Moonlit Walk

46 minutes - 1.86 miles - Rhulain

Full moon on summer solstice?  Oh yeah, it's definitely time for a walk with Rhulain.  It was odd to be able to see our shadows at 9:00 pm, but I was definitely grateful for the light.

Rhu was in a great mood and had my knee felt better, I would have gone for a ride rather than a walk.  She was calm and obviously glad to be out.

  Rhu kept giving me nudges, kisses, and snuggles.  Funny girl ... I'm glad to see you too!

Two for Tuesday

37 minutes - 1.31 miles - Morgan
24 minutes - 0.72 miles - Rhulain

Morgan and I headed out this morning with the full moon still visible.  We headed out nice and slow because my right knee is bothering me (a side effect of getting older).  It started to feel alright just as we were getting near the front gate, so I decided to drop Morgie off and grab Rhulain. 

I fed Morgan right away, so she was amenable to the switch.

Rhu and I walked around the block and she discovered the bamboo.  She was nervous as we approached because the wind was rustling the dead leaves, but once I handed her a leaf to snack on, she stuck her whole head in the bamboo to get a fresh piece.  Funny girl. We didn't walk far, but we walked in contentment, and that was enough for me!

Two Rides, One Awesome Day

Saturday, July 12th   92°  *Counting this as Sunday's ride too, since it was nearly midnight :)
1) Solo ride - Morgan - 5-10 minutes
2) Bill & Majesty - Left at 11:02 pm, Arrived at 11:43 pm

Ran errands in town all day and arrived home about 6:00 pm.  There was a gymkhana scheduled that evening, but we weren't planning on riding in it, though T & Red had entered.  Went out to feed the horses, and as soon as Morgan saw me she called out and came to the gate of the turn out.  She even shoved a bit to get closer to the exit.  I explained that it was too hot to ride and I had to leave in 10 minutes.  She stood stolidly at the gate, so I let her out then went and grabbed her bitless bridle and hopped on bareback.

We followed the south fence, exiting the property by going down a slight embankment.  Walked a bit, then up a larger embankment as we came in the West driveway of the property.  She started to trot (which is what I normally ask her to do), but I was unsure of myself so I slowed her to a walk.  Came around the tack shed and followed the East fence line to the North driveway, then turned and trotted back to the tack shed. I slid off and hugged her hard.  Fed everyone, then headed to the gymkhana to cheer for T & Red.

Got home from the gymkhana about 10:45 pm.  The moon was fabulously full and the weather had dropped to 92° which is almost bearable.  Bill suggested a midnight ride, so we dashed outside to see if the horses were willing.

Morgan was taking a nap ... there was some commotion at the turn-out gate, but she slept through it

I called her name softly as I approached and she got up to greet me

Simply adore my Morgan!

Full moon over Morgan's saddle

It was so bright outside that we could see well enough to ride in the streets near our house, but being out seemed to get everyone's dogs barking.  Morgan's hooves were still a bit tender, so I kept her in the sand as much as possible ... which meant we startled more than one rabbit.

Took this picture just to track what time we got home, but it made me giggle

She's sticking her nose in the tack shed asking for her treat

We wandered around, just enjoying the moon, our horses, each other, and the quiet of the night.  

I refer to rides like this as "Meditation in Motion"

Full Moon Ride

Friday, July 11th 85° Left @ 8:20 pm Home @ 9:00 pm
Rode with Bill & Majesty

Such a gorgeous full moon out, we couldn't resist a ride as the sun was falling!  Headed out to the sand dunes just north-east of the house and stayed on the trails as much as possible ... figured it was so nice outside the snakes, jackrabbits, and other wildlife would want to be out as well.  Morgan carried me steadily through the desert with no hesitation or complaints.  For the millionth time, I thought about how lucky I am she chose me ... and how grateful I am that my husband didn't complain when I stole her two years ago.

Bill snapped some pictures of Morgan and I while we were playing around in the dunes.  Morgan looks just as fabulous in black and white as she does in color!

Her shoulders are filling out nicely because of all the extra work we've been putting in this month!

Wasabi's 2nd Day in a Row

July 10th 91° Left @ 7:50 pm Home @ 9:00 pm
Rode with Bill & Majesty (Mustang) and T & Red
Bill & Wasabi: 7:50 pm - 8:30 pm
* Rode Morgan home solo from T & Red's house

Wasabi was completely mellow ... two days in a row is doing her disposition some good!

She was extremely patient.  She stood there for 35 minutes while Bill adjusted the cinch, breast collar, back cinch, tried different headstalls, and changed out bits.  Never once showed any irritation, which is an admirable quality in this headstrong mare.

New bit set up (with cavesson) seems to be working out well

Wasabi was able to open her mouth and pull through the mullen mouth bit that she had been using for the last few months.  Bill tried a high port roller bit, but we saw she could get over that as well.   T suggested using a cavesson or a figure 8 headstall ... since I had a cavesson in the tack shed, Bill gave it a try.

Heading down the road East of our house ... sun beginning to set

Everyone seemed calm and glad to be out

T was trying out a new headstall and combination hackamore/bit on Red this evening as well.  Both horses seemed to handle the change with only minor disgruntlement.  When I asked T how the new headstall was working, Red whipped her head around and slammed the bit into T's shin.  The timing was amazing - it was like Red knew what I said and showed us how she felt about having a bit.

Wasabi's first sustained trot in the open desert 

Wasabi tried her best to gain control of the bit, and threw a little hissy fit - stamping, kicking out with one hind foot, tossing her head - and then dropped her head and really began listening to Bill.  No more arguments from the mustang, and Bill rewarded her by letting her stretch out into a trot for half a mile.  She came back to a walk with no fuss, which is great!

Waiting at the cross roads ... Morgan's ears make everything look fabulous!

Look how nicely that mustang stands!  She's facing home, but not at all trying to get there.  No one was ready to quit yet, so we continued on away from the house for a bit longer.

Didn't want to use the flash and spook Wasabi, but I loved the casualness of these two heading home.

This evening made 6 hours of saddle time between Bill & Wasabi.  I had only logged 10 hours before turning over the reins.  They look as though they'd been partners for years instead of mere hours.

A ride is simply not complete without the obligatory "Cheese" picture

After we dropped T & Red off at home, Morgan and I headed home by ourselves.

4 minutes flat to make it from her yard to ours ... I think that's a new record!

*Note: Morgan's still tender in the front hooves

Though the moon was almost full, it was clouded over ... simply breathtaking to behold

August 28, 2012 - Full Moon

Was windy and rainy for 2 weeks.  Washed out driveways and flooded paddocks.  Too yucky to ride.

Saddled Morg as the sun dipped behind the mountain.  Full moon and breezy, but light enough to see.  She was cautious but not not spooky.  Rode around the yard for 20 minutes with no problems at all.  For our first "night" (twilight) ride, I couldn't be happier ... she tried so hard and I appreciated her efforts!