Jan. 23, 2012

So winter has arrived... we got a decent amount of rain this weekend and luckily I think I have finally found a horse who doesn't like to roll and be covered in mud!!! Woooo hoooo! He likes to roll BUT he deson't do it in my med which I appriciate. It's so nice to unblanket my horse and have him be all smooth and clean under.

So I didn't ride Saturday cause Sean had to work and Sunday he got turned out but the day ended up being consumed by chores and Sean helping a friend with him car. So Monday was a must ride day. It was SUPER cold at the barn and I felt bad taking off Henry's blanket but had to if we were going to get to work. There was so much going on at the barn- a horse trying to climb out of the stall, another kicking continuously at the wall freaking out, crazy horses being lunged in the arena, a horse getting lose and running a muck around the property, lots of people chatting it up and really loud noises. So needless to say Henry was a little on edge going into our ride.

I taked him up and went out to lunge- another person was riding and someone else came in to lunge a few min after I started and the rider didn't want two people lunging (understandable) so I let the other person go first since I wasn't in a hurry and she was a bit mad about not being able to lunge at the same time. Needless to say I am glad that I let her go becuase she ran her horse like a bat out of hell and I would not have wanted to be riding when she was lunging... chasing her horse like that scares me and it's to small of a cirlce for the horse to go that fast AND it's not good for the horse.

Anywho despite her saying she would be quick- 10 to 15 min later it was my turn and the other rider was now done riding haha! So I lunged and he was a little high so I just let him canter and get it out then on I got and to work we went. He was good and it was cold so I trotted about two or three times around each way and then cantered. I was working on his fram and holding him together but not letting him rest on my hands- it's his job to hold himself and not mine haha! After the cantering both ways I did a lot of work with him bending, really worked on staying in his frame w/o the draw reins and I felt like he was really working for me and listening to me next request. It felt SO good!

He was SUPER steamy and sweaty when we were done so I walked him a bunch and then got off, untakced, groomed and put his cooler on and then walked some more to help him dry before he was tucked in for the night.

I hope that tonight (Tuesday) is another good ride and that he is ready to show our trianer the strides we are making :)