Which Outfit Today

Well our last two rides have been great. One English and one Western, she looks good in any outfit!

Cloud definitely is settling in. When I brought Frenchie home the other day, she immediately showed him who came first and Frenchie let her do it, not letting on that he was actually the start of the whole darn herd. He was actually afraid of her. The used to be boss, now being pushed around by a 6 year old, hum, how life does change as you get older. Then Lottie came to nurse her injured leg, and that night Cloud left her spot in front of Tresa's stall. Maybe she thinks that Tresa now has a friend and she can go hang with Chaco, where ever he is at the moment, bug Jill and Karmen, or actually just eat hay with the herd.

Anyway, she is a big girl now, western saddle, back cinch and all. I put the widest western saddle I have on her and it has a big square skirt and she looks fantastic in it. She has plenty of back to hold it and white goes with anything...Didn't even flinch when I threw it up there (all soft and gentle of course), had no problem with the back cinch tickling her, and looked great in a breast collar!

Her go button is really getting good. And whoa is very soft too. She still has lots to say about where we are going, but when we have other horses playing then there are so many choices it's easy to agree on one. Especially when the whole herd is going someplace, then why not go along, as a matter of fact, why not get out front and lead the way!

On Monday, English day, we tacked up at the barn and walked down to the top of the lower field. I mounted up there and we went back and forth on the fenceline for a bit trying to get back to Tresa and safety. But that wasn't working, so why not try a new idea. She started down the hill pretty good, but then it became one or two steps at a time. No problem, I've got all the time it takes. We finally made the bottom of the hill and she saw the round pen and walked right over to it and in. A friendly safe place I guess. Once in, I did close the gate, we had lots of fun walking trotting, stopping, backing, even some very nice turns, soft and cooperative.

I opened the gate from her back, and went on up the hill back to safety of the herd, but we continued a bit of a lesson, walking to a from around them. Really sweet!

On Wednesday, Western Day, we got to play with the other horses in the playyard. It is so hard to concentrate when there is so much activity, but like I said earlier, so much to choose from too. She went through the car wash fine over under through, no problem. Nice circle game and even better back up with more distance.

Ride time was really fun. We were trotting everywhere, looking at everything. Lots of opportunity for Cloud to feel me and me to feel her. This time we all headed out for a walk up the street. We went out the gate that goes through the woods. It was my turn to close the gate, so I dismounted, as this is a tough one, and she stood so nicely, with everyone waiting for us, while I did that. Mounted up, so easy at this height (note to me: measure her so you know for sure how tall she is: I am predicting 14.3, I will let you know) and on up the hill we marched like she had done it a thousand million times! We got out on the street, thinking that Frenchie would lead, but not according to Cloud. Nice forward walk, right up front, let's trot she said, I said no problem and trot off we did! With Boo in tow (another 4 year old who was also out for the first time!) We got up  to the grassy field and our two young ones didn't even want to stop there, so all the way to the top we went!.

Cloud did not want to turn around and come home, she was happy to keep on going! But we did and she walked down the hill like a youngster, letting gravity do the work, so we had a lot of stopping to get ourselves organized. She figured out how to hold herself better by the time we got home, as it is pretty much all down hill...NOTHING even gave her pause to look at. I'm sure we will find something one day, but right now, not much gets in her way of going places.

I am looking forward to tomorrow's ride!