Horse club

[TropicalBabies]

Brrrrr! Glad they are able to get out and stretch their legs on this fine day.

Happy Holidays all!

 

[Dawnwolf1234]

Brrrrr! Glad they are able to get out and stretch their legs on this fine day. View attachment 2939865View attachment 2939866View attachment 2939867
Happy Holidays all!

Beautiful atmosphere and horses <3

 

[TropicalBabies]

You too! I bet your place is amazing when green. What are you farming?

 

[TropicalBabies]

I rode my OTTB Fiona last week for the first time since Covid!

For many reasons, but mostly because my work schedule has been crazy and unpredictable for the past year, due to others needing to work from home, plus I've tried to only be at the barn when nobody or few people are there, because I would be devastated if I accidentally infected someone - some of the horses in our barn are part of a therapy program and most of their riders have health issues that would make contracting covid life-threatening to them.

So I got my 2nd vaccination on Monday, and I know I'm supposed to wait two weeks before being around non-household-members, but I just couldn't help it, I immediately went to the barn and tacked up my horse! She was pretty happy to finally be ridden, and just wanted to go, Go, GO! Like, any little leg pressure she chose to interpret as, "time to gallop!" And if I tried to contain her, she would throw her head around and protest.

My problem is that I've lost so much fitness, I can't depend on my seat and legs to steady her. My left leg still feels somewhat solid, but my right leg is like a noodle, all over the place. And Fiona's the type of horse who takes her cues from seat and legs - if I pull on the reins it just starts a fight.

I rode her two more times this week, and we've improved a bit - she still speeds around and tosses her head if I get too strong with the reins, but we did achieve some decent moments of bending at the trot, and some obedient but not very pretty trot/canter/trot transitions.

So, I signed up for a lesson next Friday, which I'm scared about! Our new instructor is really nice and I've heard good things from her students, but geez, I'm so unfit, a half hour of easy WTC today had me sweating like a racehorse. I'm afraid a 45-min lesson might kill me!

I told a friend at the barn, and she said, "oh too bad, we'll be there too late to see your lesson." I told her," You'll be there in time to see a puddle in the middle of the arena, which will be me."

I'm just so happy to be riding again, I don't care how bad I stink.

My old guy (Komet, age 27) had a workout today too - I longed him in the arena and he wanted to GO! GO! as well - it was so wonderful to see him going sound, after a round of Adequan. We have a couple "chill-out" pastures, where we can put our horses after a bath, workout or whatever, where there are big stumps to sit on and hang out while our horses graze and/or run around - Komet had a lot of fun there, grazing, cantering through the only muddy place and getting dirty.

With him going sound and feeling so good, I'm hoping longing him a few times a week including with side reins at times, he can increase his back muscles and I'll ride him in a while.

TLDR:
Finally riding and working my horses again, having a ton of fun and making plans!

Thanks for that. It makes me feel a tad better. I rode some the first year of pandemic as it is a safe adventure with the social distancing thing. But boy, this last year I have slacked and relied on DH to do the work and he has not. My horse is sad. I got to get back out there while it is cool. I did have a hoof excuse for a few months but Hombre's feet are starting to look better. Good for some light ground work and get some muscle tone back.

 

[Dawnwolf1234]

You too! I bet your place is amazing when green. What are you farming?

Surprisingly it doesn’t get very green where I live. We farm wine grapes and we have cows.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Hey everyone, Merry Christmas!
View attachment 2939862View attachment 2939863
Here is my horse Ringo (first pic) and his friend Paige (second pic) having fun in the first snowfall.

Merry Christmas! We had a warm day yesterday 32C and thunderstorms in the afternoon. It’s Boxing Day here.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Merry Christmas all!!

While you get snow dawnwolf...I plan on bathing Ginger this week.

Wish we got a little more cold weather but that's FL for you. At least I get to try out my new sponge I got as a part of my grooming kit! Been riding for 5 years and training for 1 year at the barn and have used their stuff until now...I am so ready to have my own lol

 

[Dawnwolf1234]

Merry Christmas all!!

While you get snow dawnwolf...I plan on bathing Ginger this week.

Wish we got a little more cold weather but that's FL for you. At least I get to try out my new sponge I got as a part of my grooming kit! Been riding for 5 years and training for 1 year at the barn and have used their stuff until now...I am so ready to have my own lol

View attachment 2940100

Lol had no idea weather was like that over on your side! I’m from Washington so we get a decent amount of snow. Lots of wind though. Adorable horse!

 

[littledog]

the first snowfall.

Whereabouts are you located in Washington, Dawnwolf ? I'm guessing from the vineyards in your photo that you are nearby Yakima, more or less? I'm on the west side, and we got blasted with snowmageddon on Sunday, and more today, with nothing but freezing temps in between, so there were layers of ice on the roads with more snow on top.

I was spending Christmas with family members, our two dogs and one cat, at an Air B&B on Vashon Island, and we got stuck there for three extra days. We had no way to leave, since the place was at the bottom of a steep, icy hill, plus even if we could have gotten out, the south ferry was cancelled due to a frozen hoist and the north ferry was down to one boat. At least all of us brought extra food, so we were safe, warm, and well-fed!

I finally got home today, but ended up having to leave my car there until it thaws. We ordered tire chains for my sister's car from the local place on the island, but they didn't have chains that would fit my car. A towing place couldn't get down there to tow us out, but they told us about a Facebook site where people were updating road conditions, and one poster was offering rides to people in need for whatever donation they could afford, as he had a 4-wheel drive with chains. So this super-nice Good Samaritan picked up our chains from the auto-parts store and brought them to us, helped put them on, and stuck around in case if they didn't do the job, he would make a run to the grocery store for us.

My sister was able to get her car up the hill with the new chains, so we stored the non-essentials in my car and crammed 4 people, two dogs, one cat and essential stuff into her car, and made it on the ferry, and then home.

I feel stupid for being so unprepared - when snow is forecast around here, it usually means a dusting that melts away quickly, unless you are going over the passes. I should have at least had chains for my car on hand, and I will from now on.

But I also feel really good ! Despite all the negative crap going on in the world, there are still so many wonderful people who are trying to help, to make things better, even for total strangers.

 

[Silkie Princess]

I don't own a horse. But I ride. Hopefully I'll get to compete in 2022

I ride a Welsh pony ( around 158cm) named Swallow. She's a sweetie. I didn't ride for at least a month because I had slight health issues and I finally went riding on Monday... And then I was told I was with someone with Covid The whole month Swallow was unridden only pulling a sleigh around town. Her canter wasn't the best

Oh and I ride english. I think I'm best at showjumping (my record was 115cm). I would love to compete at dressage though But Swalow gers bored doing dressage