I started Bugs on the 'fatty' conditioning program too.I've also started riding Moon and got a ride in on Turk today too. I made the official decision to switch Moon from running to the right barrel first to running to the left barrel first. So I have to make sure to work on his pattern as much as possible. He's a little confused at the moment. Moon does not like to do things differently than he always has.
We still have snow on the ground, although the temps have been around 40 for the last few days. It's just not melting much.
I had been avoiding riding Spooks and Turk because they are shod and they slip a lot more than the barefoot horses do. But it dawned on me this evening...The road is dry. Duhhh!!! There is no traffic on our road during the day and it's a 1/2 mile to the intersection. If nothing else, I can walk Turk and Spooks up and down the road for a little exercise.
The sun is still setting between these two hills...
It gets a tad farther north every few days or so. When it finally starts setting on the north side of that hill to the right...Spring will be here.
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Lucky woman.. playing with ponies.. *sigh*
Love the contrail in the last photo.
oh I can't wait until spring. I noticed my gelding is getting a little belly on him, but you can still see his muscle tone on his butt & shoulders so he's not too bad yet. He is the low man on the totem pole so he can't be turned out with the majority of the horses and the round bale. Instead he's with 2 horses that are about 25yrs old, one can barely move, the other one is too scared to go near another horse. This has worked better than I thought cause their diet is managed better.... less work for me this spring! :-)
It has been amazingly cold here. Even when the temperature is fairly decent the windchill makes it horrible (the other day, -15 but with the windchill it was -41!!)
I've gotten exactly ONE ride so far this year. Luckily a local girl has been putting rides on Applejack. He's the one that turns "mushy" easiest.
Also since we're on our own place I control the feed so no one is getting as fat as last year. :)
I need to start working Casey. He's soft, but not fat. Of course, he's been here 6 months and that's more than long enough for him to have adjusted to the climate.
Molly is going to mostly be retired. We're currently dealing with a tendon injury and there's some question about whether or not this is the first time she's had this same injury. So, she's just going to be a pasture puff for a while, if not permanently.
Working horses, I am so jealous. Not much happening here in that department. Too slippery.
I always wondered if it mattered which barrel you took first. Are you doing that for a training technique or can you really go either way??
Looks nice, it seems to take forever to get them into shape after a winter off!
MiKael-It's acceptable to go either direction.
I started wondering about switching Moon last year when we started having so many problems with 2nd barrel. He's gotten a clean bill from the vet/chiro, the dentist and the farrier. For whatever reason, when I pick up on Moon to the left, his first instinct is to resist and bow into pressure. Once he gives, he's fine and can and will hold a frame going that direction.
By switching directions, I will have the chance to get him into the correct frame before he takes off running for what will now be his first barrel and can hold him in the correct frame so turning the barrel will be easier for him.
He's supple and light when I pick up on the right rein. No resistance at all. That means I should not have the same problem getting him into the correct position to turn his 2nd barrel like I was when he was running the other way.
OHHH I am SO very tired of Winter!!! I'm sure it's a bit colder up there for you but UGHH I wish for Spring!!
Thanks so much for your awesome words and direction from my post! Everyone of you guys gave me a reason to smile! So sorry you and your mom have had to deal with a situation so similar! All of those kids need a spanking!
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