Mondays with Morgan, Majesty, AND Rhulain

1.80 miles - 40 minutes - Majesty
1.59 miles - 30 minutes - Morgan
0.75 miles - 26 minutes - Rhulain

 I went outside with the intention of taking a nice, long ride.  With the wind kicking up, there were only two horses I trusted ... Majesty and Morgan.  Majesty pushed the stall door so I knew he wanted to go.  He was patient while I adjusted the fit and stirrups of the Aussie saddle.

 It was a nice, uncomplicated ride.  He wasn't sure about the path I chose (too rocky for him), so we opted to follow washes.  He was good as gold until I turned him towards home ... then he wanted to trot.  Turns out, I have no idea how to sit a trot in this saddle. Ha!

 I exchanged Majesty for Morgan and headed back out starting down the same path.  However, she didn't like the path either and veered west.  Well, ok.  We wandered through the sand dunes (which surprised me as she usually hates them) and ended up in the area I call the salt flats before heading home.  She, too, wanted to trot home.  Had only marginally better luck sitting the trot ... I'm leaning way too far forward and reaching for a horn that isn't there. 

After lunch and a nap, I figured I had enough energy for one more horse.  Rhulain met me at the gate and was anxious to get out.  We did ground work, trailer loading practice, and then saddled up.  I had to retrieve the neighbor's dog out of our yard and return it while Rhu stood patiently waiting for me at the front gate.  We did a short half mile since the neighbor's dogs kept getting out and chasing us around.  So, we went home and did a few figure 8s in the front yard while I worked on trotting in this saddle. 

So glad I have patient horses.  Love them all!

Sunday Saddle Time - Longest Ride Yet For Rhulain!

60 minutes - 3.27 miles - Rhulain, Bill and Morgan

Me: Rhu, you feel like a ride?
Rhu: *snuggles*

Me: Morgie, are you OK with me riding Rhu and Bill taking you out today?
Morgie: Sticks her tongue out at me, then grins.
Me: Guess that means she's fine.

Bill and Morgie led most of the time, which was just fine with Rhu and I.  The temperature was rising so we kept to mostly flat routes and an easy pace. Blissfully, we had the area to ourselves.

Bill called a halt because he noticed a tortoise ahead of us ... upon closer inspection, we saw two baby tortoises on the path.  We grabbed a few pictures then adjusted our path so we wouldn't disturb them.  First time we've seen them in this area and it was nice to see two of them soaking up the sun.

Morgie did her usual "I don't want to stand in one spot" jigging, but Bill told her firmly to knock it off.  She stopped moving her feet and brought her nose around to his leg to apologize.  It was really adorable.

Morgie wanted to trot, so we let them have their heads for a bit.  Rhu decided lope was her preferred speed, but she wouldn't transition to a trot or walk when asked.  So, Bill had Morgie speed up for a count of five, then walk for a count of five.  With Morgie ahead of us, Rhu had no choice but to slow down when asked.  It turned out to be a great learning tool for Rhu.

After 2.5 miles, Rhu started to get tired and tried to head home.  We lope/trot/walked for another 0.25 miles to reinforce the lesson then turned towards home.  Rhu had one big spook when she saw a mattress so old it was just rusted springs off to the side of the road. We took the opportunity to walk around it on the left side, then turned and walked around it on the right side until it was a non-issue.

Rhu and Morgie were sweaty when we got home, so we groomed them and turned them out for a good roll in the soft sand.  Both of them did really well today.  Bill said though it had been two years since he last rode her, she remembered his style of riding and his cues and responded perfectly.  Love that they respect each other so well.

As for Rhu, I'm still amazed we've only been riding together for four months.  Sometimes it feels like we've been partners forever, then I remember she's still "green" when she doesn't transition.  It's a wonderful experience being with her and establishing our communication pattern.

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!

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!