This message is from: "Pasqual, Patricia A" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
This has been such a peculiar summer, and not just the weather although it looks like it is making the record books as one of the coldest summers ever. For me it has been more of the over-committedness: visitors constantly, hosting foreign families/soccer players, a revolving door of trips for various family members. Finally the end of summer weekend and we have blissfully nothing planned. Elph has rebounded from his anemia with the help of a pelleted complete feed and red cell. Poor guy, everyone else gets pasture during the day and he has to wait for me to hand graze him, even an hour of grazing is too much. We have been doing more pleasure driving than anything, although I always end with fifteen minutes in the arena, working on bending, circles, figure 8's. My husband and I recently took him to the Gateway Trail, a state trail pretty close to where I board. A dual trail, one for horses, one for everything else imaginable (roller bladers, walkers, bikes) run parallel for 9 miles. I don't think they see too many horses with carts on that trail, but it sure is perfect for it. Elph did so well, it was a crowded Sunday morning, with ducks flying off the pond, beefalo type cattle lounging by the fence, and all the traffic on the trail. I was very proud of how ho hum he was about it all. I am hoping that next year we will be ready for some of the smaller shows, and maybe even Blue Earth. A friend came out to ride him last night - I have been sidelined from riding for the past year for medical reasons - and they did so well together that I have visions of her doing the riding classes, and me doing the driving classes. This year the show hit at the same time we were hosting three Mexican boys for a soccer tournament - it just wasn't doable. I enjoyed hearing about it from all of you, it sounds like it gets bigger and better every year. I have an OrthFlex saddle, and it usually needs tightening once a person gets one it, so slipping can be a hazard. If you are light and quick when mounting, not a problem, otherwise having someone on the off side is helpful. Tish and Elph in Minneapolis Hey, summer's finally here!
