Finally! Springtime Weather

We hit a home run for the first weekend in March. On Saturday, it was a chilly start, but it was just so nice to be out on the trail. We took Cole and Ranger together. When we first crossed the river, we did a little trotting because the footing was good. The trail goes along a fence that has a paved trail on the other side for bikes and walkers. We made it about 5 seconds before Ranger tossed in a little buck. We brought them down to a walk for a few…

February—the Longest Month

Most years, including this year, the calendar states that there are 28 days in February. If that is the case, why does it seem like such a long month?

Here in Northeast Ohio, we can typically ride on the trail regularly through November. Once December hits, it is touch and go—for months. Things get better in early March, and by the end of the month, we are trail riding on a regular basis.

I feel that Daylight Savings—this year on March 10th,…

We Go on Our First Trail Ride of the Year

Well, my second, but my sister’s first. She had to work on the one nice weekend day during the January thaw. From then on, the river has been too high or the river, hill or driveway was too icy. The last time we rode together was some time in December. Each weekend we hoped the conditions are right, only to be disappointed.

Well, Saturday didn’t disappoint us. The river was low with no ice, and just a couple days before, the hill thawed…

I took Cruiser for his evening walk on Friday night. For the first time in a few weeks, we had to walk in the indoor arena. The driveway was a sheet of ice, and though I didn’t want him to be in the dusty arena, I didn’t want him on the ice, either.

Since he got his cough, I only hand walk him for a half hour. It had been a few weeks since he quit coughing during his walks, but his breathing is still labored—but gradually improving.

We were lucky to be sharing the arena with a…

This is Cole parking out like a Morgan. He taught himself how to do this--I just encouraged him with clicking. He learned it in his stall, and he only recently started doing it outside. I have to wonder if the desire to park out is genetic. If he was a Quarter Horse, would he have done this?…

Cole Train’s Trick of the Month

Last month, I told you about Cole Train teaching himself to bow, but that he would only do it in his stall. Well, he decided he could do it outside, too. When I ask him to bow, he parks out like a Morgan with his front legs forward and his back legs back. I click him and treat him. Then, he starts to shift his weight back to bow like a dog. I click/treat for that, too. In his stall, the bow can get quite low. I expect, in time, he will do that outside…

New Convert?

Last night, towards the end of my ride with Cole, the new boarder came out.  Her husband started leading her horse around the arena. It was the first time I saw him out of the stall.  He looked like a Thoroughbred and walked like a gentleman. 

I thought I would explain what I was doing with the clicks and treats that they saw me doing with Cole.  I gave her a brief explanation, dismounted and told Cole to do his Cole walk.  it is something he…

Cantering in the Arena—at Last

I know, I know, this is way overdue. We did a little cantering last year in the arena and a little the year before, but I never worked on it steadily enough to get a solid transition. I decided to canter a lot on trail this summer, and I did. We loved it. I figured once we got back in the arena, that it would be easy—wrong. Reality couldn’t be further from the truth. It was just as hard as ever to get him to canter.

I didn’t use the clicker on the…

I only had enough daylight to ride Cruise on trail. We went with my boyfriend and Starry. It was a very nice ride.

When I got back, I decided to try the outdoor arena with Cole. I haven’t ridden in there in over a year. It is huge and Cole gets very strange in it. I started by leading him until he settled down. When we got to the far end, he got wild and was bucking and rearing. He did this a number of times. I just sighed. This is what happened with him last year on the far end. I…

Best Laid Plans

My sister and I were planning long rides on this holiday weekend.  Saturday morning, we headed out on the first one with Cole and Ranger—and when we started trotting, Ranger was lame.  Our hearts fell.  It’s bad enough to have a lame horse, but it is way worse when the horse is on the older side.  The anxieties are multiplied a hundred times.  Could this be the big one?  Is it something chronic that will limit his use? 

We watched him and…

Rainy Day Ride

As is much of the US, we have been in a drought. It isn’t as bad as some parts of the country, but it still is pretty bad. Every cloud has its silver lining, and as trail riders, this means we don’t have many days we can’t cross the river. It has been a fine summer for riding. I don’t know when I’ve ever seen the river so consistently low.

When it does rain, we are so happy to get it, that we don’t even complain if we can’t cross the river. This happened the…

Crazy Day in the Park

My sister and I planned to take Cole and Ranger up to the show ring area for a ride, but it looked like rain. She checked her smart phone, and sure enough, rain was on the way. It was hard to tell how much time we had—maybe and hour or maybe two?

We decided to take the chance and ride, anyway. We would keep an eye on the sky and turn for home if it looked bad. The ride we were planning takes about an hour and a half if we do a lot of trotting.

Ellen…

Gone in an instant

This has been a very sad time in my family’s lives.  My father’s cancer has gotten the better of him.  He is very weak and hasn’t been able to walk in a month and a half.  He lives in his bedroom—either on the bed or the recliner.  Someone has to be with him all day.  Since I live with him, I get the bulk of it.  I am getting help from my sister and my brother’s family.  He doesn’t want any outsiders helping him.  We do have hospice assisting…