Fun Day

I've been riding the pants off my horses. I don't know about them, but I need a break. In the last six days, I've schooled Izzy twice a day for four days in the arena, trailered out for a trail ride, and trailered five hours round trip for a lesson. And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I managed to ride Speedy G four times!

So today, no one is being ridden, and I am NOT putting on a pair of breeches. I'll go to the barn of course, but I am wearing shorts. And instead of yet another lengthy write up about schooling something hard, here are some pictures of Izzy enjoying a play day in the neighbor's turn out.

Super relaxed.

For whatever reason, Izzy doesn't want to play in my arena, so I asked the neighbor if I could bring him over to her place on Saturday.  She has just finished building a really unique arena. She started with a large space that was used as a dry lot pasture. In the center, she built an actual arena, now filled with lovely jumps. Around the edges of the new arena are two turn out fields that go around the riding arena. This is a very creative system because two horses can be turned out on the outside, while someone can still ride in the inside.

Not to scale.

Laurel had Austin on the left side, so we thought Izzy might be calmer with a friend that he could see. Turns out, he thought her place was Heaven. He didn't care where Austin went. He did enjoy chatting with him at the gate, but when Austin wandered off, Izzy spent his time digging through the manure pile and running a few laps.

And then he rolled in it!

Both Laurel and I were shocked at how happy he was in a new turn out. He's been over to her barn a few times so that I could use the clippers (she has electricity, we don't), but I'd never turned him out before. He acted like he'd been there day in and day out. Maybe these frequent field trips are starting to pay off.

Having a gallop just for fun.

From the moment I turned him out, Izzy was calm and relaxed. He never once whinnied or called to Speedy G, who was screaming his ever lovin' head off. Instead, he gave a few playful woo-hoos and then just enjoyed the heck out of digging and playing.

Not a collected canter, but it's uphill!

There he goes!

Laurel has given me permission to turn him out whenever I'd like. She even encouraged me to use the arena if I need another "new" place to take him. He's definitely going to be spending a day here and there turned out at her place. I wouldn't want him to miss out on all the fun!