Day Light Savings Time Ride

60 minutes - 2.5 miles - Rhulain

Since we had an extra hour of daylight, I figured the best way to spend it was with Rhulain.  We walked beside each other for the first half mile, and she looked like she was sleepwalking, despite the wind kicking up.

Then I hopped in the saddle and her anxiety kicked in ... head came up, nostril's flaring, and heavy breathing.  So, I asked her to stop and we just stood until her breathing slowed and matched mine.  Then we walked on again.  Every time she started to trot, we either circled around bushes or trotted in the opposite direction until she settled into a walk.  I almost got frustrated and then I realized we needed to have a not so good ride so we can get to the great rides.

On the way home, she was absolutely wonderful.  Trotted when asked, opened and shut the gate like a pro, and stood perfectly still while I untacked and groomed.  Love this horse.

Only issue ... couldn't get the dang saddle straight.  It slid to the left; I got off and adjusted. It slid to the right and I tried to adjust from her back, but couldn't get it straight.  I gave up and rode with it shifted the whole time. Grrrr.

Saddle Time

20 minutes - 0.60 miles - Rhulain

 Since we now have the Australian saddle, I decided it was time to sell one of the "extra" saddles.  I pulled out the vintage Billy Cook and asked Bill to saddle Rhu.  She panicked when he was tacking her up, and he had to go slowly and ask her to smell everything before setting it on her back. Then he hopped in the saddle for a few minutes.

 Bill decided the seat was too small for his liking.  So, we'll be putting it up for sale.  She was already saddled, so I hopped up for a quick walk up and down the driveway ... sort of a farewell to the saddle.

After untacking, the kid and I took her for a quick half mile walk.  She was perfect.  Absolutely perfect.

Learning the Half-Halt

20 minutes ground work - Rhulain
16 minutes riding - 0.37 miles

Rhu and I been having trouble with our transitions.  I know she was trained English, so I went online and read how an English rider cues a transition.  I learned was that they use a "half-halt" to signal that a change is coming ... kind of a "pay attention" cue.

I read how to do a half halt, practiced in the car while driving to try and gain muscle memory.  My mantra for the last few days has been "hands steady, sit deep, squeeze with legs, release."

Today Rhu and I spent time in the yard.  I asked her to take a bit today because she was trained with one.  We worked on walk, half-halt, whoa.  Then walk, half-halt, trot, half-halt, walk.  I tried really hard to be consistent and every time I got the cue correct she responded perfectly. I need more work on the trot to half-halt cue.

Rhu had saddle difficulties today.  I had her freestanding and as soon as I turned to get the saddle, she walked off. *sigh*  Caught her, lunged, and then back to the tack shed for saddling.  She ran off and dumped the saddle before I got it cinched. *sigh*  Checked the saddle pad for any debris, checked the saddle for anything that may be poking her, then set it back in place.  After our work out, she spooked when I placed the cinch across the seat (something I've done every time we ride) and she dumped the saddle again. *sigh*

I called her name, she turned around and walked back to me, then put her head in my torso.  I rubbed her ears, cuddled her and told her how very much I loved her and was proud of how well she worked today.  I thanked her for bearing with me while I learned something new and I meant every word.  

I love this horse and when I listen to her she speaks volumes. Today I think she was saying the saddle doesn't fit.  We'll try the treeless again. 

Riding Rhulain (again)

27 minutes - 1.07 miles - Rhulain

Rhu and I had a bit of trouble putting on her headstall today.  When she realized it wasn't a halter, her head lifted in an act of resistance.  I flipped the cotton lead line over her poll and she lowered her head.  I slipped the bitless over her muzzle, laughing as I noticed her lips pinched so tightly together they should have turned white from the effort.

Then she realized there was no bit and her whole body softened.  She brought her muzzle over for snuggles ... maybe her way of apologizing.  

 

Morgan was clearly upset; she wanted to go for a walk this morning and I bypassed her for Rhulain.  Guess I'll be getting two walks in today.

Saddled Rhu up using Morgan's saddle and blanket ... it looks odd on Rhu.  We walked our normal .5 mile, let her snack for 2 minutes, and then I tightened the girth and hopped in the saddle.  

She carried me home at a delightful speed and only had three moments where she saw something which made her flinch.  Never felt a bit uncomfortable ... hard to believe we've only been together only 90 days.

 

I was able to open the gate while still in the saddle ... closing it was a bit more difficult.  She swung her nose about just as the gate was closing and it bonked her slightly.  The gate wasn't latching and she was getting cranky (it WAS breakfast time after all), so I hopped off and closed it.

Swung back into the saddle and asked her to trot to the tack shed.  Took a few cues to figure out how to get her to trot, but she did wonderfully and stopped appropriately.  More saddle time is definitely in order!

Busy Day - Three horses in 60 minutes

22 minutes with Rhu - 0.75 miles walk; 8 minutes with Rhu under saddle
10 minutes with Morgan - just around the yard

First, Wasabi got a much needed bath.  She was a good sport, but not really loving the attention.  She thought she'd be going for a walk or a ride, not getting wet.  Ah well.

Morgan spent the afternoon "inspecting" the alfalfa cubes as I filled buckets for the other horse's lunch.  While she was standing there looking adorable, I stood on the trailer hitch and slid on her back ... no halter/lead rope ... and she started walking towards the open gate, but I had her turn back.  One day Morgie girl we'll go out that gate bareback.

Then it was Rhulain's turn.  Bill was outside scrubbing graffiti off his monorail, so we talked him into leading Rhu around on a lead rope while I sat in the saddle.  I borrowed Morgie's saddle, but it didn't fit well ... so we kept it to a quick ride down driveway twice and then untacked.  I did get to sit out her trot on the second lap, can't wait to try it out for real!  Oddly, the stirrups felt too short when I was on Rhu ... looks like my knees are bent too much.

Then I took Rhu out for her second walk off the property.  Last time was just about half a mile, so I decided to go a bit farther today.  We walked down the same horse path as last time, came back on the street, and then veered through the open desert as we got close to the house.  

Practiced going up and down small dirt patches, sand "dunes" (really, they're about 6-8" high), and wandered between the desert brush and trees.  Couldn't ask for a better walk with her ... so calm, no trying to get past me, and no rushing home.

Great day, great horses.

"New" Saddle Arrives

Wednesday, July 23rd.  112+
Not riding in this obnoxious heat

So, my replacement Bona Allen saddle arrived today.  It's too small in the gullet.

When I put it on without a saddle pad it looks like a Barbie saddle.

Also, I can't adjust the stirrups because of the fender ... I could only reach the stirrup with my tippy toes when I sat in the saddle. *sigh*

Way too much gap between the saddle and her back ... it sat about an inch above the saddle pad.

So bummed.

September 28, 2012 - Trying on the new saddle

If you ever want to know how awesome your horse is, buy a new saddle.

I hauled the saddle out and dropped it on Morgan's back while she was eating.  It looked good, so I decided to sit in it ... brought the step stool in, wrapped the latigo under her belly and tucked it through the cinch strap hole, and climbed on.  Then I realized I had not bridle on.  Hmmm.

Morgan started walking around the stall with just leg pressure, but I couldn't get her to stop because Majesty was trying to bite her over the rails.  Thankfully she did stop at the far end of the stall with a tug on her mane and I hopped off.

Only then did I realize how stupid that idea was.  The saddle wasn't on securely and it could have been bad.  Silly me.  I got a cinch, cinch strap, saddle pad, and the bitless and spent the next 20 minutes adjusting the saddle placement and stirrups.

Once I got it set, I climbed up and had Morg do a quick lap around the turn out.  Took 3 tries to get the saddle set up right.  Bet she was glad to see me go!

September 25, 2012 - New Saddle

Ordered new endurance "hornless" saddle.  Picked it up 9/28/12