Well, I was going to bow out of this set of goal's threads but hey. I have maybe 2-3 rides before my surgery and if the one today was any indication...boy am I going to miss riding. My goal...get my decrepit body to where I can really work on my fitness. I am NOT ready for a rocking chair yet.
Still doing primarily walk work. My back will only take very short spurts of trot. Today was very warm...July in southern Idaho...no getting around it.
I took her over to the track. Since most of my work is walk...the track provides actually the best footing on the place plus a lot more distractions and challenges for poor Ms. Arena Flower. It makes for a more interesting ride
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
. Today's challenge...the owner's dog getting his water exercise and jumping in the canal that is about 20 yards from the track then popping back up on the bank. She handled that very well. Last time, someone was picking up hay in the hay shed right next to the tack and would pop a bale off the top of the stack which would land with a huge thud just as she was on that side of the track. I think I would have been a bit more tactful in my timing if someone was riding on the track but I guess some people don't give it a thought
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
. She handled that well too. We got a little scoot but that was all and I certainly can't blame her.
Today she was really on the aids. Listening to what I wanted but not taking over. Her mind can go into overdrive so easily then she just throws things out as fast as she can or decides that she knows what I want. I worked some shoulder in and what was so nice was that I could tangibly float the inside rein and nothing changed. That is a big one for her, especially to the right as she normally will not take a solid connection with the right rein, preferring to lean on the left. I did get a new bridle that she seems to be fairly comfortable in. She has really redundant cheek tissue and a normal cavesson pushes that flab right into her teeth. For a couple years now, I have been riding her without any cavesson as I see no point in have a cavesson flapping around if it can't be tightened appropriately. I recently got a killer deal on a PS of Sweden Nirak bridle (thanks, Straightforward
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
) and it is a more balanced and more adjustable version of a Micklem. At any rate, she seems to tolerate it better and seems more centered in the contact. We also worked rein back and they were dead straight and very cadenced. I was able to easily get exactly the number of steps I wanted. Our short little trot sets were quite lively and forward but the downwards were nice and balanced. Of course, right now, it doesn't take much to excite me
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
. The driveway back to the barn has a slight slope where you go up and over a bridge. We did rein back sets up the slope which were also very prompt and straight. Up the slope is a challenge for her wimpy stifles and usually she goes off to the right as that is her weaker hind. Not today.
Everyone stay safe and stay cool if that is possible. I am NOT a summer person. I figure my surgery gives me an out. I should be able to get back on by late September or October...much better weather.
Susan