Spring is just that, non stop running and busy! Both kids play soccer, one of which has 2 practices a week, the other just 1, on an overlapping day at least – but still leaves a lot of carpooling to coordinate! Saturdays are generally games in complete conflict with each other so the kids decide which parent goes with them to watch ⚽

Early April, Skyler and I did another ride with just one other friend and her horse. We had a fun time and did some mental work on splitting up for the “greenies.” I ran into an interesting <one I haven’t seen yet> saddle fit issue that is requiring some padding tweaks, but overall things fit well and he had his brand new tack set to proudly show off.

On top of work/school, running to practices and games, we do find some time to relax and took off a few days during their Spring Break to do a little stay-cation fun. We spent one day getting the Explorer taken care of with new tires and another with the truck getting a recall fix implemented which we used as an opportunity to head into the mountains and hike – 7.5 miles total that day. The next day Skyler and I ran off to a small (and 🥶) clinic with Tom Moates held by Jaime at her barn. Breeze had about a 15min break upon arrival before we jumped in and worked with Tom. From the little time we’ve had together the only thing I walked into the clinic knowing to work on was his “herd bound” personality and the giraffe bully mode he gets into about it. Tom began with Breeze first, showing me how to use the flag to create an “attention getter,” NOT using it as a driving force, seeing if Breeze could seek out the answer to the request and let go of all the distractions around. He came around nicely, not completely relaxed, but less focused on what was out there by the end of the session.
Poor Breeze was by himself in a huge grassy pasture for the night, but eventually he could see horses across the driveway and settled some. He took at off at a full out run down the fence line a few times giving me some anxiety about leaving him overnight!
The next morning we picked up with a “different horse”. He was more settled and attentive to me, and easily brought back from distraction. We got to play with some cool groundwork tasks, so I can see what he is capable of doing when tuned in so I know if I’m working him in the future and he isn’t responding there is something he hasn’t let go of as a distraction. He still didn’t like being alone while we went off for lunch and warmed up a bit, but wasn’t as concerned. We loaded up and headed home about 24hrs after we had left home! Quick trip, and we hope to return and work with Tom sometime with both horses.

I dropped the trailer off the next morning for its routine maintenance and inspection, expecting to pick it up Thurs/Fri for our next trip! That didn’t quite go as planned, but I was able to grab it Friday and return it again Sunday after our trip to Fleetwood. Skyler enjoyed the fall ride even though we had less riding this time around due to soccer games.

Lots of firsts — First camping trip with Breeze, after only being with me ~3 months. First time setting up our panels as 2 separate pens (just to be safe vs. how Scooby & Sully camped in one big pen). First time only doing the Sunday ride, and avoiding the steep hill at the beginning. First time camping right by the bonfire… which Scooby was not all that thrilled with. Skyler was a good helper with set up and tear down, and Scooby was able to step up and be the leader on occasion where Breeze was not having any of what was in front of him (scary creek pump and a random chair in the woods were main culprits). I found out Breeze’s go to is to put on the brakes and back up, then just side-pass or such to avoid forward movement. I was able to figure out by the end on our return pass by the scary pump that if I spun him through a circle and then redirected forward we could lead past the object. I also survived two “teleports” at a trot over downed trees in the woods. We had some words about that one and made him go up to said tree lying on the ground, yet he boldly went through without hesitation a big logging operation with tractors and semis parked all surrounding the trail 🤷‍♀️ Scooby did well and Skyler was excited to have them get along well on the trail and moving out together at similar pacing (once above a walk lol). We rode alone minus a few spots for the whole 10miles.

Coming up at the end of April we have our first CTR! We are doing the ‘conditioning distance ride’ which is like the AERC Intro at only 12ish miles for some experience. It is close, and on a Sunday which allows soccer to still be attended and was just the right opportunity. After that, another fun camping weekend ride (likely arrive after soccer & only ride Sun again) a few hours away – then who knows for rides! Soccer ends the first weekend in June with a tournament, then school ends – which means graduations for both of them from 5th & 8th (😲) then a long weekend away family vacation to start out the summer.