Stampy redeems himself

So after my horrible ride on Stampede outside last weekend I was fairly averse to the idea of riding outside today while the temperature was still just in the high 40’s. Yet it’s hard to resist escaping the indoor after months of being trapped behind those walls. Plus Stampy had his brave friends along for the ride (Thank you to Mikey, Willow (P’s GF), Cooper, and their respective moms). Regardless I am still a bit shocked that he 1) did not spook a single time and 2) was very lazy. Where did my hopping crazy horse from last weekend go?

So Stampy and I had a great ride today and several great rides indoors during the week. Friday I tried him in the hackamore I got for P, and he was very unsure about it. He had a hard time connecting the pressure on his face with me asking him to come on the “bit”. Once I would get him forward enough it seemed to happen naturally, but in the beginning of both the trot and canter each way he seemed confused. It also doesn’t fit him the best, it needs to be a bit wider across the top. Either way, he calmly and nicely did his full flatwork in it, which is all I really needed him to do.

Stampy modeling the new hackamore

The boys are enjoying spring time by getting some grazing time in. Today was the first day where I took both boys out for grazing time but Stampy got a little preview yesterday when I took him out to check out the riding ring in preparation for today.

Stampy nibbling on the beginnings of tasty summer grass

I rode P bareback Tuesday night and he was his usual fun self. Thursday my friend Christie rode him for me and took care of Stampy as well so my husband and I could go out to dinner with his boss who was in town. I think that was the second time I haven’t gone out to the barn this year, the first was when I was sick last month. I just hate being away from my boys and the peace that comes from hanging out at the barn.

I was prepared to ride P in the hackamore yesterday but found that I couldn’t make the bridle go up high enough on the cheek pieces to use it. So P had to use his bit again and we had a nice ride outside. P and I had a nice stroll in the field before we went to work and it won’t be long until we do some rides out there. I actually put my saddle on him but my right ankle was bothering me because that saddle doesn’t have those wrap around comfort iron pads on it, so I did some no stirrups work.

My favorite stirrup pads

I was all prepared to order some bridle parts and was surfing justbridles when my friend Christie and I were texting and she told me she had a bridle with a broken noseband I could steal parts off of. So today she brought it out and we found that if I took her cob cheek pieces and put them on my oversize bridle it worked out well. So glad I could make the bridle work for free!

I just ordered another set of the stirrup pads to put on P’s saddle, new fly masks for the boys, and a new stable sheet for Stampy. Hopefully then we will be all set on purchases for a while since I just bought Adequan earlier this week ($$$).

The cutest nose around <3

Currently the horse hair is taking over. I had gotten a new saddle pad in the fall that is really soft and almost fleecy inside. What a bad idea for shedding season! I could not get the hair off! I brushed it with a hard brush, then a broom, then washed it in my washer twice and there was still hair everywhere, plus more hair on some other items I washed with it, ugh. I also noticed that my car likes to hold some horse hair too…

The middle console in my car needs some grooming too…

Here’s hoping the next couple weeks go by fast and tax season will be over and I can spend more time with the boys!