On Sunday the guys got their feet trimmed, and then we took them out for an easy ride in the fields. Lately we’ve been doing some longer trail rides on Sundays, but for some reason neither Robin nor I felt like going out and about, so we stayed closer to home. It was a fun,… Read more »
second strip
Thinking in Circles
After our excellent ride in the indoor arena, today we had another beautiful day that just begged us to head out and about. We decided to start with some work on the strip and then do some meandering over on the second strip and the three hills. Somehow yesterday Brian and I started discussing circles,… Read more »
Doubling
I’ve continued to read through Martin Black’s book, and I spent quite a bit of time reading about doubling. I’ve encountered it before in his work and by others, but I never fully took the time to understand how it works. I’m certain I haven’t got it all down just yet, but today I put… Read more »
Two More Great Rides
On Tuesday we rode on the strip and on Wednesday we did a little turn around the second strip and the three hills. Both rides were fantastic. The weather has been phenomenal, and Steen has been relaxed and willing. On Tuesday I worked more on switching between the lope and the walk. After a few one-rein… Read more »
Frustrations in the Saddle
Bear and I are still working through our little trot issue. Both Tuesday and Wednesday we spent considerable time working in the gait, and while we made some progress each day, it wasn’t much. But I should be happy with where things are at. I was telling Robin how I don’t remember such issues last… Read more »
You Can Do a Lot at the Walk
I read this from Ray Hunt, somewhere. And it is what I had running through my head during today’s ride. I’ve had great momentum and excitement to get out to the barn lately, but I don’t want my exuberance to overcome what my soon to be 17 year old horse can handle. The next few… Read more »
Venturing Forth
We had some rain last night and this morning, so footing on the strip was going to be mushy. Also, our boys have had a couple hard rides recently and they aren’t in super good shape. We don’t want to over-do it. But it’s spring break and the weather is fantastic, so while Brian and… Read more »
Some Interesting Rides
It’s been quite a week at the barn. Saturday Our friend Jean came out to take some photos of us and the horses. She got some nice shots of us hanging around on the second strip. And our first ever “family photo.” Sunday The horses were in their winter lot with bales to munch on,… Read more »
Two Lovely Long Rides
We had a good barn weekend. On Saturday Brian and I went again to the second strip, and spent a lot of time trotting back and forth along the length. Steen was very good. He still wasn’t a fan of standing when I offered him the chance to rest, but he would stop, usually flex… Read more »
One Year Anniversary
Yesterday Bear and I celebrated our one year anniversary. Like most things measured in years, it went by both fast and slow. We also had our ups and our downs (figuratively and literally). But it has been really fun getting to know him better and better. When I brought him home a year ago he… Read more »