Work: PM heat therapy & short grooming Evaluation: Cold weather puts him in a mood. Some days it’s better to just walk and come back tomorrow. Went to a Western used tack sale and bought two wool saddlepads: A Navajo-style plaid and a inch-thick felt. Rodney appears to enjoy warm over cold. He loves hisContinue reading “Crosstacking”
Category Archives: Barn Life
Head Games
Work: early PM – heat therapy, long-for us-walk to the top of the hill/late PM – 2 grooming sessions in an attempt to deferalize. Evaluation: Dawdled up the hill with his head down & yawned twice halfway up. Since he used to pull me up the hill, I’m counting this as a solid win. RodneyContinue reading “Head Games”
More rain. Yippee.
Horse work: unlikely. 90% chance of thunderstorms with a looming, green/yellow/red blob on the radar. Rider work: exercise DVD. When I complained of feeling unusually cranky about the horse, Hubby pointed out that I have never been happy with any horse at this time of year due to short days, uncooperative weather, and muddy footing.Continue reading “More rain. Yippee.”
How I Learned to Think Like a Horse
The legendary California horseman Jimmy Williams once said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that’s important.” When I was in my early 20s, I finally had my own horse, had leased several horses, had graduated from US Pony Clubs, and had been a working student at two barns. I knew it all.Continue reading “How I Learned to Think Like a Horse”
Ropework
Horse Work: AM heat therapy, walk. PM nothing. Sufficient daylight but activities of daily living left me with insufficient patience to deal with him a second time today. Evaluation: Relaxed but still seeking reassurance. Rider Work: mare walk, bike. We are experimenting with using a neck rope instead of a halter. I keep the ropeContinue reading “Ropework”
The Fish/Pond Equation
Horse Work: PM heat therapy. An unrelated house crisis* threw my schedule out of whack. Evaluation: still on the alert. From time off? Rider Work: mare walk, swim. It is better to be a small fish in a big pond. Play tennis against opponents better than you. Apparently, some folks rise to a challenging environment.Continue reading “The Fish/Pond Equation”
Back in the [figurative] Saddle
Work: AM heat therapy, easy walk/PM groom, ran out of daylight for exercises. Evaluation*: During the walk, he stayed relaxed despite being annoyed at the dog. Almost like a horse that one might someday want to ride. Almost. Someday. By the end of the grooming, he began to remember that he enjoys being fussed over.Continue reading “Back in the [figurative] Saddle”
Virtual Brush Box 