Chip Updates

 March was a very busy month for Chip. I didn't even realize how much he'd done until I started pulling photos for this post. Chip turned 8 months old on the 10th. He is also a gelding now. Everything else below.

On his eight month birthday.

Loaner Ponies

 After the LD, I gave Lucy the week off. I am also giving Booger some down time to let her splint rest. Going from riding almost every day to pretty much not riding at all probably would have made me stir crazy. Fortunately, Sandy is a wonderful friend and has two lovely ponies! She generously shared both Fina and Tot with me last week.

Lucy's First LD

 One of my secret goals for the year was to try to get Lucy through an LD. I meant like... at some point, not at the first endurance ride of the year.

On Wednesday night last week, Sandy brought Tot over for what has become our weekly play date. I pulled Booger out for a light ring ride to stretch her legs and see how she felt. I walked her around for a bit, then picked up a trot. She felt good and Sandy confirmed she was sound. Some time later, I picked up a canter on a 20m circle. About three strides in, Booger took a really bad step and came up head-bobbing lame. Crap! She worked out of the worst of it in a few trot strides, but I could feel that she wasn't 100%. Sandy offered to hop on so I could watch her go. 

No good. Booger wasn't super lame, but she definitely wasn't moving like she normally does, and I was sure she wouldn't even pass vetting to start. I would not be taking her to Rabbit Run. 

I turned Booger loose to graze and did some ground work with Chip instead. Then I went home to sleep on it.

My entry was already sent and paid in full. The ride was hurting for entries. I had already gotten my PTO approved. I wasn't sure Lucy could handle 30 miles coming out of winter, but I also trusted her not to overdo it and hurt herself. Worst case, we'd ride the first loop then rider option. It would be good conditioning. 

I rushed onto the AERC website to register Lucy and get her her horse number, with less than 48 hours to go. Then I emailed the ride secretary to announce that I was switching horses (and to send over the other Coggins and rabies cert). 

Deer Path

 Another day, another ride. Sandy's spring NACMO ride is coming up, which means doing a general survey of the trail conditions at Deer Path Park. I brought Eryca and Sandy invited Michelle. I met Michelle at New York Adventure in 2023, and we have crossed paths several times since, but this was our first time riding together. (Michelle is getting added to my list of people to invite for shenanigans. She and Mira were lovely.) 

The four of us wound up doing nine and a quarter miles. There wasn't much to report, which is always a good thing. We didn't even have a single booting mishap between four horses despite muddy, rocky conditions. We had Scoot Boots, Easy Boots, Cavallo Boots, and Flex Boots. I'm honestly impressed. 

We wound up doing my usual loop backwards. Up and over the mountain first, past the general store (sadly closed on Sundays so no tacos for us), up the road, down the museum driveway (quick stop to use the porta-potty), looping around the farm fields, up Woodschurch Road, through the historic farm site, around the pond, up the powerlines, and back to the trailers. 

It was a great way to celebrate the time change and extra daylight hours to ride in.

The rest is a photo dump.

52 degrees and sunny. I'll take it.

Driving at Carranza

 Last weekend, Mike and I took the horse/cart/motorcycle out again. This time, we headed down to Carranza so Mike could explore some new trail. I spent some time looking at All Trails and my tracks from the CTR last spring to map out a long-ish loop that would accommodate the cart. In the end, Booger and I did 19 miles, and everyone had a blast. 

I am 100% addicted to driving this mare. I worry it will become a problem because I love driving her so much more than riding her (although I like that too). It's all I want to do with her! Whee!

Buying this cart and harness over the winter was some of the best money I've ever spent.

Round Valley

 The next day, Eryca came out for a ride. She hadn't been out since January and Lilly is very out of shape. Plus, after a week of unseasonably warm temperatures, the weather had turned cold again. It is also mud season, which makes anything north of Colliers Mills a bit of a gamble. In the end, we decided to go to Round Valley and park at the development to cut out some of the more technical trail. We wound up doing six ish miles, mostly at a walk. It was the shortest trail ride I've done in a while, but I was content to be out on a beautiful day in one of my favorite places. I don't have much to report, but I do have some photos to share, and I'm trying to break things up so the monthly recap isn't nine miles long. 

The waves were freezing as they crashed on the shore, which meant snow-textured foam. This was really cool! It was a fun challenge to get the horses to step through it into the water, too. We never did make it to the beach this winter, but this was a nice option too.

Trail Driving

 At the beginning of the month, I checked off a bucket list item for Booger and me. We went for an off the property trail drive in the new harness and cart! We did over twelve miles and I am completely hooked.

Of Small Worlds and Grand Adventures

After the Galentine's play day, Hannah reached out to make riding plans for the following weekend. We agreed to head down to the Assunpink. I warned Hannah that Julio wasn't feeling well and that I might have to cancel on short notice. When Julio died, I told Hannah I planned to keep our plans. After riding with Sandy on Saturday, I decided a long ride on Booger would probably be good for my soul. 

Hannah and I agreed to meet at the Assunpink. We aimed to do about ten miles. We wound up doing almost 18. 

Hannah and Merlin.

Finn Park with Sandy

 The day after Julio died, Sandy very gently reached out and asked if I would be up for a short trail ride. 

"I might cry the whole time," I texted back.
"Acceptable."

Galentine's

 I need to get back into the swing of things or the blog will die. So. Deep breath. Let's start recapping some things that are not depressing.

The weather for the weekend after Valentine's Day was positively miserable. What's a bunch of crazy horse girls to do other than seek the nearest indoor and partake in shenanigans? Sandy planned and Hannah hosted a Gal-entine's play day. 

In the end, there were nine women, eleven horses, and way too much fun. Questionable choices were made. I fell off one horse and got kicked by another. Everyone came out better for it. (This may be the abridged version since this is a public space.)

I rode 8 horses in one day, which hasn't happened in a very long time.

Questionable choices being made.