Chestnut is a Color

Easy Day

Nevel had the privilege of an "easy day" today.  I am suffering from a head and chest cold for one thing, and his overly charged day yesterday made me realize that the poor youngin' just needed a break.

I went for a visit and treated him to some carrots before grooming him in the barn.  Then we took a walk around some of the buildings and checked out a dirt pile-which he tried to eat.  The big mounting platform that they use for "special" children proved to be a little "spooky" for him so we walked around it and I made him stand beside it.

After that we called it a day and returned to his paddock for some grass/alfalfa hay and a small bowl of grain.  He preferred the alfalfa over the grain.

After returning home, my "S.O." texted and asked if he would meet Nevel tonight.  Feeling cruddy, I asked him to drive and we got there around 8:40 pm.  I called Nevel and he peeked around the side of his shelter then met me at the gate.  It took him one second to find the carrots.  We hung out and petted him til closing-9pm.  

Tomorrow?  what will tomorrow bring?

Back in the Saddle

Checking out the Arena

 Cuteness

I had a nice ride this evening

walked, trot, and cantered

But unfortunately my friend DIDNT when she rode.

I turned away for one moment and next thing I knew....

Buck buck buck and she was on the ground

: (

BAD NEVEL

Not a good way to end the day.

Sam the owner came out-I didn't realize that my friend had not turned in her paper-work to him, but she had it in the car and she went with him to the barn to get the liability form filled out.

Meanwhile

I hooked up the two lunge lines on Nevel and drove him around some and had him "gee" "haw" and "woah"

Then I lunged him in big circles in both directions, found my reins that had been hung on the rail. By then my friend had returned to the arena...looking a bit sore...

I knew Nevel was tired.  I really probably pushed him over his limit-but he had still seemed relaxed after I had ridden him.

Why had he bucked?

Other reasons could have been that the back girth had become loose and slid back some, but it was attached to the front girth.  It just doesn't really fit him right. I will need to punch holes in the one that goes with the saddle so it will fit his little body.

ANYWAY

I had to get back on...hhhmmmm  hhhmmmm

Ok, so back on I went and had him walk along.  He wasn't as willing as he had been earlier and when I  had him trot he put his head down, but I got it back up and slowed to a walk again...no more BUCKING!  I then trotted him a little again and then turned him in to the center.  

The horses in the field near the arena were galloping all around-they could have been the reason for his antics TOO

Regardless, we did end on a good note with me driving/lunging/riding him again, so hopefully the next time around he will behave.

My friend seems to think that he wanted me,

 because she said when I walked away he turned to follow me. 

 I am not sure he is really that bonded to me yet.  I have only seen him twice in a month...but when I did go to see him before buying, I felt like he and I connected.

So here we go again!

He is young and inexperienced

Hopefully we won't have anymore drastic bumpy rides!

Now the Horse

Getting checked out by Dr. Morgan at Loomis Basin Equine

Nevel needed a "re-breather" plastic bag

 to get him to breathe deep enough 

for Dr. Morgan to hear his Respirs 

 Getting ready for some lunging

 Flying around at the trot-too hot to canter

 Getting ready for the Flexion Test

 Naaaahhhh....101 is just too hot to run!

 Standing nicely for the flexion test!  Very good boy Mr Nevel!

 Settled in at Lakeside-Hay and carrot snacko

 What a sweet cute boy...Love him already!

Basic evaluation was great.  He had a temp of 101 when he got off of the trailer, but he had been riding for 3 hours, plus it was 101 in the Sun!
Heart rate was 40
Respirs 12
and
Weight- About 700lbs.  so he is underweight, which I knew when I bought him...I expect him to put on some weight pretty quickly since he won't have much competition for food at Lakeside.
So the verdict is:  He looks great, needs to put on weight and I need to lose some weight!

Also, the "worm" exam will be in by the end of the week.

Heading to Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center...

...soon

Nevel should be arriving by NOON for his Vet exam, then on to Lakeside.

I've loaded up the car....

 Saddle soaped and oiled

 Teal Bio-thane Bridle/Halter and Breastplate

  Sponge and leash

 Saddle pad

 Extra girths

  Caddy with pics, brushes, curry, combs

  2 lunge lines to practice driving techniques

  Horse Snacks

Now all I need is a HORSE!   

A few faces from the Horse EXPO

ok, maybe a few sexy feet too

 Please don't step on me

Baby Face

 Can you believe this hair-doo they've rigged me up in???

 oops...can't see the faces down there

 I'm hot and tired...time for a nap

 5 week old Buster the clydesdale colt kicking up his heels and flying lead changes

 and all fours off the ground

 showing off his twists and turns

One of Holly's Haflingers, her pair one second place in the show.

 Andalusion

 There's always got to be an odd one in the bunch!

Trying to get inspired....isn't hard...

When I read Sinwaan's blog.  I hope that one day Shana and I will ride together again...hey, maybe next year...one never knows.

Falcon's revamp is costing me an arm and a leg (but maybe that is better than MY head and ribs as has been the case previously)  I tell my friend who hasnt ridden in 20 years that he can ride Falcon...but that really didn't go over so well, so hopefully I can get him on Nevel in a few months.

Hope to see Holly Singleton and her Haflingers at the Driving Darby in Sacramento at the Horse Expo tomorrow.  I haven't ever gone to the Expo as I tend to not like large crowds of people...but I do want to see Holly drive and I want to look at horse trailers.

Speaking of Holly, she will be bringing Nevel down on Tuesday.  I can't wait to see that little "whipper-snapper"  and to start riding again.  He is 3, so technically I could do a 25 miler on him next year, but we will see.  I don't want to push him.  We will start out slow and easy.

In preparation I soaped up my River Plantation saddle and have it nice and clean...but honestly, it still sports some mud from the Fort Valley, Va ride that I did in 2008 when it rained for 5 hours straight and we were forging creeks up to Falcon's belly.  Ah, it is ok to carry good memories that inspire one to go on.

I am hoping that the Teal Biothane bridle and breastplate that I had for Red (the Missouri Fox Trotter) will fit little Nevel.  No doubt it WILL fit next year when he fills out, anyway, if it doesn't, I am sure I can figure out something from my pieces and parts from other bridles.  I am also looking forward to receiving a Skito pad this next week that has a teal colored pattern in it.  Until then I will use Falcon's royal blue Skito.  The Skito's are expensive (but I figured Nevel deserved ONE new item since everything else will be hand-me downs), but I highly recommend them and they are easy to wash once the inner pads are removed.

So kids...the adventures are soon to begin!