It was a beautiful weekend, warm and a little breezy. The kickoffs to summer (the Choo Choo Swap Meet, the Home Show, and Taste of Sierra) were all happening at the fairgrounds, and most of the dressage riders at the barn were getting lessons from a visiting trainer. I love going to the Choo Choo and ended up going alone this year as my usual partners in junk trolling had other things on their plates. I made it through the rows faster without anyone to talk to, and only took the cash I had on hand to spend.
The first thing I found was one of my favorite things to find, a vintage suitcase. These suitcases are great for storing fabric & yarn, and this one joined one slightly smaller on Vida's crate. Buying it early meant I had to tote it around and what a conversation starter it turned out to be! Lots of comments about running away from home and was that where I stored my money?
The swap meet haul is fodder for another post sometime, but this one is supposed to be about riding, and ride I did after shopping. We rode through the desert alone, trotting whenever possible. I'm working towards freeing her up when we are out on trails and towards loping. I'm sure I could be there already but I'm learning that this is my way - I like to feel comfortable at one level before progressing to the next. And I can feel that she is still a little hollow-backed when we trot along the trails, she's got her head up (not as much as in the past) and is keeping an eye on everything. I'd like to feel her relax a little more. But today might be a good day to find that sandy road... It's a weekday so we don't really have to be on the lookout for motorcycles.
Yesterday was her trim day, and Mel spent a lot of time showing me what we want when we trim down her hooves. I have to be ready to maintain her feet (and Smokin's) before we leave this summer and I still don't have my tools. I haven't been spending any money since we need it all to get the resort open - but soon I'm going to have to break down and order the knives and a rasp. The hooves are fascinating and I'm glad she's barefoot. She is as sound as can be and her hooves are beautifully shaped and solid. She stands so nicely I could spend most of my time with my head upside down watching Mel work.
After trimming I took her back to her interrupted breakfast, and then took Vida on a nice long hike along lower Rock Creek on the way home. It was absolutely gorgeous with many of the shrubs in bloom. The only thing we really had to watch for were the mountain bikers racing down the trail, but Vida is so quick and responsive she leaps out of the way with me and sits quietly at my side. She's such a smart dog, and I'm having fun spending some alone time with her.
The weather might get a little unsettled over the next few days, but I have all this week to ride before heading over to the west side to work on the store and preparing to open. The rest of May will be a blur of travel and busy-ness that I'm not really looking forward to but is what it is. I'll ride as much as I can in order to be ready for Nick's clinic at the end of the month.
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