OTTB - Riding Postponed Until?

I don't really know when I will be able to ride Bouffe again. Because of his fear of the indoor ring I haven't been able to ride in there and lately, because of the weather the outdoor ring is frozen when it's cold and sloppy, which is not good footing for a horse with a bowed tenon, when it warms up for the day. Tomorrow we are scheduled to have both as the day starts out with sleet and then warms up with rain. It is only two and a half months until April and I can't wait. 

OTTB - The Snow and The Ice and The Cold

Right now, the weather today and in the forecast for the next few days, are making it impossible for me to go to the farm, much less ride. I'm sure Bouffe is doing OK and we will see what happens in this coming week.

Snow, Snow and More Snow

I didn't right anything yesterday, because I was spending most of my day digging out from the snow storm that hit Maryland Sunday and on in to Monday morning. There was no way I could have gotten to the farm anyway.

Well, it snowed again today, but not as much and everything is ready for tomorrow. I have hippotherapy, which was originally scheduled for Monday, at 10 am. I don't think I will be riding Bouffe anyway because of his dislike of the indoor arena, which right now, is the only place available to ride. I have to find someone to work with me and Bouffe in the indoor, so I won't loose anymore days where I could be riding.

Buy the way, I sold the saddle and plan to keep on using the Billy Cook until I am sure about a synthetic saddle.

OTTB - The Rain and The Mud

It had been raining continuously all night and I new from past experience that if it stopped, later in the morning, as predicted, the ring would be deep, conditions that are not the best for a horse with an old bowed tendon. In fact, riding him over that surface, could be a reason for Bouffe to bow again. So, after taking all of that into consideration and the fact it the temperature was falling, as the expected cold front started to come in, I didn't go to the farm today. Hopefully Monday will be better.

OTTB - Wintertime Is Here

I couldn't ride today because the outdoor ring was frozen and when and if it thawed out it would be a bog. I did manage to groom Bouffe and of course feed him his carrots. His coat looks good and shone in the sunlight, even though it is starting to grow out. He seems to be very content having a few weeks off. I am trying not to be upset about the ring conditions. I know Leslie is doing her best and this is only the beginning of the winter weather. There will be many more days like today in the coming months.

Even if the weather gets better, I am probably not going to ride until later on next week, after my new saddle arrives. Yes, I bought another saddle. I plan on keeping the Billy Cook, but it is just too heavy for me to use on a regular basis; so, it will be my show saddle.

 I bought a synthetic saddle which only weighs fifteen pounds instead of the thirty-five the Billy Cook weighs. It should be here Monday or Tuesday and I am anxiously waiting its arrival. 

OTTB - Thanks To A Former Riding Instructor

On Monday when I had hippotherapy Robin's assistant was my former riding instructor Eileen. It was good to see her and I knew I needed to make amends for refusing to do several of her instructions that now, five years later, know how right she was. 

If I had listened to her, I would have been riding Western several years ago, instead of waiting until I was so sore, when I got off of Bouffe, I could barely walk.  Secondly, I refused to cross tie the former OTTB I had. At that time I believed TB were not crossed tied that was only for the "lesser breeds" - how wrong my snobbish attitude has become. Thank you Eileen, for all the basic dressage you taught me. I have used it over and over again on Bouffe.

Speaking of Bouffe, he again refused to be ridden in the indoor arena. Something in his past, probably the indoor paddocks at Pimlico and Charles Town, has made him very afraid of being in a closed in environment. Even though it was raining off and on, which was the reason I wanted to ride inside, we went to the outdoor ring and Bouffe was the perfect gentleman he always is and during the thirty minutes I rode him, we even leaned some more about neck reining and sitting to the trot. I felt good about all that happened today and am looking forward to riding Bouffe again on Friday.

OTTB - And The Rains Came

I missed riding Bouffe on Wednesday because I took my wife, Barbara, to an eye doctor's appointment and was looking forward to riding today. But then the rains came and came and came. It has been raining now for over twenty four hours, with no predicted end until tomorrow.

Regardless of the rain I went to the farm this morning to at least drop off Bouffe blanket and I was glad I did. When I finally got there, after negotiating wash outs on several of the roads, it was cold. Bouffe was in his stall, but not very happy. He is a creature of habit and doesn't like any kind of change.  Having a stall is a change he still hasn't gotten used to. This morning the horse in the stall next to him was out and Bouffe was racing around his stall in panic mode because he had been left. I guess being in a stall is something he will have to get accustomed to again and the horses and the field he is turned out in keep changing - he gets frantic every time but calms down once he is turned out with horses or a fields he is accustomed to.

Well I didn't get anything done this morning besides fitting Bouffe blanket on him. He was just too excited to stand still long enough for me to even feed him his carrots  much less groom him. So, once the blanket was on it was back in the field he went. 

Another Day of Awful Weather

I couldn't ride again today. The weather was the worst yet, with tornadoes, severe thunder storms, hale, and flooding. The mud at Gunpowder was thigh deep yesterday; I may have sunk down to my hips today. And what about Bouffe. I hope they had the common sense to bring all the horses in. I have contacted Trecie by email (there is no phone) but have not yet received a reply. I am trying to keep a positive outlook, and hope the weather will be better tomorrow.

Finding a new place to board Bouffe is easier said than done. I have sent numerous emails requesting rates and availability, but so far have not received any replies. 

I am feeling good with no adverse MS symptoms from the stress. I made up my mind today to show on Sunday no matter if I ride Bouffe tomorrow and/or Saturday or not. We will just do the best we can. It is a schooling show and we will definitely be schooling. 

Comments to my post are welcomed and I look forward to hearing from you.