I will really have to step it up to make him "be all he can be". He has the attention span of a Bartlet Pear. Never stops moving, but forgets 2 feet later why he was moving and scares himself. He does not show any tendencies to kick or strike. Once I get his feet stopped, he is very sensible. But they don't stop very often. He is mortified of anything that flaps from a small rag to a saddle blanket. He seems fine with ropes any where around him, but nothing that flaps....

The flies and mosquitoes here are driving him crazy. He runs and kicks all evening and is covered with hives in the morning. On a positive note it helps with contact as it feels so good for me to pet him. But I feel so bad seeing how frustrated he is. I have to get a fly sheet on him! That was my goal today.

I started by moving him to the round pen and advancing my ground work. After some preparatory rope work I was able to get a surcingle on him.... sans the saddle pad which he still will not touch. It was close to 100 here so after a good work I figured it was a good time to introduce the water hose. I tried it on day 2 and he almost jumped out. Today was a success. By the end he was standing quite and even trying to drink from the hose..... here is Murphy after his first bath.

I came back in the afternoon and picked up where I left off. The morning session and bath really helped.... Here is Murphy sporting a brand new fly sheet. I hope he realizes what it is for. LOL I don't know how I will get it off..... the Velcro sound is very unacceptable to Murf the smurf! But he likes the color and the 'new car smell' the plastic has. NOT!

Murphy's first day

2009-08-11T20:55:00.001-07:00

Murphy walked out of the trailer like he had done it all his life. We got stuck in the Hwy 80 night repairs road closure so had to sleep in Boomtown which was completely full because of Hot August Nights. Murphy's Law! So we spent 24 hours in the trailer. I was so impressed he had no problem drinking out of a bucket.... I have had mustangs take a week just to walk by a bucket. And never shied at the semi's driving by with in 2 ft.

He is awesome. What a great looking horse! This is truly going to be a buckaroo's horse. He neck is a little thick but so is the rest of him. And he is going to be a mover..... As the old cowboy said to me "There ain't enough land or cattle around here to get that horse tired". Boy that is a fact. I wondered how he could get so muscled up in the BLM corrals... now I see He NEVER stops moving. Always walking and looking, very busy.... going to be hard to keep his attention!

I was hoping to break Ima's record of being pet 20 minutes out of the trailer. That didn't happen in fact after 45 minutes I was getting worried about the trainablilty of this horse. I changed my tactics and once I finally got my hands on him things started moving quickly. :) Within an hour we were taking pictures of our selves. Sorry my arms aren't longer.

The end of a very eventful and expensive trip (Did I mention I had to buy 3 more tires?)

and the first chapter in Murphy's big adventure!!

Murphy gets his name

2009-08-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

As I prepared to leave.. everyone asked me where my horse was from.... which in mustang language means which HMA. I was excited to find out also because prior to leaving I had studied the Utah HMA's and their horses and so I had just enough knowledge to be dangerous. I dug the papers out of my bag of BLM goodies and .......... Three Fingers.... Vale, Oregon. WHAT!!! Yes I drove to Utah passing 3 closer BLM holding facilities to pick up my Utah horse who is from Oregon! Now that is Murphy's Law. I guess very few of the geldings in this contest where born in Utah..... Go figure.

So I walked up to the trailer to see my OREGON horse, I stepped up on the running board and said "Hey Murphy how ya doing." He looked at me and touched my hand like that had been his name all his life....... Well, I guess it will be now!!!!

I am exited to say that Murphy is taking to technology as fast as Ima did and he seems to have a sense of humor. To keep him busy on the long drive home I showed him how to use the camera.

The first thing he wanted to see was "Utah in the Rear View Mirror". I told him the song was about Texas and he said.. wild horse don't know state lines......

Here's another shot of what you get to look at for 6oo miles if you come watch me in the finals on November 7 in Heber City, Utah.

Murphy cracked me up when he took this picture for all his new friends in California who have never seen this while pulling a trailer...... (For all you non-Californians the speed limit for trailers is 55 in CA, 75 in NV and UT). Murphy's law every time I come home from a road trip I get a speeding ticket in CA. LOL

Salt Lake City Wild Horse Corrals

2009-08-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

Tired, cold and 14 hours late it felt good to see:

As soon as I got out of the truck, I knew it was worth the trip! What a great bunch of Horseman! The weather was temporally perfect. News reporters, friends, family, MMO trainers, MHF staff, BLM wranglers and everyone smiling, laughing excited to see each trainers horse.

I filled out the paperwork and was informed I was getting a solid brown 4 year old gelding w/a very small white star, no other white. Tag number 7392. As I looked over the corrals from the catwalk, I could not see the tag numbers but I saw 2 identical brown geldings in the pen.... Identical except for one thing..... one was sound a sleep in the middle of the pen, head down in the shade of another horse. One was running up and down the fence very up set about the horses that had already been loaded and gone. Which one was mine? Murphy's Law told me

And here he comes down the chute. Halter on with out incident and right into the trailer.....

Here We Go Again

2009-08-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

Life has been just to busy to get on here and fill you in. I don't know how Ima had so much time to write. After reading the rules for the Mountain Valley EMMO in Heber City, Utah I decided it might be worth taking the change and competing again. I like the way their thinking. Other then the high possibility of bad weather, the Heber City Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Buckaroo Festival looks like a must see event. Check out their website and come on over.

After just 5 days into this deal I have figured out I need to get a new set of friends! I emailed all my close horseman about entering...... I think in hindsight actually looking for someone to talk me out of it. Couldn't find a one! After that trip I need friends with better common sense!

The finals will be November 7 in Heber City near Salt Lake City. So of course I had to drive to SLC to pick up my horse. Since I have a brand new pick-up truck and a fairly new trailer with brand new hubs, drums the works. I figured now would be the time to do something like this. I looked for a couple of co-pilots but everyone was busy (with their horses of course). So I took my faithful dog!

Here's where the fun began. I watched the weather and it said 80 from Sac to SLC. Weeeeeeee! no heat wave. What I didn't pay attention to was 'isolated thundershowers'. The whole state of Neveda is isolated. Murphy's law! I hit Reno with the wipers on and did not turn them off until Utah. High Wind Warnings for 100's of miles.... What was I thinking!! What should have been a 10 hour trip.. was 14 hours of misery and I was only to Wendover (120 miles from SLC). And low and behold an over site on my part 15 miles from Wendover I peel the treat off a trailer tire. I limped into Wendover, stayed in the truck stop until 8am when the tire place opened... so the fancy business card said....

This is the 'fancy' tire shop outside of Wendover. Murphy's law it was the biggest week of the year in Wendover..... Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt flats Speedway. There was 700 cars racing 5 miles past this tire shop.... Who would guess... He had 1 tire left that would fit my trailer.

The highly qualified tire repair man (who even slept in the tire repair office.... the one up on blocks.. told me all my tires were weather cracked and said: "I sure hope you get where you are going with those". Murphy's Law!

I thanked him and drove back to the highway here is what I saw as I looked left and right for traffic:

SLC here I come........

Mountain Valley MMO

2009-07-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

Howdy everybody:
Sorry I haven't written. Ima changed the passwords and I haven't been able to get on this thing!! Just wanted to inform you all: I have been accepted into the November Extreme Mustang Makeover in Heber City, Utah. That's right just when I thought it was safe to go back in the barn...... Another wild horse will be arriving. I will be making the round trip to the Salt Lake City Wild Horse Corrals on Friday the 7th of August to pick up my 'plain brown wrapper' gelding.

Called the Mountain Valley MMO the finals will be November 7th during the Heber City Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Buckaroo Festival. I am the only Californian entered!!! So I'll need some back up in the stands! Check out the festival website and make plans to come, it looks like a great time is had by all.

This show has different rules then any of the other contests so should be interesting. Need to find a name soon...... Keeping with the theme I think Heza Your Horse may be it......

Until next week.... Remember: "Life is short, Ride your good horse first"

What's in a name?

2009-07-15T22:21:00.001-07:00

A number of people asked me how Ima got here name. So I thought I would tell everyone:

It is old cowboy lore that it is bad luck to change a horse's name. This left me in a delima because I was supposed to name a horse that wasn't even mine. How could I do that? I kept trying to think of a name people I didn't even know would like. I kept coming up with the fact, it just wasn't right to name a horse that wasn't mine. And I definitely didn't want it changed.

Then I came up with "Your Horse". Because I thought of how it would sound over the loud speakers: "And now Sue Watkins riding your horse". Say it out loud, it does sound rather funny! Good! I had a name that no one could change. No matter what the new adopters wanted to call her at home, she would still be 'your horse'.

Now for a 'barn' name. I started to just call her 'Y' or why. Because I figured she was wondering Y she was here and I was wondering Y I was doing this.. A women over 50, breaking wild mustangs..... And about 10 years ago I wrote a short story that was published in a magazine, it was also titled "Y". So I felt good with a name of just "Y", most of my clients and friends, not so much.

So one evening I got a call: IMA! I've got it. Call her I'ma my friend said to me. Ima is a nice old fashioned girls name and she can be "I'ma Your Horse".

So there ya go. Ima Your Horse it was.

Hope you are all finding time to get in the saddle. There is no better view!!

MMO Horse Course Finals

2009-06-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday Morning found the MMO stalls buzzing with early activity as everyone prepared for the final riding contest. My fellow contestants were a great bunch, smiles and well wishes were always the norm between everyone. It is always so interesting how horse people can be so diverse from every corner of the globe and every walk of life, yet come together so passionately for one thing the horse. That could not have been more prevalent on this morning.

Even the Sacramento skies cooperated with perfect horse weather 75+. I have done this event for years with my giant lemon because it is a given that the weather will be in the high 90's during Horse Expo, so this was a welcome change.

There was a trainer's meeting at 8:30 which became a problem because the arena is a long walk from the stalls, no horses were allowed at the meeting, but there was no where to tie the horses either. The arena was not set at 8:30, so the judges had to rush around and set the course which made the meeting start at 8:45 and end at 8:59. With the first horse to be in the arena at 9:00 there was little time to prepare. I was the 5th horse in the go. Luckily I had disobeyed the rules and brought my horse with me, as well has one of my faithful helpers Pam to hold her.

This ended up being a life saver because as I was casually leaving the meeting knowing I had about 30 minutes to warm up, the gate Stewart started yelling at me to get in the ring that I was first. As I disagreed she explained that 3 of the horses ahead of me had scratched and the other horse was not being ridden yet so they bumped it to last in, because it was going to be lead thru the riding course. So that left me running for the ring..........

Ima and I at the in-gate. First test: lead horse in arena, and mount.

We did not use the mounting block, as it looks in the picture, but I wish I had. I was so stiff from my fall the week before, it took me along time to mount and she took a step. There went one point.

From the mount we walked perfectly over the bridge, into the trot serpentine. Her bends were very nice, and I felt very good.

Next you were to trot all the way into the box and halt before touching the front rail. Key word from the judge you were to be trotting all the way into the box and halt. We stuck the halt flawlessly. I have the same box at home and train in constantly. So far looking OK

Next was a 360 turn to the right and then a 360 to the left with out touching a rail. I spent a long time setting her up and getting her soft for the turns. Which we did quietly at the walk. I don't see how sticking a spur in a colts side all the way to their heart so they spin a hole in the ground makes them more adoptable. But that maybe where some of the judges and I parted company.

After the turns you walked straight up the chute then back an "L" to the right. Judge wanted you to come within inches of the back pole. Ima even surprised me with the softness she offered. This is one of my favorite pics because it reminds me what I felt as she backed. Soft as butter.

Things fell apart a little bit after that. I thought our canter serpentine with changes was adequate at best. Unfortunately the judges thought it was terrible...... That's the down fall of being first. Nothing for the judges to compare to. There were many horses that never cantered at all (trotted the entire test), many that didn't change leads, cross fired, took the same lead twice, etc. but the judges would not know that until my scores had long been tallied.

The test was to canter from a stand still out of the back-up chute on the right lead, you had about 12 feet out of the chute before you ran into the arena fence that you had to turn right. Flying or simple change in the middle, then left lead curving to the end of the arena where there was a cone you passed and that started your 90 second freest lye.

Unbelievable even to me I got the right lead from the halt out of the chute. About 3 strides and she saw the banners and people hanging on the fence and shied to a trot, 3 strides and we were turned back towards the middle and into the right lead again (photo). Down to a trot for the transition, I was not at enough of an angle across the arena, so I was almost on top of the judges when I asked for the left lead. I had to make a 90 degree turn in front of the judges, but we did quietly get our left lead and canter quietly to the cone.

My 90 second freestyle was off the cuff as what I had practiced would not work in the big arena, we did some canter circles on a long rein, halt, sidepass right and left, back, back 1/2 circles left and right, halt, then I dismounted by sliding off her butt, crawled between her legs remounted and was pulling my rope down to get in a few swings when they called time!

There you have it. That is our Mustang Makeover Contest classes in a true play by play. I am not sure what the judges saw or didn't see that made them score us out of the top ten. But as it says on my website. My mission is to: "Make good usin' horses that are a pleasure to be around". No contest is going to make me change my beliefs of what that means or how it should be done. I trained Ima to be what Mr. McNabb said they wanted "horses that are more adoptable". I did not train her to win a performance contest which is how it seemed to be judged. She would not spin a hole in the ground or slide a 20' 11 across the arena. But if one person had asked if it was safe to put their small child on her back or let their grandmother go in the stall with her, I knew I could look them in the eye and say "you bet"! And that's what makes a horse more adoptable in my opinion.

" Remember it's not you against the whole world, just you against yourself" Kate Hepburn

With that statement you see why I could not be more proud of Ima and I. I had the toughest opponent there is in my life, I rose to the occasion, studied, learned, grew, changed and gave 110% and because of that I know I kicked my number one opponent's ass! Even though Ima is a winner because she has been repaired and found a magnificent forever home. She innocently does not know what she did for me and everyone around me. So it is me who is the real winner and I have only #05219952 to thank for that!

I am sorry the formatting is never right on these posts. The spacing with the photos just won't adjust for some reason... Ima always got it right on her posts. I guess I should add computer skills to her adopt ability score.....

WOW!!! IMA IS FIXED!!

2009-06-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

Ima sent us a nice note from her new home!! She forget to tell us more about who she lives with(not her roommates, but who puts the hay on the table). But she has already had her surgery! And everything went swimmingly! Check out her message under the last posts comment section!! That means more to me then all their money and ribbons!!

Wow this is a super day!! My birthday is next week and that is the best present I could ever dream to get. (That and spending a week in Southern California training with Richard Winters which I am also doing this week.)

She must have a very special family because they let her use their laptop!!! Next she'll have her own cell phone so she can call Walley in the middle of the night and have him whinny heavy into the phone! They don't call them wild horses for nothin'.

Now more about the contest:

7 days post MMO Contest

2009-06-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Howdy faithful Ima mustang followers. It has been one week since the Horse Expo and I think I am finally ready to come up for air. I will apologize in advance that I am not half the writer that Ima is. She is at her new home in Wilton, CA and I bet they have no idea she knows how to use a computer. So on her behalf I will be filling in the final chapters of her diary.

First on the list is all the Thank You's she and I owe so many great folks for their help and support through these thrilling and very trying 3 months.

At the top of the list are the GREAT SPONSORS that helped Ima become the beautiful slick and shiny horse you see today:
Bar Ale Feed, Inc. of Winters CA for providing Ima with their Distance Plus and 101 feeds
Elk Grove Milling of Elk Grove, CA for providing Ima with their Stable Mix pellets
Lee's Feed, Placerville, CA for the goodie bag of fly products and shavings

The BLM EMPLOYEES
Videll, Grant, Amy, Sally and Jason for always going above and beyond their job duties for the love of the horses.

MY FREESTYLE TEAM:
Teresa, Michaela and Taryn for giving up their weekend and then some, Russ the welder, B-Bar Arena for its use and Teresa for the musical score. Sorry your efforts were never seen by the public.... Ima and I know what you did for us.

OUR FRIENDS, CLIENTS, STUDENTS and all the good ol' folks that helped or just wished me well especially: Eli, Amber, Jason, Pam, Brent, Andrea, Piper, Donna, Linda, Betty, Wendy, Morgan, Emma, Keith, Jim, John, Gena, Dan, Ronnie in FL, Dr. Larry, Erica, Joel, Katy and family, Ima thanks Walley for all his guidance and the eye candy. extra credit to Marjorie and Alma for flying out all the way from Texas, and to Dennis for letting them! They are the reason I entered in the first place! If Ima or I forgot anyone it is not on purpose! We love you all

THE TRAINERS, CLINICIANS AND HORSEMAN who truly gave of themselves and helped me refine and improve my horsemanship both mental and physical over the last 90 days including Richard Winters, Buck Brannaman, Teresa Trull, Dave/Gwynne Weaver and in spirit Ray Hunt.

And most importantly to a little non discript bay mare known only as 05219952 until she selflessly stepped out of the wild and into our hearts. She never asked or questioned why, as a human would have done every inch of the way. She just gave 110% when she understood what was asked of her and 100% when she didn't. It's not "My kingdom for a horse" I say it is "My kingdom to be more like that horse".

To explain in detail the medical condition she had which created alot of ups and downs over the 90 days, with many sleepless nights and worry some days for me. Ima had a perineal tear which occurred last year or the year before in the corrals or in the wild when she gave birth. Basically the foal's hooves completely tore out the separation between the rectum and vulva. So she had one giant 'hole' where everything mixed together. It was very messy and causes her to have no "control" ie: when she coughed or snorted she could shoot a road apple 20 feet! I learned by day 3 DO NOT stand right behind her and scare her with anything! LOL. Her aim was deadly! She got a bath every day and I spent hours keeping her extra clean and wrapping her tail.

The dilemma began when at day 30 I was able to get her to my vet and analyze the situation. Her 'problem' was in excellent shape and unbelievably she had no infections. But because the corrective surgery was going to be $2-3000.oo the BLM and MHF said she must be returned to the corrals, deemed unadoptable, and I was to receive a new horse. I refused to take her back. She was to good of a horse to let something like that keep her from making people happy for the next 20 years and having a loving home. Plus I was not starting over with only 60 days to go.

My wish was that enough money could be gathered to give the adopter "A coupon good for one surgery" But getting a solid cost amount from vets was difficult. As the days ticked by, one idea after another was worked on to ensure she could compete and be adopted. As we arrived at the Horse Expo there still was no solution..... Two days to go with no fix in sight. It was looking more and more like back to the corrals she would go and I was very sad.

A Giant Thank You goes to Amy of the CA BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program who was relentless in finding a solution..... Friday afternoon 24 hours to go and she pulled it all together. Amy from the CA BLM, Patti From the MHF and Sally from the BLM Washington DC office each agreed to pitch in $500.00 towards Ima's repairs. And Loomis Basin Equine Veterinary Hospital agreed to do the surgery for that amount. Last minute or not these are some great folks that all stepped up and did the right thing...... If you have a minute please tell them thank you. Their generosity will change Ima's life forever.

ON TO THE COMPETITION:

Much like my self, most horsey people I know are not the best with electronics: computers, cameras, camcorders, etc. I bought a brand new top of the line video camera just for this contest. The first camcorder in my life..... I even learned how to use it. Only problem I was not the one able to ever use it and I rarely had a second person to run it when I was riding Ima. So I have little footage of this event. At the Horse Expo apparently the last person who should have had the camcorder was the one trying to do my filming for me. I will leave his name anonymous to protect him from finger pointing with large bouts of laughter, In a nut shell he was one button push off. When I was not in the ring he was filming the ground, the sky and everything else around. then he would push the button again (OFF) and look thru the view finder and follow my go. Then he would push the button again (ON) and put the camera down. I have some very interesting footage..... just none of me.

To add insult to injury. I let everyone have my camera and take as many pics as they wanted. When I got home to down load the memory chip the camera came up with an error message...... memory chip failed. Not one picture!!!

So the following pictures were sent to me.. Anyone else out there please feel free to send me what you have. I'd love some pictures of the other contestants also. These pictures were all taken by Charles Brooks. He can be reached at http://www.brooksphotog.com/ Charlie was really great to come out for the entire weekend and film all the MMO action. Thanks again Charlie.

Friday morning was the in-hand trail and in-hand conditioning class:

Ima backing into the chute, she was awesome.... I on the other hand was not a good judge of angles and we got to close on this turn

From a halt, trotting out of the chute into the serpentine, was perfect.

Trotting right up to the front of the trailer and then loading at a walk, flawlessly.

Carrying the (not so scary)bag from barrel to barrel.

Halt in the box, then we did a 360' circle and on to picking up the feet.

Ima had a little trick up her sleeve, it is hard to see but I have picked up both her feet on the same side and she is balancing on her 2 right feet.

Our halt and stand at the cone for inspection was as good as any professional halter horse. I thought she would be a solid first in the conditioning, the judges thought otherwise and she came in 4th. When the dust had settled we were 4th in the in-hand trail and 4th in conditioning. The amazing thing is after these 2 classes: the first place horse had 56 points, second 55 points, third 54.5 points and us in 4th with 54 points. Only 2 total points separated 1st - 4th, that made us in 3rd place for the average. I was sure we were a solid contestant for the top 10 finals......

Horse Expo

2009-06-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

Howdy from Horse Expo. Sorry Ima has been to busy getting ready to write. We took 4th in the conditioning class today and 4th in the in hand class out of 25 horses. That puts us 3rd in the average going into the horse course tomorrow. Wish us luck

Camp Mother aka Sue

2009-05-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

Well today is day 75 here at Pony Boot Camp. Camp mother has been very busy and doesn't let me use the computer very often. So I am sorry that putting hoof to paper has been so sporadic. To catch up on the last few weeks. Here are some more fun shots of me from the Napa Mustang Days Festival. These are of the arena parade showing lots of famous and infamous BLM Mustangs including Janet Titus second place winner from last years Contest. Sue and I want to thank Tim Bertolini for taking these and getting them to me thru Nancy who is not only the event promoter, manager, designer, she is an avid adopter and promoter of BLM mustangs and she is the excellent webmaster of the Kigers de los Californios website.!!!

Camp Mother really enjoyed showing me off to all the visitors at the festival. She thinks showing off my excellent ground manners will help get me a good home. She is so consistent with her timing and release it is easy to know what I did right that is why I am so well adjusted and stand quiet. And I am just a real easy going kinda horse. No wild mustang horror stories on this blog!!

I had my feet trimmed again before the festival, that was my third trimming because my feet were so long to start with. Camp Mother has worked hard to get them shaped up.

Here is a shot of Grant a BLM Litchfield Corrals Wrangler with Sue and I in the Mustang demo at the Napa Mustang Days Festival. Jason and Videll were also there from the BLM, they are very helpful knowledgeable folks that y'all can look up at the Western States Horse Expo BLM booth for more information on how to adopt a cool horse like me!

I have a cool new sponsor Lee's Feed in Placerville was very kind to make my transition from cool Spring to Summer FLY season mush easier with a new fly mask, fly spray, shavings and fly wipe! man does that help me sleep like a foal, especially after a super duper dinner of Elk Grove Milling Stable Mix pellets and Bar Ale Feed, Inc, Distance Plus and 101 feed supplement. I hope you all can take the time to thank these cool folks when shopping at their stores for helping turn me into the very pleasant well rounded horse I have become. Sue could not have done it with out the help of these generous folks and all of her friends, students and faithful supporters.

I have made so many friends while here at Pony Boot Camp and learned so much I can't believe it will all change in 3 weeks. Of course I only said that for the human readers benefit, we horses have no concept of time, so I really don't know how long I have been here or how long 3 weeks away is....... But I do know my life today is good and when I am adopted by my forever home my life will be full.

"It is truly amazing how much horses are willing to give to humans for no other reason but they asked".

Ima the trick riding horse!!!

2009-05-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'lllll, check out my first Youtube video...... Thanks a million to Jan Mendoza who runs The Radical Riders Trick Riding Team out of Wheatland CA. They performed at the Napa Mustang Days and felt I was a perfect candidate to be a trick riding horse.

So here is my first attempt at a possible new profession. Please send in your votes on whether this is the right profession for me????? We also dressed me up as a Dr. Seuss character but couldn't decide what my Seussical name should be. Any suggestions????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q4VDIjluaA

If Camp Mother was as good a computer trainer as she is horse trainer she would have the video playing here in my diary, but pasting the link is the best she can do......poor humans, they have no feel, no timing, no rhythm and just aren't real bright, no wonder we have such a hard time training them.
More Napa Mustang Days pictures to come.......

Remember to "fix it up and let em find it" Ray Hunt...... May he ride in peace.

Napa Mustang Days

2009-05-17T20:15:00.000-07:00

Well we had a blast at the Napa Mustang Days..... It was over 100 degrees so everything moved a little slow, but spirits were high, the horses wonderful and a good time was had by all. Here is a picture of Camp Mother and I with one of her good friends Natalie from Petaluma. Sue and Natalie met at a Richard Winters Clinic a few years ago and became fast friends...... and not just because Natalie owns a 1/2 Kiger named Wylie or because she baked Camp Mother a batch of cookies!!! She is just a really super person. But yum, yum thanks a million!!!!

Sue was still not supposed to be riding due to her previous injuries, so she and I just did a simple demo of what I know how to do so far, walk trot, canter, halt, back and a few tricks. I never once got stage fright from the announcer stand or audience under all the easy up tents for shade, not even when they all applauded loudly!! I am so awesome!! And I even did a perfect job carrying a flag with 3 other riders also with flags! Our rehearsal was flawless. One of the other riders was Janet Titus the 2nd place winner from last years Western States Mustang Makeover with her MMO horse. She is way cool and a good rider. Unfortunately the presentation got out of order and the flag routine was scratched from the performance. So I didn't get to do it in front of the audience, but I still did an awesome job..... even Walley said so... I wonder if that was just a come on?????

I even stood motionless for almost an hour while Sue used me as her "Vanna" to give a talk on tack fit and safety. Luck for me she parked Walley right next to me so I was able to just practice my dreamy eye at him. He gets embarrassed easily and even thought he is always hobbled he tries to slip away. Lots more to tell ya all about soon....

Day 62 at Pony Boot Camp.

2009-05-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

It has been a relaxing lazy 2 weeks for me here at Camp but it has been hell week for Camp Mother. She sells Lemonade to buy hay for us... Now that is a weird trade! So she is wearing her traveling gypsy hat on the weekends going to county fairs and horse shows selling just possibly the best lemonade in the known universe.

Some of the other campers have been having authority issues and the round pen looks more like an extreme UFC contest. cage fighting has nothing on spoiled, unruly horse training!! Unfortunately Camp Mother is getting 'a little long in the tooth' and can't move like she used to. Unable to 'float like a butterfly' anymore she has a large hemotomia her her leg, a large bump on her head, whiplash and a hyper extended shoulder. All from different horses, different wrecks!! Add to this numerous biopsies and other medical procedures..... needless to say my training has been on ice (along with half her body) for a few weeks. What I know now is just about all I will get to learn by show time. As Sue's ability to ride will be reserved for the outside horses in training. Hoping she holds together to make it to the finals. I did learn to carry the American Flag last week which I am very proud to do!!!

This Friday Camp Mother, Walley and I will be traveling to Napa for the Napa Mustangs Days celebration where Sue is a guest clinician . WOW just me and Walley alone...., the hunk,... camping...., together, ........ a dream come true....... **POP** Oh yea and Camp Mother...... Dream just changed to a nightmare..... Well it is going to be great fun and very educational, anyway. Ya'll come ya hear!!!

Day 55 at Pony Boot Camp

2009-05-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

Well the days are really flying by here at Pony Boot Camp. I am already homesick thinking about leaving this place in another 35 days. And especially leaving Wally... He is such a hunk. I have gotten used to my fancy private bedroom.... apparently called a "stall" and I see why. I stall going into it just thinking about living without seeing the stars at night. I wonder if people ever really realize what we horses actually give up for them. Our freedom, our herd, many times our soft feel, cadence, our reason for being, life out of doors and especially the stars watching us while we sleep.

Camp Mother and I played dress up, trying to decide what to wear next month at the Horse Expo. This old parade set as way cool, but did not fit, so guess it is back to our everyday look of Working Ranch Horse Buckaroo.

Hope you all try to have your horses enjoy you as much as you enjoy them. Whistle, Grin and Ride. Ima Your Horse signing off

Trip to the Doc.

2009-05-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

Camp Mother took me to a veteeer..., vataneeer, or forget it I went to a horse doctor. As always I was the perfect camper, I just wish my butt wasn't so big so I could see what they are doing back there!

My temperature was normal. They inspected the tear that happened when I had a baby last year, which creates a problem when I go to the bathroom. It is all healed and scared over, but still needs to be fixed someday by plastic surgery. The doc says he is never able to inspect a horse this thoroughly with out tranquilizer. I stood quiet as a mouse thru the whole thing. I got a gold star for the camper of the week and another testament to my trainabliity and excellent personality.

I came home to an excellent meal of Elk Grove Milling Stable Mix, but was too embarrassed to tell the boys what they did when I went to the Doc.

April Showers and May Flowers

2009-05-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

Good Evening horsepersons and welcome to Sunday evening. It is very busy around here. Spring means the Lemon is on the road again and lots of other horse campers are coming in for Camp Mother's magic touch. Last week Sue went to the Californios Show in Red Bluff and had the pleasure of meeting fellow MMO Trainer Destry Campbell who conducted the Cowboy Church service Sunday Morning. Sue got to visit with lots of good horsey folk including Buck Brannaman, Dave and Gwynn Weaver who put the entire event on. Chance Gee, David Joost, Ernie Morse, Ralph Pavey, Merlin, Greg, and the list goes on.

Here is another cute photo of us at the Buck Clinic. This week I have moved up to having my own room. Camp Mother says it is an honor to have the only Box Stall on the place and that I need to learn how to sleep alone. I say Neyh!! I don't like sleeping in a box. I can't even see the stars!!! I have never in my life not fallen asleep looking up at the stars. I think people would sleep a lot better too if they could see the stars!

It rained hard here this weekend, so we all get to play in the mud instead of be ridden!!!! Awesome! The food here is still great. Stable mix pellets from Elk Grove Milling, Distance Plus and 101 feed from Bar Ale Feeds makes meals 5 star around here!!

Hope you all had a super weekend and try to remember to let the horses be your teacher.

The days are flying by......

2009-04-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

Well the days are flying by, I can't believe I have been at Pony Boot Camp for 47 days already!! That leaves 43 to go before the big event. There is always so much going on, taking pictures just never seems to be do-able. Here are some shots of Sue and I at the Buck Brannaman clinic in Chico. With the solid foundation Camp Mother has given me, I was a star pupil. We both knew how to "follow the trouble" as Buck would say instead of causing it. I found it odd the way other campers wanted to jump up and down and do silly stuff. It was fun to watch, but once they got into Bucks cross hairs, everyone of them changed their tune!! Being very allergic to speed and activity, I preferred to dose while Sue diligently tried to study everything Buck said.

The following week Camp Mother went to the Californios show in Red Bluff, so I got a few days of R and R. Wish I could have gone, I heard there is lots of Great Basin Buckaroos there that knew and rode many of my relatives.

I have to go to the Doctor tomorrow, for a check up of a problem I got when I was in the wild. I will tell you about it next time. Hopefully it will be easy to fix. I hope so because I am really looking forward to making someone a great riding horse and partner. I don't have any health insurance, so I may be looking to all my fans for some help to fix me.

My wish for you this week is that I hope you are finding lots of spring grass to eat and good trees to rub off your shedding hair.

Camp Mother says: Life is short, ride your good horse first..........

Loomis Basin Horsman's Association

2009-04-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary: I made my first official public appearance on Wednesday when Walley, Norton, Sue and I went and gave a talk about tack fit and use at the Loomis Basin Horseman's Association monthly meeting. Everyone wanted to pet me and I felt very special.

Camp Mother loves giving these talks about tack use, fit and care (Back to that playing dress up thing.) to help people be safer with their horses. Any club or youth group can call her about coming to their meeting and giving a demo/lecture. Check out our website at: http://www.kigersdeloscalifornios.com/

Since the meeting was at the public arena in the park where lots of kids were playing baseball, it was very loud, I was on my bestest behavior so Walley would know (if he had the guts to ask me) he can take me on a date in public. Walley on the other hand decided to show me how athletic he is and galloped off in his hobbles. I thought it was a little dramatic, but cute and boyish none the less. His Lipizzaner impersonating levade is quite masculine looking don't ya think??.

Sue and I take our big solo trip to the Buck Brannaman clinic this week so stay tuned and remember whistle, grin and ride!!!

My first big trip....

2009-04-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Today we are getting ready for my second big adventure (1st was going domestic), which is participating in a Buck Brannaman clinic in Chico. Last night Camp Mother gave a mini clinic for the Loomis Basin Horseman's Association and I got to go!! I was so good. Everyone pet me and I even got to be "Vanna" for the haltering and bridling demonstration. Wally came with, so I did my verrrrrry bestist Vanna impersonation hoping he would notice. He is such a hunk. It was in a park so I saw small humans running no where crazy. I told Wally there must be Bot flys chasing them in their pasture. He told me that is how human foals play and it was called baseball. What silly foals especially when they would fall down on purpose. Camp mother forgot the camera as usual, so all you get here is words.I have decided humans are dumb and they bore me.

This weekend I will be the star camper, I am the only one who gets to go on the camp out. Everyone dreams of being the star, but I was dreaming of 4 days alone with Walley. He is such a hunk. Guess I will have to settle for being a star. :( I am very confident I will make Sue proud, she even opened a gate on me Tuesday at the indoor arena; where I did not spook at anything. Don't get me wrong I am far from perfect, I still love to paw when I am tied, cuz it really pisses her off.

Talk at ya next week...... I'ma your horse signing off.

WOW Another week gone by

2009-04-12T07:05:00.001-07:00

Another week gone by

2009-04-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

WOW, Sorry to leave you hanging there ol' diary. This week was kinda busy. First it was sunny, then it was pouring rain, then sunny again, so I never know when to borrow the camera and take pictures or when to hide in my room. I don't have any photos of this weeks adventures. But a couple of other ones. Lots of campers have been coming and going so I never know who my roommate will be. Camp Mother says that is helping me with my herd bound issues. How come I am always the one with issues?? This is Camp Mother aka Sue with the camp dog Tex. He has a silly Texas accent and always stares at me with his big yellow eyes... I think I might give him a good old Nevada hoof sandwich one of these days.

I went on a couple of field trips and was a real good girl (I hate it when Camp Mother puts me on a time out, so I'm trying to learn not to paw.) I even got to get up close and personal with cowz at a team penning. They are much scary then you would think! Don't believe those commercials where the say the cowz in California are happy! I think they wanted to kick my butt and then eat me! Thank goodness Walley was there to protect me! Isn't he a hunk? And man can he tell those cows what to do. He came from the Twin Peaks HMA so I love his Nevada buckaroo accent.

The best part of camp is still the excellent food from my sponsors Elk Grove Milling Inc. and Bar Ale Feeds. I have an excellent balanced ration that is easy for Camp Mother to measure, I love the taste and hopefully that Walley hunk will start to notice how beautiful my complexion is. sigh......

We are going on a 4 day camp-out this week to Chico. Walley said I get to go in a Buck Brannaman clinic. I was excited at first but he said he doesn't get to go, so now it don't sound like fun no more. 4 days without my hunk. We'll seeeeeeeee.........

Sunny Sunday, Day 24

2009-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Good Morning from Pony Boot Camp. Yesterday was real fun. Saturdays usually are, because we usually always go on a field trip. In the morning I went to a near by training stable, watched my new bunk mate Neptune get his hooves trimmed and Camp Mother rode me a little bit in their round pen.

Then I got to ride the camp bus up to Por Fin Ranch and have a real good ride with lots of help. I still don't understand how to go forward with a rider on, so Michaela riding Buddy helped me with a flag. I think I am starting to get it???? Camp mother said she will work on my feet today, they are still so long and out of shape I have a problem breaking over...... what ever that means.. I think I might rather break-in two with her on me then have her worrying about me breaking over! LOL.

A quick word about the Gatorland MMO that is going on this weekend, our friends Ronnie Ford and Nevada Lil took second place in the In hand conditioning class!! Way to go Ronnie!

I gave Camp Mother a real fun wake up this morning when she found me naked!!! in front of Neptune to boot! I had all my PJ's in a pile, and a well placed pile on my PJ's. boy camp pranks are a hoot!

Well, I'maouta here. Camp Mother is going to a tack sale this morning so I have to go get that manicure she told me about. Hope you are all making time to get in the saddle. it is good for you and good for your horse.

Day 21 at Pony Boot Camp

2009-04-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

Howdy: Ima Your Horse here reporting for team Mustang at Pony Boot Camp. Well day 21 was the big one. Camp Mother climbed aboard for ride number one and it went swimmingly. She was planning on riding me on day 15 but her trip out of town gave me a reprieve until today. I was a very good girl and as expected I am very sticky with a lot of brace in my neck and face. I never feel like bucking but I do not like to turn or flex my neck so I might think about running away sometime. Walley was a big help showing me how to move around the round pen. I even backed up! She acted like I didn't know how, Camp Mother can be so silly.

With her never ending sense of humor, (she even likes the joke Hay Bartender, why the long face....) Camp Mother snuck out and took pictures of me in my PJ's eating dinner. My new roommate Neptune a 7 yr old Morgan in for training irates me, he tries to boss me around through the corral fence. I have to keep telling him to kiss off. Wish Walley could be my roommate but he's Camp Mother's pet student so he gets to live in the big pasture..... He's such a hunk. Just to play hard to get, I kicked him when Camp Mother was riding me... it is all on tape. Bet he doesn't think I am one of those easy Nevada show girls now!

Well, there is a line of campers waiting to use the internet and my bucket of Bar Ale feed is calling my name. So Ima Your Horse signing off from sunny but still windy central California.

Remember whistle, grin and ride

I'm free, I freeeeeeee

2009-04-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

Hey Diary: your on your own. Check out the picture!!! I stole the camp truck and am headed HOME! Look my mountains are right in sight. Weee Weeeee I am freeeeee. I am a wild mustang again. I can smell Neveda from here! I am driving and I don't even have a license like silly dogs and people have to have. Hey Camp Mother kiss my tail dock and tell it to the hoof, I'm outa here........................

OH Sorry I got carried away.... APRIL FOOLS!!!

I am still stuck here at Pony Boot Camp. dressed up like a Christmas present. I have PJ's that cover me from head to foot. And new roommates. I'll add pictures tomorrow. The only good part about this camp is the food. wow is it GOOOOOOOD. Elk Grove Milling is sponsoring my Stable Mix Pellets and Bar Ale feed sponsors my supplement of Distance Plus and 101 feeds. This weekend some of my cousins will be competing at the Gatorland MMO in Florida. I am cheering for Ronnie and Nevada Lil. I hope they kick donkey and take names (ones that are on signed checks anyways). The food here might be good but the reception is not, so we don't get to see the Gatorland Event on TV or Internet. We are so far out even the mail comes by Pony Express. LOL

I have had any easy week just reviewing the things I already know, ground work, leading over obstacles, tieing, saddling etc because Sue or Camp Mother as we like to call her has had a hectic week. Besides one of her trainer partners getting in a wreck roping this weekend and breaking 5 ribs, 3 of her students have broken their arms, another one fell off a cliff and knocked all his teeth out and a fellow (unhappy) mustang camper mashed her leg against the round pen and so she is one legged and in a bad mood!! Speaking of that it is past lights out time so I better sign off.

Hope everyone has time to feel the Spring wildflowers under their hooves..... Later FL Gator.

Wow, Busy week at Pony Boot Camp

2009-03-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary: Well it has been a week since I had time to put pen to hoof and tell ya'll what is going on here at Pony Boot Camp. Camp Mother was very busy attending a Ranch Roping clinic with Dave and Gwynn Weaver so I was left to just stand around and soak it all in. Here are pictures of the Por Fin Ranch where the clinic was. What a view!

I was talking with Walley who actually got to participate in the clinic with Camp Mother aboard. He said the ranch owner's horse 'sold out' while heading a cow and ran smack into him,then the saddle slipped and the rider fell of and broke 5 ribs. I got real bord tied to the tree, but think standing around was better then all that action in the arena!! Plus cows are dumb and they smell funny. Camp Mother said she finally perfected her Houlihan what ever that means.

Today I got my first real bath with soap, conditioner, the whole box and dice. I certainly don't remember that being in the brochure! And I am not nearly as impressed with my braided tail as Camp Mother is. Please make her stop...

I am very, very excited to tell you the meals here just got a whole lot better!!! I have another great sponsor. Elk Grove Milling is providing me with Stable Mix Pellets..... Boy are they good!!

If you want a great meal be sure to check out Bar Ale Feeds and Elk Grove Milling Pellets!!! Your horse will thank you!! And I really, really thank them both for graciously sponsoring my meals here at camp!! My condition and coat has already improved. (I hope Walley notices, boy is he a hunk!)

It's lights out time. So Ima Your Horse signing off from sunny but very windy California.

Yeah! Field Trip Today

2009-03-23T20:48:00.001-07:00

Dear diary: Today was a really fun day at Pony Boot Camp. We started the day by playing "how many things can I wear during a tornado". The rules of the game were simple with the windy blowing out of control you had to put on everything you could find in the round pen. Guess what. I WON... I got a whole bucket of that Bar Ale Distance Plus that Bar Ale Feeds is sponsoring me with. It is really good!! And Camp Mother says it is good for me, not that I care.......

And then we got to go on a field trip. Only mustangs got to go. I arranged it so Walley was next to me!! We went to a neighboring ranch and played with other people and horses. I got to load and ride in the camp bus tied in line just like the other campers. It was alot of fun. Camp Mother wouldn't let me have her camera so I don't have any pictues except for inside the camp bus. Well it's lights out time.

Day 8 at Pony Boot Camp

2009-03-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hello from weekend two at Pony Boot Camp USA. Well you would think Camp Mother would take a day off cuz it's the weekend, but Noooooooooo She says this storm is so windy, it is a good day to fly a kite. So I told her to 'Go Fly a Kite' (maybe not those exact words). Note to self: After your time-out is over for telling Camp Mother to Go fly a kite, you won't like what is involved in learning to fly one.

Sue was right, the wind was perfect to fly a kite. But since I have no way to throw the kite in the air, it just kept attacking me every time I tried to get it to fly:

Note to self: Horses cannot fly kites. This activity was not, I repeat not in the camp brochure

As the wind died down and it started to rain Camp Mother said we had to switch to indoor games. Not knowing what an indoor game was I told Camp Mother she could pick. Note to self: Never let Camp Mother pick the games. She picked load in the trailer. The gist of the game is I climb in this noisy, steel box and eat a snack, climb out, repeat. Wow like I am still in pre-school what a dumb game. It took me a total of 3 minutes to figure it out. And even when the rules kept changing like lead in the trailer, drive in the trailer, turn around, don't turn around, walk out. back out. I still won the game ever time. with that Camp Mother called it a day, went in the house, built a fire...... and left us wild ponies to be Saturday night party animals like only a mustang knows how to do!! Glad I can sleep in, in the morning Sue has a horse show....TTFN

One Week Anniversary

2009-03-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

Howdy from Pony Boot camp. Well camp mother says it is my one week anniversary. Not sure what that means, I have a hard time with this English language thing. I thought anniversaries had something to do with being married. I have had a foal so I must of been married but there was never any talk about anniversaries. Come to think about it we didn't talk about much at all. I don't get it......

Today was a big day as I got to wear a complete horse outfit (Walley was right, camp mother loves to play dress up). Including saddle, pad and bridle. You can see I have a careless, relaxed demeanor most of the time because Sue is so patient and methodical in her training. Actually it is because when I do get worried I get real BIG and real FAST, so it takes allot of energy and I have to save up between episodes. camp mother says those episodes are going to garner me alot of time-outs in my life........ But what is time to a horse???

After we were bord with the dress-up game, we went driving. I am not sure if I am old enough to drive?? I guess in dog years I am...... (Note to self: find out why dogs get their own years.) Camp mother said I drove real well... Maybe I'll get to use that new Dodge truck she said she bought me.... It is Friday night and all.. (Another note to self: Dogs get to have a license too, look into this being a dog thing)

Time to sign off. Give your horses a rub for me and remember: Life is short, Ride your good horse first. Ima Your Horse

Day 6... where is that return ticket........

2009-03-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

Well here it is day 6 of pony boot camp. It seems like I spend allot of time being dressed and undressed in outfits I did NOT pick out myself. Walley says that is because Sue who everyone here calls Camp Mother is a girl so she likes to play dress up... I don't know what a girl is but I do know I don't like the dress up thing. I am wearing a bridle and surcingle with a pad so I am told.

I think I am getting a crush on Walley who seems to be the camp assistant around here. That was until he said my bridle brings out the brown in my eyes but the blue pad makes my butt look big. I told him to kiss my hoof, so he is now keeping a respectable distance as seen in the company photo.

It looks like once you have some seniority around here, camp ain't so bad, these mustangs told me they were 'broke' so they get to be in a grass pasture and lay around in the sun, while I live in a small dorm room and have to play dress up all day. When I was rounded up I heard cowboys in Nevada say they hated being broke but looking at these other mustangs I can't wait.

Wow, just when the sun comes out and I don't think I will have to stand in the rain for a few months, I find out they have instant rain here at camp. If I was a fish or frog I might think this was a 5 star place. But personally I am not, let me repeat NOT impressed!

Camp mother brought me my dinner which she said is being sponsored by Bar Ale Feed in Winters, CA. One of those Nevada cowboys said he had a sponsor so he had to go to meetings. I hope if me having a sponsor means I have to go to meetings they have food like this! Of course first I had to dress up in my PJ's. Please make her stop!!!

Good night from Pony Boot Camp USA

My first day at Pony Boot Camp

2009-03-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

Well I just got off the bus at Pony Boot Camp. I think I want to turn around and go home, but all the other horses here say they love it. So guess I'll give it a try. My bus driver Sue let me use the camera on the way home and I took pictures out the window of where I came from so I don't ever forget what those snow capped mountains of my foalhood look like. She seems to be a much better horse trainer then computer wrangler, in fact she lost this whole first post once already, that is why it is out of order. If I can get her hooked on, I'll push her to add more pictures of my hood for your viewing pleasure.

My first friend here is Walley, he is a real looker and even has a Nevada accent similar to mine as he came from a hood near by in Twin Peaks. As soon as I got my land legs (20 minutes out of the trailer) he told me to let Sue pet me, so she would stop messing around and feed everybody dinner. So I did and she did and we all went to bed happy.

My second day at Pony Boot Camp

2009-03-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Ima is settling in very well, she loves Walley (doesn't everybody) so I use him to help me work with her. The second day I could take her halter on and off, pick up her front feet and rub her with a towel. She is fine with objects you carry or hang on the fence but completely looses it with the same object on the ground. I was able to hang a rope off her and even work her with a cinch rope and lead her up. Like most mares her back legs may take a few days to handle comfortably. She is very difficult to change eyes with because of a year of right handed work through the holding pens. It make take weeks to get any kind of balance when changing eyes in front. She is very willing and kind, but she keeps looking for her round trip ticket stub back to the Neveda Mountains hoping this vacation from hell ends soon. LOL

Wild Horse Corrals

2009-03-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

Here is Ima at the Wild Horse Corrals. Ready for her new big adventure. She is a chunky 4 year old solid bay with not one white hair on her. She is maybe 14 hands if she stands on her tippy toes. She has a big kind eye and is going to be a gem to train. Her neck tag number was 9952. She was gathered in January of 2008 from the South Shoshone HMA (NV0601) near Battle Mountain, NV.

First Week

2009-03-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the diary blog for Sue Watkins Extreme Mustang Makeover Horse: Ima Your Horse. I have been a Horse Trainer for 40 years, the last 17 in Lincoln, CA. I was recently interviewed and accepted to participate in the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s 2009 Extreme Mustang Makeover Contest. The contest involves 30 trainers who are provided a wild untouched mustang for 90 days to handle and train. Each trainer will then compete in a variety of contests in front of a large audience at the Western States Horse Expo, at the Cal Expo State Fairgrounds in Sacramento June 12 – 14, 2009.

The objective of the foundation and contest is to help promote the National Wild Horse and Burro program by creating a more marketable product, making wild horse ownership a positive experience by enhancing and showcasing the training programs for critical mustang age groups.

As I was thinking of names before I picked her up, I couldn't decide what to do. I didn't know what to call her because it is bad luck to change a horse's name, and since she is not really my horse I didn't want to name her something the person who adopts her doesn't like. So I decided to just call her Your Horse. That way no matter what the new owner calls her, she will still be your horse. Trying to settle on a 'barn name' became a challenge until a client said: how about a nice girls name like Ima. So Ima Your Horse it is.