60's & Sunshine!

The Olympics

From 29 degrees when Butch left for work, the sun soon burned through the frost!  With Farah in the trailer, we were on the road for Victoria, where Linda was waiting at the trail-head.  I'd finally been feeling close to my old self - when I hit my head on Sat.  Yesterday, the vertigo got bad, after all the traffic Courtney expertly drove us through. I was a little leery, wondering if I could get through another ride feeling decent.

A Seahawk decorated tree~

Someone has decorated a little cedar with blue & green ornaments - a few with the Seahawk logos too :-)  It felt so good to be back in the saddle.  My helmet didn't hit my cut - that was a relief.  If I frown or do anything with my forehead though - it hurts!  We headed to the Monument for lunch - the sun felt So warm, even with a light breeze blowing.

Farah Going for the grass :-)

Farah would have stood on her head to grab huge mouthful's of the freshly growing green grass!  Linda & I caught up on all the news.  On Sat., her neighbor's son was riding with his sister, ponying her horse - when a group of riders going fast rounded a corner & spooked their horses.  His sister fell off - luckily unhurt.  Time to remember that there are green horses & green riders out enjoying this great weather.

Linda & Count - Lake McMurrary Overlook~

Count was feeling his oats today!  We trotted, galloped & really had a great ride!  Linda noticed too, that Farah is doing less bucking when we bring up the rear - again - we both think due to her new comfortable saddle.   She was in season too - Count was happy that he was again on her good side :-)

Both Farah & I are happily comfortable now.  A working saddle is such a boon to us both, the hackamore has made a difference too.  Continuing my visits to Jay seems to be helping me.  When those strings of gray, wet days start getting to me - I think Winter will never end...  But the flip side, comes when we get to enjoy days like these!  The sheer fun of riding out in the wide open spaces, in the bright sunshine, on a great mare & enjoying the company of a good friend!

Sunshine Came Softly~

Farah 9th Winter~

Still not 100% - it was incredibly hard to see a day like today & not be riding.  I'm so scared of the return of the vertigo.  I made a pact with myself to not ride again until the congestion is totally gone & it's not.  I am gradually gaining strength - but if I do much - I'm whipped.

Rear view~

With temperatures warming up to close to 60 - it was a perfect day for Farah's long overdue bath.   Then - a good excuse to get some photos.  I keep a lightweight sheet on her, but we'd had several hard rides & she'd done some sweating.  She's finally shedding too - the arena dirt brown hair is coming off!  :-)

Light on her feet!

It felt so good to be out in the warm sunshine, as usual I got soaked too - but - no complaints!  Such a spring like day - scrubbing away to loosen all that hair was the closest to fun I could get without being in the saddle. :-)  There's so much good to be said of bathing a horse - running your hands over their body, you can feel so much more than your eyes can see.

Enjoying what grass is in the yard~

 Farah is as rock hard as she can be.  No lumps, no bumps, no swelling - sound as a dollar & working nicely as ever off her rear end.  Lots of flick with those hind feet too, as Dean would say.  I'd hoped we could go to the ride the end of March, but the date conflicts with two other commitments we've made :-(

Ah sun~

Instead, I'll just hope I can feel like myself again soon!  I've lost a couple good endurance riding partners over the years.  Our schedule of riding during the week doesn't help.  We've planned some great horse camping adventures & I look forward to that!  Maybe an endurance ride or two?