Riding straight

I am getting more confident with trotting. We learn to ride straight with subtle shifts to make turns.

Zwarte is such a good boy.

Camp Robinson Special Use Area

I trailered Zwarte to a nearby Camp Robinson SUA (5,000 acres with a fence around the perimeter and no traffic) and met up with some very experienced trail riders, Trudy and Charlie Kincade.

I benefited from their vast knowledge while Zwarte benefited from the calming effect of their experienced horses. Perhaps Trudy and Charlie benefited (a little bit anyway) from having me along to identify birds and plants and who works for the agency that owns and
manages the land where we were riding. My agency provides, for free, camping areas with electricity, barns with stalls, kennels, outdoor pens, wash stalls, etc. Pretty good deal for horse people and they want to keep it that way.

Little Zwarte was so excited. He fell in love with the Trudy's mare, Dusty, and flirted with her. He saw running deer and gave them a long look but didn't bolt. He decided that since the gelding in front of him could walk through water, so could he. He gave scary culverts a long look but didn't bolt.

We were pestered by horseflies and 2 times, Zwarte tried to rid himself of them by bucking. I hung on.

When it came time to leave, Zwarte didn't want to leave his marefriend and ran off to be with her, with me flapping along behind on the leadline.

Hot Summer

Words don't convey

Today I realized during our ride that so much communication betwixt rider and horse cannot be communicated by words. Tiny movements. Consistency. Balance. All these things are the currency of communication.

We are doing better every day. We sure have a great Whoa. And getting the trot is far less effort. This little horse has a good attitude. He tries. I adore him.

Zwarte would rather not do this.

Zwarte seems sluggish. Since I haven't been permitted to use a whip, I flail and flap until he finally picks up a trot. Grudgingly he goes and if I don't pay close attention, he slows into a walk.

So different from Sam. I could think what I wanted him to do and he pretty much did it. He was so light to ride. Perhaps it was foolish to think that this new horse would develop the same traits as Sammy had.

But Sam is gone. And it remains to be seen with Zwarte.

Worked on leaning back. Keeping centered in the saddle. Posting.

Fell off again.

This is getting old. Thank goodness for my helmet because I hit my head hard and saw woozy stars and tweety birds.

Rasping a hoof

One thing my little horse has is fine feet. Like rocks.

Even so, he chips the edges so that I need to get him trimmed. Today, though, I got a lesson from Marty on how to rasp the cracked edges of his hooves. I worked on just one because it is hot. I managed to be dripping sweat from my nose and pumping sweat from my face. Out of breath, I stopped.

Yep. It is summer here in Arkansas. I believe that $30 for the trimming is probably money well spent.