Many Good Rides

I have very little media in the post, sorry. 

The weather has been SO screwy, which is typical for April, but still a bummer.

Happy Spring Y'all

However, I have had really GREAT rides on both boys.  Since my lesson last 2 weeks ago, Dutch has spent most of his time on the trails.  I know many people who dismiss trial riding (at the walk) as exercise for the horses, but I find it to be very helpful mentally and physically.  It builds the two B's: brains and booty.

You OK back there?

Thinkin' ears

GRASS!!!  He hit mid 80's few days before that sn*w hit... WTF NC?!

Dutch is a hard horse to trail ride, because he is so attentive to his surroundings that he forgets to mind his own feet. He is also really bad about spooking at footing changes.  However, the long slow hills and constant 'new' of the trails really help get him swinging through his back and powering forward.

Headed out to the trails.

For Uno, the trails have brought a return to soundness.  After a few weeks of just trail walking his back feels great!  In fact I have even done some arena toodling and he has been fantastic.  He is still heading to the vet next week, but it makes me happy to get both boys in happy places.

You can tell how forward he is by the sing of the reins.

The trail walking is also great for building topline.  Uno needs the be super strong over his back to pick up the massive front end, and Dutch has the world's saddest topline to start with.  It is really important that we put as much weight and topline on him ASAP because at some point his allergies will rise up.  Last summer he lost about 200 pounds over the course of 2.5 months.  The dosage of dex that works the best just kills his appetite.  We have a few tricks up our sleeve to try and get through the summer, but now is the time to pack the muscle and fat on.

This is from March, but it is still pathetic.

This was before his last retirement, it was a winter that got cold fast and stayed that way.