Day 146

Important news: I have a bet running with my dad for $400. I won't tell you what it's on yet, but just know that it's horse related. It's one of those things where I'd love to win the money, but for the greater good, I'd rather lose.

So, the farrier showed up this afternoon, way past the time that we expected him to and so he didn't do our horses today. I just have a question: Is it that all farriers don't like you watching them work? We've only had one who hasn't openly complained about it. I mean, as concerned horse owners, you'd think that it would be understandable. That would be like not going with your kid to the doctor if you didn't watch, in my eyes. Hoof care is just as important as getting shots and their teeth floated if you ask me, so why not be there?

Anyways, he's supposed to be doing shoes tomorrow. We're putting shoes on all three of them most likely because it's going to be summer time/show season and their hooves get cracked up from going across the rocks outside and to and from the arena at the shows. We'll see how that goes. Let's just say that I have a dislike for this farrier and would rather get another one, but what do I know, I'm just the kid apparently.

Brie looked loads better today. She even looked better in her eyes. My mom lunged her so I could watch if she was limping and she was only skipping a bit going counter-clockwise. I groomed her really good (every time I do she sheds the amount of a small dog because it's getting warm) and then did about a half hour of walking with her before I got on Harry. She walked very easily, was very relaxed, and slipped into a trot here and there, but I mostly kept her quiet. Don't want to overwork her, especially if she's coming off some muscle soreness!

Harry was very impressive today. Not so much with gait, but with overall concentration. We got a new rolling rack for saddles and brushes at the shows and we put it in the trailer today so we won't have to mess with it on Friday when we leave. Our trailer doesn't have a tack room. It's a straight-load that has about 3 feet of space for storing hay (or in this case a rolling rack) in front of the bar that keeps the horses tucked in properly, so we put it there. I walked Harry in, leading him, went under the bar onto the rolling rack side and hooked him up while my mom closed the back. I moved out of the way and as soon as he saw the rolling rack, his eyes got huge and he started snorting! Like it's a new monster! But as soon as he realized it's not going to move or kill him, he was fine. We did find wasp nests in the trailer though...good thing we found them now! I'd hate to have arrived in Springfield with two horses all swollen from bites!

So I rode him after my mom warmed him up and he was pretty patient. He had a couple little bucks because I wanted him to walk, but other than that he was great. Especially because Ray was in there riding and if you remember he really gets freaked out when Ray's riding. We passed him up very smoothly and Harry didn't even seem to be nervous. I really hope we do well at show, especially because my mom's making us adorable new jackets. It would be such a waste to get all dressed up to not place high enough!