Good horsie days
Well I've had some fun since I've come home. Mostly life is slow and boring, which is actually kind of relaxing. It's nice to be able to go to the barn and spend as much time as I want with my horse -- take my time grooming and tacking etc. and just do whatever I want when I ride. It's kind of funny actually, the first few times I rode him when I came home, I found myself speed grooming and tacking... I was like "Why am I rushing??" haha, I'm just conditioned to get it done and get it done FAST.
It's nice having such a wider range of skills under my belt now. I can't believe how much both of us have grown up over the last year. My 12 year old no longer acts like the 4 yr old that he used to think he was! And thank god I don't ride with the patience of an 11 yr old anymore!
I have soooo many more tools now, it's great.
I can't wait to start jumping him again... I'm really excited to see how he goes with his hoof issues (hopefully KNOCK ON WOOD!!!) squared away and about #150 lbs more weight and muscle than he had in KY. The training was there, but I just feel like his body couldn't keep up out there. For those who don't know, which is probably everyone since I suck at updating, he was having MAJOR weight issues. And toward the end was coming on and off lame because of poor shoeing... but that's a different can o' worms.
Anywhoo... I took him for a "trail ride" yesterday, and I just have to say, my little OTTB makes a pretty bad ass trail horse. He is damn brave! I know lots of horses hack out by themselves, but in my mind it's still a pretty cool thing when your horse trusts you enough to be taken miles away from home by themselves and still keep their cool. He went over a 4' wide earth bridge with water gushing through huge irrigation pipes underneath, braved the squawking herons by the creek, went through a brush path higher than my head, went down a winding, sketchy ass path that lead under the rail road bridge, and trotted home like a gentleman. I always said that I wouldn't be one of those people that went on lone trail rides... well, call me a hypocrite. It's a wonderful feeling when it's just you and your horse alone (not that yesterday was the first time I have hacked out alone). I know it's not ideal or particularly safe, but it's hard to find a buddy to go with you sometimes, and I always take my phone, let someone know I'm headed out, and OF COURSE wear a helmet.
On that thought, I'm SHOCKED by how many people at the barn don't wear one! What the hell? It's not like helmets are looked down upon by HJ riders... are they? These are the majority of the riders I see not wearing them, but ALL disciplines are at fault. Especially Pros. WHY, if you spend more time on a horses back than anyone else, would you not wear one? Yes, I know they are hot, I spent MANY a day wearing my helmet for 5+ rides a day in 90* and up weather. It was a skull cap too... NO ventilation. But the worst that happened to me was some helmet hair. Megan ALWAYS wore her helmet. Reese, her GP dressage coach, ALWAYS wore her helmet! Why can't everyone else? I mean, it's not my business what other people do, but I just don't see the downside.
Anyways, today I just did some flat work in the indoor (OMG is it nice to have one of those again!) because it was raining. He was a superstar. He's been going so well lately! Especially considering I haven't had a lesson in a while.
And now that my post has turned in to a huge ramble... I'm running out of stuff to blog about. I should update more often so I'm coherent!
I want to get my hair cut!
I'm PSYCHED beyond words to go to Germany next week!!!
Oh and I almost forgot! I'm really proud of Megan for doing AWESOME at fair hill this weekend despite the weather. I SO wish I had been there... it almost hurt. And Congrats to Chelsea for completing her first CCI*... I wish more than anything that I could have been riding right there next to her. URG I should have been!
It's nice having such a wider range of skills under my belt now. I can't believe how much both of us have grown up over the last year. My 12 year old no longer acts like the 4 yr old that he used to think he was! And thank god I don't ride with the patience of an 11 yr old anymore!
I have soooo many more tools now, it's great.
I can't wait to start jumping him again... I'm really excited to see how he goes with his hoof issues (hopefully KNOCK ON WOOD!!!) squared away and about #150 lbs more weight and muscle than he had in KY. The training was there, but I just feel like his body couldn't keep up out there. For those who don't know, which is probably everyone since I suck at updating, he was having MAJOR weight issues. And toward the end was coming on and off lame because of poor shoeing... but that's a different can o' worms.
Anywhoo... I took him for a "trail ride" yesterday, and I just have to say, my little OTTB makes a pretty bad ass trail horse. He is damn brave! I know lots of horses hack out by themselves, but in my mind it's still a pretty cool thing when your horse trusts you enough to be taken miles away from home by themselves and still keep their cool. He went over a 4' wide earth bridge with water gushing through huge irrigation pipes underneath, braved the squawking herons by the creek, went through a brush path higher than my head, went down a winding, sketchy ass path that lead under the rail road bridge, and trotted home like a gentleman. I always said that I wouldn't be one of those people that went on lone trail rides... well, call me a hypocrite. It's a wonderful feeling when it's just you and your horse alone (not that yesterday was the first time I have hacked out alone). I know it's not ideal or particularly safe, but it's hard to find a buddy to go with you sometimes, and I always take my phone, let someone know I'm headed out, and OF COURSE wear a helmet.
On that thought, I'm SHOCKED by how many people at the barn don't wear one! What the hell? It's not like helmets are looked down upon by HJ riders... are they? These are the majority of the riders I see not wearing them, but ALL disciplines are at fault. Especially Pros. WHY, if you spend more time on a horses back than anyone else, would you not wear one? Yes, I know they are hot, I spent MANY a day wearing my helmet for 5+ rides a day in 90* and up weather. It was a skull cap too... NO ventilation. But the worst that happened to me was some helmet hair. Megan ALWAYS wore her helmet. Reese, her GP dressage coach, ALWAYS wore her helmet! Why can't everyone else? I mean, it's not my business what other people do, but I just don't see the downside.
Anyways, today I just did some flat work in the indoor (OMG is it nice to have one of those again!) because it was raining. He was a superstar. He's been going so well lately! Especially considering I haven't had a lesson in a while.
And now that my post has turned in to a huge ramble... I'm running out of stuff to blog about. I should update more often so I'm coherent!
I want to get my hair cut!
I'm PSYCHED beyond words to go to Germany next week!!!
Oh and I almost forgot! I'm really proud of Megan for doing AWESOME at fair hill this weekend despite the weather. I SO wish I had been there... it almost hurt. And Congrats to Chelsea for completing her first CCI*... I wish more than anything that I could have been riding right there next to her. URG I should have been!