Sunday, November 14, 2010
A nice ride from home
Bonnie, Barbara and I had a lovely ride from my horse today. It was a beautiful warm day. Barbara rode my horse Marie. Bonnie's Dolly wasn't too happy about being tied to Bonnie's trailer where she couldn't see the others. She was pawing and dancing. But, with my help, we got her saddled. Louie pretty much took the lead right from the start. We decided to ride the Adams road loop. Louie is still concerned about crossing water but is doing so good with it. He does not make a fuss, just nervous as he's going through. As we were riding up the Adams Rd. a truck and trailer comes up behind us. It was Linda with her horse Gus. She parked and we waited for her to saddle up so she could join us. When we got to the trail for home, we decided to ride a bit farther with Linda. Louie was not thrilled with that idea but it only took a bit of leg to keep him going and in just a moment, he resigned himself to his fate. And when we did turn for home, he was good and did not rush. Just a real nice ride today.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Riding in Yarmouth
Today was going to be such a lovely day I just had to get out for a ride. Hunting season or no hunting season. Now, just to find someone to go with me and a fairly safe place to ride. My first thought was Bradbury Mountain as there is no hunting allowed on the mountain side of the park.
This being Friday and a work day for most, most of my friends would not be available to ride. I called my friend Linda as she is retired but she was busy. After thinking a bit more I thought of Mary Ellen Hesselbacher. I have not ridden with her all year and that is why she didn't come to mind at first. She and her husband own a motel in Yarmouth so quite often one or the other can ride if not both. I called her and much to my delight, she was able to go. We discussed possible safe places to ride and decided on some trails she knows of in Yarmouth. The trails are close to a residential area and she said there is not much hunting there. So, I told her I would pick her up. And I would finally get to meet her new horse Hillbilly. Well, not so new anymore really as she'd gotten him in the spring...or last fall.....or....see, it had been way to long since we'd ridden together.
I went out and got Louie praying he'd load ok. And, he was quite good. He was reluctant to approach the trailer. When I got him to the trailer, I just stopped and gave him a good grooming as he was filthy! That relaxed him some. Then when I asked him to load up, he went right up to the trailer and stopped and made the funniest faces to let me know he did NOT want to load. He drooped his ears over sideways, stuck his lower lip out, turned his head sideways and rolled his eyes. It was quite a display. But then he walked on quietly and went right to his usual pawing. So, he was good and I got some entertainment too!
When I got to Mary Ellen's, she had Hillbilly all ready and saddled. She didn't know if he'd ever seen a mule before or not. And he was not yet a totally reliable loader. He is a nice horse. A big 5 year old Tennessee Walker gelding. He had to think a while about getting on my trailer but no more then 5 minutes or so. We parked at a friends of Mary Ellen's who's place is right on the trails. I quickly tacked up Louie. Or as quick as I could with him bug eyed and prancing back and forth at the new place and new horse etc.
When I mounted up, Louie was nervous. And it took a while for him to settle down. BUT, he didn't do a single wrong thing. We did quite a bit of trotting. Nice easy slow trotting and Louie did great. At one point I asked him to canter. The first time I asked, he immediately started them came right back down with a kind of "are you sure this is what you want me to do" feel to him. (we have not cantered since my fall) When I asked him again with more confidence he immediately picked up a canter and it was LOVELY! Nice and easy with no rushing. When he came up close behind Hillbilly who was trotting, he slowed down but kept a canter. SO smooth and balanced. SO, I very lightly checked him back and he slowed that canter down even more into a very slow 3 beat QH type canter. It was very cool! My QH can't do this!!! I was amazed that he was able to collect like this so easily. We came across a family out walking with 4 dogs. The dogs were not well controlled or obedient so ran around us barking. But, Hillbilly and Louie were good. Louie was more concerned with the young girl wearing the bright orange vest but didn't so more then stare hard at her and hesitate slightly passing. He did prance a bit when we passed but was easy to hold. We met several others out walking also and even came across the family with the dogs a second time. Louie and Hillbilly both loaded up good to go home.
It was a wonderful ride and once again my little mule surprised me. He keeps doing that and I am really thinking there is more to this mule then I originally thought. He sure is a joy to be around and has been a lot of fun to ride so far. I'm glad I didn't sell him and am looking forward to getting to know him under saddle finally.
This being Friday and a work day for most, most of my friends would not be available to ride. I called my friend Linda as she is retired but she was busy. After thinking a bit more I thought of Mary Ellen Hesselbacher. I have not ridden with her all year and that is why she didn't come to mind at first. She and her husband own a motel in Yarmouth so quite often one or the other can ride if not both. I called her and much to my delight, she was able to go. We discussed possible safe places to ride and decided on some trails she knows of in Yarmouth. The trails are close to a residential area and she said there is not much hunting there. So, I told her I would pick her up. And I would finally get to meet her new horse Hillbilly. Well, not so new anymore really as she'd gotten him in the spring...or last fall.....or....see, it had been way to long since we'd ridden together.
I went out and got Louie praying he'd load ok. And, he was quite good. He was reluctant to approach the trailer. When I got him to the trailer, I just stopped and gave him a good grooming as he was filthy! That relaxed him some. Then when I asked him to load up, he went right up to the trailer and stopped and made the funniest faces to let me know he did NOT want to load. He drooped his ears over sideways, stuck his lower lip out, turned his head sideways and rolled his eyes. It was quite a display. But then he walked on quietly and went right to his usual pawing. So, he was good and I got some entertainment too!
When I got to Mary Ellen's, she had Hillbilly all ready and saddled. She didn't know if he'd ever seen a mule before or not. And he was not yet a totally reliable loader. He is a nice horse. A big 5 year old Tennessee Walker gelding. He had to think a while about getting on my trailer but no more then 5 minutes or so. We parked at a friends of Mary Ellen's who's place is right on the trails. I quickly tacked up Louie. Or as quick as I could with him bug eyed and prancing back and forth at the new place and new horse etc.
When I mounted up, Louie was nervous. And it took a while for him to settle down. BUT, he didn't do a single wrong thing. We did quite a bit of trotting. Nice easy slow trotting and Louie did great. At one point I asked him to canter. The first time I asked, he immediately started them came right back down with a kind of "are you sure this is what you want me to do" feel to him. (we have not cantered since my fall) When I asked him again with more confidence he immediately picked up a canter and it was LOVELY! Nice and easy with no rushing. When he came up close behind Hillbilly who was trotting, he slowed down but kept a canter. SO smooth and balanced. SO, I very lightly checked him back and he slowed that canter down even more into a very slow 3 beat QH type canter. It was very cool! My QH can't do this!!! I was amazed that he was able to collect like this so easily. We came across a family out walking with 4 dogs. The dogs were not well controlled or obedient so ran around us barking. But, Hillbilly and Louie were good. Louie was more concerned with the young girl wearing the bright orange vest but didn't so more then stare hard at her and hesitate slightly passing. He did prance a bit when we passed but was easy to hold. We met several others out walking also and even came across the family with the dogs a second time. Louie and Hillbilly both loaded up good to go home.
It was a wonderful ride and once again my little mule surprised me. He keeps doing that and I am really thinking there is more to this mule then I originally thought. He sure is a joy to be around and has been a lot of fun to ride so far. I'm glad I didn't sell him and am looking forward to getting to know him under saddle finally.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Ride in Phippsburg
Bonnie on Dolly at the Basin in Phippsburg, ME (And no, her mule does not have short legs, I was taking the picture from uphill of her and it is the camera angle! LOL)
Today some friends and I went riding in Phippsburg. I called my friend Darragh to see if she was interested in riding my horse, Marie. I was so pleased she was when she accepted the offer. I had not seen Darragh in FAR too long. Bonnie was picking up Linda. And as Darragh lives much closer to Linda then to me, she decided to just drive over to Linda's house and catche a ride with her and Bonnie down to Phippsburg and I'd just meet them down there. Susie and Barbara were also riding in Phippsburg but we weren't sure if we'd get there at the same time to ride with them.
It was a cold, cloudy, windy and raw day. But, we all decided to ride anyway. With it being hunting season, we hated to miss out on any Sunday riding. Louie was a bit of a stinker about loading into the trailer. But, after only about 5 minutes or so, he finally got on. Marie of course if long past any thoughts of resisting at her age. She is resigned to her lot in life. Actually, she seemed thrilled at not being left behind. I was the last to arrive and Susie and Barbara were just saddling up. So, we all did start out riding together. Louie was pretty light on his feet. He wanted to move out but he listened to me. He did just a tiny bit of jigging but then settled into his big walk. All the horses were a bit excited. I think it was the cool day. We had a really nice ride. Susie and Barbara left us after a while as they wanted to explore some new trails. I led for quite a bit with Louie as he had the fastet walk. He was real good only loosing his courage once due to some scary looking rocks. After all the rocks we rode in, on, through and around in Shawnee, you'd think he'd be cured of his suspicion of rock! But, to give him credit, he doesn't make any big moves when he gets worried, he just stops and is reluctant to go forward. Marie was the most seasoned, brave one in the group but she walks so slow that none of the others can stand to follow her.
Bonnie's new mule Dolly did wonderful. I didn't see her do a wrong thing. I think Bonnie was very pleased with how she did.
Today some friends and I went riding in Phippsburg. I called my friend Darragh to see if she was interested in riding my horse, Marie. I was so pleased she was when she accepted the offer. I had not seen Darragh in FAR too long. Bonnie was picking up Linda. And as Darragh lives much closer to Linda then to me, she decided to just drive over to Linda's house and catche a ride with her and Bonnie down to Phippsburg and I'd just meet them down there. Susie and Barbara were also riding in Phippsburg but we weren't sure if we'd get there at the same time to ride with them.
It was a cold, cloudy, windy and raw day. But, we all decided to ride anyway. With it being hunting season, we hated to miss out on any Sunday riding. Louie was a bit of a stinker about loading into the trailer. But, after only about 5 minutes or so, he finally got on. Marie of course if long past any thoughts of resisting at her age. She is resigned to her lot in life. Actually, she seemed thrilled at not being left behind. I was the last to arrive and Susie and Barbara were just saddling up. So, we all did start out riding together. Louie was pretty light on his feet. He wanted to move out but he listened to me. He did just a tiny bit of jigging but then settled into his big walk. All the horses were a bit excited. I think it was the cool day. We had a really nice ride. Susie and Barbara left us after a while as they wanted to explore some new trails. I led for quite a bit with Louie as he had the fastet walk. He was real good only loosing his courage once due to some scary looking rocks. After all the rocks we rode in, on, through and around in Shawnee, you'd think he'd be cured of his suspicion of rock! But, to give him credit, he doesn't make any big moves when he gets worried, he just stops and is reluctant to go forward. Marie was the most seasoned, brave one in the group but she walks so slow that none of the others can stand to follow her.
Bonnie's new mule Dolly did wonderful. I didn't see her do a wrong thing. I think Bonnie was very pleased with how she did.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Louie got a puncture wound
When I went out to feed this morning, I noticed that Louie's left rear leg was quite swollen though he did not seem to be lame. When I looked, I saw he had a puncture wound on the front of his foot right at the coranet band. It wasn't no longer bleeding and didn't look like it had bled much. I couldn't really tell how deep the puncture was and he didn't really want me messing around with it. His whole lower leg was hot. I hosed his leg with cold water and gave him some bute. I had some paste bute in a tube. He was TOTALLY offended at me making him take that though he didn't resist it. This evening, the swelling was way down. I gave him another dose of bute but this time in the form of a molassas/bute sandwich. I mixed powered bute with molasses, spread it on half a slice of bread, folded it over and presto, medicine becomes a treat. He scoffed that down and asked for more.
What I hate most is not knowing what caused it in case it's something that I need to do something about. I looked around and didn't see anything obvious. It's possible that he was simply stepped on by Dolly mule. She has some serious borium studs on her shoes. I am going to close the run-in shelter up during the day so they can't get in there. It makes me nervous to have 3 going in and out of there. Too small a space if one of them gets a hair across their butt. If the weather is bad, I'll just keep them all separated in their own space with access to their own stalls.
What I hate most is not knowing what caused it in case it's something that I need to do something about. I looked around and didn't see anything obvious. It's possible that he was simply stepped on by Dolly mule. She has some serious borium studs on her shoes. I am going to close the run-in shelter up during the day so they can't get in there. It makes me nervous to have 3 going in and out of there. Too small a space if one of them gets a hair across their butt. If the weather is bad, I'll just keep them all separated in their own space with access to their own stalls.
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