Seasons First Trail Ride

So I'm staring at Ms. Pretty thinking... What happened these last 3 months. You've been lounged, not ridden, I haven't been giving you the amount of hay I know your mom wants you to have... How have you gained so much? Roley Poley little Arab. Can't be good for the joints... Then it hit me! We spent hours out bushwhacking through the trails and we must begin again. Slow and easy.

Went out for the first time yesterday with Ms. Kate and Princess Lucy. Pretty followed close behind with a quick step, asking her to slow back was a constant. It was the first time we'd both been out and I knew Lucy was looking over here and looking over there. They didn't need a little red headed arab mare up their a**. Of course, never fails, little Pretty being so out of shape finally took a step back and walked like a normal pony. Ears flopping, head bobbing, nice "calm" little walk. SUCCESS! Maybe we'll have take 2 today.

Jumped on Susanna as well yesterday. Oh Susanna is a morgan mare owned and loved by Melody Farm's barn owner Prudence. She's in her mid to late-teens but has had a very eventful and successful career in the past. Over the years she's developed some tendon/ligament issues in her hind legs. Last summer I began to rehab her again, 10-15 min walks around the arena, moving up to a few strides of trot, to trails, to large circles. We were doing well and then a girl started to lease her and they were having a great time! A month or two went by and Susanna developed the same issue in her other hind leg and she was laid up once again. Over the winter, Prudy played with the idea of sending her to a therapeutic facility as a riding horse but they needed to be able to canter for a short period of time. Susanna wasn't in the right shape for that so she looked at a retirement home in Virginia. Right before the transportation service was going to come pick her up, they changed their mind, wanting to keep her closer to home. The week before last I decided to start rehabbing her again to help her get back in shape and keep her busy so if someone did want to take her out on a walk/trot trail, she'd be ready.

So how's Brantley you may ask? Since this is his blog... Neglected. Spent time brushing him yesterday. I wish I could pony him out on the trail. We'll see if I get a chance to play with him today! I know we both need it. I miss my pony. <3