LaunchesKayaks

I got so much dirt and dust and hair in my sinuses. I spent a good hour brushing her and I didn't even come close to getting everything off. The deeper layers haven't even started to shed yet.

I tried to put her bridle on with her new bit, but she threw the biggest fit. I gotta work with her with it so she understands what she's supposed to do with it. The bit I got for her looks very different than what she's used to, so I understand her being confused by that part and her confusion is okay.

What wasn't okay was her trying to bite me three times while I was trying to put the reins over her head. The reins are also new and are split reins and each side has lil leather bits on the end. I think she was beaten with something similar in the past based on her immediate aggression. It was very unlike her. So it's going to take some training to get her used to the reins. I did get them over her head without trouble eventually, but I had to really prove they weren't gonna hurt her.

I decided to call the session there to end on a good note but then she decided to just rush forward on the way to her stall and pulled the lead from my hand in the process. So it wasn't the best ending, but it was better than it could have been.

I think that next time I go to work with her with the bridle and reins (hopefully on Sunday), I'll exercise her a little first to get excess energy out and save the grooming for last. I honestly should have done that today, but I got ahead of myself because the new bit and reins are exciting. Lesson learned on my part. Sandy didn't seem upset or anything after we ended training and she nudged me affectionately in her stall when I said bye, so she was over it all by the time I got everything cleaned up.

I also learned that apparently horses go crazy for fruit roll ups and that a common way to teach a horse that bits are okay is to put lil strips of fruit roll ups around the bit. So I got some fruit roll ups on my way home lol. I was gonna get molasses or honey to paint on the bit, but then compared the sugar content to fruit roll ups and decided the roll ups were better because they have way less sugar.

I'll update y'all after our next training session. Hopefully it goes better than this one did. :)

I showed her the bridle before I was gonna put it on her and she understood the assignment and tried to put it on herself. She put the bit in her mouth and tried to force her head into the rest but it was not in the proper position. When I fixed it, she gave me no issues putting it on and stood like an angel while I adjusted it.

I am aware the one rein is in the wrong position lol. I wasn't doing anything with her other than try the bridle on, so I left it where it was and fixed it after we were done lol.

I'm gonna get a better bit and prettier reins on Saturday. I'm gonna get her a bit that has a lil roller on it so she can play with it and keep her mouth busy so she doesn't get bored.

Sorry for the lack of Sandy pics! I was super sick and then my cat caught my house on fire. My house and critters are fine. The fire was localized to the kitchen and was put out quick by the FD. It's just been a mess to get handled.

According to the weight tape, Sandy is around ~890 lbs. She GAINED weight over the last part of winter and she actually has a topline now! She will be getting her spring vet check on the 30th. That will be the day when I can ask the vet if she's fit enough to ride.

In prep for potential riding, I splurged and got a fancy bareback pad and I'm going to get a new bit and reins for the bridle I'm cleaning up to use. Even if she isn't cleared for riding, I'll still tack her up to do exercises to keep her stimulated.

Lots of treats and grooming. :)

I switched her blanket from her medium weight to light weight since the next few days are gonna be nice but the nights will be cold. I'm so happy with how much of a winter coat she got! It's gonna be so much fun to brush out!

She's also still maintaining a good weight!

She got an apple today, too. My little sister gave me a bag of apples she didn't want and told me that she wanted me to give them to the horses. I don't like raw apples most of the time, so I took them to the barn to share.

I'm going on my first trail ride of 2026. My instructor's fiancee won't be around that day, so she's taking me, her friend, and one of her younger students on a trail ride.

We intend to be out for 2 hours, but may make the ride longer if we collectively want to lol. I'll be riding the horse named Ginger and I'm stoked. She's so fun to ride and is so pretty.

Gotta pour one out for the homie.

He was an incredible lesson horse and took care of his riders. He was gentle and sweet and patient. He took me on my first trail ride in 12 years last year and was such a trooper, even when I fell off of him. He just stood there and waited for me to get back on.

Rip Buddy.

🫗

After she decided to give me problems putting her halter on. She decided to escape her stall and take a jog around the barn and hold her head too high for me to reach. I wouldn't have been too upset about it normally, but I'd already been there for 2 hours and it was like 30F, so I was cooooold.

She also pretended to be eating her dinner when I went to get her because she knows that I don't bother her when she's eating. The thing is, she'd been done with her dinner for over an hour when I went to put her halter on.

It's good she's feeling good enough to give me the literal runaround, though lol.

I walked into her stall with my parka hood up and she almost kicked my ass. I took my hood off and she calmed immediately and made a happy noise at me.

A good reminder that horses are unpredictable no matter how well you know them or how much training you put into them. The weirdest shit can set them off.

We're supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow between tomorrow afternoon and Sunday, so I went to make sure Sandy's blanket was okay and that she has enough of her supplements to last until I'm not snowed in.