The little ride I took on Ruby was just a short get-to-know-ya ride. First to check the saddle fit, and second to see how she would be after not having been ridden for 3 months.
Over the winter she has gotten friendlier; she seems to be a fairly calm and uncomplicated mare.
Saddling went a lot better this time; she didn't try to take me out with her hip like the last 2 times- mostly because I got after her last time I saddled her. Also, I was able to saddle her from the usual side without her dancing around. So, progress there.
I had a bridle I wanted to try on her- this is the bridle I used when Ted and I got married on horseback 26 years ago; I had given it to a niece who was riding at the time, and she kindly gave it back to me now that she isn't riding.
Yes, Ruby, it looks good on you!
I took precautions, wearing my helmet and having Ted there just in case Ruby had any objections.
At the mounting block, she took a while to stand still, we did some round and round and and lots of placing her, letting her stand, then moving her out again, until she got the idea that standing where I wanted her was a good idea.
The weather has been very mild lately, enough so that the snow has softened and it wasn't too icy in the area I wanted to ride- basically, a nice flat area where Ted had plowed the snow up into a nice large pile at one end.... more on that later...
Ruby was good! She sure has a nice ground covering walk, her steering, stopping and back up were all in order. That was pretty much all I wanted to know with that ride- now it will be all about getting to the indoor arena and really seeing what she's all about. They have obstacle play days there and that will give me good training opportunities and get her connected to me before trail riding season. I also want to do some roping training with her. It should be a good horse year for me!
So- about that large pile of snow...
Whaaaat? There's grass pushed up in that snow I had to check out!
We have a herd of deer who have moved back onto the farm. There are three bucks in that photo.
Nice long tines for such a young buck, he has 3 tines each side.
He came down from the snow pile...
and headed for Velvet's hay bale. Along with a couple of does.
Busted!
I keep my panels around the bales, and a tarp over them which helps to keep them from totally destroying the bales- I have 3 bales set out in my feeding areas.
From there they jumped over the fence towards the river, but as soon as I went back in the house they snuck back into the yard and headed out to the pasture where the rest of the herd was. There are up to a dozen deer here at any given time. In the middle of the night they come right to the house to lick the ice salt on the sidewalk, or check for grassy nibbles where the snow has melted next to the house.
I foresee that gardening here is going to be a challenge.
7 comments:
Good job, Shirley. You’re really jumping into the riding season. No sense in letting the snow stop you.
Looks like you’re going to have co-exist with the wild herds, but they sure are beautiful. I have a horse friend here who has a herd of elk who share her land many days. Like you, she’s a photog and gets amazing shots. I call her place the magical forest.
Nice that you got your beautiful bridle back.
One of my pet (horse) peeves is not standing still at the mounting block. It is not optional. Good to get it sorted out at the start.
You are definitely going to be challenged with gardening. Sorry! There are plenty of deer resistant bulbs/flowers/shrubs to try. With such brazen deer, if you attempt veggies they will have to be securely enclosed for sure.
I think you're going to need an electric fence for the garden. Those deer are domesticated. :)
I am glad that the first ride went so well.
What a pretty bridle! You had a good ride! Deer they are not good garden friends:(
That is a beautiful bridle and yes it looks great on her!
The deer are starting to come down the hill towards our house now too because the snow is not quite as deep there from the melting.
Sounds like Ruby is going to be perfect.
I got married on mule back! I still have the saddles and the matching blankets we had!
So glad you got the bridle back!
Good for Ruby! Hope it is a good horse year. I'm not much for riding in bad weather and I consider snow bad weather. Some years we have a lot and some years hardly any. So far this is a hardly any year. Beautiful deer.
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