[wyldterv]

SO, after a full WEEK of frozen, icy, snowy ground, too unsafe to ride on, I couldn't stand it anymore and found out that on Wednesday nights from 6pm-10pm (PST) the NW Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden, WA (about 15 mins north of my house) holds a "Public Ride" for $5.00 in their fully enclosed, groomed arena!!!

SO, first I had to trim whiskers, bridlepath and legs cause I can't help myself, I can't take my girl off property looking like a Mustang ... then I had to get the trailer out of the 6 inches of snow still in the field but after that, the roads were ice/snow free

Dancer has not been ridden in an enclosed arena since April, and she hasn't been off the property to go work anywhere since the end of September, so I wasn't too sure how she'd handle this... BUT she was just TERRIFIC! A bit of 'big eyes' and blowing out her nose when we walked into the arena, but she kept her composure and went right to work! There were about 8 other people there, so we did have 'traffic' but Dancer did not even really notice the other horses while we were working, I think it actually helped her relax.

I was REALLY REALLY Pleased with her and I was asked by all three of the Mom's who were there with their kids, where Dancer came from and who trained her and wow, she's just lovely... BELIEVE me, that made me just HAPPY as all get out, because in this area, it is pretty much ANTI-Arabian and all I ever here is "Arabians are insane, too hot, impossible to deal with, too small, too dumb, useless..." So it was really nice to get some very nice compliments from the gals who were on their QH's and Paints

I think we will make Wed evenings at the fairgrounds a new part of our training routine for awhile... it gets her out and about and also on safe footing... I was able to work on rating her lope, and she was really starting to slow herself down while maintaining full collection, getting that nice 'rocking horse' feeling... it was sooooo smooth

NO there are no photos I was by myself BUT my neighbor told me tonight she'd like to go with me NEXT week so I'll bring my camera and ask her to take a few shots

[Bella]

Oh that sounds like so much fun. I bet Dancer enjoyed herself as much as you did, too! I can't wait to see some pictures!!

-Bella

[SkyeTiger]

YAY!!!!!! That is sooo good to hear.

Dancer IS a beautiful girl and I'm glad that anti-arabian people are coming around.

[wyldterv]

Thanks guys, ... I wasn't too sure how 'crazy' it might be at the arena since you never know who will arrive at things like these, but figured it was good schooling for when we go to shows where some horses and riders are under control and some are not , but since teh weather is still not great yet (all though the ice and snow is now off all the MAIN roads at least!) there was less turn out then what they usually get (or so the lady I talked to there told me )... it WAS a tiny bit annoying that the kids all wanted to ride 3-4 abreast down the rail, but again, I just figured weaving in and out of traffic was GOOD for my 'snorty, crazy, out of control' A-RAB ...

All in all it was a good ride and I was pleased she handled it all. Even though a bit tense at first, she was CALMLY tense, just kind of big eyed and long, low snorts out of her nose for the first three walks around the arena but nothing 'stupid'

The one thing that was kind of 'funny' (at least to ME, lol) was when a couple of the Moms went and sat in the bleachers... They had just spent a moment ohhing and ahhing over Dancer and petting her, so she had seen them... but then there were MONSTERS IN THE BLEACHERS< OMG>>> SNORTTTTT, side step 3 steps, SNORTTTT, keep walking I just pushed her forward through it, laughed at her and told her she was NOW being an A-RAB and to get over it, LOL... after that she was totally fine with the people, even the little girl running up and down the allyway where the bleachers are...

All in all it was PERFECT 'proofing' for future showing! What was pretty impressive in my mind is that she had not been worked or ridden since LAST Wednesday and I did NOT lunge her once we got there, I just walked her into the arena and got on her and she still handled things well... I'm a lazy horse owner and hate to always have to lunge my horse before I ride it, LOL...

[BklynCwgrl]

OF COURSE there are no pictures!!! We're talking about YOU!! LOL Good for you and good for Dancer anyway!!! I was just telling Dennis we ought to take the horses to a warmer spot to ride this weekend...but for us that would be an hour away!!! Is it worth it?

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by BklynCwgrl

OF COURSE there are no pictures!!! We're talking about YOU!! LOL Good for you and good for Dancer anyway!!! I was just telling Dennis we ought to take the horses to a warmer spot to ride this weekend...but for us that would be an hour away!!! Is it worth it?

ROTFLMAO... well you and Melissa weren't there with your cameras .. how the heck can I ride AND take photos of myself anyway ...

To ME, traveling an hour to ride WOULD be worth it, I mean what the heck ELSE are you two going to do anyway...

[arabianlvr87]

STILL no pictures!?!?!

She sounds great, true example of an Arab. Mine's the same way... snort and blow at first, then settles to "Ok, what next?"

[DoWeDance]

Wow! That sounds like fun. I wish I had that opportunity. She is going to be such a trooper when you go to show her.

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by arabianlvr87

STILL no pictures!?!?!

She sounds great, true example of an Arab. Mine's the same way... snort and blow at first, then settles to "Ok, what next?"

Well, I haven't figured out how to RIDE her AND take PICTURES at the SAME time, ROTFLMAO... BUT if my neighbor actually DOES go with me next Wed evening, then I will have her shoot some photos and maybe even video if the light is enough for the vid cam....

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by DoWeDance

Wow! That sounds like fun. I wish I had that opportunity. She is going to be such a trooper when you go to show her.

This is a pretty 'horse friendly' area to live in, so that part is really nice, with things like the public riding night at the fairgrounds at a reasonable price We also have an equestrian park owned by the county that has a really nice cross country jump course (but only open in late Spring-mid fall for safety reasons, field gets pretty swampy during wet season) and a REALLY nice outdoor arena that is usable pretty much year round.. it is free to use so far . We also have a horse camping facility owned by the state parks system up at Silver Lake, which is at the base of Mt Baker and the horse trails from Silver Lake are really nice, so yes we're pretty 'horse friendly' here

I really do think that Dancer is going to be fairly decent to show once I get her acclimated to a busier environment She's got a fabulous commonsense attitude , but still has the "Arab" spark to her I luff her very much