Great weekend!

The weekend was great -- the weather was absolutely PERFECT.  And all three of our horses are healthy and rideable for a change.  Wonderful! 

I rode Bug for a while in a borrowed saddle.  I was hoping that saddle would work for her - and I think it did, but it was really uncomfortable for me.  So she's just going to have to be satisfied with the Aussie saddle I like so much, even though the position of the cinch on that one is a bit too far forward.  But hey -- it's not like she has to do endurance rides.  She just has to move slowly in gait and I'll be happy, so it shouldn't rub against her legs if she behaves herself.   And she pretty much did today.  I didn't ride her out of the arena, though, because I was also trying out a side-pull halter and that wasn't good at all.  She listened to my leg commands and more or less automatically headed in whatever direction I looked, but she did NOT listen to pulls on the reins with that halter on instead of a bit.  What the heck - the bit probably isn't a problem any more anyway since she had that abscessed tooth pulled. 

But then when I tried riding Lizzie, she paid absolutely NO attention to me.  To begin with she refused to stand still for me to get on.  Then after I finally did mount up, she actually scared me.  She wanted to head in the opposite direction and when I tried to get her to turn, she began to rear up and throw her head back.  So I got back off.  But Torri said SHE would ride her a while and straighten her out.  And she did! . . .in no time.  I am so grateful that Lizzie didn't get a chance to think that bad behavior would be rewarded by turn-out.  Torri is so good.  But when I told her that, she said Lizzie is so much smaller and less hyper than her Thoroughbreds that handling her was no big deal for her! 

Earlier in the afternoon, while I was riding Bug, Torri rode Mark's horse, Duke, on a trail ride down the bayou, through the woods, and back up the power line.  She said he was a really good boy, too!  Wonderful!  I'm so glad he's getting ridden.  Mark has been so busy trying to get our place set up to bring the horses home that he hasn't had a chance to ride in ages.

Jennifer, Joey's physical therapist, came over to ride today, too.  She rode Torri's horses, Cinnamon and Phineas, both of whom tested her when she first got on, but she handled both of them just fine! 

Jennifer on Cinnamon as they headed out into the woods

Torri on Duke and Jennifer on Cinnamon

Jennifer looked like she was really enjoying herself.  I hope she comes back!  I know Torri really enjoys riding with someone who actually knows what she's doing!

Both Cinnamon and Phineas were perfectly calm by the time Jennifer got off.  Nice.  Wish I could do nearly so well!

In fact, I think I'm going to send Lizzie out to Zoilo's place for training, if he'll take her, and while she's there I want to take lessons a couple days a week myself.  It's just been way too long since I rode regularly and I need to get back to it on horses who are easy to ride, then get back on my own.