New Barn

Well it has now been a little over a month since I moved Duck to her new barn. She is LOVING having so much room to move around and grass to nibble on. We have been playing a lot at liberty between her pasture and in the cross ties. I am teaching her to stay in the cross ties without being tied to be groomed, saddled, etc. She is picking it up very quickly!

A couple weeks ago we were able to ride out with the barn owner and see the trails. Duck did great! There is even a gate to open and shut to get on/off the trails, so it was fun to have practiced that and to use it! The trails are quiet in some places, and close to suburbia in others with barking dogs, swimming pools and such. Duck did great! We only had one spook and that was when we were out in the open, with 2 horses in the distance running the fenceline. She did great while we were heading towards them but then they stopped and we turned away from them and headed back into the woods at the same time they started running again. Our one rein emergency stop is great though, so it was no big deal and she settled in fine right after that again.

We also have attended the Lake Norman Savvy Club's trail obstacle day. That was a lot of fun! Although we didn't stay long at all, just to do the trail challenge, it was tons of fun to do all those new things. Opening a mailbox and reading mail, trying to cross a tarp at speed, crossing then backing over a bridge, jumping a small jump, trying to get her front feet into a hula hoop and do a yield the hindquarters, as well as dragging a bag (we skipped that one but I tried it afterwards) were some of the obstacles.

I left right after I did the course because I had family with me and lots to do that day, but we ended up winning! I was super surprised and pleased, although that wasn't why I did it. I just wanted to expose us to more things! It was a lot of fun and I am looking forward to doing it again in October.

Next week will be another Lake Norman Savvy Club playdate. Online in the morning and freestyle in the afternoon with Demo's from instructors over lunch. Sounds like a great day and will be good for us to get out again!

Lessons and Change

Well, it has been a long time since I have updated either of my blogs. There has been so much going on and I just haven't taken the time to write.

Duck and I are starting dressage lessons. We have only done 2 so far, but it is wonderful! I love that we are able to continue to refine our communication and I love how I am being taught even more about positive reflexes and how to get them.

On the other front, Duck and I will be changing barns soon. It is a very long drawn out story, but basically it looks like our barn is closing anyway, although I made the decision to move her before that really all came to light. The good side? I won't be having to work weekends anymore. For the last 3 years I have been working weekends in order to help pay down her board. This has made it hard for us as a family on the weekends with the kids' activities and also with Church on Sunday's. On the not so good side, I will be commuting 1/2hr to the barn instead of 5 minutes. I know this shouldn't be a big deal as 1/2 hour (or more) has been standard for me while boarding, but I have been so spoiled having her 5 minutes away for the last almost 3 years! The new place should be good though, she will be on pasture board on about 10 acres, so that will be good. She will have grass to eat and be on a decent sized lot. Her current turn out is very small and is a dry lot. This new barn I am told has more trails so hopefully we can go trail riding more often without having to trailer out.

Oh yeah, trailering, that reminds me. I finally bought a trailer! It is certainly nothing fancy, but it will get us from point A to point B. The really funny thing is that it is a brand made in Utah (where I am from), Logan Coach. So no one here has really heard of it, but I knew what it was right away! For the year it is in better shape than all the others I looked at, but it still needs a few things like new handles for doors so I can lock the tack room and hold backs for the dividers, but all in all it is good.

I am still learning to drive it and haven't driven on the freeway or any other place that I have had to change lanes yet. Working on my thresholds you know!

I am so lucky to be so blessed to enjoy time with my horse and continue my horsemanship journey. And I will try to be better updating my blog!