Rhu is Not Happy.

47 minutes - 0.60 miles - Rhulain

Rhulain was NOT a happy mare today. At all.

Her lips stayed pursed anytime I asked for movement.  Whenever we stopped moving she brought her head around and licked my left boot.

I was so excited to show her I was learning her language, but the message she was sending was "get off."  She even lowered her head and gave me two tiny hops.  I heard her loud and clear.

We've been out of sync for a while now and I thought this might help.  What really seems to help is the ground work.  So, until I feel confident in my new skills, Rhu and I are grounded.

Morgan is grouchy

Sunday, November 2nd  20 minute ride 
Solo

Morgan: You're making me go out that gate, aren't you?

Me: *looks innocent*  Maybe.

Morgan:  Hey, it's dinner time and none of this stuff is edible.

Me: Don't worry ... we'll make this quick.

Morgan: Not a single snackable in sight. You suck.

Me: You've mentioned that before.

Action Photos

Monday, August 11th  45 minute ride  85°
Rode with Bill & Majesty

Ahh ... headed out for a nice peaceful ride

Look at Majesty rocking that dune!

Hmm, looks like we got more water damage in the "gorge."

Move closer Morgan, let me see what it looks like now.

Hold still Morgan.

I don't wanna. *irritated tail swish and starts moving*

Really? Cause moving means work.

Pfffft. Make me.

Let's put a little hustle in those hooves since they want to move so badly.

A few moments later ...

Let's try this again. Whoa.

Fine, but I am NOT smiling at the camera. *switches tail*

While we were riding home, Bill said ...

When you're 80 you'll look back on today fondly. You'll remember all the times you and Morgan had together and you'll miss being able to ride.

He's right.

I hugged my Morgan and thanked her for the ride.

Moody Ride

Thursday, August 7th  Left at 7:31 pm  Home at 8:27 pm  92°
Solo

A full moon between Morgan's ears

Bloody hot.  I am so sick of temperatures over 100 and we still have at least one, maybe two months left of this "delightful" weather.  Also, the sun is setting earlier, so now I have to leave the house as soon as it gets close to 90 degrees.  Weather is wreaking havoc on Morgan's mane ... she has dandruff. *sigh*

Mounting from a giant spool ... Notice Morgan's opinion? Yep, she's sticking out her tongue

Morg seemed interested in the spool that we got for the goats to play on, so I rode her over, let her sniff it, dismounted and remounted while standing on it.  She stood perfectly still while I stomped and wiggled it.  So we headed off the property for our ride.

The odd effects rain had on the street ... 

1st picture is from the left side of the saddle, 2nd picture is also from the left side, only 10 feet away.  Makes for some interesting footing

I asked her to trot through the desert parallel to the road so we could pretend bushes were poles or barrels and generally goof around.  The recent rains have had an interesting effect on the desert and washes that we normally follow are filled with debris, while new paths were created or older ones were deeper than last week.

Some of the delightful sights we encounter

We started to lose the light so we picked up the pace, but I was having trouble keeping her in a straight line.  She kept trying to stray to the right and wouldn't stay between my hands, she braced, so I made her stop moving completely.  Flex the neck a few times, move out in a walk, circle to the right, circle to the left, stop again, flex the neck, and then just stood for a moment.  Breathed nice and deep before asking her to move out.  Seemed to help her refocus.

Before and after ...

Just leaving the property the sun is shining, she's relaxed, and sticking out her tongue. Again.

On the way back, the sunlight has all but disappeared, she's dropped her head, and is moving along at a brisk pace

On the last stretch, she tried cutting corners and straying from the course I had set her on.  Took another 15 minutes to get her to move forward in a straight line.  We ended the ride by letting her stretch her legs and pick her path once we were back on the property.  

Looks like she may be coming in to heat again, or maybe it was the full moon, but this wasn't our best ride.... felt like we were fighting unnecessarily.  Might be time to ride Majesty for a few days and let her relax a bit.