Back in the saddle?

For the past few years, I've had almost no opportunities to ride. Most of the time, I just didn't go because hubby wasn't well and he wanted to spend time with me [and Charlie] on the couch watching movies or something on the TV.

I skipped evening rides because I never knew how many more times the two of us would sit together on the couch after supper.

Last year, my friend Kristine asked me if I'd bring one of my mules to her place and ride with her. We could pasture my mule with her horses.

This way, we'd ride together instead of alone.

The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. No board fees, just fun riding.

Since I haven't ridden Siera in two years [kids have ridden her in the yard], I thought I'd better make sure that she'd be ready to go and safe.

I chose Siera because the two red headed sisters have been together since Sundance's birth here on the farm. They are like a unit. Sundance has a temper tantrum if I take her sister... Sunshine out for a ride. They hang together and Siera is odd mule out.

Maybe if she hangs with Kristi's gelding Johnny Cash [he is a looker too!], she will find friendship.
 

I've been saddling up to get the mail and to explore the ravaged woods on my neighbor's land.

I haven't taken Siera out and down the road as I have 2 neighbors that allow their dogs to chase cars and everything else that may go by in the crop fields or dirt road.

I can't get over the view I've missed for so long from the saddle.

We went down one of the old trails that has a new monster in it. I thought Siera would hesitate or even balk at walking by it.

Nope. She didn't care.

We rode up to it and Siera dropped her head looking for some grass. 

She could care less.

Everything worked on her. Her right, left, walk, back up, and the all important 'stand still'. 

We sat for a while watching the evening light drift through the forest. I heard a rustle and Siera pointed out a hen turkey moving through the forest with her brood. 

I guess Siera did okay. She was quiet, calm, and stood quietly while I gathered our mail. The two mules at home didn't bray for Siera, in fact they ignored the fact that she'd left the farm.

As for training and tuning up, I just go out with Siera and ask that she provide me with a safe journey. She is a trail mule. She is to deal with wildlife and forest things. Perhaps she'll learn something new when I take her to Kristi's. But I'm wayyyyy okay with a quiet ride that just moseys along.

The saddle I use on Siera is a very old Stonewall saddle that was used in Endurance riding. I like this saddle because it is light and it is designed after the McClellan Saddle. 

It fits her so well and is very comfortable for me.

👇

Edit.
2 days later her lameness showed up again. This will take her out of the realm of summer riding until we figure out what her on and off again soreness and stiffness is all about. Equine.
So strong, so incredible, and sometimes so fragile!

Hah. Siera you fooled us!

Here are a few photos over the past years of Siera. Her mom was a Peruvian Paso, her father a 'gaited' donkey.

Below, Siera's first ride off the farm when she was still green. Sooooo smooth!

Siera with kids.

Siera last year with a 10 yr old. 

Siera gets a bath after their ride.

Siera with another novice rider, my neighbor. 

Siera when she first came home to us in 2007.

In mid April I had Danny out for trimming and he did his usual. Four weeks later, Siera was barely walking as if all of her feet hurt. She was laying on the ground for hours and didn't want to get up. I took her vitals and watched her eat and poop. Her gut sounds were normal.

Everything was normal but her walk and attitude.

So I texted Danny and sent him a video. He came that afternoon and was surprised at how her toes had 'grown' out. She is one of those mules who grow fast during the warm months. She really gets long toes if you don't watch her.

Which I didn't because I was busy with the scrappers and a new puppy. My bad!

Danny trimmed her and tested her hooves for pain. He felt that her muscles and tendons were sore from the length of her toes. He said to keep him updated and see how she was doing in a week. 

For 4 days she didn't seem to get better at all. I called a Vet who had seen her before and he was able to come out on Friday. I stewed and worried and worried and stewed. Thursday I had a choice. I could sit on the porch and watch her all day or go hiking. I choose to hike to ease my stress. My watching wouldn't make any difference.

Friday morning, she was in the front pasture sleeping with the red heads. When they got up to head to the meadow, she followed. She looked normal. She looked as if nothing had gone on this past week at all.

I followed her out and watched her off and on all day. I kept wringing my hands. Did she have Lyme Disease? Was she going to be okay? She looked okay. Her vitals were okay. She let me pick her feet up just fine ... not like last week where she wouldn't pick them up at all.

The Vet arrived as I was bringing her out of the pasture. He stood and watched her walk in grass, then on the driveway, and then asked me what I thought the issue was. We talked about it and he concluded that indeed she had gotten sore from her long toes [mind you, they were not hugely long we can't think of anything else]. 

He suggested that she'd gotten frisky in the pasture [she did one day the week before!] and strained her tendons. The trimming strained them more and she was getting better.  OR---> she was showing lameness from Lyme Disease. 

He asked me to keep an eye on her and call the office on Monday with her progress. If she didn't continue to improve, we'd treat her for Lyme Disease.

Well.
Saturday came along and there she was, moving like herself with no signs of any issues. I caught everyone up and groomed them and ate a ton of shedding mule hair.

They then walked off in a line. Sunshine first [she is 29], Sundance second [17 yrs old], and Siera who is 23. Siera is almost never in the lead. She likes to take her good ol' time.

What a week. Danny was right last Saturday. I worried and worried and fretted and fussed. The Vet gave me peace of mind and Siera healed up.

I'm glad she will be back at it. This summer I'm taking her to a friend's farm so we can ride her land together. Better than me riding alone.

I have done so much with this mule and my other two, that I am grateful to have more time with her to have cool adventures.

I'm so happy to have my Goofy Girl back to normal...

Happy Trails.