Thursday. So close to Friday.

Things are ramping up around here, but nothing exciting enough is happening to warrant a separate post, so here are some random goings-on!

My friend and her horse are back for the summer to board at my place.  She brought her trailer over last weekend so I could practice loading Fred.  He is star and jumped right on after a couple of minutes of sniffing and looking around.  I think he will be a good candidate to self-load!



Spencer on the left and Bailey. 

My tulips are flowering and they are so pretty.  I've been able to get a bit of work done on my gardens the past few days.  Not sure why this place has so many flowerbeds tho - why would you want all the extra work when you already have horses? Sheesh.  #notagardener #blackthumb

My horses have it pretty good here - I don't do much with them in the winter except feed and groom them.  My barn is set up where I can just let them into their stalls without haltering and leading them in.  They all know that routine, but in the spring, when we start working and changing things up a bit, I get some grumpiness and attitude - even from little Copper! 

The big guys are out on grass for about 8ish hours a day now, but Copper can't handle that much.  He would be so fat! I can't find his grazing muzzle, so until a new one arrives, I keep him in during the day and then at dinner time, I shut the gate to the pasture and they all go back out to the small paddock. 

Copper follows me to shut the gate, so I've been bringing a longe whip just in case.  He DOES NOT LIKE being told where to go, so man have I been getting some attitude.  It is hilarious, of course.  After day 3 of some manners, he now stands and glares at me while I close the gate. I had to get a picture, because it is so funny. 



This is f'ing bullshit!  Copper, probably.

I tried lunging Fred last night and it went as well as could be expected with a giant 4yr old with gangly legs who hasn't been worked since September.  hahaha  And it is hard to get pics while lunging - I'm not that coordinated yet!

I decided to try him with a rope halter since I didn't feel like farting around with the cavesson and surcingle.  Turns out his "whoa" didn't work well with the rope halter either.  Needless to say, we have some refresher work to do!  The mosquitos were vicious, so I'm going to need to work him with a fly mask or something so his brain doesn't melt out his ears BECAUSE ZOMG MOM THERE ARE BITEY BUGS ON ME!!!!!!


Bugs in my ears!!!!! 

I also started teaching him the basics of showmanship pivots.  Why, you ask?  Well, I think it would be fun to do something else with him.  I may try him in showmanship at the schooling shows this summer.  Assuming I can get my ankle healed enough to you know, like jog for a few steps? Sheesh.

We ended our session, just before the mosquitoes carried us away, by standing at the mounting block and me hanging over his back.  He really didn't care, as long as I was helping swat bugs.  No pictures of that since I didn't want to test my luck too much! 

I'm looking forward to doing some regular work on the longe with Fred - I really want to try long lining him and ground driving as well as get him working in tack!