January
Jellybean made it to the farm on January 5th, and we got started working on ground manners immediately. I convinced her she had to pick up her feet, and she wasn't allowed to be aggressive towards me, even at dinner time! We played in water puddles, and got started in the round pen.
Jellybean also got to wear a blanket and then tried to jump out of the paddock! During a Texas warm snap, Jellybean even got a bath (which she definitely didn't like). Benny helped Jellybean learn to pony around and then Jellybean learned the basics of long lining with the halter. At the end of the month, Jellybean got her rabies vaccination and took a few days off.
February
February started off with a bang, when all the horses escaped to the hay field next door, except Jellybean, who preferred to be alone. She also moved into a stall and started getting breakfast.
In between the rain showers, Robert learned how to work with Jellybean in the round pen and Jellybean learned more about long-lining. The saddle was also introduced, and Jellybean didn't really have any concerns! Robert built some cavaletti this month, which Jellybean has barely used, although many other horses have used them extensively. We finished out the month with some good saddling exercises.
March
Jellybean wrote her first blog post and then had a snotty nose! Jellybean also met her new sister, Ginger. We tried calling Ginger Peanut Butter, but it never stuck.
Ginger moved right into the training program, and helped up with Jellybean by ponying her around.
April
Jellybean banged her leg and got to wear wraps for a week or so. Then we worked on long lining with the saddle. Jellybean got a cold, and had to learn about penicillin and needles. Jellybean hit a new low with her treatment of farriers.
May was the big move into the paddock! Jellybean and Ginger moved into their own space as soon as Robert and I redid the shelter to make it a bit safer. Jellybean learned how work on the line instead of just the round pen. It rained a lot again.
June
School was finally over, and I was hoping to spend some more time with the horses! Jellybean started coming into heat and started being a scandal! She started flirting with Cash and some of the other boys through the fence. June was really hard for us, as Ginger passed away. The official report said salmonella poisoning, but I don't even know. Jellybean officially turned two on June 11th! Robert spend more time working with Jellybean on the ground, and then the vet came! Jellybean had her teeth floated and got all her shots up to date.
The real excitement of the month came after the vet, when Jellybean was lethargic from the rabies vaccination again. I rode her! Jellybean had a lot to say about that, and the month ended on a good note :)
July
I was on vacation in NC for half of the month, and Robert worked on Jellybean's training. I did bring her some new clothes and toys when I got back. Jellybean learned all about the bridle in July, and made some massive progress. At the end of the month, we missed barn time with the condensing of apartments into a house.
August
More riding in August, and building on fundamentals. Jellybean had lots of turnout time, and then developed some eye goop. After a lot of rinsing with saline, she seemed to clear up. She went on a trip to pick up Jeannette's horse Panda, and gave no fuss about the trailer. We also dealt with the farrier aggression, and that is luckily not a problem anymore. Jellybean also let me trot around with her for the first time, and started tweeting!
September
September meant the beginning of crazy work. Jellybean still got worked, and we ran into an issue with moving forward. Jellybean didn't really understand what my leg pressure meant. The rain started for real, and our daily training sessions disappeared.
October
Jellybean wasn't impressed by the cutting pen, and was a little bit naughty. I made some serious plans in October, because I felt I wasn't giving Jellybean enough time. This is certainly true, and I was feeling very overwhelmed with teaching and research and teaching lessons and riding and sleeping. Then we continued building to Halloween! We even had some spooky events when the feed keep being overturned and eaten. Pesky raccoons.
November
The rainy season was building, and the stalls flooded very badly; Jellybean even got moved for a few days. At the beginning of the month we bought Oberon, and Robert told everyone his first impressions. Most of this month was spent feeling guilty about not riding Jellybean and dealing with the massive mess the rain made. We also went out of town for a week during Thanksgiving.
December
Whew. End of the year. Robert and I continued to be extremely busy, but we did manage to spend a little time dreaming up goals and dreams of 30 day plans. The ponies enjoyed our busy-ness, as they got to spend a lot of time hanging out, instead of being ridden. We did have a memorable experience with the farrier, who informed me that Oberon apparently has navicular... And then it was Christmas, and then the end.
Looking back on this year, I am completely impressed by how far we have come with Jellybean. I think I need to be a little nicer to myself, and remember, Jellybean isn't even 3 yet. Plenty of time, and this time I feel like we aren't progressing will be well spent grow-up time for Jellybean. Stay tuned for some beginning of the year glamour shots :)
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