Minnie-mare
Dec. 31st, 2006 06:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quietannMore riding today, and since Minnie has her shoes back on we could do a bit more than on Friday.
We rode over to the big field with the intention of two trots around it (or at least halfway around it). But we didn't quite get that, thanks to the horses showing us their true personalities. Trumpie is more fit, but lazy. Minnie is elderly and not too fit (although she is getting better, even being ridden once or twice a week), but she wants to *go*.
So the first time around, we were doing OK, and I was even keeping Minnie from getting too far in front of Trump, and then we dropped back just behind him, and for some reason Minnie decided to switch from one side of him to the other, and accidentally bumped Trump's butt with her nose and scared herself. Well, that meant time to *run*, but I managed to get her pulled up after only a few strides of cantering, and while I lost one stirrup, I never felt like I was going to fall off. So we walked the rest of the way around. The second time, Minnie was again a bit over-enthusiastic, but not scared. She just wanted to canter instead of trot, and going up the hill she *really* wanted to go, and we got quite a ways in front of Trump and J. Again, I got her slowed down without too much effort. And then we went to a different part of the field and walked in a small circle while Trump and J cantered in a larger circle around us. Minnie was tired enough by that point to be happy to let Trump do the work as long as she could see him.
J is planning longer rides, eventually all the way to the indoor ring so she can do some more formal schooling on Trump. I am really just along as company and won't complain about more saddle time.
After the ride, for just a few seconds, I communed with Minnie. She has that old horse face, with the grey hairs and expressiveness. I gave her a hug, which I don't think she's used to getting.
Things to remember:
-- J's bridling technique, so as to actually get the bridle over Minnie's right ear on the first try.
-- Check girth! She is now at 4 holes up on each side. Most of the above adventure took place at 3 and 4, which was too loose.
-- Minnie really does like horse cookies.
-- More hugs for Minnie, although really they are more for my benefit. Minnie would prefer more cookies.
Riding related activities for this week:
-- Call the two barns where I might take lessons to try to set up trial rides for next weekend.
-- Do ankle exercises.
-- Watch how I position my left foot so I'm not overstretching the already overstretched muscles on the outside ankle.
-- Hopefully ride Minnie again next weekend, and at the very least on the Thursday of Arisia.
We rode over to the big field with the intention of two trots around it (or at least halfway around it). But we didn't quite get that, thanks to the horses showing us their true personalities. Trumpie is more fit, but lazy. Minnie is elderly and not too fit (although she is getting better, even being ridden once or twice a week), but she wants to *go*.
So the first time around, we were doing OK, and I was even keeping Minnie from getting too far in front of Trump, and then we dropped back just behind him, and for some reason Minnie decided to switch from one side of him to the other, and accidentally bumped Trump's butt with her nose and scared herself. Well, that meant time to *run*, but I managed to get her pulled up after only a few strides of cantering, and while I lost one stirrup, I never felt like I was going to fall off. So we walked the rest of the way around. The second time, Minnie was again a bit over-enthusiastic, but not scared. She just wanted to canter instead of trot, and going up the hill she *really* wanted to go, and we got quite a ways in front of Trump and J. Again, I got her slowed down without too much effort. And then we went to a different part of the field and walked in a small circle while Trump and J cantered in a larger circle around us. Minnie was tired enough by that point to be happy to let Trump do the work as long as she could see him.
J is planning longer rides, eventually all the way to the indoor ring so she can do some more formal schooling on Trump. I am really just along as company and won't complain about more saddle time.
After the ride, for just a few seconds, I communed with Minnie. She has that old horse face, with the grey hairs and expressiveness. I gave her a hug, which I don't think she's used to getting.
Things to remember:
-- J's bridling technique, so as to actually get the bridle over Minnie's right ear on the first try.
-- Check girth! She is now at 4 holes up on each side. Most of the above adventure took place at 3 and 4, which was too loose.
-- Minnie really does like horse cookies.
-- More hugs for Minnie, although really they are more for my benefit. Minnie would prefer more cookies.
Riding related activities for this week:
-- Call the two barns where I might take lessons to try to set up trial rides for next weekend.
-- Do ankle exercises.
-- Watch how I position my left foot so I'm not overstretching the already overstretched muscles on the outside ankle.
-- Hopefully ride Minnie again next weekend, and at the very least on the Thursday of Arisia.
