Our new saddle

Work has been a little intense, but that gave me time to wait for this to arrive.


This is the best deal I've ever gotten on a saddle and I have to say I really just spoke out loud - I need a gaited saddle, name brand, for about $500.

Meet my Circle Y, gaited trail gaiter, used 6 times. $560 (that $60 was for shipping). Found it on Horseclicks, which was a new classifieds for me.

Thank you, Universe!!

First day try out (for all of 15 minutes, had to get home): Very cushy seat, fit the horse, fit the butt. :) I will see how the flex tree works out. We have another flex tree saddle, also a circle y, park and trail model for Lily that has worked very well.

Hopefully riding is on the schedule tomorrow.

What we are doing today

We are in the ring for Dog Agility today. You can see Roxie's practice runs on her blog here:

http://blogbyadogsierra.blogspot.com/

Wish us luck!

Smokey's Report

Dictated by Smokey Mountain, Buckskin Morgan.

Hi everybody.

It's been a while so I thought I'd give you a report on how things are going around here. Lily is not nearly as grouchy anymore, which is a big relief. She says I'm minding my manners better, but I think it's because she had to do all these exercises and she can make that scrunchy face at mom instead of me.

The best news is that I don't have to bite the saddle anymore. Mom figured out it wasn't fitting my massive shoulders.

See, now that I'm all growed up, I am really massive. Even the Momma mare is talking to me now. That's what happens when you get massive. Even the really tall mares notice.

Um, er....

Don't tell Lily. Okay?

So anyway, we've been going out on the trail a bunch. We even went deep in the trees and I finally got a good sniff of the black plastic tub that is on the other side of the biting ropes. It turns out it was just a tub. And all this time I thought it was a big hidy hole for the mountain lions.


Well, it was possible. You know, they have to hide somewhere.

But I don't worry anymore because I sniffed it. And I'm really massive. So I could smush a lion. If I had to.

And the good news, I finally trained Mom to stay in the middle of me so I can make the circle at the canter. She likes me to canter up the hill which is way hard. So I *suggest* we turn off early.

But then we have to keep doing it, so I guess she doesn't like my suggestion.

There is one strange thing happening. There are these weird bugs out. They are only around when I count. Here's how it goes. I'll be at the trailer tied up and I'll just be, you know, counting with my hoof (I can get up to five), then POP, there's a bite on my butt! A little tiny one, but then I lose count. So I decide to stop counting. That's what Cody said to do. And the little bites go away.

It's weird. Cody knows this stuff cuz he is ANCIENT. He says I need to relax more. I say he needs to relax less. HA!

So I'm going to ask for extra fly spray. A guy has to do something when he's tied at the trailer. Those biting bugs are very distracting.

Hope everyone is keeping their riders on board and the alfalfa is flowing. See you on the trail!

Smokey

Lily and the Bit

Just a quick update on the bit drama.

When last we saw our Paddock Princess, she was quite surprised to be ridden without a bit. She behaved flawlessly riding in a rope halter and I never even bothered trying to get the bit in.

The point was "we are riding. bit or no bit."

Apparently she got the message.

In our effort to get Lily out more, I've been searching for an additional rider to get some time on her. Donna, who had had the bitting problem with her initially and brought it to my attention, had a more advanced student who was ready to move on to a more challenging horse. We agreed this particular student (who rides well and has soft hands) could ride her.

Today Donna brought Lily out of her paddock and Lily bitted right up.

Horses. I swear, some days it's like dealing with a 1000 pound toddler.