winter riding indoor and clipping advice

[A S LONGFELLOW]

This message is from: "A S LONGFELLOW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

  I live in Minnesota.  I am working with a trainer who rides my fjord once a
week and then I take a lesson.  I also do a lot of trail riding.  The indoor
ring is heated and Bjorn is a pasture horse who is out 24/7.  I didn't believe
in blanketing until I realized that cooling down time would cut into the
amount of time and the type of work my instructor could do with him.  I
started by blanketing him in the fall to limit his winter hair growth .  Then
last winter I had him trace clipped.  That really helped with the cooling down
process.  I also use a fleece cooler after I ride.  It does an excellent job
of wicking the moisture away from the body.  When it's really cold and windy,
I use a wool quarter sheet for riding outside.  I also use it for warming up
in the indoor ring.  In the winter he's a fit fjord and cools down quickly.
Hope this helps.
  Ann Longfellow

llamas and fear of fjords

[A S LONGFELLOW]

This message is from: "A S LONGFELLOW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

I was trail riding my fjord Bjorn with a friend who was on her icelandic.  We
were commenting on what a great ride we were having when we encountered two
riders.  Their horses took one look and promptly spun around and took off
bucking, dumping both riders.  I guess they had never seen a horse with a
mohawk and one with an afro.  Thank goodness neither rider was hurt.  One
horse was a Tennessee walker and the other was a paint. Bjorn and Viska were
slightly surprised by the commotion but continued on quietly after we checked
on the riders.
Ann Longfellow