Fixed Feet

MEGAN: After feeding my horse and doing turnouts, I took Simba over to be shod. Carl said that his dish on the right front was more pronounced that in previous shoeing sessions, and that his hocks were trailing when he worked. He recommended lots of cantering out in the field and lots of transitions from walk to canter- yeah, those need some work, little does Carl know! With Simba being shod, I took the opportunity to clean his stall without having to clean around him or put him on cross-ties. We grazed while waiting for Carl to see him jog, then I tacked him up and we had a lovely light ride. Just walk, trot, and canter, with a bit more trot at the end. I focused on keeping Simba forward, and on keeping my elbows in- or, as Annie would say, on my “beach ball”. After a nice walk with Mica on Eubie, a new, fancy training horse and Laura on her horse Ivan, I put Simba away and tacked up Carreg. We walked around the farm, enjoying a hack along some of the trails maintained by the BRLA (Bedford Riding Lanes Association). Carreg was very well behaved, and it was so nice to just relax and enjoy the beauty of Sunnyfield Farm. After putting Carreg away, I got on Melos. We rode in the field, and he was a lot of work. He is very strong, and it took a lot of core and seat to keep him round instead of having him braced against the bit. Bringing him back to the halt, I would supple him when he got tight and resistant, then went back to another gait to try and keep the softness. We both worked hard, and by the end I feel than I accomplished something. Melos needed a bath, then after putting him away I carried Mica’s laundry over to the office and did some saddles in her barn. Rachel and I were supposed to go to The Horse Connection in downtown Bedford (a very fancy tack store) to talk to them about the fundraiser, but that did not work out. However, Mica took me and I wandered around the store while she got what she needed, hoping to have the opportunity to try on a helmet. Both the salespeople were busy, so I just decided to wait. Mica and I went back to the barn and I helped her with Eubie’s new buckets and supplies. Then we hung out while Annie made the horse list for the next day, just chatting. Once home, I cut up a watermelon and then went for a middle-distance run. Though it was threatening to storm, I was able to enjoy a small sun shower during my run, complete with a beautiful full rainbow at the end! After watermelon and quiche for dinner and a cool shower, I went to bed. Tomorrow is my first real day off ever- I am going to sleep!

SIMBA: It took forever, but my feet are feeling better. That farrier did an excellent job and when Mom rode me, I finally felt more like myself. I am more willing to go forward when my feet don’t hurt, and I think Mom was happy with how our ride went. She didn’t ask me to work for very long, but she did try to stay on top of my energy level in all three gaits. Though she is not used to having to do this, I can feel her checking in on my “forwardness” every 3-4 strides. She forgets sometimes, but overall is doing a good job. Now I get to have some hay for lunch, which means my grain will soon follow. Talk to you later!