getting in shape

After coming home and seeing all the super fit horses at Equine Affaire, I had an itching to really start putting Shyloh to work. I was tired from the weekend, but it was beautiful outside, so to the round pen we went!

Shy was pretty feisty. . .well about as feisty as a lazy Haflinger can get. I had her going around and she actually picked up a canter! Canter is her least favorite gait and she never holds it for long. That day, we went around a few times without me pushing her into it. I let her go for it because it wasn't a crazy all out canter. It just seemed like she was having fun. And she was still listening to me.

I had her switch directions and gaits a bunch of times. Her turns were sharp. When I asked her to turn, she almost sat down on her back legs, slid to a stop, and switched directions. Maybe she wants to be a reining horse?

We did stretches after I had her warm up. Shy loves her stretches, especially her tail pulls. We haven't done the stretches in a long time, mostly because I will not stretch her cold and it was interesting to see how less flexible she was. Not much, but when I went out of her comfort zone, Shy let me know. After stretches, we did more lunging.

I got some video of her going round and round. It may be 30 seconds of nausea inducing video. . .

And we even had a little sweat! This is good news because it takes a lot for Shy to sweat. 

I plan on putting the surcingle on her and attaching side reins the next time we do this. And I am going to have to put bell boots on her as I heard her clipping herself at the trot. I will also look for poles that we can use. 

I plan to put some muscle on my chubby Haffie. Also, this is the last week of my internship, classes are over, and graduation is right around the corner. Hello free time! Gotta get me in shape, too!

a better day

The horses went outside again! This time Shy and her herd were in a different pasture, one that does not require walking knee deep in mud to get to. Even though the first fourth of this pasture was a mud pit the rest of the ground was pretty solid. All the horses for some reason where congregated by the gate and in the mud spit, splashing around and having a good horsey time. Except Shyloh. . .she was in the far back of the pasture, grazing all by herself. Yup, that's my horse. She knows what is important in life. 

As I made my trek towards Shy in deep mud/quicksand to get Shy, she noticed me coming and ran at a full gallop to the front of the pasture. Her little legs were on fire! I was so shocked that she was actually running to me and not away from me. Kinda made me feel good after my Debbie Downer day yesterday.

As she ran past me in a blur to the gate, I realized that I was attempting to get her without her halter or lead rope. What was I thinking? I unstuck my feet from the mud and turned around. Shy let me halter her and I gave her the peppermint I brought, just in case I needed some reinforcements. 

When we got inside, I hosed her legs off. It was another 50 degree day! Shy was caked in mud from the belly down! I am lucky that she is not a mud roller. Some of the other horses owners are not so lucky. . .most of them are mud rollers!

half of a muddy pony

I put her in the arena and she rolled around. Shy is a sand roller, she loves to roll in the arena, especially when she is wet.

Feels so good to get down in the sand

Then we did some free lunging before we played. I am teaching Shy to play soccer with me!

Shy's gonna be the next best soccer player, watch out David Beckham (that's the only soccer player I know)!

So far, she can only kick the ball backwards. But she seems to like playing. If I kick the ball away, she will go to it and kick it behind her. Soon, we will be playing full field one on one. . .hahaha!

I also bought a book today. I am really excited for it to come in the mail and can't wait to share. And. . .some progress was made on my something interesting! The results depend on a clause. . .we will see soon enough how much I can share! Enjoy the fuzzy lips!

Gimme a kiss!

excessive. . .

. . .gas!

**This post contains a story regarding horse farts, proceed with caution**

** Also to be noted is that my sense of humor can be similar to that of a 16 year old boy**

Living inside has created a very gassy girl!  I now realize why all the other horses buck and run and fart as soon as they get turned loose in their pasture! It is probably because they do not get to move around constantly and once they get moving, their bowels are free. Shy never had this problem b.b.i. (before being inside) because she was used to a much larger space.

The only time that Shy had excessive backdoor breezes b.b.i. was, conveniently, when I was picking out her back feet. It was so pleasant. . .note, sarcasm. Perhaps her sense of humor is similar to a 16 year old boy's as well. . . and farting on me just tickles her fancy. If that's the case, Shy sure got it tickled today when we used the long lines. . .

Kathy was at the barn when I got there and she had let Shy out with Ryleigh to graze in one pasture, and her new guy and Forseti were in another pasture. Rain was in the forecast, so none of the horses went out in the morning and it was sprinkling when I arrived. Our horses had only been out for about an hour and a half or so. That means that Shy had a lot of pent up gas, just waiting to be unleashed on her least expecting victim.

I brought Shy in, groomed her up and brought her into the arena. We walked around a few times, then I had her trot while I ran next to her to warm her up. Toot toot toot she went. . . . Then we attempted the side pass. Shyloh was not having it. Okay, I thought, if she does not want to do this, she is going to do something, so we free lunged. 

Whoa! I think her farts where propelling her forward! After a few times around at the walk/trot/canter each way(yes! I actually got a canter, for a short time. . .a burst of hot wind may have contributed to this), we attempted the side pass again. She still kept resisting. I have no idea why (tummy ache, perhaps?), we have done this before. 

By now, she was dry, so I tacked her up and we did the long lines. I am so glad that we did because Shyloh did amazing! Our straight lines were much better, our circles were great! We even did the figure eight! This new bit is making a huge difference. Or perhaps it was the farts. Let me tell you, my position for the long lines was not optimal for Shy's gas. I was right in the line of fire and got crop dusted almost continually!

But, farts aside, we had a good day! We even trotted on the long lines. My steering and hands are improving. And I got to give a special Appy some love. He is the softest! Now time to shower. . .

Has anyone else experienced this? Or is Shyloh a gas machine? I am told this will change as she adjusts to being inside. I can only hope, or I am not sure how much more long lining we will do until I acquire a gas mask. . .