Endurance Update

A few weeks ago I posted a list of goals for riding the horse...so consider this a follow-up on how that has been panning out.

Almost immediately after that post, I started working on the dressage part. I haven't ridden 'long distance' for quite a while, actually, but lunging the horse and riding for upwards of an hour every other day has been helping to build up her endurance. I'm not sure how far I go in an hour when going around in circles in the pasture...but she's always soaked in sweat by the end. We've been working on correct leads for the canter, and let's just say that she hasn't quite got it yet. -.-

Then a week ago she got what I thought was a scabby cut on her right heel. Because I wasn't sure what it was (rope burn, cut, infection, etc) I didn't ride her for several days. 

It turns out she has scratches (layman's term for a bacterial infection). So I was letting her rest for nothing, really, but I'm sure she appreciated the break. I've been treating it with black walnut and my comfrey salve, and it's clearing up very nicely.

But back to the endurance riding. XD

My brother and sister-in-law have been visiting for the past week, and my brother has been wanting a running partner. I don't run at all (read: I HATE to run), but had the brilliant idea yesterday of riding the horse with him, just to get out of the pasture. 

Yesterday we ran 3.5 miles, and today 5.5 miles. The hilarious part is that Colletta is raring to go for about the first 1/2-3/4 of the distance, and then she gets tired and blows and snorts and walks for a bit. Then after walking for a quarter mile or so, she's ready to run again. I'm not sure how many cycles of running/walking she could do, but for right now I'm very happy with how she's shaping up. ^-^

The first distance of 3.5 miles we covered in 50 minutes (we could have gone faster, but Isaac was running with the dog and ended up dragging said dog after said dog got tired. Sigh.), and today's 5.5 miles we covered in about an hour and 20 minutes. I'm not exactly sure how great that is for a time to distance ratio...but hey, as long as we make it and no one dies along the way we're doing good. I'll worry about time later.

I would also like to add that my brother is a beast, and could probably run the horse into the ground if he wanted to. O.o I feel like a bit of a wuss in comparison.

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In other news...I have some pictures of my nephew that I'll probably post in the next few days. And the picture challenge has been hovering over my head, but I just got another job and I can't promise that I'll be able to finish it. ^^; I know it's just a matter of sitting down and 'doing it', but there's school and work and horse riding and garden and GEH. I may have to compromise on quality in order to finish.

Thoughts on social issues and with a philosophical bent are still banging around in my head...I tried to sit down and write an essay/article kinda thing, but ended up looking at all the word-vomit on my screen and not knowing where in the world to start editing. Blargh. Maybe some other time.

In the meantime...I'm off to visit wif de family and may or may not be back in the next few days. XD