Julius making baby steps

May was a total wash, literally.  It rained incessantly and was a disgusting, muddy mess!!!  Things are finally drying up, which, coincided wonderfully with my self-employment, so it's time to get everyone going.  Daisy is back to lunging, Cachet is being ridden, and Julius is learning about being "alone" in the arena, and is getting introduced to lunging.  Fingers crossed, since he seems to be growing a lot and sometimes trips on his own feet just walking.  :-)

Cachet being adorable.

Shedding season... is gross.

The weather cannot  make up it's mind! One night is freezing, then it's 80 and sunny, with 20 mph wind. All things considered, the horses are doing pretty well, attitude-wise, which is great.  They can tend to be bi-polar nut jobs during spring/shedding season.

Julius tried to drop some of his fur sweater, today. Not pictured is my hair covered, filthy body.

A little demo...

Waiting for people to become available to help with master bedroom/bath remodeling is just not happening these days.  So, we took a rainy afternoon and started on some demo.  Funsies.

The girls get going.

This morning (and yesterday) are unfortunately rainy and cool, but this past week has had some wonderful dry and warm weather that allowed me to get started working Cachet and Daisy.

Now, Cachet is fairly well started, but hasn't worked since October. Daisy, I don't believe has been ridden in perhaps, two years? She was lightly started at three, and then according to the breeder, had time off due to a less balanced/experienced rider giving her some back soreness. After that, they bred her, and she came to us with the baby just having been weaned.

I was pretty confident that the little G would do okay, and she was really wonderful and willing when I got on after such a long break.

I for sure think the combination of being endlessly patient, letting her grow up a bit (mentality and physically), and controlling her emotional variables as well as possible, ie, strict routines for turnout and stall time, and the addition of Regulate to address her heat cycles and hormone reactive phases have done her a world of good. If the weather stays good, and we can maybe get an arena base this year, I'm excited to think I can finally make progress this year with her. I'm for sure 100% confident in her talent and ability.

Daisy, being a bit of a mystery, I didn't want to jump the gun on and leap up too soon. But, since coming in January she has really bloomed, both gaining weight and proving to be an easy keeper (which I was worried about seeing her skinny, beat up "mombod" get off the trailer.) And also, personality-wise; she is showing her true her, which is subtle, charming, and polite.

Knowing she HAS been ridden in the past, I took a gamble and popped up, after a couple weeks of some hand walks, and making sure she wasn't reactive or scared with the saddle and bridle.

She took it like a champ. She's VERY green and out of shape, but quiet and willing, so teaching and conditioning her should be a fun time. And I'm happy for her, in that the point is to give her a sport horse career, versus a (somewhat) neglectful life of just having babies. She loves the special attention and definitely will do well with her own person and a show home when the time comes.

Vet Visit

Yesterday, the vet came out for spring shots, and to check teeth. As I had predicted, everyone needed their teeth floated! Not fun for them, or the pocketbook, but they all did great after being drugged up, and I'm SO happy they are all fixed up. No more sharp edges! Julius even had two caps (baby teeth that haven't shed on their own) pulled. Hooray!

Baby steps towards spring...

I feel like the end (of winter), might actually be in sight.  The ten day forecast is all at least 50's, with some days reaching...  70!!!  (of course, when I'm at work)

Friday the vet is coming out to check everyone's teeth.  I would be SHOCKED if Daisy doesn't need her teeth floated, and it's been two years for Cachet, so I'm banking on her, too.  Julius, I'm not sure of, but want to be absolutely positive he is in good shape before starting to teach him the bridle and bit.

Daisy has been on some hand walks in the past few days, just learning manners and starting to get back into shape in a very gentle way.  The "arena" area out front has some roll to it, so I know we are both getting a bit of a workout walking out there.

Once her teeth are given the okay, I am hoping to get on soon, and start lots of hacks for building muscle and strength.  She has skinny mom bod, and it's no good.

In addition to teeth, I think I've decided to bite the financial bullet and get Cachet on Regumate.  She is pretty much bi-polar these days, and hormones are really the only thing (besides just being nuts, which I can't get behind) to explain her crazy behavior.  I think it will be pricey, but a bottle should effectively "spay" her for the season, so it will be totally worth it, if indeed, she is just a sad victim of out of control cycles.  We shall see.  I'm actually kind of excited about it.  She needs to go back to work, rulllll bad!!! and I think she could make major progress this year with lady-rage variables controlled.

Daylight Saving Time is also LESS than a month away.

Oh man, winter is gonna end, and it's going to be GREAT!!!