Our First Solo Trail Ride of the Year
Not only was it Cole’s first solo trail ride this year, but he hadn’t been ridden the day before, it was very chilly (below freezing with snow falling) and it was in the evening. Our horses are always more fractious in the evening. In fact, it was the first evening that I could cross the river. It was a recipe for disaster.
Needless to say, I wasn’t expecting much. This wasn’t the plan. I was hoping to get my first evening ride with Kevin and Starry, but there was some big basketball game on TV. Yes, I am a basketball widow of sorts. So Cole and I went out on our own. My gut said it was a dumb thing to do, but I just so wanted to go on a trail ride.
I led him down the hill to the river so I would get a little warmer. He behaved lovely, but we have been practicing hill work the last couple of weeks while we waited for the river to be crossable. I mounted to cross the river. On the other side, I decided I might as well get him moving sooner than later. I cued him for a trot. It was a very enthusiastic trot. His little legs were going so fast—very unlike his long-strided arena trot that I am accustomed to. I think it was just excitement.
After about 20 steps, I asked him to stop because he was building momentum, and I was having trouble getting the posting rhythm right. I sit the trot on our arena work. We then started to trot again—only to stop a short distance later. That’s pretty much how the ride went. I did click him on the good stops. Some of them were very reluctant stops—no clicks for them. I tried to click him for steady trotting, but he didn’t want to stop for his treats.
I had to be very, very careful in the spots that I cantered a lot last year. Each spring, I pay the price for the sins of the year before. I know I shouldn’t canter in the same spot all the time, but there are some places that are so perfect for cantering that I can’t resist. There are spots on the trail that we call “trigger points” where our horses anticipate cantering. I made sure I walked through all the “trigger points.” I was very careful my legs didn’t touch his sides, too. He was so ready to go, it wouldn’t have taken much—just a light brush of the leg...
In no time at all, I arrived at the spot that I planned to turn around. Cole was eager to keep going, but I knew it would be a long walk home if I did—and we didn’t have that much daylight.
As soon as I turned him towards home, he wanted to prance and trot. I made him stop and then decided to dismount and lead. Alas, my first horse was a barnsour runaway, and I get nervous when horses rush towards home. I always say that each time we ride, we are riding all the horses we ever rode before.
On the ground, I am not nervous at all, so rather than letting my nerves compound the problem, I led him. Besides, did I mention it was cold? I would have been an icicle in no time at all.
Cole walked fast, and every minute or so he would break into a trot. I would then have him walk a tight circle around me and then stand for a few moments. After 15 minutes of walking, he started to figure it out and stayed at a walk for the last 5 minutes to the river. That’s when I started to click him for walking like a gentleman.
I mounted so I could cross the river. The bank is very steep and muddy. Cole wanted to rush down it and go around the mud at the same time. I circled him back up the bank and tried it again. This time, he was more careful. I clicked him for it. After his treat, he just plowed through the mud into the water.
He crossed well, and I dismounted on the other side. The hill is where he is typically the worst, but he only tried to trot once. I think he learned.
Well, he actually learned to walk towards home a long time ago, but the first rides in the spring bring out the colts in our horses. It takes a dozen or so rides until they settle down. that means—I have 11 to go!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Very limited trail riding
It’s been a week and a half since the time changed, and by now, I would be blogging all about my evening rides. Well, the weather hasn’t been cooperating. It has been rainy, snowy or the river has been high. I did lead Cole twice on the hill to the high river—it is much warmer to lead than ride. The first time, he was horrible—bucking, spooking and prancing about. When I took him the second time, he was much better.
We did get a nice ride on Sunday with Cole and Ranger. It was cold, though. We did a lot of walking and a little trotting—then walked all the way home. I think it was less than an hour since they walked so fast.
This weekend coming up doesn’t look a whole lot better. Sigh. I could really use some good trail riding right now.
We did get a nice ride on Sunday with Cole and Ranger. It was cold, though. We did a lot of walking and a little trotting—then walked all the way home. I think it was less than an hour since they walked so fast.
This weekend coming up doesn’t look a whole lot better. Sigh. I could really use some good trail riding right now.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Finally! Springtime Weather
Finally! Springtime Weather
We hit a home run for the first weekend in March. On Saturday, it was a chilly start, but it was just so nice to be out on the trail. We took Cole and Ranger together. When we first crossed the river, we did a little trotting because the footing was good. The trail goes along a fence that has a paved trail on the other side for bikes and walkers. We made it about 5 seconds before Ranger tossed in a little buck. We brought them down to a walk for a few seconds and tried the trot again. We made another 5 seconds before Ranger spooked at a jogger on the other trail. We brought them back to a walk and kept that way until we were well away from the fence with its distractions.
We tried trotting one more time, and this time, Ranger acted sensible, but he was playing a game with Cole. I wanted Cole to follow Ranger. Ranger wanted Cole to pass, so he could surge forward and challenge Cole to a race. How did we know? Because Range plays this game with Cruiser. I try to keep Cruise behind, but he never wants to be in the lead and will ignore me, trot past Ranger and then Ranger gets his surge. Cruiser falls for it every time.
Ranger kept going slower and slower with his head bent slightly so he could keep a close eye on Cole. Cole struggled with the slow speed, but didn’t pass. Ranger was thwarted. We walked the rest of the ride. It was sunny, so we didn’t even get cold.
The only problem was when we were nearly home, and we passed up a fractious barn mate. Cole began to get fractious, too, and he stayed that way even when the mare was well out of sight. Fortunately, he calmed down by the time we got to the street.
Sunday was a warmer, prettier day. We decided to do more trotting than the day before because the trail was softer. For the most part, it went well. Ranger did try to lure Cole, but I convinced Cole he was better off where he was. As Ranger got bored of Cole not playing the game, he increased his speed. By the end, they were awesome. We walked all the way home. At one point, we saw about 20 turkeys far into the woods. As they got closer to the pave trail and further from us, a Norwegian Elkhound on her walk spotted them and tried to chase them—pulling her owner along. Of course, that startled the turkeys and they scattered. They were far enough away from us that it didn’t bother the horses. I don’t even know if they saw.
Some of the turkeys took to flight, and it was very pretty to see. Turns out they aren’t as accurate as other birds and a few of them hit some small branches which broke. That startled the horses, but it wasn’t a bad startle as startles go.
We have only been seeing turkeys for 5-6 years, and not so often that it isn’t still a treat when we come across them.
We hit a home run for the first weekend in March. On Saturday, it was a chilly start, but it was just so nice to be out on the trail. We took Cole and Ranger together. When we first crossed the river, we did a little trotting because the footing was good. The trail goes along a fence that has a paved trail on the other side for bikes and walkers. We made it about 5 seconds before Ranger tossed in a little buck. We brought them down to a walk for a few seconds and tried the trot again. We made another 5 seconds before Ranger spooked at a jogger on the other trail. We brought them back to a walk and kept that way until we were well away from the fence with its distractions.
We tried trotting one more time, and this time, Ranger acted sensible, but he was playing a game with Cole. I wanted Cole to follow Ranger. Ranger wanted Cole to pass, so he could surge forward and challenge Cole to a race. How did we know? Because Range plays this game with Cruiser. I try to keep Cruise behind, but he never wants to be in the lead and will ignore me, trot past Ranger and then Ranger gets his surge. Cruiser falls for it every time.
Ranger kept going slower and slower with his head bent slightly so he could keep a close eye on Cole. Cole struggled with the slow speed, but didn’t pass. Ranger was thwarted. We walked the rest of the ride. It was sunny, so we didn’t even get cold.
The only problem was when we were nearly home, and we passed up a fractious barn mate. Cole began to get fractious, too, and he stayed that way even when the mare was well out of sight. Fortunately, he calmed down by the time we got to the street.
Sunday was a warmer, prettier day. We decided to do more trotting than the day before because the trail was softer. For the most part, it went well. Ranger did try to lure Cole, but I convinced Cole he was better off where he was. As Ranger got bored of Cole not playing the game, he increased his speed. By the end, they were awesome. We walked all the way home. At one point, we saw about 20 turkeys far into the woods. As they got closer to the pave trail and further from us, a Norwegian Elkhound on her walk spotted them and tried to chase them—pulling her owner along. Of course, that startled the turkeys and they scattered. They were far enough away from us that it didn’t bother the horses. I don’t even know if they saw.
Some of the turkeys took to flight, and it was very pretty to see. Turns out they aren’t as accurate as other birds and a few of them hit some small branches which broke. That startled the horses, but it wasn’t a bad startle as startles go.
We have only been seeing turkeys for 5-6 years, and not so often that it isn’t still a treat when we come across them.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Bread in the crockpot
This is a really neat recipe and as easy as it is delicious.
I have learned to line the crockpot with greased wax paper to keep it from sticking.
I use whole wheat flour because I love the taste, and it is so much better for you.
If you overcook it, it will get dry. I think it depends on how hot your crockpot cooks. Mine does well with 2 and a half hours.
INGREDIENTS:
1 envelope (.25 ounce) of active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup warm water
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup lukewarm water
1/4 cup sugar
3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
DIRECTIONS:
In a bowl combine yeast, 1 tsp sugar, and 1/4 cup warm water. Allow yeast to foam, about 5 minutes.
Add egg, oil, lukewarm water, salt, 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 cups of flour. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on low.
With a wooden spoon, stir in remaining flour.
Place dough in greased 4-5 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for 2-3 hours. Remove stoneware from cooker and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.
I have learned to line the crockpot with greased wax paper to keep it from sticking.
I use whole wheat flour because I love the taste, and it is so much better for you.
If you overcook it, it will get dry. I think it depends on how hot your crockpot cooks. Mine does well with 2 and a half hours.
INGREDIENTS:
1 envelope (.25 ounce) of active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup warm water
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup lukewarm water
1/4 cup sugar
3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
DIRECTIONS:
In a bowl combine yeast, 1 tsp sugar, and 1/4 cup warm water. Allow yeast to foam, about 5 minutes.
Add egg, oil, lukewarm water, salt, 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 cups of flour. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on low.
With a wooden spoon, stir in remaining flour.
Place dough in greased 4-5 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for 2-3 hours. Remove stoneware from cooker and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.
Lap Wars
Lap Wars
I have a favorite chair—the brown chair. It is old and falling apart, but I think it is so comfortable. I love to curl up on it and read a book on the brown chair. Thunder the Wonder Cat loves to join me. Unfortunately, Maggie, aka Dumb Dog, likes to join me, too. Problems ensue…
Usually, Thunder is the first one to get to my lap since Maggie likes to play with her toys when I go into the living room. He climbs up so he can sit a couple of inches from my face and purrs and purrs and purrs. He still keeps an eye on the dog, as she makes a lot of noise and it disturbs him.
After a while, she is ready to take a nap. For a young dog, she needs a lot of sleep. She comes over to the chair and starts staring at us. About this time, Thunder turns around so he is facing in her directions and glares at her. My lap is his territory, and he doesn’t want any dog disturbing us.
Most times, Maggie goes to lay on the couch—watching us—waiting for her chance. Sometimes he face looks so sad that I expect tears to fall out of her eyes. Eventually, she will go to sleep.
Other times, she will put he front paws on the chair and Thunder we skittle off to his tower and glare at her. I don’t let her come up when she chases him off since I don’t want to encourage that behavior. I wait about 5 minutes or so. If Thunder doesn’t come back, I call her up to my lap.
So, instead of a tiny, soft, purring cat, I have 35 pounds of smelly dog engulfing me. She will promptly fall asleep. Sometimes, if there is room, Thunder will come back and lay next to her, but he will not purr, nor will he let any of his clean fur touch her smelliness.
There is a truce in the lap wars.
I have a favorite chair—the brown chair. It is old and falling apart, but I think it is so comfortable. I love to curl up on it and read a book on the brown chair. Thunder the Wonder Cat loves to join me. Unfortunately, Maggie, aka Dumb Dog, likes to join me, too. Problems ensue…
Usually, Thunder is the first one to get to my lap since Maggie likes to play with her toys when I go into the living room. He climbs up so he can sit a couple of inches from my face and purrs and purrs and purrs. He still keeps an eye on the dog, as she makes a lot of noise and it disturbs him.
After a while, she is ready to take a nap. For a young dog, she needs a lot of sleep. She comes over to the chair and starts staring at us. About this time, Thunder turns around so he is facing in her directions and glares at her. My lap is his territory, and he doesn’t want any dog disturbing us.
Most times, Maggie goes to lay on the couch—watching us—waiting for her chance. Sometimes he face looks so sad that I expect tears to fall out of her eyes. Eventually, she will go to sleep.
Other times, she will put he front paws on the chair and Thunder we skittle off to his tower and glare at her. I don’t let her come up when she chases him off since I don’t want to encourage that behavior. I wait about 5 minutes or so. If Thunder doesn’t come back, I call her up to my lap.
So, instead of a tiny, soft, purring cat, I have 35 pounds of smelly dog engulfing me. She will promptly fall asleep. Sometimes, if there is room, Thunder will come back and lay next to her, but he will not purr, nor will he let any of his clean fur touch her smelliness.
There is a truce in the lap wars.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
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