Winter Time in the Rockies
Like most of the country, here in the Colorado Mountains, we’ve been battling extreme winter weather. For us, that means temperatures well below zero F, night after night, with even lower wind chill. All our horses are wearing heavy hooded blankets day and night, except the little guy. Blanketing a little yearling is challenging at best and not something he’s ready for, even if I could find a heavy blanket his size. Fortunately, he has his warm and wooly foal coat and a warm enclosed stall at night. We watch him closely on the cameras at night, and so far, I’ve seen no signs of him being cold. I have many resources about winter horse care in my online Academy, such as Are You and Your Horse Ready for Winter, all resources are searchable by keywords.
Needless to say, there’s not a lot of riding or training going on these days, but I’ve been slowly bringing my mare Annie (Rip’s dam) back into work mode after her nearly two-year layoff. Easing her back into work and regaining her fitness are my main goals. I was pleasantly surprised on the first day that we brought her to the arena, she seemed right at home and almost eager to get back to work.
We like to free longe horses in a group for exercise. As I like to say, misery loves company. When we work them together, the horses are much more playful and somewhat competitive. They work with much more energy and enthusiasm. Part of getting Annie’s head back in the game is putting her through the familiar routines of coming into the “work” space, standing tied in her normal place, getting a good grooming, and doing a little groundwork. Soon, I’ll throw a saddle on her to expand her mindset, and eventually, I’ll get on for some light riding. I know from experience that by the time I step foot in the stirrup, it will be as if she never missed a day.
This past month, with the passing of former President Jimmy Carter and his subsequent State funeral, I reached a milestone in my career that I never saw coming. More precious than any lifetime achievement award, was watching the 3rd US Army Infantry Unit, known as the “Old Guard,” escort his casket to the Capitol Rotunda, with the Caisson horses tacked in saddles based on my own original design. The ceremonial pomp and circumstance were humbling and deeply moving and brought me to tears with profound meaning and a sense of pride.
Although I modeled my saddle after the old Cavalry saddle—the McClellan, in a million years, I never imagined it would wind up there. This saddle has garnered broad attention from military, law enforcement, and therapeutic riding operations—all on its own. It was a pleasant surprise that this saddle has found traction in these venues, without any promotion or intent on our part. It’s a great saddle that fits horses well and is comfortable for the rider. Please see the press release below for more details.
