I wrote in an earlier post that I change my mind a lot. Well, I did it again!
Last post, I said I wasn't going to canter Chocolate at my riding lesson any more. Next lesson I cantered him. Don't say I didn't warn you, lol .
The lesson was going well. It was cool and Chocolate had some spring in his step ... well, as much spring as he can muster. He's a pretty laid back horse. Part of his charm. I was feeling extra confident--I decided to do it. At first, he cantered a couple of strides and then broke into a trot. Lumber wagon thing big time!!! But, I wasn't willing to give up. I tried a few more times, fine tuned my cues, got better able to catch him before he slowed down, and he managed to canter the whole way around the arena. You may think this is no big deal, but on Chocolate, it is. I've cantered a lot in my life, but I don't think I have ever been more proud of myself for riding a canter.
At my lesson last evening I rode Drifter, who is a barn favorite. I've seen him being ridden by others, but this was my first time on him. He is a saddlebred. He's very well trained, responsive, and is what I would call an over achiever. He was so willing and compliant. He was a very easy ride. He would occasionally bend to the outside and get his body out of whack a bit like many horses do in an arena or change his way of going a little bit, but he was so easy to correct. He operates in the "how may I serve you?" mode. His trot is delightful--smooth and cadenced. Cantering him was interesting. Being a saddlebred, he has been ridden ultra collected with a high headset. He needs to be in that position to canter. Once the rider starts taking up the reins and collecting him, he knows what is coming and pretty much steps into a canter with the slightest cue. (I told you he was an over achiever.) I cantered him quite a bit last evening. I noticed I was using different muscles than other gaits. It was good for me physically to do a sustained canter like that to build better balance and strength. As part of his over-achieving ways, when we were waiting in the center of the ring with others while each horse was cantering individually, he always had this look and feel of a horse wanting to do something. Chocolate? He falls asleep or entertains himself by watching whatever is going on and has no interest in getting out there to work. I don't think you could find two horses more different from each other.
As much as I loved Drifter's gaits and willingness, I have to admit I missed my boy Chocolate who makes me work for everything he gives me. It's such a feeling of satisfaction to get Chocolate to get out of his sluggish ways and do things he doesn't really want to do--things that take some energy and concentration. He's all for conserving energy and he loves to gawk at anything going on. So, when things come together riding Chocolate, it's a very big deal and feels as great as if I did something really big--like climbed Mt. Everest (and sometimes it feels that way from all the energy I have to use).
I've been thinking about which horse I'd rather ride. My answer is both. They each have gifts to offer. Drifter is a easy horse who wants to please, is super responsive, and has nice gaits. He is great when I just want to work on my position and relax more about what the horse is doing. I don't have to stay on top of him every minute. I kind of set him in a gait and forget about it ... well maybe a little reminder here and there, but he really is super easy to ride. Chocolate is a "good old boy" type of horse who is a sweetie but he really doesn't want to do any more than he has to and wants to make sure you really mean what you ask for. This makes me stretch to use every bit of skill I have in my riding arsenal. Not that I'm all that skilled of a rider, but I definitely have to use the tricks and skills I do have to bring out the best in him. And when he responds to that and I see the results, it is a great feeling of accomplishment.
So, riding is going well. My body is holding up. I feel like my legs, especially, are getting stronger. Yay!! I'm SO glad I decided to try it again.
Rosie, Jerry, and Babe are all doing well. Babe still has scratches/mud fever on one pastern, but I think I may be on to something. I found a new sulfur-based cream called Nu-Stock
https://www.jefferspet.com/products/pierces-nu-stock
It says to apply it every three days, but I've been doing touch ups every day to keep the product on the bad spots. Tonight the scabs came off super easy with gentle scraping with my fingers. It was more like just rubbing the scabs off. Things look better after just a few days of treatment. Fingers and toes crossed this works because I'm running out of options. The lime sulfur dip I got from the vet worked wonders the past couple of years, but this year all it is doing is keeping it from spreading. I've tried so many products through the years that I've kept the tack shops and feed stores in business.
Babe is also prone to rain rot once her winter coat starts coming in and then she gets wet. I bought her a new rain sheet that covers everything other than her head. It's also in *her* color--teal, so she looks especially pretty. It was on sale and I hesitated to take a chance on it being waterproof, but I took the plunge. Seems OK so far. This is the one I bought her.
https://www.jefferspet.com/products/jeffers-combo-neck-rain-sheet?via=5338848b9fa2600f00000196%2F5338848f9fa2600f000001ea%2F533884909fa2600f000001f0%2F57fd030ef2131d2b520000c0
My only complaint is that it runs a little small. I bought her the usual 78, but I think an 81 would have fit better. This isn't a good sheet for horses that are hard on their clothing or in a pasture with a lot of things to poke holes in it, since it's only 600 denier, but Babe is easy on her clothes so I think it will work fine. For $59, I think it's a steal of a deal.
I'm enjoying my horsey world. Riding has given me back a huge part of what I enjoy most in life. It's such a gift. I love the mini's and retired Babe. Life is good.
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