Saturday Rides

A last minute decision led me to take Ferriana out to the back pasture to gallop and jump a little, and Kim H was walking with Sara at the time.  Since Kim H had her camera on her she took a few pics of me and Ferriana during our impromptu cross country school.

This next photo is a great illustration of why it's difficult to ride Ferriana over fences - she is so extremely careful with her hind end that it's easy to get popped out of the tack on landing.

I also rode Note this morning with Gillian on Silver and Sara on Dancer.

Silver was looking dapper in pink, with a borrowed pink browband to top off the ensemble.

Dancer did ok as well, and Sara did take her to hack around the back forty after we were done riding.  I need to take a look at how Dancer's saddle is fitting her.  She's been avoiding standing still for mounting, and was a bit grumpy for getting girthed up prior to her ride.  Most of the time those two behaviors are the horse trying to say that the saddle doesn't fit quite right.  She also had been very heavy on her forehand, taking long steps with her front legs and short ones with her hind legs.  This results in her putting her head down, but not lifting her back.  Another good example of why "headset" is not a good indicator of hind end engagement.