Monday, February 9, 2009

Moon Ride

I am on a mission. I need to get Mr. Tubby McFatNeck down to an appropriate size before the real conditioning season begins. This involves some complicated horse shuffling to make sure the old TB mare gets as much hay as she can eat, while Tubs is limited to, what he believes is, a pitiful amount.

I also tacked him up and went for a moonlight ride. Well, I also had a headlamp, and I am glad I did. Last weekend, on my solo trip through the woods, I noticed all the animal tracks along my property. It was like Grand Central Station: deer, rabbit, coyote, fox, and maybe cat. Tonight, illuminated in my headlamp, were literally dozens of shiny, iridescent eyes staring back at me as we rode along.

I was a little creeped out, but Brego was solid, like it was the most normal thing in the world to go for a trail ride after dark, in deep snow, followed by critters. He is so brave-o.

We're just walking for now, but we'll be packing down the trail for trotting in about a week. Any exercise is good exercise at this point, as long as it's easy on the joints. Poor McFattens.