Riding Wind

[Deleted]

OK, I should have known this. I don't know where my brain is sometimes!

We went out to ride Wind today, got her saddled and she was pretty good about it, although you can tell she hasn't had one on her in years. But... remember the problem I had finding a halter big enough for her? Yup, you guessed it. None of our bridles will fit her either!

I started out with the one that Shadow wore, figuring he was a big blockheaded horse and it should be plenty big enough. Oh, how wrong I was. I have NEVER had a horse with a head this big. Well, I've never had a horse this big, period. I swear she's part Draft. Anyway, I got it loosened to the point that I could get the bit in her mouth and the crown piece behind her ears, but the two side pieces were poking her under her eyes, and the throatlatch was too short to buckle. The browband needs to be about 5 or 6 inches longer than it is.

I'm going to see if I can make a new browband for that bridle. If so, then the throatlatch should fit, on the loosest hole, and it would save buying a brand new EXTRA-LARGE bridle!

I should have been thinking of this months ago, and I totally spaced it out.

This is so funny, because one of our neighbors keeps calling whenever he moves his cattle to see if we want to come help, and we told him as soon as the filly left and we had a chance to work with Wind a little bit, now I have to tell him we can't ride her 'cause the bridle's too small? He's going to think we're making this stuff up!

~Lannie

[bergere]

You don't need no stinking bridle....use a neck rope! ;D

Would be a good time to just put the saddle on her for a little time every day and hand walk her a bit until you get a bridle just to make sure she is ok with the saddle.

Sounds like she has a head like my fjord mare. Had people tell me all their horses had really big heads,,,until they came and saw her!

You will get there.

Rode Frey a little this morning doing really well considering how green and young she is. Boy, she has got a major, I mean major sweet tooth!
Plan to start intergrating her with the main herd this Sat. But will have to keep the mini's out because she still has shoes on.
Biggest hurdle will be Dusty.

[Deleted]

Sorry, not brave enough for a neck rope and a halter. She spooked bad enough when she saw the saddle, but she calmed down a bit once it was on. Then when I tightened the girth, she did a bunch of teeny circles on the leadrope. I used to ride my TB gelding with a halter and lead, with no problem, but him I knew well, and I trusted him.

I know you were joking about that, but that thought fleetingly crossed my mind, and I decided it was a baaaad idea.

She is just SO BIG! I just can't imagine falling all that way to the hard ground! LOL!

I did hand-walk her for a bit, though. Only for about 5 minutes, then we took the saddle off, and I made much of her. She really was a good girl, considering. So she got some black sunflower seeds for a treat and she's back out in the pasture now. I think it's a good idea to keep putting the saddle on her, even if there's no one sitting in it.

She took the bit pretty well, too. She started to dodge her head, but I used the thumb thing and she took it fine then. However, when I slipped it over her ears is when she started fussing and that's when I saw the straps were rubbing her lower eyelids on both sides. So the bridle came right off.

We'll get there, eventually.

Good luck with YOUR new girl. She's a pretty one!

~Lannie

P.S. I'm afraid to use the smilies because I'm trying out the new Autumn skin and I don't know how everyone else will see them. I feel so constrained!!! LOL!

[bergere]

<LOL> Lannie,,, I am using those smilies! Bet there are some interesting,,,,ah.... well you know, with the other skin!

Going slow is good. Is what I am doing with my new mare.
Staying safe is also a very good thing!!

Thanks!