What's Up Wednesday

 

It's funny how you go from winter with very little to do (other than shoveling snow) to spring and all the things appear on the schedule. All or nothing right? But it's nice to be busy. And remember I have friends outside of the internet. Ha! 

We left off last week with our first round of spring shots and coggins tests. Everyone handled them great this year, with no noticeable stiffness. Eros had a tiny little bump at the injection site, but otherwise everyone seemed unbothered. I still gave them a light few rides for the couple following days. No one wants to work crazy hard after shots! Which also worked out nicely for me because I scheduled a hair appointment for the following morning which had me starting a little later than usual with riding. 

I had braiding jobs Friday and Saturday, but they were easy, just one mane each night. Most braiders aren't interested in a one horse job, but I actually kind of like it. A little extra spending money and still back home for bed by 11:30. Win-win!

I forgot to take a photo of my Friday horse. This guy from Saturday wound up with 42 braids, despite how much thinning he had from blanket season.

Sunday we brought back Sunday Funday. I rode both boys with saddles, but they did both get to use their snackamores and have snackies after. Al had a tough day, and I wasn't feeling the most trustful of him with no martingale on so made some accommodations and just used part of the ring. We kept it primarily to walk and trot (though we did a little bit of canter). He managed to keep the lid on for the most part and earned himself some grass post ride. He was very confused initially when I walked him out to the field. He wasn't sure if I'd lost my mind and was trying to trail ride on an already questionable brain day, but after a moment of stop and stare and some snorting, he figured out that he was being allowed to graze with me on him. He settled in nicely once he knew that was the actual expectation of him. The other two understand fully what the snackamore rides mean and were very happy to be there for it. 

Monday we all had a nice day off, and I got started on cleaning the aisle walls. It was on the list of things my helper has decided not to do anymore and despite my reminding him, it remains undone. So I guess it's another task for my free day. 

That's how dirty the water was after just two stall fronts.

I've been trying all week to have a chat with him again, but yesterday he had his whole family here with him (so that's not the right time to have a this is your last chance kind of chat), and then today he was gone before 10am when my work meeting ended. I don't really know if he came in extra early to get done so early or not, but we'll add that to the list of things to chat about. The good news is that I have someone I already know interested in taking over the job, so if things don't turn around I have a plan B. I met with her today and not only is she very interested and willing to do all the cleaning, but she's also willing to wait it out and give current helper a last chance to redeem himself. She lives right in town, has had her own boarding barn, and later a smaller backyard place, and has worked for other amateurs like me. So she's well versed in all the things. I didn't think of it in the moment, but I bet she could help me with Al too as she used to be a trainer. She gave up that life to raise her kids but they're grown now. So that's potentially good news for my mental health. 

The horses were great yesterday, even Al! But today was a tough one for him. It took like ten minutes to get him to stand at the mounting block which is his big tell that he's struggling. But eventually he let me get on, and we had a mostly walk ride on a circle. In his defense, the state tree cutters were out again (done by the time I started riding) right out in front of the house. He really hates chainsaws, we've talked about that before. And it just kind of stuck with him for the day. Some days are better than others. Hopefully tomorrow is a brand new day for him. Normally I might feel frustrated that he's has bad days so close together after a good stretch of wonderful behavior. But both days that he struggled there was chainsawing happening very close by. Clearly a trigger for him for some reason. Eventually they'll run out of trees to cut down around here. Right? RIGHT?!

Eros and Shiny popped over some of our tiny jumps today, and were so great! Eros never torpedoed. Not once! Even when I was jumping the little end jump and saw a terrible chip coming. That's usually when he'll get mad at me and take the bit. But this time when I used my slow down whoa (which is different from my halt whoa) he actually broke to trot and gave me a beautiful trot jump. Not exactly what I wanted, but he did it so nicely and landed soft. I decided to pretend it was an equitation test and carried on. And Shiny, who has the opposite problem from Eros in that she doesn't like to listen to my leg, was taking me so nicely to every fence! I'm not sure if I'm doing something differently, or they just feel refreshed from their winter vacation, but I'm enjoying it!

I think we'll have a bit of a stretch of short rides and a few extra days off over the next several weeks. I have a bunch of things to attend for my nieces (one is having her Bat Mitzvah next weekend!) and a few other things that will take up some of my riding time. But all good things! The horses will also get their second round of shots in there somewhere and then their maintenance appointment is on the 15th. Which that is perfect timing because on the 16th I was invited to a Bar Mitzvah for the son of one of my very best college friends. She was the first friend I met in college, but she lives in New Jersey so we never see each other. I'm so excited to go! I'm day tripping for it. It starts at 4:30 so I can do the barn early, feed lunch before I go, and be back in time for a late night check. My former weekend helper is going to feed dinner for me. And since I had those braiding jobs, I asked my horse sitter friend if she wanted to do Sunday mornings chores. Money well spent since I'll probably get home around 1:30 am. 

This Friday evening I get to visit with my winter barn friends, so I'm excited for that too. (The most recent one, obviously, not that other one.) It still amazes me the difference between a healthy environment and a toxic one. Because this occasion that I'm going for is a goodbye party for one of the workers who found a new job. They are celebrating him even though he's leaving. And inviting FORMER boarders to celebrate with them! I mean, at the other place if people want a new job the door might hit them in the ass on the way out and all the nasty comments come flying at them on the way too. And former boarders? Not welcome on the property. Even though they didn't have space for me last winter, I'm so glad I had a chance to be at the welcoming barn. I made such good friends and it helped me remember that not all barn families make you feel stupid and worthless.

Rita also makes me feel valuable and appreciated. 

And the last bit of happy for today:

My amaryllis bloomed this week! Just in time for my birthday tomorrow! I have another one that might also bloom, but not for another month or two. I love these plants because both were gifts, and despite my inability to keep plants alive, they just kind of take care of themselves as long as I water them a few times a week. 

That's it from here! Tomorrow's schedule includes possibly talking to my helper (though I don't really want to start out my birthday that way. I might wait till Friday), riding horses, and then off to elementary school for my younger nieces spring chorus concert. Big day!

Hope you're all having a great week and getting to spend time with your horses!