Farrier Day

Today was farrier day, meaning the hundred-some mile haul to Peppergrass Farm for Neil to get his feet done. It was the first time I had done the drive by myself, and I really, really hate hauling by myself, so it was a relief to get there early (though it's impossible to get their earlier than Debbie herself...but anyway). Neil got a trim and had his front shoes replaced and then went to do work in the outdoor where he was suddenly...yes, you guessed it- lame. Luckily Deb was still there so we pulled the shoe off, checked everything out and put it back on for something of an improvement. I had let him go longer between visits than I normally do but my suspicion is that he stepped on a rock and is being a wimp about it. Anyhow tomorrow was a scheduled day off anyway, so he gets the benefit of the doubt til Thursday and he should be fine by then (insert rant about how every horse I get is a WIMP here).

I hate to admit it, but I had an awful time staying awake on the drive home. This lead to self-medicating with Dysarts coffee and a big Mountain Dew... and a really bad crash and burn nap at like 5:30. My inability to stay awake may have something to do with all the 4:00 mornings...but that's just a guess. It has already been a really busy week: two lessons with Holly Rutland Sunday and Monday to kick it off! The Sunday lesson was Neil's first trip to Pat McIntosh's (what's a weekend without a field trip for the baby horse) where he enjoyed her lovely outdoor ring and a sleepover with Beacon and Candy. The Monday lesson was much more, er, focused. The second derivative version of the Sun/Mon clinic was this:

1. Riding the hind legs is very, very important (who'd have thought, right?).

2. Clarity of communication is very, very important (who'd have thought, right?).

3. Applying both of above factors leads to very nice things from baby horses.

Lookin more like Rolling Stone every day

Anyhow, between that the the four other horses I had Monday, work, and graduating, it has been kind of nuts. Graduation went really, really well however, other than discovering afterward that Uncle Rich had a note saying "I'm Marina's Uncle" pinned on his back the whole time. They sat in the front row, so only two thousand or so people got a chance to see it...I love my family.