JR Ride 2 (Session 5): Everyone Knows It’s Windy

Thursday, 2/19/09

Ah, the fickle weather of late February. We get a warm spell, we get a cold spell. We get sun, we get snow. And between weather systems in the late afternoon, we get majorly windy weather. Jumps toppled, garbage cans rolled, horses spooked. You know what I’m talking about.

JR has almost completely rolled all the cleanliness away from last week’s bath. I noticed that he’s a little sore when I curry his back. I might have to schedule an appointment for the equine chiropractor. Ka-ching, ka-ching.

I tacked JR up and we took a hand walk around the property before I rode. He’s green and I like to do as much groundwork and handling as possible so we can continue to get used to each other. JR bravely encountered a flock of robins, a fluttery tarp, and the oh-so-scary treeline. The nice thing about him is that even if something startles him, he recovers in less than a second. He’s not the kind of horse who frets for 15 minutes after seeing something scary.

After our walk, I longed JR for about 10 minutes in the outdoor arena. His longeing has improved so much- he’s an excellent pupil. And he’s a pretty mover. I think I heard him clip his hooves a few times- I’m assuming he was overreaching. I’ll ask my farrier about it when he visits on Saturday.

My friend Sarah was not able to make it to the barn today to do a lesson with me (school? instead of riding? what?!) so I decided to be brave and take my first solo ride on JR. On a really windy day. Outdoors. At feeding time.

How was he? Wonderful :^)

I kept the ride short since the weather was getting a little wild and we had already been out for over half a hour with the walk and the longeing. We walked and did a bit of trotting. JR was pulling on my hands more- I’m guessing it had to do with the deeper footing of the outdoor arena and the wild weather. I kept JR on a large circle for our ride. He drifts and stalls a little by the gate but he’s easily persuaded to keep moving.

We also did some stretches. He’s a bendy little guy.

At the beginning and end of each ride, I always ask JR and Wizard to stand quietly for a minute or two after I mount and before I dismount. I think it’s a good habit for them. Before a ride, it’s nice to have a horse who can stand still while I adjust my stirrups and girth. I can do it on the move, but it’s just more pleasant to do these things at a standstill. I also ask both horses to face away from the barn when they are standing before I dismount. And I dismount away from the gate, usually in the canter of the arena or at the end.

After my ride, my mom got a few cute photos of me and JR.

Do not try this at home :^)

After I put JR back in his stall, I took Wizard out and gave him a little grooming. He and JR are both shedding quite a bit. Wizard enjoyed stretching his legs and playing in the arena.

And Windy has stormy eyes
That flash at the sound of lies
And Windy has wings to fly
Above the clouds (above the clouds)
Above the clouds (above the clouds)