Back in a "new" saddle

I had to try out my "new" saddle.  I couldn't wait any longer.  I had ridden in the saddle before but you never know, maybe it wasn't as awesome as I had originally thought.  Lo! It's still awesome!  Cody is happy that there's snow in the paddock so he can walk instead of skating.  He was, however, wondering where my little plan ran off too (I had planned to ride bareback in a halter for the winter to help keep me off his face and help me establish some more subtle cues).  But I couldn't help it, he's been sound for over a month now so it was time to jump on quick.

So we did a little walk and trot and he even gave me a nice little right lead canter.  He did everything in his power to avoid going left though.  Didn't really even want to walk left, would cut the corners and try and circle around the other way.  He wasn't lame or anything in that direction just avoident (is that a word?).  Might have to dig out my massage and stretching book and see what I can find and maybe get the chiropractor out this spring again.

So yeah, rode in a saddle for the first time since I can't even remember, fall sometime I guess.  It was good. The sitting trot was awesome. The canter was nice.  I still need work on my hands, I'm too fidgety with the reins. Also need to swap out stirrups and leathers, the one's that were on the saddle are brown and too short.  I should get a new girth that has the extra buckle for the saddle flaps.  And I hate riding in my winter boots.  They're meant for riding but they are just so huge and I have to adjust my leathers and blah blah annoying.

And Axel! The swelling has gone down both sheath and belly (you can't even see the swelling in the picture, that's just fat).  Earlier this winter the barn owners got one of those big round bale nets. The horses were wasting hay and eating them out of house and home so they thought they'd give it a try.  I had my hopes.  After a month or so I had my suspicions.  And now I think it's official.  Slowing down their free choice hay has reduced Axel's swelling.  Similar, I think, to spring when they go off the round bales.  So I will be purchasing a round bale net before I move the horses out to our farm.

Checkin' In

Just a quick visit last week to make sure everyone was upright.  They were until I put them in the arena.  But getting them to the arena was an adventure.  Leads me to make plans for our own place as far as ice goes.  Cody and I skated to the barn, Axel and I skated to the barn.  Cody skated back from the barn and almost fell on me.  Same with Axel.

The difference between the two boys is interesting.  Cody is cautious.  If there's any potential of ice, he goes so slow I think he might be dead lame.  Axel is the opposite.  "OMG ice!  I better RUN!"  Which looks as little like Bambi, legs flying everywhere until he gets to something not icy.  Of course he doesn't aim so he usually ends up dragging me further into the ice before I can stop him.  Really looking forward to spring, I'll say that much.

I found my self in possession of a new (to me) dressage saddle.  I rode in this saddle last winter in my lessons and it was the most comfortable saddle in the universe.  I like my cheap-o no brand dressage saddle but this one was awesomeness.  So in the end it ended up being mine for a steal.  Crosby Prix St George.  Very used but still very much life left in it.  Might need a little billet strap replacement but it looks like it'll be a simple job whenever I get around to taking it in (remind me to do that before I move out to the middle of nowhere).  I haven't cleaned it or replaced the brown leathers or even ridden in it on my horse. Maybe in the next couple weeks - still waiting for my back to heal up from this latest bout of pain.  I don't think it fits Cody perfect but it is better than my other.  Sadly it seems to fix Axel like a glove.  Hopefully it'll fit the new horse (when we find him) ;)