So far so good on my swings project. I’ve done 100 swings a day for 8 days now. I’ve already moved through some seriously sore muscles more than once. I’ve been using both the 26lb bell and the 35lb bell, switching back and forth depending on how energetic I’m feeling at the beginning of any… Read more »
Horse Thoughts
A Duke Day Ride
Every six weeks or so our farrier, Duke, comes to the barn to give the guys a trim. And every six weeks or so we talk about riding since we have to be there anyways, but we’ve never done it. There is just always a lot of commotion or we get sucked into conversations or… Read more »
A Ride and a Trim
Today was Duke Day, and though we often end up not riding on days the farrier comes, the weather was so beautiful we didn’t want to miss the opportunity. Also, Brian thought Bear might have an easier time with his feet if he was nice and limber after a light ride, so we headed out… Read more »
Sweaty Backs
That was the goal for this morning’s ride. Well, more the goal for Robin and Steen, Bear and I were fine getting whatever sweat pattern we happened to get. But Robin wanted to push Steen a bit and see how the new saddle really fit him. The trick was the morning was really cool, and… Read more »
Two Fast Rides
I’ve spent my last two rides in the new saddle. On Friday, we rode on the strip. Steen started out very relaxed and we had some good trots. The ground was nice and dry and he was feeling balanced and attentive, so before long I transitioned up to the lope. He was mostly good at… Read more »
Standing Around
I guess it was a long week for me, because I was tired again this afternoon. But it was a beautiful day, and I couldn’t not go to the barn. Bear was in good spirits and just generally happy to be hanging out with me. We actually did a lot of standing while we watched… Read more »
Another Try
Today Brian and I headed to the barn armed with yet another saddle: This is a Cashel trail saddle. It’s build on an axis tree that has a reputation for leaving a horse free at the shoulders and fitting a pretty wide variety of backs. Plus it’s just a pretty saddle. 🙂 It was a… Read more »
Just Walking Around
It was a cool afternoon, and while Robin was really excited to try her new saddle, I was a little tired. So after we saddled up and went to the strip, I just kind of walked Bear around. We started by going up and down most of the strip. He didn’t like this in the… Read more »
100 for 30
I declared a while ago that I was going to expand this blog to encompass overall fitness as well as horseback riding — and I’ve not mentioned working out since. This isn’t because I haven’t been doing anything. It’s because I haven’t been doing anything in a very focused manner. The result is I’ve lost… Read more »
Bear Thinks He’s a Four Year Old
Today we went out to the barn in the afternoon. My plan was to start loping Bear early (particularly if it seemed like he felt good) and the lope and lope and lope. And then maybe lope some more. We started with some really light groundwork, then did a little warming up under saddle with… Read more »