New routine and a Theo update

 Change is in the air with fall on it's way- today is the last of the 30 C (86F) temps in the forecast. The poplar trees are starting to get yellow leaves, but everything else is still in summer mode. I m hoping that the frosty nights will stay away for a while so my garden can mature- that June 1st frost was a big setback. I really would like some vine ripened tomatoes! But if not, I will be making a batch of green tomato mincemeat. Yum!

I never was after roan horses, I always liked the blacks and the bays best, but now, I have two red roans to look at, and I sure can't complain! I have put Gussie back to work, short rides so far and she isn't excited about having to earn her living now. She  probably thought that at age 21 she should retire!  I won't work her hard, just enough to keep her and me in riding shape. So far I will only be riding on the 20 acres of pasture we have, and maybe up onto the hayfields and the sand pit area, depending on how Velvet reacts. I think she will be fine, but she really doesn't like being alone and may get a little frantic if Gussie gets out of sight. 

We don't do frantic.

They do hang out together a lot, but I notice that they do wander away from each other either for grazing or to go back to the shade of the barn. 

The first day I invited Velvet to come along, which she did until she became bored and stopped to graze  and then head back to the barn. Gussie was certain that she too should be done with being ridden, but mean ole me had other plans. I headed close to the barn and put her to work so that the barn would not be the place to quit. 

As you can see, Gussie is quite disgusted that she has to work for her living these days!

Yesterday, I decided to pony Velvet  and take a bit of a longer ride. Velvet of course, was Not Impressed! Once I got her lined out (she thought she should lead) she was fine. I let her go after a while and continued to ride while she went back to the barn. She is still moping a bit about Theo leaving. 

Since Gussie thought she should follow Velvet, I rode partway to the barn and used it as a place to put her through several exercises, so that she doesn't think that going back to the barn is such a good idea- I think that will continue to be part of our rides as Gussie has a history of being barn/buddy sour. 

Today I will ride out alone and see how that goes. Riding Gussie is all about getting to her mind; she's an emotional girl and being a red head isn't afraid to let her opinion be known. I think I will be doing a lot of away and back, away and back, to help her mentally. 

Now for a Theo update: the hauler reported that he travelled well,  ate and drank well and was easy to load and unload, and Jared (his owner) said that he didn't seem to lose any weight.  He settled in well, slept good and is just being that chill good boy that he was here. He is across the fence from 4 minis, and will be getting turnout with them and will be taken on walks with a warmblood weanling who will be his pasture mate soon. 

Aren't they cute little toe rags!