Standing Still

I just got my lesson on Wednesday this week.

MJ looked all right when Debbie led him up to the wash stall. He was not completely settled down but he did not cause us any problems, even when I groomed his head while Debbie brushed elsewhere. Previously that had not been acceptable since there was just too much…

More Trotting

When I talked to Debbie Friday morning as we prepared MJ to ride she told me that MJ had been ridden by one of the girls in the college riding group. Apparently she had not only been super diligent about cleaning out MJ's right front hoof under the bar shoe, she had then cantered MJ a lot. MJ was not visibly lame when led in, but Debbie felt some hesitation when that hoof landed.…

An Aid From Long Ago

Over forty years ago I was bored, bored, bored riding my beloved first horse Hat Tricks. He had gotten really responsive to my rather rough aids and I was looking for a new challenge. It occurred to me that my aids could be MUCH lighter, both hand and leg, so I started working on that.

First I lightened…

No Spurs, No Sweat

During this week my right ankle was bothering me, to the point of random pains in muscles and tendons and my leg “threatening” to collapse under me. This may be a long term effect of the Covid-19 case I had early 2020, and it is very irritating to me. When I was getting ready to ride on Wednesday I decided that it would be better for my ankle if I did not put my spurs on,…

Making the Sitting Trot Enjoyable

For both the horse and the rider.

I got to ride three times this week! On Wednesday I got my lesson, I was still sort of off from less riding so it was not a “perfect” lesson. MJ is ridden by other people in lessons, and as time goes on Debbie discovers his preferences and how his body ends…

Yet Another Turning Aid

MJ was a little bit less sensitive this week. I had learned my lesson and curried his back with my gentlest curry comb, the Zoom Groom Cat grooming tool, with soft and flexible inch long prongs that feel rubbery, this is the tool that I use on his head. He did not flinch at all when I used it on his back, but when I used my wooden massage roller on his back he flinched…

My Third Lesson in a Row

Yes, I lucked out again, and I got a riding lesson.

I got to the stable a little early on Wednesday, MJ was in the wash stall and Debbie was busy in the back of the barn so I started grooming him. Due to the pandemic I have not gotten to groom MJ much at all so I was not familiar with all his…

A Hope Now for Weekly Lessons

The good, great and wonderful news is that I got another lesson this week!

But, on the other hand I really need to ride more.

When I was young I would have been THRILLED to get a riding lesson a week. I think I had a grand…

My Second Lesson This Year

Over 5 weeks into this year, and all the riding I've gotten in has been 2 lessons.

It could have been worse, at least I did get some lessons!

Debbie was pretty pleased with my riding. I used the Fager Alexander Sweet Iron with…

Alas, My Hopes Were in Vain

This January I will have ridden only once, my lesson last week.

Last Sunday it was too cold and the ground was too frozen.

Debbie called me on Wednesday just as I was starting to get ready to ride. It had rained a lot the night…

I Hope I am Back to Riding Again

I had not had a lesson for two whole months. I had not ridden for over 5 weeks. Such is my life in the times of winter and the Covid-19 super-spreader events and resulting surges of cases. The holiday period has passed, the insurrection at the US Capitol ended, we have a new President in the USA (YEAH!!!) and maybe, just maybe, effective action now will be taken…

Christmas Books

I did not get to ride this week. Part of the reason is that I am being super cautious about the Covid-19 pandemic, and the other reason is that, for once, winter came to NC just after the Winter Solstice. It is 20º F here right now at 9:30 AM. No snow, just bitter cold.…

A “Second Opinion”?

Winter has arrived, at least for now.

Horses tend to get a little friskier when the winter comes, even if the temperature at that day is not terribly cold. With the changing daylight hormones change, and the shorter daylight hours may bring up instinctive ancestral memories of cold weather=increased…

Finally, a Lesson

When Thanksgiving, with all the travel and massing of people happened, I realized that it would be best for me to keep away from Debbie's rather large boarding/lesson stable for two weeks. This did not please me at all, Debbie gives me really effective physical therapy, telling me when I start losing track of my limbs and making sure that I keep my base of support on…

I'm Grateful I Got to Ride at All

I called Debbie last Tuesday to tell her I would not be riding at her stable this week. I am paranoid about her boarders/lesson students not being careful with Covid-19 preventive measures, a valid concern since I am usually the only person wearing a mask at the stable. I told Debbie I was following the news, and if her clients had been Liberal Democrats I…

Then Cider Changes Her Mind

It is getting into the odd season down here. I was just starting to get ready for my lesson on Wednesday when Debbie called, she had a sinus infection and she told me that one of her boarders had tested positive to Covid-19. With Thanksgiving being the next day and all the people coming into the barn I decided it was best for me to stop riding at my lesson barn for a…

Cider Finally Gives Me What I Want

For the last few years Cider has had problems going down-slope. This was very obvious on one side of the ring next to the fence, she would increase her flinching, slow down and pick her way carefully down the slope. She was not happy about it but she is a good mare and did her best to obey my aids even when her front leg joints protested.…

Nothing Much Happening

Except for a good bit of rain and being sort of sick.

I did get a few rides in, fortunately, though I did not have much endurance because of whatever it was that I had. I even got two lessons with Debbie!

The first lesson, on MJ of…

Sogginess and Wind Gusts

This week we had to deal with the outlying rain bands of Tropical Storm Zeta, and then the storm itself came through. The river is full, the creeks are full, and the earth goes squish when we walk on it.

I got Debbie for my teacher this week. She has been busy the last few weeks getting herself and…

Cider Said “Yes”!

When I called Shannon last Saturday night to see if I could ride on Sunday I excitedly told her that I finally had a double bridle made up for Cider. I asked if I could introduce Cider to it, and Shannon said yes! She told me she had never used a double bridle herself, and had not used one on a horse, and she was eager to see how it all worked. I warned her we would probably…