Bratty Chrome Goes for a Walk

I cut myself out of most of the pictures because I look awful.  I haven't felt well and I was in comfy clothes and looked icky lol.  Chrome, Jackal, hubby and I went for a really short walk this evening after hubby got home from work.  Chrome was a brat!!  As we were walking up the driveway he was lagging behind me (and I wasn't paying attention). When he spotted the horses across the street he sped up (still walked, but a fast walk) and almost stepped on me as he tried to barge past.  I went ballistic and made him back down the driveway.  Once he was keeping his distance we went out onto the road.

Once out on the road he flipped his tail, put his head in the clouds and started blowing really loud because there is a new horse (the dun mare's lease ended and she left so neighbor girl brought her flea-bitten gray QH to the property and Chrome hadn't seen him yet) there.  The above pictures were after he calmed down because I scolded him.  I made him yield his haunches, whoa, lower his head and back up for several minutes, mixing it up so he couldn't predict what I was going to do next.  When he would walk with his head moderately relaxed and not looking at the horses I praised him.  When he veered into me, turned his head into me, flipped his tail or started staring at them I started the yielding, whoa, lowering head and backing again.  Eventually he chilled out and walked calmly, even lowering his nose to the pavement at times.

 Haha Jackal is shaking off.

 I look like crap, but this is too cute not to share.  

Chrome is looking forward at the horses on the way back home 

and Jackal has his ears back listening to the dogs behind us and whining lol.

Naughty boys!!

Once we were back at the house Chrome refused to walk through this tiny puddle...... What the heck horse??  I was persistent and patient and he eventually walked through it.  Dork.

The sunset was gorgeous!

I'm going to start taking Chrome for walks as often as possible again because he needs exposure.  He's such a dork that has forgotten everything he ever knew about being on the roads.  So annoying.  I still love him though.  :)

Rolex Recap II - I got to ride a racehorse!!

 Back when we made our plans for the trip we decided to book the campsite for Sunday night too so that we could explore Kentucky on Sunday (we only had tickets for cross country day) and drive back on Monday.  We were worried we wouldn't be able to keep our room Sunday night, but we got lucky and they extended it for us!  Yay!  It's a good thing too because it was still COLD on Sunday.

We had plans for Sunday afternoon, but nothing urgent to do in the morning so we slept in.  Okay, hubby slept in.  I was too wired to sleep.  I think I got up at 4 or 5 am every day of the trip and I am NOT a morning person so that was very unusual for me.  It was all just so exciting!!

So we went exploring...

Lexington is so gorgeous (the side we were on anyway... I didn't realize until the last day that I had only seen a tiny portion of the downtown part of Lexington... I'm such a small town country girl haha).  We decided to check out the UK Arboretum to kill time until our scheduled plans that afternoon.  It was freezing cold, but so pretty!

There were benches all throughout the Arboretum to rest on (didn't need them, but they were so pretty).  People were even having wedding photos done, but we stayed out of their way.

 Interesting art.

 One of my favorites!!  

Cardinals are normally so hard to photograph because they are hang out in such thick brush and trees (at home anyway), but this guy was posing for me.  So pretty!  I also did lots of macro pictures!! Don't worry I'll only share a few hehe.

 The water droplets were so fun.

 This is my favorite flower picture!

Does this make anyone else think of the movie Troll in Central Park?

Hubby doesn't like to smile for the camera lol.

Look at all the blossoms!

 This rock wall was awesome!

 Sorry for all of the not horse related pictures!  It was all part of the trip though.  :)

 First parking meter I've ever used.

Then we visited the Thoroughbred park.

 I got my picture taken with this adorable foal.

 There was a race going on while we were there!

 I got to ride one of the racehorses!! 

I let the jockey steer!

We totally won!!!!  :D

 We watched the foals play too.

Yes I have a vivid imagination LOL!  Also forewarning anyone who wants to participate in a race, those horses are TALL and dropping down to the bricks below when it's cold outside hurts!  Just to let you know haha.  It was so worth it though.  :D

Sorry it's taking me so long to get photos done.  We've had rain for days and looks like there will be more for another week or so... so no riding, but maybe I'll be able to get more pictures done... as soon as I kick this dang sinus infection.  I hope you enjoyed the photos.  Sunday is a to be continued... sorry!  :D

Ride 108 - New Saddle Pad

 Disclaimer:  I am not wearing my helmet... I went out to try two new saddle pads on Chrome with no intention of riding.  Then I decided to ride and forgot I wasn't wearing a helmet until afterward.  Sorry!!!

Okay I found two saddle pads on sale and got two different kinds because the fleece saddle pad I've been using is built for a more forward flap so it wrinkles if I'm not really careful.  I got a pad that is shaped for Aussie saddles and a square pad.  Let me know which one you guys like better.  They are both wool so they are great for absorbing sweat.

You might have to click to enlarge the pictures.  I forgot to get pictures without me on him.

This is the one built for the Aussie saddle.  I think I need to adjust it a little because the flap isn't matching up with the pad perfectly, but I think that was me more that it.

Here is the square pad.  Please ignore my horrible farmer's tan.  Was not planning on riding or getting my picture taken lol.  Hubby caught us both with our eyes closed.  Chrome was bored and falling asleep lol.

I rode him around in both to see how he moved with them.

 At the trot he was great...

 I finally got pictures of him crowhopping.  Reins were too long!

Also notice how his hind legs are together?

... at the canter he was crowhopping.  I was so disappointed thinking it's because he hated the pads, but he was the same in his normal pad, he was short striding in the canter, he could only hold the canter a few strides and his stifle gave out twice so I'm pretty sure the crowhopping is because I haven't been riding and his stifles are weak.  He was throwing himself into the trot too which he only does when his stifles are acting up.  So it's back to some long, slow trail rides to build him back up before I do anymore cantering.  He just can't have breaks without exercise...

Oh and I forgot to mention when I dewormed him last weekend he weighed 1300lbs!!!!!  Holy crap I knew he was fat right now, but I didn't realize it was that bad!!  He's also out about four holes on his girth.  Yeah he HAS to start getting some exercise!.

Anyway I'm sorry again for not having a helmet on.  Let me know which pad you like better.  I'm going to try them both out some more for longer rides and try cantering again once he's strengthened his stifles up.  I couldn't tell anything from his sweat marks because it was only a twenty minute ride and he didn't sweat much.