Yall have got to click over and look at these pictures of us. I'm not gonna imageleech them, you have to click to the photographer's site. I am definitely buying several of these. And framing them. I might get a digital copy of one and use it for my profile pic on every website known to man, too.
Picture 1 - I can ride!
Picture 2 - S's favorite of us.
Picture 3 - Look at that backdrop. I love this one.
Picture 4 - Or how about lake + mountain?
Picture 5 - She doesn't melt!
Picture 6 - I think this is my favorite of the group ones. Looks like so much possibility, like we're all going to ride off together and never come back to real life.
Meanwhile, in real life!
I communed with the couch all morning, then finally dragged myself up and took Dixie up the hill for our short hill workout. She wailed on that hill, too. It was overcast, windy, and about 50 (so perfect weather for a hairy beast).
I took Cersei, and my knees have been feeling creaky, so I didn't want to run. (I was experimenting with not taking glucosamine - I started taking it seriously about a year ago, and my knees/joints felt better, but then I've never stopped taking it so was I just imagining things? After a week off glucosamine, I can tell you that it definitely makes my joints feel better.)
Dixie went ballin' up that hill. Steady 7 mph trot/foxtrot, and she only slowed to a walk twice. On the less-steep bits headed out, she reluctantly trotted very steadily at 8 mph, and on the downhills coming home she zipped along at 9-10.
I know a lot of my current readers are not and will never be endurance riders, but there are a couple of yall who are considering it, and I suppose more wannabe e-riders will stumble upon my good idea in the years to come, so I try to give the mph info for those people. We started out two years ago barely able to trot 6 mph for 100 feet before Dixie would slam on the brakes, leap sideways, or spin and try to bolt. You can start from very unpromising beginnings and eventually get a steady 6.5 mph trip up and down a hill - it just takes a lot of miles.
Cersei has not yet puked water in the house. I am somewhat hopeful that she's going to keep it all inside her. Fingers crossed!
Oh, the pictures are gorgeous! I like the wide shot with the mountain, perfect for framing. But any of them are great!
ReplyDeleteYes, you and Dixie give me hope when my horse is horrible. We can do it, eventually!
We call that 'wet saddle blankets', and yes, I would so want to do at least some LD, just for the mileage; don't particularly care about speed, but I also tend to believe that with the miles, the speed will come. It's like coming up to speed in anything you do. Concentrate on the quality and the speed just comes along; teach the correct muscle memory and the muscles will eventually do the work. I'm spending this summer trying to learn to ride correctly again, 'cause MY muscle memory got tweaked very poorly with the bad hip joints, so.... THEY WILL LEARN! I love hearing about your learning process.
ReplyDeleteBionic Cowgirl
OK--photos 3 and 4 are my favorites, but they are ALL great. How cool to get such wonderful photos. They capture you and Dixie and that awesome landscape you ride through. What a delight. You will enjoy them always, I know.
ReplyDeleteI followed the link earlier on FB, really nice pics! :D
ReplyDeleteThat first pic, that's your profile pic! And my fav is the one with the lake & mountain backdrop.
Those pics are amazing! I don't know how you're going to pick between them. Better just get 'em all. I love that last group photo, though. Wish more photographers would do away shots like that.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose a favorite, I'd pick number three, but they're all fantastic! What a beautiful backdrop for pictures, and you and Dixie look amazing!
ReplyDeleteMy pick # 4- but all looks like you are just having a blast... great shots..
ReplyDelete#1 and #4 are my favorites and once I get digital copies of the photos from Red Barn Run they will becoming profile picks. I've got one where Rose looks amazing and you can just ignore my braced from recent spook form. Also with my handy GPS I've been able to track Rose's increasing speeds so I totally understand being excite about being able to move out. Rose spooks a whole lot less now and her working trot has gone from 4-6 miles per hour to 7-9. Big fun!
ReplyDeleteYou and Dixie look GREAT together ... and I think Dixie is a big ham for the camera. Looks like she was having a good time (as well as you).
ReplyDeleteBionic Cowgirl
I don't want to choose a favorite photo...what I really want is to come there and ride with you!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS photos!
ReplyDeleteAmazing pictures Funder. You and Dixie look GREAT!! (not to mention mother nature's contribution) I wouldn't be able to choose - hope you're getting them all. :)
ReplyDeleteLook at Dixie's ears! She is most definitely enjoying her job. You guys look fabulous and happy.
DeleteOh I'm so jealous of your wide open American spaces!!! Our Swiss rides are so...lame compared to yours!!!! You should definitely get the photos, they are all good. I want to come and ride in America again. But on my British saddle :)
ReplyDeleteYou guys look wonderful together :)
ReplyDelete