Monthly Totals

March 2015

Morgan - 406 minutes - 6.75 hours - 21 miles
Reagan - 189 min - 3 hours - 9 miles
Bill & Majesty - 221 minutes - 3.75 hours - 11.5 miles
Wasabi - 83 min - 1.5 hours - 4 miles

Wasabi Saddle Time:
2014:     12.25 hours
2015:  
Jan: 0
Feb: 0
Mar: 1.5 hours

Quick, before the sun sets

10 minute ride
Morgan
? miles

Bill was busy talking to a gentleman about laying our new floor, the animals were lazying about in the sun, and then Morgan called out to me ... I caught her drift ... we had a few minutes before dinner time and Bill wouldn't notice our escape if we hurried ...

And those are just the cutest ears to watch the shadows lengthen through.  So we snuck in a quick ride.  I don't know how long we were gone, I didn't care how many miles we rode, I was just happy to be with my Morgie girl right there, in that moment of bliss.

Bittersweet Day

10 minute ride
Reagan
30 minute ride - Bill & Majesty

I had listed an ad for Reagan and received a phone call from a wonderful lady earlier in the week.  She wanted to come take a look at her and a horse our farrier was selling on Sunday.  So, we loaded Reagan and Majesty up and hauled them to the local arena. 

We chatted while I saddled her up, explained that she was in heat, so this was going to be her at her very worst ... Reagan snorted indignantly to show me what she thought of that statement.  She took a step away from the mounting block while I slid into the saddle, but that was the worst of it.  

I walked and trotted her around the arena then hopped out of the saddle.  As soon as the lady got comfortable in the saddle a smile slid across her face.  She looked at Reagan the way I did, which made my heart warm.  She rode for a bit, then asked her friend to ride her as well.  Reagan carried the lady's friend around the arena and listened quietly for cues and basically was perfect.

The lady bought Reagan.  So, we will bid happy trails to Reagan the third week in April.

Meanwhile, Bill and Majesty took a stroll around the area, through the local sand dunes, and was a gentleman to the lady's grandson.  They ambled about for 30 minutes, then we loaded them up and took them home.  Morgan had to check each of them when they were put in the turn out.  She makes me laugh sometimes.

Majesty Tackles the Gate

24 minute ride
Morgan, Bill & Majesty
1.08 miles

I heard a sound behind me and just knew it was Morgan so I snapped a quick picture.  I'm pretty sure she was trying to send me "grab snacks" thoughts with that intense gaze

Once we got back to the house, Bill went to shut the gate.  Majesty wasn't sure about that thing swinging near his face, but he sure tried hard.  Morg and I shut the gate and Bill said "You made that look easy."  Made my day!

Day of the Goat

68 minute ride
Morgan, Bill & Majesty
3.66 miles

Here we are getting for a ride ... and what's that at the far right hand corner of the picture?  The goat.  She was eating the trailer, of course.  Other people's goats don't snack on metal, do they?

Here is the ONLY picture from the day that didn't have a goat in it.  It's not that she didn't try ... Bill and I had to chase her back in to the yard three times before we could actually go for a ride.

Goat, goat, everywhere a goat.

Majesty and the horse flesh eating gate

28 minute ride
Morgan, Bill & Majesty
1.83 miles

Bill sent me a text saying if I hurried, there was enough light to catch a ride, but I was already on the way home!  We saddled up our besties and headed out

It's been quite some time since I've seen these two together

February 1st was our last ride with this pair ... 6 weeks seems like forever!

When we got home, Bill went to shut the gate and Majesty decided it was definitely a horse eater.  So Bill took the opportunity to teach him the gate was not a scary object.  Morgan snacked while she watched, of course.

Bill & Wasabi's First Solo

28 minutes
Bill & Wasabi (without me!)
1.36 miles

No pictures from today because I was at work while they were out wandering the dunes ... for their first ever solo!  He said she was just OK.  She'd do fine until the chorus of calls from home started up, then she'd get nervous.  So proud of the two of and for the two of them!

I am always fascinated by the color changes she goes through during the seasons so I snapped this shot of her hip last week ... she'll be steel grey around mid-April. Amazing.

Last Morning Walk

32 minute walk/ride
Morgan solo
1.92 miles

With the time change, I am going to start working the girls in the evening rather than the mornings now.  So this was Morgan's last morning walk for a while

Not your most flattering pose Morgie girl

This is all you seem to be interested in doing lately. Sigh.

I'll be glad when her mind returns to normal. This breeding season stuff sucks ... she's aloof, runs off when I try to catch her, could care less when I'm around (also a by-product of having Reagan as her bestie), but she does listen (for the most part) when under saddle, even if she is high headed and snorty until we get back.

Helicopter Ears

19 minute ride
Reagan
0.81 miles

Those ears of hers never stop moving for an instant ... I've taken to calling her helicopter ears.

Just a quick jaunt around the desert close to the house at a walk.  Once I get in the saddle, I don't say a word until we get home.  I talk to Morgan constantly, but with Reagan, not a sound unless I'm making a correction.  The quiet seems to work out well for us both. 

First Bath of the Year

45 minute ride
Rode Morgan & ponied Reagan for 20
Rode Morgan with Bill & Majesty for 25
3.11 miles

Morgan and I headed out for a quick ride with our buddy Reagan in tow

Reagan wasn't too happy with the arrangement.  She dragged her feet and kept twitching her ears, but kept moving forward.  She and Morg are in heat, but behaved well considering the circumstances ... not too mareish.

When we arrived home, we saw Bill and Majesty heading up one of the dunes by our house.  I put Reagan away and Morgan and I raced off to catch the "boys."  We rode around the open desert for a while then headed home.

Since it was still light and Morgan was smelly, she got a bath.  I let her wander around the yard to snack (and dry) for a while, but as soon as I put her in the turn out she decided she needed a sand bath.  

Lucky she's cute!

Change of plans

24 minute walk
Morgan & Reagan
1.01 miles

Morgan ... I think Reagan wants to go ... she's staring at us rather intently

Everyone ready to go for our walk?

I thought you wanted to go for a walk Reagan ... turns out you just want the snacks at the half way point.  I see how it is.

Night Walking

8 minute walk
Reagan
0.30 miles

Hey Reagan, let's go for a walk!

Now?

Yeah, but a real short one ... say out one driveway and in the other

Ok ... let's do this.

Thanks for accompanying me tonight. I like spending time with you.

Awww, you're welcome.

More Surprises!

55 Minute Ride
Morgan - Bill and Wasabi
2.55 miles

Psst, guess who's joining us for a ride today?

Bill and Wasabi!  Long time, no see, right?  In fact, Wasabi's last ride was December 24, 2014.  This made the 9th ride for Bill & Wasabi

Wasabi was happy to be out, very cooperative and doing great ... for the first 30 minutes.  Then she started to give Bill some guff.  She picked her front hooves off the ground three times (less than a foot off the ground; she was testing not committing) and he put her in check quickly and quietly.

She was perfectly fine once we headed home and Bill let her stretch her legs as a reward.  Morg and I ambled along behind, content to just be out.  It was really nice to be able to ride with someone again!

2 Glorious Rides

46 Minute Ride
Reagan - Bill and Majesty
2.15 miles

Look who's a pocket pony now!  She's right behind me step for step once she's saddled up.  She certainly likes to go out now

And look who joined us ... Bill and Majesty!  It's the first time we've ridden these two together since November 2012.

We did some light dune work, but nothing too strenuous.  Just enough to have some fun

Goatly antics make Reagan wary ... 

She wouldn't take her eye off that silly goat

It was a nice, calm ride and the two of them seemed to be a match in temperament and pace.  I pushed Reagan into faster speeds to get her to stretch low and long.  After two tries she was reaching out beautifully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

36 Minute Ride
Morgan
2.48 miles

Morgan was none too happy about having to go out solo OR being ridden second.  Look at that face!

We rode out the gate rather than having me walk for the first 20 minutes and she did fine.  A little hesitation, but she moved out nicely when asked.

The sun dipped below the mountain on our way back home, so we picked up the pace a little.  I love spending time with Morgie and today was no exception.

Morgan is not one to miss a snack ... ever

29 Minute Walk/Ride
Morgan
1.81 miles

Hey Morgan, it's your turn for a walk!

Who, Me?

I think I'll just stay here and snack. You go ahead without me, I'll be fine.

Seriously Morg, those are the most adorable ears ever.  I could almost give up riding just to stare at them for a while.  But ... I hear there are carrots for Morgans who go for rides.

CARROTS?!  Mmmm, Let's go!

So, um ... Reagan left me in the desert ... alone

39 Minute Walk/Ride
Reagan
1.89 miles

All was right in my world ... I said "Hey Reagan, ready for our outing?"

And she came right over to me.  I thought: "Today is going to be awesome."

We walked out the front gate and wandered out to the sand dunes.  I said: "Geez, it's been a long time since I've been in the dunes.  I kind of miss them."

 Upon hearing this, Reagan decided to do me a favor and let me have some quiet time in the dunes. Alone.

*sigh*

I had moved her over to a mound of sand so I could step in the saddle for our trip home.  Her butt was too far away, so I hopped off the mound, walked around her, and gave her big bum a push.  She promptly scrambled up the mound and took off at a run.

*sigh*

I followed her tracks and found her in the neighbor's yard.  I checked for injuries, and finding none, I tightened up the cinch and climbed into the saddle.  We retraced our original path at a "trot" (that was the most awful bouncy hot mess of a trot ever ... whatever did they do to you Reagan?!?) then turned around after half a mile and walked home.

Not a horrible way to spend the morning, but it did make me late for work.  And what excuse did I have for my boss?  My sorrel mare left me in the desert a 1/2 mile from the house.  Honestly!

What did I learn from this adventure?  

1) Don't let go of the reins with Reagan; 

2) Get her in position before trying to mount; and 

3) Work on that trot!

Double my pleasure

23 Minute Walk
Morgan and Reagan
1.01 miles

Clowns to the left of me ...

Jokers to the right ...

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you!

Took both mares out for a walk today ... they behaved really well! Morgan kept "checking" on Reagan, but Reagan was only interested in the snacks.  

Reagan needed a refresher on gate etiquette this morning and after 5 passes, she settled down and walked through like a lady.  

No complaints ... it was a great way to spend a chilly morning!

Forecast: More Wind and Rain

19 Minute Walk
Morgan
0.79 miles

It was chilly this morning, and the horses were all damp and muddy

I did the best I could to groom Morg, but she was still sandy.

I figured she was going to roll in the sand as soon as I turned her out, so I tossed on her wool blanket and headed out for a walk.

We didn't go as far as we normally do, but I had fun walking, chatting, and snuggling my little bay girl.  She seemed far more interested in the grass than my conversation, but I didn't really expect her to be chatty.