Robins and Bluebirds

If you’re any kind of horse-person, you’ll know that spring and polar fleece don’t mix! When the horse hair starts shedding out like a bad sunburn, I have mixed emotions. That thick old winter coat is finally going to die and be replaced by a smooth summer version, but the process means hair, dust and dirt everywhere; like in my bra, pants, boots and of course, the polar fleece! A better clothing choice this time of year might be those ugly disposable coveralls they wear in the food industry!

I am seeing and hearing robins, killdeer and magpies now! The barnyard smells horrible, yet wonderful at the same time!  Mr. Bluebird should be showing up any day (March 19th to the day, for the past 6 years!) Yes, WINTER, don’t let the door slam you on the butt on your way out!!!!

Can I get a Whoot-Whoot for spring!!!!

The Horse Palace is super busy these days. Horses and riders from all over the area are thinking of summer trail riding and horse shows. Time to get those hairy nags into shape, and we have a lot of plans; even if our horses don’t!

I have signed up for two races this spring. The Kootenay Christian Academy’s KootenayFun5 in May, and the Banff Marathon 10km race in June. That’s starting to weigh heavily on my mind, since I feel like a momma grizzly bear just rolling out of her den! I’m flabby and I’ve done pretty much no cardiovascular exercise except a couple of times on my spin bike and skate skiing all winter. Barn chores don’t exactly keep me fit! I need to snap out of it!  I gotta get in shape!!  I have BIG PLANS!

So if I have goals, and I need a plan to get me there, shouldn’t I have one for my horsemanship as well? If I wouldn’t just show up to the KootenayFun5 or the Banff Marathon without some sort of fitness program, how could I expect my horse to somehow pull off a 20 km trail ride or a horse show circuit without the same?

I love the looks of a fit horse. I think there’s nothing more beautiful than a thoroughbred on a race track! The AQHA race bred horses, in my opinion, are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen! However, that kind of fitness takes a LOT of hard work! Maybe we don’t need that level of fitness from our horses, but I believe a lot of horse related injuries could be prevented simply by keeping our horses more fit.  

Long trotting is a simple but very effective way to begin getting a horse in shape. Being aware of your horse’s collection and asking him to round out his back, while lifting his belly will stretch long muscles in the back, neck and hip. The old saying, “wet saddle blankets make good horses” makes so much sense, no matter what kind of riding you do. A FIT horse is a WILLING horse!

Here’s a great article by Equus Magazine that can help you come up with a plan for your flabby equine partner. They might look hairy and scrubby looking right now, but somewhere under all that fuzz is a sparkling, fit and WILLING partner, ready to face whatever challenge you might have for him this riding season!

https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/an-easy-equine-fitness-plan-8488/

Now, where is Tex??  Oh, there you are … standing beside the round bale, without a care in the world!  Gee, Tex; we need to come up with a PLAN!!!

Saddle Up!

Carolyn

“Did someone say bluebird?” - Tex at 19 years old.