Saturday & Sunday

Carla and I rode Saturday morning. Though the swelling has gone down, Tapper was still stiff in her left hock from her fight with Cami so I gave her the weekend off and rode Jazz. Carla rode Ziegy. We had a nice ride, Ziegy was a little silly going out but seemed to settle down pretty well. It was coming home that was the issue... We came off the road into the field and he started doing his little "I want to run home" dance, so while Jazz and I waited at the bottom, Carla took Ziegy around the field one time. He did well until Jazz trotted over the culvert, then Ziegy decided he needed to be first and run, and Carla wouldn't let him, and he got mad and so did she!!! After some dancing, bucking, and rearing (Carla stayed on), they went to the round pen. Carla got off and did some round pen training with him. Ohhh was he STUBBORN!!! He didn't want to give at all and he made her work and run. Of course she made him work and run too and she's even more stubborn than he is! When he finally gave in a little she mounted him and went back to the field. Jazz and I stayed at the bottom again and this time all was fine and we walked back to the barn. We can't figure out what's gotten into Ziegy lately. A lot of the mares have been in heat and he's been with 2 of them and over the fence from several more, so I decided to take him away from the mares for a while and see if that helps. He is out back with Scooby and the mares are all on the other side of the barn. He has all the same tack, nothing has changed and nothing is making him sore. Plus, it's always when we are almost home from a ride that he starts to act up. He's been a little more pushy on the ground too, but I've (hopefully) nipped that in the bud! If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. Click on comments below and let me know what you think.

Sunday was a gorgeous day! Carla, Julie and I went up Mt. Ephriam. It was the first time up there for Julie, and the first time Scotty made it up there too. Carla rode him, I was on Jazz again, and Julie rode Dolly, of course. We took the back way up and the easy way down so it was less steep and rocky. Scotty is doing a lot better but he still has a tendency to rush down hill and not watch where he's putting his feet so we didn't think he was ready for a hard descent. Carla tucked him in behind Jazz for the down hill trip and he did really well. He's only 6 years old, so he's still learning but he's very willing and quick to pick things up, he's a smart boy (so is Jazz). The foliage is a little muted right now, but it was still beautiful. The trails are covered with leaves and the horses crunch through them as they walk. The flies are mostly gone for the year, and it's cool and comfortable. Basically perfect riding weather! The boys couldn't have been too tired when we came home - they went up on the hill and played!