Meet Oliver, my first grandchild!
Pretty hard to top, huh! Won't try! Isn't he the best?
He was born Friday, November 6th at 11:47am , 8lbs 13oz, 21" long. They say there is nothing like being a grandparent, and they are right!
Starlette had some firsts, too. First time leading a trail ride! She was a little looky, but she's a watcher-mare and is supposed to be. The horses we were with didn't have the long stride that she has, so we ended up going first. She was so good, kept everyone safe, and I kept letting her know it! Her second first was leading everyone down a hill to a creek that people water their horses as...since she was lead mare, she went right down and put her feet into it (horses are not allowed to go through the creek as the bed is unstable). Then today, there was this huge series of large puddles...maybe 20 feet round or more...and I decided to just let her splash in one and then go around. She walked right up to it...and went through! It was over her knees deep, but she acted like she had done it many times before. Her last first was at the watering creek....she actually took a drink! That was a relief in itself as I don't like her not getting enough water on warm days on the trails.
And one for listening to your horse...we rode a lot today. There was even this 1 1/2 mile sand road we cantered/hand galloped on. I took advantage and asked Starlette for collected canter, regular canter, and fast canter/hand gallop. We turned off the trail, and Starlette started bucking, which of course, I stopped her from doing. She kept trying the rest of the ride. When we got back to the trailer, and after I tied her, she started bucking again..in series of two at a time. We all though it was because she was in heat. Got lots of suggestions, from raspberry leaves to marbles in the uterus. However, when I washed her down at home later, I found she was very ouchy in her rear muscles, and was trying to tell me that! She had gotten a really good workout, and was sore. She got some Absorbine on her back and rear, and some Devil's Claw in her food to help.
Did I say she's a great horse communicator if you listen?
If you would just stop and think about why I do something, you would understand me better!
