We are in a holding pattern right now at the farm. I can't ride Riley who is so beautifully sound it's nearly soul crushing. When we were at a farm with an arena I couldn't ride him because he was crippled. By the time I can piece together enough tack to ride him, the ground will be frozen solid. Sigh. My hope at this stage is that the saddle I am borrowing on Wednesday fits him well enough to get a few rides in and see how he's feeling under saddle. We've made arrangements with a farm next door to use their indoor for $20 a ride which would be great (though, literally $20/ride is money that could be spent toward replacing my tack). I'd like to keep him in SOME sort of work throughout the winter... or, do I just throw him out for two months and figure out everything else? He's only 4 after all. My wonderful farrier comes next Thursday and I'm really curious to see what he says about Riley's feet. They've come a long way in the last 6 months and he's at the 10 week mark for being barefoot and not a lame step in sight. I've witnessed him cantering up and down terrain, jumping ditches and streams and I can't wait to get back on!
It's my birthday this week and I'm just feeling blue about it all. I'm sorry for the lack of positive posts lately. I'm trying to look for a silver lining, really I am. You guys have been more support than I could ever ask for.
In other news, I'm turning my pitbull Lucy into the best barn dog ever. Not only is her recall nearly 99% confirmed, she left the chickens alone, doesn't care too much about the horses and makes me feel a little safer when I'm there. I'll turn her into a barn dog yet! My plan is to start bringing her out on the early mornings when I feed and on Sundays (I have too much to do on Saturdays and she might get bored). Perhaps the presence of a pitbull will help deter any future robberies! *Sadly, my loveable Boxer is too distracted at the barn and a bit too interested in the horses, so he can stay home and be an old man:)
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| She's got the good life. |
