“It sure felt good to be on a horse”

“It sure felt good to be on a horse”. That was my first thought, and the comment I texted my hubby, when I rode last week.  It’s been a long winter for me, and this was just my 2^nd ride of the year.  Compared to last year, I had many more rides in, with almost 100 miles recorded by now.  Not so this year, but the minute I rode off on Bonita, while ponying Allie, I couldn’t believe how great it felt!  I couldn’t believe I’ve waited so long to ride this winter/early spring.

 

Most winters, I’ve given the horses a rest Jan and Feb.  I start consistent riding from March on, as the days get warmer…. usually.  Last year, riding for the Horsetrailriders Distance Derby, I started riding in January and rode every day that I was home, and the weather cooperated.  This year, March is here, 1^st day of spring came and went, we’ve had some near 70 degree days, and I still didn’t get extra days of riding in.  But I did take the time to just be with the horses during chore time, moving among them, petting or rubbing on some of them, standing quietly by the ones that just want the closeness.

 

With my mom passing away last Oct, and hubby having some health issues this winter and recovering from a recent surgery, life with horses not only got slowed down, but got put on hold.  Tiredness doesn’t always have to be physical.  I think mental strain/anguish/stress makes you so much more tired and drains what energy is left over from the day.  I didn’t have any problem sitting and doing nothing.  I guess it was my body’s way of telling me that I’m not ready to be as busy as I was last year.  I felt the need to take the time to rejuvenate.  I knew I not only had to build up my energy, but also my desire to want to do more with the horses.

 

A mid-winter vacation is always welcomed.  Sun and warmth does wonders for the mind and body.  So does spring sun and warmth!  I love to hear the birds singing.   I love to see green grass.  I’m ready to see the trees bud up and leaves start to come out.  I’ve had my winter rest.  I’m really ready for the tans and browns and grey tones of winter to change into the greens and yellows and reds and oranges and blues of spring grass and flowers.  I love flowers and taking photos of them, especially roses.  Maybe I’ll plant more perennials this year.  I’m starting to feel the growth of spring in my body and mind and soul.  I’m starting to see the true colors of spring again.

 

Spring is here.  Hubby and I just had our 33^rd Anniversary.  We have 2 small grandsons that are spending the night tonight and next weekend, we’ll see our 2 young granddaughters.  Then I’ll be ready to start riding, and working young horses, and petting on yearlings, and watching the broodmares.  I’m starting to get excited about seeing this year’s foal crop come this summer!

 

Just writing this makes me want spring even more.  I’m ready to get back into the saddle.  Watch out… the ride is on. Hope you are able to get back on the trails too.  And as always, “Embrace the Journey!”

Hot and Humid Weather

With this hot, humid weather, how do we practice any Centered Riding exercises? I ride early, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be riding. Even in my lessons, we go through a lot of slow, walking times and do a lot of stretches. I’ve done more stretches and exercises than I ever have in lessons. If I didn’t, the horses would be lathered in sweat, instead of just wet with sweat.

Why is this summer so hot and humid? Is it the extra rain? Is it the pivots adding moisture to the air? Is it global warming? Yea, right, this past December and January, there was no global warming here!

All I know is that the humidity is draining everyone’s good moods about horses and the desire to ride. How can we enjoy our horses when all we do is sweat? I try to stay calm and breathe…. Slowly.

But on the bright side, maybe there is only 1 more month of summer before the cooler weather of fall is here! Well, maybe a little over a month.

So in a month, get prepared to ride. And a lot! With a lot of homework from me! Every week, we’ll concentrate on a different Centered Riding exercise. I’ll through in an AAHS exercise. We’ll concentrate on making ourselves a balanced rider.

Sally Swift, founder of Centered Riding, said that we need to work on 75% on our riding and 25% on the horse. When we concentrate on ourselves, the riding gets easier.

Ok, plan on riding by Sept. I sure hope August isn’t so hot and humid as July!

Ride Time

I had a nice ride today. After almost 6 months since my last ride, I actually
had a good time riding Starlet in the field. It's taken a lot of time to get
here, but it feels good. I didn't even tear up this time when I rode. I'm
glad. I want to get back to having a good time when I ride. I have missed
that.

The other thing that feels good is that I just put out an email earlier today to
all my last year's lesson people. I am ready to start lessons, and schedule my
summer morning lessons. The house, barn and horse trailer are all back to
normal since moving the store inventory home. What a big job! This has been a
very busy 3 weeks, with a trip to CO thrown in there too. Parents are here this
week from PA, so it's hard to stay in the barn for more than a couple of hours
with them visiting. But tomorrow, I'm going to ride Chick and pony Startlet -
those mares are so fat! They both need worked each day!



Then I start again with Shaggy. He walks up to me to be petted all the time. It's time I give him the time and attention that he deserves.

Anyways, just wanted you to know I'm back to riding, so if you have any
lesson/training/trail riding needs, or just want to go on a day ride, I have
time.

I will get a Centered Riding Introductory day scheduled soon, I hope. I would like to teach the exercises, first to the riders while they are off the horses. Once the riders have an understanding of the exercises on the ground, then I’ll have the riders on their horses. Food is always an incentive. Maybe I’ll have a free ride time, except for the cost of the arena, have a potluck meal, then do a couple of hours of the exercises. I hope to build up some interest for Centered Riding.

I’m so glad to finally feel like riding and to have taken a ride. Starlet better watch out - she is going to lose some weight. Shaggy should be fun to finish, as he is ready to move on!



Come along on the ride with me!

Starlet and Chick Went to the Field

Starlet with Duster

Today wasn’t as nice as yesterday, temperature wise. Low 60’s instead of 70’s. The clouds were out so the sun wasn’t. Sitting inside, it seemed dreary. My friend Virginia texted to see what I was doing, and I told her that I should be riding and working my young horse. I asked her if she wanted to come ride one of my horses, since I wasn’t in the mood to ride Shaggy today.

I went out to get Starlet and Chick out of the muddy lot. What a mess. It is going to take weeks to dry up. This week is suppose to be dry. Now I’m hoping for some wind so the mud dries up sooner! I just rode Chick yesterday, and you would think she could stay clean for 1 day! But nooooo. She just had to go and roll, and she must have rolled 4 times by the amount of mud in her mane and tail. How in the world did she get mud in her eyebrows?

I had started grooming to get some of the mud off before Virginia arrived. Starlet isn’t as messy. Virginia came, we finished grooming, saddled and headed to the field. Virginia rode Starlet and I rode Chick. Starlet was a little goosey and I wished I was riding her. Chick was acting better than she did the day before. I told Virginia that I wanted to change horses since Starlet was ansy, but my Virginia said she was fine. But as we rode, I wished I was on Starlet, since she was the horse I rode before I started riding Finny.

We rode for about an hour and a half. We followed the road and the waterways, as the harvested fields were still wet. We followed the edge of one soybean field to a CRP land. Once into the grassland, we could go anywhere. We reminded each other that it was hunting season, so we watched for hunters. We rode the edge of the grassland to a clump of trees, walking over some logs. We headed into shorter grass to the top of a small rise, and let the horses rest. We looked at the trees in the distance, noticing how barren everything is. We turned the horses toward the barn, as my friend had to leave in about ½ hour. As we rode to the edge of the grassland, we kicked out 2 deer. They followed the tree line between the grass and the harvested fields. Chick perked her ears and watched the deer intently. I could feel her quiver but she never moved. Starlet was watching the deer until they left our sight.

The horses were relaxed as we rode back to the barn. We past the dog kennel, and the dogs laid quietly, used to me riding past them. Unsaddling went faster than saddling. There was no use grooming as the horses would go out and roll. We walked them back to the muddy lot, until the next time. I’m hoping for wind so the mud disappears.

Next time, I will have to work Shaggy. I’m getting excited to see how he rides. Come along on the ride with me.

To Ride or Not to Ride

I just spent 3 days at our State 4-H Show in Grand Island, Nebraska. 500 kids. Over 1000 horses. I set up a tack booth. Mornings were cool. Afternoons were hot! When the sun went down, evenings were fine.

I left Grand Island Tuesday when it was 91 degrees. 2 hours later, when I arrived in Lincoln at my store, it was 93 degrees. With my husband’s help, it only took an hour to unload the trailer! We at least parked in shade to unload. But by the time I got home, and Tom and I finished chores, I was tired.

Today, the morning started out cool. I thought… today is cooler, and I can go on the Platte River Riders Ride tonight! Noon time was only 81. Looking good! I came home from the store and spent 1 ½ hours mowing. Now it’s 3, and mid 80’s. Not too bad, a little warm, but I’m sweating a little. I think the humidity is rising!

I needed to wait for the Direct TV repair man. He was suppose to be here at 3, but arrived at 3:20. OK…I can still make the ride. Temp seems to be warmer. Within minutes, the repair man determines that we are only getting 9% of the reception, when 50-60% is normal! It seems that my tree cutting happy husband has cut the wrong branches. I thought, “oh great, what is this costing me?” But we have free service. Yeah!

Temps seem warmer. Both the repairman and I are sweating. Riding doesn’t seem so great now. Repair man leaves and I call Tammy. I told her that I am wimping out and staying home.

I came into the house to cool down. Thermometer says 88 degrees! Relaxing and swimming sounds nicer than rushing to get a horse and tack loaded, trailering for 45 minutes, and sweating while I brush and saddle. I decided that I was too tired to do all the prep work to ride, haul, tack up, and ride. I wanted to relax.

So I downed a swim suit, called my son to tell him that I was home and they could come swim. I wanted to see my grandbaby, Caden. I was suppose to babysit him tonight, and that got changed to tomorrow night. So he came to swim with Grandma.

I was a lot cooler tonight than I would have been!!! Even though it seemed liked a lovely night to ride, I was just too tired to trailer. Maybe when it is cooler….like in Sept and Oct!

I missed the ride. But I had a fun time swimming and watching Caden eat his oatmeal after the swim!

Next time, I’ll ride. Come along on the ride with me.