Slowing Down

So here we are in the midst of the EHV virus, our barn has a self-imposed quarantine which means no one trailers their horses in or out until our barn owner gives the o.k.
  This is not unusual as it seems many facilities and organizations are canceling or closing use.
My Mt.Adams ride was canceled by my own decision. The Flying M Ranch Poker ride was canceled-the ranch itself has decided to close it's grounds.  The Klickitat trek ride is canceled because the ride camp is based at property owned by a rodeo association that doesn't want horses on the property right now.
  So there are three of my big weekends ...
I was really bummed about it because I bought a wonderful trailer earlier this spring and my horse has been in it exactly ONCE!
I planned, packed and saved to do these events.
  But here is the good part.....
I've slowed down. I'm riding now and just enjoying the experience, I don't have to trot for a certain amount of time nor do I need to keep track of heart rate. Instead of counting the number of minutes or loops I do I'm noticing how many shades of green a 40 acre of hay has in it. I see the hawks, herons, coyotes and deer. I'm not scaring them either because I'm moving slow not racing through their space.
  I'm focusing on my arena time and seeing it as what is needed right now for my own development as well as for my horse.
 I'm happy that no one I know has a horse affected by the virus and if it means staying put for a few weeks then  so be it.
 

Trail Ride

Horse owners are all buzzing about the EHV virus, some reports say there is very little risk of contracting it and other reports are a little more scary with facilities closing travel and canceling events. I think I made the right choice in staying home.

So when I got a call this morning asking if I wanted to join in on a local island ride I said I'd love to.  It was a nice way to spend a Saturday.
  Just a word of warning- do not try to identify plants by sniffing from the back of an antsy Arabian.  Some of us were curious about the identity of a tall plant along the trail....it was growing everywhere. I thought it looked like a member of the mint family. I picked a leaf,held it up to smell it and my dear Jango did a move,the leaf brushed up against my nose.
  It was stinging nettle.

EHV-1

I finished packing my trailer, organized my camping equipment, aired out the sleeping bag even gave Jango a bath, but sadly have decided to cancel my ride to Mt.Adams due to the EHV outbreak.
  I'm reading reports from state vets throughout the PNW and it seems as if the exposed horses in Oregon have all been accounted for and quarantined but this ride is in Washington and I would be in contact with an unknown number of horses from various states. My local vet says the risk of contracting the disease is minimal-considering the discipline and setting but after much thought I decided to play it safe and stay home. Worst case scenario is that Jango got exposed and we bring it back to our barn....I don't want that on my conscience.
  Another beautiful day so I'll head out this morning unpack the trailer and do more conditioning!

Spring Grass

Jango's reward for a job well done in the arena.

Waiting for the Sun

  I'm preparing for my first 25 mile ride of the season regardless of the weather. Packing takes me a good week (off and on) .  When I read an article that mentioned the 2011 ride season was almost half over I thought- what??  It's been too dang wet and muddy to do any serious anything. So here goes. 25 miles at Mt.Adams,Washington.  I hear it is one of the prettiest rides in the PNW.