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

Pearl's journey home

Pearl is a 19-year-old Trakehner mare that I have, through some ridiculously fortunate set of circumstances, been lucky enough to bring home on lease for the summer. All the history I know: She came to the barn at school last summer--July or August I guess-- and has been used for lessons this year. Before that, she used to either event or do the jumpers...maybe both. She's had a couple babies, the last one being two years previous, I believe. Aside from being absolutely the most gorgeous horse I've ever seen, she is smart, kind, athletic, and has probably forgotten more than I'll ever know.

Of course we had to stop by the barn on our way in Wednesday night


We got to the barn around 5 (home time)


Got her all suited up


She hopped in the trailer without hesitation


And then we were off


She was calm and quiet the whole way and not even impatient at rest stops


We were lucky weather-wise because we passed through a nice rainstorm before it got a chance to get too hot. Then when we got near the barn, it cleared right up


We unloaded


And gave her a chance to stretch her legs

And then put her in her new house so she could eat.


She loves her gate


And her window


And she was totally chill about drinking the new water. After she had a rest, I gave her a sponge bath


And then we went out for grass.

Driving

Probably not the safest thing to do; good thing for quiet roads