This Week

Most weeks around here are pretty boring.  I like it that way.  I been going swimming on Tuesdays with a neighbor. I really enjoy that.  I never knew her very well but I like her and it gets me out and being social which is always a good thing.  And we go for lunch afterwards and I like to eat so that's good lol. And I started walking,  been nice enough out for that too, I sure love it when it gets warmer out.

 This week I was on my way home and saw a neighbor had a couple calves on the road.  It was right across from her house and I felt a bit dumb but I told her about them anyways.  And turns out it was a good thing cause she was 2 hours away.  So I turned around and put them in and fixed the gate.   Of course the day they get out she's not home...cows.

And since I got Easy in I figured I had better ride him since that was the plan.  So yesterday I loaded Jess and him and then turned out Razz.  I know I am better when there is only 2, I can lead them together and I get tired after riding 2 so having 3 in is just more work and I do it less.  When hauling anyways, at home not as big a deal.

(in the arena, they were washing bulls in the wash rack that's what hes looking at)

(he's so cute!  Even with sticks in his tail)

(and Jess is so big lol)

Got my arena membership and I'm good to go till October.  I did a good brushing, made sure no sore spots or anything on Easy and saddled up.  I was gonna pony him but he doesn't know how yet so I just closed the gates and let him loose.  He just followed me around wondering what I was doing lol.

So OK, I guess hes not gonna be silly so I got on and we walked and trotted, maybe 20 minutes total.  Was so nice to be on him again, he's a lot narrower and shorter than Jess :)  I actually even got on from the ground!  Yay now I can really get to riding him.   I plan on going this afternoon as well.  I'd like to ride at least 4 days a week, even though Doug told me 5 or preferably 6 days a week, we may get there when I can ride at home again.  Easy actually looked sad when I got off him so quick :)

(he's so different than Jess, thinner neck and higher head)

Then since I know he has alone issues I tied him in the big arena and went to get Jess.  Well I had closed the gates earlier between them so I figured I should open them and that took us out of his sight well the noise began.  I'm amazed how he can buck and rear while tied up and not pull the rope tight.  Quite a talent lol.  I had Jess ride around and we went towards him when he was quiet and away when he was bad.  She figured it out pretty quick.  I rode her though all speeds.  She likes to go really fast when we lope there cause we have barrel raced there and its a big arena.  So we worked on her slowing down while still loping.  And I tried your trick Mrs Shoes about using my seat to break into the lope it worked well.  I used the regular amount of legs and we did it!  first try!  She got pretty sweaty, I'm thinking I may need to break out the clippers for her at least to a trace clip and then could blanket if I need too.  We will see, I kinda wanna avoid shedding season lol I'm tired of breathing fur already.

(wasn't gonna include this video cause it was for the challenge, 

 but you can see Easy in the background being a dork)

Afterwards I gave them both a good grooming and did some stretches with Jess, I need to get some dots so I can see where her bones are and if they match up.  In a few weeks gonna go get them both a massage, maybe after a lesson and so I can find out what I'm doing for the summer.

Silver Sage

I been thinking I might just keep my ponies at home this year and haul down to Silver Sage Arena in Brooks to ride.  I love love love the arena there but it is an hour from home and so i thought I would take a test trip down there and see if it was something I wanted to do.  It was not really a real test since the ponies are out in the pasture still and they will be kept in and blanketed if I am riding, but close enough.  I took a few pics with my phone so not great quality but just to show what it was like.

So last Saturday was the day, I called and there was open riding all day and so perfect!  after lunch I hooked up the trailer and got Jessie and Kali out and before I could get the gate closed Razz got in, ugg.  I did not really wanna take her but I had to catch her now to get her back out....I almost debated on it but it was getting late and riding one more horse would just make it later so out she went, she actually looked sad I put her back...guess its time to start riding her again, lol.

I loaded up and away I went, I brought layers for me and coolers for ponies cause I didn't know what it would be like (hence test trip)  and it was fairly decent here (about -2) but warm in Brooks!  I think +5 and they have no snow!  water was running off my truck and trailer, I wanted to stay and get it all melted, lol.  But I went to look inside and there was no one there on a Saturday afternoon, was really odd.  Looks like there was a meeting upstairs but they were just leaving and so was there all by myself, weird being in such a big public place by myself.  So I turned on the lights and went and saddled the ponies and brought them in.  Am gonna try riding Kali in my ranch saddle so I don't have to switch cinches between rides (not the same at all, Jess wears a 36 and Kali a 30 but could use 28, lol)  It seems to fit her well and so that made me happy.

I had to tie Kali in the arena area cause she is such a spaz about being left alone that is would have been horrible with her calling and pawing all the time I rode Jessie.  I planned to ride Jess first cause I knew she would sweat and figured she could cool/dry off while I rode Kals.  So many spooky things in that arena, lol.  Probly wouldn't have been if we were not by ourselves, but there is bleachers and an upstairs, don't know if ponies ever seen someone come down stairs like that before, and there were balloons in there and one guy walked into them so bouncing all over, they sure gave a funny look to that, lol. Jess was really good, we did pretty much everything and all was good and she had a good workout then I kinda wimped out and thought maybe pony Kali before riding her, and she was good of course and we even trotted and she is way faster than Jessie.  I never did ride her, if there were others there I woulda but I know how she is and its been a while since i rode it woulda just ended up a fight and I didn't wanna do that and then not ride for a couple weeks, so she got an easy day.

I untacked them and put a cooler on Jess and went back inside to pay and go the bathroom.  wow is it ever hot in the bathroom, it was warm enough in the arena I rode in a t-shirt but way more in the bathrooms.  Then headed home and it was almost dark when I got there and starting to get cold, but the ponies were dry so I fed them some oats and turned them out.  Sure would be nicer if they were in, but soon they will be :)  All in all about 3 1/2 hours, so I figure if I leave at 10 should be home and organized by 2 that is more likely to happen but it wasn't too bad, but will probly only go a couple times a week and then maybe a lesson once a week if the weather is nice.  Less riding but I think it will work for now.