This could become a habit. It's a rhythm you get into with your horse and it is addicting. The only issue, for me, is that I've had to trade off time in the studio for time in the saddle because there are only so many hours in a day and I still have a family, work to do, a house to keep. I don't know how Janet manages... Except that the horses are her work. I'll have to find a way to work some studio time back into my days but I won't think too much about it until the end of the challenge. (And here's a confession.... I already know that there's going to break in the consistency when we leave to go camping on Day 22)
Anyhow, Day 10 was a very nice ride in the high desert along the creek. Just Rhea and me. For some reason Vida stayed & slept in the truck the entire time; maybe because she'd gone on a long walk earlier in the day or maybe because it was quite warm towards the end of the day when I went out. I try to just let her choose although I'm always disappointed not to have her along.
Rhea went willing out, only half-heartedly trying once or twice to steer me back. I don't let anything be her idea when we're out.. Not as far as direction or time is concerned. I do give her plenty of leeway when it comes to choosing where she's going to out her feet and I let her look around, but I'm in charge of the ride. I've seen too many other people fight with their horses to leave the barn (and I have a mustang that has never been thrilled to ride out but I didn't get him as a yearling, I got him as a barn-sour adolescent). Rhea has had the best start any horse could ask for and I'm not going to ruin her.
Part of the trail we took was rocky and it was good to have that change in ground since she's barefoot. I want her feet to toughen up as much as possible so that I don't always have to put on boots (which I don't have right now anyway after she outgrew her first pair). I let her have her head so that she could decide where to put her feet. I noticed she got a little "head high" when we got into the willows - no doubt because all of our riding in the winter is out in the wide open. I've got to get her back up into the trees.
Today we'll go back to work on that pesky right lead some more. I feel rested and think that yesterday was a nice break for her as well.
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