Crickhollow Farm

Perfect Weekend for Horse Activities

Finally we got a perfect weekend for spending outside, doing things with the horses.  Warm, sunny, and not too windy.  It was great.

Saturday started with mucking and giving lessons, after which we did a little tackbox cleaning over lunch.  Then Bonni & I tacked up Rocky & Merry & went for a ride down in the arena.  Yes, there are pictures this time.

Merry did really well.  We got in some canter work -- on both leads!  It's not the prettiest yet, I pretty much just let him have his head and let him balance as he will, but he doesn't feel confident in the gait with me up yet.  Prettiness will come with time and a better balance.

Rocky did well, too.  He was petering out towards the end, but Bonni was able to get him moving again without any battles, so it's all good.

 

Jumping Merry

The weather today is beautiful, as promised -- perfect 4th of July weather -- so I took Merry out for a ride again today.  This time I set up a cavalletti and a small cross-rail out in the field so that they'd be ready if he was being good. 

He was actually very good.  During our warm-up in the arena, he trotted perfectly well and cantered, as well.  I need to do some work with him on the longe, because he's having trouble picking up the right lead, but he at least picked up the canter each time I asked, even if it wasn't the correct lead.  He's trying, and that's a huge improvement.

We are not alone

No, not aliens.  Horse people.  Like, there are actual horse people with actual horses that they actually ride within walking distance of my farm.  They rode past my place on Saturday while Florence & I were out moving my temp fence panels so I could mow.  Caused quite a stir with the local equine population, I'll tell you.  I don't think they've seen another horse that wasn't part of the Crickhollow herd since each of them arrived here.  I took the dog for her walk this afternoon and found where they came from.

Seeing people out on the road has made me nostalgic for the days when I used to take Toad (my first horse, a fantabulous grey, Gainey-bred Arab mare -- I have pics of her in old entries) riding down the road from the barns we boarded at when I was a kid. 

I'll admit that I find the thought of riding down my road somewhat terrifying.  I've seen the way people drive on it, the narrow thing, and it does not instill confidence in me (when I'm on it in my car, I generally hope not to meet anyone for fear of collision).  Still, it'd be nice not to be bound to the arena all the time.

So, with that in mind, I think my goal for the summer (assuming weather and work will cooperate with me sufficiently) will be to work up to riding Merry (Annie, too?) on the road at least a little bit.  Even if we never leave sight of the farm, it would be a big accomplishment for us both.  Horseback riding used to mean freedom for me, and I'm sad to say it just doesn't anymore. 

How this will fit in with training ponies to drive, I don't quite know...