Horse update

Zoe has had her shoes removed and has been going barefoot since April 30th. She was a bit sore the first few weeks but now has gotten used to no shoes. I haven't taken her out on the trail since going barefoot but plan on doing it next week.

Zoe and Skippy continue to "hang out" together in their new pasture. I notice that sometimes they are on opposite sides of the pasture but they always know where the other one goes...if I take one out of the pasture the other one follows, or calls out-but no one is frantic with worry anymore. That is really nice.

Skippy seems to enjoy getting out for a small ride in the arena a few times a week. She was getting a bit in a hurry with some of the students, but the students are better riders now and are getting a better response out of her.

Zoe still continues to be a bit of a slow-poke for the students. The trainer noticed that she responds to a dressage whip and for the more advanced riders has started to let them use one. For me, I could go either way. I think it's the relationship I have with her that makes the difference.

I noticed that Zoe wasn't picking up her right lead very well, again, after working on it most of last summer! So today we had some round pen time. She was fine in the round pen. I forgot my helmet and rode her in the round pen without it. It felt nice to have the wind go thru my hair. And best of all she picked up her leads just fine. A few mistakes today in the arena, but she picked up the correct lead many times, so we called it good.

A few pictures of them in their new jobs:

Today I found a picture of Zoe when she was little-racing around the pasture with a playmate: