Your Plans for This Year's Horse Fun
What sorts of fun things to do with your horses are going onto your calendar for this year? Now that I can look out my window and see greening-up grass instead of ice and snow, I'm thinking more about hooking up the trailer and going somewhere than about shoveling my way past it.
Here's what I have in mind so far as things to do with Riley, my 4-year-old gelding:
* Local open horse shows. I'm a been-there, done-that gal where breed shows are concerned, and now, instead of taking four days out of my life to go play the horse show game, I'm more interested in going to the kind of Saturday-only shows that leave me time to do something else before chaining myself back up to the computer on Monday mornings.
* Campout trail rides. I'll go to one or two of the organized large-group variety, ones that take place at a nearby private horse camp that's already familiar to Riley. Then, to broaden our horse-camping/trail-riding horizons, I'll be looking for someplace to go that's new and different. I like the state trail rides put on by AQHA affiliates, and haven't been to Montana's ride yet. Could be a possibility.
* Everyday trail riding. We're blessed to have that available to us right out the proverbial back door. Now that Najah's no longer with us, I'll need to be on the lookout for a second saddle horse to make available for my husband or a guest to ride, too. I sure wish there were such a thing as instant cloning of a great one like Najah. He may not have been very big, but as a riding horse, he leaves darn big horseshoes to fill.
My overall goal? To continue enhancing Riley's skills and versatility as a good all-around using horse for a magazine cowgirl. A horse show here, a trail ride there, a few photo shoots in between.
How about you?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 10:36 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I was just thinking today about this subject. My club is doing a fund raising ride in Sept for St Jude's Children's Hospital. Unfortunately I won't be able to take my stallion because we will have to make a requirement that stallions aren't allowed. Too many times people show up with unmanagable stallions and it puts everyone at risk.
So I need to make sure one of my young horses is ready to do that kind of job. Marking trail and riding sweep. That means I need to get started now. I've already commited to helping on the ride so I better be sure I have a horse.
After doing breed shows and open shows, my sister and I are returning to Gymkhanas....30 years later! LOL! We just don't want to do the 3-4 days at horse shows, when we can take the kids (ages9 & 4) and do a day of family fun.
Oh come on now - you promised you'd come to a show or two with us, and I'm gonna hold ya to it. :)
We miss you - and besides you don't have to do all 4 days - just hual-in and do one of the performace days and then enjoy the rest of your weekend.
I already bought a nice bottle of wine to split with you and the gang - a thank you for one the you split with me.
this year i am planning on playing a few more polo tournaments, my wedding last year slowed me down. Training my new 3 yo into a dependable riding horse and seeing where his abliity lies-whether it is jumping or polo or reining. Falling off my new 6 yo as little as possible while he learns the game and just trailriding whenever i have the time and get the chance!
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