Karen’s Musings & Endurance Ride Stuff

Chief's Bare Hoof

I’ve been riding Chief the most lately. You can see in this photo of one of his hooves that I’m riding him enough barefoot to wear the outer coating off from the sand wash and rocks that we’ve been going through.  btw, he does start out with more of a mustang roll on his feet after a trim but during regular turnout it only takes a few days before it starts to wear off, as you can see in the photo.  His feet are so tough right now – he goes through any type of footing without flinching and with confidence and agility.  It’s been a lot of fun and so quick and easy to get tacked up and going especially since it’s been so dry I haven’t had to do any mud scraping.  I know, just wait!

Yesterday and today were the first time riding this year I think where I felt that I was getting my balance and equilibrium back.  For so long I have felt like I was going to fall off, or else I did fall off when I normally shouldn’t have.  I’ve been trying so hard to get back into shape and fit enough to ride without that kind of feeling so I’m breathing a sigh of relief that it finally feels like I can ride and not feel uncomfortable or nervous about going through technical trail or up and down steep stuff.

I’ve been getting a lot more comfortable riding Chief in the Freeform saddle.  It’s not as secure a seat as my Sports Saddle but it is so easy to put on and off and it stays put on him up and down steep hills without needing to add a breast collar or a crupper.  It is so light and easy to tack him up with it that I am ready to go in about five minutes from the time I get him out until I am on him actually going – gotta love that!  I have been sitting deeper in the seat and I think that has helped a lot.  Chief can tell too that I am not all over the place and riding like a sack of potatoes.

I feel quite safe on all of my horses – they get exposed to so much just on their regular training rides that not much phases them.  We ride past people shooting guns, mountain bike riders, motorcycles, sled dogs and just about anything you can dream up.  My horses all seem to be more worried about natural obstacles like horse eating boulders in certain colors, or a certain plant that blooms or changes color during the year or my favorite with Chief – he totally notices if they have painted the white line on the stop sign at the intersection.  Now THAT is definitely worth checking out!  But a fire engine going code-3 past us -no biggie!

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