Five Rides and Two Falls

Last week was a slow week for riding with all the rain we had. Added on top of that I had a couple days of feeling not quite right. I blame that for the couple of falls I took this week.

"No Problem" Rosemary says

I started the week with Rosemary bareback in the arena. She has really turned a corner since her chiropractic work. I decided to ask her to jump the x I had set up. Unless I asked for more she just trotted over it. When I asked for more she gave me her fancy lift in the front, full of attitude, and hopped over. She is really good at keeping me with her even with all her drama. I am so happy she is enjoying the jumps.
Next up was Dottie bareback. The arena work quickly turned into trail/hill work when her backbone about split me in two. She needed those hills to work her back muscles. So up and down little and big hills we went. Just what she needs to start rebuilding those lost muscles.
The same day I hopped on DaVinci bareback. We worked in the arena through the gaits to loosen him up, before heading out on trail. He was a bit of a lookie loo, but he kept walking. It was an enjoyable stroll through the woods. When we came out of the woods, DaVinci decided to go around the house a different direction than normal. Well this way took us by the chickens and all the wood materials Peggy has to build them a more secure run. Surprisingly, DaVinci spooked to the side. I told him to walk on and quit looking. He spooked again to the side, dislodging me slightly. Finally before I resettled he spooked sideways even bigger, leaving me hanging in our previous location. Of course my butt ended up on the ground looking up at the dodo. Luckily he had spooked sideways enough to put us off the gravel. In 7 years, that is my first fall off of him. Silly pony! I made him go look at the chickens after that.
The next day I was going to ride Comrade, but Roscoe kept staring at me. So I figured I could save time and do a ride, then graze him for a bit after. To help with that I put the bosal on with the bareback pad. At first Roscoe was not sure how to deal with the bosal, but soon he figured it out. We just walked and circled. Well he decided he was done working and wanted to eat grass. He proceeded to pull out of the arena to the grassy area. I kicked him and told him to pick his head up. In typical Roscoe, bratty baby, fashion he bucked. I survived the first buck, but the second and third did me in because he sucked in his belly loosening the bareback pad enough to tip me off down the slight hill. Oh yeah, that boy was not eating grass. I marched him back into the ring and shut the gate. After a conversation with a neighbor, I got back on knowing it would not be for long. I just wanted him to have to do something. We literally walked a diagonal across the arena walking and halting (somewhat) before I got off. I knew that I could not win a big battle and saved it for another day. No more bosal for Roscoe. And yes that would be my first fall off of him too.

Roscoe approved our ride

The next day I was feeling off with no appetite and a bobble head. After two falls, there was no way I was getting on a horse. But Friday I felt more human, so I rode Comrade. I was not up to anything technical or complicated. Simple intervals was the answer especially since Comrade seemed to have lots of energy. We did 3 laps at trot, walk half the arena and another 3 laps at trot. Then we changed direction and repeated. Comrade was huffing but recovered well. I swear he learned to count the laps, he anticipated the end point accurately every time.  At the end I asked him to canter. I was hoping for two laps, but only got one and a half each way. Still not too bad. And the bonus was that I stayed in the saddle :)

"Its raining you know..."

On Saturday, still not 100%, I only worked Winston on the lunge. He tried to tell me he would melt in the rain, but still did as I asked. Ah well, at least I can say all the horses worked at least once for the week.
Time to see what this week will bring.