no dice

Highway flooding means too much traffic for pony

too hot for tack!

Since I'd worked her the day before and she had been out that morning I decided we'd forego work for the day and just chill bareback. We did a nice long walk warmup, then some trotting. Note to self: oil-based fly spray is a little slippery underneath breeches We did some trotting, I tried to post as much as I could. Wish her mane was a little longer, heh heh. Then we cantered some, I kept it short due to the heat but we did a bit more than a lap both ways just to prove I could do it. She was a little more hesitant about picking up the canter than usual, probably wondered what the hell I was doing up there, but she was fine maintaining it. Then we had a nice walk to cool out

Then hosed her down, and took her to the snack bar

pretty in blue

Another awfully warm day. I'd better start writing things down sooner; I am far too forgetful for my own good. Clearly she was not memorably bad. Although I do remember a bit of airplaning round the corners at the canter.
Ear shot, because how can you not

Body shot

And then today our people left, so I dragged my dad to the barn after we dropped them off at the airport. Mare was a doll as always. It was also nice and cool, about 75, which was a welcome change. We w/t/c very nicely, no rushing although weird thing I seem to be making her do--she does like to sort of tilt her head out and body in in either direction--not really a counter bend but just sort of bulging in. She did it both ways so I don't think it was her/me preferring one side so much as general pilot error. I tried to really concentrate on keeping my body straight and sort of softening the side of me closest to the rail and guiding her into it...bad explanation, not sure what I'm really trying to say but it seemed to work.

We also jumped a little bit--first time at this place. We just trotted/cantered a little angle X, then did a little X to a teensy weensy vertical. She did jump much quieter than she had been at school, but she still has kind of a hard jump to ride. Takeoff is fine but then she'll sort of pop her back and that makes the landing difficult. Poor thing probably is bored by my weenie jumps She did get a little, erm, excited cantering the line and we had a bit of a moment. She doesn't really buck so much as plunge her head and neck down hard, and my weakling self has to try to stay upright. We trotted the line again after that and I was able to head off any misdemeanors. Then we called it a day and went for a little walk down the road, then shower time.

A video compilation of the day


Then we shared an apple 'cause we're cool like that


And she tried to get apple goo all over me


But she's still my good girl

I had relatives in so I didn't get much of a chance to ride this week. I got out on Sunday and it was pretty hot, so we did a light w/t/c--she was pretty fresh from not being ridden for 3 days. Not really bad or anything though, just very go-go-go, and I wanted to take it easy considering the heat. After she settled down a bit I decided we would go for a baby hack up the road. The road leading to the barn is very quiet, and once you make the turn onto it it doesn't intersect anything else for about a quarter mile (property is at the end of the road). She was a superstar--pretty much on the buckle the whole time, didn't try to snatch any grass, didn't scream for her buddies or try to turn home. Such a good horse.

After our light ride


"trail ride"


There was a hay truck with a scary scary tarp on it in the barn parking lot, so we checked it out after the ride


Then I gave her a shower, so of course she had to roll to get all the clean off her