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Sunday, March 17, 2013

A Fabulous St Patricks Day

Well-I was by myself
But sometimes that is ok
I round penned Falcon then plunked the new saddle on him.  It took several adjustments and he gave a couple of tiny half bucks when I sent him around in a circle-so we adjusted it some more.

I was determined that this saddle was going to fit both of us!!!!~!
Then I put him in the arena and let him go-He went racing all around 
like the bear was after him.
Silly Boy!
Then I lunged him after another adjustment to the rigging, by this time the leather was becoming more supple and easier to tighten.
Then I mounted up and he stood stock still.
GOOD BOY!
We did some tight turns going both ways and he seemed ok.
I can't stand the hot arena-so we headed off for the woods.
A few flowers were out-but not many-maybe it has been too dry.
 Interesting and fun-I have no clue what the below plant even is!

Initially he did not want to go anywhere, but we eventually got moving with some walk, trot, canter and pretty decent slow downs and whoa's!  
We were out in the woods for about an hour.
I forgot to take pics while he was still all tacked up so here is his dirty self with the breast collar and bit hanging off the saddle.
 This saddle has such a soft comfy seat! yayyy for me!
But it is squeaky and needs to be broken in.
He had perfect sweat marks-no dry spots!
Yayyy for him!





Thursday, March 14, 2013

The saddle arrived a day early

AND
a few D rings short!

They re-vamped the saddle and left the D-rings off! grrrrrrrrrr.
I love D-Rings...can never have enough of them.

The rings were on when I received the saddle the first time around, so I emailed Staci again.  Haven't heard back from her yet.
At least it won't keep me from riding, but I will have to tie my water bottles on instead of clipping.

Staci sent me a BEAUTIFUL pair of reins for free since they messed up the saddle, maybe a free matching bridle will smooth out my aggravation with the saddle.

Looking forward to trying out the saddle on Sunday.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Good Morning!

The face that greets me at 5 a.m.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Thanks ALOT NEVEL!!!!

Out and about for the usual "grass walk"
Nevel likes to walk up under the hanging vines
and eat the grass there.

Tonight he was totally engrossed in his grass
I looked up the lane and saw a lady in purple walking briskly
toward us.
Major was coming down the lane too  with his mom in tow : )

When the lady was about 15 feet away, Nevel decided to spook.
He shot out of those vines like a bullet.
The lead rope went flying out of my hand so fast
Spiraling as it went and SKINNED me...
Skinned the underside of my middle finger and the top side of my thumb. But some how
I kept hold of it and was glad for the knot I have on the end of it...
jerked that rascal to a stop as he dashed around the outside corner of the arena.

Now my fingers are all bubbly, swollen-ouchey!  and it is my left hand!  I am left handed (mostly)
Guess I will be right handed with my "mouse" tomorrow at work.

Falcon was behaved during his walk, had a nice gallop in the arena and was only slightly spooky with the tarp being thrown at him.

These knucklehead 1000lb pasture pets of mine need to learn to take care of me:
She who WORKS to feed THEM!

Yeh, THANKS ALOT, NEVEL ZYUNGA PATTON!!!!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Perfect Riding Weather

And I am sick-Blah-sick-Blah-Sick

Maybe I will be able to gather my strength by next weekend.  My AMTS saddle is supposed to be here on Thursday.

Guess I will do some ground work with Falcon a few days this week in anticipation of riding again.
Last weekend that darn Big Horn endurance saddle was SO uncomfortable.

I shortened the stirrups,
(Falcon took a pic of the grass)



















I lengthened them,
Falcon got closer to the grass...



















I kept stopping to reposition them on my feet.
(Falcon took a pic of me while rubbing his head on me)

I have decided that the saddle seat is too small for me and does not allow me to sit properly in the saddle.

My thighs hurt so bad at the end-but maybe some of that was the "sickness" coming on.

 Falcon was a good boy mostly, almost to the lake and back for an hour long ride, mostly walk with a little trot and canter up the hill.

He had two MAJOR spooks after I got off of him, once he got stuck on a branch and he went up in the air trying to get away from it.  The other was a guy coming out of a house and slamming the door...


Thursday, March 7, 2013

The Golden Child...

...goes back to school

I love the active expression on Nevel's face.
He and Mike are having an interesting conversation.


















And I think Nevel has the tarp lesson under control~
 it is just anything away from home that gives him fright!



Friday, March 1, 2013

Happy March !

Flowers are blooming everywhere!
 FRAGRANT PLUM
 Lovely Lupine
 and...
POPPIES!!!!