Monthly Totals

September 2015

Morgan - 261 minutes - 11.55 miles
Rhulain - 407 minutes - 16.04 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
September: 31 minutes (no saddle time)





2015 totals
Morgan - 2259 minutes (Jan - Sept) - 67.17 miles (March - Sept)
Rhulain - 1521 minutes - 52.54 miles (May - Sept)

Morgie's Morning

26 minutes - 0.91 miles - Morgan

Morgan "helped" me fill feed buckets this morning.  She insisted she was helpful; I disagreed.  She said she was "breaking up cubes for the goat," which is actually helpful, so she might have won that discussion.

Noticed a bite mark on her back this morning.  I medicated it and put her in the large stall after our walk so no one can bug her for a few days.  That wound needs a chance to heal and she likes being in the stall because no one can shove her away from her food.

Have I mentioned that Morgie loves food?  

Could her neck stretch any further? Seriously.

 We ambled along peacefully until we heard talking behind us ... we turned to see 3 school kids walking to the bus stop. Morgie tucked her tail and picked up her pace.  I don't know why she doesn't like kids, but I don't push the issue.  We cut our walk short and headed home.

Full Moon and Scary Objects Discounted

50 minutes - 2.05 miles - Rhulain

The breakfast club ... Rhulain and Morgan snacking while I do chores.  No halters, no lead lines, no fuss.  Love my mares.

When Morgie heard the gate open, she came running to ask if she could come along.  I told her to go eat, I'd walk her later.  Rhu is doing her "neener neener" face because she's going for a walk.

Lots of calling out today.  Pause, look back, call out, I count to 5 out loud, then we moved forward.  I found in interesting that the moon was in everyone of Rhu's looking backwards photos.  After the first 10 minutes, she settled and we had a nice walk.  

I was playing music on my phone as we walked, and as soon as Phantom of the Opera came on, Rhu's head lowered, matched my pace (rather than sulking behind me), and she relaxed. Coincidence? Maybe she just has great taste in music.

Items that were scary on Sunday, were a total non-issue today.  That mattress? Pffft, not even worth a second look.  That ball of twine and chicken wire?  Sniff, push it around, and move on.

One relaxed Rhulain following me around the yard after she checked her reflection out in the monorail. 

Our longest walk yet.  I can't imagine a better way to watch the sun rise.

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.

Snakes in the Hen House, Mice in the Bathroom. Again.

In non-horse related news, the speckled hens laid their first (brown) eggs on September 20th!  It's such a delight to get a variety of eggs!

Heard the cats "talking" in the master bathroom and opened the door to find them batting a terrified field mouse between them.  I got a dustpan and the mouse hopped right in and stayed perfectly still as I carried him out of the house and let him go in the desert behind our yard.

Since I was up, I went to feed the chickens.  Tipped over their water bowl and a little snake slithered out.  I yelped.  Once I realized it was a gopher snake, I explained that it was welcome to stay as long as it ate mice.  30 minutes later, the hens were harassing the poor snake so much that I grabbed the dustpan and relocated the snake.  Rural living at it's finest. 

Rhu wasn't feeling it today

20 minutes - 0.67 miles - Rhulain

I hopped in the saddle off the new mounting block today and Rhu seemed anxious to go, so I let her choose her path and pace.  She trotted for about two minutes, then turned and started walking home.   Um, no.

She came upon a debris filled sand dune that we initially encountered on June 5th.  She brought her nose around for comfort and after receiving reassurance, she stepped right in the middle, stopped and snacked, then we headed on down the road.  Nicely done Rhu Rhu Bean.

She stopped to check out her reflection in the monorail, but one glance wasn't enough, or maybe she didn't like the profile, because she had to stop and admire her full profile ...

I love this horse.

Surprise!

31 minutes - 1.10 miles - Bill and Wasabi

So, I'm driving home from work and receive a text and this picture ...

"You know you're jealous"

Bill and Wasabi out enjoying a walk. Without me. Yes, I'm jealous!

I had an early morning meeting at work so I got up an hour early to take Rhu out, but it was too dark to leave the property. Sigh. Then I had an afternoon meeting that ran over, so I didn't make it home to take either of my horses out today.

Well, at least Bill and Wasabi had a good time.