It was very warm at 81 degrees, but the humidity wasn't as bad as last week.
The good: We completed 13 miles, and she is finally starting to think about drinking on the trail. She still doesn't early on, but after 7-8 miles she starts drinking. Her pulse downs were very good on both loops. She experiences a four wheeler, and a tractor, two bicycles, and met a rider (Mr. Todd from Sunman) who is 80 years old (my kind of man!) and still riding. The wind caught the trailer door just as she was backing out and wonked her on the butt, she was upset, but did get right back into the trailer which I had her do immediately after the incident.
Her pulse downs: 2 minutes 63, 5 minutes 55, 10 minutes 46 bpm. This was lap one, at eight and half miles.
Her pulse downs: 2 minutes 54, 5 minutes 53, 10 minutes 53 bpm. This was the 4.5 mile loop.
She is pulsing down to criteria within 5 minutes, but activity going on around her will make it spike back up suddenly.
The not so good: She did a 180 degree rollback at the extended trot because she didn't like the bark on a tree. I have the trail version of "road rash" and I'm gimping again. It makes me madder than spit every time it happens and that makes EIGHT FREAKIN TIMES in eight months. Grrrrr....I feel in my heart that she isn't trying to unload me, just taking flight at something she deems a horse eating object. She was also buddy sour and I was working hard to get her to have any impulsion. She wanted to drag her fanny at a whopping speed of 1.7 mph so the other horse could catch up. This makes me about nutty. At the trot you get some momentum and then that balky sucking back feeling which is not only unbalancing, but you are crawling along. I'm not sure how to fix it. First I had a horse with the gas pedal stuck. Now she has been turned on to moving slow and doesn't want to just get loose and go. I call this being "sticky". I'm thinking about getting some of those little nubby spurs and working on her impulsion in the round pen. She is so blah-say about the riding crop it is ridiculous. To get her attention you really have to whack, and I'm just not into that. I would prefer that she increase or decrease speed by feeling a cue from my seat. I know, I know.....just stick your fingers in your ears while I go make that wah wah wah wah wah background sound *LOL*.
Doug rode drag again for me. It is good to know you have someone behind you to scrape you up if need be. ~E.G.
13 miles is still 13 miles! I usually only get 12-15 miles on a normal conditioning ride.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about you following off! Grr...I know you are so DONE with the great saddle hunt (aren't we all?) but have you thought about an aussie saddle? I DON'T like them because I feel like they lock me into the saddle but you might like that?
I HATE sticky, balky horses. I'd much rather control energy than create it! LOL my friend I had this conversation on the trail the other day. Farley has a bit of balky in her (Minx didn't have any) and it drives me CRAZY the very few times it comes out.
I'd love to have some cool 81 degree days! Today it was down to 85 and it was wonderful! lol But, that won't last, and our 90-100+ weather is to return.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got in a nice ride
Did you ride at Versailles? I am assuming so since you mentioned trailering. Laura and I rode Saturday. We managed to do everything, XYZ and A and B. The girls didn't get tired until half way thru B. Of course we rested them some on the trail, but really didn't take a long break like we probably should have at the trailer. We were very impressed with them, and the persistence of the deer flies! We coated them down with expensive fly spray before we left but after about an hour it must have sweated off. Even though it says on the bottle sweat and water resistant, lasts 14 days hah! It was muddy too. Probably not as muddy for you today though.
ReplyDeleteWas she sticky for your husband's horse or another horse on the trail?
Michelle Detmer
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteWe rode at Versailles today. I was so tickled to see this eighty year old man unload his TWH and head out for XYZ. He was really sweet and I told him I want to be just like him when I'm 80 God willing :)
The trails weren't too bad today, the deer flies were brutal. Phebes should have a concussion from me whacking them with the riding crop.
Yeah, she was sucking back because she new my husband's horse was back there. HERD BOUND It was frustrating, but at least we are making headway on the water drinking, which is critical to her survival. But you would not have believed I was riding the same horse, no forward AT ALL.
It has only been nine or ten weeks since the tye-up episode so I keep gritting my teeth and trying to press forward. Hoping soon to be able to start joining up with some friends and riding. Her pulse rarely goes over 120 at the trot, so I don't think the work load is hurting her.
Mel,
ReplyDeleteI think a sticky horse is a dangerous horse. It is hard to stay balanced as the speed keeps chug chugging at a different rate, and the horse really isn't trusting your leadership. I HATE getting firm with a horse, but that is probably what she needs. I was madder than spit when she unloaded me, got back on and rode very assertively for awhile and there were no issues with her impulsion then. It is like she is a horse of extremes. Either all charging and pulling to go, or balky and no momentum whatsoever. Maybe she has a split personality *LOL*
TX,
ReplyDeleteYeah...I'll take this weather anyday over last week. ~E.G.