welcomes Miles

Since Q was a temporary lease I kept my eye out, casually looking for the right fit. Too old, too young, too far away, too much money! 

I tried a few. A chestnut was nice but moved a little funky to me. A gorgeous gray was too young. A paint-Arab cross was too much to handle with some baggage. What was I drawn to? Of course bay Arabs with fun personalities. 

photos from his ad

Then I saw a local trainer’s ad: “extremely fun and playful horse” “completely confident going down the trail by himself” “going down the trail and doing some horse camping “would love to be a trail or Endurance horse” “has also camped at Point Reyes by himself.”

Downside: “still young and can get excited in large groups on the trail.”

Figured he was worth a look. Went out one afternoon and took him for a spin in the arena. Well, the trainer rode first. He didn’t do anything bad (he’d had three days off), was just a little uptight in there. His background was a show barn, with that silly show barn Arab energy. When I rode him he didn't do anything stupid, didn't feel explosive or silly, just a little uncertain. But he was so cute!

So I decided I wanted to ride him on trail. I was nervous, as I always am with a new horse. But I met them at the staging area (where I ride all the time, which was great) and headed out hiking. No problems, so got on and proceeded to have a completely uneventful ride, the best kind! Over and under, big trails, small trails, leading, following, trotting, walking, what a good boy! A couple moments of wheee, let’s go, but shut him down and he was fine to continue.

As we rode back my brain was spinning. Hmmm. Good horses sell quickly. He’s a good one. Friendly, steady on trail, even my favorite color. I’d be sad to miss out.

So they settled that. I told the trainer right then that I’d take him. Too impulsive? Maybe. But just look at this face. 

meet Miles (registered name: Bacchus DWA)

Meet Miles. An almost 6-year old bay Arabian, 15 hands. Good trail experience, even camping. Baby brain in groups needs work, but we can get there. We have lots of trails to explore. 

a walk to the staging area in crazy winds, no spooking!

settling in to pasture

 

thank you Q

Q and I have explored more than 100 miles of trails. We've had our disagreements, though mostly understandings. But it was always a temporary lease, and I was always looking for my next horse.

I was just getting her tail cleaner too! But she is certainly in better shape.

She taught me a lot, and will hopefully continue her trail career with her owner.

Thanks Q for a different perspective. I learned a lot.

I can use all my horse knowledge for my next adventure partner….(hint, not a gray…)

spring Q

 

It's almost a perfect time to ride right now. The grass is bursting out and bright green, birds in the trees…and it is getting dusty. Seriously we've had no rain, in winter, for 40 days. After a wet December we're worrying about fire danger in February, yeah for California! 

ferns are not tasty but she had to try

As much as it is not my favorite, every time I ride Q we do a little warm-up in the arena. Most days she needs a brain-reminder that yes, work is an actual thing you have to do. Once she remembers that she actually has a job, and can listen to the not-unreasonable requests from the puny human atop her, we hit the trail. I don't have between the ears pictures because she is not exactly the type to stop and relax (we're working on it).

love this rock monolith

This little mare sure likes to go! Walking is fine but trotting is even better. She has a great, smooth trot, and just goes along like a metronome, incredible consistent. Up hills, on the flat, though we slow for most downhills. We've traveled about 15 miles a week, split between 2-3 ride, usually an easier forest walk/trot and then a faster or harder (more elevation) ride. 

posing as we hike an extra steep downhill

Last week I took her on the rock trail, which is yes, pretty much just all rocks, to see how she would do. I was only planning on doing a small portion, as it is very tough. The horse has to slow and think about their feet, as there is flat granite to cross, rock steps, rocks to clamber up, let alone all the ducking and dodging the rider must do as it is always overgrown.

tree tangle behind us, lots of trees fallen this year

Unsurprisingly, she loved the technical trail, she just seems to like to get out and see new trail. I had to work on making sure she stayed slow, because she probably would have bounded over all of it just fine at speed (but damn the rider!). Afterwards she was dripping sweat and still managed to try and spook when we got back to the staging area at the "unexpected" horse trailer she saw from 100 feet away, guess she was not THAT tired!

after workout snack

After rides I've been rewarding her with some of the tasty green grass. When she is all cleaned up after the ride she looks like she is glowing and that lasts all of about five minutes, then I put her back in paddock and she rolls.

pretty clean!

 We're enjoying our adventures, and there are fun updates ahead…

saddle skeptic

broad and flat

It would be easier to sit on a propane tank. At least it wouldn’t trot. Q is very round. And while overweight (1050 according to vet weight tape) it’s also just her shape. Mutton withers blend into wide back, also short backed, oh joy! 

She got her own sign, can't have a no-name horse in pasture!

Of course my favorite Solstice wide is far too narrow. I tried it anyway and rolled side to side like a drunken sailor, as the too tight saddle couldn’t settle. Q was quite tolerant but after the short ride she had totally dry patches on the “shoulders” (they’re so meaty I’m not even sure I can call them that!), so certainly a bad fit. But I’ve ridden that saddle probably 10,000 miles, it’s amazing, not getting rid of it. But not for Q. 

saddle skeptic

Onto saddle two: Freeform Elite dressage. It’s treeless, It has extra panels for taller withers (she certainly doesn’t need those!). I have a good pad with equipedic inserts. I tried this on about five rides. Good sweat patterns, and she doesn’t object, but I feel like a flopping beginner up there. After a trail ride she did the whole body shake and I almost fell off! I don't hate the saddle, but me learning the saddle and learning the horse is a tough combination. (I didn't even take any photos of it!).

old standby: Wintec 2000

one of my favorite trees didn't survive the storms

So out to the dusty saddle trunk, where I dug out an old standby: Wintec 2000. Why did I keep this? It was the saddle I first rode Major in, but mainly it wasn’t worth selling and has fit quite a few horses. I stuffed the widest gullet plate in there, got out my trusty thin line pad and sticky girth, and tried out the combo. Better, still a bit of rolling, but secure. Maybe my best option?

Duett Tango test, rear panels nice and wide

I’m not buying a saddle for a lease horse. Ok, whoops, I wrote some of this a few weeks ago…yes I did buy a saddle for a lease horse! (But you know how horse math is…I can always resell it…). I found an amazing deal on a Duett Tango. I tried one owned by another boarder on her, seemed very promising. Duett is a hoop tree, wide rear panels. It’s not as comfy as my Solstice, (twist is too wide for me) but with my Haf saddle pad (no inserts), breast collar, sheepskin saddle cover and endurance stirrups, we had a few good rides, though I still had to get off and adjust the saddle slipping. Upgraded to a non-slip anatomical girth. Better, but arghh, still some rolling! 

current setup, need to take better photos (and shorten the breast collar)

I was at my wits's end. I read some used a piece of shelf liner under the saddle pad? Seemed like it could bunch or rub. I went for the actual horse version. It showed up and was tiny, flimsy and sure looked useless. 

dumb thing is a miracle worker

back on the trail

This stupid little thing is amazing!! A lifesaver. Saddle is solid (still have to really watch placement, it’s much farther back than I’d have thought). I really thought I had a lot of tack available until now, hah! At this point the only other saddles I own are a very old charro kids saddle (my uncle's or grandfather's?) and my uncle's huge heavy western. Both are old, dried out leather and not safe (plus my butt is not fitting in that kids saddle!!) 

old saddles, not for me (but cool tapaderos!)

 I think the saddle hunt is solved for now… until she gets in better shape and changes? Oh no. 

My other adventures: taking Wesley for his daily walks!

meet Q

In November a friend texted me "Are you only interested in a gelding, no mares?" I said if it was the right one, but I wasn't interested in buying right now. Then she said the owners were probably interested in a lease, and I got more intrigued.

Off of a couple pictures and a short conversation I went and saw the mare. Short, dirty, fat, friendly, pretty easy to work with, seemed sensible. Well-bred for endurance, had been started at 5, then pretty much sat for 4 years, except for the 1-2 times a year they pulled her out to trail ride around the property. 

meeting, who are you?

living in red dirt is bad for a gray

Hmmm, not ridden much, out of shape, moving to a new place, you know what, why not. I've made worse decisions lately (fatalism at it's best). Feed lease (except insurance) for six months (or when I want to stop it.) Picked her up the next week. A bit reluctant to go in the trailer, but did get in and rode home quietly.

Her name is Qamara, but I'm not a huge fan of that. I'm just calling her Q, it is short and cute (and happens to be an excellent Star Trek character besides). I was able to take her back to my old stable, which was a comfort. Luckily she really likes eating, so settled in pretty quickly, saying hi to the boys. She was so dirty the stable owner thought I'd bought a roan, not a gray!

settling in…oh food, cool!

meeting the boys

First week I let her settle in, just some short walks and grooming to get that red dirt off of her. She was respectful of my space, has very good ground manners and does like a good brushing! She even stood nicely for a bath! Second week I took her on some forest hikes, she was looky but not stupid, snorting softly at the new surroundings. 

forest hike

after her first bath

meeting her doppleganger down the street

Time to saddle up…in the arena. Did some ground work for a few days, decided to go for it when she stood nicely at the mounting block. We worked on walking, turning, listening, bending, all the basics. She had a lot to remember, I could tell her brain was thinking about all the changes, but she was good about it. After a few rides just in the arena, I warmed her up in the arena and then I took her down the road after each ride, where we'd been walking the previous weeks. We had some discussions about certain areas where monsters must lurk, but consistently not letting her get away with it resulted in a forward walk past the spooky place, yeah!

ready for the trails

after a few rides I felt I could take a chance at a photo

Then into the forest we went. We've now done some shorter and longer rides, single track and wider trails. She is spookier than I'd like, but has taken me with her spins (for now), and is pretty sure footed and more importantly seems to really like it. Working up distance as she's been a pasture puff all this time. Also working on saddle fit, which when riding a horse shaped like a propane tank can be difficult (she has no withers and is super wide).

green, and very muddy in places

 

awkward after ride, but mmm, grass

there isn't much mud in her field, but she can find it all

every day is like this, sigh…

So for now I have a project that is helping me look forward instead of back, though some days I'm still quite lost. I don't know where this is going or how consistently I'll write (not sure where my heart is right now) but 2022 is starting off better…

 

catching up

When it's been so long that you don't know where to start so you wait even longer making the whole thing worse…(pictures of random pretty things just to break up the story)

So Mercury came home and settled in, but was anxious and into everything. I figured nice walks around the property, just asking him to listen, then some trail walks, would be a good start. He also had to let me brush him and pick him feet, not his favorite as he had to stand still! 

 Everything went well for awhile. Until it didn't. Mercury was very annoyed at me didn't want to walk on a lead like a real pony, and tried biting, and eventually on one walk he reared. I still made the bad mistake to get on, thinking it was OK (WTF? was I thinking) when he reared with me on him then bolted off. Oh boy, I looked for a nice place to land and decided that weeds and grass were better than trees and bailed. But kept a hold of those damn reins! Back at the stable we worked in the round pen, he had no interest in listening, and I decided I needed some serious help. The next day I called the trainer. She was great, diagnosed some big holes, and I had her take him. 

 I went to check his progress every few weeks, he did great for her, but damn if we weren't oil and water, still being so pushy and not liking my correction. I had to decide if this was a battle I wanted to fight. After a few months at the trainer, I decided I didn't.

I feel like I failed him when I asked the trainer to sell him. He was great for her and found a new home quickly, where he will mostly be a pasture friend for a few years till he grows up more. I think that is a good outcome. And what did I learn: don't make decisions on a new horse when you are still so sad over your old one.

And I'm still so sad. My kitty Wesley does make me smile! I keep busy with swimming and I ride my friend's horse and now have a short-term lease for the winter/spring (more on that situation in another post). I'm hoping that will help me out, spending time with a horse that is a pretty good citizen but just needs some rides. I just need more time, never enough time…

 

 

project

(I'm a bit scattered with too many thoughts, and no coherent story to them. Instead of putting off another week, here is a rough update.)

Under smoky skies I brought home Mercury. He is a 3.5 year old mustang, and very much a project. At his old place I took him on the trails a couple times, quite forward and brave. Sticky and testy in the arena, needing some serious skills upgrades. And so very baby mouthy! Argh! (That is also why there aren't many pictures. He is either in your face or trying to eat something…)

backlit roan makes for terrible pictures

The old stable I'd been at for all my time owning Major abruptly closed, which was another stress point! I found a quiet backyard stable, with trail access, that will work for now. We've been doing some calm hand walking, just learning some new skills in a new place. I'm looking for a trainer who can come to me for some more help, as I don't have all the skills to manage a horse this young and green!

Since I'm not riding Mercury yet I'm still enjoying my time riding Beau, he is a good reminder of why I like to ride. Incredibly honest boy, we have a fun time exploring the trails while his mom deals with her health concerns. A true win-win situation.

gifted Beau a new biothane bridle in his mom's favorite color

It'll be a long while before me and Mercury can really hit the trails, so I'm also still looking for an older horse, probably Arab, that I can do more with right now. WTF?  I don't know, and maybe that won't work, but not doing long adventures on my own horse is a hole in my life I'd like to try and fill.

Having another horse and riding too has not made losing Major any easier. I have multiple very bad days a week, where the memories come too close and are overwhelming. And I just roll with it and be very sad and keep moving forward. Sometimes there is even more stress (the Auburn, CA Bridge fire was too close for comfort, we were packed and ready to go) but then there is Wesley, who reminds us all that a cereal box can really be all we need in a moment, and makes me smile.