Saturday, November 24, 2012

Bean and Saddle

Oh, the agony of saddle shopping. We have had a synthetic saddle, roping saddle, cutting saddle and English saddles. I am so glad we have tried out so many saddles. As new horse owners it is an important lesson. The roping saddle was great for ponying baby horses and cattle work. But to ride young horses you need a lighter saddle that fits the horse. A friend lent us two older trail saddles to try out. After some restoration my husband was ready to try one out. The saddle fit tiny horse and tall husband like a glove.
The only shortfall was the large girth. We needed a smaller one for our Bean, but were still ok to ride. My husband was able to ride very well on the trail.

The trail saddle has a smaller horn and large forks to hold you in. The broken in saddle was easier on the rider and the young horse. Softer leather, wider stirrups, slimmer seat all helped the rider feel more connected with the horse. Buying used or borrowing a used saddle to find one the fits is worth it. Rather than spending big bucks on a new saddle that needs to be broken in. For trail riding used or borrowed is the way to go for training young horses.

Maple Mail

Here is Alan riding our filly, Maple home. She was a bit upset over the smell of dead deer around. Plus the scent of predators had her on edge.

Here she is after biting our mailbox. She is afraid of them and attacks them just in case they might get her.
Returning home calmly after setting the mailbox straight.





Friday Trail Ride

 My husband got to ride our young gelding, Bean, home on Friday. Our trainer and his wife rode to our farm from their place. Alan rode Bean for the first time. Bean will be my horse as he is very short. But he is still a bit behind developmentally and will need a tune up again in March. After I heal from my surgery I can ride Bean for short rides. Bean is only 2 years old and still has some growing to do. It is too hard for young horses bodies to be ridden too soon for too long. This time next year Bean should be bigger and stronger as a 3.5 year old.

Alan and Bean on the left, Osa and Shorty the dogs, Dicky and Malinda on the right

Shorty in the lead down our driveway.

Dicky ties up Moose, a green 7 year old horse, to our tree after he broke his lead rope. Moose ran free for a bit to go and visit my mares. Moose is a 16+ hand Fox Trotter gelding in training.

Alan helps get the lead rope off the tree.

After a coffee and soup break our trail rider friends head back home before dark.

Heading home following the sun.




Friday, November 23, 2012

Feline Friday



Daisy and I enjoying a cold Friday around the house.

Back to napping around the house. Daisy sleeping off the night adventures in the woods and me recovering from surgery.