We ran the 10 mile loop yesterday

Journey was steaming hot when we came in even though we rode early to beat the heat and humidity. We were back to the trailer in 1:38 which was our fastest time ever.  Also the first time that I've pushed her to "train faster than you intend to compete."  She cantered the last little service road in so that we could make our ride time goal of 1:40 for the ten plus mile loop.  This meant a higher in pulse than we would have typically.  I immediately dropped the bit, loosened the girth, LSEGH started pulling boots, and her pulse was about 78 bpm.  Good time to test the water makes it go up/down "theory."  LSEGH grabbed the handheld pulse thing-a-ma-jiggy and I started sponging and dumping water.  Each dump of cold water brought her down about a beat or two.  So let's just say I was all wet on that one.  Even though she isn't fond of water, it still makes her pulse come down when it matters.  That is good to know.  She was at 60 in less than 10 minutes.

Rating Journey is the opposite of what it was with Phebes.  Phebes pulled and pulled and just wore you out to get her to SLOW DOWN.  Journey you have to push along, to get her to speed up.   She is very good at keeping a steady pace of her choosing, she will trot, and trot, and trot...but at her own little pace of 5.5-6 mph.  A training partner at this point in time would be so beneficial.  On our completed LD Journey was trotting along at close to a very motivated 8 mph, so I know she can...and I'm not wanting that as an all the time pace, but on the flats where she can move out, it is evident that we really need to hustle to overcome those sluggish downhills which eat up our time.  Uphill we are good!  This little mare likes to grit her teeth and really tackle the uphills, to bad you can't have ups without downs ☺

Our increase in speed yesterday had nothing to do with the trot, and everything to do with adding some cantering into the mix on uphills and short canters on the flats, and trotting some of the easier downhills.  It makes me further in awe of those horses that go go go at unbelievable speeds for 50 and 100 miles.  I have difficulty wrapping my brain around HOW THEY GET THAT DONE.

Journey is learning the positive aspect of standing still at the horse trailer.  When we first got her she wanted to three leg, paw, and sometimes rear when tied up to the trailer.  Work has made her much more reluctant to waste all that energy when standing with your nose in the hay bag is so much easier.

I've had to abandon the power straps on her hind boots.  They made the boot way too tight leaving indentations below the heel bulb.  Power straps on the front are great, so I'm back to vet wrap on the hinds.  But all hooves are go at this point.  I've not had a boot failure in some time now even though I'm asking more of the boots in the way of gait transitions on the uphills.  So that aspect appears to be clearly functional for the upcoming ride in September.

My stitches come out on Wednesday.  Yay!

~E.G.