I need goals. Without them I sink into a malaise of boredom combined with a slightly depressive apathy. Then I start searching for some goal to create for myself. So far my recent horse goals have all been related to getting Paisano and Vinnie prepped to find new homes. That’s pretty open ended and a bit too vague for my taste. Besides, I don’t really want to find them new homes. That’s a sort of “must” goal, not a “want to” goal. Though it does still hang out there, I don’t think that I’ll be pursuing trying to make Paisano into a dressage pony, for instance.
After riding Paisano for two days at almost 10 miles/day this last weekend, I’ve been reconsidering my decision to do a fall Limited Distance AERC ride. We rode about 8-9 miles on Saturday with mostly flat trails through the woods, down the gravel forest service road and in a local park. Paisano loved trotting and cantering through the narrow wooded trails, up and down little rises. I hope that he had as much fun as I did! At the park, Paisano found his ‘big trot.’ It was great to know that he can enjoy moving out without breaking into a canter very often. That’s a new thing for him. I think that riding with a couple of mares was an incentive. Sunday, Romina and I traded saddles. I rode in her Trekker Endurance Pro and she used my FreeForm. We found that our stirrup lengths are the same, along with a lot of other horse related ideas. I look forward to riding together again.
I really liked the Trekker. It is a very well made saddle of high quality, durable leather and fully adjustable. Unlike most other treeless saddles that I have tried, it has full spinal clearance for the horse and a firm, solid seat for the rider. It’s definitely jumped to the top of my want list. Romina liked my FreeForm too, so it was a good test ride for both of us.
Paisano got sweaty, but not out of breath, except for the gallops and long, big trots. He is very game and will barge through brush, go off ahead of the the other horses, in the middle of the pack, at the end, whatever. It was great getting him around other horses and used to riding in close quarters.
The 25 mile ride at Foothills of the Cascades on October 17 will be my choice. I have 46 days to condition Paisano. I’ve been getting to the barn 3-4 times/week. I am going to try to make at least two of those on the trail, hopefully three. He’s doing well with EasyBoot Bares on the front, over trails that are a mix of pavement, gravel and dirt.
We are riding bitless in my FreeForm saddle. Now to start figuring out camping gear to keep me warm in October Oregon weather!
I’m pretty stiff and sore today, but doing more consistent trail riding should help me there too. And maybe, just maybe, I might loose a few pounds to bring us out of the heavyweight division. I’ll have to weigh my tack and gear tonight and get an idea on that.
So here I am … once again making plans for something that I really don’t have the time for, but will enjoy doing none the less.













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