First real rides of the spring--horseback riding season is here

[Ottakee]

Today it was 50 and sunny so we got to ride for the first time this year. My girls on their new horse BJ and me on my new horse Spy.

BJ is a 26 year old 15.3hh quarterhorse that was used for therapeutic riding and is now my girls personal therapeutic riding horse. Spy is a 15 year old 15hh quarter horse. We got Spy about 4 weeks ago and BJ 1 1/2 weeks ago.

Besides wanting to give him time to settle in, it has been too icy to ride much.

See www.xanga.com/ottakee for pictures and more of the story.

[Remudamom]

I'm on my way over to see you now!

[Soph the vet]

Jealous, jealous, jealous am I. No horse. No ride. No farm. Stuck in suburbia. :crying:

[Ottakee]

Well, 1 1/2 years ago I would have NEVER guessed I would be owning horses and doing all of the chores I do. It has been a lot of fun for me and the girls. Dh and ds like the dirt bikes better.

I have even been to the store with my muck boots on----and "muck" on my clothes.

[amy g.]

That looks like so much fun!

[Elisabeth in IL]

Looks like a lot of fun for your and your daughters!

[Ottakee]

It has been wonderful for the girls. My 12dd started therapeutic riding on her 3rd birthday. She did that for a few years and then rode with friends of ours--just lead line. Then about 1 1/2 years ago we bought them a pony. He was great on the ground but stubborn under saddle and too much for them. We sold him in the fall. Then for the fall and winter we leased a 17 year old Paint mare for the girls. Now that she had to go back to her home for 4H, we needed something else for them.

BJ is BIG and OLD but about as bombproof as they come. He is a gentle giant. Given his age, he has seen and done just about everything so not much fazes him at all. We just need to build up his weight and muscle tone.

I need to build up my confidence on my new horse. He seems very safe but after coming off my last one 5 times--the last 2 as bucks, I am more cautious.

We hope for a nice long summer of horseback riding.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

Today it was 50 and sunny so we got to ride for the first time this year. My girls on their new horse BJ and me on my new horse Spy.

BJ is a 26 year old 15.3hh quarterhorse that was used for therapeutic riding and is now my girls personal therapeutic riding horse. Spy is a 15 year old 15hh quarter horse. We got Spy about 4 weeks ago and BJ 1 1/2 weeks ago.

Besides wanting to give him time to settle in, it has been too icy to ride much.

See www.xanga.com/ottakee for pictures and more of the story.

Beware the Rides of March!

(I'm sorry. It begged to be typed. And I'm an easy mark for begging.)

[Anne/Ankara]

We've been riding for about 4 years now. It's great fun! Our stable is less than a mile from our house. I think you're right-- it's time to head up for a spring time ride! Finally we've gotten some warm weather, and our latest March snow is finally melting away. The birds are singing, the crocuses are coming up-- spring is in the air!

[Ottakee]

How often do you see your horses?

We board with a friend of mine and we generally see them 6 days a week. We generally go in the afternoons and are there for afternoon feeding and chores and then riding time. When it is really hot, we will go early morning or later in the evening to ride.