May 10 Questions

Thanks, Rhiannon, for these questions!

1.  What are your summer goals?

   
   

   

   4 years and 1 day difference between these photos. Chunky monkey!
   

   
   
   Griffin: The May HT isn't going to work due to multiple bigger things in life not falling into place + other unexpected things that take more precedent. I didn't even send in my entry because I had a feeling it was going to be more stressful than fun to try to make it all work. I was right. So now, I've got approved leave from work and we'll be tackling two twilight HTs (much smaller crowd) - one in July and one in August. From there, the goal will be to transition right into the fall series at Loch Moy! I also have a dressage schooling show on my radar for early July.
   
   Stan: Ohmygoodnessgracious the moving saga CONTINUES. Moreseo, the waiting queue never ends. Patience is a virtue, right? I'm trying to be as patient as possible and I constantly tell myself good things take time but oi vey! I'm putting in conditioning rides on Stan, but until I can get him to Canaan, the quality of those rides is subpar due to my complete loss of trail access. The goal is still to pursue the RBTR LD with him. Hopefully we'll get moved by June! If we can't get moved soon, that LD won't happen. He's doing great right now, but I really want miles and miles of rough terrain (hi, Canaan and Dolly Sods!) to work on before I'll be confident he's ready for an LD.
   
   Q: Weekly walk rides have commenced. I said I would initiate these with gusto once her winter coat shed completely and I finally got to enjoy that day last week! We did a 15-20 minute meandering bareback walking jaunt around the farm. Friday marks 9 months since her suspensory injury symptoms presented and 8 months since diagnosis. She's portly and round and has been [visibly] sound for months and her ultrasounds showed remarkable improvement after 120 days. I still didn't want to push her too soon, knowing rest was paramount to her healing. But it is now time to start putting some purpose back into her life beginning with walking rides that will be full of dressage concepts. I plan to increase the length of walk rides slowly and will add in incremental trot work after a time. Slow and steady.




2. Do you have any tips or tricks for fly control?

   I've got a homemade recipe that is The Shit. Not only does it smell amazing, it works better than anything I've ever bought commercially.




3. How often do you bathe your horse?

   If it's a HOT day, they get a good hose down, but so far as proper bathing with products? Only before a show or parade.




4. Do you have any upcoming travel plans? Equine related or otherwise?

   I've got work travel and travel for a funeral/memorial in my near future that are non-horse. Out-of-state horse travel will begin in July!




5. What is your favorite way to beat the heat?

   Give me a mountain river, good company, and a cooler of cold beer.




6. Do you do anything to prevent your horse from sunbleaching?

   I don't do a damn thing.




7. How hot is too hot for you to ride?

   
   
   
   
   90°F+ - though I did complete my first 100 mile ride in ~95°F+ heat last summer.




8. How important is sun protection for you riding or just in general?

   I'm a ginger. Melanoma is a real threat. So, I take my sun protection pretty seriously. White is the new tan! Okay, it isn't, but it is cancer-free. I utilize organic sunscreens most of the time these days coupled with physical sun protection in the form of shirts from SmartPak, Kastel, Mountain Khakis, Outdoor Research, Arc'Teryx, and Columbia.




9. Have you ever gone swimming with your horse?

   Not fully submerged, but we've done our fair share of creek wading. Hoping to find a good spot to swim them this summer!




10. And because shopping is always on my mind, what’s on your summer wish list?

    I need a girth and stirrup leathers for my new jumping saddle and I'd like to get a figure-8 bridle to match. I desperately need new half chaps, my 6 year old ones are TRASHED. I'd really like to get Back On Track hock boots for Q, too. And another riding-specific sunshirt wouldn't hurt. 😉