He’s still got the leopard print fly-mask. At least he really likes it when I put it on him.
It is only September 3rd, but it is already feeling like fall is here. Today was windy, cloudy, and quite cool. This is fine by me, as fall is probably my favorite season. And it is the season where I first got really interested in riding, so I’m very excited for this fall.
Today Bear walked out of the pasture with me, and he didn’t stop once. He was never bad about it, but he often dawdled. I think this is a good sign that he’s getting used to me being his guy.
Inside he was falling asleep for the grooming and tacking again. With the cooler weather I thought he might have a bit more energy, but not today.
My initial plan was to have an easy ride inside. The wind can be annoying, and my foot has been bothering me, so I didn’t want to ride too hard. But there was a lesson going on. So Bear and I walked outside and checked out the strip.
The strip is a quarter mile long stretch of grass with a few hills in it. It also follows the fenceline of the pasture. Last time I tried to ride Bear outside alone he wasn’t happy about it, so I thought being near his buddies might make it OK.
It did. He mostly followed the fenceline like a pro. Oddly enough, he was worse about walking back in the direction of the barn. And we were almost always still near the herd when he would have his little attempt at changing our direction. Thankfully they were pretty half-hearted, so I got to work on directing him and acting before he thought about turning.
It was great practice. Bear was certainly bored, but I got to pick where we went, and it wasn’t taxing for either of us.
After the ride I groomed him again and tried to give him my apple core. He was not into that at all. So I have a semi-tubby horse that likes neither carrots nor apples. This surprises me a bit.
Ha ha. Yeah, I don't think the apples and carrots are all that fattening either. I was just surprised that a slightly tubby horse who is also really friendly and used to people just never developed a taste for them.
Perhaps he will in time. But I don't think I'll work too hard at it. For the time being I can make him happy in other ways. And besides, I don't want a treat monster on my hands.
I don't actually think carrots and apples are all that fattening. But, if you want Bear to eat them, you can try cutting up the apple/carrot and giving him a small piece (small enough that it's not immediately obvious) with a handful of grain. Or coat the apple/carrot piece in molasses, if he likes that. My horses didn't eat carrots when I first got them, they didn't know what the were. But now they're carrot addicts. Sometimes I think horses are like little kids when it comes to new foods. They don't want to try anything new, but if you… Read more »