Trail Horse Adventures

Trail Training Newsletter – 97
February 2009

Dear Readers,

It has been a bad winter for us. Every now and then, I can take Mingo down to the frozen river and back. We have had a lot of snow, extreme cold and an icy driveway. Kevin rides the hill much more, since he is retired. Ellen has decided that she is better off working in the arena where it is warmer, and she can be more productive. (And she is—Ranger is doing better for her this year than ever. )I can’t ride Cruiser in the snow because he needs shoes to support his tendon. Last year, when I pulled his shoes, he reinjured his tendon, so it isn’t worth the risk to me, just to ride out in the snow and cold. That’s what Mingo is for!

Kevin had a bit of excitement while he was riding up and down the hill on Starry. There was at least a foot of snow on it, at the time. Someone was leading a horse down the river that Starry never saw before, and he became fixated. He wanted desperately to follow the horse up the hill. When Kevin wouldn’t let him, Starry decided to leap into the ditch by the side of the trail. He had his front legs in the ditch and started tilting to the side. The next thing Kevin knew, Starry brought his hind legs into the ditch, too. Now, Kevin wasn’t sure how he should handle the problem. While he was pondering the problem, Starry pivoted and took a big leap out. Kevin stayed in the saddle and was in a state of shock. All is well that ends well. Remember, when you aren’t sure what to do, sit still, hold on and maybe your horse will solve the problem for you.