BH: 10 Questions for May

This is an unofficial Blog Hop started but Come What May. I am worn out from 3 Generations of Mother's Day gardening yesterday.

1. What are your summer goals?

Uno - I want to reliable pick up the correct canter leads.  I also want to get out cross country schooling more once school is out.
Dutch - I want to really confirm all the 1st level movements and do 2 schooling shows.
Cecil - I want him to lead and tie.











2. Do you have any tips or tricks for fly control?
I wish. My thin skinned boy lives in a fly sheet with belly, all mine wear flay masks. They get skin so soft spray on their faces and ears and the Black bottle fly spray EVERYWHERE!! I also keep the aisle fan running in the barn so they can escape if needed. I am scared by how bad the bugs are already.

3. How often do you bathe your horse?
Everyone gets hosed off after rides. I bath back legs and tails once a month.  Other than that everyone gets groomed and wet toweled as needed.  My kids always look like they are ready to be braided and head off to a show without much intervention from me.  Good coasts start with good diets not special shampoo.

Seriously we call him Captain Shiney.

4. Do you have any upcoming travel plans? Equine related or otherwise?
The hubbs and I will finally leave the farm for the Fourth of July this year.  We have a good farm sitter and good neighbors, so we are going down to the beach for 2 days with his family.

5. What is your favorite way to beat the heat?
In NC the heat beats you, but seriously as a teacher I am lucky that I don't have to consider work when the weather gets really hot.  I am able to ride in the morning before the bugs or the sun try to kill us all.

I do this a lot when it gets hot.

 6. Do you do anything to prevent your horse from sunbleaching?
My red horse is always red, the long ears don't bleach, and the brown kid always gets weird in the summer.  Dutch lives in a fly sheet and equine sunscreen, but keeping him sound means keeping him moving, so no prolonged "day time stalling."  We move their round bale feeder deeper into the woods and hose off the sweat every day.  Honestly the salt in sweat is what makes the hair crispy and gross, I don't really mind the mild lightening from just sun.

He gets very red toned in the summer.

7. How hot is too hot for you to ride?

I am lucky that I can ride in the morning before it gets hot, but I tend to stay off the horse when it gets into the mid 90's.  I will still lightly lunge for 10 - 15 minutes up until we hit triple digits, but just for Dutch who really deals with heat very well and needs the movement for his stifles and back.

We do lots of this.

8. How important is sun protection for you riding or just in general?
I never remember it and burn every year.

9. Have you ever gone swimming with your horse?
Does accidental swimming count?

10. And because shopping is always on my mind, what’s on your summer wish list?
I have to get our budget back in order. We have several expensive home projects that need to be handled, so I can't spend money.