home again home again

That's one reason I never had mares, though geldings can be handful too. She wasn't silly she was being uh, umm, well okay silly.

Had a great ride on Lu this morning. We went around the neighborhood. Didn't quite do the whole square because Bingo was out at home. I wanted to get back to be sure he was ok. (He was lying in a sun puddle, and we would have been fine to go the whole way.)

Then, it was Ruby training time. She's really well broke, but she doesn't have much in the way of formal training. So, we are working on basic things like serpentines, spiral in/out, shoulder in, leg yield. She really likes to learn. I can see her thinking and trying to figure out what I want. I'm thinking of taking some lessons with her. She's going to be so much fun!

Isn't that how it always is? Worse than toddlers, if you can't see or hear them you know they are up to something.

She is the former lesson horse isn't she? Bomb proof but not a lot of education. Still it sounds like so much fun.

She's not a former lesson horse. That's Lu. Ruby belonged to a lady who needed a slower horse. Ruby has a motor. She was ridden by venters, so he's all go go go. But, she has great manners and a willingness to learn.

Okay, I got them mixed up. Still they sound like dream ponies.

Sure sounds like you're going to have a very fun summer Becky! Your new herd additions are working out wonderfully!

I'm really amazed that they all get along so well. I just hope I can keep enough time to spend with all of them. They're all in their stalls tonight because of the icky weather.

I can't wait until we figure out the barn rebuild financing. Waiting for the insurance company to get back after I sent them pictures of disconnected rafters, nails and bolts that are no longer connected to anything, and roof straps that are only holding beams by an inch rather than the 4 they're supposed to hold. I wouldn't get on that roof!

YIKES!! Neither would I.

Had a terrific ride with Ruby around the neighborhood block - about 5 miles. We saw a snake (YIKES, then walk on), weird cows with a white stripe around their middles (WTF then walk on), barking dogs and lawn mowers (I"M GONNA DIE and then walk on), and a loud mouth gelding (I"M A LOUD MOUTH TOO and then walk on). It was thoroughly enjoyable. Good girl!

She sounds such a treat. What a wonderful attitude.

Lu and I are going trail riding with friends today. They have a couple of new horses, so I thought it would be good to take Lu since he's a veteran. It's chillier than yesterday, so our plans to take the horses to the reservoir have changed. We'll ride around it, but not ask them to dip their hooves.

Have a great ride.

It didn't happen. The wind started to howl, and the cool temps felt downright cold. I didn't want to haul in the wind, and my friends didn't want to ride. We will try again soon. It looks like spring will definitely be here later this week.

That's too bad.

Today's weather was a LOT better. Lu and I had a nice ride in the pasture. I'm sadly out of shape, and tried trotting for a while. Huff! Puff! Lu laughed at me.

He's getting better about taking the bit. I have to put it in unconventionally, but if he isn't fighting, I'm happy. I really wonder why he's that way. He's PERFECT under saddle, but a real pain about taking the bridle.

That's sad that your horse laughed at you. That is strange but since he's so great under saddle a little quirk is okay.

The bugs are out. Last week was cold, this week is summery. The horses got showers and came in for the late afternoon. Ruby and Lu do fine with the stall guards, so no worries about them running away. My friend's mare busted the eye hooks out of the post with her escapes, so Ruby's stall guard is up a little differently, but it's fine. This weekend, we'll put up the fans. Not sure when the new barn will start. Should make summer interesting.

Busting the eye hooks is a talent.

Lu went around the neighborhood square yesterday. The weather was turning, so the wind was really blowing when we got out to the open water. He was his usual solid self. NOTHING scared him except my husband popping out from around the corner of the house. Poor Lu shied and looked embarrassed.

Best part of the day was that he took the bit almost right away. He got extra treats for that!

What an all around good boy he is.

Went on a short ride with Ruby. It was just a quiet walk down the road for a couple miles. We turned around when the mosquitoes decided to come and tickle her ears. They aren't bad yet, but in certain spots near the swampy area, they can get thick. Funny thing was that some weird animals in the woods spooked her at the corner. She didn't do much except shy, but I had to put a leg on to keep her out of the small drainage ditch. She's a good girl and listens well.

I hate those small buggers. Wonder what got her aired up?

Our mosquitoes and no-see-ums are coming out. We had rain a couple days ago, and that wakes them right up. They'll go away later though. It's going to be dry, and the humidity isn't brutal yet.

No clues what was in the woods. Something making a lot of weird noises. Probably a fawn. They are clumsy sometimes and rattle around in the leaves. No issues though. She just shies, asks if she can run, and settles right away when I say no. She trusts me to keep her safe. It's such a cool thing. Been a long time since I had a horse like that. Envoy is a complete love, but he isn't trusting. Sabi was the last horse I had like that.

Envoy the brave! We were doing a pasture ride, and the "pet" geese were sleeping in the shade there. I was sure they'd wake up and act silly. We stopped, and I talked loudly to the geese. They woke up, stretched, and went back to sleep. Envoy looked at them and just walked on by. We had a wonderful ride until the sun got too hot. We strolled by the geese who had started to eat grass and wander around. No fuss, no muss. It's pretty weird to have pet geese. It's really great to have a brave horse.

It is. give them all some extra carrots with the tops on them for me.