One week down

So, I’ve had a horse at home for exactly one week...and I’ve been worrying and being my anxious self all week.  Lol 

The first four days he was here, I was out in the pasture every 15 minutes checking on him.  I think after the first few visits, he was getting a little annoyed.  I’ve noticed that he has a “what do you want now?” look that often results in a big sigh when he realizes I just want to pet him or put on more fly spray.

what now?

I’ve also decided that I’m going to give him another barn name.  Spinner just isn’t working out for me – it reminds me of the thing I disliked the most about Dolly – her spinning and balking out on the trail. It would be a great name for a reiner maybe, but I’m just not liking it. The previous owner told me she renamed him Spinner, because his original name is Scooter – which is almost as bad!  I think I’m going to go with Spencer for now, as it sounds similar enough to his other names.  I call him Buddy most of the time when I’m chattering away, so I don’t think it matters too much in the end!

I’ve been out for 4 rides so far and he has been pretty good.  He is a bit looky, but doesn’t put a foot wrong, so I can’t fault that. I’m also having some minor saddle fit issues, since he is a bit high-withered.  I’ll have to post more about that later, as I’m just getting started on searching out my options for something that will work.

I’m also slightly concerned that he will founder on all my nice grass – which is a problem I’m not used to. No boarding stable I have been at in 5 years has had enough grass to be concerned about.  He had been out on pasture for 2 weeks before I bought him, so that helps, but the previous owners felt that my grass was better than theirs.  The first 4 days he was here, I would rotate him between the pasture, his stall and the riding ring every 4 hours or so. The riding ring has grass, but I’ve kept it mowed really short, so there isn’t much there.  Now that I’m at work, he is out in his pasture all day and in the riding ring/stall in the evening and overnight.  That seems to be working out ok. In another few days, I’ll probably leave him out at night, as he prefers to be out. I’m guessing that grass this late in the summer doesn’t have the high sugar content that it does in the spring.

All in all, I think I made a good purchase this time around!  I’m looking forward to riding as much as possible this fall and getting my legs back in riding shape! I’ve been limping around with sore not-used-to-riding-again muscles this week...lol