Oh my gosh, it's the middle of June and I'm finally convinced that winter is over and we can get on with it! The horses are sleek and muscular and, considering how the pasture grew with all the rain last month, getting quite fat as well! The barn isn't as clean and tidy as I like to have it, and I'm still wrestling with what's left of the manure pile, but otherwise the place is looking pretty okay.
It was not easy getting back to work after taking five months off. Copper especially had a hard time adjusting. Well, I did too, to be honest! But now I'm getting two or three rides a week and it's going well. I'm so thankful to Phoenix for being such an easy-going horse!
My lesson schedule isn't quite back up to where it was a year ago at this time, but I've got enough riders to keep me busy (and still get enough rest!) Those of you who've claimed a regular time slot can keep that time as long as you wish, and anybody else can contact me anytime to see when I've got lessons available. Short notice is fine; if I can get you in, I will!
In the last couple weeks, Phoenix and Copper have both gotten hoof trims, a dose of dewormer, and chiropractic adjustments! Next up, a checkup with the vet. Horse care is pricey but these two work for a living and I figure they deserve and need good care.
PLANS IN THE WORKS:
- Anybody up for a tack cleaning day? I'm thinking of two separate Saturday mornings. Let me know if you're willing to lend a hand! I will keep you updated.
- It's almost Farm Day season… got a sibling or friend you'd like to bring out for a day?
- I'll be hiring a saddle fitter to come out sometime in July. I'm really excited about this, since my knowledge of how saddles fit horses is very basic, and I suspect my horses could feel a lot better and perform better if I always saddled them up in something comfortable. And of course, anything I learn will benefit my students.
- Stratford District Saddle Club shows this summer are taking place June 22, July 6, July 20, August 3. I won't be taking horses there (that would require a trailer, a truck that doesn't have anything wrong with it, and me to be less lazy!) but if you drop by there's a chance you could catch me there helping out and visiting my horse friends. I used to show here and love this club. Check out their website for more information!
- The New Hamburg Fall Fair held a Western show in 2013, for the first time in about fifteen years. I volunteered to help plan and act as ring steward on show day. It was such a good experience I'm back for more in 2014. More details will follow (and if you live near NH the fair booklets will be available soon.)
Other than that, I will actually be working on that trailer situation soon, when I borrow a nice stock trailer for a day and practice loading. Copper hasn't been on a trailer in probably ten years, and Phoenix hasn't left the farm since he got here seven years ago. It'll be a challenge, but even if we don't end up going anywhere, it's a skill I believe a good horse should have. Wish us luck!
And finally, somebody around here will figure out why my gadget-phone-camera and my computer aren't agreeing on the subject of putting pictures from one to the other, and when that gets figured out, I'll be back to posting pretty pictures here for your enjoyment.
Alright. I'm going to go sit on a horse for a few minutes...
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