Chihuahua-mix puppies!

Huey's owner is fostering two chihuahua-mix puppies. I'm not a fan of tiny dogs, but these two almost make me change my mind. They are just too cute -- and feisty!

Huey gets a tune-up

Trainer Leslie hopped on Huey for a bit at the beginning of my lesson. Nothing like a tune-up from a professional to really get a horse put together! He felt super. Starting Friday I have ten days off from work, so I hope to be able to ride a whole bunch. Rain, rain, stay away.

Fugly

Lately I've been tooling around Craigslist, toying with the idea of a project horse at some point. Not now, and probably not for at least a year, but it's fun to browse. Today I ran across this unfortunate little guy:

He is described as a gorgeous, two-year-old paint/palomino. Now, I know two is an awkward age for any horse, but seriously? What a bizarre-looking equine.

Haven't been getting on Huey as much since the light changed, but still having fun when I do. My next lesson is Sunday. Only ten more weeks until we start getting our light back!

Huey not cow pony material

After a recent competition, the Oregon Horse Center left the competitive trail course up so people could come school on it. Camilla decided to take Huey (and her friend Jenny brought her mare Hopie along, too). I know nothing about competitive trail events, but from what I could tell after viewing the course, it seems to me it's mostly about the horse being very slow, deliberate, and careful. Huey is none of these things. He was utterly confused about why Camilla didn't just let him jump over everything. At one point in the video he looks at me plaintively, hoping I'll rescue him and put him to work on a twenty meter circle.

Hobbit horse

While at the ranch I got to hop aboard a little Friesian/Arab gelding in training named Frodo. He's short -- maybe 14.1? -- but has a big barrel to take up your leg. I don't look as giant on him as I thought I would.

Frodo is my kind of horse! I wanted to tuck him into my carry-on. He's really sensitive and a total worrier. There's an invisible thought bubble over his head at all times that says "OMG!" When he feels a new rider aboard, his first response is to turn into a quivery stress ball. But then he realizes you're not going to make him do anything scary or let the monsters eat him, and he settles. He always wants to rush a bit, so I was working on a slow, steady tempo. Isn't he a cutie pie?