Hello everybodies, how are you? I am not completely fabulous this week. I came on pony vacation to Aunt-E's, and Cyd went home to her people job for a few days. The day before she was meant to drive back, Aunt-E had to call her with some bad news. 'Member my new bestie Patcheeee? We were napping together, and we had been playing together, and being besties. Then he decided he didn't want to be my friend any more and went POW on me with his hoofies and my leg really really hurt :( I was quite lame, but it didn't look like he broke any of my bones. I got put in a paddock by myself for safeties. The next day I was more sore, and limping, and had a Patcheeee hoof print in my butt. Cyd felt me all over, and we gave me some medicines to make the inflammations go away, and decided if I didn't look better the next day the pony doctor would come to check me. That evening I looked better, and even better the next morning, and pretty much my usual fabulous self the next evening. Cyd and Aunt-E celebrated and we all went to sleep. Happy pony story.
The day after Mr Patcheeee kicked me, baby Kallistapony escaped from her paddock under the fence cos for her being a sneaky adventure baby. She hurt her eye somehow, and it looked worse that evening. So this morning Cyd and Aunt-E went out to check on her and see if she needed to make a pony doctor appointment. The peoples made it just outside the house and I started walking up to Cyd and she said a bad word that people use when they're mad. Aunt-E looked and noticed that I was the worse lame I had been all vacation. Cyd came to look at me and I waggled my front leg at her. It was hot, and all swollen up, and had loads of cuts but luckily not too much of my bloods running out. So even if Kali's eye looked better we need the pony doctor now. I wore a boot full of icicles to cool my leg down while we waited. Most of the cuts are just on the surface, mostly around my fetlock. I had one nasty deep one on my heel and a slightly deeper one near my knee, and some around my neck near my head that are just surface wounds. It looks like I got some wire caught around my leg and that's where my owies came from. There's some swellings that made the people think I hurt my tendons or ligaments too, which would be really sad.
Baby Kallista in the wrong paddock, and her mummy Kate
The pony doctor came really soon, and checked the baby first. He was very nice to her even though she was super squiggly, and didn't even make her drunk to treat her. She just has a little cut by her eyelid right on the edge, so she needs eye cream put in a few times. Then he came to see me, and I stood very politely. He squirted pain killer on my more bad ouchies, and cleaned them up really good. I had to get a bit of my knee shaved, and the fur on my heel shaved. I didn't even flinch when the pony doctor did this. He doesn't think I've hurt my tendons or my ligaments, but said that it is still possible. He's quite sure that I'll be just fine in a few days though. I have to have big doses of antibiotics cos for having some infection, and maybe some cellulitis. He doesn't want me to be kept in a small pen, which is very good for me, I hate being cooped up. I also get anti-inflammatory medicine twice a day. I don't get any bandages cos for it being in an awkward spot, but I get silver spray called AluShield to keep the dirts out. If I look all healed up next week then my usual pony doctor can check me out and give me the all clear to still go to my enduring ride. If I'm not perfect Cyd will leave me at home though. No risking Bugsy legs!
Hello everybodies. How are you? I am fabulous. I am on pony vacation at Aunt-E's new house. She lives in California again which we are very excited about. They have big fields at her new house, and her ponies get to roam free. There's a new pony there called Apache (pronounced Patcheeee) and we were besties right away cos for both liking to run and play. I was a bit crazy before I got in my pony trailer to go on the adventure, Cyd couldn't catch me cos for me not standing my hoofies still long enough to get my halter.
We had to get new booties for Cyd's truck, and I stayed in the pony trailer while the tires were put on. I was a bit scared of all the noises, but the nice tire people made sure we knew where to get me water, and that I had some snacks to eat and that Cyd had coffee so she could be bouncy like me. It took forever, and we were there so long that we couldn't get to our pony play date in time. By the time we were going past Cache Creek I had been in the trailer for five hours, so we took a break to do peeing and walking and trotting and mash eating and water drinking. I was totally chilled out now and liked exploring. It took another couple hours to get to Aunt-E's house, where I promptly did this for two hours:
That's my new buddy. The next morning we went pony riding somewhere that Cyd was quite excited. She said it would be a very important place for me in a few years when I'm a bit more grown up and she has done more learning. We were somewhere called Tevis trail. We parked at the finish line and rode some of the famous trail, and some of the trails that will be in Cyd's people races that are happening this year. We even went across something called No Hands Bridge. Apparently all the cool ponies ride it hands free, even though there are railings now.
I did really very good on this pony ride. I am actually growing up. There was a new pony who is very experienced called Farley. Sometimes she made a grumpy face at me for being in her space so Cyd had to pay better attentions, but mostly she liked me. I went in the middle, and Patchee went behind me. He was doing tailgaiting and I only got a tiny bit grumpy at him but I didn't try to bite him or kick at him, even when he totally crashed into me. I did one or two tiny spooks at actual scary things like big trucks zooming below us, and one or two tiny silly pony spooks. I practiced my big trot which is a bit hard for me, but Farley and Patchee do it really good and it was the only way to keep up since Cyd wouldn't let me do much canter. I did good at drinking, but did get a bit hot on the way back to the pony trailer. I was fine after doing some resting. My pulse had come down, but I was a bit pant-y. So was Cyd. We like the fog.
I'm staying here until after the big pony ride called Tevis, where Cyd is doing volunteering. She'll be back for visiting me soon though. It was already an idea for me to stay at Aunt-E's house, but her truck wasn't do stopping OR steering just right, so for extra safeties they didn't want to put me in the pony trailer. I like playing with my friends anyway. Plus then I can't do silly things like escaping from my house and running down the street without my halter on. It took Cyd ages to catch me, and she only had a sleeveless vest to wrap around my neck to walk me home. That was a bit tricky and so I did prancing. You know, that Totally Helped! I was sad when Cyd drove away though, and smooshed my nose on the window to see if that would make her stay. Thanks for taking care of me Aunt-E, I'll try to do good behavings!
Hello everybodies, how are you? I am so fabulous, and in recovery mode. I went on my big adventure last weekend with my friends Hueypony and Waylonpony and Ticopony. We went to Cache Creek enduring pony ride, and *spoiler alert* I did pony riding for 50 miles! It was a hard day, but we've worked hard all winter getting my body ready to handle it, as well as working really hard on my brain and my behavings. I mostly kept my brain between my ears, and I did not kill Cyd, which she was really a bit concerned about. The first part of the adventure was having my yellow slippers glued on to my hoofies. Thanks Aunty V for holding my face and distracting me, and Aunt-T for helping with the gluing. I usually get a bath before events, but it was cold and rainy so not this time.
Have to stand still while the epoxy dries!
Cyd brought my pony trailer to my house really early on Friday, and Hueypony arrived at the same time. Our people had already packed our saddles and pyjamas and snacks and their helmets, so we both got in right away and went to join the convoy of friends so we could all drive together. I was very calm and polite when we arrived, and hung out with Waylon while Cyd and Aunt-T quickly popped up the truck tent, cos for it scaring me. Once the noisy bits were done, my hi-tie got set up, and I got a mash and some water and my hayfoods. It was time for the people to go check in, so Cyd asked for our camp-mates to keep an eye on me just in case. Once she had her packet with the map and the vet card, she was heading back to the trailer and could hear Aunty D calling for me, and saw me walking towards her. I had broken the carabiner on my rope to go exploring. I got a new carabiner and reattached to my hi-tie, and the tent tarp got some string and duct tape on anything that might flap. I was ready to camp!
The vet people were going to start examining all us ponies at 4pm, but Cyd noticed they had already arrived so we asked if I could come over early before it got crazy busy with a long line. I was the first pony vetted in. This time, my pulse was 40! Usually it's really high cos for being excited but gets lower each ride. 60, 56, 52, 48, now 40. In my field it's 36, so that's getting close! I stood quite still, and the nice vet went slow for me. I did my trotting out pretty good, only cantered a little bit, and didn't do any dragon impressions this time. I got a number on my butt and I was ready to start!
Snacking on some grasses before bed time
Cyd got up really early to give me some breakfast and to get us both ready for the day. It was very dark, and I was a bit fidgety but mostly I stood politely. I could tell something exciting was happening. Before I knew it, Cyd was on my back, and Aunt-T was on Hueypony, and we were going somewhere in the dark.
Heading to the start
There were some glow sticks to show the people where to go, and it got light quickly, but the people couldn't see much when we first set off.
The first tricky bit was a scary bog. There was a line to go across because not all the ponies were super brave or excellently behaved. We let some riders come by us, and Hueypony took the lead in case I was nervous. Except that Hueypony had an out of character moment and said "No thank you, no bogs for me". Cyd put me in front to try and I said no too. I got a bigger boomp from her heels, kicked up my heels a little, got a growling at, then marched right through. Someone in the back of the line commented on what a good horse I was, which gave Cyd a big grin, they don't even know how bad I used to be at getting my hoofies wet.
The middle bit of water crossing, the peoples sussed it out the day before
We pulled over after going through all the water cos for about 15 horses
being behind us and we didn't want to be rushed. We got more
compliments as they came past on how good we did and that Cyd and Aunt-T
did a nice job with us. Both us ponies bounced a bit, and wanted to
canter after our new friends, but we compromised on really springy trots
instead. The first few miles had a lot of passing back and forth with
different people, and seeing good and excited and even some bad ponies.
My winter brain training paid off, and while I wasn't perfect, Cyd was
very impressed at how well I handled the commotion. With 103 horses in
my race, we knew we'd be seeing other horses all day, but I've never
started a ride like this before. Some more practice and experience and
it won't be a problem for me.
Most of today was spent going up the hills and down the hills and up the hills and down the hills. At the top of one of the hills was a photographer. He took lots of pictures of me, and I demonstrated how quickly my mood changes. I kept my ears up for the 2nd photographer, but I did spook at his ATV. I was happy and grumpy and happy all at the same time. Other pony riders laughed at me all day for being a grumpy guts, and said how mareish I was, and Cyd had to tell them I'm a gelding kind and I got laughed at more. I was really good with my socialability though, I didn't snap my teeth at anyone, and I didn't try to kick anyone, even though three different ponies bumped into me during the day. More training paying off. We worked hard for a reason! I was wearing my a-hole ribbon (the red ribbon that kicky ponies wear to warn others to stay back) and Cyd had to verbally warn a few people who didn't pay attention to my ribbon so they would give me a little extra room. Thanks for giving me space everybody, it helped me a lot! Here's my some of pictures from the first picture taker:
Dr Jekyll Bugsy and Mr Hyde Bugsy
Before we knew it, it was time for the first vet check. For this one, we had to go in on one side, have our pulse taken and make sure it is 60 or below (I was pulsed down as soon as we arrived), and then go out the other side doing trotting so the vet could make sure we were moving ok. We only had to stop for an exam if we were a bit wibbly but me and Hueypony were just fine and set off on our next leg. On this section I figured out Cyd did not have her dressage whip, which she usually carries in case I start being a brat pony. Uhoh! I was a bit bad for a couple of miles, but once we re-established that Cyd was still the leader I went back to being really good again. In fact, Cyd was having to hold me back most of the day, I wanted to go go go most of the time. I was a good multi-tasker all day, and decided that as a good endurance pony I could save time by doing trottings and snacking at the same time.
It was getting more and more rainy, and the ground was getting a bit slippy. I had to be really careful where I put my feeties, especially when we got to the long downhill going to our next vet check. Cyd got off near the top to walk me a couple of miles. It was a narrow trail, and we were in a line of 9 horses counting me and Hue. There were also a ton of ponies who were faster than us and already did their vet check who were coming up the narrow trail. I was really polite and stepped off the trail wherever Cyd asked, and made sure I kept my butt away from ponies wherever possible, but sometimes we had to squeeze and I didn't get mad about it. Cyd hit a really slippy spot and started skiing down the hill. She didn't want to snatch my head so dropped my reins until she stopped. I just kept walking quietly and stopped when I got next to her so she could hold me again. She hopped on to ride me across the creek and up the little hill and we were at our lunch time vet check. This was 25 miles in, and we had to pulse to 60 again, and make sure our respirations were slow enough, and then an hour to rest and eat and be vetted. My pulse was at 56 right away, but my breaths were a bit fast cos for having a lot of things to sniff, like someone making a mash in front of me, and another pony's sweaty saddle pad. The PnR lady suggested we take me to a quiet spot and I stopped doing sniffing and I met the criteria. Cyd found my crew bag, pulled off my saddle, put on my fuzzy cooler, and took me straight to the vet line. I ate some grasses while I was waiting, and was very polite. Hue and I got seen at the same time, and I saw a vet I never saw before. I was a bit nervous and didn't like all the poking, but it didn't take long. I did perfect at my trotting out and the vet gave me As. Hueypony and I set to work eating any snacks we could get in our mouths, my snack of choice was his beet pulp and carrots, and he wanted alfalfa even though it makes him crazy. I also found some food that someone left behind and scoffed that, and loads of grass and hay, and the mash that Cyd made for me. It amazingly didn't rain while we stopped, so we didn't get chilled. Suddenly it was time to get ready to go again.
We got our saddles and repacked our crew bags, and double checked with Dr K cos for Hueypony passing his vet check but not having had anything to drink all day. Dr K said to keep going unless Aunt-T didn't want to, and as soon as he had a drink to give him a half dose of electrolytes. We mounted up and headed out. The first bit of trail out was the stream crossing, and of course the first thing Hue did was take a drink. I was doing great at drinking all day, even spotting the water troughs and breaking into a trot and throwing my head in to take a big long drink. The ride organisers were great at having water everywhere in big black tubs, as well as there being puddles everywhere.
The slippy downhill was even worse going uphill, and was an indication of trails to come. We did trotting where we could but it was getting to be slow going. We fell in line with some experienced riders who were setting a good pace, trotting where it was safe, walking if we needed to. It got so slippy that they chose to dismount, so me and Hue went by. A few miles on though it got really really bad so Cyd and Aunt-T got off. Very soon Cyd fell down. I stood still while she scrambled back up, and we started down the slip'n'slide. I was skidding all over the place, and Cyd was grabbing at grasses or branches to try to stay upright. It didn't work very well and she fell down again. It was slow slow going, and Aunt-T and Cyd were starting to get worried. They wanted to do enduring, but they didn't want us ponies to get hurt. They thought we had to come back up this trail, and had pretty well decided if that was the case they might have to do something called rider option, meaning that we pass our vet check but get a lift home in the pony trailer and quit. They were sad about this choice, and decided to talk to the organising people at the bottom of the hill. Cyd fell down 2 more times on the way, but we were finally in a parking lot with solid ground. My pulse was really low and we grabbed some alfalfa for Cyd to hold and me to eat while we went straight to the vet. I passed with my best scores so far. The lady in charge at the vet check informed our people that while the trails were going to be slippery, she didn't think anything was as bad as the hill we just came down, and even with doing a lot of walking we had just enough time to finish. The people got on and we took off right away. Soon after the vet check, we nearly had a disaster and I proved to be a really good pony. We were moving down the trail when suddenly the edge crumbled underneath me. We weren't super close, but apparently close enough. I only had one hoof on the trail, and one hoof on some of the dirt under where the edge of the trail was. Cyd gave me all the rein, and sat really still. Aunt-T made Hueypony stand really still too, and just looked shocked. I did some scrambing and got us back on the trail. We stood and all did deep breathing for a bit after than. We were safe, and I didn't seem to be hurt, so we kept moving. We soon caught up to a friend of Cyd's, who is also the same person who is our rep for my go-faster booties. We had put my viper kind on the foot where the slipper fell off, but the cable had snapped and A pointed it out to Cyd. Not only did she notice, but she happened to have a kind that fit me on her saddle, and she let us borrow it. Thanks A, that was super helpful and kind. There was a lot more walking to do, and we tried to stay in the grass as much as possible to limit our sliding.
I see camp!
We finally made it back to the trail to camp that we had started on this morning. Cyd spotted a handy dandy mounting tree, so hopped off to take off the loaned boot. We didn't want it getting sucked off in the crazy bog, especially that it didn't belong to us. She hopped back on for the final stretch. To get to the creek and the bog, we had to go down a short steep bank. I started sliding again, and did a squat. It seemed to last a long time, and Cyd was very concerned about my hind end. I was moving ok, so we continued across the bog. Then there it was! Camp was in sight!!
We just had 10 minutes to spare! Phew. Uncle J was waiting there for us as a surprise, and Waylon's person, and Tico's people. We walked to the finish people, gave our numbers, and went straight to the pony trailer. Cyd quickly pulled off all my tack, snuggled me into my cooler, and we went straight to see the vets for our final exam. I passed all my criteria, and my pulse was 52. We had only been done for a few minutes. I behaved for my trot out, and I was sound but vet/runner/endurance rider Dr M was scoring me and mentioned to Cyd that there was something not quite right. Uncle J videoed it so Cyd could see. She has since trotted me out the next morning, when I got off the pony trailer at home, and this morning, and each time I'm moving better. Once I got back to the pony trailer after receiving my completion I got my waterproof blanket on over the top of my cooler, and some cooling spray on my leggies, and my compression socks.
More food please!
I was bright eyed and eager when I went walking around camp that evening, and was cheerfully eating my snacks and drinking my water all night. Sunday morning I woke Cyd up a little after 5am with my fidgeting, and some whinnying. She got up and put shoes and a sweater over her jammies and took me walking to settle me down. I did my quick march and wanted to go and see everybody and sample all the water troughs, and eat all the grasses. After breakfast and packing all our things it was time for us ponies to get in the pony trailer and go back to our houses. Hueypony and I traveled really well, and was patient when the people made stops like for coffee and to pee. As soon as I got home I drank a ton of water, and started eating my hay.
Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous. Right now I am really fit, but doing a lot of resting. Wanna know why? Cos for next weekend, it's time for me to do my enduring again. Yep, I'm going 50 miles with Cyd all in one day. We've been practicing so many of my skills, like being vetted, and doing trotting out (which is definitely not my favourite), and riding my own ride no matter what is going on around me.
A meet up on a day we rode together but separate
Cyd has also been super busy getting all my gear together. She has to replace straps on my go-faster booties, they are a bit worn and they are our back up booties. I am wearing my glue on yellow slippers for the Ride, but in case one falls off we need my strap kind ready to protect my hoofy. Uncle J installed my new pony-containment. It's called hi-tie, and attaches to my pony trailer.
Cyd needs to make a good rope to attach me with, but the hard part is done. I also have a new saddle! It's called Stonewall, and seems to fit me really well so far, and we're improving it for Cyd. It will get its own post soon.
We've been doing lots of different kinds of pony adventures with our friends, and some solo pony riding. Speedy conditioning rides, brain training rides, solo rides, a pony hike. I got seen by Dr A the pony chiropractor. She gave Cyd a ton of homework for me to do to make my butt stronger, and helped my headache.
Today on my pony ride I met Zephyrpony, who is different from me in how she makes her legs go. She is called gaited kind, and some ponies don't like how they move. It didn't bother me though, and I was really quite polite to her. I did do some bouncing today, but nothing bad. Mostly it was decided that I was being cute and showing off how good I can move in my new saddle (though I still got told off for not being a grown up). Waylonpony didn't get to ride with us, they were trying a new saddle and he didn't like it so they went home, but then his person decided to change it and just follow along behind. Yay Waylonpony. Hueypony has got really fit and strong with all his training, he is going to do great in his first 50. There was a bad moment in the pony trailer when the rear-tack partition wasn't attached and it wasn't noticed until us ponies were latched in and the trailer was being turned around. I did stomping cos for it bumping into me so Cyd and Aunt-T jumped out the truck and carefully opened the door and held the partition out the way. I am totally okay, I was just a bit nervous. Eating some grass made me feel better and I hopped right back in the pony trailer. Now Cyd has another thing to add to her pre-drive check list - lesson learned!
I just have some easy rides this week, a hoofy trim, my slippers glued on, and a bath. Plus some new strings for my saddle to tie all my crap on with. We're ready!
Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous, and Cyd is really pleased with me today. We did start with bit of a bump though. Did we tell you about my pretty yellow slippers? They are just like my orange go-faster booties, except just a shell, and they stick to my hoofies with glue!
They stayed on really good for my mock LD with Hueypony, who was also testing his sparkly green slippers. We rested for some days, and Cyd went to her people job to get my haymonies, and then went to a people race called ultramarathon and ran 50 miles without me. She was a bit too tired and wobbly to do pony riding, so we never got another test ride in. But I do lots of shenanigans in my field, and it took two attempts and various tools to pry them off my feet this morning. I got startled by a chicken in my field while Cyd was trying to pry the slipper off, and I did Big Over Reacting and leaped for the sky. Troubles is, Cyd's head was in the way, and I bashed her face with my knee. She sat in my field for a minute and checked there were no stars in her eyes or birdies flying around her head or bloods leaking in her mouth, then we did some of my groundwork stuff on reminding me that my space bubble is for me and Cyd's space bubble is for her, and she might come into my bubble, but I must not go into her bubble unless invited. I stood very still the rest of the time!
Once I was done with getting my slippers removed, it was time to get in my pony trailer. Cyd had backed it close to my gate, where it made a little box kind of area. I thought for a few minutes about not getting in, but then I realised there wasn't anywhere else for me to go, so I hopped in and got lots of praising. I rode in the trailer all by myself, and we didn't go to get my Waylonfriend like usual. I got out at Caspar Orchard, and did looking but no other ponies were there. Where are my friends? I settled into snacking, but kept looking up in case my friends were arriving. Somehow it was time for Cyd to get on, and we were solo adventuring down the trail!
I was doing a bit of looking but being very good, I go out by myself a lot so this bit is no biggie for me, just a different place. Once my muscles were warmed up we started trottings practice, and had fun zigzagging down the twisty turny trail. We came to the Waylonpony Crash Site from last time we were here, and I remembered that he said the wooden board was scary so I did snorting at it so as to be safe! We only went half way on this super skinny trail, then turned back to the logging road. Once we got there I decided it was time to make our ride more adventuresome and use up lots of energies. I did bouncing and asking to go fastfastfast. So much so that Cyd moved my reins to make my hackamore stronger (though we were just on the halter ring, so not a huge deal). She told me if she shut her eyes she might have thought she was riding Miss Fuega cos for how I was acting. I was ready to go go go the whole rest of the ride, but was being polite about it now. We did lots of trotting practice, and some canter. We know better than to canter around a blind turn but we did. Of course this is the one time there's someone on a mountain bike coming the other way. She yelled at us for going fast, even though she was going fast too. We didn't crash though, and she moved out of the way and nearly climbed a tree and was really scared and we think that's why she was being so rude. Cyd asked her if she would give me a cookie cos for me being a bit nervous, but the lady said "NO!" cos for her being scared of ponies, and even though she was a long way out of my way not even on the trail she was squeaking on about "Am I going to get hurt aaah eeee". We thanked her for yielding trail and went on our merry way since there was no point getting in a fight with her. Mostly everyone around here is really good at sharing, and hopefully she realises ponies go there a lot and if she doesn't want to see us she should go to the no-pony-access places. Also the mountain lions are scarier than us ponies, jus' sayin'....
Once we got back to the pony trailer I snacked on some more hay while my saddle got put away. I did thinking about getting in my pony trailer, and Cyd had to be a bit firm with me, but I got in quite fast without fighting, and got my cookies. All in all a successful day! Wheeeeee!
Hello Everybodies! How are you? Did you miss me? I'm totally fabulous still, though some good things and some bad things have been happening since we last got my typing done. Can you believe it's been 3 months? Cyd is just the worst! We're going to catch you up real super fast.
I went on lots of pony rides with my friends. It rained a lot, and eventually even the good-for-rainy-day trails got a bit too wet and slippery. But we still had fun.
Then I stopped getting in my pony trailer by myself. If there were two people, it wasn't so bad. If there was a pony in my pony trailer, I hopped right in. I also kept crashing coming out, cos for going really fast and then my trailer biting me. Big problems ensue.
I do manage to make it to the arena. By the time I'm in my pony trailer, Cyd is too tired to ride, and our friends are ready to go home. So I just run around and play and look amazing.
I do a few rides dressed like this. People tell Cyd she's crazy, but we have fun. This is also how I was dressed when I saw my first mountain lion. I did snorting and not freaking out, and it ran away so we were safe. Go me!
It rains some more...
I have another time of not getting in my pony trailer for a few hours. Our friends go riding without us. Cyd is pretty frustrated, and has run out of pony loading tricks. I spend a lot of time doing this:
Aunt-E makes a new style of cooler, and makes one for me in my colours. The neck velcros on and off depending on my warmth needs. I look pretty snazzy.
I go exploring to new pony riding places, and find spectacular views. We did 20 miles this day. I'm conditioning for Cache Creek 50 mile endurance ride. I had one really bad tantrum where I totally threw myself on the ground cos for not wanting to do what Cyd said. Somehow she clung on like monkey, and I got up and was a bit nervous from being on the floor, and Cyd told me again to do stuff and I did, and I've been a pretty great riding pony ever since...
We decide we've had enough of my trailering nonsense, and Aunt-E comes to help make me get in better. But then the plans change and with about an hour's notice I am being loaded into my trailer to go to Aunt-E's house in Eureka. Pony boot camp for me. Except with an hour left in our trip, the tyre on my pony trailer fell apart. Lucky there was a huge space on the side of the freeway for us to pull over and be safe while we got rescued.
Oops
My first lesson begins right away. I do lots of exercises, and by the end of our trip I put myself in the pony trailer. I'm still mostly doing pretty good.
Supposed to step, but this was acceptable
I get in by myself now
While I was there, we did two short pony rides, and one really long one at Cuneo Creek where I did my enduring last year. On the first pony ride, we finally persuaded Aunt-E to ride me. Nobody but Cyd has ever been on my back in my whole life, but I totally behaved although I was a bit confused.
The next day, Aunt-E's Sharifbabypony came on the ride, and Cyd did some work with him on going downhill better, while Aunt-E led me down the hill. At the bottom she wouldn't let Cyd have me back, and she rode me the whole rest of the ride. I must be a good pony.
Our last ride was an enduring practice ride, and I did great even though I couldn't keep up with the other ponies when we did walking. It took a long time cos for having to go under and around and through places that were tricky. I did awesome, was a good grown-up, and even carried Aria the dog for a minute.
Yesterday we did another long ride to test out mine and Huey's new slippers. They are just like my go-faster booties, except they glue to my hoofies to be extra strong and secure ready for doing enduring. It can be tricky to do it, and Cyd got glue in her hair, and forgot to wear gloves so glued her ring to her finger, and got some glue on my fur. My new slippers worked great though!
We did a mock LD, and I was pretty awesome. It was really hot though, which wasn't fun for any of us. At one point Cyd thought I was over heating, then she realised I was mostly just being lazy. Once we had a discussion about that I was back to my usual great stuff, doing trottings and canter. I ate and drank really good, and at the trailer for our mock vet check, I had a bucket of water and a bucket of mash and a ton of hay, and I barely stopped for breath, just went from one to the other the whole time like a good enduring pony.
Phew, I think that's all the things. Now maybe Cyd will keep up with my stories!
Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous and also super tired cos for going on three adventures in three days! I have done 36.3 miles in just three days. Lucky I have some days off, we don't want me getting tired or sour. I was really happy to go out again, I shoved my nose in my halter and waited patiently for my Hueyfriend to arrive. We went pony riding together yesterday and had SO MUCH FUN! We only did walking, but it was a twisty turny uppy down slippy slidey narrow trails. I got to practice so many skills, like listening to little squeezes from Cyd's leg to make me sidle a teensy bit to not bruise her knees, and not being scared when she scooted her feet up by my saddle cos for the gap being just too skinny, and mostly doing all my stuff with barely rein contact to practice for our neck loop goal. There was a bit of a snafu when Hueypony got a bit stuck in my pony trailer. He is like me and doesn't like to come out of pony trailers backwards, but unlike me who is sticky, he refuses to do it at all. Silly pony. He wasn't good at turning either. He was stuck! Lucky though, my rear tack room is only held in with pins, so Cyd took them out and folded it up and now he had room to turn around. Problem solved for now. Another problem though, he was meant to come with me to meet Waylonpony today. But he has puffy fetlocks. This is not okay, so he had a resting day. (Any suggestions other than stocking up, which seems most likely, much appreciated.) So I ended up loading by myself like a good pony. Driving out to the forest, I had to pull off the road for a HOUSE driving down the highway! But I unloaded quietly, got my saddle so very fast, didn't freak out when big trucks flew by, and walked off with Waylonpony on a loose rein like a good pony. We did have some adventures on our ride today, like taking the dinosaur trail to cross the creek. The creek was so high and flowing super fast from all our storms lately. After some debating, I got sent first to see how appropriate it was for ponies to cross. I was a very good pony and stepped in, and it was really deep! Turn around, go back to the other route. It was quite deep there too, but a much easier crossing. See how high it is on Waylonpony:
Next obstacle was our rocky steep bit. Guess who was the leader pony? I had a bit of trouble at not really wanting to go through the puddle at the bottom of the trail, but I fearlessly led the way up, picked a great route, paused to take pictures of my friend doing his first time going up, then carried on up like a clever pony. Next was the start of lots of uphill trotting. I got tired on the second leg (that comes immediately after the first, but much steeper!) so had to do some walking, but I did really good and so did Waylon, except he is quite fast. Today I also practiced my jumping, I am actually starting to get a little bit good at it, and each time I do a good jump and get praised I put my head and ears up sharp for being happy. Cyd is going to teach me better in the spring when Uncle J makes us some jumps, then I can do bigger trees. I only had one tiny tantrum, when it was time to leave one of our rest places, and it started raining and I said NO, but I got over it really quickly. I also learned what pocket Aunty E keeps Waylonpony's cookies, and that I should be involved in people tangerine snacking. Something else that happened that is exciting and most people think our riders are strange for being excited: Waylon did peeing with a rider! He never did this before. It took him five hours, but he's learning. We both had big drinks at the bathtubwatertrough near where our trailers were parked. Neither of us drank much more than a few sips on the trail, which is not normal for me. I'm not a fan of puddle drinking, and the creeks were all a bit scary for me today. I need to do better at that. When we got back to my house, Cyd took me to my rolling pit without my blanket cos for me seeming pretty itchy on our pony ride. I rolled and shook and rolled and shook for ten minutes! Now she's going to remember that on days that I keep my blanket on, I should have it off to go do rolling at least a few minutes, and after my pony rides too. We are experimenting with putting my old saddle on me, just cos it didn't fit me before, doesn't mean it won't fit me now. I had even sweat marks, and didn't have any tantrums, so maybe it's good? I didn't feel sore backed when we got back, but usually I don't show that until the next day, so Cyd's going to check me tomorrow. I love going on so many adventures, but now it's time for me to rest, to help me get strong!
