From racing to riding... the training diary of an off the track Standardbred

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Snow


The handsome boy hiding behind Elsa

Lately we have been doing a lot of...well...nothing. Most of my time has been spent at school from 8-4. After school, 3 days a week, I had srill team practice. While drill team was a ton of fun and I got some really good riding and training time in with the schoolies (and not so schoolies) at school, it really took away from my riding time with Jet. The days grew shorter and the sunlight was seldom seen when I returned home from school. By the time I got my horse chores done, it was time for the horses to eat their dinner and I was reluctant to go back otuside an hour later to ride in the freezing cold. It would be fair to Jet or me!

So lately....Jet has just been being a big love bug. He gets his feet picked everyday as well as a quick grooming some days and a full on grooming on most days. The footing in the ring is way too hard to ride in so that isn't a possibility and it is hunting season...so no trails. I have hopped on randomly hear and there but nothing consitant. But yesterday...was fun :)
A'int he cute?!

Yesterday after school I came home to a snowstorm. It was snowing pretty hard and the snowflakes were HUGE. I decided to hop on Jet bareback...in a halter with a lead rope..and go for an adventure. Now let me tell you, earlier when I got home, I saw Jet being an idiot up in the ring. He was bouncing around, galloping, rearing, bucking, chasing Elsa, poking her...and yet...I still trust him enough to take good care of me no matter what. That is either me just behind stupid or a real bond.

I put his halter on (and my helmet) and hopped on him in the ring while Elsa and Biscuit were up there. Elsa decided she wanted to play with us so I took Jet out of the ring and took him on the road. We walked up, down, and around fora  good ten minutes or so. Then we went into the "loop." The loop is just a half-circle dirt area that our neighbors let us pass through to get to the trails. It isn't huge...but it is enough space to trot around. So I asked him for a trot and he was pleased to oblidge. We trotte back and forth about 3 or 4 times. Then I walked him on the road again before coming back to the loop. This time I asked for a canter...and he picked it RIGHT up! He did amazing and seemed to enjoy himself sso we cantered twice in each direction...bareback. He had his very suspenseful, slow canter going on. It felt like he wanted to buck, but he didn't. His ears were up the entire time we cantered. The only time they were back was when we picked it up at first and when I brought him back down.

Overall, I had a blast riding in the snow! I think Jet did too! I absolutely love my horse with all of my heart. He took great care of me (:

Happy Holidays!
-Emily and Jet

OH! Fun side note. At the very beginning of this blog, I told you about my old standardbred, Blue. Funny enough, his new owners emailed my Mom today and gave us an update. Guess what they renamed him? Jet! I thought it was pretty funny (: