Good rides

Today I got to ride my two favorite horses in the whole wide world.  Bella hadn't been ridden since Easter.  She thought it was weird, but she was a good girl.  I didn't feel any lameness but I know it's there if we use her much. 

Then Liam rode her.  He loves her.  She loves him.  But she really thought it was weird carrying him on her back.  Kids are a whole different deal than adults are.  All squirmy and distracted.  She did well though, and so did he.  I didn't turn them loose together, just led them in circles.

This evening Joseph and I had an absolutely wonderful ride.  It started out like the rides we've had before, all starts and stops and squiggling this way and that.  But once I found my seat and relaxed and moved with him, we got going pretty well.  He would still stop in hopes of a treat sometimes, and he stopped if I lost my balance, but eventually we moved all the way around the round pen more than once in each direction.  I know that sounds dumb, but our rides before were a step here and a step there, all in a small space maybe a quarter of the size of the round pen.

I think he was relieved to find that it wasn't as hard as it seemed to be, and all we were trying to do was walk forward.  What a good boy.  He tries so hard.

I was looking at some photos of him in the BLM corrals in June of 2012, and his mane was jet black and shiny, but his body was lighter and duller.  Now it's the opposite - his body is darker and his coat is amazingly healthy, but he has those highlights in his mane.  I wonder if there's something I'm not providing him in his diet.  I don't mind his pretty highlights but I'd hate to think they're due to a nutritional deficiency.  He is on a supplement but I have to admit I haven't been very good about giving it to him all the time.  I've been better about it lately.  I'll keep on it and see what happens.

I think I might just ride him in a saddle tomorrow.  :D