Rain and a Large Filly

Loaded up Mr. Blaze and met N and Willow at the lake this morning. It was cool and chilly when the sun went behind the clouds, and as we meandered/spooked/stumbled/snorted our way around the 6 mile horse camp loop in 2 hours, it got darker and chillier. N and I agreed we were both ready to ditch the horses and take a nap so we called it after the loop and as I drove home rain drops were falling!

N and Willow blowing in the breeze:

Part of the trail underwater:

Blaze ears:

After I got home I was killing time while Blaze's trough filled so I took some photos of my over sized filly who trod upon my toe this morning in her enthusiasm..


Matchy matchy

She got mom's tail!

Look at me ma!

Joey & Ground Driving

I was out early this morning heading south to ride my friend's Pintabian gelding, Chief. We had a fun 10 mile ride with some good trotting and hill work and a great cool down in the river at the end.

 I made it home just in time to meet my trainer friend, B, to work Joey. Joey had the week off last week since the focus was on Desire and the ride, but today he was back to it. Today was some surcingle and ground driving work, though turns out he wasn't into having her behind him in any way, shape, or form, until the very end. The winds were high today and the horses over at the neighboring horse "rescue" were calling and restless, so he was pretty spooky and wired. Still, he did good work and he really is smart as a whip!

Checking out all the new equipment. Notice the doggie helper sticking his head through the gate...that's our lab mix, Tady, who comes and sleeps next to me during every training session.

Moving out with the surcingle:

 Feeling the long line on his bit, getting used to a little weight on it (just the weight of the rope itself)

Moving out with a slight bend, Hmmm, what is this new feeling?

Good boy, has a great Whoa these days:

Moving out with long lines through the rings and over his back, very exciting:

Hmm, new and strange, but I'm okay..

Look at the stretch!

Just a pretty boy!

 He didn't like her to truly ground drive behind him, you can see the tension here:

Hmm, well maybe you're okay back there..

By the end he was walking off with her almost (not quite) behind him:

First time seeing him bend and figure out how to carry his head besides HIGH!

He did a solid hours work and had a bath at the end, and THEN it was (happily) dinner time for all!

Sound?!

Pulled the 4 Glue-ons off. It wasn't as bad as everyone had led me to believe, I just stuck a flat head screwdriver in the heel of the boot where it was already separating and from there tapped it with a mallet, wedging it down around the boot to free the boot from the hoof. Desire was great with the fronts, kept lifting the backs in an irritating fashion, but after the first boot I got to where I could work the screwdriver around the whole boot once and pry it off successfully on the first try.

She came right to the gate and nickered at me today, ready to be haltered. I was expecting her to tell me to go fly a kite like she did after the Cache Creek 50. I think that says something for how well she did eating and drinking and electrolyting, she didn't lose much weight at all and wasn't feeling tired or cranky-- and was happier to see me after 90 miles than after that 50!

The left front boot, freed from the hoof and ready to pry off:

Left front hoof with coating of Goober Glue:

Left front after Goober Glue peeled off...VERY stinky and soft and some of the sole peeled off with the Glue..she isn't actually missing a chunk from the toe, that's just excess glue that makes it look that way..

I only took photos of the left front as that was the one I was obsessed with, but all 4 looked pretty much the same, though I do think the left front was the stinkiest and softest.


I sprayed all 4 feet liberally with Veteriycyn and then....

SHE TROTTED OUT SOUND!

I took a few tentative jog steps on the soft dirt heading back to her paddock and she jumped right into a solid trot. I couldn't believe my eyes and did it again, then had her trot around me in each direction and she was sound.

Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit.