Chasing Away Monday Blues

Monday, July 14th  Left at 8:08 Arrived at  8:26 pm  92°
Solo ride - Morgan

Awww man. Another ride?

Yes Morgan ... but a quick one ... Bill will be home soon

Decided to take Morgan out solo this evening.  She was kind of a snot at first - didn't want to stand still, didn't want to leave the driveway, didn't want to head down the same "scary" path we ride down 90% of the time.  She didn't refuse, she just stalled or dragged her feet when asked to move.

Morg, are you listening to Majesty's whining way off in the distance?

Nope. Checking to make sure it was safe to head out in to the wilds

After the first few minutes, she settled down.  It occurred to me that we hadn't ridden by ourselves for over a week, so it was natural for her to hesitate.  A little bit of patience and reassurance went a long way to having a relaxed mare.

Mom, I think I hear dinner ... we better hurry

That's just Bill's truck arriving home.

 Trotting, even on my gaited beauty, does not make for good pictures

But it does make for some interesting fuzzy shots

Morgie ... what are you doing over there?

Eating the apple you left on the barrel!

Morgan, wiping your lips on me after a snack is not a nice way to say thank you

Awwww, but you love me. Gimme kisses right here!

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

Wasabi's Sand Dune Adventures

Wednesday, July 9th  Left @ 6:50 pm - Home @ 8:14 pm  101°
1) Rode with Bill & Wasabi, T & Red, H & Beauty, H & Beauty, N & TC
    Sand dunes NW with Wasabi (7:00 to 7:30 pm)
2) Rode with Bill & Majesty, T & Red, H & Beauty
    Sand dunes NE with Majesty (7:40 to 8:15 pm)

Wasabi and Bill discussing the upcoming ride

The group heading out to the sand dunes

Morg and I trailed behind, nice and mellow

We followed the pack up to the dunes, but Wasabi didn't fare well with the sand sinking under her and the strange horses ahead of her, so we decided to break off from the group and try some smaller dunes by ourselves.  Morgan's front hooves are still tender, so we stayed in the soft sand whenever possible

Wasabi staring at a sand dune ... little hesitant, but willing to give it a try

Bill was able to coax her up, down, and around a few dunes. 

She did pretty well for her first experience!  Sometimes she led and sometimes she followed, but she was sure thinking about what she was doing 

To boldly go where only quads have gone before ... Wasabi conquers a hill

She did great going up the hills - kept a steady pace and listened to what Bill was asking

An appreciative pat on the neck for her efforts

Morgan wondering what all the fuss was about 

Dunes are fun and she knows it!

Decided to end Wasabi's ride to reinforce the positive.  

We rode back to the house and Bill tacked Majesty up for a quick spin

Majesty's "Ha ha, it's my turn" face 

We quickly located Red and Beauty and played in the dunes for a bit longer

Ever resourceful, we decided to turn a pole in to a small jump.  

Everyone took turns, but the pictures were all blurry. 

H & Beauty waiting their turn to "jump" the pole

We parted ways after 30 minutes and Bill & I headed home. 

What's this view?  Well, that would be me riding Majesty while Morgan ambles along behind us

It's not a view I see often, but loved how she just followed us around the yard

The "kids" waiting to be untacked ... Oh, let's be honest ... they're waiting for treats! 

Best Ride of The Year ... So Far

Tuesday, July 8, 2014 Left at 6:50 pm  Arrived home at 8:15 pm  89° - Rained earlier in the day
Morgan - Bill & Majesty (Arabian), T & Red, J & Beauty (appy), and N & TC (OTTB)

Meeting got cancelled, so an impromptu ride was in order.  Called T and invited her along.  She said her friends would meet us in the sand dunes.  In record time, we saddled up and headed out.

T & Red showing off their new "purple" gear

 Initially Morgan took the lead, but once we were close to the dunes we were overtaken by Majesty's spirited steps.

Majesty hadn't been out in a while, and with the smell of rain still hanging in the air, he seemed much more youthful than his 26 years.   He challenged any and all dunes, no matter how steep.

We located some puddles and worked on stepping around, in, and through them for a while.  

At first, Morgan and Majesty were reluctant, but they soon understood there were no horseflesh-eating animals in the puddles. 

Red and Majesty each conquering their own puddles of doom

Here Bill and Majesty claimed to be "King of the Puddles."  

No one challenged him for the title, and since our new friends arrived, we continued on to the dunes.   

Wandering through the sand dunes.  

Morgan and I trailed behind, quite content just to be out on such a wonderful evening

Morgan and I taking a moment in the huge puddle that we found in the sand dunes.  Love my Morgie!

Everyone wanted a chance to play in the long puddle and the horses were quite willing to join in the fun

Wasn't enough just to walk in the water ... much more fun to run!  

Red came out of this puddle with mud "freckles" caked up her back legs.  Simply adorable :)

Such an eclectic party: a Quarter Horse, an Appaloosa, a Thoroughbred, and an Arabian

There was no need to prompt everyone ... they were smiling and laughing the whole ride

Red shows everyone how she really feels about Morgan photo-bombing her

We parted ways here and meandered through the open desert for a bit

Home stretch with the sun setting.  Absolutely the perfect way to end the day!

Headache

Monday, July 7th

Headache was so bad that I had trouble seeing out of my right eye and was a little dizzy.
I fed the horses their dinner, snuggled Morgan a bit, and then Bill put me to bed.
Hated breaking my riding streak, but maybe Morgan could use the break.

March 7, 2014 ... Has her "fuzzy jammies" on