My fitbit! 

The storm earlier as we drove home from quick errands at the hardware store.

I tried something new with her mane

Gwyn was an idiot and went running away from me. I noticed she sliced her heel bulb. It wasn't bad, I cleaned it up, but it's definitely from her awful looking feet. The farrier is coming out Thursday, which is the 8 week mark, but I think with summer and minimal riding we're going to need to bump that to a more frequent visit.

Either way, I booted her up with bell boots and splints for riding so in case she hit herself again, I wouldn't be looking at a lame horse. I lunged her briefly to see how she was moving (normally) and how her focus was (on me quite quickly)

Happy happy! I told Eric on Thursday that I needed to ride. I could feel my patience ebbing away from parenting. It's draining. I feel rejuvenated now! And bonus, I'll be off blood thinners soon!

We ventured out into the pasture and I did several trot sets up the hill. And noticed that the bottom line was down! Gonna need to order some electrobraid.

Overlooking our domain

The ride stats summary!

Back in the saddle!

I told Eric yesterday that I wanted to ride. He was home today because he's been taking every friday off to help give me a break adjusting to 2 kids at home. I had basically reached all regular indicators of healing after birth so I was ready to get back in the saddle, even if it was brief. My goal for May was to at least sit in the saddle and I definitely got that today!

Hazel has been napping somewhat consistently in the afternoon and for a long length so I was hoping that would continue today. It didn't but I didn't let it deter me! I got her asleep, put her down, and went to get my boots and half chaps on. I was already wearing my riding tights!

Gwyn was excited to see me. I brought both her and Saffron to the back pasture to minimize behavior issues and separation anxiety.

Hazel apparently woke up not long after I left. Putting her down can be a bit of a crapshoot, so Eric brought her out so I could breastfeed again. I sat on the hay feeding her in the barn while Eric helped Kaylee put on boots, because she suddenly wanted to ride. Gwyn got a good lesson in standing patiently in the cross ties.

Then I lunged.

She got away from me almost immediately and went wild. Hence the trailing lunge line. 

But damn, look at that trot! All four feet are suspended!

Once I caught her we did a lot of groundwork that I learned from Dani and Gwyn's brain fell back into place. We did lots of changes of direction and I made sure to control her feet. 

Kaylee had nice pats for Gwyn.

And then she rode!  0.27 miles

And then it was my turn! 

Lots of smiles!  We didn't do much, just walk/trot but I did 0.68 miles before deciding to be done. We'll ease back into things and get both of our fitnesses up. I'm much lighter than I was, which is awesome but definitely out of riding shape and not off the blood thinners yet. But I'll get there and it will be awesome when I do. 

Gwyn has frosty ear tips! They're blonde!

She got decently sweaty so I hosed her off and when I put them back out in the pasture, she had a good roll in the grass. 

Then I got dinner for everyone (no hay while they're on pasture)

It was a great evening! And Eric did wonderfully managing Hazel. When I came in, sweaty and covered in dirt, I told him I wanted him to go for a run. And every time I went riding, I wanted him to have time to go out and do something too. He looked surprised, but really grateful. I think we both deserve this time for ourselves.

Goal Revisiting: April

To recap:

April
Avoid going into labor during Distance Derby dinner
Introduce new baby to Gwyn

I did not go into labor during the DD dinner. In fact, I ended up missing it since we were dropping my mom off at the airport at the time. Alas. I did meet up with Heather (DD organizer) later to collect what I would have gotten at the dinner. In fact, I wasn't even close to labor, I ended up induced 8 days later. 

I did introduce the new baby to Gwyn in April! She was born on the 25th and I had a couple days left of the month to achieve the goal, lol

April 27, 2016

For this month, a reminder:

I think this is reasonable. I'm already pretty healed up and I think I could manage a short ride while Hazel naps if Eric is home to manage Kaylee. 

May
At least sit on Gwyn
Alt goal- teach second trick to Gwyn/teach to highline in prep for camping

0.11 miles for Kaylee and 0.15 miles for me!

Kaylee was in her princess gown and helped me groom.  It was a gorgeous day in the high 60s, felt like 70s F. With all the sun my pasture is finally drying up and the mud is going away!

Saffron was hanging out with us the whole time too

Kaylee chose to ride first. Gwyn was perfect. I haven't done anything with her (bad bad me!) since the beginning of February and she was calm as could be despite the garbage truck coming to empty the dumpster and some deer running in the woods!  She's become so levelheaded! That or she was super sleepy in the sun, LOL

We are always safe!

Hugs for a good girl

I rode around by myself a bit then hopped off when the garbage truck came by. No sense being too dangerous given my due date is in 2 days. When I went to get back on, Kaylee INSISTED that she lead Gwyn around while I rode.  It was adorable.

It was also really good practice to follow a random path by a nearly 4 year old around the arena at a very slow pace. And by golly, when Kaylee started running, Gwyn picked up the pace to keep up with her! Good girl!

Having a snuggle with Saffron while my mom looks on.

When I first got on Gwyn, she twisted around to look at me, like "Mom? Really? We get to do this? FINALLY!!!"   I think she missed it.

Soon enough, Goober, we'll be back riding more.

39 weeks 5 days pregnant with my princesses! Kaylee found some feathers from an unfortunate victim. But it's a pretty cool collection of feathers from a bird of prey!

So funny story. I told my Mom yesterday that I was going to ride today. She immediately was worried.  "What if Gwyn bucks you off!?"

"Omg, MOM. She will not do that."
Skip to today and we're standing around while my Mom took these pictures and suddenly she goes, "Oh my goodness, Amy, she's falling asleep!"
"And you were worried she was going to buck me off."
Pfft. I know my horse. And I'm REALLY going to enjoy exasperating my doctors when they ask if I've ridden and I'm honest. HAHAHAHAH!