Ok, I fell behind my once a month update! There hasn’t been a ton going on, yet there has…

First off, I jumped right into finding a place to take lessons on Breeze memorial day weekend. We had a good first outing, and she saw a bit of the “up” that happens at times. As I suspected, he knows more than I do at this point, so I need to learn all the “cues” for the precision movements that will help bring his mind back to me. Unfortunately, the weather and our schedule hasn’t allowed me to return; Ideally I’d like to get to her at least 2x a month, and then work the things we learn on trail on longer rides.

The first weekend of June started with a bang – the girl’s Sunburn Tournament for soccer (Asher was not able to play in his). The girls fought hard, and came in 2nd place!

The remaining grand events for June included graduations, a mini-vacation, and Asher’s cast & pin removal! He lucked out at his post-op 2week appointment and they changed him from a split to a hard cast that was waterproof and he got to enjoy all the end of year celebrations and field day without worry. Asher’s 8th grade dance came up first, and then graduation ceremony the next week, where he received the Presidential Academic Award (3 years of straight A’s), the Presidential Physical Fitness award, and a French award, and the certificate for All Star Big Band (from a Jazz competition). The jazz band played in their last performance for the middle school at graduation too. He took pics with friends and teachers and then we grabbed lunch out together. The next day was Skyler’s 5th grade promotion ceremony. It was an emotional day for sure, with kids now splitting into different middle schools and leaving the teachers that helped them grow so much in their 6 years there! Skyler is excited, but anxious about middle school too.
Afterwards, we finished up packing and hit the road for a few days in Williamsburg. We trekked out to Jamestown Settlement (a 4th grade field trip that she missed due to covid restrictions) where we encountered a friendly squirrel, spent a day the beach, but mainly just hung out at the pool and arcade. It was a good little get away. Skyler then started her camps and getting ready for her first horse show!

We had another ride at Preddy Creek finally getting to ride with a few friends that we’d been trying to for months, but got chased out after 6miles of battling bugs. Skyler’s first horse show was a huge success – taking 5th in her first ever class (walk) and a 1st place in the 2nd class (walk & trot). Other than having to get up extremely early to get dressed and get there, she enjoyed it and plans to do more.

Asher had 2 week’s worth of extra chores between end of school and we he would leave for 3 weeks at his teen-camp at YMCA Camp Silver Beach. The house got some good cleaning! Just days before leaving he got the cast off and pins out. He has one more checkup later in July and then hopefully we are done with this wrist fun. He did however manage to jam a finger within 24hrs there, for which I received a call from the nurse, but it seems it was more about asking to clean up the scabs from being in the bay. We’ve since received a letter from Asher that all is well and his finger is good and he has managed the challenge course with his current hand/grip strength in recovery.

Breeze got a check up with True North Equine and Dr. Hancock for any internal or external adjustments needed. Since his summer coat has come in and all the winter crud is gone, I found a scar on his left hamstring that possibly had a muscle knot under for her to check, and the farrier and I have noticed him a little tougher on the left hind the week prior. I figured it was a good idea to get a once over to protect myself from heartache… I didn’t want to dive in too deep if there was something preventing us from being successful long term. Good news there is while he was a bit jammed up on his left side, and needed some internal adjusting for his S/I, he got an all clear to move forward – with a “very strong horse” comment lol. Later that same week he had dental visit (as did everyone else). She said thankfully he was not Amish floated while there, he was done without any sedation (but we may use it next time as he was over confident and bullish, not fearful) and she straightened out an odd spot in the back. Prophecy, other than his muzzle worn front teeth (an evil necessity), had the best mouth of the three with a slight customization needed to keep the front teeth from ending up painful. Scooby’s teeth are doing something interesting with hyper eruption as he ages, so she will keep an eye on it.

After all that during the week we got out for another ride on Saturday. It ended up just being the two of us, and Breeze was calm and collected, leading without much issue this time. Maybe he is just going to be a horse I can’t do large group rides with for a bit yet, which will make our endurance rides all about timing and when to leave outside the main group(s). We shall see! It is getting hot enough now I need to start thinking about how to elyte him & Scooby for longer rides. Scooby is not a great drinker away from home just using our normal salt routines, so have to figure out the right balance for him and not upset the gut either. I was hoping we’d get out again for the 4th, but the truck needs a new water pump before I can haul again. Hopefully I can get it in this week and do some more this coming weekend, I have a virtual Tevis to finish!