Another hot day in the high desert

Once again my big plans for Saturday were squashed by waking up late and high desert heat. By the time I got over to the horse ranch is was a nice 95 degrees.

My first order of business was to check on Henry (shown in the picture with Goose). I may have mentioned that Henry was scheduled to participate in a "posse" ride, a long trail ride through the Lincoln national forest. Unfortunately Henry can't be entered. The reason? A horse has to have shoes to be enrolled, and after several hours of effort they couldn't get back shoes on Henry. Got the front shoes on OK, but yet another farrier found Henry impossible to deal with when it came to his hind feet.

I was real disappointed. First off I had wanted Henry to go on that trail ride because it would be real good for his lazy disposition. Also I've wanted to try shoes on him for the longest time. When he came into the ranch back in 2006, he had shoes on but they pulled them off. I've often wondered if this is the source of his "laziness", maybe he has real sensitive feet or something and that's why he is only willing to go 5 steps before quitting. Problem was, Henry is such an issue for the farrier getting shoes on always seemed a fantasy.

Well from there I ran into a couple of people that were having a debate about bits. One woman was saying that she was using a bit now, had previously only ridden her horse "bitless and bridleless". She noted the increased, um, control she had with her horse. Well yeah???

Anyway the discussion led this guy to bring out his new ring bit. It is what it says-a big ring that you put in the horse's mouth. Interesting, I've never seen one before.

After this I skipped over to Wishes' pasture and did some groundwork with him. I figured it was a good time to do some flexing because last time I rode him he was not as responsive to the reins as I'd like him to be. It was way to hot to ride so that's it for today.