Easter Sunday Ride

51 minutes - 1.11 miles - Rhulain
8 minutes - 0.13 miles - Majesty

After church services, egg hunting at the house, and the community egg hunt at the park, I was in need of some horse time.  I saddled up Rhulain and we worked on our turns for a while.  Then we took a walk around the property and Rhu discovered the chickens.  You know, those noisy, smelly, flapping things that might eat horses.  They crowded the corner of their pen trying to get a better view and she gave them the stink eye from a safe distance.

Rhu looked longingly off property, but the winds were really picking up and I didn't want to ruin the nice jaunt we'd had by ducking trash being blown around from the neighbor's house.  So, we called it a day.  She looked rather indignant that the reins slid down her neck and landed behind her ears.  I laughed and then gave her a good grooming as a reward for being so patient today.

Majesty was in dire need of a shedding, so I pulled him out to give him some time.  A ran over and asked Bill if he could ride Majesty.  Bill consented, so I tacked him up and walked the two of them around the yard for a few minutes.  Majesty's age is definitely showing ... he is willing, but doesn't want to do more than a shambling walk.

I have to be in Texas for training this week, so it was nice to spend ample amounts of time with each horse.  Every horse got attention, hugs, and grooming, and I got plenty of snuggle time in return.

Busy Saturday

23 minutes - 0.59 miles - Morgan
10 minutes - 0.21 miles - Morgan - lesson with A
10 minutes - 0.04 miles - Sundance
15 minutes - 0.25 miles - Wasabi

The morning started off with A and I painting the gate.  Nothing is more messy than a 4 year old with a paint roller and absolute freedom.  The gate is not pretty, but it looks much cleaner.

Then our new farrier showed up and surprised me by trimming their hooves in the turn out.  Rhu wouldn't hold still, so I had to halter her and keep her in check.  She was fascinated by the farrier and kept her nose pressed to my back or close enough to the farrier for shavings to get in her bangs while everyone else got their trims.  It was kind of adorable.

While I was scrubbing and filling water buckets, A came over to see if he could help.  I said, "Sure, keep Sundance occupied for a few minutes so she'll quit flipping water buckets over" and popped him up on her back.  She was delighted to have her neck and withers scratched and was extra careful about walking anywhere ... one step, check on the boy, another step, check on the boy.

After water buckets, I moved on to staining the front gate.  After all that work, I decided I needed some Morgan time.  We escaped out the freshly painted gate and rode around the block.  Of course, once I returned, a certain little somebody asked why I was riding his horse.  HIS HORSE.  Really?  I popped him in the saddle and walked in front of them from one gate to the next.  I had explained how to "steer" with the reins, and turned around to find he and Morgie wandering off to the other side of the yard ... apparently he decided to turn right and she, being the awesome mare that she is, obeyed the reins.  Hmmm.

For reasons unknown to either of us, I felt the urge to pull Wasabi out and take a short walk around the property.  Then she got a good grooming, a snack, and hugs before I fed dinner.  She seemed to appreciate the attention.

Morgie time

37 minutes - 1.0 miles - Morgan

Although it may not look like it, Morgan's wound is getting better.  Morgie joined me for a walk today. There were carrots in my pocket and she spent most of the time nuzzling me trying to get at them.  Guess she didn't miss our walk time as much as I did ... she just missed the snacks.

Family Time

36 minutes - 0.76 miles - Rhulain, Bill & A

Love this picture of Morgan's eye ... Love the sunset's reflection

Asked Bill to hold Rhu for a second and then realized how cute they were together ... her ears were all perked up and she was snuggly.

Bill didn't let go of the lead rope until we were headed back home.  Hmmm.  

Bill took a few pics of Rhu and I together.  I was whispering in her ear that I loved her way more than Bill did, and she stuck her tongue out at Bill.  Coincidence?  Perhaps.

Damn Wind

25 minutes - 0.80 miles - Rhulain

The sky was fabulous ... the 25-35 mph gusts of wind were not.

I can't get a decent picture of Morgan's wound, but it's looking much better.  Another few days and I can let her out of the stall and back into the general population.  She likes not being run off at meal times, so I'm not sure she'll want to leave the big stall.

Daylight diminished rapidly and with gusty winds, I didn't figure we'd get much work done.  It was so windy I couldn't hold the camera steady.  

We went for a quick walk and got back before it was too dark. 

Rhu's definition of "too dark" was different than mine :)

She was her amazing self and stuck right with me unless asked to move ... I think the ground work is paying off!

Night Work is Great!

60 minutes - 0.70 miles - Rhulain

Cleaned out Morgie's wound and then spent some time grooming her so she wouldn't feel neglected.  Spring definitely is here ... tons of hair!

Then it was time for ground work.  I set up a keyhole with cones and walked her through it a couple of times.  She seemed wholly unimpressed with the orange cones and tried to eat them, then kick them, then ignored them.  That's my Rhu!

We saddled up and did some gorgeous circles amid a myriad of distractions ... Namely, "A."  He was great at getting the carrots and feeding them to Rhu ...once she showed him where they were located.  Once the carrots were consumed A asked if he could ride Rhu.  I relented and gave him a quick ride. Rhu made it clear that she was done though ... it was dinner time ... so I untacked and she received a quick massage before putting her back in the turn out.

So happy with our progress!

Dreamy. Simply Dreamy.

65 minutes - 1.34 miles - Rhulain

Cleaned Morgan's eye wound and the applied the medicine.  I was only able to take a blurry picture because she didn't want to hold still ... she wanted to eat and I was bugging her, obviously.

Rhulain and I went for a half mile walk to check where her brain was.  She was right there with me, which was fabulous.

We headed back to the yard and did some ground work and trailer loading in the fading light.  She was solidly locked on.  I saddled her up and we rode around the yard in the pitch black dark.

 

We nailed our circles and transitions ... it was almost magical.  She and I were teaching and listening to each other. I made note of what cue worked and when, then repeated it twice to ensure I got the same response ... then used it on the other side.  YES!  

We got beautiful, even circles on both sides and lovely downward transitions by melding the way she was trained and the way I ride. 
We came to a dead stop by me thinking it, then breathing out loudly, and sitting deeply.

*dreamy sigh*

Love.This.Horse.

Eye Injury & Night Work

61 minutes - 0.42 miles - Morgie & Rhulain

There's sunshine when I get home now ... only 15-20 minutes left, but just enough time to spend it with Morgan!  I grabbed a halter and ran outside, only to find Morgie had a cut above her left eye.  I removed her from the turn out and cleaned her forehead so I could get a better look.  Looks like a small gash that stops right before her eyelid.  WHEW!  

Cleaned off the dried blood and debris ... it must have been tender because she kept lifting her head away.  I put her in the large stall and will check it in the morning.  Wish I knew what happened, but I feel absolutely fortunate it didn't need stitches or injure her eye.

The sun had dropped below the mountains while I worked on Morgie's injury, so riding was out of the question.  I haltered Rhu and we did some ground work.  Then we worked on trailer loading for a while.  She wouldn't step in until there was some pressure on her face ... but then, the trailer was very dark.  Once I opened the "escape hatch" she stepped right in and stood still until I asked her to back out.  I was impressed with her effort.

Decided to do some trust building, so I saddled her up next to the trailer.  By now it was fully dark, Ryver kept running around her hind legs, and our foster boy was stomping around the yard in his shoes that light up.  Rhu looked worried.  

I tossed on the treeless and the bitless, while giving her lots of rubs and praise.  Two trips down the driveway, then circles on each side, and back to the step stool.  

I dismounted, rubbed her and stepped back in the saddle, flexed her neck to both sides, sat for a bit, then repeated the process three times.  I just wanted to sit in the saddle and breathe with her, no pressure, no work, nothing but being right there in the moment, together.

A New Angle

67 minutes - 2.28 miles - Rhulain

 With the time change, it is really dark in the morning when I go out to feed.  Rhu was very hyped and circled me constantly. As long as my feet kept moving forward, I just let her circle until she calmed down.

It didn't take long for her to settle down and walk softly beside me.  We headed left off the main road rather than right and ventured into areas I had never been to before.

Found some bones on our walk ... guess that makes the scenery more interesting.  Lots of interesting footing today and we had to backtrack twice because I didn't know the area.

 We did find places to let her graze for a bit.  She was adorable but seems very unsure of herself lately.  We may need to institute more ground work in our routine.

Morgie Exploded

61 minutes - 1.64 miles - Morgan

 Shedding season has arrived ...

 and this is only her first good grooming

My little adorable Morgie. Love her sweet face.

Missed you Rhu!

56 minutes - 1.58 miles - Rhulain

My morning was great. Gave everyone apple slices (Rhu got two cause her face was so adorable), gave her a quick grooming, and off into the open desert today. We didn't rush today because my knee still aches, but we snuggled more than normal.  I think she missed me (not nearly as much as I missed her though)!

Walk Interrupted

12 minutes - 0.47 miles - Rhulain

 Walked outside to find ice on the ground, but a warm muzzle beckoning for kisses.  How could a girl resist?

I grabbed a halter and we headed out the gate ... not even two houses away, Bill called and said our foster boy was awake.  So, I kissed Rhu's muzzle again to apologize and we headed home.  Sorry Rhu bear.

Wildly Windy Day

43 minutes - 1.27 miles - Morgan

Morgan checked out the mare motel, gave it a few sniffs, and then we headed out.

 

 The wind was blowing hard and Morgan stuck close to my shoulder.

Then Morgan's head shot up and she circled around me snorting loudly.  I looked around and spotted a discarded couch with stuffing flapping around wildly in the wind.

Once I explained that the couch could not get us, she seemed a bit embarrassed.  She tucked behind me and looked sheepish.  You are the most adorable mare, ever.

Ambling Along

58 minutes - 1.66 miles - Rhulain

 Rhu and I just ambled today.  We watched the sunrise together.

 We climbed down sand dunes and blazed new trails.

We started the morning at a slow walk and almost an hour later we were just as unhurried.  It's nice to slow down and be in the moment.

Goose attack!

63 minutes - 2.69 miles - Rhulain

 It started out like a normal day ... snacks before we headed out, a quick trip around the yard (Rhu was NOT impressed with the new mare motel) ... and then out the gate for a walk.

On our way back home, we saw the oddest thing.  A goose attacking the side of a car as it drove down the road. Wait, what?  Both Rhu and I were stunned at the sight.  Then the car drove off and the goose turned around and stared directly at us.  We both took an involuntary step backwards.  Then we thought it prudent to hustle in the opposite direction as it started towards us!

Two in One Day

30 minutes - 1.12 miles - Morgan
28 minutes - 1.13 miles - Rhulain

 Morgie kept grabbing my jacket as we walked along.  Apparently, she felt like she wasn't getting enough attention. Cutie patootie.

 Rhu waiting patiently for our walk to begin.

 She was full of high spirits, but very well behaved.  Best horses ever!