Not Today

No Sun, No Fun

It never did thaw today. Perhaps it's just as well as I had physical therapy and a chiropractic adjustment, so no fear of messing up either by riding.

I did, however, in the morning, go over to my friend's barn on the next road over--virtually across the woods from me--to meet another rider. C. is an endurance rider with an adorable Arabian who looks very much like Chance. Her horse is a red chestnut with a wide blaze and four white socks. Chance has a similar blaze but only two shorter white socks in the rear. C. has been looking for someone to ride with, so the two of us ought to make a good team. We're hoping so set something up for Friday, if the weather cooperates. We don't need thawed ground, but there is some snow in the forecast, so we'll have to see what that does to the footing.

Like Chance, C's horse is barefoot, so that will keep us on the same page. And, she noted she really doesn't want to do much besides walk which is pretty much what I do when I trail ride.

C. is also a certified riding instructor specializing in Natural Horsemanship. We have similar attitudes about a lot of things from what I can tell after our first meeting. She is interested in dressage and would like to learn more, and I would like to learn a bit more about NH myself, so we should have a lot to talk about.

With two of us going out together I will be far more willing to try out some of the longer trails I've heard about in the area. Most of the time, I stick to the tracks through the woods behind my house because they are pretty accessible and getting home from there is not a big deal should something happen. But when I have company, I'm far more adventurous. I should think Chance will really enjoy going out with someone else and be willing to explore some new places as well.

We talked as well a bit about saddles and C. is not exactly pleased with her current saddle, so I am going to let her ride in my Ansur Carlton or Excel to see how she likes them. Ansur has just come out with two brand new endurance models. While I have not yet seen one "in person," I am sure they are super comfy saddles. If C. gets to ride in the Carlton, she may get a good feel for what treeless is all about. Then, I can, perhaps borrow one of the endurance models from the company to let her try that. Even if she doesn't decide to get one, having a real endurance rider's opinion about the saddles is a great thing. C. has ridden 100 mile rides--won one down in Maryland--so she really knows her stuff.

I am looking forward to establishing a partnership with C. so we can do some horsey stuff together. It will be nice to have someone to ride with.