Blu and Raven and Daffodils

 

Raven and I went for a short ride around the property to try out our newly altered girth with the aussie saddle. Success! Many thanks to George with Union Level Leather for altering an elasticized dressage girth by putting extra wide buckles on it, as well as changing my overgirth to be billets on both sides instead of a ring. He did a really thorough job and was careful to ensure the equipment was reassembled safely.  

When the ride was done I hosed off Raven and we were hand grazing while she dried. I didn’t want her to roll in the mud immediately!  Blu came to hang out with us. He’s remarkably brave around the horses considering how skittish he can be with people he doesn’t know. 

Just today all these daffodils popped up!  Spring is definitely here, with lows overnight in the 50s and a day in the 80s forecasted later this week. I’m so glad we moved here, I do not miss the terrible wind, breaking ice off water tanks, or bitter cold temps. I’ve only had to walk down the hoses to prevent them freezing a couple times all winter!

Back at Occoneechee Park

Raven and I returned to Occoneechee park again this morning for a quick ride.  We were the only ones there when we arrived, and when we finished there were four other rigs there- each of them quite a bit larger than mine!  We briefly saw a group of four horses and riders heading out as we were coming back, but other than a brief whinny nothing exciting happened.

I forgot to start my app on my phone at the very beginning to track us, so the ride was actually 1.25 miles longer than this says, for a total 6.71 miles. We trotted a little bit but mostly walked, since Raven was a little tight from the previous ride.

Trailride with Raven

 

Raven and I went to Occoneechee park this morning for a conditioning ride. We went out the main trail, which is an out-and-back ride, but I knew the footing was good since it has gravel and it’s been kind of wet here the past couple weeks. I was aiming to mostly walk, but Raven was so eager to be out that we did do some trotting and even a little galloping. 

I’m very pleased to have discovered that my Australian saddle fits her really well.  I’ve had it a very long time, because it’s my favorite. If someone gave me a block of clay and had me sit on it to make an impression of my derrière, then created a saddle that perfectly fit that impression- you would have this saddle. I can do super long rides in it, I can do fast rides in it, I feel extremely secure in it, I love this saddle!  Thankfully, Raven does too. She has many opinions and does not hesitate to tell me if something is even slightly amiss with her equipment, but she really does like this saddle. 

The only thing I need to change is the girthing system. I either need to change the rigging to be regular English style billets so I can use a girth with elastic, or have a girth made with elastic that can accommodate the thick billets and overgirth.  The current girthing setup doesn’t have even contact with her barrel.  Fortunately a new friend in the art guild I joined has a husband who loves to do these kinds of custom projects, so I have a lead in that direction!

I don’t love these pics with the wonky helmet cover that doesn’t fit the helmet super well, but I’m trying to be extremely visible on the trails because of hunters.

We went just about 8 1/2 miles in an hour and 45 min. We are both a little stiff this evening, getting back to riding fitness together is a process!