Settling In

Yesterday's weather gave us a break, and except for the mud everything else was welcome!  It was mild, sunny, no bugs.
Mezza is adjusting to her neighbors, a gaited pony and an Appy. I had pulled her blanket in the morning, and she'd taken full advantage of the mud and sun. So, we did some grooming. The below pics are before, but I must say I didn't get all of it!

Mezza has decided the hay belongs on the ground, not in the feeder...

Today, when I arrived in the afternoon, Mezza was happy to see me, and waited while I groomed Scout, my Mustang, and handgrazed him. I introduced them across the fence. No squealing or antics, Mezza was more interested in him than he in her, as he was all about grazing. When I finished with him, she politely waited for me to groom her, and then we went for a short graze and short walk, followed by grain/supplement and ending with putting fly repellant in her ears and a fly mask on. 

Mezza (center) with Kirk, left, and Sugar, right.

Leasing Mezza for the Summer!

Mezza and I get the summer together!

Dawn trailered Mezza down today. Mezza just had her 6th birthday on April 20th--so hard to believe!
I am so excited to be able to ride Mezza this spring and summer! Our big goal is to get out on the trails.

from left to right: Mezza, Megan Steele, Lindsay Steele, Dawn Dooley

We started on this goal (among several) last fall at a clinic, and then at the equestrian center.
Last August I had the opportunity to take Mezza to a clinic in Platteville, CO that Kristi Plutt hosted for Joe Wolter. We worked on several things--not being attached/spooky at any part of the arena (this included getting rid of wanting to be near the gate, being happy to hang out down near the banner attached at the far end of the arena with the cattle on the other side) and loping and trotting in a relaxed manner all over the arena.
The next step was an introduction to grouping the cattle together and holding the herd, then moving through the herd, then finally separating out a heifer and moving it. Mezza decided she likes that quite well! At the end of all that we rode out of the arena, and Mezza and I were stationed so that when the cattle were moved back to their home corral they would turn at the correct place. It all went well. : )
Since that clinic, I've only ridden Mezza 2 or 3 times, one of which included around the perimeter of the equestrian center. For the past few months Megan has been riding her in an arena to keep her fit. (Thank you Megan!) Now we get the chance to again work on getting out of the arena.

Tod