Canter Collection!

Today Sandra worked quietly with Farah, collection at the trot is now Very nice!  Farah gives with her head at the first request.  Moving up & into the canter this week was much less eventful that last weeks big buck!  This time it was smooth & looked more effortless too. 

Getting the toes knocked back off the hind feet helped.  Now I'm working to keep weight on Farah.  She's fit & Dean loves the way she looks, but Sandra wants more weight!  :-)  I know that she will show much better for the upcoming rescheduled inspection in a couple months - if I can get some weight on top of those muscles.  A certain gold mare has her stall about "bedded" in the nice, expensive Timothy from Dayville - so on top of the rice bran, we're going to add alfalfa pellets & see if I can keep her weight up with the miles we're doing.

Was hopeful of getting in an afternoon ride after we were at Ensbrook, but it was raining harder than before by the time we were done :-(

American Beauty Day~

Bryant - 10-mi. loop

The day started out with temps at 30, frost on the ground - but sunshine pouring over the Cascades!  I was up early & to the trailer parking early too.  Lots of trailers pulling in & lots of people taking advantage of a perfect day to ride!

Farah watching the "neighbors" & enjoying the sun

Joyce had offered to re-show me the ten-mile training loop that we used to do.  What fun to ride with her again!  Jesse has a great trot, so the two horses worked well together.  Farah was very full of herself, so we trotted where we could & walked through the numerous muddy areas.

This photo showing the beauty of the day!

The ride was over was quicker than I would have liked!  I thought about going out again, as Joyce had to head to work - but knew that something "wasn't right" with Farah's shoes & Art had agreed to fit us in to his now busy schedule - so we had to head home.  Good thing, as Art pulled in just a few minutes behind us!

Hind feet trimmed

The dogs took off with the "evidence" but Farah's left hind foot had again grown WAY faster than the others!  This was the leg that spent last winter covered with Dean's magic "blue cream" - healing the "scratches" for lack of another description.  When we'd re-shod back then - Art was amazed at the growth in that foot, both of us thinking that it was probably a one time thing...  But NOT!  That foot had over 3/4" of growth!  The other hind only 1/4"!  So no wonder she was forging in the heavy footing on the Centennial Trail Tue.

Farah was Not happy that her pasture time was delayed, but went soundly to sleep while Art finished her shoes :-)  On the Very First Step - the stride was HUGE - so we knew that things were back to the way she likes them!

As a post-script to our ride, on the way back while still out on the logging road, we were trotting side-by-side when I asked Farah to collect up.  At first she said;  "No, I don't think I want to."  But I did as Sandra has instructed - didn't give in & asked again.  This time her response was immediate & incredible - at least to me!  She collected, lifted her back, put her head in the perfect position & next thing I knew - we were flying!  All without breaking her beautiful collected frame.  She asked to go faster & I said "sure" & she did!  Smart this girl is!  She's not only learning - but putting what she's learned to work on the trail!