Summer High

There's something in the air
Go ahead let down your hair
Cause right now we got no cares
Find your summer
Find your summer high
Can you feel it in the breeze
Yeah it's taking over me
Light it up like TNT
Find your summer
Find your summer high

~Chantelle Page~

A couple weekends ago I had planned to go to Stacie and Karen's to ride and hang out. Those plans ended up being cancelled so we could get the hay.

I was very happy to find out that both Stacie and Karen were willing to let us invade this weekend. I ended up leaving early because there were heat warnings for both days. The trailer ride was uneventful. Carmen unloaded, looked around and shrugged. I turned her into the large round pen while I got her room ready.

clearly at home

I normally would want to let her chill for a couple hours but the heat was rising so I started getting her ready in about 30 minutes. This was so good for us, I need to stop trying to be so careful. Certainly when I go to Coveside to hack out I don't hang out for long.

We rode in the outside ring. Given that Carmen has been a bit, ahem, dramatic lately I was a little concerned given that there is no fence around the ring. But she was really good. We were not brilliant but we stayed in the ring and didn't melt so I counted that a win.

wide open fields to the river. What could go wrong? 

Karen rode with me and after a short ride we rode down the field and trotted back up the hill. After that I put her in the cool barn and let her relax in her stall for the afternoon. The barn in built into the hill so it stays nice and cool compared to outside. There's also a huge fan that blows down the aisle and feels great. I actually took my shirt off and stood in the breeze. 

Stacie has a new puppy- a Great Pyranese so I played with him while Karen did some chores. 

so fluffy, so adorable. I wanted to steal him

how can you resist? you cannot. 

Karen, Stacie and I went to the nearest town where we sat out on the deck of a pub and had a delicious lunch. Followed by a trip to a tack store and then by a stop at Dairy Queen for ice cream. 

We came back to the barn and while Karen and Stacie went to war on an invasion of bindweed I rode Lucera. I've ridden her before and really like her. Her owner is battling cancer and so she's been laid off for about 2 years. She is just starting to feel better and would like to ride her again so Karen is working on getting her back into shape. 

When I first got the tack out Carmen looked offended that I would even think of riding another horse. Then when I got Lucera out, tacked her up and went out to the ring Carmen went between looking like 'I don't care *sniff*' to how DARE YOU. 

we are not amused

Lucera has the cutest ears

After all this horsing around, Jim (Karen's husband) had made a feast for all of us. 

It was amazing. 

After a day of ponies, friends and food I collapsed into bed  and barely moved all night. 

The next morning I had a lesson with Karen that was fantastic. She does such a good job of helping me feel what I need to to get Carmen to carry herself correctly. We actually had a honest-to-god lengthen trot just from my seat. It felt so good I laughed out loud. 

Karen rode Carmen after, just to feel her out. Carmen thought she was done and pulled some of her stunts, including the stop, spin, try to bolt maneuver. Karen was having none of it and I watched a battle of wills play out which was fascinating. I have more respect for my seat after seeing how fast Carmen can move. In the end Carmen was soft as butter. Also completely sopping. I hosed her off in the wash bay and threw her outside to chill while I cleaned out her stall and then helped Karen with her ride. It's helpful to have eyes on the ground and it was fun to do. 

After that I loaded Carmen up and headed home. The temperature was 34 and I was a bit worried about her in the trailer. However, she walked off a bit warm but not hot or sweaty. I do love my Exiss.  

It was such a fun weekend and just what I needed to refill my cup and keep me excited with the work.  Thanks guys!