After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time! most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the
Long slow miles.....spring conditioning is always the same for me. Because I ride in one of my fields, which takes time to dry out each spring, the best way to condition the girls is to ride the trails! Thankfully I live at the beginning of a discontinued town road, so I can ride just over 1.5 miles to the end of it (which is in the next town over! LOL) and back. It is the perfect way to build up a horse each spring. The footing was pretty good the last two days, with most of the road now dirt. There were some areas of snow/slush, but nothing serious. There are a few gradual hills as well, which is nice.
So far I am having a great long weekend! :) Friday was a "furlough day" in my district, which basically means we got the day off from teaching without pay. :( It stinks, as I rather work and get paid, but a furlough day is a cost saving measure for the district. I rather take one day without pay than lose my job, of course. So far, it seems I will be employed for another year, despite the $1.2 million state funding cuts we are facing in my district. :( But you never know.....thankfully I am well educated and a hard worker, so I know I will be OK if I need to find a new job someday....or even a new career. But then again, if I lost my job, I could be a stay-at-home-mom again! LOL!!! We did it for four years....so I know we could do it.
But anyway, I got an unexpected day off to play with the horses. My mother had planned to take my son for the weekend, which was an even nicer surprise. :) He loves visiting his Grammie!
Dreamy was good on the trail both days, if a little looky at the beginning. It was windy and everything was going to eat her! OMG a leaf is blowing by me! LOL! We walked for 95% of the ride, with a brief trot at the halfway point where the footing is flat and perfect. She settled in just fine and seemed happy to be out and about on a loose rein. :) Today I went out to check the field when we returned to the farm, and to my surprise about half of it was dry. Almost all of the snow is gone as well. (That won't last with the rain we are supposed to get tonight/tomorrow, but oh well...) I just wanted to ask for the canter, and I am so happy I did! She was perfect both directions, no pacing, no rushing, no attitude, despite the fact that it is early in the year. She stayed connected to the bit even on the right lead! WOW! I am pleased and hope that she just continues to improve as she gets into shape. Also, I am hoping to start lessons in April, as long as my instructor's ring is ready and Dreamy is in shape! :)
Reva was good too, despite the wind. She was a little looky at first too, but completely settled in within the first circuit of the field. I was pretty impressed, seeing as she will be four this month! She has the demeanor of a horse more than twice her age. :) The first time I asked her to trot, she went a few strides smoothly and then I felt her gather herself to canter......LOL! Now that she has cantered under saddle, that is all she wants to do! I just sat back and half halted (which she is beginning to understand at times...) and pushed her forward into the trot. No more cantering for now anyway. Plus, she seems to be smart and I don't want her to think every time we go forward into a faster gait it is the canter. :P
I am still amazed at how easily she carries herself and relaxes into the contact. Crazy!!! She has the funniest frothy lipstick after each ride, which I try hard not to get all over myself when I dismount. No matter what I try, there is always a huge slime on my coat. LOL! Today it was not huge per se, but there were three spots. SIGH
I tried to take a few new pics of Reva, but it was hard. The wind was blowing and I could not get a good angle for the life of me. My horse pics always look like they have huge heads and underdeveloped bodies. LOL! Though her ears ARE pretty floppy.....LOL! :D
So far I am having a great long weekend! :) Friday was a "furlough day" in my district, which basically means we got the day off from teaching without pay. :( It stinks, as I rather work and get paid, but a furlough day is a cost saving measure for the district. I rather take one day without pay than lose my job, of course. So far, it seems I will be employed for another year, despite the $1.2 million state funding cuts we are facing in my district. :( But you never know.....thankfully I am well educated and a hard worker, so I know I will be OK if I need to find a new job someday....or even a new career. But then again, if I lost my job, I could be a stay-at-home-mom again! LOL!!! We did it for four years....so I know we could do it.
But anyway, I got an unexpected day off to play with the horses. My mother had planned to take my son for the weekend, which was an even nicer surprise. :) He loves visiting his Grammie!
Dreamy was good on the trail both days, if a little looky at the beginning. It was windy and everything was going to eat her! OMG a leaf is blowing by me! LOL! We walked for 95% of the ride, with a brief trot at the halfway point where the footing is flat and perfect. She settled in just fine and seemed happy to be out and about on a loose rein. :) Today I went out to check the field when we returned to the farm, and to my surprise about half of it was dry. Almost all of the snow is gone as well. (That won't last with the rain we are supposed to get tonight/tomorrow, but oh well...) I just wanted to ask for the canter, and I am so happy I did! She was perfect both directions, no pacing, no rushing, no attitude, despite the fact that it is early in the year. She stayed connected to the bit even on the right lead! WOW! I am pleased and hope that she just continues to improve as she gets into shape. Also, I am hoping to start lessons in April, as long as my instructor's ring is ready and Dreamy is in shape! :)
Reva was good too, despite the wind. She was a little looky at first too, but completely settled in within the first circuit of the field. I was pretty impressed, seeing as she will be four this month! She has the demeanor of a horse more than twice her age. :) The first time I asked her to trot, she went a few strides smoothly and then I felt her gather herself to canter......LOL! Now that she has cantered under saddle, that is all she wants to do! I just sat back and half halted (which she is beginning to understand at times...) and pushed her forward into the trot. No more cantering for now anyway. Plus, she seems to be smart and I don't want her to think every time we go forward into a faster gait it is the canter. :P
I am still amazed at how easily she carries herself and relaxes into the contact. Crazy!!! She has the funniest frothy lipstick after each ride, which I try hard not to get all over myself when I dismount. No matter what I try, there is always a huge slime on my coat. LOL! Today it was not huge per se, but there were three spots. SIGH
I tried to take a few new pics of Reva, but it was hard. The wind was blowing and I could not get a good angle for the life of me. My horse pics always look like they have huge heads and underdeveloped bodies. LOL! Though her ears ARE pretty floppy.....LOL! :D
Of course, as an endurance rider, I'm ALWAYS ready to encourage folks to take their dressage mounts out for a bit of plinking on trails...good for you!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great weekend! Yay for Reva getting the canter so easily! When Johnny first learned it, all he wanted to do was canter too...it's like Standies suddenly think "What is this amazing thing I've been missing all my life?!?" LOL
ReplyDeleteI've been working in my riding around weather too. It's a pain. Glad you have a safe road close, that really helps.
ReplyDelete