Horse Update, March

The weather has continued to be really up and down.  Dry, for the most part, which is good because most of the time (except after heavy rain) I can use my designated longeing area as well as ride inside the fenceing without punching up the ground (much).  So there's been lots of longeing for both horses, followed by lots of riding for the LBM.

Poetess is finally settling in to the idea of longeing being calm and stretching rather than run-like-hell-in-a-circle time if I even suggest a canter.  I've put the bridle back on her and we've been longeing in that with much better results than we were last summer/fall.  Honestly, I think her being able to watch me work the LBM (and the Poetess does, for the most part, stand at the gate and watch while I longe the LBM) has helped her get the idea that longeing is not a big deal and we just go walk and trot and sometimes canter on cruise control, not like our tail is on fire.

A few times, after longeing her, I've led her over to the mounting block and had her stand next to it while I climb up the steps.  She's been awesome about standing still, so I've actually laid over her back a few times once I'm at the top of the mounting block.  No signs of nervousness there.  I'm getting really eager to climb on her back and start riding her, but I don't want to be hasty and end up dumped on the ground with broken bones.  I think I'm going to wait until after she has her teeth floated next month, and probably do a little ground driving first to make sure she's calm with contact on her mouth.  Plus, make sure the footing is good and solid (it's been greasy/slick this week) and have DH there as my spotter.

Meanwhile, the LBM and I have been working on short segments of trot under saddle, as well as lots and lots of circles and serpentines reinforcing the neck reining.  Honestly, she turns really well just with a shift of the weight, and little leg contact and a very slight touch of the rein (ie. my finger curls on the rein and she feels it in her mouth), but her owner wants neck reining, so we're working on neck reining.  We've also been working 'outside the fences' more, riding around the outer perimeter of the pasture as well as the (former) alfalfa field that is the designated site for my outdoor arena.  

The outdoor arena is going to be another project in itself, as it needs some grading/drainage work in addition to taking off the topsoil and adding a sand layer.  I'm hoping this summer, but DH is sounding like it's not high on his list for this year. . .  Meanwhile, until we're done with the wet season, the footing there is too wet/deep about half the time. That will change once we get closer to summer.  

With the increasing daylight and just general progression into Spring, there's been an uptick in play during turnout.  It's not unusual to see the Poetess and the LBM out running and racing at least a few days each week.  It's kind of funny, because the Poetess will let the LBM be in the lead all the way to the back (road side) of the pasture and about halfway along the short side.  But once they near the corner for the long side back to the barn you see the Poetess reach and flatten out and in two strides she's way in front of the LBM and just keeps increasing the distance between them.  You can definitely tell who's the Thoroughbred and who's the stocky, most-likely-got-something-gaited-in-her-lineage, horse.  And the extra two hands of height (and leg!) on the Poetess certainly aren't a disadvantage either!

Usually after a race, no matter what the temperature is (65 degrees or barely over 30 degrees), both horses throw themselves down for a good roll.  I managed to catch a picture of the Poetess mid-roll a couple weeks ago.

Barn progress has been sporadic.  

We got the third pasture secured (gate hung and electric tape electrified) but I haven't turned horses out in it yet because I don't want them punching up yet another soggy pasture, so I've been waiting until a dry spell where the ground is solidified.

DH bought lumber for the extra height (drop?)  needed on the two bottom boards of the stall doors I mentioned last month and got those put on.  We were in a warm spell at the time, so I got them stained and sealed right away.  Now we just need to put mats down in those two stalls and they will be ready for use.  He'd wanted to do that the day after putting on the new door bottom boards, put I'd apparently strained myself helping lift and carry one of the doors and I was having muscle spasms in my chest and back so I was unable to help with anything heavy for a week (like 100 pound stall mats) and we just haven't gotten back to that task yet.  Maybe this coming weekend.