Baby Grace

On Monday, I rode my neighbor's horse, Baby Doll, for her. Lisa had a riding accident on Christmas Eve and had to have knee surgery. Convalescing has been really slow and hard for her. Her horse hasn't been ridden since the accident. So, I ventured over to give Dolly a ride while Lisa watched. First, we ran her in my arena. She had lots of fun stretching her legs and running. She looked so pretty! Then I put her in my half breed bit (ringed snaffle and sidepull nosepiece) and english saddle. She is so much bigger than my little Arabs that I had to use a very thin pad on the saddle so the girth would fit around. Gosh, she looked good with the red pad though!


We worked on lateral flexion. She leans hard on the forehand and I'm used to a flexed neck. I want her to give a little more with her neck and not balance so hard with it. I don't feel comfortable with 6 foot reins. If she should decide to go into a bucking fit, she has her head. I also feel that when she spooked with Lisa, there was no way for Lisa to gather her up and stop her. I like a low head but not too low!


I feel like we had a good ride. The first time I rode her 8 months ago (has it been that long?) she wouldn't take any leg from me without pinning her ears and crowhopping. Now she accepts a little leg pressure easily.


I did lots of cirles and bending, like serpentines. When I ride, I always choose exactly where my horse will place their feet. It's like a little game. I head for this rock or that manure. I go to this place in the fence or around that barrel at exactly this distance from it.


I think we had a good ride although I definitely need to work on my equitation. It's hard when there's a camera along! anyway, photos from my ride are at Lisa's blog, LaughingOrcaRanch but I decided to include pictures I took up at the barn of her animals. Enjoy!

Baby Grace - song: Baby Grace, artist: David Bowie, album: Outside