Horse of a Different Color

Its slow going in rehab land. Cinder is feeling much better after her stifle injections, but we underestimated how much muscle and fitness she's lost being off since the end of April. We also forgot that we cut her grain while she was on stall rest and didn't up it once she was back in work, so she lost a bit of weight. For a few days she was looking like the before pic in a rescue before and after. But we've tweaked her diet and she's already looking a lot better. 

Peebs got pulled out again for some walkies, and we actually trotted a circle! He was not amused that I contemplated putting him back into work  

Unfortunately, she's not going to be ready for next week's Oregon Hunter Jumper Association Medal Finals. That was my big goal for the year, to qualify and compete. I also received a $500 grant from OHJA to help cover costs, and a $100 early qualifier voucher, which basically covers my show entry fees. When I realized Cin wasn't going to be ready in time, I cried. A lot. Over the course of many days. I know that's how horses go, you work your ass off and shit goes south, but it still hurts. 

So I texted Trainer M and asked if there was any possibility of getting a catch ride. An hour later she had one for me. One of her other clients is letting me use her mare, a 17yr old Holsteiner named Maya. She's a been there, done that three ring schoolmaster and took her owner to 6th at the same medal finals a few years ago. She can be a little sassy, and likes to test new riders a bit by going slower than a snail and pretend spooking at things, but jumps anything put in front of her. 

Bay ears view!

I had a lesson last night with Maya and she was way more fun than I thought she'd be. She's about the same height as Cinder, 16.3-17.0 hands, but thicker and longer, but she didn't ride as big as I expected. She was also more forward and responsive to my leg than we expected her to be, so much so that Trainer M took my spurs off halfway through the lesson. Maya wants you to establish the pace, then leave her alone and she'll maintain it, while Cinder needs more help maintaining her pace. We ended up jumping a full course and only had one slightly iffy distance. I saw the long one into a line so we kinda cannonballed it and I really had to sit back and get her together to get the five, but we did it. Not bad, considering I've barely cantered and haven't jumped since the end of April and this was my first time riding her.