trot

Rotten

Moisture, I’ve concluded, is a mixed bag. Sure, water brings life – but is it always desirable life? In Arizona, our horses can’t get all their food from grass grown in their very own pastures, but they also aren’t constantly battling parasites. Here in the midwest, everything is wet and rich and the environment is… Read more »

Bareback

I have been having some trouble with Steen’s saddle – mainly as his shape changed with his new lifestyle of working out a lot and unlimited access to fresh grass, it stopped fitting him correctly. I have been reading and researching and think I’ve found a way to fix the problem, which required the purchase… Read more »

A Lag, and Mud

Early this week I let Steen go two days in a row without seeing me – something I had not yet done since I bought him. I could have gone on Monday, but I just didn’t feel like getting in the car and driving out there after work. I figure the whole point of having… Read more »

Changes, Small and Large

Yesterday I fetched Steen from the new pasture. He seemed very happy and relaxed when I walked up, not grazing, just standing there in knee-high grass. He didn’t make any fuss about following me in. I have figured out in the last week or so that part of his occasional balkiness had to do with… Read more »

Three

Today Brian came with to the stable to hang out with Steen some more. He practiced leading Steen around the arena at both the walk and trot. They both did quite well, and it was very fun to get to stand back and watch Steen move. He’s just so pretty. Well, let’s be honest, they… Read more »

A Lope

The weather forecast predicted rain in the afternoon, so I headed for the stable this morning. Naturally, it started raining when I was about a quarter of a mile away. Luckily, this doesn’t matter since I can do everything I need to do inside, including riding, though I really hope to start using the outdoor… Read more »

Leaps and Bounds

Fortunately, only figurative ones. Yesterday was another good ride. I went out in the morning before work and Steen was still mostly clean in the spots I’d manged to get mud-free yesterday, so grooming wasn’t too much of a challenge. I tacked him up but left the bridle off this time and attached my 12… Read more »

Trots

Today when I arrived at the barn there was someone else riding in the arena. Of course, other people who board there have every right to ride in the arena, but this meant I couldn’t tack Steen up in the corner like I’ve been doing. So, instead I took him to the area near the… Read more »