Lynn and Alisa met on Saturday to ride at Swasey Creek. According to Lynn, Ziggy about tore apart the trailer before she pulled out of the driveway. He was a nervous wreck. He was dripping sweat by the time she arrived at the trailhead. She said he settled down as soon as he saw Odie and was fine from then on.
The two of them had a good time going around and around the same loop. Three times I think she said. Not on purpose, either! Somehow they missed a turn or trail and ended up passing the same landmark at least three times. Zigs competed with Odie all day and kept him in the back. Alisa said instead watching the trail, he spent a lot of time looking over at them. Zigman might be the bottom at home, but doggone it! Odie was not getting ahead of him out there.
Early spring has sprung and there were flowers and green grass all along the area. Lynn said there were manzanita bushes in bloom everywhere and they smelled wonderful. She said some of the trail was like a manzanita tunnel. There were bicycle riders, joggers, and a small woman on a tiny horse.
When she got Ziggy home, Jupiter ran right up and bit him in the butt. He is so jealous! He wants to go, too. Lynn pulled the halter off and sent Ziggy to safety and he went running and bucking off with Jupiter chasing right behind him. Shirley commented that Ziggy was all legs and no body. I guess he lost a lot of weight that day: no breakfast, nerves, and then exercise, too.
I spent the weekend in Sacramento--I learned some humility (some teachers are beyond awesome) and got pumped about teaching by some real great ideas and inspirational speakers. It's supposed to rain starting tomorrow and I don't think I will get to see the boys until Thursday. I hope all that powerful energy from the conference can sustain me until then.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Unsettled Sunday
Star is not well today. He is coughing and spitting up. Something is partially blocking his airway. We started out and it became very apparent that he was having a problem. Shirley and Lynn took him back and loaded him up. I went on without them. Jupiter was very good. He did everything I asked. He never whinnied or balked. However, I was happy no cows suddenly came out of the brush because he was on high alert.
Lynn caught up to us and we went around through the brush and I tried out the endurance saddle. She and Zigs tried out a crupper. We didn't go very far, but it was a pretty good trial. Zigs wasn't too sure about the crupper when it got tight, but he handled it. The saddle felt good to me--a little weird without a horn, but the seat felt good. Jupes didn't seem to mind it, even though it didn't stay nice in the middle of his back and it turns some. He is such a round boy!
Lynn says all horses have their "things." Ziggy's is stepping down a steep bank into water. He proved it again yesterday. Jupiter's is stepping over a high tree (down fall). He does not like it and we have to find a way around it.
Tomorrow morning, Shirley is taking Star to the vet. He didn't eat and Lynn says it sounds funny when he breathes. He definitely needs to be looked at. I pray that he is all right tonight and the vet can make it better in the morning.
Lynn caught up to us and we went around through the brush and I tried out the endurance saddle. She and Zigs tried out a crupper. We didn't go very far, but it was a pretty good trial. Zigs wasn't too sure about the crupper when it got tight, but he handled it. The saddle felt good to me--a little weird without a horn, but the seat felt good. Jupes didn't seem to mind it, even though it didn't stay nice in the middle of his back and it turns some. He is such a round boy!
Lynn says all horses have their "things." Ziggy's is stepping down a steep bank into water. He proved it again yesterday. Jupiter's is stepping over a high tree (down fall). He does not like it and we have to find a way around it.
Tomorrow morning, Shirley is taking Star to the vet. He didn't eat and Lynn says it sounds funny when he breathes. He definitely needs to be looked at. I pray that he is all right tonight and the vet can make it better in the morning.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
These boots are made for walking. . . again
Once again I am the one with the equipment problems! Jupiter had been acting up the last time we rode and seemed to hump up and put his head down like he would like to buck. We fixed his bit problem the previous Saturday with a hackamore that we both like a lot better. Then Sunday, when everything had been going along so nicely, he started acting like something was wrong. As we neared the old dump site, Lynn suggested my saddle had turned and that was bothering him; so I adjusted the saddle and I rode on in. At the time, it crossed my mind that maybe he liked the idea of me walking in the last part from the day before and was being a pill.
We went up Underwood today and had just a great time. Jupiter and I went off alone a couple of times and he really listened and did not fuss about anyone else. We had a great day. Then we went down the long, long steep part of the trail. He did fine, but afterward I got off and readjusted the saddle back off his neck more because it seemed too close (even with the cruper). He kept acting funny as we continued down toward the road. I think I got off two more times to try and make adjustments. Finally, I just knew he had had enough. So Lynn got off too and checked the saddle.
It turns out he has outgrown the little blue saddle. The tree was jabbing into his shoulders. Lynn and I switched saddles and it was obvious that my old saddle fit him better. (Remember it was too big and we had to buy a pad?) We went off the road to try it out and it seemed much better. He did not act like it hurt anymore. However, because he was sweaty and the cinch loosened a little, the saddle slipped a little to the side. So when I got back up on the road with Shirley and Lynn, I just got off and walked the rest of the way. Lynn walked too, as Ziggy had the other saddle on.
Jupiter is such a great horse. He did fantastic today--even with the saddle poking him. We cantered quite smoothly and we went a little faster than we normally do. He and Star got along without a lot of pinned ears and dirty looks. Tomorrow I am going to try Lynn's latest idea--the woman is full of them! I am going to try out her endurance saddle without the horn. We'll see how the fat boy (and fat woman) does. (:
When we got home today, the boys immediately rolled. Ziggy is so funny. He just flopped himself and threw his feet over from side to side. What a lot of leg flailing! Jupes went down a second time near the bank that leads up to the water trough. He rolled over and found himself up against the hill. After a lot of leg kicking and scooting--he stood up again and looked around to see who noticed. Silly thing, if he'd flopped back over he would've been on the downhill side. Anyway--all three of them were covered in mud again and eagerly waiting for dinner.
Ziggy is now eating a new thrush product that totally looks like the powdered cheese from Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. It's not his favorite. Lynn mixes it with his grain at night. Tonight, he was eating more hay than orangy-looking grain when Jupes came down to see me and see if Zigs had any grain left. (Star had moved him from his box.) Zigs let him have it. The look on his face was like, "Go ahead, you're welcome to it if you think you'll like it." Jupes wasn't too sure either. Then came Indy. (Star had moved him too.) After a little bickering, Jupiter let Indy have the yucky orange stuff, too. Pretty soon all three orange horses had very orange lips and whiskers. Kind of like what your fingers look like after eating Cheetos.
I know it's only February, but we are planning our Memorial Day weekend. I keep forgetting it's a long time off! We need to meet at Whiskeytown or Redding sometime soon. It's supposed to have been a little over 60 degrees over there today--prime riding weather. (:
We went up Underwood today and had just a great time. Jupiter and I went off alone a couple of times and he really listened and did not fuss about anyone else. We had a great day. Then we went down the long, long steep part of the trail. He did fine, but afterward I got off and readjusted the saddle back off his neck more because it seemed too close (even with the cruper). He kept acting funny as we continued down toward the road. I think I got off two more times to try and make adjustments. Finally, I just knew he had had enough. So Lynn got off too and checked the saddle.
It turns out he has outgrown the little blue saddle. The tree was jabbing into his shoulders. Lynn and I switched saddles and it was obvious that my old saddle fit him better. (Remember it was too big and we had to buy a pad?) We went off the road to try it out and it seemed much better. He did not act like it hurt anymore. However, because he was sweaty and the cinch loosened a little, the saddle slipped a little to the side. So when I got back up on the road with Shirley and Lynn, I just got off and walked the rest of the way. Lynn walked too, as Ziggy had the other saddle on.
Jupiter is such a great horse. He did fantastic today--even with the saddle poking him. We cantered quite smoothly and we went a little faster than we normally do. He and Star got along without a lot of pinned ears and dirty looks. Tomorrow I am going to try Lynn's latest idea--the woman is full of them! I am going to try out her endurance saddle without the horn. We'll see how the fat boy (and fat woman) does. (:
When we got home today, the boys immediately rolled. Ziggy is so funny. He just flopped himself and threw his feet over from side to side. What a lot of leg flailing! Jupes went down a second time near the bank that leads up to the water trough. He rolled over and found himself up against the hill. After a lot of leg kicking and scooting--he stood up again and looked around to see who noticed. Silly thing, if he'd flopped back over he would've been on the downhill side. Anyway--all three of them were covered in mud again and eagerly waiting for dinner.
Ziggy is now eating a new thrush product that totally looks like the powdered cheese from Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. It's not his favorite. Lynn mixes it with his grain at night. Tonight, he was eating more hay than orangy-looking grain when Jupes came down to see me and see if Zigs had any grain left. (Star had moved him from his box.) Zigs let him have it. The look on his face was like, "Go ahead, you're welcome to it if you think you'll like it." Jupes wasn't too sure either. Then came Indy. (Star had moved him too.) After a little bickering, Jupiter let Indy have the yucky orange stuff, too. Pretty soon all three orange horses had very orange lips and whiskers. Kind of like what your fingers look like after eating Cheetos.
I know it's only February, but we are planning our Memorial Day weekend. I keep forgetting it's a long time off! We need to meet at Whiskeytown or Redding sometime soon. It's supposed to have been a little over 60 degrees over there today--prime riding weather. (:
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