Adapt to Enjoy

My old plastic station wagon has been keeping things interesting lately, trifling with me and bidding me adeiu from the back of tow tuck at least 5 times in the last year and a half. Wednesday afternoon encompassed it's latest bid for freedom from humanity, and after abandoning it at the mechanic's for the weekend I was seriously ready for a proper long ride at the lake this morning. And so of course, in the spirit of keeping things Interesting, I threw everything but the kitchen sink in the trailer and headed out for the lake. Everything but the kitchen sink--& a girth!

the weather has been coastal the last few days, some humidity and fog

hanging out with fillies is making him buff

Since I was wearing new hiking boots that needed breaking in and my cardio needed more work than my bareback seat I figured Scrap and I could still go hiking and it would be a worthwhile trip. The next immediate obstacle was how to carry water along, as I'm a dry-mouth-overheater-must-have-water type. After a futile search I nearly gave in but remembered the little stringy backpack bag I got for attending Lake Oroville ride in 2009. Never used it, never moved it from corner of the trailer tack I crunched it into, and just like that the hike was totally doable. I stole the fuzzy tubes off the bottom of my stirrup leathers to make the shoulder "straps" more comfortable and with water, keys, carrots, and my phone on board, off we went!

Scrappy thought I had brought him to the lake for a seriously quality grazing session

No 20 miles recorded but a good few for the human, including jogging hills, and I still got a "between the ears" shot!

 lead on, Scrapperton

 I was seriously entertained by the reactions of the weekend warriors we encountered along the way. They'd first see a "tackless" grey coming toward them through the trees, then see me on foot, wearing a pack, & sweating more than the horse. The women mostly managed to mumble something about how dirty my grey was while the men seemed singularly struck by the notion of hand walking a horse and both getting exercised. Meanwhile I realized this was the *perfect* thing to be doing with coming 4 yr old Sheza. Mimicking this day with Sheza would include leaving the herd, trailer time, trail time, different things to see, people and horses to encounter, variable loops to take, a round pen partway to use as necessary, fitness for me to be gained, bonding time for the 2 of us, and no escort needed!

You know you've been "endurancing" a while when things go totally south --often because of your own decisions--but Plan Z comes to mind and is utilized quite successfully enough, with enjoyment, work, and something to learn along the way.

The Herd at Work

Certainly work is a relative term, or should be, depending on age and expectations of the critter. For a fabulous blog post on the concept of work, rest, and recovery, please do go read this piece by Mel. (but do come back!)


Now that you've had some brain protein, here's dessert ;-)

kinda derpy but LOOK, her very first own tack 

(halter bridle, padded breastcollar & reins by Distance Depot)

Electric royal blue is her color <3

Sheza has been working the mature angle lately and she couldn't move through

 her willies to answering all my requests correctly quickly enough.

sometimes she almost rolls her eyes at me,

 "Yeah, see, watch me do it perfectly, what ELSE mom"

On Sunday my husband dropped me at one end of the trails and picked me up 

with a picnic at the other end. Perfection! 

Scrappy yoga

 Scrap was forward & went well in the Kimberwick on snaffle setting 

started on the cold side with ice in the puddles

let's go climb that! 

 12 barefoot miles later made it to the sunny side

quick toe roll with the rasp at home and BOY did his feet look pretty

gorgeous January sunrise, as the full moon set behind me

The humans must work tending the herd too, so yesterday pm we 

drilled holes & cemented in a few new fence posts to replace ones gone wibbly. 

that didn't take long

Rory was predictably helpful while Scrappy cared not and Sheza hid behind Scrappy

Rory is rather like a seventh dog--she's got a nose for trouble rather like a Doxie, too!

My beefy 3 yr old princess! Sheza didn't check things out til the tractor and 

tools were well away, with proper haat girl dignity 

The weather has taken a sudden turn for the sultry. That portion of the fence project will be finished by tomorrow, and it's on to the next thing that needs fixing. I can't say that there is much of anything more rewarding to me than tending the land and the herd. Certainly I enjoy adventure and am looking forward to all sorts of new challenges this year with the horses as well as launching our solo guide business; undeniably, the grounded country girl in me wakes early, eagerly, sipping hot tea as the sun rises over herd and heart, and is content.

Flexibility, Thy Name is Horse owner

Hard to believe a new year has already come around again! We kept it low key around here for the holidays; when not utilizing the fair weather productively our New Year celebrations looked pretty well like this, plus or minus some critters and humans:

I made it all of 1 day into January before sidelining horse plans for a random reason. I had scheduled to haul Blaze and Sheza to the lake yesterday to be joined by N but after prepping the trailer and tack, working the filly early in the frosty morning, and pulling Blaze, I noticed a couple things on Blaze that made me cancel. At the moment it can't be called more than a raised area at his left shoulder with slight palpation sensitivity and knotted muscle in his left flank, and an otherwise bright and cheery Blaze. I'm thinking he rolled on something/got out of whack, and will call the chiro if it hasn't magically disappeared in a day or two, but it was a nice new year reminder to stay alert and flexible.

Sheza still got a good round pen workout and some hoof micro managing in and enjoyed a half hour of hand grazing around the property before I glanced askance at the height tape reading 15 hands at the wither--and yes she's butt high currently-- and returned her to Scrappy. 

maybe I'll climb that porch and move that dog

My youngster Rushcreek has been restless as ever lately and her entertainment factor, retired step-mom Desire, has been opting for more napping and less galloping lately, so a pasture switch was due. I know everyone says "she's just a baby!" about Rory being naughty, and while it's true and I do recall not being overly fond of Sheza at a similar age, Rory's particular brand of mischief runs to the goat-esque* so she's best reoccupied before she really gets a wild hair (like chewing down a shed, running through open gates for the road, or jumping the fence..). 

*annoying, destructive, dangerous, did I mention annoying

Mini emperor Napoleon was also due for a hair cut, hoof trim, and pasture swap

Ever since we moved to our property 5 years ago I've been utilizing the many cross fenced areas so that only a retiree or the mini lived with someone else and there was minimal "risk." I don't know if it's having so many horses now or enough crap happen out of my control but sometime in the last few months I've suddenly gotten over my herd paranoia. My first step was letting Sheza live with Scrappy (my baby! my endurance horse!) and I really threw in the proverbial control towel when adding Rory to the mix yesterday. My whole riding future, in one (read 3) pasture(s), able to murderate each other, intentionally or otherwise. So far it's yielded a hilarious video, a very pleased Scrappy, and probably some more wiggle room in my conditioning schedule with the fillies keeping him moving. I always keep a sharp eye on dynamics as they can change daily but so far the group of youngsters seem pretty peaceful and Scrappy seems to like having a herd again.

Something I forgot to write in here originally but think bears adding: I'm curious what Scrappy having a herd at home will do to his brain, since he's been "alone" (sharing fence line only) or with the mini at the most in the last year. I wondered if a horse who came from a herd environment originally then spent his down time "alone" and only got out in groups settings again at ride camps didn't just ask for trouble, ya know?  

Rory threw her standard hour long tantrum about the pasture switch..

..she headbutted and bodychecked Sheza trying to get her to run dramatically but if you can't tell, Sheza is currently trying on the role of Scrappy Who Stands and Watches Dubiously

"mature" horses not sure what the fuss is about ;-) 

But An Arab is an Arab! 

 Scrap leads his ladies away

 One never knows what the day, week, or month will yield, let alone 365 pages yet to be written. I aim to keep an open mind and heart and ride, ride, ride.