Getting to know you~ Part 1

"Winter  turnout mode" is about to be in full swing at the stable....so this means, every other day turn out. And only 2 of the 7 turnout fields will be used.

On the days horse stay in, they have the open stall and covered patio with 150 foot breezeway runs into their own private forest.

So Wa mare has to buddy up and we chose Theo, her next stall  neighbor gelding.

Wa mare and he  have spent the last month...about this close in turnouts.

So his owner and I decided to ride out together, to assimilate them a bit more...and boy did we luck out with the day!!!

It was really C-o-l-d, but bright and sunny!

Theo is a blessing...he almost died a month ago. It is still undetermined why he coliced the second night Wa was there..but he got cast in his stall...from rolling...Wa spent the night outside..we know, for all her poos were out there!

The stable owner, and many others litterally- saved his life- the vet had him scheduled to be put down..due to it not looking too good...and the owner of the stable said," NOPE...lets do more for him" and Theo was willing.

 It was tough going for a few weeks...but he has gotten a clean bill of health, and His lovely owner is thankful and I too, for the stable owners diligence and patience to support and encourage healing. We have an awesome group of folks and I praise God for allowing me to come here too...

"Pinching" myself still.

Theo is quite happy to bring up the rear of any trail ride...he lead for a short time, and Wa mare relaxed in the back.

We had the occasion to ride under a Red tailed Hawk...as he took ain a lofty view of us humans, astride horses.

Falls bounty was everywhere this day

We took a short  6 mile ride, out and back ....it became very Misty and chilly, as we rode along by one of the ponds

Heading on back...mist grew heavier and so thick...we culd not see far along the roadway

I really wanted to ride side by side...but Theo was wary, and this was about the only time he would try, on the road home

Then he lagged back again, which always is fine with Wa mare...being the Trail Boss Hoss (self appointed leader) we practiced calmly waiting, every so often

She really was sleepy looking(and happy) in this shot!

Taking the hill home, Theo and his partner make it back through the misty Autumn day, having accomplished a nice ride together with my mare and me

I love the way the barn aisle way is, at the far end of the stable...looks as though you are standing in the evergreens!

My mare does her happy debriefing yawns...every time, she does this yawning ritual- before and after a ride!

...now comes the second part of the days goal...

~INTRODUCING Wa and THEO for turn out~

Be back soon, to share...

my man and I have an anniversary to enjoy...In  the "Oregon Gardens". We are staying in the resort that was  built nearby.... and will be celebrating 21 years of wedded bliss!

Yeeha, I am amazed how time flys!

I shall leave you with visions of later in the day, after I left the stable...wooo, look at those skies!

 A resident hummer, taking advantage of some energy, before dark

And a rose, my husband has nursed along...showing us love

Have a good weekend all!

Misty Ride a review on the THINLINE bareback pad

 I arrived to the stable on a cold and misty day over the weekend. Maddy mare, taking her morning siesta~

Since I have not been able to use a saddle, bareback riding pads are the way I ride the mare, at present.

I was looking forward to our solo ride this day, as I was going to ride some new paths in the myriad of pathways, in the oasis acres, next door.

Firstly, I was pleased as punch* that I really felt secure *on this new pad...it has a nice wither relief area that helps to keep it in place. Along with the Anti microbial material, that is non-slip.

I chose to use my Sheepskin "Half Pad" under the bareback pad,  as

my mare is ULTRA SENSITIVE and the stitching of the bareback pad- right on her spine- may bother her.

 I normally use wither relief pads only on her + Sheepskin. Anything else-leaves marks, patterns and sometimes pressure bumps!

 This half pad is a "correction pad" I bought...wayyy back when...I first got the mare and the saddle almost fit her!

It has neat pockets that I shimmed with the "Ultra Thinline", pieces.

I used the two perfectly placed RINGS- at the front of the bareback pad- to secure the sheepskin pad. 

 I also added my mock grab strap( a lunging device) so -I may have something to grab, AND hang an  essential piece of equipment off of...my camera!

The seat area is nicely designed out of the "ThinLine"developed material. At the back of the pad, the 2 rings are placed perfectly for a saddle bag to sit. It is not in the way of you sitting there and-it stays off the horse too!

Tacked up, away we rode!

We came to a hill, I was excited to find a hill,  in my new "Valley Riding" places.

AND WOW....a nice HUGE-O-plowed field at the top, with a cool sawdust track around the edge.

We looked left and we looked right...to spy, oou la la, a nice fresh pile of Apples!

I INSTANTLY thought of Juliette's horses, Pie and Sovey and how they routinely go get treats, on the trail rides at specific places!

We went straight on over to investigate the inviting pile of sweet smelling apples...

....to find that many BEES also thought them sweet smelling, so we moved on rather quickly.

We  saw a blind nearby...ouu, it's a TRAP!

THAT is why the apples are places there...but, no one home today for this ride..good thing!

 Onward and forward we went discovering some new areas and back on home.

We had a really nice time out and about , the mare and I. Only having one or two problematic areas, that were somewhat slick and closed in. She is so claustrophobic and also hates to slide..it hurts when one gets off balance.

She IS NOT the perfect trail horse with how she has difficulty staying upright!

For her, to do so, means to MOVE THE FEET FASTER...haha, how Typical-of a Thoroughbred!

Sooo, my findings with this bareback pad, made by "THINLINE" are:

I like the design, the materials, the girth is also made of Anti microbial-nonslip material,and seems wide enough at 4  inches.

 It is placed nicely on the pad -though- of course, I'd rather have and English billet.

This one has nice stretch to it, ON BOTH SIDES. So you may EVENLY raise it to be the same on both sides. That was smart designing.

  I find  this important for a bareback pad because, with no tree...using a latigo  type  cinch, makes the girthing on side, uncomfortable for the horse plus- it makes a bareback pad move to the side you cinch up...every time, creating shifting pads.

And I really disagree with moving any saddle , by hand-shoving/pulling it over to straighten it!

Ouch, that hurts, plus makes hairs bend over..and that pisses my mare off, making the saddling experience -distasteful!

Here is the view, after we rode out. Notice the sleight shift of the girth

 (I bought a Black Sheepskin too, so I may let one dry out in between uses)

It did not move any farther than this, but for me, I will try to remedy it, either with  my sheepskin girth cover,

 to make sure the buckle has no-contact with my mare's skin.

OR-

I may take the girth to my favorite Upholstry shop, near my home,and for $5-10, I will have a keeper made, like this below~

So...the other thing I LOVE about the Thinline material being what I sit upon on this pad ...

You may decide how "sticky" you wish to be on it, verses a cloth /suede covered bareback pad.

Both my sister and I have a pair of full seat riding breeches.

(above you can see the seat of the pant on bareback pad's top material) 

When she came to ride with me last week, and  used the "Thinline" bareback riding pad, she had her deer skin seat,  F.I.T.S. breeches on.

If she were bothered by the mix of the Thinline material and the Fits combo...I would have heard about it!!

In stead, she got me to trade horses with her, to see how nice it felt.

As I watched her slip around and have a small boat looking pad under her, riding the "Cashel Soft Saddle" I realised,  how hard it has been to ride the "Soft Saddle", all these years...like learning to ride a warm blood, with big lofty gates! It really has a cushy, soft ride but -With Spring- plus, slippery!

I have ridden in the ThinLine bareback pad twice now, on my mare. The day I  went out last Misty weekend, wearing my full seat breeches...sticking to the mare nicely,

(no need for loose legs and such, without stirrups)

and finding that I could actually post easier,with the neat grip on my inner thigh.

And the second time I rode, last Monday, with normal cloth breeches. A little less grip- security but still, not as slick as the Soft saddle.

So there ya have it...my review.

 I really love it, I hose it off afterwards and it is non porus. Should be with me a long time as an essential piece of my riding gear!

Hope you are having a lovely Autumn day all!

FOR ANOTHER FABULOUS REVIEW On The ThinLine pad- written concisely, and detailed VISIT=
CALM, FORWARD, STRAIGHT,  blog!

The Differance

(my sis wanted to know if she should come back to the trail..or jump brush later)

The cool difference, new thing - that WAS unusual for the last ride  is that :

my sister wanted me to feel the way my new bareback pad felt.

So,  half way into the ride, we traded steeds.
CONGRATS TO "EVENSONG" for correctly noticing first...cause she was first! others got it too '~'

 I had loaned her the pad to try out firstly, cause I really wanted to see how she liked it.

 (Things like this help during the holidays and gift giving)

After she got on Wa mare, she decided that selling her Cashel "Soft Saddle"(the one I use on Wa mare normally) years prior, was a good thing. She likened it to A SUPER LONG MAXI PAD- between your legs.

I mean, we were hooting it up, over the AIR under her legs, between her and Washashe mare. Granted the mare does this twisting motion to the right...it tends to shift one to the left.

But most the photo's..she was really spread out!

I really thought it so cool to get to see my mare in action, under another rider!

Then, my sis did the unthinkable....oh my...answered the phone!!

Good mare Washashe...just stood patiently by, I mean, I have her trained for phototaking...

I try (unless it's my mother) to NEVER answer the phone on rides...it kinds breaks up the still , calm and peace of why I ride

Okay...finally, thats over...lets get on with it!

Have a great weekend all!

Visiting Ponies

Oh, it was too sweet last week, when my sister came to visit.

We gave the horses time to catch up, as well, look at them!

I went over to our old barn and picked up Pantz firstly...drove her and my sissy to my new Stable - saddled up....

well.... now that we have discovered that= BOTH our saddles= have been determined to not fit...we bareback padded up!

she has a fleece one that had to suffice. She cut out a piece of Rust suede material out, to put on top for more grip and protection.

I was just itching to take her around my new pathways and roads and such.

Here, we discover yet another pond...on the 350 acres. There has to be 7 or 8..maybe more , on these privately owned "Oasis Acres"!

It was a bright and cloudy day, and supposed to rain and storm for the next 7..oou..quick, we got on and rode!

Pretty Pantz mare~ 

Yea..you are all going to get tired of this view...a fave of mine!

We just did a quick spin around the closest lands, of the privately owned property, right from the stable.

My mare's Thermography apt last Friday rendered images of -Striation of the muscles- on Wa's ham strings, from over extension in her fall ( 2 months ago) So, only walking do we get to do for like 3 more weeks.

Miriah, my Equine therapist, had  just gotten back from BEND Oregon, where

 Dr. Deb Bennett  was teaching

one of her classes on dissection of an equine.

Miriah now has "NEW" Vision on muscle attachments and much more!

That's fine with me, the walking....though before the apt, I took her out and we did do some uphill trotting...ooops.
Well, I figured, since this apt got cancelled once and then, happened this much later...everything I have done either has prolonged or helped... I rather think it may have helped me to know- DON'T BE PUSHING HER!

She has told me so much through the other  therapist's work on her, and through me- just watching her move- as I have "free lunged" her a few times only.

So, our healing continues, walking only.

BUT-I found her with mudd up to her tits the other day and asked the PBO what area has that much mudd?? She thought I was upset with mudd...no, as mudd  is such a fact of life here in Oregon.
I  just can't  have a frantically running/sliding mare at this point.

 I failed to tell her that WA needed to be contained  in her actions, since the paddock she has been turned out since we arrived, was next to the barn and she was so calm, I didn't see the need.

 The next day, a working day for me, Washashe  had been turned out in a new field, and was a bit frantic. The horse in the front field next to hers, gets to be taken in before her.
I got to see these sliding, muddy stops and galloping myself, the other day, when I went to retrieve her from that field. It is what she does when she is upset, it's normal...but right now, not good.
 We are on the same page now, Barn owner and me....communication- a wonderful invention!

I have also kept from group rides...which causes the mare to become competitive and collected sometimes- which uses exactly the muscles she needs to rest.

 I am dying to ride with my riding bud Jules...but, as she has told me several times that Maddy mare has been rearing to go and run, each time she has gone out.. I know that it may be a while longer for us to ride.

Soo....

I again, went to retrieve my sissy and her mare- just Wednesday-

LOOK AT THIS WEATHER...it stormed for 6 days, in between her visits from the coast.
THEN, this week 70 degrees and perfectly sunny!

I ordered a new Bareback riding pad.

 After much research and wanting something a bit more refined and closer to the horse. I decided on the "THIN LINE" pad.

The technology is great and if I am right on the horse what better way to distribute concussion and heat...diagonally, instead of vertically. I let my sissy try it out first this day.

I really like the anti microbial, non slip material, that is on the horse. PLUS, the girth is the same, with these perfectly placed rings for a breast collar in front, and pack for the back!

Awe, the mares, they were really kissy face~

They were pleased to be together, as we were, this fine day!

Stopped at the pond crossing for a drink~

Then, something unusual, different and new occurred...and if you can figure it out, visually so...

First one to get it right, gets the cool prize~

 a POSTER FROM JULIETTE, coming to YOU or an EQUINE NECKLACE charm of your horse from Tara at Five'oClock Somewhere

(NOTE: Previous winners may guess, but this is for others,  that have never won a contest here before)( "~' )

As we started to ride again, I noticed this...how very cool!!!



As we stood, to look closer at the Beaver's handy work towards a home....

We both heard a chirping noise, just behind us, in another body of water. We turned to look, but bubbles is all we could detect.

Onward and forward we rode, into the gorgeous sunlight and warmth

Funny how- the last pony on the trail, always keeps and ear out for anything that may come from behind!

Around and about we strode...into the light, and into the wondrous views~ of these "Oasis Acres"!

We went through many newly formed water spots on the way

I always try to head directly through the middle of any water puddles...

At first, a few years ago, I met with resistance from the mare...and the threat to jump or carry me far too closely near an edge, to avoid the wet spots. Now, she  reads my mind, through body intent, and heads for the center.



As many of you may recall this summer, while riding another's horse at the beach, I had a tumble OFF his backside...as he flung himself over a less than 2 ft wide puddle.

He misread my intensions and it ended up badly for all of us that day.

 That action from him is EXACTLY WHY I train my mare to disreguard puddles and to THINK and refer to me, over having to make her own way through a trail ride.

Follow me, I am the leader! 

We determined that Wa mare felt even better than the previous weeks ride. She appeared to be stepping up and under, and her hips moved evenly so.
I know that time and patience, every third day massages and stretches I have as homework, has done wonders...and, I am sure that the "Joint wafer treats" I started 2 weeks ago, have made this difference as well.

She has retained a nice "sole callus, for having her Easy Walker shoes on for the summer. Only was slightly ginger footed on these rocks, but not bad at all!

 This tree farm land is owned by one of my clients, I  JUST found out..and is another 350 acres- to add to the arsenal of riding options!

Homeward bound we went...back across the new stream below the stable.

Then we get ready to dismount for the last 50 yards....

....we see a brightly colored object, growing on a stump.

Oou, very cool and festively appropriate this Autumn, and month of Thanksgiving!

Bye- bye my sissy..untill you get back to Portland...I'll be riding out, by myself and strengthening the mare.

Have fun today everyone, and if you did not quite figure  out what the differance was -in the post...just wait a little while.

 I have video to post next..it should clear things up,

quite a bit!