how do they know?

After riding we put Koda & Nemo back into the pasture with Cierra, and this promptly begins...

I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine

...Nemo wants no part of public displays of affection, he is much too dignified...

Nemo, pretending he is not watching

...if you interrupt a grooming session, you get looks like this...

excuse you

...they itch harder, and softer, in unison. Sometimes they move on to different itchy spots. When they are done scratching each other methodically, they look like this...

relaxing together

...but once in a while, when a guy gets reeeally itchy...

Nemo scratchin' on Koda

...they don't care who is watching, and initiate a scratching processional. On this particular day, Nemo started near the top of Koda's tail. I wanted to interrupt the grooming session. I would rather he not chop up the top of Koda's beautiful tail. However I knew as soon as I walked away, it would just start all over again. Who knows, maybe the top of Koda's tail itches? Eventually Nemo moved on to a new itchy Koda spot. The entire time, Koda was scratching Nemo's left hock. My hubby, our trainer & I just stood and watched, in wonder...how do they know where to scratch??

feeling alive

We committed to riding our horses two to three times a week. It could happen, right? It did. At least for the past couple weeks, and it's been rewarding! Especially the back-to-back weekend rides. There is something to be said for riding your horse on consecutive days.

Our trainer was off at the ABRA World Show, resulting in a quiet barn. We had unusually cool weather the last week in July. It felt like Fall. We wore extra layers and enjoyed the refreshing break from the melting heat.

We've been thoroughly enjoying the large outdoor arena, with the varied obstacles and room to lope. Getting Koda to take a left lead has been "work", the rest has been play. Sometimes we use each other as obstacles, which is fun. One of Brad's favorite things to do is track us. Not sure how much Koda likes playing "cow", until we outsmart them! Pretty sure our horses can maneuver the gate with their eyes closed.  We mix it up with trail poles, boxes, backward L's, side passes & turns - none of which will win any awards, but that's not why I ride. Among other reason's, I ride to feel alive. Why do you ride?

Koda & I

This past week brought opportunities to ride with different horses in the arena, and different obstacles. Cones had been set-up to practice speed events, we took full advantage of them. My biggest joy yesterday, was that Koda repeatedly took a left lead with ease!!

Brad & Nemo

My husband reminds me to stop focusing on trying to do everything right, and that includes horseback riding. Being in the present doesn't come easily to me. Neither does letting go. Sometimes I worry that I might ruin my horse, or that he should really be doing "fill in the blank" instead of just being my horse. I know I won't ruin him. Koda knows how to do everything mentioned just right, and more. He has been very patient, a great teacher. I remind myself to be present, observant, feeeeling my horse. Doing things right feels good, but doing things naturally feels better.

Cierra & Koda, scratchin'

Sunday Stills ~ Chains

For this weeks challenge I chose to shoot some ordinary, but very important, chains that secure our horse trailer:

Use this chain link to see other Sunday Still entries.

different summer

This has been a different summer for us, we have not been able to make it back out on the trail since our trip up north in June. Weeks flew past and we were unable to even find a window of time to visit our horses, let alone ride. Resulting in a lack of horse posts.

After our June trip, we decided to board Koda & Nemo at our trainers until we can figure out a new/modified living situation closer to home. Cierra remains in training, so our three horses spend their days turned out together, and evenings stalled next to each other. Altho we really miss having them at the home family farm, they are happy & relaxed and enjoying a regular routine.

Cierra, Koda, Nemo (L-R)

 
Our lives slowed down around the fourth of July, and we finally rode not once but twice that holiday weekend!! 
 

Brad & Nemo

We have since enjoyed weekly Sunday rides in the large outdoor arena. Just me & Koda, and Brad & Nemo ~ it's been absolutely wonderful!!
 

Riding Koda