planBE

Riding is down ⬇️ Dog training is ⬆️. Our little bichon puppy is now 10 months old and is a confirmed lap dog, but also a certified trick dog, and novice in scent tracking, agility (no jumping), and has started swimming lessons. We have definitely double downed on lessons and training at home. As a result, its been harder to fit in the riding and the worsened commute to the barn (now 2.5/3hrs round trip) as a result of road construction. But when I show up, Q is happy to provide kisses and look for carrots. He has been a good egg in my 1-2x a week habit. Big changes have happened at the barn where resident trainer was kicked out and we went to a coop style management, with double the turnout. Everyone seems happier. What hasn’t changed is how Q continues to be my greatest muse. He makes me giggle and happy cry almost every ride (when solo). There is just an incredible emotional resonance with this horse. Such joy. The gross hot weather of the summer now seems to be over, and Im hopeful...

I pause this hiatus from blogging to say Ive been too busy riding and working this summer. But I got in some good miles these last few weeks in between air quality issues, tornado warnings, neverending rainstorms, and excess heat advisories. Its not been the best of summers. But we rode. And did a fun photoshoot with some local kids for some marketing material. My Q was happy to oblige and kissed and licked everyone he could. Next up, a trip, sans cheval, to the fjords of Iceland and Norway. Happy summer!

Caveats galore, we haven’t cantered and haven’t ridden with others at speed, yet. But so far, the return of the hackamore adventures is going well. Not crazy about the jarring fluffy on his nose, so Ill either change to an S hackamore or get a leather padded noseband next. WIP. Q is a monster when he drops his head to eat, but aside from that, he is quite attentive when I pick up the contact. We encountered the tree that busted my knee last week, and he was more maneuverable that I expected. Of course the contact was tight and my legs were ON. When we stopped bushwhacking and got back on the trail 10 seconds later, Q had that look of “whats wrong with YOU”? 👀  Tomorrow Ill try it at speed and hope for the best. We also got Q his first massage this week and it was adorable. We now have homework of daily stretches prescribed and I need to figure out how to train Q to stretch himself. 

In training horses, Frederic Pignon (of Cavalia fame) says we must open our hearts and forget our objectives. We must receive the gifts our horses bestow, and flow with them. Except when your horse bangs your knee into a tree. And this was at a walk. (for the record, this is my third banged knee in 6 years with Q) But it was a glorious ride yesterday, a 3 hour trek done in 135 minutes. We zipped up and down a few roller coaster trails, Q as surefooted as they come. The weather was cool (required a vest) and the sky was blue, in that perfect almost fall type of day. We chatted with a few trail riders in a field of clover, and Q didnt try to drop his head to eat once. We are improving! We got in lots of nice canter stretches, and there was one mild spook at a blowing tarp (plastic is his kryptonite) but he barely broke stride. Im going to try the hackamore again. I think we are ready. His spanish nose is becoming more prominent (at 9 years old!) so the nose band wont be such an eyesore. ...

I think, maybe, although I hate to jinx it, that perhaps Q has become my “steady eddy”. Yes, yes, there was that moment back in June when he was a hot tamale and I didn’t want to canter on trail because I couldn’t control his spooking trot. And, yes, he was a little bouncy on those recent days when the temperature dipped. But, boy, was he just a delight to ride today, on a 3 hour tour of a nearby sector. We paired up with a lovely pal C with her Lusitano cross mare just recently recovered from a laminitis episode that took a year to heal. The mare was obese, but now is looking mighty svelte as she dropped 200 pounds, and now has her hay weighed every day. Owners of easykeepers: keep the weight down. 👀  The mare was a bit looky/spooky and struggled to lead, but C kept trying, so Q and I switched around as she needed. And the Benevolent King was 100% there. As we cantered home, he was still very perky but totally tuned in. We trotted back on a side road, passed a noisy diesel truck ...

This summer has been generally lovely. Warm, sometimes hot, but manageable most days. We havent had a long severe drought, or prolonged period of hot humidity. Usually we would have 10-14 days in a row of heat wave. Its been sporadic days here and there. Q has been lethargic this last month, perking up when the temperature is low 20s. Ive taken advantage by cracking out the bareback pad quite a bit and doing lots of walking trails. Or I go early morning. And then a long cold shower. We just changed his haynet, to something smaller that the crew cant overstuff. He is still eating too much hay, and its hard to lose weight if you cant manage input. Work in progress. So we dance in the shade, looking for cover. Listening to cicadas, and smelling the wildflowers. Life is grand.

Its been a busy riding period, despite the “hot and humid” weather. In fact, the weather has been quite tolerable, and on days when it hits 30+C we ride early. And if we can’t, then we keep it short and quiet and stay under the canopy. Q is still chunky, and we are trying to rein in the hay but its a challenge with everything else going on in the barn. Meanwhile, we have upped the intensity of our rides by 50% and have created a new “Long Trot” section stringing several trails of good quality footing together to make for a 4 km circuit that we do in 17+ minutes. Tomorrow I plan to venture out alone to strike a new record pace as I have fellow boarders hot on my tail to beat the pace. 😂 My afternoons are spent lounging in my hammock and reading a book. Verity and Greenwich Park were speed reads. Im now reading Trevor Noah’s autobiography Born a Crime, which is skull bending. Favorite book of the summer goes to Isabel Allende “Island Under the Sea”. Brilliant cast of characters.

Some riding happened, and much living and socializing. I feel the last 2 years has robbed me of my ability and desire to be social.  But its slowly coming back. Yeah! As for Q, he appears to be finishing his full 1/2 inch haynet despite the repeated warnings that this torture device should not be used on horses because it will either 1) not provide enough nutrition, 2) make them give up trying, or 3) make them aggressive beasts. I guess they never met my Q, a tenacious constant forager. This particular haynet is recommended for small ponies or minis that have metabolic disorders. 🤷‍♀️  And yesterday Q gave me a lovely 2 km gallop on our favorite fast track. I in turn cut the ride short at 25 minutes and then we proceeded to our favorite grazing spot after a shower and mane/tail scrub. Barn energy seems to be back to normal. And clearly Q is completely unphased by the noisy moped at our intersection. #goals