Blue Birds Have Returned

A blue bird was in the tree where Dancer and I were working today.

After a good half hour of grooming we set out to do our lunging. Dancer was wonderful. Also, we spent a bit of time with old fashioned halter work.

Riding was excellent. I am having a bit of trouble pushing Dancer into a more energetic trot. He behaved like a dream. The cat joined us and when we were halted, the cat came and rubbed around Dancer's feet. He stood without moving, but when the cat was going around the back feet, I was worried. All he did was cock his ears at an odd angle. I spoke to him, and he waited patiently until the cat was done.

The guinea hens joined us today. They love the spot by the gate as there are bits of old hay worked into the soil. As Dancer and I would come around, they would step out of the way then go back to their digging. Dancer was not even bothered.

Overall, for my exercise, it was over an hour.

The Old Dancer is Back!

14 Apr 10

Calling Dancer today and he looked up at me then put his nose back down and continued to eat grass. I was aghast. Call him once again, he decided to come. The new spring grass must taste great.

Grooming was on the agenda today as his winter coat is really coming out now. He looked great. Saddling him up, put on my boots and hat, the two of us were ready to go.

First lunging Dancer with the help of the little kitty, we worked well as a team of three. Dancer lunged beautifully. I was very pleased as he halted when asked, trotted etc. The little kitty played with the end of the lunge whip the entire time.

Following the lunging we entered the outdoor arena for a ride. Dancer walked in a grid pattern for me, then completed numerous circles. They were nice circles too. He has a hard time walking in a straight line, but after some practice he was completing this exercise with ease.

We again shared the paddock with the little kitty, only this time the two Chinese geese joined us too. At one point the geese flapped their wings, honking at Dancer before running from the arena. Dancer didn't even flinch despite behaving so skittish the other day. It seems my solid guy has returned.

Working at the trot, using the little inner part of the ring, as the outer part had recently been disked, Dancer was quite sluggish. Pushing him into the newly ploughed outer part of the ring he moved beautifully. In fact he loved it.

We trotted for over my ten minute minimum time for exercise. Dancer loved the exercise, however my breath was laboured with all the trotting. More exercise is needed for the rider, I suppose. After cooling us off, unsaddling and sweeping the floor, I took Dancer out to his pasture. He enjoyed one of the Horse Patootie Treats I made him.

As to exercise today, I am counting this as 1 hour, with grooming, walking to and from the pasture, lunging and riding!

22 Degrees Celcius!!

At last it is warming up. (72 degrees F.) Dancer is still loosing his winter coat. It is quite funny that the long hairs, that are about two inches long, don't fall out.

I decided to lunge in the outdoor arena today. Then I would ride in the arena. The little barn cat came and joined us again. She follows the end of the lunge whip and manages to stay out from under the horses feet.

Dancer was very well behaved. We had no wind, and no outside distractions. He lunged like a dream. When I rode him, I only managed about ten minutes. I was so sore from all the walking in my wellies yesterday.

I am going to have to start timing my trotting to build up my stamina. It has been so long since I have done any serious riding. I was having trouble keeping my heals down.

Rosie gave me some pointers. I still couldn't manage much of a trot. I will have to keep practicing.

I can only count this as 1/2 hour of excercise. I have to figure out a way to compile this my hours of exercise...thanks to my daughter Lisa.

Spring Fever!

It feels like a broken record when I say Dancer is a mess. Today he is covered in dry manure...Yippe! This picture is from a few weeks ago, but I couldn't resist showing that he loves laying down.

Despite the hour of brushing, his rump was still pure dust. Oh well, his ears were up and he was ready to go.

I decided to saddle him up, but start by lunging him at the end of the hay field. This is where he has found something to spook at. I thought it was the phone box, but now I think it may be either the lamas down the road or the turkeys in the bush.

We went out prepared to lunge. What a great walk on such a beautiful, warm and sunny day. The wind was quite strong and I should have realized as we began that Dancer was going to give me a run for my money. He was skitterish around the mail box, then he walked so quickly as we progressed to the far end of the field. We managed about ten minutes of quiet walk and trot on the lunge line, then we progressed to the problem area. I could not get him to settle down, so I could only walk him up and down. I walked in the deep dry grass at the side as well. He tried taking off, bucking and kept up with the skitterish attitude. I wish I knew what was bothering him.

Usually Dancer is the most stable, solid horse. He even lets the goats, chickens and geese run under his feet. Oh, and when I lunge him in the outdoor arena, a cat comes and chases the whip - that doesn't faze him.

What can I do to help Dancer...and me?

Well this is where I have decided that my fitness is fitting into the horse activities. We were in the field walking up and down, with some trotting for over an hour. Add that to my hour of brushing and sweeping, that is a total of 2 exellent fun filled hours.

I let Dancer loose in the outdoor arena after I was finished. I asked him to trot and he started trotting around the outside, then all of a sudden he was galloping like alunatic. I asked him to trot throught to a stop and he did. He turned for me but just broke into a gallop. Maybe I should chase him in the arena and work off a bit of his spring fever before I lunge and ride!