Riding Gypsy

Rode Gypsy today....its been awhile I think. I've been lazy, I hate going out when it is so freezing and cold. But this morning I went and got her all prettied up and rode her outside in the "snow". It was melting and hardly there, and by the time I was done riding, the snow was 100% gone. But Gypsy was actually really good. I need to find a place to trail ride her or something, because its not too interesting just wandering around the small yard. Didn't take her down Beasley road because her feet were a little tender on the asphalt....she got trimmed a few days ago. But I did take her in the arena afterwards and trotted around- she was pretty good, suprisingly. I just gave her tons of rein and didn't pick on her at all about her face. It does wonders.

It felt pretty good to get out and ride a little, and do some work in the barn. I don't know why I don't do it more often. It is hard to get motivation to get off the couch and out of the warm house.

Also rode Paint last week, or whenever it was. He was his normal self. Nothing exciting or spectacular about him, but no terrible funny business either. The farrier also did his feet too. It was sad news, and made me feel bad for him. The farrier thinks Paint is getting ringbone. You can already see and feel hard growth all around his lower right front. His feet grow so funny, all toe and no heel. Farrier said there is really nothing you can do about it, all the good trimming in the world will only delay and slow it down, but the natural way his hoof grows will bring it on in time either way. All the years Paint had bad feet care only sped it along a little. Paint isn't lame at all at this point, but Farrier thinks it will only be time. Maybe in five years Paint will be so lame there won't be any helping it anymore. Ringbone isn't like old Sammy's navicular was, you can't trim and shoe and keep it at bay. There's no treatment or help for ringbone, only lots of bute...something I'm more than sure won't be an option for him once he returns back to eastern Oregon. Which, is now on the table. I don't know how long Paint will still be here, but I suppose I'll just ride him now and then and keep him exercised until he goes.