Since I am on furlough this week, I have been spending my days out at the barn. The weather has been mostly cooperative - although yesterday was soggy and today it's looking even more wet and miserable. Oh Indiana - you kill me!
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| Baxter and I. |
Hampton has been doing well. When I lunged him Wednesday (I do still lunge him once or twice a week to help him warm up), his right hind looked weak again. It had been looking so good lately. I'm not sure what happened. The mud in the pasture is super sucky - and I do mean literally sucky - so perhaps he tweaked himself or it has just put a strain on that leg. He's not lame, it's just an obvious weakness. I made yesterday's ride pretty easy on him. Big circles, some leg yield. We even did some leg yielding at the canter. That went pretty well - after he figured out how to organize his legs. The first time I asked he tripped and almost face planted. While the footing isn't slick, it was sloppy and a little deep in areas so I'm blaming that, too.
Since it's extra crappy today he'll get the day off. And so will Baxter and Zippy.
I really need to STOP riding with my cell phone in my sweat shirt pocket! It has fallen out 5 or 6 times now - from Hampton's 17.1-hand back, into the wet sloppy sand. And it keeps ticking! Guess I have to give it credit. But really, I need to remember to either have it in a zipper pocket or leave it in my car.
Baxter just keeps getting more fun each time I ride him. If I ever get enough money to take 2 horses to a show later this year, he will go along and be my First Level poneh.
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| My saddleseat days |
On Saturday, a friend and I are traveling to Illinois to visit out old trainers (we used to ride Morgans together "back in the day."). They train mostly Saddlebreds now and do have a few Morgans left. I'm amped to visit with them and see on the Skadaddlebreds work. It's such a different world to me now, even though I grew up in it. I do still appreciate the beauty of the horses and they ARE fun to ride ... it's just more about running damage control when you ride them, rather than the focused, goal-oriented skills in dressage.
In non horse-related news, I also have two job prospects on the table right now. One in Colorado and one in South Carolina. They both sound pretty good. :) Both would be a big move for me, but I'm ready for it.
Yeah for job opportunities!! Both Colorado and South Carolina are great states to live in! :)
ReplyDelete".. it's just more about running damage control when you ride them, rather than the focused, goal-oriented skills in dressage."
ReplyDeleteI love it!!
Thanks for posting the old pic, I love seeing them :)
Have fun visiting the old trainers, maybe you'll get a chance to hop on one of those Saddlebreds.
I'd like to try SS on a saddlebred some day just to see what it's all about. Speed racking on Ozzy is so much fun that I see why people get into it.
ReplyDeleteAlso- I ride with my cell phone (and camera) in my half chaps/tall boots and it works really well :) Just a thought.
Good idea Dom - I'll try to get into the habit of putting my phone in my boot. Since I don't really like to ride without it, especially alone.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, our cousin underneath, South Cackalacky! It's even hotter than we are in the summer, but it's cheap. Get used to mega-redneck-land if you go there. I love NC and if you get anywhere close to Aiken in SC, you'll be in horsey land!
ReplyDeleteLee Ann is in Aiken right now at some big event. But Boooo to you leaving...lol. Ok I am sure it is a great opportunity for you and I wish you luck. I do understand the feeling of needing to get out of IN too. good luck!
ReplyDelete