Morgie Mornings

26 minutes - 1.10 miles - Morgan

Morgie snacked, I groomed.  I talked, Morgan ate.  I saddled her up, Morgan grabbed a mouthful for the road.  Just a typical Morgie-type Morning. 

We wandered a bit in the open desert before she went back to the road. She's really more comfortable on a path ... she's not the "choose your own adventure" type girl.

I chatted, Morgie snacked. Morgan worried about the neighbor's dogs, I comforted.  I opened the gate, Morgan closed it and headed towards the tack shed.

A perfectly typical morning with Morgan.  No muss, no fuss, no drama. Just a pleasant time peering through perfectly shaped ears.

I'm Starting To Love Mornings

45 minutes - 2.07 miles - Rhulain
How the morning started out ...

Morgan free range feeding (she insisted she was inspecting the bottom of the buckets and to do so, she needed to dump them, which made a mess, so she had to clean it up by eating all the cubes) and Rhulain breakfasting by the tack shed. I groomed Rhu, put on the saddle pad, and announced that we were almost ready to go.  I went into the tack shed, came out with the saddle and saw Rhu heading towards the gate.  I called her name and she stopped walking and looked at me like "Well, hurry up!"  Apparently she WAS ready to go.  Funny girl!

We followed a wash, she snacked on dried grass, went around a sand dune, and then down into a much larger water run off.  She followed this path for about half a mile.  Then she decided to climb the side of the wash and we had an "iffy" moment.  A rock rolled under her left front hoof as we were climbing and she darted to the right.  On a steep cliff side, that will get your heart pounding. All was well though.

There was lots of rabbit holes once we got to the flat land, so we angled towards home.  We rocked out to music and generally had a good time.  As we crested the last sand dune she realized she could see home and called out ... just as "Rhinestone Cowboy" was blaring.  Her call was perfectly timed to the beat.  Nicely done Rhu.

We got home, untacked, groomed, and I let her wander.  Where did I find her? Right next to Morgan with her head in the feed trailer. Ha!

Life Lessons I Learned Today

30 minutes - 1.10 miles - Rhulain

I went outside with halter in hand and Morgan hid behind Sundance ... as if I couldn't see her hiding there.  I contemplated even bothering with a walk, but Rhu was at my shoulder and wanted attention.  So, I switched gears and haltered Rhulain.

 We didn't take the route that I had planned on using ... we went straight instead of turning right. What a difference those two tiny choices made in my morning!

We climbed sand dunes, walked in ravines, played hide and seek with a jack rabbit, put hoof prints in sand where there were no other tracks, and found a new scritchy spot that Rhu absolutely loves.  

We faced down scary soda cans that rolled and clattered against rocks, we squeezed through spaces walking single file, we followed lizard tail drag marks rather than beaten paths, and Rhu hugged me when we stopped to admire the view.  

We adventured. Together.

The lesson I learned from today: Be open to changes ... you never know where they will take you, but you'll certainly miss the magic if you insist on getting your way.

Did I get my walk done? Yes.  

Did it happen the way I had planned? No.  

It was so much more than I had anticipated!

Monthly Log

August 2015

Morgan - 185 minutes - 6.75 miles
Rhulain - 414 minutes - 15.0 miles 

Wasabi Saddle Time:
2014:     12.25 hours

2015:  
Jan: 0
Feb: 0
Mar: 1.5 hours
Apr: 0
May: 40 min/10 min ground
June: 1.9 hours
July: 30 minutes (no saddle time)
August: 0

Morgie = Comfort

28 minutes - 1.0 mile - Morgan

Ryver and Lips were out this morning running around, creating havoc, and playing tag.  They make me laugh!

Morgie and I went for a walk this morning. We chatted, we snuggled, and I watched her snack, often.  I simply adore Morgan Moonpie ... from her one black spot (I call it her Rorchach inkblot test) to her fuzzy ears, to her dainty hooves.  Such a feeling of comfort with her ... like snuggling in my favorite blanket when it's right out of the dryer.  Yeah, she's that kind of perfect.

Rhu = Amazing

42 minutes - 1.75 miles - Rhulain

 When I first saw Rhu's picture on the rescue website, I knew I loved her.  People questioned why I would buy a horse from the other side of the United States unseen. My husband offered to fly me to New York so I could see her in person and ride her to make sure.  But me, I just knew that she would be amazing.  She's proved me right every single day.

Today was no exception. We wandered through new scenery, different footing, the "salt flats," went around sand dunes, climbed small and medium embankments, watched clouds float lazily by, and just were there, in the moment, with each other.  No rush, no schedules, no training, just pure peace.

I must have hugged her neck and told her she's amazing 25 times during the ride. I meant it every time.

A Bit of Ground Work

28 minutes - 0.60 miles - Rhulain

Oh Rhu, you're so adorable, from any angle!

We worked on standing still until asked to move today.  Had to try it three times before she would stand still for me to get completely in the saddle.  My fault, I didn't have her either step back or flex her neck once I got in the saddle the last few times. Quick fix and we were off!

We only walked half way around the block ... lots of calling out today.  Probably because the herd could see her and Majesty was whining about not being fed yet.  She still listened well to my instructions, so I didn't chide her for calling back.

I had let Morgan out to wander around the yard while Rhu and I worked.  Morgan decided our lesson was over and she led us to the feed buckets. She wanted breakfast. Now.

When we got home we worked on stopping from a walk and a trot.  If she didn't stop within 3 steps she had to go back a few steps or trot in a circle until I asked her to whoa.  

I was thinking about competing in a local ACTHA ride on Sept. 5th and wanted to make sure she'd stop when requested.  Lots of ear pinning today, but she tried really hard.  I know she's not fond of the lessons ... she'd much rather be out exploring.  Me too Rhu, me too.