Today we ventured to the outdoor arena, and I rode Serena for quite a while. P.K. rode a flea bitten gray Arabian gelding named Clipper, so our horses kind of 'matched.' I worked on Serena's walk and trot, but we haven't advanced to canter yet. She also needs work on going in a straight direction instead of this way and that way, etc. I can really tell that this mare has not had any real formal training, at least not any real quality training. Much more work still to be done . . .

Serena had her second trim by the farrier today. She was a very good girl!

Back in the saddle again

Well today was the day for ride #2. Before I got on her, P.K. ponyed her from another horse. She wanted to work on her giving to pressure and to get an idea of how she would do when I got on her. Serena was definitely more relaxed than ride #1. She did well when I mounted her, but she really didn't want to move. I got her to take a few steps and then decided to end on a good note.

After completing our ground school exercises with Serena today, I decided to wash her mane again. She had gotten something dark and 'gooey' in it, plus I was trying to get it a little whiter. After I turned her loose, you can guess what she did almost immediately - roll in the dirt!

We did our ground exercises today in the outdoor arena. Serena did very well, and after we got through I had her go over come cavalletti (small/low jumps). I don't think jumping is in her future, but it was good foot work for her.

A visit by the dentist

Today's 'fun' was having Serena's teeth 'done' by an equine dentist. This is much more involved than having a vet just float them. She did pretty well considering; he did have to give her a little more 'happy juice' when she got restless. The dentist did confirm her age as being about 16 to 18, with 18 being more likely.

Seeing double?

Today I worked not one gray horse, but two. The other one in the pictures is Promise. She is a thoroughbred that is also boarded at Hillside Stables (www.hillsidestables.com). From a distance she looks a lot like Serena. Sometimes when I walk out to the pasture, I have trouble distinguishing which one is which. After working both grays (to save time P.K. and I worked them at the same time), P.K. worked a client's Friesian stallion, Batman. He is more than a handful, but oh is he handsome!