Hold Your Horses, It's WINDY

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Today the triage done on Lilly's foot yesterday looked excellent. I wish I could have taken a picture of it, but the batteries in the new camera are already dead. This is probably less a reflection of the actual battery power but of my terrible camera karma. Luckily, I've got some rechargeables cooking up in the outlet right now. Today was also extremely windy. The energy of the wind can be nervewracking. First I have to overcome my mental fear of the wind making something go horribly awry. Second, it could stir the horses up enough that a productive lesson is out of the question. So I did my best to leave my fear in the car, and hope the horses were fine.

Lilly got to wear a different bit today--still a snaffle, but instead of a full cheek, I put a leverage bit with a curb strap on her. Remember--I'm trying to get her flexing at the poll. Once in the ring I kept the reins short and held my hands hip-width apart. I got Lilly trotting in a circle, let her get used to her new bit, and with my feet tried to push her forward into my hands. When she gets collected, I know she looks beautiful. She doesn't hold it for long but just a few strides is enough to get started. I tried to feel her lifting her back. I couldn't feel that. I don't know when a horse is elevating her shoulders. I'm not good at feeling that either. But I can feel quite plainly when she is light on the bit, and she was light on the bit today, and for some of the time anyway, I know she had a graceful curve in her neck. If Lilly was startled by the howling wind, I never knew it. Of course, she wasn't perfect. There was still some crabby ear-pinning (which always takes the wind out of my sails), and cantering in the ring is always a sloppy enterprise. But overall: a very good day!

With any luck, tomorrow will bring Lilly's Lyme results!

1 comment:

Pony Girl said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and sending me an email! I really enjoyed hearing from you. Your mare is lovely! My sister (Paint Girl, she has her own blog, too!) has two Paints (well, one Paint and one grayed out Pinto.) I hope Lilly's hoof filler is working for you!
I know that feeling of riding in the wind. Just bringing my horse out to groom and longe in the wind makes me a bit nervous, they are just more edgey! ;) Have a great week. I'll be back to visit!

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