Zoe's attitude when I return from my trips

I've not posted anything for about a month.  Been busy with family matters, recently my father-in-law died and I have been gone for a few weekends in a row.  My blog today has to do with being gone and returning.  Since I have been back Zoe has been pretty good.  Only one crazy thing...see words at the end of blog.   Rides out have been great.  No pent up emotional outbursts on the trail.  When she was younger I would have expected that.  But I guess Zoe being almost 10 years old is working in my favor.  Recently I went met some people from work for a trail ride.  It was their first time out on our trials on their horses-one of them had been out running on the trails, but got lost.   Anyway they were late getting to our meeting place.   We met across the street from FLEC.  While we were waiting we worked on our arena lessons.  There is a nice circular area there and it made for a good place to practice collection, moving off my leg in a large circle.  We were able to move towards the center of the circle and then move back out on the circle-at a walk and a trot.  We did figure 8's.  We practiced sidepassing.  There were even some puddles and we could practice walking thru them.  Sometimes we stopped working and looked at the scenery.  Sometimes she thought she needed to pay attention to the horses in the pasture next to us, which was ok if we were stopped and resting, but not ok if we were working.  Darn those ears give her away every time!!! So we could practice paying attention to me.  It didn't take too much work to get her focused back on me.  Anyway I was happy that she went to work for me and she didn't paw the ground being impatient.  And it had been a while since we had been out on the trials due to my recent traveling plans.   I went to lessons last Tuesday evening and it was raining.  We did lessons anyway.  At first Zoe was a little irritated with the rain, but once we went to work she was fine.   I rode part of the lesson in my oilskin rain coat.  It was a bit bulky but once I went to work it was no longer a concern for me....until I started loping.  I was getting hot so I took it off.  Zoe did good for the lesson and didn't mind the large coat I was wearing.  Yesterday I had her out in the arena.  I was going to lunge her,  put the lunge line on her and she took off.  I just let her go, no sense holding on to that rope.  I took the rope off her and free lunged her for a while until I could tell she had blown off her energy.  I guess the recent rains and cooler weather finally got to her.  Anyway after she had been run around for a while and I could tell she was paying attention to me we tried the lunge line again.  She did great.  Even asked for a canter and she gave me a slow collected canter.  She's never done it collected before.  Hmmmmm.  
So all in all.....my Zoe is doing ok.

Ride, new mask, picture

Today's ride was with some friends...same ride Prospector, HSB, Pioneer, Lake Forest.  Zoe did better this time.  I think the friends helped, but more importantly I think no loud boats on the Lake helped alot.  Looking forward to doing this ride again next week by myself again.  I'm sure it will be better.
We did see some deer...picture

Yesterday  I gave Zoe a bath and noticed some small white spots inside her left ear.  Trainer said it was a fungus and it was best to leave them alone.  I looked up ear fungus in horses on line and hit on Aural Plaques...it seemed to fit my situation.  I asked our surgeon at work this morning and he said it was Aural Plaques.  Caused by the same virus that causes warts.  They might stay small or grow larger.  It may or may not bother the horse at any possible stage of the growth.  He did recommend a fly mask with ears as flys bother the horses in this situation.  Apparently it's not contagious...but the vet recommended not touching them and touching another horses ears....that sounded weird.  There is a treatment he can do with Aldara Cream that seems to work.  I guess I will wait and see what transpires.  Anyway more pictures....

Now hopefully we will be able to keep a flymask with ears on the horse....and hopefully she won't tear it up....

Coyote Picture

I have been trying for years to get a good picture of one of the coyotes that I see on my rides.  This one I happened to catch in the forest.  It was almost like he was posing for the picture.  I was surprised that I got the picture.  Zoe was so good and just stood still.  When the coyote bounded off she didn't spook...nice.

Labor Day ride-with a few surprises

No one was out at the barn today and I wanted to go in a direction that we did last week, towards Rattlesnake-partly.  So off we went.  My plan was to go Lomida, Prospector, HSB, Pioneer Express Trail towards Sterling Pt., take the Lake Forest Trail back to the cow pasture and go home.  And we did end up doing just that.  There was a surprise on the way out.  While we were on Lomida, someone in one of the houses to the left was shooting off a pellet gun.  We heard 3 distinct shots.  The first one-Zoe didn't care.  The 2nd one-seemed to matter just a little.  The 3rd one-she started to question my wanting to continue forward.  But just a few taps on her side and she continued.  Just one more thing to practice with my horse.  Zoe did great going up to and past the green gate on Prospector.  She did good on HSB road.  She did great going over the bridge.  Zoe was hesitating a bit on the Pioneer Express Trail.  I forgot that today is Labor Day and the boats were out on Folsom Lake, lots of boats, lots of noisy boats.  But she managed to hold it together and we got past the "scary noisy part".  Plan on going back lots of times.  I really like this ride.  And I miss the canal trail...can't wait until it opens up again.   Once past Long Bar she really knew she was on the way home and once on the Lake Forest Trail she did great.   We met up with another surprise.  We used to call this trail Barking Dog Hill....because of the nasty barking dogs that no longer live at one particular house.  But just after that house, down the hill, we pass another house on the right with a rod iron fence...that has a german shepherd that likes to rush the fence, barking loudly.  Zoe wasn't sure what to do and slowed down and almost looked like she wanted to kick out at the dog.  She only would have hit the rod iron fence...but I still didn't want her to do that.   I pushed her forward telling her to ignore the dog.  At that point the owner figured out that she needed to call off her dog-I'm glad.  Zoe held it together again....and off  we went, calmly down the next hill towards home.  Once on Lomida she did call out on the way home-she usually does that when I take her someplace different.  But she wasn't uneasy...it's just strange having such a vocal horse.  I'm getting used it her "talking".   Wednesday we will probably just ride in the forest.  I have farrier appts for my other 2 horses-so I don't have alot of time to work on things-I need a ride that will be easier for her.  I'm going to do the ride I did today again on Thursday-and I will have a friend with me that day-however Zoe will be taking the lead until we get to Long Bar.  Then I want to do it again by ourselves the following week.   I'm expecting it to get easier each time for her.   Horses "live up to or down to your expectations".

Riding life with baby

In May I posted that my grandson, Zeke, was here and I wasn't sure about how that  would affect the time I spend with Zoe.  Well here it is Sept.  Both of Zeke's parents are back to work now.  I'm done helping out on Wednesdays and Thursdays - well mostly.  Life is settling down.  I do babysit on Fridays and I love every minute of it.  I have also cut down my work life at the vet clinic.  I've moved to a part time schedule-20-30 hours per week soon to be just 20 hours per week.   So now I know how the pieces fall for this season of my life.  I ride Monday and Tuesday early-5:30-6:30am in the arena.  Wednesday and Thursday are trail days-usually riding by 10am.  At least one of those days are by myself (and I might take 2 rides out with 2 different horses on that day) and one day with friends.  Fridays are a no riding day-babysitting.  Weekends are still tricky until my 20 hours per week start.  I usually ride out on the trails on Sunday mornings.  And sometimes I ride on Saturdays-if I work a Saturday I ride in the arena 5:30-6:30am, but if I'm not working - it depends on what's going on that weekend, but I usually try to catch a ride either in the arena or on the trail.  All in all I guess that makes about 10-11 hours per week.   Oh and I started back into lessons too-on Tuesdays, but I can only do them every 2-3 weeks.  So for now, this is how my riding life looks.
I also posted in May that I was trying to work on keeping my hands in better shape.  I've somewhat succeeded.  They are not as dirty as they once were,  I've managed to keep them cleaner.  My gloves disappeared, I need to get some new ones.  My hands are also not as rough as they once were...but they are not smooth either.  They still look like "working outside" hands.  But I'm happy that I was able to make some improvements.

The Right "Stuff"

I've had Zoe for 9 1/2 years.  In that time I've tried many different things-talking about tack or equipment for myself.  One thing I've noticed is - for me - it can take a while to find the right stuff.  Rarely do I stumble upon something that works - and works GREAT - the first time.  Recently I got tired of my cell phone holder.  It was falling apart.  It wasn't really a cell phone holder but a camera case that my phone fit into and I made a velcro strap to go around my leg.  I've tried alot of different ones and have some requirements I feel necessary for this holder.  Anyway this one was falling apart and I needed a new one.   I finally found one at a running store...Fleet Feet.  It met my requirements and I'm happy - and $32 is gone. Oh well, the price of something that works the way I want it to.  This got me to thinking about most of the tack and equipment I use.  The "stuff" that I like and works GREAT usually costs some $ - no getting around it.  This includes my saddle, saddle pad, riding pants, riding shoes, saddle pack, trailer, truck, helmet etc.  I still have some things that I want-don't we all.  I will be looking to change some things for the better "stuff" and I guess I'll have to save my $.  In the meantime.....I'll be using my regular "stuff".

Rattlesnake ride

Today Zoe, Sky and riders met Dune and rider at the green gate.  We weren't sure where we wanted to go. It was getting hot and we met at 10:30.  We decided to go to Rattlesnake....only not to go up to Sterling Pt. but to go Prospector to HSB and catch the trail to Rattlesnake.  It was much cooler and shady.  The heat wasn't too bad.  We all took turns leading and taking different positions on the ride.  All the horses did great.  Zoe tends to be a bit trepidatous on the first part of this trail by the lake....so she got to do front.  I figure the more she takes the lead there....the more she will get used to it.  We will be going again, and again, and again.
Pictures...evidence that we were there.