I started out today so frustrated. For now, I feel like it's safer to have someone around when I ride since Sophie is still so new under saddle. But, for the second day in a row, the person cancelled at the last minute and I couldn't round anyone else up to keep me company. So, I was sad.
Once I can string a week or two of rides together, I'll feel better about riding alone. I love self boarding and actually like riding by myself the majority of the time, but this is one of the times I wish for a busier barn where there's always that built in safety net of people and other horses sharing the space :)
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| In other news, Bridget got this hay ball for Xmas and highly approves of it. |
I think I just need to suck it up and get it done, help or none...I took vacation time partly to get Sophie going, and I don't want to waste it. If I'm honest I've been trying to organize consistent help since September but life is busy and we get a day or two in and something else always comes up. Maybe on those days I can text a friend before I get on and have them check in at a agreed upon time if they don't hear from me? Trying to think outside the box. For now, I still take her out and longe or hand walk her, so it's not a total loss.
Anyway, today wasn't all disappointing! I rode Bridget and she felt totally enthusiastic, energetic, and best thing ever - sound! That alone obviously made my day, after months of vague off and on lameness and stiffness. I didn't want to jinx anything by getting my hopes up, but she felt pretty fantastic last week too. I had given her almost a month off and we did some short walking hacks last week to get back into the swing of things. I'm hoping to add a little more trot in this week, then a bit of cantering next week if she continues to feel OK.
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| This angle does her no favors, but she is definitely rocking a winter bod, lol |
Today, she was ridiculously excited to get out and so light and forward. I might have got a little teary eyed - it makes me so happy that she's feeling so good. I just did some easy walk/trot/walk/halt transitions on big loops around the area. I kept the trot to straight lines and it felt totally even and she was really pushing over her back for the first time in ages.
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| Sassy, happy pony <3 |
Fingers crossed, this feeling stays. Either way, today's ride is a gift I definitely appreciate :)
Man Bridget is cute!! Glad she seems to be feeling ok and you had a good ride! Where did you get the hay ball? I've been meaning to try one for a while now...
ReplyDeleteOur local feed store had them in and on a Xmas sale. So far, I like it, only downside is B's paddock is on a slope and I need to rescue it every now and then when it rolls out under the bottom fence.
DeleteJust googled, it's the Parallax Hay Play Ball with 70mm holes if you're looking for similar.
DeleteHaving exclusively started baby horses for the last 5+ years and most of it at my house riding alone, I just instituted a "text buddy" system, since if I had to wait for a live body my horses would still be feral lol. I would text them when I was getting on and request they send help if they hadn't heard from me by a specific time :)
ReplyDeleteGlad Bridget is feeling better!!
Oh perfect! I was really hoping someone would chime in and say text check ins are working :)Thank you!
DeleteYeah it works for me and the friend I text - she's a horse trainer so sometimes if she's getting on something new or green she'll text me and I'll keep an eye out for an update text or I'll call her husband. Neither of us has been severely incapacitated yet! 🤣
DeleteI do this as well. Usually it's Ed but if he's away it's another friend.
DeleteI'm definitely going to try it. B's mom is quite elderly and has a necklace thing with a big button that she can push if she falls or needs help and then it phones us. I have a funny feeling I'm going to be getting one of my own for xmas :D
DeleteI too also used to text on winter nights when Dante was 3 "Husband if I don't text you in 40 minutes I am dead, send help to the barn." Only works if your phone has battery tho!
DeleteDo you like the hay ball? The new tack store has them and they're pretty inexpensive. I've been thinking about buying a couple... I missed out on the sale, but I think Nay Nay would like one and possible Jiminy. For $65 US, I want to buy at least 1... I figure they'll be good to put out on days that the ground is frozen.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, my paddocks are a bit muddy and it still rolls around almost too well, I'm finding it outside the fence quite frequently. I like it, but it almost needs bigger holes for my horses,or I need to stuff the hay differently. There ended up being a ball of hay in the middle they couldn't get to. I was hoping to use it as an actual source of hay for Bridget to keep her busy, but so far it's more of a toy she likes - getting enough hay out for a meal mseems unreliable for her/the type of hay I put in there.
DeleteAwww Bridget ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Love that hay ball too!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I got it - she's really started to figure it out but it still keeps her busy for hours after I fill it. I'm going to try to find one for Sophie too. They don't get much grazing this time of year and I like the idea of them moving around and nibbling.
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